Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s post-game press conference after Sunday’s win over the Rams started with a backhanded remark. And then it continued with a series of uppercuts.
Zimmer started his remarks by pointing out that the Vikings played “clean” on their side of the ball, an obvious slap at the elbow applied by Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner to the head of Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Zimmer then became more direct.
Zimmer pointed to the history of Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended for a year due to the New Orleans bounty program that he initiated and maintained. The bounty scandal came to a head against the Vikings in the 2009 NFC title game, during which the Saints bruised and battered former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre.
Zimmer also said, “If we were on the street, we probably would have had a fight.”
Indeed, it almost looked like Zimmer was ready to throw down his headset and battery pack and mix it up after Joyner knocked Bridgewater out of the game. Zimmer called the blow a “cheap shot” in his press conference.
Bridgewater, who was knocked out for several seconds after the elbow hit his head and his head hit the ground, has a concussion. He’ll have to receive clearance from an independent neurologist to play at Oakland next week.
