Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Aug 13, 2022 20:19:05 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this

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Post by Reignman on Aug 13, 2022 20:19:05 GMT -6

Overblown in what context? It's pretty clear the 2 never got along. Were they having fist fights or heated arguments? No, but it's not overblown in terms of how a HC and QB should get along in today's NFL. It's a very important relationship and these 2 definitely weren't on the same page. Which should be a huge deal. Cool, our HC and QB aren't getting along ... said nobody ... ever.

Aug 11, 2022 7:55:17 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

You repeatedly sticking up for Zimmer is ONE STRANGE TWIST.

What alternate reality am I in now anyway lol? PK sticking up for Zimmer and Funkster throwing him under the bus.

Aug 13, 2022 16:42:57 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Aside from Zimmer being grumpy, things are a lot different with the team, and world, compared to a year ago.

Aug 13, 2022 16:27:42 GMT -6 SiteWolf said:

Regardless of how you feel about Cousins as a QB, nobody can deny he's genuine, careful with his words, well spoken, and business minded.

I don't think anyone has denied those things. In fact, he's too careful about everything. He's risk averse, and that's what a lot of us "haters" believe is holding him back. He'd rather not risk throwing a back breaking INT, possibly getting blamed, than try to make a play, like throwing a ball into the 20th row at the end of a half or game when an INT doesn't matter anyway. Besides, careful/business minded would be the opposite of genuine lol. Genuine would be synonymous with honesty, and I don't think you're going to find many people who believe Cousins and Zimmer got along.

Zimmer is even on record saying he never wanted Cousins or his contract because it would affect his precious defense and lead to his termination, and I imagine he held some resentment because of it. Look what Zimmer said about Mond last year, and he wasn't shy about it, so I can only imagine how he felt about the guy who he holds responsible for the decline of his defense. He was 39-25 (.609) with 2 division titles in 4 years without Cousins, and 33-31-1 (.515) with 0 division titles with Cousins, so he might have a point.

FFS am I defending Zimmer now too? *suicide*

Aug 8, 2024 18:42:12 GMT -6 whoskmoon said:

if sitting and watching something versus actually doing it made a person great at it, Reignman would be the next Ron Jeremy.

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Aug 13, 2022 22:02:56 GMT -6

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Post by Oracle Bone Diviner on Aug 13, 2022 22:02:56 GMT -6

Aug 13, 2022 20:19:05 GMT -6 Reignman said:

Overblown in what context? It's pretty clear the 2 never got along. Were they having fist fights or heated arguments? No, but it's not overblown in terms of how a HC and QB should get along in today's NFL. It's a very important relationship and these 2 definitely weren't on the same page. Which should be a huge deal. Cool, our HC and QB aren't getting along ... said nobody ... ever.

Aug 11, 2022 7:55:17 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

You repeatedly sticking up for Zimmer is ONE STRANGE TWIST.

What alternate reality am I in now anyway lol? PK sticking up for Zimmer and Funkster throwing him under the bus.

Aug 13, 2022 16:42:57 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Aside from Zimmer being grumpy, things are a lot different with the team, and world, compared to a year ago.

Aug 13, 2022 16:27:42 GMT -6 SiteWolf said:

Regardless of how you feel about Cousins as a QB, nobody can deny he's genuine, careful with his words, well spoken, and business minded.

I don't think anyone has denied those things. In fact, he's too careful about everything. He's risk averse, and that's what a lot of us "haters" believe is holding him back. He'd rather not risk throwing a back breaking INT, possibly getting blamed, than try to make a play, like throwing a ball into the 20th row at the end of a half or game when an INT doesn't matter anyway. Besides, careful/business minded would be the opposite of genuine lol. Genuine would be synonymous with honesty, and I don't think you're going to find many people who believe Cousins and Zimmer got along.

Zimmer is even on record saying he never wanted Cousins or his contract because it would affect his precious defense and lead to his termination, and I imagine he held some resentment because of it. Look what Zimmer said about Mond last year, and he wasn't shy about it, so I can only imagine how he felt about the guy who he holds responsible for the decline of his defense. He was 39-25 (.609) with 2 division titles in 4 years without Cousins, and 33-31-1 (.515) with 0 division titles with Cousins, so he might have a point.

FFS am I defending Zimmer now too? *suicide*

No, you're just throwing Kirk under a bigger bus.

