There is a lot that goes on with each upcoming season in the National Football League. With many analyst, die-hard fans, and even the players themselves so hyped for this 2009 season for all 32 teams in the NFL each organization has its own story. Talking about stories you already know the big news is with the Minnesota Vikings making major headlines with the acquisition of future hall of famer Brett Favre. The team that was said by many analyst to be “One player away from a Superbowl” now might be making moves that makes that possible. With the best running back in the game with Adrian Peterson, a strong solid defense, it looks like the Vikes can be making some noise this year and blowing their horns.

Now though the Vikes have the best running back in the game with A-Peterson, we have to remember who is mainly responsible. If it wasn’t for the hard-working offensive lineman using all their might to push over that huge line of defensive ends and tackles Peterson wouldn’t have that large amount of rushing yards & touchdowns he gains each season. On the other hand though, I’m sure Peterson appreciates each hole made that he can dash through like a flash of lightning.

One of the main guys responsible for keeping the Vikings running game strong is Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie. Doing the grind work to be the best at what he does, its only right that McKinnie deserves his recognition. As a top draft pick coming from one of the best football programs in college, the University of Miami being a first round pick at #7 overall in the 2002 NFL Draft McKinnie always proves his worth. Keeping that in mind football is where it doesn’t stop with him. On the outside he runs upcoming record label known as Swagga Entertainment with Pleasure P the hot R&B artist known for his stint with Pretty Ricky who is currently killing the game with his hit single “Boyfriend #2″.

Starting off with the interview Bryant McKinnie was very excited to speak on what was going on with him and the Minnesota Vikings. Seeming exhausted after a long day of practice the Vikes were in preparation for a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts last week in which they won that game 13-3. I actually joked a bit with him on how I just got done playing a game of Madden with a friend in which I were the Minnesota Vikings dominating with the run with Adrian Peterson until eventually getting shut down. McKinnie laughed as you know with him being a offensive lineman for such a powerful back running back he knows what I’m talking about, except he does it for real.

“Well you know how that can be, when you killing it with the run they(defense) would try to put a whole bunch of people in the box to stop the run game.”

The Vikings with Brett Favre as QB expected to take the snaps will be a team to watch continuing to be a exciting offense that can score points. Speaking of the Brett Favre situation along with who would be the starting quarterback this season for the Vikes between Sage Rosenfels and Tavarris Jackson many NFL fans wondered what would be the responses from many teammates in the Vikings organization. Being a offensive lineman that has to protect them Bryant McKinnie spoke on Favre donning the purple uniform & his opinion on who deserves to be starting QB between Rosenfels and Jackson.

Note: This interview was taken place last week before Brett Favre signed with the Vikings.

“I was hoping if Favre came that it would make Sage & Tavarris better themselves. I felt like that it would make them better in the game at the position. I don’t think it really matters (speaking on who be better to start between Rosenfels & Jackson), as long as the lineman do a good job of protecting the quarterback, the quarterback will do a good job.

The offensive lineman is one of the most important positions in building a great football team. In the same token its one of those positions that doesn’t receive much credit though responsible for producing the greatest offensive weapons to ever play the game. McKinnie noted how in the start of his football career he was a defensive end growing up and the how tough it was, but soon realized it was more beneficial to be a O-lineman.

“The offensive lineman is like the unsung hero, you do a lot of work but you don’t get a lot of credit, but that’s okay. The quarterbacks and running backs show their appreciation at the end of the season.”

In response to my question on what its like blocking for Adrian Peterson, McKinnie gladly spoke:

“It’s pretty exciting, because once he breaks into the secondary you can pretty much watch him go one on one with one of the DB’s and you never know what a player brings. It makes you want to block because you never know when he can break one for a touchdown.” He runs so fast so all he really has to do is get off the block, find it, and take advantage of it.”

Each year teams always want to improve getting into a higher round of the playoffs than they were the previous year. As you know the Vikings were eliminated in the first round last year against the Philadelphia Eagles. Advancing to the next round is a priority for the Vikings as McKinnie got in-depth on that loss and how this year moving on is a mission. After sharing a laugh telling him I was a Eagles fan, he explained it was funny with being a native of South New Jersey he grew up a Eagles fan as well. McKinnie indeed knows that Philly sports atmosphere throwing out quickly,

“Yeah ya’ll can be terrible at times and turn on them, [laughs], especially when stuff is not going good.”

McKinnie is a businessman and as mentioned earlier he started his own record label Swagga Entertainment with R&B singer Pleasure P. Speaking very confident in this music label McKinnie gave Pleasure P his props for his hard work and how the two together make such a good team. As far as the main man running the show for the record label McKinnie broke down how its handled by both with two top dogs in comparison to Jay-Z & Damon Dash running Roc-A-Fella Records as him and Pleasure do the same with Swagga entertainment.

The question that arises in regards to the label is how could McKinnie manage a label when he’s on the road playing football a great majority of the time. He honestly admitted at times it can be tough especially during the season so much business he handles is done by phone and Pleasure as well with him being on the road as a popular recording artist.

“Were both busy right now, but on my days off I dedicate that to music, he’s a tour so he has a lot going on, but we have people in place to get things done too. It can be tough, but you just got to have good time management.”

Star football player and hot R&B recording artist seems to be the best of both worlds for Swagga Entertainment. In life it is spoken that you must always have a plan B to prepare for the best to get what you want. In the case of Bryant McKinnie, he is showing that by building for the future and pushing more than defensive ends out his way to take everything that he wants.