I'm writing this article as the Labor Day weekend begins with what I'm hoping would be a calm Friday night, but I'm fully aware that, before too long, a stream of angry texts may start to ding my phone.
Mike Zimmer
Again Mike Zimmer, a former coach of the Vikings, has done it before. Specifically, the March evening when the Vikings extended quarterback Kirk Cousins' most recent deal. Zimmer said that I was attempting to have him fired. He said I was the "ground swell" that caused Zimmer to lose his job. (I had no idea I was that strong. Then again, I might be.)
It offered a glimpse of Zimmer's stereotypically grumpy personality. Since he never used the magic phrase "off the record," I chose not to write about it at the time, but it is pertinent tonight as the Vikings approach their first regular-season game without Zimmer as the head coach since the conclusion of the 2013 campaign.
Tyler Dunne examines the profound cultural shift due to the Vikings' switch from Ryan Zimmer to Kevin O'Connell. It's worthwhile to read the entire piece. Some elements stick out.
The most notable quotes come from Terence Newman, a former Vikings cornerback who worked on Zimmer's staff after his playing days.
"I think [Zimmer] felt the pressure," Newman said to Dunne, "and he put so much pressure on everyone else around him that there was no way we could succeed." We failed to succeed. When you're focused on, "OK, if I make a mistake, I'm going to get cussed out," it's difficult to concentrate on your job. Working in that setting is challenging. Period. I could care less what you do. Working in that setting is challenging.
Newman informed Dunne that "he was never in a good mood." People pick up on that stuff. You enter with a negative mindset. What on earth are you so upset about? This guy over here is giving it everything he's got while playing with a bad knee. Possibly sat out. He then remarked, "You know what? I desire to be there for my sons. I want to leave. To challenge me. I want to support my team in whatever way I can. And then this person is over here complaining about the possibility of being fired while still earning the amount of money he will make the next year due to his guaranteed contract. Explain to me how that is fair.
"When you try to intimidate, you get guys who are terrified to make mistakes," Newman said.
Because you're worried about the fallout and the implications, you do your work, but not to the best of your ability, according to Newman. You embarrass yourself in front of everyone in the conference room, which is useless for anyone. No good can come from that. It was an environment that quickly turned poisonous. Young men refused to play for the man.
It doesn't sound all that different from the strategy employed by Patriots coach Bill Belichick over the years. The distinction is that Belichick has had success. Zimmer omitted. Certainly not enough.
Newman warned Dunne that you're a coach from the 1990s who hasn't adjusted to what you're doing, "You're making a massive, catastrophic error." Your players cannot simply run into the ground. Bill Parcells' two-a-day, live, goal-line, and live red zone plays are unavailable. Now you can't do that. Guys that are bruised just from practicing, I mean. On Sunday, they have a game to attend. And on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we savagely beat each other.
Newman claimed the atmosphere had turned "toxic." And while we generally avoid providing off-the-record thoughts with the media, a former coordinator who chose to remain unidentified gave a straightforward justification for why he believes the 2022 Vikings will succeed.
The unidentified former Vikings coordinator explained to Dunne, "Because the devil's gone." Satan has left the structure.
That's harsh. And it can be a bit excessive. However, Zimmer was also a little exaggerated. I'm also hoping I won't receive excessive text messages later tonight.
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