Jordan Addison Reemerges
On July 12th, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested near Los Angeles International Airport for suspicion of DUI while asleep in his Rolls-Royce that blocked a lane of freeway traffic.
Jordan Addison Reemerges
Fifty weeks earlier, Minnesota Highway Patrol arrested Addison for driving 140 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, though Addison claimed he had a dog emergency and later paid a small fine for the misdemeanor.
And after much controversy surrounding the most recent infraction, Addison reemerged at Vikings training camp on Wednesday, ready to learn from the mistake, accept his impending consequence, and move on. “Whatever’s out there for me, whatever comes with it, I’ll own up to everything. I feel like anything that comes my way is meant to happen or is deserved,” Addison told reporters.
Two days before, Vikings leaders Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell expressed disappointment in Addison, generally speaking, but preached support for the 22-year-old.
“We’re disappointed in Jordan. We care about these players. We really do. We want to make sure we’re doing our part for the development on the field,” O’Connell said Monday. “The other aspect of that is the off-the-field, the life skills, and the development of decision-making and learning how important it is within our culture — which we’re very proud of — that our players understand personal responsibility and accountability.”
Addison tabulated 70 receptions for 900 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, and Minnesota will need similar or enhanced production in 2024, especially because the top of the WR ticket is top-heavy.
During the chat with reporters, Addison also talked about his teammates’ support, which mirrored the Monday commentary from Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell.
“I was surprised by the support that I received. I didn’t think it was going to be how it was, but it was really important,” Addison mentioned. “I was in the dark place. I was feeling down, and they really uplifted me, uplifted me to come out here and just perform at a high level still. So, through everything that’s going on, I’m going to put it behind me, and I’m still going to perform at a high level, come out here, give the fans what they pay for.”
Addison’s arrest exemplified wickedly poor timing, as his teammate, Khyree Jackson, passed away in a car accident less than a week before, and the driver who struck him is under investigation for alcohol as a possible contributing factor.
Addison concluded, “I’m just going to keep learning. I’m saying that’s all I can do, is just learn from my mistakes and keep moving forward. That’s what it is.”
Most expect Addison to end up with a suspension, though the amount of games of timing is unclear.
Here’s the full exchange:
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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