Mike Zimmer responded on Thursday to the story that has been circulating about the Vikings “slaughtering” stuffed animals to remind the team not to be too happy with their early season success. In a story by ESPN’s Ben Goessling, Zimmer claims he had nothing to do with any “slaughtering” of the stuffed animals.
We have video below, courtesy of ESPN but this story is weird and so is Zimmer’s quote. In his press conference Zimmer said:
I want to set the record straight on an erroneous report that I feel like attacked my character and my reputation. Actually, the stuffed animals I did have here were given to charity, to Toys for Tots. It just kind of goes to show you that when one thing gets out there — and it was updated correctly, that I had nothing to do with it — but unfortunately, the headlines still keep coming out, and it bothers me.
Zimmer never denies that the animals were “slaughtered” and red paint was used to symbolize blood. He just says he had nothing to do with it. But, the stuffed animals he did have were for a charity.
Something happened with stuffed animals, we know Zimmer brought stuffed animals to the facility. He says he had nothing to do with “it”. If “i”t was a motivational ploy for the players he had to know something about it right? An assistant coach wouldn’t just take the stuffed animals the head coach brought in and “slaughter” them, right?
The media coverage around this is probably more than Zimmer imagined when this idea was cooked up. Now, he’s backtracking and coming up with excuses and lies. But that never makes it go away. It only causes people to keep digging.