After splitting the 2020 season with Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, veteran defensive end Everson Griffen is returning home. The four-time Pro Bowler will play for the Minnesota Vikings once again, inking a one-year deal on Monday.

Griffen was the Vikings’ fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL season and went on to play 10 seasons with the franchise. He left as a free agent after 2019, signing a deal with the Cowboys. After just two months in Dallas, the 33-year-old player ended up being traded to the Lions.

Griffen had a solid season last year, playing in 14 games for Cowboys and Lions and contributing with 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 14 QB hits, and four pass deflections. He is expected to provide competition on the defensive end position for the Vikings, who are still undecided about who will start alongside All-Pro DE Danielle Hunter.

Minnesota’s head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters on Monday that he believes Griffen can be a valuable addition to the roster.

“If I didn’t think he could help us, we wouldn’t sign him,” said Zimmer while adding that the veteran will most likely play a role of a “situational player” in 2021.

Since coming into the league, Everson Griffen racked up 80.5 sacks while also having 386 tackles and two defensive touchdowns. He earned three straight Pro Bowl nods between 2015 and 2017 before adding one more in 2019. Griffen also has a Second-Team All-Pro selection from 2017.

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The Dallas Cowboys are adding another excellent pass rusher to their already stout defensive line.

According to reports, the Cowboys are signing ex-Viking Everson Griffen to a one-year contract worth $6 million, with $3 million in guarantees.

Griffen might be entering his 11th season in the league, but showed last year that he still has quite a bit of gas in the tank. He had 41 tackles (11 for loss), eight sacks, and 24 quarterback hits in 15 games with the Minnesota Vikings last year and was a part of a defensive unit that was the fifth-best scoring defense in the league.

Griffen spent all 10 of his seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings drafted him with the 100th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He has proven to be a steal, appearing in three Pro Bowls and tallying 74.5 sacks and 176 quarterback hits in his first decade of action.

The Cowboys keep adding talent to their defense, partly because none of their pass rushers are a sure thing. They added Aldon Smith in free agency, who hasn’t played since 2015 because of suspensions and might get back Randy Gregory, another player that has been suspended for a long time and might not be reinstated.

After getting paid, Dallas’s star pass rusher DeMarcus Larence only had five sacks last year and another one of their pass rushers, Tyrone Crawford, is coming off double hip surgery.

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NFL teams were told on Tuesday that they can start holding tryouts for free agents that they are interested in potentially signing.

A memo was sent from the league to teams stating that they can now get a better look at these players on the field, but will obviously have to follow safety protocol related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to reports, all of the free agents will have to undergo COVID-19 entry screening before they are able to join in on any team activities. This means that they would have to test negative three consecutive times if they are not currently on a team or two times if they were roster cuts or picked up by a team via trade or waiver claims.

Because of the pandemic and the teams’ inability to get a good look at free agents, there are still a significant number of high-quality free agents available, including pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney is looking for a big contract, which no team has wanted to commit to this offseason, since no one has been able to get a good look at him after he had offseason surgery to address a nagging core injury.

Expect several teams to bring him in as soon as possible, as well as other free agents such as Larry Warford, Everson Griffen, and Logan Ryan, who should all receive a good amount of interest from teams around the league right off the bat.

The post NFL Will Begin Allowing Free-Agent Tryouts appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After spending 10 years with Minnesota Vikings, Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen left the franchise in the offseason as a free agent. Still, Griffen could continue playing in NFC North as the 32-year-old considers joining Vikings’ biggest rivals Green Bay Packers.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Griffen narrowed down the list of his preferred teams, and Packers are on it. Reportedly, there is a mutual interest from both sides in making the deal happen.

It isn’t hard to see why Packers would want to have Griffen on their team. He would provide them with badly needed veteran depth on defense, while making their already scary pass rush, consisting out of ZaDarius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary, even scarier. 

As Rapoport points out, Vikings are still interested in bringing back Griffen despite letting him explore the free-agent market. The veteran pass rusher earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2019, racking up 41 tackle, 8.0 sacks, and one interception.