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Aug 14, 2022 0:21:49 GMT -6

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Post by dauntessmallhands on Aug 14, 2022 0:21:49 GMT -6

Aug 13, 2022 20:19:05 GMT -6 Reignman said:

Zimmer is even on record saying he never wanted Cousins or his contract because it would affect his precious defense and lead to his termination, and I imagine he held some resentment because of it. Look what Zimmer said about Mond last year, and he wasn't shy about it, so I can only imagine how he felt about the guy who he holds responsible for the decline of his defense. He was 39-25 (.609) with 2 division titles in 4 years without Cousins, and 33-31-1 (.515) with 0 division titles with Cousins, so he might have a point.

I'm sure there have been threads upon threads that predate me, but what do we think the defense would have looked like if part of Kirk's salary went there and we had a lesser or different QB?

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Aug 15, 2022 14:51:34 GMT -6

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Post by andhesloose28 on Aug 15, 2022 14:51:34 GMT -6

Aug 14, 2022 0:21:49 GMT -6 dauntessmallhands said:

Aug 13, 2022 20:19:05 GMT -6 Reignman said:

Zimmer is even on record saying he never wanted Cousins or his contract because it would affect his precious defense and lead to his termination, and I imagine he held some resentment because of it. Look what Zimmer said about Mond last year, and he wasn't shy about it, so I can only imagine how he felt about the guy who he holds responsible for the decline of his defense. He was 39-25 (.609) with 2 division titles in 4 years without Cousins, and 33-31-1 (.515) with 0 division titles with Cousins, so he might have a point.

I'm sure there have been threads upon threads that predate me, but what do we think the defense would have looked like if part of Kirk's salary went there and we had a lesser or different QB?

I dont really think it wouldve looked much different. Sure we maybe wouldve been able to lure a FA or two for that 2018 season but it wouldve eventually crumbled back down. The real reason we declined is our draft picks havent hit on the defensive side in years. Dont forget we built that defense from the ground up. The only real impactful FA during the Zim era on D was Linval Joseph. And yes it was a big one but he didnt break the bank anyway so I dont want to hear Kirks contract was the reason of decline. You have picks like Hughes and (rip) Gladney, the hero 4th round OL/DL picks that never pan out, and then we actually started to hit on some offensive players, JJ, Oneil, Darrisaw.

Dont get me wrong Zim ended up being right he really wasnt a fit with how this team was built, terrible pass protection on the Oline. But I really dont think we wouldve ended up any better UNLESS we went with a full rest in say 2020.

EDIT: Wow its even worse than I thought. We havent drafted a truly meaningful player since 2015 on the defensive side. I can maybe give you Mac Alexander in 2016 he had some ok years, but after that our "best" picks are Watts in the 6th round in 2019 and I guess Cam Danztler in 2020. So if you want the real reason for our decline in defense its that our players have gotten older and we haven't reloaded them in the draft.

Last Edit: Aug 15, 2022 14:58:05 GMT -6 by andhesloose28

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 11:16:11 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by Funkytown on Sept 2, 2022 11:16:11 GMT -6

And now this:

Edit:

Krauser posted a bit more:

People be acting like Zimmer is Urban Meyer or something.

With a tint of hyperbole, one of Zimmer’s former coordinators predicts immediate success for the 2022 Vikings. “Because,” this coach says, “the devil’s gone. Satan is out of the building.”

Wow... speaking of pressure, the pressure is on with all this "he was the reason" stuff...

Instant Super Bowl contenders! SKOL!

Last Edit: Sept 2, 2022 11:49:32 GMT -6 by Funkytown

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 12:57:34 GMT -6 Funkytown and suncoastvike like this

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Post by MidwinterViking on Sept 2, 2022 12:57:34 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 11:16:11 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

People be acting like Zimmer is Urban Meyer or something.

Really? I didn't know Zimmer has a tacky steakhouse.

Sept 2, 2022 11:16:11 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

With a tint of hyperbole, one of Zimmer’s former coordinators predicts immediate success for the 2022 Vikings. “Because,” this coach says, “the devil’s gone. Satan is out of the building.”

Wow... speaking of pressure, the pressure is on with all this "he was the reason" stuff...

Instant Super Bowl contenders! SKOL!

