The Minnesota Vikings won't have an easy go of it in the first month of the season, as their mammoth left tackle, Bryant McKinnie, has been suspended for four games.The suspension was first reported early this month, a report the league said was premature. But today the NFL announced that the four-game suspension will, in fact, begin tomorrow and run through the Vikings' September 28 game at Tennessee.
McKinnie's suspension stems from repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy. The most recent violation involved a fight with a nightclub bouncer; he was previously involved in the Vikings' infamous "love boat."
Having McKinnie out will make things particularly difficult for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, an at times skittish passer who relies on McKinnie to protect his blind side. The Vikings want Jackson to learn to look to pass first and run only as a last resort, but that will be hard to do when he's got defensive ends bearing down on him for the first four games.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2008 @ 8:37PM
Michael said...
These people are not little kids. This is their business. If the Vikings don't have someone to step in and protect the blind-side for four games there is a much larger problem at hand. Yes, McKinnie is as good as they get and he cannot be replaced but they can 1) call plays to adjust 2) double team that side or simply 3) do a lot of three step drops on passes and it will be a non-factor for four games. I just don't think the Vikings are that limited in talent to let this affect more than one or two plays per game.
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8-29-2008 @ 10:17PM
§ said...
Is this still America? What ever happened to innocent before proven guilty?
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8-30-2008 @ 9:13AM
ex MN football fan said...
Why don't the football leagues dump these guys? There should be conduct rules. If you break them you are out the door period. No wonder the Vike's have lost their fans. I was one of them. They don't deserve a new stadium until they clean up their team. If they leave MN..so what? I was completely disgusted and ashamed of my team with the Lake Minnetonka boat incident. They lost me then.
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9-10-2008 @ 2:32PM
Powerhouse said...
Tarvaris Jackson with or without protection simply doesn't have what it takes to lead any NFL team to the promiseland. Zigi spends a ton of money on players but doesnt spend $ on the 1 position they suffer at year after year. HEY VIKINGS !!! GET A FRIGGIN QUARTERBACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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