Vikings bring back DE Everson Griffen



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Defensive linemen Griffen, Weatherly and Sheldon Richardson have all picked free agents to meet the Vikings this offseason, as has cornerback Mackensie Alexander.

Andre Patterson, assistant head coach / defensive coordinator of the Vikings, who coached Griffen from 2014 to 2019, referred to Griffen last week before his try when describing how he trains players to avoid jumping from the difficult count of a quarter.

“With [Griffen], it was more for me to make him breathe. It really wasn’t the quarterback that knocked him offside, ”Patterson said. “It was just him in a cannon ready to explode and go out. … In a high pressure situation, when he was like, ‘I had to get a good start to kick the quarterback,’ that was when those times would come. “

Griffen spent the first four seasons of his career as a substitute who started one of the 59 games he played from 2010 to 2013, but when Zimmer arrived he moved on to starting lineup and started. 87 of 96 possible games over the next six seasons. .

Griffen and Hunter were integral to Minnesota’s defensive game plan that led to an upheaval for the Saints in New Orleans in the NFC Playoff Wild Card Round that followed the 2019 season. several inside kicks for clashes against the Saints’ inside linemen and totaled 1.5 sacks each.

The 2019 season marked an impressive comeback for Griffen, who needed to step away from the squad in 2018 on personal matters.

“We talked to him for quite a while the other day, and I think he seems to be in a good position,” Zimmer said. “I hope he continues to do this, and if he does, he can help us.”

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