On the serious side, this is a huge question about the 2022 season. On one hand, football is hard, it is necessary to have intensity to play at the edge of performance. However, that said, there can be a negative impact to real world performance if a leader leans of anger / fear too heavily as a leadership tool.

On the negative side fear, it can cause people to make mistakes they shouldn't make:

Brain processing and reactivity. Fear can interrupt processes in our brains that allow us to regulate emotions, read non-verbal cues and other information presented to us, reflect before acting, and act ethically. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways, leaving us susceptible to intense emotions and impulsive reactions. All of these effects can leave us unable to act appropriately.
Impact of Fear and Anxiety

I don't know how far that would go, players wouldn't be fearing for their lives, but if they are constantly afraid of making mistakes, it is reasonable to think that would lower performance in a game that requires high precision. "All of these effects can leave us unable to act appropriately." Seems exactly like a "You like that outburst" on the sideline.

I think the bigger potential impact is on the positive side.

When employees feel comfortable asking for help, sharing suggestions informally, or challenging the status quo without fear of negative social consequences, organizations are more likely to innovate quickly, unlock the benefits of diversity, and adapt well to change
Psychological safety and the critical role of leadership development

McKinsey is a business leadership company, but the the concept of managing people doing complex tasks is the same. The Vikings are just a business that asks players to understand playbooks, and run football plays. They just call managers "coaches". It's all about getting people to perform a task slightly faster with fewer mistakes.

All of this thread looks like there area lot of symptoms of bad management. Kevin O'Connell at least has a chance to improve that. It doesn't guarantee improvement because he could bring a different set of issues, but it's fair to suggest there is upside to performance based on coaching style.

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 13:20:12 GMT -6

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Post by Funkytown on Sept 2, 2022 13:20:12 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 12:57:34 GMT -6 MidwinterViking said:

All of this thread looks like there area lot of symptoms of bad management. Kevin O'Connell at least has a chance to improve that. It doesn't guarantee improvement because he could bring a different set of issues, but it's fair to suggest there is upside to performance based on coaching style.

Initially, especially after things have gone sour, everyone always loves the "newbies". It's just interesting to me that, 8 months later, this is still a thing. Why not get it all out in January and February? And can't someone show KAM and KO love without making Spielman and Zimmer seem like the most incompetent people ever? It's not like we didn't have some good teams and some good times. Yeah, things didn't work out. Tension built as things began to fall apart. When people are extremely stressed, they are no fun to be around. That's life.

Could Spielman and Zimmer have handled things better? Been nicer? Been more professional? Of course. But to continue to paint this picture? We're literally playing the Packers NEXT WEEKEND! Why is this still coming up? For me, it just puts a TON of unnecessary pressure on KO and the team. I said this from day one: this "competitive rebuild" better work, because there is no one else to blame. It's especially true now that people continue to come out and bash Zimmer as if it was literally all his fault. PROVE IT! Come out and win 11 or 12 games. Win in the playoffs. If that doesn't happen, ... who is to blame?

Last Edit: Sept 2, 2022 13:23:25 GMT -6 by Funkytown

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 14:15:05 GMT -6 Funkytown and Krauser like this

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Post by MidwinterViking on Sept 2, 2022 14:15:05 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 13:20:12 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Sept 2, 2022 12:57:34 GMT -6 MidwinterViking said:

All of this thread looks like there area lot of symptoms of bad management. Kevin O'Connell at least has a chance to improve that. It doesn't guarantee improvement because he could bring a different set of issues, but it's fair to suggest there is upside to performance based on coaching style.

Initially, especially after things have gone sour, everyone always loves the "newbies". It's just interesting to me that, 8 months later, this is still a thing. Why not get it all out in January and February? And can't someone show KAM and KO love without making Spielman and Zimmer seem like the most incompetent people ever? It's not like we didn't have some good teams and some good times. Yeah, things didn't work out. Tension built as things began to fall apart. When people are extremely stressed, they are no fun to be around. That's life.

Could Spielman and Zimmer have handled things better? Been nicer? Been more professional? Of course. But to continue to paint this picture? We're literally playing the Packers NEXT WEEKEND! Why is this still coming up? For me, it just puts a TON of unnecessary pressure on KO and the team. I said this from day one: this "competitive rebuild" better work, because there is no one else to blame. It's especially true now that people continue to come out and bash Zimmer as if it was literally all his fault. PROVE IT! Come out and win 11 or 12 games. Win in the playoffs. If that doesn't happen, ... who is to blame?

