Everson Griffen was involved in an incident at a Minneapolis hotel on Saturday prior to the Vikings’ home game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Griffen was not present for the team’s game on Sunday due to what the team termed a personal matter. Though he had already been ruled out of the game due to a knee injury, the circumstances behind his absence led to plenty of questions.
According to KSTP, the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis, Griffen was at the Hotel Ivy on Saturday and verbally threatened to shoot someone. Staff members at the hotel were apparently scared enough that they moved to the back of the office to avoid Griffen. Griffen was reportedly threatening to assault staff members if he was not let into his room.
Police were called and Griffen was not arrested. He left the hotel on his own, and the caller on the phone was said to no longer be cooperative. Those who reported the incident said they never saw a gun.
“We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard. We are currently focused on Everson’s well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family,” the Vikings said of Griffen in a statement.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero adds that Griffen has been dealing with a serious, personal health-related issue for weeks.
#Vikings DE Everson Griffen has been dealing for weeks with a serious, personal health-related issue, per sources. The team and his agents are helping him. A statement from GM Rick Spielman: pic.twitter.com/vfd3Vn8Yok
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 25, 2018
The 30-year-old defensive end is in his 9th season with the Vikings. He has six tackles and a sack on the season. Griffen was also involved in an incident with police in 2011 and had to be subdued with a Taser.
H/T BWE
