![]() I am sure Vets like Greenway and Newman got sick of Zimmer’s message, but I don’t feel it was intended for them, and they should have known, being the Vets they are, but if Zimmer was TRULY as bad and unbearable, why would Newman rejoin him in Minnesota? There CLEARLY isn’t one, because if there was a leader they would NOT have let this go down, the saddest part is the guy that seems to have his finger prints all over it is someone that Zimmer clearly trusted and liked enough to bring to Minnesota after his Cinci days were done, and seemed like he was SPECIFICALLY brought in to help other first round draft picks that play CB in the NFL. he tried to jolt players that are going to be be the future of that team, trying to get them to wake up, because of the lack of leadership in the locker room. unlike Belichek whom has the benefit of quality leaders on the roster. He is young in his HC days, and he is coaching a pretty young team, so he needs to be a leader in different ways. He throws his players and fellow coaches (see: Norv Turner) under the bus to deflect blame from himself and his own massive ego. There is a reason why Zimmer never got a head coaching gig despite praise for his abilities as a defensive coordinator. Spielman who didn’t invest in the Oline, and whiffing on WRs in the first round. ![]() Maybe some of it was Zimmer trying to build a great young defense which he did have success, but now not only does Theodore have to come back from a tough injury, he also has to learn a new offense (which he did VERY well in his 1st year with Norv). If he’s oblivious to the offensive side what does that make Spielman, who between injuries and poor drafting has lead to the offense lacking talent and depth. If you buy a restaurant and you are a Chef, you don’t hire someone to be your kitchen manager, you find someone skilled and trusted to handle the front of the house, and work WITH THEM and tell what you kind of service is expected to be provided, and other things you want to see, but also don’t be so thick headed that you get in the way of THEIR experience, and knowledge because it’s insulting to them. He seemingly doesn’t care, or is completely oblivious to offensive football. Absolutely inexcusable for a head coach, especially when your offense is consistently ranked in the bottom 10, at best. With that said, someone needs to put the pressure on him as to how he has absolutely no influence or control over what goes on on the offensive side of the ball. Zimmer is the best coach the Vikings have had in a long, long time. Regardless of the truth regarding all of this, it’s obvious that yet another problem has been thrown onto the ever-growing pile that has killed one season in Minnesota, and that could loom over the next one and possibly beyond. It won’t resolve the team’s curious decision to opt for anonymous leaks instead of a straightforward, on-the-record explanation. The all-22 tape of the game, which soon will be available via the NFL’s excellent online game replay service, will resolve whether Rhodes did was he was told in the first 30 minutes of the game. If it’s true that the mutiny ended after only one defensive series, why are the Vikings leaking it to ESPN? Why not issue a statement with quotes from Zimmer or defensive coordinator George Edwards or any of the players involved? If it’s not true that the mutiny was ended after only one series, the perception will linger (and, given what eventually could be exposed as a clumsy attempt at a coverup, intensify) that Zimmer and his staff inexplicably failed to get the situation under control until intermission. In the second half, Nelson had two catches for nine yards. Nelson caught seven passes for 145 yards in the first two quarters. Of course, if the approach changed after the first series, the original plan didn’t work. Specifically, the Vikings contend that, as soon as the initial defensive series ended, coach Mike Zimmer addressed the players, and they “situation was corrected.” The leaker also contends that Zimmer didn’t put a timeline on the mutiny, and that the situation got “blown out of proportion” by the media. ![]() The Vikings are now saying otherwise, via a leak from a “ well-placed Vikings source” to ESPN. There was no attempt by the team to refute that account, which appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and it became a given that cornerback Xavier Rhodes refused to adhere to the assignment to follow Packers receiver Jordy Nelson wherever he went. ![]() After Sunday’s season-killing loss to the Packers, it was regarded as true and accurate that the stunning defiance of the defensive game plan by the Minnesota defensive backs lasted for the entire first half.
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