Former Vikings GM Ignites Beef with NFL Pundit
Dustin Baker
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Rick Spielman hasn’t worked for the Minnesota Vikings in 14 months but still has strong thoughts about the NFL draft process.
So much so that Spielman, who writes for The 33rd Team, ignited a war of words with CBS Sports NFL writer and pundit Pete Prisco this week.
Former Vikings GM Ignites Beef with NFL Pundit
Prisco commented his theory on Twitter that NFL Pro Days for rookies are “useless,” and well, Spielman wasn’t having any of that.
Prisco tweeted Thursday, “Just like Stroud, Bryce Young looked great against the pressure and blitzes he faced today. Really adjusted to the speed of the DBS he faced. These pro days are useless.”
Unafraid of a fight, Spielman clapped back on Twitter, “Poor Pete has no idea how important these pro days are. If Pete doesn’t care about Pro Days why is he watching them on TV? Pete doesn’t understand the draft process. He needs to evolve and PLEASE Learn The Game.”
But that wasn’t all. Prisco responded to Spielman rather spitefully, “Quit stealing my lines. Get something original. If you got something out of Bryce Young throwing today, let me know.”
The Minnesota Vikings won four division titles and reached two NFC Championships on Spielman’s watch while maintaining an otherwise even-steven win-loss standing in the NFL. Spielman joined the franchise in 2006 at the dawn of the Brad Childress era and would add future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson one year later. After that, Spielman and Co. lured Brett Favre to the Vikings for two years, opting for defensive brands of football thereafter with Leslie Frazier and Mike Zimmer.
Minnesota moved on from Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer after the 2021 season, following back-to-back losing seasons in years billed as “all-in” for the Super Bowl. Spielman later interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager job and eventually nestled in as an analyst at the aforementioned 33rd Team last year.
Under Spielman’s management, the Vikings drafted notable players Adrian Peterson (RB), Justin Jefferson (WR), Percy Harvin (WR), Stefon Diggs (WR), Danielle Hunter (EDGE), Eric Kendricks (LB), Dalvin Cook (RB), Everson Griffen (DE), Kyle Rudolph (TE), Harrison Smith (S), Xavier Rhodes (CB), Christian Darrisaw (LT), Anthony Barr (LB), and Cordarrelle Paterson (RB-WR).
He missed on quarterbacks Christian Ponder and Kellen Mond, with a few other non-QB whiffs on Laquon Treadwell (WR), Mike Hughes (CB), and Matt Kalil (OT).
And now we know his affinity for NFL Pro Days — that he’ll evidently defend passionately.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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