Vikings Hire Joe Marciano to Fill In For Suspended Mike Priefer
By Dan Zinski
Outside of the PR nightmare created by the entire Mike Priefer-Chris Kluwe flap, the Vikings also find themselves in the awkward position of having to temporarily replace their special teams coach while he serves a team-issued suspension.
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The Vikings now at least know who their special teams coach will be for the term of Priefer’s suspension (three weeks or two depending on whether Priefer is able to successfully complete sensitivity training), having hired Joe Marciano as a temporary fill-in.
Marciano has 28 years of experience as a coach, and spent 12 years as special teams coordinator for the Houston Texans before being fired late in the 2013 season.
Interesting that the Vikings would bring in someone who had a job as a special teams coordinator just last season. Does Priefer have reason to believe the Vikings might turn around and fire him after giving Marciano a two game audition?
I’m sure Rick Spielman would never dream of doing anything as disloyal and jerky as that. Besides, the Vikings have good reason not to piss Priefer off. If you think Chris Kluwe unleashed a poopstorm on their heads, imagine the damage an angry Priefer could do if he started spilling details about behind-the-scenes activities.
Marciano obviously has plenty of experience and must be a good coach if he’s lasted this long, so it should be a smooth transition into his two-week tenure and then back to Priefer once the suspension is over. I anticipate zero hiccups for the special teams as the season gets underway.
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