Mike Zimmer’s girlfriend points to “dysfunction”, telling former GM Rick Spielman in tweetstorm: ‘You should be ashamed’
There is a new era coming to the Vikings, and if reports of what has transpired in the last days, weeks and months are true, it is hard to imagine the new era will be worse than the just concluded. Five days ago, announced team hiring former Browns football executive VP Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as its new GM.
Adofo-Mensah succeeds Rick Spielman, who is said to have broken his relationship with former coach Mike Zimmer at the end, to the point where Spielman and Zimmer did not speak for months.
Spielman has yet to address these claims, but Zimmer’s girlfriend, Katarina Elizabeth Miketin, has been posting on social media and shedding light on Spielman and Zimmer’s relationship any time she has. Spielman made a public appearance.
What if the GM has a relationship with the organization? Not talking to your coach for three months? Rick, Back-peddling and “spin” is always your “game”. You’ll be embarrassed by your media chants, “it’s not my fault”.
– Katarina Elizabeth Miketin (@KMiketin) January 29, 2022
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Zimmer is clearly not without fault and has its own cultural problems, with some description of the atmosphere inside the group is “fear-based.” Deion Sanders, who knew Zimmer well, also verified reports which Zimmer and Spielman didn’t say.
Miketin said Zimmer tried to mend the relationship and wanted to talk to Spielman, but it wasn’t enough after that that could happen.
Is not. Coach did. But when your boss isn’t talking to you… and isn’t in the building.
– Katarina Elizabeth Miketin (@KMiketin) January 29, 2022
She blamed Spielman for the rift between the two and called much of what he was saying “chatter”.
Rick, How can you build a team when you refuse to talk to a coach and don’t show up? You talk a lot to others, just not the most important people when the organization needs unity. YOU caused the separation. Your gossip needs to stop. Let’s talk about the truth.
– Katarina Elizabeth Miketin (@KMiketin) January 27, 2022
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Spielman has been a GM since 2012 and previously joined Vikings in 2006 as Vice President of Player Human Resources. Zimmer, meanwhile, arrived in Minnesota in 2014 and has a 72-56-1 win as head coach with three playoff entries and three double-digit seasons.
The team is looking for a new head coach, and according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the four finalists are Rams DC Raheem Morris, Rams OC Kevin O’Connell, Giants DC Patrick Graham and head coach Jim Harbaugh of the University of Michigan.
It remains to be seen who will eventually get the job, but whoever it is, it’s hard to imagine them having a fractured relationship with Adofo-Mensah like Zimmer and Spielman did.
