Vikings part ways with bike-riding mascot seeking $20K per game

His name is Ragnar and he has ridden his motorcycle to work for more than 20 years. Well, at work we should say.

But the beloved Minnesota Vikings mascot was nowhere to be found at the team’s season opener against the Detroit Lions and apparently has had his contract run out after the two sides could not come to an agreement on a new deal.

(Damned offset language!)

Actually, it was over — no shocker — money. Associated Press is reporting that Ragnar, who has been whipping Vikings fans into a Nordic frenzy at home games since 1994, was seeking $20,000 per game over the next 10 years. Sparing you the math, that would be a total of $1.6 million for regular-season games, and $2 million if preseason games are considered.

The Vikings appear to have balked at his demands and wished him luck plying his trade for another local sports franchise. Ragnar made about $1,500 a game last season, per the report. That’s quite the pay bump he wanted.

Joe Juranitch, the man who portrays the hirsute biker with horned helmet posted a somewhat sad picture on Facebook (though also a bit scary, wielding a well-sharpened Vikings halberd) of himself watching Sunday’s Vikings game at home in full Ragnar regalia.