“I’d love to have him back,” said Minnesota’s head coach Mike Zimmer last week. “He’s always been one of my guys, so if that happens that’d be great. I don’t know where that’s at right now.”

Everson Griffen has been an important piece in Vikings’ defense ever since he joined the franchise as fourth-round pick in 2010. Griffen has a total of 147 NFL games with Minnesota, earning Pro Bowl honors four times and having a Second-team All-Pro selection from 2017.

Griffen’s career stats include 353 tackles, 74.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns.

The post Ex-Vikings Star Everson Griffen Might Join Packers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Minnesota Vikings haven’t given up on their Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen. According to Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman, there’s still a chance that the team re-signs Griffen after letting him test the free agency this offseason.

Griffen spent his entire career with the Vikings and had a productive 2019 season, contributing with 41 tackles, 8.0 sacks, and one interception. However, the two sides couldn’t agree on terms for an extension, and the 32-year-old became a free agent.

Spielman, however, doesn’t rule making another offer to the veteran considering that Griffen still hasn’t committed to another team.

“I don’t think things broke down,” Spielman told reporters during a conference call on Tuesday. “I’ve had some great conversations with Everson.”

While Minnesota would like to see Everson Griffen back, the player himself doesn’t seem open to the possibility. According to St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, sources close to the pass rusher said that Griffen isn’t eager to re-sign with the Vikings and is entertaining other offers.

During his time in Minnesota, Griffen made four Pro Bowls and had one Second-Team All-Pro selections. His career stats include 353 tackles, 74.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. 

The post Vikings Open to Possibility of Re-Signing Pro Bowler Everson Griffen appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end Everson Griffen recently took the option to void the remaining three years on his deal and immediately became one of the most notable free agents this offseason. However, it seems like other NFL teams won’t have a chance to make him an offer.

 According to Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer, the team is currently negotiating a new deal with Griffen and expects him to be back in 2020.

“Everson’s a terrific person for us,” said Zimmer. “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back. I think he wants to be back, so, you know, those kinds of things usually work its way out.”

Back in 2017, Everson Griffen inked a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Vikings, which was supposed to keep him with the franchise through 2022. However, the deal contained a void-clause that enabled the 32-year-old to void the last three years if managing 6.0 sacks and 57 percent of the team’s snaps. As Griffen had 8.0 sacks and played 78 percent of the snaps in 2019, he decided to activate the clause.

Griffen spent his entire professional career with the Vikings, who took him in the fourth round of 2010 NFL Draft. Since then, he became one of the pillars of the team’s defense, while making four Pro Bowls. He also has Second-team All-Pro selection in 2017.

The post Vikings’ HC Mike Zimmer Expects Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen to Return in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Everson Griffen is slated to play against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday after a six-week absence over mental health issues.

The 30-year-old defensive end hasn’t played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 2 when he was questionably placed on injury reserve. At the time, the Vikings described Griffen’s situation as “not football related” but would not explain further.

Griffen hit news headlines in the last week of September following an incident on September 22^nd where he was reported to be “explosive screaming and yelling” at the team facility. The Vikings demanded the defensive end’s agent and his family to place him under a mental checkup before he was eligible to play again.

This week, Griffen has been on the headlines in part due to the uncertainty of whether he will play on Sunday. Despite reports that the NFL wanted Minnesota to place the Pro Bowler in injury reserve, Coach Mike Zimmer hasn’t said anything about the player’s availability.

However, Griffen wasn’t in the Viking’s injury report by Friday and has been practicing all week. Zimmer also welcomed the player back and wished a quick recovery.

In his part, Griffen said he was happy to be back and looked forward to playing again.

“I’m just excited to get back here with my team and get back to the grind,” Griffen said on Wednesday. “It’s been hard to be away but I’m happy to be back. It’s a good feeling right now and I’m taking one day at a time and thing at a time to get things back on track.”

The post Vikings’ Everson Griffen Comes Back, Set to Play against Saints appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After splitting the 2020 season with Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, veteran defensive end Everson Griffen is returning home. The four-time Pro Bowler will play for the Minnesota Vikings once again, inking a one-year deal on Monday.

