Paul Allen of KFAN said this week that he’s been texting with free agent DE Everson Griffen, who “desperately wants to come back to the Minnesota Vikings,” via SI.com.
Allen said he received the following text from Griffen:
“I never should’ve left the Vikings. I f***ed up. What I tweeted was wrong. The Vikings organization took great care of me through my ups and downs and I disrespected a lot of people.”
According to Allen, Griffen still has supporters within the Vikings, but he still wouldn’t bet on him returning to the team.
“He has people in his corner with the Minnesota Vikings, I feel comfortable in saying that,” Allen said. “And I would not rule out Everson Griffen joining the Vikings before the season, but I wouldn’t bet on it.”
Allen explained that it’s worth watching the right defensive end position and how things play out during training camp.
“If the right defensive end spot in training camp is not working, I’m feeling 97 [Griffen] would crawl to Eagan just for a chance to win back the love of the Minnesota Vikings,” Allen said.
Back In January, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press spoke with Griffen, who said that he would be interested in returning to the Vikings if there’s mutual interest from Minnesota.
“You tell them, I said, ‘If you want it, go get it. You can put that,” Griffen said.
He added: “If you want it, come get it. That’s what I want you to say,” before repeating “If you want it, come get it” several more times to Tomasson.
Griffen, 33, is a former fourth-round pick of the Vikings back in 2010. He signed a six-year, $75 million contract that includes $34 million guaranteed in 2017, but the Vikings declined to pick up his option back in February, which allowed him to become a free agent.
The Cowboys signed Griffen to a one-year, $6 million contract this offseason. However, they later traded him to the Lions before the deadline. He has been testing the open market an unrestricted free agent since March.
In 2020, Griffen appeared in 14 games for the Cowboys and Lions and recorded 33 tackles, six sacks and four passes defended. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 64 edge rusher out of 115 qualifying players.
We have him included in our Top 100 Available 2021 Free Agents list.
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