I think there are two reasons:

Like it or not, this is one of the top few things that could impact performance. If I were raking the largest potential for improvement to the Vikings over 2021 I would rank them:
1) Get a better edge rush (doesn't matter the reason, injuries depth)
2) Get better results from short passing play design
3) Clean up unnecessary mistakes (this is where Zimmer's coaching style becomes relevant)

With games starting next week, it's highly relevant to wonder how the team will come out of the gate. In 2021, the team came out in a haze and completely screwed themselves in the first half against the Bengals before going toe-to-toe with a Super Bowl team in the second half. The game against the Packers is huge, and I think it's a legitimate question to ask if the players weren't focused or if coaching style played a factor in that Bengals performance. If Zimmer was so down on guys that it was affecting their focus, "what went wrong under Zimmer" is probably more relevant this week than most of the rest of the offseason.

Second reason is the NFL is a very small world. Players would have every incentive to not say anything negative about a person in that circle who has a position of power. And even if Zimmer came back as a Defensive Coordinator, that would absolutely be a position of power. When Zimmer took a job at Jackson State, to me, it signaled that he was done with the NFL and no longer someone's potential next boss.

The second reason has a broader possibility that I'm curious about: How many coaches out there are like Zimmer? Are players really interested in Zimmer or are they roasting him as a warning for others in the NFL? For example, I heard Brian Flores was a similar style hard-ass in Miami, or Dan Campbell with the Lions. Any player could end up with Flores or Campbell as their boss next year (or next week). I'm sure there is nothing like an employee survey in the NFL, but a player might say: "Working for Zimmer sucked!" and under their breath "just like these other 5 guys I can't name".

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 14:48:46 GMT -6 kmillard likes this

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Post by Funkytown on Sept 2, 2022 14:48:46 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 14:15:05 GMT -6 MidwinterViking said:

The second reason has a broader possibility that I'm curious about: How many coaches out there are like Zimmer? Are players really interested in Zimmer or are they roasting him as a warning for others in the NFL? For example, I heard Brian Flores was a similar style hard-ass in Miami, or Dan Campbell with the Lions. Any player could end up with Flores or Campbell as their boss next year (or next week). I'm sure there is nothing like an employee survey in the NFL, but a player might say: "Working for Zimmer sucked!" and under their breath "just like these other 5 guys I can't name";

That's kind of my point. Not everyone in the NFL is Leslie Frazier. These guys are football players. If they want rainbows and lollipops, maybe do ballet? Okay, I'm being a butt. But seriously, this is a violent sport. There are going to be different personalities. Remember when Tice said he walked away because players don't want to be coached anymore? And Roethlisberger's recent comments about young guys being coddled in recent years? Times are changing, sure, but is it all for the best? I don't think so. There are always going to be those "old school" personalities in the NFL. No - no one likes someone who is grumpy all the time, but there was a cure: just win, baby. Zimmer had his shortcomings, obviously, but, so many close games last year? No one can tell me that there weren't moments that the players could have made the difference. We all know there were; and we can name some of the key moments. Those players step up, and we make the playoffs. It's really that simple. Time will tell if it was all Zimmer. My guess? It wasn't. But if it was, the Vikes are finally a serious contender over the next few years and we all win.

Last Edit: Sept 2, 2022 14:50:31 GMT -6 by Funkytown

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 19:04:57 GMT -6 suncoastvike likes this

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Post by Krauser on Sept 2, 2022 19:04:57 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 13:20:12 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

It's especially true now that people continue to come out and bash Zimmer as if it was literally all his fault. PROVE IT

It's not O'Connell or the current players bashing Zimmer.

Most of the article is sourced to his former colleagues and previous players like Newman or to people close to the team like Leber. If Gary Kubiak or Jerry Gray or Kevin Stefanski (some of those potential anonymous sources) think Zimmer is toxic and had a negative effect on the team, that's newsworthy.

We're not talking about ancient history -- Dunne was in Vikings camp in June and July and is asking about events from late last year.

Sept 2, 2022 14:48:46 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

There are always going to be those "old school" personalities in the NFL.

You should read the actual article, this point is addressed.

