Minnesota Vikings let Kirby Wilson go to Cleveland after all

Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; An Minnesota Vikings helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Minnesota won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; An Minnesota Vikings helmet during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Minnesota won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings reportedly blocked Kirby Wilson from leaving for Cleveland, but now they have reportedly relented and Wilson is able to go.

The Cleveland Browns have hired themselves a new running game coordinator to work under head coach Hue Jackson, and it’s none other than now-former Vikings RB coach Kirby Wilson.

Wilson’s departure for Cleveland was first reported by ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Last week, Anderson reported that Wilson had been blocked by the Vikings from leaving for Cleveland. The St. Paul Pioneer-Press quoted a team source as saying Wilson had been blocked because he was “under contract, period.”

Some folks argued that Wilson should be allowed to leave despite his contract status as a show of right-mindedness by the Vikings organization. Wilson is a minority and minorities as we know are not always given good opportunities to advance in the NFL coaching ranks.

The Vikings’ unwillingness to let Wilson depart was read by some as a sign they were unwilling to put the greater good ahead of their own selfish needs.

I speculated that the Vikings were holding onto Wilson as a means of appeasing Adrian Peterson, on the grounds that Peterson and Wilson had developed a strong bond over the two years Wilson was in Minnesota.

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But the Vikings are not a backward, petty, selfish organization after all! They let Kirby Wilson go to Cleveland in the end.

I guess that proves the Vikings are not entirely motivated by their own self-interest. And it also proves they are not willing to just bend over for Adrian Peterson all the time.

What a relief!

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