For any of you who might not yet have developed a strong distaste for the Minnesota Vikings, this may help.
Less than a week ago, I shared what coach Mike Zimmer had to say about the vicious and dirty hit by Vikings’ linebacker Anthony Barr that broke Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone. Zimmer thought Barr’s hit was “above board,” that it wasn’t dirty, and “We’ll never be a dirty football team as long as I’m here.”
Zimmer’s promise was short-lived. On Monday the league suspended Vikings’ linebacker Andrew Sendejo for one game for an illegal hit on Sunday on Ravens veteran receiver Mike Wallace. Sendejo was given an unnecessary roughness penalty by the refs, who couldn’t help but see that Wallace’s helmet flew off during the hit. Xavier Rhodes, the first Viking to contact Wallace, already had both of Wallace’s arms pinned from behind and was pulling him to the ground when Sendejo smashed into a defenseless Wallace, helmet to helmet.
The league euphemistically called it a “violation of safety-related player rules.” Wallace missed the rest of the game and is in the concussion protocol.
The NFL’s letter sent to Sendejo read as follows: “The violation was flagrant and warrants a suspension because it could have been avoided, was violently directed at the head and neck area and unreasonably placed both you and an opposing player at risk of serious injury.”
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Sendejo is already planning to appeal the suspension. I’ve since heard, however, that Sendejo will not be flying to London for the Vikings’ next game.
Here’s the play.
Here’s how Zimmer saw it: “I think the receiver took five steps after he caught the ball and I think [Sendejo] hit him with a glancing blow.”
Remember when Zimmer had all those eye surgeries last year? It doesn’t seem to have improved his vision a bit.