Kris Boyd’s Explicit Farewell Present to Mike Zimmer
Janik Eckardt
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After missing the postseason for the second consecutive season, the Vikings ownership thought that changes were necessary. The organization fired general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer right after the final game of the season. The initial reaction from players led fans to believe that Zimmer wasn’t a player´s coach and that the players were relieved by the news. Eric Kendricks had the following to say:
“I don’t think that a fear-based organization is the way to go.”
– Linebacker Eric Kendricks after the departure of the old regime
A few months later, more players make comparable comments about their old boss. Apparently, the franchise was even more dysfunctional than outsiders knew.
Explicit Comments by Kris Boyd
Kris Boyd was drafted in the seventh round of the 2019 draft and appeared in 41 games during his three-year career, including six starts. In the NFL, Zimmer was the only head coach the cornerback has ever had. However, now that he started to work under his new coach, Kevin O’Connell, he can compare the two, and the result does not favor the defensive coach, Zimmer. He spoke about the old regime in the ‘All Things Covered‘ podcast, the podcast that features his Vikings teammate, Patrick Peterson.
“They would walk around with their a**holes, like, tight.”
– Kris Boyd, appartently not missing former coach
Zimmer, at times, appeared like a tough coach with a “my way or the highway” mindset. If players didn’t do their job exactly like he wanted it to be done, they were in trouble. Those players were regularly cut or benched, which came across to fans as if Zimmer tried to hold players back. Instead, he wanted them to play his way.
“[They] would always be strict about everything. Any time you messed up it’s like the world ended. KO and them, they way more chill, way more relaxed. Whatever we gotta get fixed, we gon’ fix it. We gon’ keep rolling … we gon’ bounce back, figure it out. [They changed] the whole vibe, everybody’s way more relaxed. As a defense, as a whole team, the vibe, nobody’s really worried about too much. Like we really there to enjoy football and learn and just be the best us.”
– Kris Boyd, excited about new coaching style
The best example of that is Daniel Carlson. In the 2018 draft, GM Spielman selected the kicker in the fifth round. In just his second game, he missed multiple kicks against the Packers and was immediately cut. The Raiders signed him, and he is a back-to-back scoring leader in the NFL in 2020 and 2021, combined with second-team All-Pro honors.
Boyd Is Not Perfect
Boyd’s play hasn’t always been flawless. At times, he made some really bad plays, and Zimmer didn’t like it. For example, in the 2021 season, he drew a flag for taunting in the game against the Steelers. A play that made a big difference in the comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. It would’ve been one of the biggest comebacks in NFL history, down 29 points. It was 2nd and 10 when he made a big tackle for loss, which resulted in a 3rd and long before he was flagged.
However, he’s still a young player that deserves more chances. Players are humans, and humans make mistakes. Coaches can and should be hard on them but have to forgive them sooner rather than later to fix the issues.
Zimmer’s Doghouses
Boyd was not the only young player that had issues with Zimmer. Cameron Dantzler was the best cornerback on the team in 2020. The third-round selection of the same year looked like a true shutdown cornerback at the end of his rookie campaign. However, the Vikings didn’t only sign Bashaud Breeland in free agency of the following year — they also started Breeland over Dantzler, even after Breeland had some horrible performances.
Confidence is a very important part of a cornerback’s game. Zimmer, as a ‘defensive back guru,’ has to know that and make sure that his cornerbacks have that confidence. Dantzler, however, wasn’t performing poorly, yet still, Breeland got the nod over him. Per PFF, Breeland was the 111th best of eligible cornerbacks in the NFL, while Dantzler finished 17th, which explains his frustration.
Kellen Mond
Besides Dantzler and Boyd, another young player didn’t like how he was treated — Kellen Mond. The quarterback was a third-round pick in 2021, one year after Dantzler. Mond was the backup of Kirk Cousins. Historically, that job doesn’t provide much playing time because of Cousins’ durability. In Week 17, when Kirk Cousins missed the game against the Packers with COVID, Zimmer started Sean Mannion. Granted, if he thinks Mannion is the better option in a must-win primetime game in a cold Lambeau Field, he possibly was right. But the story continued when Zimmer was asked if he wanted to see Kellen Mond in the meaningless Week 18 game against the Bears. His answer was a short one that drew national attention: “Not particularly.”
Chris Tomasson from the Pioneer Press talked with Kellen’s father, Kevin:
If the rumors are true, Spielman wanted Mond, but Zimmer didn’t, as he wanted a defensive player. That’s why Mond never had a chance under his new head coach. Based on Mond’s draft position, in the third round, he should’ve been the backup quarterback. However, Zimmer brought in Sean Mannion. Anyone knew that if Kirk Cousins goes down, the season is over. That’s the perfect time to let your young quarterback get experience in the NFL over the not very dynamic veteran Mannion. Mannion playing in Week 17 and Cousins playing the full Week 18 game, almost confirms the doghouse theory.
Mond is obviously happy to have a new head coach and get a new chance. Kevin O’Connell now has a full year to tutor Mond before the organization has to decide on the successor of Cousins.
Vikings Players Like the New Staff
All players get asked about the new regime and the positive vibe in the building. And all of them agree that it’s an important upgrade, maybe it’s even the most important change in the offseason. Boyd has to prove now that he can play better, as he continued after the comments about Zimmer when he was asked which team is better, 2021 or 2022:
“This one. Because I’m better than the last year Kris Boyd. If I’m better than the last year Kris Boyd, then my team gon’ be better. “
– Kris Boyd
Ultimately, the change of coaching was necessary. The climate in the Vikings’ building was toxic, and the players appear to be much more comfortable now, which should lead to an improved level of play.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who has a fable for numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings as his favorite team, despite Christian Ponder being the quarterback at the time. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Arguing about the Vikings on Twitter is one of his favorite things to do. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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