Griffen was the Vikings’ fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL season and went on to play 10 seasons with the franchise. He left as a free agent after 2019, signing a deal with the Cowboys. After just two months in Dallas, the 33-year-old player ended up being traded to the Lions.

Griffen had a solid season last year, playing in 14 games for Cowboys and Lions and contributing with 33 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 14 QB hits, and four pass deflections. He is expected to provide competition on the defensive end position for the Vikings, who are still undecided about who will start alongside All-Pro DE Danielle Hunter.

Minnesota’s head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters on Monday that he believes Griffen can be a valuable addition to the roster.

“If I didn’t think he could help us, we wouldn’t sign him,” said Zimmer while adding that the veteran will most likely play a role of a “situational player” in 2021.

Since coming into the league, Everson Griffen racked up 80.5 sacks while also having 386 tackles and two defensive touchdowns. He earned three straight Pro Bowl nods between 2015 and 2017 before adding one more in 2019. Griffen also has a Second-Team All-Pro selection from 2017.

The post Vikings Reunite with Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Dallas Cowboys are adding another excellent pass rusher to their already stout defensive line.

According to reports, the Cowboys are signing ex-Viking Everson Griffen to a one-year contract worth $6 million, with $3 million in guarantees.

Griffen might be entering his 11th season in the league, but showed last year that he still has quite a bit of gas in the tank. He had 41 tackles (11 for loss), eight sacks, and 24 quarterback hits in 15 games with the Minnesota Vikings last year and was a part of a defensive unit that was the fifth-best scoring defense in the league.

Griffen spent all 10 of his seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings drafted him with the 100th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He has proven to be a steal, appearing in three Pro Bowls and tallying 74.5 sacks and 176 quarterback hits in his first decade of action.

The Cowboys keep adding talent to their defense, partly because none of their pass rushers are a sure thing. They added Aldon Smith in free agency, who hasn’t played since 2015 because of suspensions and might get back Randy Gregory, another player that has been suspended for a long time and might not be reinstated.

After getting paid, Dallas’s star pass rusher DeMarcus Larence only had five sacks last year and another one of their pass rushers, Tyrone Crawford, is coming off double hip surgery.

The post Cowboys Sign Free Agent DE Everson Griffen to One-Year Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NFL teams were told on Tuesday that they can start holding tryouts for free agents that they are interested in potentially signing.

A memo was sent from the league to teams stating that they can now get a better look at these players on the field, but will obviously have to follow safety protocol related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to reports, all of the free agents will have to undergo COVID-19 entry screening before they are able to join in on any team activities. This means that they would have to test negative three consecutive times if they are not currently on a team or two times if they were roster cuts or picked up by a team via trade or waiver claims.

Because of the pandemic and the teams’ inability to get a good look at free agents, there are still a significant number of high-quality free agents available, including pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney is looking for a big contract, which no team has wanted to commit to this offseason, since no one has been able to get a good look at him after he had offseason surgery to address a nagging core injury.

Expect several teams to bring him in as soon as possible, as well as other free agents such as Larry Warford, Everson Griffen, and Logan Ryan, who should all receive a good amount of interest from teams around the league right off the bat.

The post NFL Will Begin Allowing Free-Agent Tryouts appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After spending 10 years with Minnesota Vikings, Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen left the franchise in the offseason as a free agent. Still, Griffen could continue playing in NFC North as the 32-year-old considers joining Vikings’ biggest rivals Green Bay Packers.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Griffen narrowed down the list of his preferred teams, and Packers are on it. Reportedly, there is a mutual interest from both sides in making the deal happen.

It isn’t hard to see why Packers would want to have Griffen on their team. He would provide them with badly needed veteran depth on defense, while making their already scary pass rush, consisting out of ZaDarius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary, even scarier. 

As Rapoport points out, Vikings are still interested in bringing back Griffen despite letting him explore the free-agent market. The veteran pass rusher earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2019, racking up 41 tackle, 8.0 sacks, and one interception.

