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Vikings Guard Artis Hicks provides exclusive season preview

Vikings Guard Artis Hicks provides exclusive season preview

By Ian Allen

Artis Hicks, the 6-4, 335 pound 28 year-old guard from the Minnesota Vikings, is made to intimidate opposing defenders and discourage them from doing their jobs.

But when it comes to his 8 month old daughter, we see who is doing the intimidation here. In this conversation exclusively for NFLCanada.com, Hicks talks about what to expect this season from the Vikings, and to let you in on a little more of his softer side.

Hicks predicts big things from the Vikings offense this season:

“I think we’re going to be explosive. We are going to do a good job of running the ball. We’ve got a 1st round draft pick in Adrian Peterson from Oklahoma, and the line, we’ve gotta do our job up front, and take some of the pressure off of a young Quarterback (Jackson). That will enable him to kinda sit back, and take his shots when he wants to…similar to how Pittsburgh did a couple years ago with Roethlisberger. So I think were going to have a similar offense to that.”

Off the field, Hicks is keen to talk about his softer side.

“I have an 8 month old daughter now, and we’re expecting again…so now when I come home it’s Daddy time,” said Hicks. “You can’t turn your head away for more than 5 seconds, and by the time you look back, she’s pulling herself up and climbing on things. She tries to mimic everything that I do. I mean if you’re sitting there and you make a little noise, she tries to make the noise.”

“She’s been the best thing to happen to me.”

A building size of a man, but tender for the babies, and always ready for business.

Professional Biography

Came to the Vikings in a 2006 draft day trade with Philadelphia in an exchange of draft picks after spending 4 seasons (2002-05) with the Eagles…Started 14 games in his 1st season with the Vikings in 2006…Fought his way to NFL success even with the chips stacked against him, joining the Eagles in 2002 as a rookie free agent and working his way into the starting lineup by his 3rd season... Has started 41 of the 42 regular season games he has played in from 2004-06 and all 3 playoff contests, including Super Bowl XXXIX against New England…Part of Philadelphia’s rise to the top of the NFC during his tenure, winning NFC East titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004, advancing to the NFC Championship in each of those seasons and winning the title in 2004...NFC Championship was 1st for Philadelphia since 1980...Has started games at LG and LT during his career, getting a start on short notice at the demanding LT spot on Monday Night Football at Miami (12/15/03) when Tra Thomas was sidelined by back spasms and held All-Pro DE Jason Taylor to 1.0 sack in an Eagles win...Started 1st career game vs. N.Y. Giants (11/16/03) at LG in place of John Welbourn...Made Eagles roster as a rookie free agent in 2002 and was inactive for every game.