Mike Zimmer is an easy target, but the Vikings locker room needs an overhaul too – SKOR North

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November 21, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​(8) and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith (91) in action at US Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker – USA TODAY Sports

There seems to be a dangerous assumption developing among some fans following the firing of Mike Zimmer as Vikings coach last Monday. It’s that the Boogeyman has been kicked out, and as a result, what was bothering the Vikings is now gone.

While Zimmer’s firing, along with the decision to let GM Rick Spielman go, were the right calls from the property, to think Zimmer’s departure will solve all the problems at the TCO Performance Center is to miss. the overview.

Fans who paid their hard-earned cash for Vikings jerseys with some longtime players’ names and numbers on the back might not like it, but the cleanup process has only just begun. Once the new general manager and coach walks through the door, we should look forward to a few years of roster rebuilding that will say goodbye to many of the players that Spielman and Zimmer have found essential to the team.

Yes, that will almost certainly include overpaid quarterback Kirk Cousins. Spielman thought Cousins ​​would be the answer – he’s got a great score – while Zimmer seemed uninterested in coaching him. The new GM/coach duo, who better be on the same page from day one, are much more likely to decide they need to find their own quarterback (preferably in the draft) and that Cousins ​​can take its statistical output elsewhere.

Zimmer, meanwhile, is likely relaxing on his Kentucky ranch, sipping expensive red wine, oblivious to the fact that fans in his former state of employment now blame him for everything that went wrong at Minnesota Sports.

That was especially true Sunday morning after the Vikings beat Star Tribune writer Ben Goessling, who documented several issues Zimmer faced during his eight seasons in Minnesota. This came from the testimonies of more than 20 people who are part of the team or close to it, who were granted anonymity. Goessling took an interesting look at Zimmer’s tenure and many of his missteps, but that doesn’t mean the coach was the only problem.

Morning Judd: Sports Dad delivers surly sermon on why no one should assume Mike Zimmer’s departure means the #Vikings are fixed

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— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) January 16, 2022

It is unlikely that some of the problems with this organization did not extend to the dressing room and cause problems. That’s how things go. Fans may be wondering how the media missed all of this, but remember media are no longer allowed into the dressing rooms due to COVID-19 restrictions. This way the team can try to keep a happy face and ensure that any disgruntled people never come near a microphone.

The only way to get a real read on what anyone thought of Spielman, Zimmer, Cousins ​​or anyone else would have been to have a quiet conversation with a player in the locker room for a period to lunch. It used to be common practice. Having covered the NFL from 2003 to 2010, I can tell you that it’s highly unlikely that this team’s locker room was a harmonious place and everyone thought the quarterback was great.

What was the extent of the malfunction? Well, consider everything that’s come out since Zimmer and Spielman were fired. It’s often worse than you think and you only find out after the fact.

It will be up to the new brain trust to hand over to veterans they consider to be aging or not part of their plan to restore the chemistry that has been lost. The obvious decision is to try swapping cousins, not only to free up space on the salary cap, but also to set a new tone on and off the pitch.

For now, most of the blame will be directed at Zimmer. He’s an easy target and he deserves a lot of criticism. But the changes are probably just beginning, and Cousins ​​is the last man standing when it comes to the trio of Spielman, Zimmer, and Kirk. Chances are none of them will work for the Vikings at the start of the regular season.

The only question is what will be said about Cousins ​​when he comes out and how many people currently in his fan club will claim they never liked him anyway?

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