Everson Griffen Says He Won’t Let Defensive Player of the Month Honor Go to His Head
By Dan Zinski
A lot of pressure was placed on Everson Griffen when he signed that 5-year/$42 million contract this offseason.
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The immediate response by a lot of football experts was that the Vikings were crazy to give the relatively untested Griffen that kind of dough.
Adding to the pressure was the shadow of Griffen’s departed teammate Jared Allen. Before Griffen, Allen became a Viking legend for his pass rushing exploits at defensive end.
Could Griffen hope to replace Allen’s year-in-and-year-out Pro Bowl production?
So far, the answer to that question is yes.
While Allen has struggled through a frustrating season in Chicago, hobbled by injuries and clearly not as fast off the edge as he used to be, Griffen has emerged.
No, Griffen has exploded.
Griffen has 8 sacks on the season, including 6 in the month of October. He had three sacks in the Vikings last-second loss to the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago and one in each of the month’s other three games.
For that, Griffen has been awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Month prize for October.
Does this mean Griffen has vindicated the Vikings, earned his big money and proven all his doubters wrong?
You can spin it that way if you want, but Everson Griffen says he won’t.
Everson Griffin on Player of Month honor: "I’m excited man but I can’t let this accolade become something that I think I’ve arrived.''
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) October 30, 2014
Let’s hope Griffen really means those words and is not merely paying lip service to the question of whether he will now rest on his laurels.
Griffen seems like a pretty hungry guy who wants to get better, so I don’t think we have to worry. But you never know. Some guys can handle praise and others can’t.
Then again, if signing the contract didn’t take away Griffen’s hunger, I doubt a little player of the month trophy will have much effect.