Question
Do you recall if a David Andrew Howlett ever played for the Vikings, and, if so, what year?
Answer
As far as my records go, which is a listing of most any NFL Minnesota Vikings player who ever donned a uniform on (at least) the sideline of an actual game, no. David Andrew Howlett may have tried out or been involved in a training camp or something of that nature...but not on the field as a member of an official roster.
There is a professional bodybuilder by the name of Bethany Howlett, who claims in an interview this:
...I am preparing for some FAME professional fitness shows, two
triathlons, and a decathlon. I am looking forward to some real sport action
as triathlons and decathlons are the real thing. My training is simple as
it is all body resistance and gymnastics, running, biking, and swimming. I
do not lift weights of any kind and never will again. I have the genetics
of an amazons seeing as my father David Andrew Howlett was a two time
professional athlete having played for the Minnesota Vikings and the
California Angels before they were Anaheim. My diet is only white fish and
protein shakes for protein and oatmeal for complex carbs and greens for
fibers. I do not eat chicken, turkey, fatty fishes, or red meat. I like low
card Nitrotech shakes premade for women by Muscletech as I have a very
demanding job so convenience is much more important than anything at this
point in my life.
...
It's sad that someone created this for her to give her some kind of credibility. She only briefly mentions this name, so it leaves room for question. This may have been a great story to tell your daughter, but to truly be considered a "player" with the NFL Minnesota Vikings, you had to have at least suited up on the sidelines for an actual season game...preseason does not count and neither does practice squad.
You will find a number of "David Howlett"s dealing with the Vikings...the pillaging/historical kind. Some guy named Howlett did research and such on the historical sword-carrying Vikings and wrote some papers and I think a book as well. You will also kind the name David Howlett as it pertains to Austrlian rules football and quite a few references to some guy overseas with the same last name.
I am afraid that no one ever truly played for the NFL Minnesota Vikings with the name David Andrew Howlett.
Until next time, I'll see you on the field!
Gene "Norseman" Ramsay
