Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer openly disputed claims made by Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate, when he called the Vikings a dirty team.
Zimmer told reporters during his press conference Wednesday that Tate’s comments don’t bother him.
“I know what kind of team we are and we’re not dirty,” Zimmer said Wednesday.
Tate accused the Vikings of taking “a bunch” of cheap shots during Minnesota’s 26-16 victory over the Lions. The Lions receiver added he wouldn’t be surprised if the league looked at some of the hits.
According to Zimmer, the league did just that.
They reviewed the personal foul penalty called against linebacker Anthony Barr when he hit Lions quarterback Matt Stafford as he was running out of bounds. According to Zimmer, the league admitted that hit should not have been flagged.
“I probably owe Anthony Barr an apology, because I talked to the officials last night and these quarterbacks now are starting to slow down as they go out of bounds and they’re kind of egging these things on,” Zimmer said.
The Vikings recorded just one sack on Stafford in Sunday’s victory, but 1500 ESPN reports defensive line coach Andre Patterson counted up 10 hits on him from the defensive line alone. Stafford needed x-rays on his chest and ribs after the game.
Zimmer said he doesn’t want his teams to be known as a team that is successful by bending the rules.
“We try to coach within the rules, we try to do things the right way. We want to be a football team that’s known to be teaching proper technique, we are not trying to cheat the rules. I don’t want our football team to be put at a disadvantage because there are other teams trying to cheat the rules. I want our guys to know the rules, play by the rules and play fair.”
Zimmer’s comments just one day after Vikings defensive captain Everson Griffen also challenged Tate’s claims.
The Vikings return to TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday to host San Diego and it sounds like part of their plan will be to get after the quarterback.
Brian Robison on Philip Rivers: “If you don’t get to him get around his feet & get him a little nervous in the pocket he can pick you apart"
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 23, 2015
