It's never easy for a rookie first round pick to win over a fan base. For Minnesota Vikings 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison, that task got a lot harder after he was cited for speeding and reckless driving in Minnesota this week.
According to KSTP-TV, Addison was driving 140 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone early Thursday morning.
That sadly isn't a typo. The 21-year-old receiver was driving 85 mph over the speed limit. It's alarming (to say the least) that Addison felt comfortable driving at that speed, and he's lucky he didn't injure himself or anyone else on the road.
On Friday, Addison issued a statement saying, "Yesterday morning I made a mistake and used poor judgment. I recognize and own that. I am going to learn from this and not repeat the behavior. I am truly sorry."
Jordan Addison on reckless driving: I made a mistake and used poor judgment. https://t.co/oH56jewiNn
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 22, 2023
Vikings rookie Jordan Addison issues apology after reckless driving citation.
Not the most heartfelt apology you'll ever read, but it's certainly better than nothing. Ultimately, Vikings fans have to hope Addison recognizes the stupidity of his actions and sees to it that he cleans up his act off the field.
Regardless of how he performs on the field, that's the fastest and clearest path to Addison earning back the trust of Vikings fans.
Just two years ago, former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs' career ended abruptly after he caused a car crash that ended the life of a 23-year-old woman and her dog. Ruggs later pled guilty to driving under the influence resulting in death and vehicular manslaughter.
Ruggs was driving 156 miles per hour leading up to the crash, which isn't much faster than what Addison was driving early Thursday. The stories had entirely different outcomes, but it's hard not to recognize the parallels.
Addison and the Vikings report to training camp on Sunday. It'll be interesting to see how the rookie answers questions about the incident from reporters. If his truncated apology fell on deaf ears for some fans, he'll have a chance to show remorse the first time he gets behind a microphone.