After the Weird Breeland Tweet, Now Is the Time to Start Dantzler
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler is back after a stint in the NFL’s COVID protocol.
Without him, the Vikings took care of business – that’s the euphemistic way of labeling it – against the Detroit Lions 19-17 on Sunday. Minnesota peeled a victory out of the NFC North after an absolutely lifeless display of offense in the second half.
Defensively, the team looked quite scrappy, limiting Detroit to six points until the almost-miraculous stuff began happening for the Lions late in the 4th quarter. Vikings kicker Greg Joseph saved the day, drilling a walkoff 54-yard field goal to save the rump of his head coach, Mike Zimmer.
The team was also without Michael Pierce, who missed the game – and perhaps a few more – due to an elbow injury. Probably because “it was the Lions,” the Vikings found a victory, nudging their win-loss record to 2-3 for 2021.
After the win, Vikings cornerback Bashaud Breeland had thoughts and tweeted them to the world.
He deleted this tweet shortly after sending it.
To date, no public punishment has been levied on Breeland. And that was inside of a week that showcased the departure of Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden whose bigoted beliefs were revealed in a consistent chain of emails from the last decade. For Breeland, though, he does not seem to be the subject of discipline.
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Because Dantzler is back from COVID – and due to the vile nature of Breeland’s tweet – now is the time to hand Dantzler the CB2 job. Breeland has not played well, recording an abominable 42.1 Pro Football Focus grade. That’s the third-worst in the NFL. On the other hand, Dantzler’s 76.2 PFF score (with a smaller sample size) is the eighth-best in the league through five weeks.
Is it smarter to start the third-worst cornerback in the NFL or the eighth-best? Decisions, decisions.
Zimmer should use the bizarre johnson tweet from Breeland as comeuppance and start Dantzler in his place. If it is not on the agenda to fine or suspend him – boom – reduce his snap count. It just so happens Dantzler plays spectacularly when he’s on the field. And breaking news: Breeland doesn’t.
This should be a no-brainer. Start the better player. Right now, Dantzler gives the Vikings a better chance to win. Even Dantzler had a wild tweet after the Seahawks game, but it didn’t suggest a penis anywhere near someone’s mouth.
In 2020, Dantzler was PFF’s best rookie CB leaguewide. He was in the doghouse during the summer – nobody understood why – but came out of the ordeal still performing well. Let the best rookie corner in the business from one year ago receive meaningful playtime – especially when his competition is fixated on tweeting vulgarities.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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