“I’d love to have him back,” said Minnesota’s head coach Mike Zimmer last week. “He’s always been one of my guys, so if that happens that’d be great. I don’t know where that’s at right now.”

Everson Griffen has been an important piece in Vikings’ defense ever since he joined the franchise as fourth-round pick in 2010. Griffen has a total of 147 NFL games with Minnesota, earning Pro Bowl honors four times and having a Second-team All-Pro selection from 2017.

Griffen’s career stats include 353 tackles, 74.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns.

The post Ex-Vikings Star Everson Griffen Might Join Packers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Minnesota Vikings haven’t given up on their Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen. According to Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman, there’s still a chance that the team re-signs Griffen after letting him test the free agency this offseason.

Griffen spent his entire career with the Vikings and had a productive 2019 season, contributing with 41 tackles, 8.0 sacks, and one interception. However, the two sides couldn’t agree on terms for an extension, and the 32-year-old became a free agent.

Spielman, however, doesn’t rule making another offer to the veteran considering that Griffen still hasn’t committed to another team.

“I don’t think things broke down,” Spielman told reporters during a conference call on Tuesday. “I’ve had some great conversations with Everson.”

While Minnesota would like to see Everson Griffen back, the player himself doesn’t seem open to the possibility. According to St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, sources close to the pass rusher said that Griffen isn’t eager to re-sign with the Vikings and is entertaining other offers.

During his time in Minnesota, Griffen made four Pro Bowls and had one Second-Team All-Pro selections. His career stats include 353 tackles, 74.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. 

The post Vikings Open to Possibility of Re-Signing Pro Bowler Everson Griffen appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end Everson Griffen recently took the option to void the remaining three years on his deal and immediately became one of the most notable free agents this offseason. However, it seems like other NFL teams won’t have a chance to make him an offer.

 According to Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer, the team is currently negotiating a new deal with Griffen and expects him to be back in 2020.

“Everson’s a terrific person for us,” said Zimmer. “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back. I think he wants to be back, so, you know, those kinds of things usually work its way out.”

Back in 2017, Everson Griffen inked a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Vikings, which was supposed to keep him with the franchise through 2022. However, the deal contained a void-clause that enabled the 32-year-old to void the last three years if managing 6.0 sacks and 57 percent of the team’s snaps. As Griffen had 8.0 sacks and played 78 percent of the snaps in 2019, he decided to activate the clause.

Griffen spent his entire professional career with the Vikings, who took him in the fourth round of 2010 NFL Draft. Since then, he became one of the pillars of the team’s defense, while making four Pro Bowls. He also has Second-team All-Pro selection in 2017.

The post Vikings’ HC Mike Zimmer Expects Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen to Return in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Everson Griffen is slated to play against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday after a six-week absence over mental health issues.

The 30-year-old defensive end hasn’t played for the Minnesota Vikings since Week 2 when he was questionably placed on injury reserve. At the time, the Vikings described Griffen’s situation as “not football related” but would not explain further.

Griffen hit news headlines in the last week of September following an incident on September 22^nd where he was reported to be “explosive screaming and yelling” at the team facility. The Vikings demanded the defensive end’s agent and his family to place him under a mental checkup before he was eligible to play again.

This week, Griffen has been on the headlines in part due to the uncertainty of whether he will play on Sunday. Despite reports that the NFL wanted Minnesota to place the Pro Bowler in injury reserve, Coach Mike Zimmer hasn’t said anything about the player’s availability.

However, Griffen wasn’t in the Viking’s injury report by Friday and has been practicing all week. Zimmer also welcomed the player back and wished a quick recovery.

In his part, Griffen said he was happy to be back and looked forward to playing again.

“I’m just excited to get back here with my team and get back to the grind,” Griffen said on Wednesday. “It’s been hard to be away but I’m happy to be back. It’s a good feeling right now and I’m taking one day at a time and thing at a time to get things back on track.”

The post Vikings’ Everson Griffen Comes Back, Set to Play against Saints appeared first on SportzBonanza.