Hoag with Minnesota

Ryan Hoag, Mr. Irrelevant in 2003, begins the 2004 NFL season on the

practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver out of Gustavus Adolphus College in

Minnesota, Hoag was signed to the practice squad Tuesday, one day

after being waived by the Vikings.

Hoag hooked on with Minnesota after ill-fated previous stints with

the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him with the last pick in the 2003

draft, and the New York Giants.

This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Andre Sommersell, a former Estancia

High student-athlete drafted out of Colorado State by the Raiders,

was released Aug. 31.