The biggest Vikings news to come out of recent league meeting in Phoenix was Coach Mike Zimmer's candid comments on his two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes who is coming off an injury-filled and less productive season.
"I just don't think he played as well as he can play," Zimmer said. "He needs to play up to his ability level. We're paying him a lot of money. He needs to play up to that contract."
It's not the first time Zimmer has publicly criticized one of his star players. He's singled out Anthony Barr's inconsistency in the past. And of course he was very frank in his critiques of former offensive coordinator John DeFilippo's pass-happy offense last season before firing him with three games left.
I've never been a big fan of a coach or GM calling out players or assistant coaches due to the public embarrassment and hurt feelings that can ensue. The media loves when this happens because it gives them something to talk and write about.
In Zimmer's case, I'm going to give the coach the benefit of the doubt because he knows his players and assistant coaches well enough to understand who he can push with public criticism and who he can't. As an example, when Everson Griffen had his mental health issues last fall that caused him to leave the team for six weeks, Zimmer was totally supportive and obviously didn't hold it against him with the decision by he and GM Rick Spielman to keep Griffen on this year's roster instead of releasing him and saving over $10 million against the salary cap (Griffen did restructure his contract, saving the team $3.8 million that can be at least partially recouped with incentives).
As for Rhodes, his $10.4 million base salary is guaranteed for this season (part of his $14 million per year deal signed in 2017). The hope is that he can overcome the hamstring and groin issues that forced him to miss two games last season (including the playoff-costing season finale loss to the Bears) and limited him in several others. According to Zimmer, Rhodes also needs to return to his proper technique while staying healthy.
Rhodes is a big key to what Zimmer wants to do defensively as he's counted on to single cover the opponent's top receiver. The coach has thrown down the gauntlet to his star corner and it will interesting to watch his 2019 performance.
Another body on the O-line as Brett Jones re-signs:
Jones has re-signed at a lower salary ($850,000) and is expected to backup center Pat Elflein and whoever emerges as starting guards. He had three starts early last season as Elflein recovered from his ankle and shoulder injuries. With the recent signing of free agent guard Josh Kline (who started for the Titans last season), the Vikings now have a little more depth on the troublesome offensive line heading into a critical draft where it will obviously be the focal point.
Offseason program dates announced:
Offseason is a misnomer for coaches and the Vikings staff has been working for the past couple months on tweaking their offensive and defensive systems along with draft preparation work and hosting free agent visits. For the players, vacation time is coming to an end. Several NFL teams with new coaches have already started their offseason programs and the Vikings will begin on April 15 with strength and conditioning workouts. OTAs will be May 21-23, May 28-30 and June 3-6 followed by the team's minicamp on June 11-13.
Around the NFL observations:
1. The new pass interference challenge rule passed at the league meeting will be fascinating to view in action. I like that the league surprisingly addressed this issue by now allowing coaches to challenge pass interference that was either called or not called (as in the infamous case that cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl in their NFC title game loss to the Rams). In the last two minutes of each half and in overtime, these calls/non-calls will be subject to a replay booth review. How often will these coaches challenges or booth reviews take place and will the game be slowed down in the process? With these questions looming, the NFL owners approved this new rule for the upcoming 2019 season only and then will address it again next March.
2. The Odell Beckham press conference in Cleveland this week was comical with his statement that "All I care about is winning" and coming to Cleveland is "the biggest blessing in my life and the start of something great." Will Beckham feel that way if he catches only two balls in a loss in Baltimore or if his rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens decides to pound it on the ground with a fine running back in Nick Chubb and Cleveland's other back Kareem Hunt (once he returns from his eight game suspension for his appalling domestic violence incident)?
Will Kitchens still be professing his love for Beckham when his game plans and play selection are inevitably questioned by the mercurial wide out who is very capable of causing huge distractions--on and off the field-- as he did for five years in New York? Stay tuned--the Browns could be this year's NFL soap opera.
Final Four time: Hope everyone enjoys the Final Four in Minneapolis, a terrific event to showcase the Twin Cities. Hopefully we'll see some great games and happily, it appears that the fans from Michigan State, Texas Tech, Auburn and Virginia will have nice early spring weather while they're in town.