Vikings’ Update on Jordan Addison Isn’t Ideal
It definitely wasn’t a “misunderstanding” or a medical emergency.
Vikings’ Update on Jordan Addison Isn’t Ideal
That was information gleaned from the Minnesota Vikings press conference on Monday regarding wide receiver Jordan Addison, who was arrested by California Highway Patrol on July 12th for a suspicion of DUI while asleep in his Rolls-Royce blocking a lane of freeway traffic.
“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 at the start of training camp. “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.”
Last July, Minnesota Highway Patrol arrested Addison for driving 140 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. July is not a good month for the young playmaker. He later pleaded the reckless driving charge down to a misdemeanor and paid a $686 fine.
Until Monday, a few Vikings fans waited to hear “all the facts” about Addison’s arrest, holding out hope that the ordeal was a strange misconception. All that went out the window when O’Connell expressed disappointment over the incident. The man did something wrong, which makes sense because blocking a lane of freeway traffic, accompanied by a suspicion of DUI charge, is rarely accidental.
O’Connell added, “You wrap your arms around these guys, and you ensure that they know that we care. But at the same time they have to hear those messages and they have to understand things that are not going to be acceptable.”
Thereafter, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke on Addison’s legal matter, praised Addison’s solid family background and upbringing, and claimed Addison let the organization down.
But he added, “Using words like discipline and different things like that, we don’t really talk about it like that inside these walls. Inside these walls, it’s about designing for the outcome we want. The outcome we want is for Jordan to be the best version of himself on the field and off the field, and he has bought into that same exact thing. So, how do you do that from a planned standpoint?”
Addison is unlikely to skate this most recent infraction scot-free — like he did with the 2023 reckless driving. And per the Vikings’ foremost leaders, the punishment — probably a suspension — will be determined by the NFL.
You should fully expect an Addison suspension (or a humongous fine, at the very least).
On the current depth chart, Brandon Powell would be the next man up if Addison were suspended.
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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