Vikings team president denies team has 'toxic leadership' issue
PHOENIX — Minnesota Vikings owner/president Mark Wilf says he has no concerns about what one recently departed player’s father claimed is “toxic leadership” in the aftermath of last season’s struggles following the team's 5-0 start.
“None at all from an ownership (perspective),” Wilf told a few reporters at the NFL meetings Tuesday. “I’m not sure where that really even comes from. I know how close Coach (Mike) Zimmer and our GM Rick Spielman are, and how great they work together, and how great they communicate with us.”
In a tweet shortly after his son, tight end Rhett Ellison, left the Vikings after five seasons to sign a four-year, $18 million contract with the New York Giants, former NFL linebacker Riki Ellison wrote that an exodus of draft picks is a “statement on toxic leadership” within the organization. Riki Ellison later deleted the tweet but elaborated in an interview with the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press and reiterated his contention there’s only one explanation for players leaving.
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However none of the free agents who left the Vikings were core players, save for left tackle Matt Kalil, who wanted to play with his brother on the Carolina Panthers. The reality is the Vikings could’ve re-signed them, they just didn’t want to overpay.
Riki Ellison has a history of overblown statements on social media. Last year, he posted on Facebook that his son would sign elsewhere in free agency but deleted it after the Vikings re-signed Rhett.
There’s no question the club had some unusual issues last year, including offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s surprise resignation early in the slide toward an 8-8 finish. But Wilf indicated that hasn’t shaken his faith in Zimmer, who coached Minnesota to the NFC North title in 2015.
“Drama is generally not good on a football team,” Wilf said. “To Coach Zimmer’s credit, he has weathered some ups and downs over the last couple seasons incredibly well, and this year will be no different. And I know he’ll do whatever it takes — not just with the strategy or the coaching staff or what have you — to make sure we get back to where we want to be and compete for the division and win playoff games.”
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