This week’s example is Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addision, a first round pick of a year ago.
Addison was arrested last friday for suspicion of DUI, where he was found asleep at the wheel…while blocking traffic.
Addison was the Biletnikoff Award recipient in 2021 at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a consensus All American. Despite winning the Atlantic Coast Championship with future first rounder Kenny Pickett at quarterback, Addison transferred to USC the following season.
In his rookie season with the Vikings, Addison had 70 catches for 911 yards, and 10 touchdowns. To find that many catches with Justin Jefferson lining up on the other side of the line, and Kirk Cousins being lost after Week 8, Addison was named to the Pro Football Writers of America (PWFA) All-Rookie team. Starting 14 of Minnesota’s 17 games, scoring in eight of them.
Before his first day of training camp last season, Addison was pulled over for reckless driving, being clocked doing 140 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Of course Addison was driving his custom Lamborghini, which was funded by his $2.5 million salary. The Vikings believed in Addison enough to sign him to a 4-year, $13.7 million rookie contract.
Now they have to wonder if their talented second year player will be moved before the start of the regular season next month.
Viking head coach Kevin O’Connell said a mistake like the speeding violation could not happen again, but now has a serious decision on his hands. Adam Thielen was cut by Minnesota after the 2022 season in a salary cap move, signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Some are pondering if Minnesota may try to swing a deal to bring him back, should the team decide Addison will be more like Josh Gordon than Jefferson.
Remember that Cleveland used a supplemental draft pick on Gordon in 2012, only to lose him for the better part of the next four seasons due to suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Cleveland hung onto Gordon until after the 2017 season, where he was flipped to New England for a mid-round draft pick. Gordon played in the XFL, the Fan Controlled League, and never played for an NFL team longer than two seasons, remaining a free agent since the spring of 2023.
Minnesota management is reportedly furious that Addison pulled another stunt in the days leading up to training camp. Players report to the TCO Performance Center in Eagen, Minnesota this coming Tuesday, and Addison still has charges for the DUI pending, as Los Angeles County has not officially filed paperwork since the incident.
Addison was questioned at the scene for 30 minutes, then held for two hours before being released. Any toxicology reports have not yet been made public, but Addison’s vehicle was reported to have blocked at least two lanes of traffic while he was asleep. Thankfully the vehicle was in park, which is the only smart detail of the entire incident.
The Vikings may wait for the league to render punishment before acting themselves. We have seen how the NFL may act even without formal criminal charges being filed…ask Deshaun Watson. Addison may be looking at up to four games to start the season, in addition to any rehab ordered by either the team, Los Angeles County, or the league may tack on for good measure.
Those four games would be without pay, of course.
This may jam up Minnesota’s intentions of trading or cutting Addison, should they decide a second violation is one too many. Minnesota has to be very cautious of falling into last place in the NFC North this season, with Detroit being possibly the class of the entire NFC, but Green Bay closing fast. Chicago is projected to be much improved with a rookie quarterback, but Minnesota has their own with Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy having been selected 10th overall back in April.
Caleb Williams is targeted to start day one in Chicago after Justin Fields was traded. McCarthy impressed many throughout the league during offseason mini camp, but Minnesota may decide to run Sam Darnold or Nick Mullens for a few games before throwing McCarthy into the deep end. While Williams may have Rome Odunze as one of his primary targets, McCarthy would be throwing to arguably the best tandem in the league, should Addison remain after this ordeal plays out.
Jefferson is only 25, and arguably the best in the NFL at his position. One of his responsibilities should not be playing chaperone to a second-year player with as many talents as his own.
-JC24
Now they have to wonder if their talented second year player will be moved before the start of the regular season next month.
Viking head coach Kevin O’Connell said a mistake like the speeding violation could not happen again, but now has a serious decision on his hands. Adam Thielen was cut by Minnesota after the 2022 season in a salary cap move, signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. Some are pondering if Minnesota may try to swing a deal to bring him back, should the team decide Addison will be more like Josh Gordon than Jefferson.
Remember that Cleveland used a supplemental draft pick on Gordon in 2012, only to lose him for the better part of the next four seasons due to suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Cleveland hung onto Gordon until after the 2017 season, where he was flipped to New England for a mid-round draft pick. Gordon played in the XFL, the Fan Controlled League, and never played for an NFL team longer than two seasons, remaining a free agent since the spring of 2023.
Minnesota management is reportedly furious that Addison pulled another stunt in the days leading up to training camp. Players report to the TCO Performance Center in Eagen, Minnesota this coming Tuesday, and Addison still has charges for the DUI pending, as Los Angeles County has not officially filed paperwork since the incident.
Addison was questioned at the scene for 30 minutes, then held for two hours before being released. Any toxicology reports have not yet been made public, but Addison’s vehicle was reported to have blocked at least two lanes of traffic while he was asleep. Thankfully the vehicle was in park, which is the only smart detail of the entire incident.
The Vikings may wait for the league to render punishment before acting themselves. We have seen how the NFL may act even without formal criminal charges being filed…ask Deshaun Watson. Addison may be looking at up to four games to start the season, in addition to any rehab ordered by either the team, Los Angeles County, or the league may tack on for good measure.
Those four games would be without pay, of course.
This may jam up Minnesota’s intentions of trading or cutting Addison, should they decide a second violation is one too many. Minnesota has to be very cautious of falling into last place in the NFC North this season, with Detroit being possibly the class of the entire NFC, but Green Bay closing fast. Chicago is projected to be much improved with a rookie quarterback, but Minnesota has their own with Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy having been selected 10th overall back in April.
Caleb Williams is targeted to start day one in Chicago after Justin Fields was traded. McCarthy impressed many throughout the league during offseason mini camp, but Minnesota may decide to run Sam Darnold or Nick Mullens for a few games before throwing McCarthy into the deep end. While Williams may have Rome Odunze as one of his primary targets, McCarthy would be throwing to arguably the best tandem in the league, should Addison remain after this ordeal plays out.
Jefferson is only 25, and arguably the best in the NFL at his position. One of his responsibilities should not be playing chaperone to a second-year player with as many talents as his own.
-JC24