Viking Players Aren’t Distracted By Leslie Frazier’s Job Situation. Why Would They Be?

Dec 15, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier watches his team prepare to play the Philadelphia Eagles at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 48-30. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Leslie Frazier may need to have his eyes checked. He’s seeing elephants in the room when there aren’t any.

Maybe it was just a shadow that he saw. A water stain in the shape of a pachyderm? Maybe he’s flat out hallucinating.

Is the pressure of being a head coach really playing that much with Leslie Frazier’s head? That he’s seeing animals no one else can see? Is this like the movie Harvey with Jimmy Stewart?

That was a six-foot-tall invisible rabbit, but it’s the same deal. Only Jimmy Stewart could see the rabbit. This elephant Leslie Frazier speaks of, apparently he’s the only one who knows it’s there.

I suppose now would be a good time to point out that the elephant is metaphorical. We’re really talking about Leslie Frazier’s job status. In case you haven’t been reading the internet lately, Leslie Frazier is about to get fired.

Leslie Frazier evidently believes that the uncertainty swirling around him is distracting the team. Much like an elephant would distract the team, were an elephant to suddenly plop itself down in the middle of a meeting room.

Leslie reportedly addressed the Vikings’ elephant during a meeting with players on Tuesday. “It’s like the elephant in the room,” Frazier said afterward. “I just felt like I needed to get that addressed. Looking back at it, I probably should have dealt with it a week ago. I don’t want those guys to be distracted. I want them to focus on their opponent.”

Pardon the players if they should appear a bit perplexed. That’s just them not knowing what the hell Leslie Frazier is talking about.

Elephant in the room? Matt Cassel doesn’t see it.

“I think he just doesn’t want it to become a distraction, and I can only speak for myself when I say this, but I don’t think it’s a distraction at all,” Cassel said.

Greg Jennings doesn’t see it either. “I don’t think guys are worried about coach’s job,” the receiver said. “I think we’re here to do a job, and I think everybody in the building, that’s what we have to do. That’s the mind-set we have to have.”

Blair Walsh, also not seeing elephants. “I don’t think it’s something that we needed to hear,” he said. “I think everybody knows the situation. Coach Frazier is an awesome guy, and he’s an awesome coach, in my opinion. He’s the one who gave me a chance in this league, and I’ll forever be grateful to him for that.”

Jamarca Sanford looked around and…nope, no elephant.

“I’m worried about my job, being here next year,” Sanford explained. “I’m not getting into [Frazier’s situation]. All I know is Jamarca Sanford, and hopefully I can get an interview with you all next year at this same locker.”

Do we sense a theme emerging through these comments? “I’m not worried about Leslie Frazier’s job, I’m worried about MY job.” That’s pretty much what all the players are saying.

And that’s exactly what they should be saying and thinking. Every guy out there should be playing with self-preservation foremost in his mind. Whatever happens to Leslie Frazier, that’s Leslie Frazier’s problem.

There’s no elephant in the room, no matter what Frazier thinks. The elephant is in his office, in his house, in his brain. The only one getting distracted by Leslie Frazier’s job situation is Leslie Frazier.

He’s so distracted that apparently he hasn’t bothered taking the temperature of his own locker room lately. Had he deigned to do so, he would have realized that for the players there’s no distraction.

What does Leslie Frazier do all day at Winter Park? Walk around looking for elephants? Does he ever talk with his players unless there’s a disciplinary matter?

I thought Leslie talked a lot to everyone. He’s always saying “we’re going to talk about it.” Who’s “we?” Him and the elephant?

I have this image now of Leslie sitting alone in a dark room with a bottle of whiskey carrying on conversations with an invisible elephant. This is the saddest picture ever. I almost feel bad for Leslie Frazier.

Obviously, coaching in the NFL is a little too much for him. He needs a less-stressful avocation. Might I suggest running a greenhouse? That seems like it would be very relaxing.

He can talk to the plants all day.

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