Connect with us
Home » news » zimmer improving vikings still have a long way to go

News

Zimmer: Improving Vikings still have ‘a long way to go’

Published

on

The Sports Xchange

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — In grade school, there were the three “R’s.” At Winter Park, there are the four “L’s.” At least according to Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer.

“There are four ‘learns’ in football,” Zimmer said Monday after the Vikings won their third straight game to raise their record to 5-2. “You have to learn to compete. Then you have to learn to win. Then you have to learn how to handle winning. And, finally, you have to learn how to be a champion.

“We’re somewhere in the stages of learning how to win and how to handle winning.”

At 12-11, Zimmer is over .500 as an NFL head coach for the first time. He didn’t seem impressed when asked if that meant he was doing the right thing during his “rebuilding” of the Vikings franchise.

“We got a long way to go,” he said. “I’d say we’re moving in the right direction, but ‘rebuilding’ is not the word I’d use.”

–Defensive end Brian Robison was asked if the Vikings are equipped to handle “being the hunted” team rather than the team that’s more accustomed to the role of underdogs of late.

“We’ll be fine,” he said. “We just have to keep doing what we’re doing. Next game. Put the ones that have passed us, like (Sunday) in Chicago, behind us and move on to the next game.”

Defensive end Everson Griffen, a rookie in 2010, has experienced only one winning season, one playoff game and no playoff victories. When asked about Zimmer cracking the .500 mark as a head coach for the first time, Griffen shrugged.

“Honestly, I didn’t know Zimmer was over .500,” he said. “I don’t keep track of all that. I only keep track of winning games. That’s my primary focus. As long as we keep on winning games, his average is going to keep going up. He’s going to be above .500, above whatever. We still have nine games to go. Our goal is to win these next nine games. They’re all going to be dog fights. But if we execute our calls, we’ll go out there and win the game.”

INJURY NOTES: DE Everson Griffen left Sunday’s game in Chicago because of s shoulder stinger, but is expected to play Sunday against the Rams. Rookie DE Danielle Hunter stepped in and finished the game for Griffen. Hunter had the game’s only sack while on the field with Griffen earlier in the game. … OT T.J. Clemmings also suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by fellow rookie Austin Shepherd. Clemmings, who was praised by coach Mike Zimmer on Monday for his improved pass protection on Sunday, is expected to play this week.

Since 1987, the Sports Xchange has been the best source of information and analysis for the top professionals in the sports publishing & information business

News

Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo

Published

on

In the NFL, it’s always better to admit a mistake than to compound it. For the Buccaneers, the decision to burn a 2016 second-round pick on kicker Robert Aguayo has proven to be a mistake. The Buccaneers made the definitive admission of their error on Saturday, cutting Aguayo. He exits with $428,000 in fully-guaranteed salary [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?

Published

on

After the Buccaneers surprised everyone by taking a kicker with the 59th overall pick in the draft, G.M. Jason Licht explained the move by heaping superlatives on the player. “I was very excited along with my staff and coaches about Roberto for a very long time,” Licht told PFT Live in May 2016. “It’s not [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

News

Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe

Published

on

Only two days after losing Billy Winn for the year with a torn ACL, the Broncos are now sweating out another potentially serious injury along the defensive line. Via multiple reports, Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was carted off the field during practice on Saturday. It’s being described as a right ankle injury by coach [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading

The NFL On Twitter


Insiders On Facebook

Trending Now

Copyright © 2021 Insider Sports, Inc