Off-The-Field Issues

Large, Speedy DB Johnson To Visit

March 25, 2012, by 9 comments

The Vikings just got back their young, lanky, talented cornerback with off-the-field issues when Chris Cook was acquitted of his most recent troubles.

As it turns out, the Vikings want to take a closer look at a young, lanky, talented cornerback with off-the-field issues prior to April’s NFL Draft.

Montana defensive back (he could end up at either corner or free safety) Trumaine Johnson will reportedly take part in a pre-Draft visit with the Vikings.

At 6’ 2” and 204 pounds, Johnson ran a 4.50 forty time at the Scouting Combine.  At the Combine, he also had to answer questions about an October incident in which he was tased by police and arrested.  He was charged with obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

In addition to his big frame, Johnson has solid instincts as a ballhawk, and is a very solid tackler.  It is expected that Johnson will be targeted around the second or third rounds of the Draft.

In addition to Johnson, so far we know that the Vikings will meet prior to the Draft with offensive tackle Jonathan Martin, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, and safety D.J. Campbell.

Vikings “Excited” Chris Cook Will Be Back

March 25, 2012, by 7 comments

The Vikings took a fairly big gamble with how they handled Chris Cook and the allegations that he assaulted and attempted to strangle his girlfriend, causing him to miss a game against Green Bay while he was jailed for the incident.

Recently, Cook was acquitted of all charges and the Vikings appear ready to get him back on the field.

“We are very excited about getting Chris Cook back,” Rick Spielman said, “not only to help us on the football field, but we think Chris Cook is a very good person, and we really believe that he’s moving on and going to be a better person.”

“We’re pleased that this has all come to a resolution, and now we’re looking forward to what Chris has learned, and he’s looking forward to moving on,” Spielman said. “I know he’s grown from this experience. He was very proactive in doing some things and making sure that he’s going to be not only a better football player but a better person as well.

“Sometimes you have to go through some hard lessons to give you a wake-up call, if there was a wake-up call. But you go through some tough times sometimes, and sometimes coming out of those situations really makes you a stronger and better person.”

Cook is no stranger to misconduct.  His Draft stock took a hit when he was suspended at Virginia for academic reasons.  In May of 2011, a Virginia judge cleared him of any wrongdoing resulting from an incident in which he was accused of brandishing a firearm.  He latest acquittal ended with rumors that he was celebrating the “victory” at the same strip club that he visited the night the allegations were made.

Spielman sounds hopeful that his third year player will finally get his act together, but the pattern emerging here is not only more obvious, but growing incrementally more serious.  Cook has shown fans of the Vikings no reason to believe he is a changed man, other than shaving his dreadlocks, so hopefully behind closed doors at Winter Park he has really given Spielman and Frazier true reasons to place trust in him again.

If not, they may be short handed at cornerback on Sunday again in the near future.

Brad Culpepper: Vikes Were Coached To Hurt Quarterbacks

March 24, 2012, by 2 comments

My reaction to the Saints “BountyGate” scandal has been pretty measured, considering the venomous reaction from most Vikings fan, and I recently penned that I was merely glad it wasn’t the Vikings being accused of such heinous actions.

As it turns out, a former defensive lineman of the Vikings remembers a time in which he was instructed to hit opposing quarterbacks in such a way that they leave the game prematurely.

“If you pull on their arm and land on their shoulder, you can dislocate (the shoulder),” said Brad Culpepper.  “And then they’re out. We used to practice that, too.”

Culpepper played for the Vikings the two years prior to the 1994 season in which the team was constantly under fire from those around the league for their reputation as one of the dirtiest defensive lines in the NFL.

Defensive Line Coach John Teerlinck, Defensive Coordinator Tony Dungy, and Head Coach Dennis Green were all at the center of the controversy.

“We practiced techniques to injure players,” said Culpepper.

This is pretty damning evidence to support the notion that the Vikings of the mid-nineties were not the cleanest of football players.  There will be denials and there have been no accusations of bounties specically, and this is sure to be in the rear-view mirror soon enough, but it goes to further illustrate the point that the New Orleans Saints were simply caught playing dirty in a modern era that will not tolerate such actions.

As for Culpepper, he has now had his fun, and it seems likely that he’ll just go back to doing whatever it was he doing before feeling the need to get some random attention on an Orlando radio station.

Cook: “I Got A Job To Do”

March 16, 2012, by 2 comments

Late last night, I hesitantly posted a rumor about Chris Cook’s choice to “celebrate” his acquittal by visiting the strip club in which it all began.  I decided to do so, but also made it clear that it was a rumor only and I am glad I did.

Why?

Because those actions would fly in the face of what Cook said after his court hearing Thursday, so the rumor couldn’t possibly be true (slight sarcasm).

“I got a job to do. I missed 10 games. I got to make up for that,” Cook said outside the courtroom following his acquittal.

“I know it might take some time to earn the trust of the organization and the fans, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” he continued.

Cook described the ongoing legal matters as an “emotional rollercoaster” and it appears the Vikings will welcome him back soon, and probably insert the 25 year old into the starting lineup.

If, that is, he doesn’t get in trouble between now and then.

True Or Not, Here Is An Interesting One

March 15, 2012, by 6 comments

To be 110% clear, without question, clear as crystal, this should be filed away under the pure rumor category for now.

Matt Liddy, whose Twitter account pegs him as an executive producer for WCCO in Minnesota (which does appear to be true), has passed along this interesting rumor from a “source” late Thursday night:

 

Okay, have at it, folks.

Vikings Release Statement On Cook

March 15, 2012, by 4 comments

Following the news that cornerback Chris Cook was found “not guilty” on all charges he faced, the Vikings released the following statement.

We respect the legal process and the decision regarding Chris Cook. We have also thoroughly considered Chris’ situation and how he has approached this matter.  We will meet with Chris in the near future and believe he deserves the opportunity to rejoin our organization.

The team seems to be saying that the verdict is not their sole basis for making a decision regarding Cook’s future with the team, but they also seem to indicate that he will be welcomed back.

One can’t help but wonder what the referenced meeting will entail.

Chris Cook Unlikely To Receive Suspension

March 15, 2012, by No comments yet

It appears that the Vikings decision to retain cornerback Chris Cook following allegations of assault and strangulation may be netting the result they were looking for.

After being acquitted of all charges on Thursday, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said, “We will review the facts, but we do not expect league discipline in this matter.”

Despite Cook’s lack of guilt, the NFL could have (and still can) suspended Cook for having two legal matters in his two NFL offseasons.  Ben Roethlisberger was never found guilty by any jury, either, but they still suspended him following a series of disturbing allegations.

It appears that Cook will indeed be allowed back to Winter Park without further incident, however, and that means he is a likely starter come week one of the 2012 season.

The Vikings seem to hope that they can still salvage Cook as both a quality human being and a quality football player, and there is legitimate reason to believe that Leslie Frazier’s mentoring will work out better for both the team and the player as opposed to just cutting him loose.  Still, these incidents are something the Vikings will not be eager to again invest time and money into, so Cook better stay out of trouble from this point forward.

The Vikings have already invested a lot into Cook, including their 2010 second round draft choice, and they have yet to receive much return on that investment.

Cook has played in only 12 games in his two seasons, six of which were starts, and has yet to produce an interception.  He has netted 41 tackles, six defended passes, and that’s about it.

That is not very much production for a guy that is already half way through his rookie contract.

Time to step up, and shape up, young man.