Bashaud Breeland Is Heading to the Playoffs

Bashaud Breeland Is Heading to the Playoffs
Bashaud Breeland

Bashaud Breeland’s short stint with the Minnesota Vikings was marred by weird events, but now the cornerback is heading to the playoffs.

Breeland, 29, was waived by the Vikings on December 18th after a physical altercation with Minnesota’s coaches and players. The transaction left the Vikings secondary skimpy, but the group wasn’t necessarily rocking and rolling with Breeland on the team anyway.

Now, the ex-WFTer, Packer, and Chief will join the Arizona Cardinals, presumably for a playoff push with Kliff Kingsbury’s team.

Shortly after this news broke, though, Breeland was revealed to be heading for a COVID reserve designation, so his career with Arizona will have to wait a few days.  The Cardinals are 10-5 and owners of the fifth seed in the NFC playoff picture, slated for a road date with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if the postseason started today.

With the Vikings, Breeland’s tenure was bizarre. According to his on-the-field performance, he ranks as the league’s fifth-worst cornerback per Pro Football Focus, a 47.2 grade. The Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson called out the stat on Monday, causing a flavorful reaction from Breeland:

Additionally, Breeland generated controversy in the middle of the season when he tweeted-then-deleted an oral-sex-themed tweet geared at fans. Breeland was called for a penalty in a home game, received some fan heat because of it, and told folks afterward on Twitter where they should put his appendage.

The weirdness culminated a week and a half ago when Breeland got into a scuffle with – well, everybody – and was waived by the Vikings as a result.

Before 2021, Breeland was a steady performer, winning a Super Bowl with the Chiefs and finding starting gigs in Washington and Green Bay before that. But with the Vikings, his persona flamed out.

In Arizona, Breeland will contribute to a Cardinals defense that ranks fifth leaguewide in passing defense DVOA, fifth in dropback EPA, and eighth in the NFL for passing yards allowed. It is unclear how much playing time Breeland will receive when cleared from COVID protocols.

The Cardinals beat the Vikings in Week 2 after a missed game-winning field goal by kicker Greg Joseph.

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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