Turns Out Cheap Heat Was All Bashaud Breeland Needed to Get Going

Out of the gate to start the Minnesota Vikings 2021 season, free-agent signee Bashaud Breeland did not play well. He was flat-out bad, ranking dead last in the NFL for performance per Pro Football Focus’ grading system.

A reporter from the Pioneer Press, Chris Tomasson, even called Breeland out on his shortcomings, asking the cornerback if it was embarrassing to be ranked last in the league. Breeland fired back with the theory Tomasson would be at the bottom of sports-reporter rankings if those existed.

That was the first fire lit for the ex-Kansas City Chief cornerback. He took the heat from Tomasson and flung it right back.

After that, Breeland was penalized in the Week 5 game versus the Detroit Lions. Boos showered the field, while it was unclear if fans were chiding the referees – or Breeland, the player. Breeland seemed to think Vikings fans were booing him personally, so he threw up a “let me have it” taunt.

It didn’t end there.

The Vikings miraculously hung on to the Lions game, winning thanks to a mammoth Greg Joseph 54-yard field goal after the team melted down in the 4th Quarter. Following the contest, Breeland had now-deleted thoughts about the treatment from fans.

That puzzling tweet went without punishment as the Vikings trudged forward hoping to reach the .500 mark by the bye week.

Breeland actually played well versus Detroit – you just didn’t know it by the “johnson in mouth” tweet. In Week 6, Breeland performed wonderfully, snatching a pass from Sam Darnold out of the air (near the ground) on the first play of the game for an interception. On the whole, Breeland had a good day at the office in Carolina.

Now, Breeland will be called upon to be the savior of the Vikings secondary rather than the pariah from Weeks 1 through 4. His teammate Patrick Peterson will miss one month due to a hamstring injury, which means more accountability for Breeland. Indeed, Cameron Dantzler (who was gunning for Breeland’s job not long ago) will help out, too, but Breeland immediately becomes the veteran cover corner in Peterson’s absence.

In retrospect – after the cheap heat from Tomasson, the taunting of fans, and the sexual tweet – it makes sense Breeland is coming around to proficiency. It was always more likely he’d rebound to play competently. The man has played in the NFL for eight seasons, and his stinky early performance was not normal for his resume. He’s a veteran with a baseline of steady performance who encountered a rough patch with a new team. It happens.

The only odd part is Breeland seemingly got his act together after the naysayers peppered him with criticism. But if that’s what it took – if it even mattered to him at all – so be it. A productive Breeland is now essential in Patrick Peterson’s absence.

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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