It's not like Terrance Newman (drafted by Bill Parcells in 2003) is an Millennial who can't hear the coach because he's got his AirPods in. Ben Leber was born in 1978 and played for Wade Phillips in San Diego, not exactly a cutting edge modern coach. Those are some of the guys saying Zimmer had gone beyond the pale, and hurt the team in the process -- and they're putting their names to those quotes.

I recommend reading the full 2 part article. It doesn't skirt the questions that have been raised in response (how good are the players really, is Cousins actually able to win in the clutch, will O'Connell's new culture hold up after they lose a few games and things aren't going well, etc). It addresses those points directly.

Go Long is very good even if most of their content focuses on the Bills and Packers. Bob McGinn writes there now -- he's as an old-school football journalist who puts together very blunt draft takes in discussions with multiple scouts, and covers the Packers with a deep and abiding hatred of Aaron Rodgers.

Last Edit: Sept 2, 2022 19:07:07 GMT -6 by Krauser

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 19:19:03 GMT -6 via mobile kmillard likes this

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Post by Funkytown on Sept 2, 2022 19:19:03 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 19:04:57 GMT -6 Krauser said:

Sept 2, 2022 13:20:12 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

It's especially true now that people continue to come out and bash Zimmer as if it was literally all his fault. PROVE IT

It's not O'Connell or the current players bashing Zimmer.

Most of the article is sourced to his former colleagues and previous players like Newman or to people close to the team like Leber. If Gary Kubiak or Jerry Gray or Kevin Stefanski (some of those potential anonymous sources) think Zimmer is toxic and had a negative effect on the team, that's newsworthy.

We're not talking about ancient history -- Dunne was in Vikings camp in June and July and is asking about events from late last year.

Sept 2, 2022 14:48:46 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

There are always going to be those "old school" personalities in the NFL.

You should read the actual article, this point is addressed.

It's not like Terrance Newman (drafted by Bill Parcells in 2003) is an Millennial who can't hear the coach because he's got his AirPods in. Ben Leber was born in 1978 and played for Wade Phillips in San Diego, not exactly a cutting edge modern coach. Those are some of the guys saying Zimmer had gone beyond the pale, and hurt the team in the process -- and they're putting their names to those quotes.

I recommend reading the full 2 part article. It doesn't skirt the questions that have been raised in response (how good are the players really, is Cousins actually able to win in the clutch, will O'Connell's new culture hold up after they lose a few games and things aren't going well, etc). It addresses those points directly.

Go Long is very good even if most of their content focuses on the Bills and Packers. Bob McGinn writes there now -- he's as an old-school football journalist who puts together very blunt draft takes in discussions with multiple scouts, and covers the Packers with a deep and abiding hatred of Aaron Rodgers.

I would have liked to read the whole piece, but I don't want to pay for another subscription that doesn't include regular Vikings coverage.

I know it's not KO or anyone from the current regime drawing attention this. Current players have not officially bashed him, no, but have some taken some not-so-subtle jabs? Absolutely. That's why this is still a story. Because of those comments made, people want to continue diving in. They want the juicy details. And in addition to the "competitive rebuild" stuff, it's creating a lot of pressure on KO and the team to come out and prove they're contenders. A big win in Week 1 would be a good start.

Last Edit: Sept 2, 2022 19:20:18 GMT -6 by Funkytown

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 19:49:22 GMT -6 Funkytown, kmillard, and 1 more like this

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Post by Uncle on Sept 2, 2022 19:49:22 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 14:48:46 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

These guys are football players. If they want rainbows and lollipops, maybe do ballet?

Funkytown , I hear ya on this. I'm a little bit more "old school" and prefer straight-up accountability and people just doing their jobs without having to hold hands...

Quite honestly, after the timid Leslie era, I was pumped when I saw this clip:

(warning:profanity-laced):

streamable.com/n0ezi7

One of things that Tyler Dunne piece pointed out was that Zimmer's fiery passion didn't seem to stop on the football field though, and as Krauser mentioned, it perhaps went beyond the football field...

From Part 2 of Dunne's article:

On our Go Long training camp tour this summer, I ran into Spielman — the longtime GM is now an analyst for CBS Sports — and, no, he’d rather not discuss the internal turmoil. Several sources repeat just how terribly Zimmer treated Spielman behind the scenes but Spielman doesn’t want to go there.

