Having serious doubts about KAM already?

Sports are supposed to be a distraction from the outside world. If you’re a Vikings fan and a victim of sexual assault, that has been taken away from you. You won’t be able to watch Ed Ingram trot out onto the field without thinking about your own experiences. If Ingram is innocent, then the Vikings haven’t done enough to assuage those concerns. If he isn’t, they’ve attempted to sweep a traumatic experience like yours under the rug for the sake of upgraded pass blocking at guard.

That isn’t to say that I, or anyone, should be unwilling to afford someone accused of a crime the benefit of the doubt. In the right circumstances, we all are. But that’s the kicker: the right circumstances. The benefit of the doubt is not appropriate in all cases.

Victims of sexual assault cannot be expected to support the Vikings without the Vikings taking some proactive steps to re-earn their trust. Even if Ingram is totally innocent, we can’t come to that conclusion with any degree of certainty. That puts the ball in the Vikings’ court, if not Ingram’s himself. The benefit of the doubt is earned, not given.

Adofo-Mensah only assured us that they are at peace with Ingram’s character. That could mean they think he is innocent, or it could mean that they think he is guilty and are okay with it as long as he doesn’t get himself suspended. The Vikings should have no issue telling us which it is, and they shouldn’t expect us to assume that it is the acceptable one. They haven’t earned that.

As an aside, if you want to help, women’s shelters often need daycare volunteers, especially male ones. Children at a women’s shelter are often missing positive male role models in their lives. Here’s a possible opportunity in Rochester, if that’s local to you. Here’s one to donate to, if you’d rather show your support that way. If the Vikings could start some similar initiative, it would help them regain my trust. Even if it’s transparently performative, it would show that they have some semblance of self-awareness.

It’s pretty unlikely that any of that happens, though. The most likely outcome is that nothing further happens in regard to these allegations. Ingram already served a suspension in college, so the NFL likely won’t feel the need to assign one of their own. Legally, the case has been buried for years. Because of this, the Vikings likely won’t feel any need to make any more statements. Unless Ingram commits a separate crime, this whole thing probably blows over, never to be discussed again. Prepare to be as disappointed as that makes you.

If Ingram’s accusations are later revealed to be a total fabrication, I’ll be first in line to change my tune. As long as we’re willing to do that, we don’t have to extend Ingram any benefit of the doubt. We can find a way to press forward despite the uncertainty surrounding the case by examining the dynamics and patterns surrounding it and showing respect to those who have suffered. Unless any more information comes to light, I feel no need to cut any more slack to a football player and team who have done nothing to earn it.