Did Mike Zimmer mention the Vikings as he was leaving? “Oh my god no. I was sacked by them.
Mike Zimmer, a former coach of the Vikings, is back in the NFL as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. In an interview with Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he revealed that, rather than looking forward, he recently took some time to reflect back.
After eight seasons and a 74-59-1 record (postseason included), Zimmer was fired. When he found out he was out, ownership questioned him.
Zimmer said to Craig, “They asked me if I wanted to address the team.” And I responded, ‘Hell no,’. I was sacked by them.
In actuality, Zimmer fired himself. He is in charge of the group. He bears the final say in matters. (He assigns other reasons for the firing than the team. Rick Spielman, the G.M., is undoubtedly also to blame. Zimmer has strong enough statements regarding that relationship to stand alone in a blurb.)
Furthermore, Zimmer’s final roster didn’t differ all that much from the team that finished 13-4 the following season. He might not have noticed, of course.
Zimmer declared, “I haven’t watched a Minnesota game since.”
This year, that will all change at some point. The Cowboys don’t have Minnesota on their schedule, but he will undoubtedly be watching footage on their next opponent from a game they won against the Vikings.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins would also take a big piece of the criticism from Zimmer. In light of Zimmer’s genuine feelings toward Cousins, it’s somewhat strange that Zimmer didn’t directly single them out for criticism when speaking with Craig. Perhaps Zimmer didn’t want to add any more incentive for Cousins to get together in Atlanta for the Week 9 reunion.
The clearest example of the Cousins-Zimmer dynamic was a celebration off-field that resembled the start of a brawl on the street, with Cousins pushing Zimmer and Zimmer pushing him back. The error was made by Vikings radio announcer Paul Allen, who correctly noted that Zimmer “snapped” at that precise moment.
Zimmer said to Craig, “I just wasn’t happy with what PA said.” “It is our intention to be buddies. How come you had to mention me? Regretfully, I harbor resentment. That’s just my personality.
That he knows this is a positive thing. It is not in his best interests to adapt. It’s most likely one of the reasons he took so long to be hired as a head coach in the first place.
In any case, Zimmer’s new employer appreciates his straightforward, candid approach.
“Zim is a precise shooter with minimal filler,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy informed Craig. “More of it is needed for this generation.”
They may not want it, but they might need it. They are also free to refuse to put up with it. Many of them will not.
Is it going to work? That is contingent upon the Cowboys’ outcome. The players will accept it if they do. If they don’t, he will eventually be able to hold them accountable for his termination as well.