I think it's Ok to rip into players during the game if they need some add'l motivation and they aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing (to quote Zimmer, "I told ya this f*@$in' QB runs...keep him in the f*^#in' pocket...you got me?"), but it seems from players and others that Zimmer's fire went beyond the field and became the norm in the building, and if his fiery passion was the norm all-the-time, then it become less-and-less effective on the field during games...I'm sure the first time Barr and Kendricks got the riot act (like the Bengals got in that clip), they straightened their games out on the field...after a while of constant F-bombs and fire day-in and day-out, they might have tuned it out...

suncoastvike Moderator Some say I'm too laid back. Really, I'm just too lazy to argue with them. Posts: 10,642 Likes: 7,201	Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 20:34:06 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by suncoastvike on Sept 2, 2022 20:34:06 GMT -6 Sooo...Zimmer could kinda be a jerk? Hadn't noticed.
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vikergirl Veteran Posts: 1,128 Likes: 1,286	Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 20:58:33 GMT -6 via mobile CAMartin likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikergirl on Sept 2, 2022 20:58:33 GMT -6 I'm not surprised by the way Cousins handled that. I don't see him as being petty or spiteful, a goofball most definitely but not petty or spiteful.

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Cousins sets record straight about relationship with Zimmer Sept 2, 2022 22:59:25 GMT -6

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Post by Funkytown on Sept 2, 2022 22:59:25 GMT -6

Sept 2, 2022 19:49:22 GMT -6 Uncle said:

I think it's Ok to rip into players during the game if they need some add'l motivation and they aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing (to quote Zimmer, "I told ya this f*@$in' QB runs...keep him in the f*^#in' pocket...you got me?"), but it seems from players and others that Zimmer's fire went beyond the field and became the norm in the building, and if his fiery passion was the norm all-the-time, then it become less-and-less effective on the field during games...I'm sure the first time Barr and Kendricks got the riot act (like the Bengals got in that clip), they straightened their games out on the field...after a while of constant F-bombs and fire day-in and day-out, they might have tuned it out...

That's fair. No one likes someone who is in a bad mood all of the time. Even being empathetic regarding someone's stress and life situations, it does get old if it is literally all.of.the.time. In regards to Zimmer, I would imagine those around him who "got it" and understood where he was coming from were probably more understanding and patient. Some of the younger guys, I would imagine they were turned off a lot quicker, especially if they didn't know him before 2020 (when it sounds like things really started to derail). The "tuning out" probably happened much quicker. We can all deal with an a-hole if there is respect there. If there isn't ... ?

The fear-based stuff, though? I don't know if I buy into the idea that if you were in Zimmer's doghouse you had something to fear. Like what? If you screwed up in a game, you'd be cussed out and ... what? Name a "shocking" benching that has occurred over the past few years? Outside of a comment or "my face says it all" moment in a presser, when was Zimmer ever "too hard on a guy"? Heck, if anything, people were upset at Zimmer for not benching a few guys soon enough.

I like Zimmer. I'll always like Zimmer. That's no secret. Until he's out here punching puppies and kicking kittens, I'm always going to like him and what he did for this football team. Period. Could he have handled some situations better? Absolutely. Been nicer? Oh yeah. But does he deserve all of this, eight months later? Probably not. Also, just keeping it real, if people felt THAT strongly about this, they would've spoken up sooner. You wait until he's fired and hundreds of miles away before you say anything? Either A) it wasn't THAT bad or B) there was still a decent amount of respect in that locker room. We've seen things go south in sports plenty of times. If it was REALLY that bad, this would've come out sooner.

Yes, we've heard some vague rumblings in the past, from anonymous sources, but if you feel so strongly about it, put your name on it. How's that for the new school approach? If you wanna talk about your feels, then talk about them! Why hide? I'd be interested to know how many people approached Spielman and Zimmer about, literally, any of this. Team captains? Did they step up and try to fix it? Zimmer might be scary, but Spielman? 100% approachable. So ... ? But then again, we also heard that Spielman basically stopped coming to work (and interacting with Zimmer altogether). Nothing more about that, though. Why not? It's all just a weird thing. Obviously, everyone is happy about the fresh start. As I said, I hope it all works out. Because the excuses are done. No more blaming Zimmer for the bad culture, holding Cousins and the offense back, having a "too complicated" defense, ruining kickers, poor clock management, etc. It's done. Over. Just win, baby!