Do the Minnesota Vikings have a Jordan Addison problem?
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O'Connell did their best to avoid answering that question on Monday during their pre-training camp press conference at TCO Performance Center.
Both addressed the issue of Addison's arrest on July 12 for suspicion of driving under the influence in Los Angeles. This came a year after Addison was cited for reckless driving after being pulled over for going 140 miles per hour on I-94 in St. Paul. That occurred just after 3 a.m., only three days before the Vikings were set to report to training camp.
"We're disappointed in Jordan," O'Connell said. "We care about these players, we really do, and we want to make sure we're doing our part for development on the field. The other aspect of that is off the field and the life skills, development, decision making, and learning how important it is within our culture that we're very proud of, that our players understand personal responsibility and accountability to that point.
"You wrap your arms around these guys and you ensure that they know that we care. But at the same time they have to hear those messages and they have to understand things that are not going to be acceptable."
Vikings have problem with Jordan Addison
A year ago, wrapping your arms around Addison might have been the right move. This time he deserves to hear an angry message from O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah. It sounds like the Vikings are going to let the NFL handle the discipline part -- Addison could face a suspension at some point -- and O'Connell mentioned allowing the legal process to play out.
The report from the California Highway Patrol said that Addison was found asleep behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce that was blocking a lane near LAX at 11:10 p.m. Pacific time.
This came a week after Vikings' fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson was killed, along with two of his friends, in an early-morning accident after a speeding vehicle hit the car in which the three were traveling.
Thankfully, Addison only encountered legal trouble after his vehicle was stopped in an active lane. Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell know it could have been much worse.
"Any disappointment we might have in Jordan, Jordan has more in himself," Adofo-Mensah said. "He holds himself to a high standard, was raised by a great family. He knows the types of behaviors he needs to do to be the best version of himself. He's kind of let himself down in that regard.
"Using words like discipline and different things like that, we don't really talk about it like that inside these walls. Inside these walls, it's about designing for the outcome we want. The outcome we want is for Jordan to be the best version of himself on the field and off the field, and he has bought into that same exact thing. So how do you do that from a planned standpoint?"
I'm not buying what Adofo-Mensah is selling.
Addison holds himself to a high standard on the field -- he had 70 receptions for 911 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns as a rookie -- but his standards are clearly not where they need to be away from it.
That can't continue.
The best way to get a message through to the 22-year-old Addison would be to focus on his bank account. He's entering the second season of his rookie contract, after being the 23rd pick in the first round in 2023, and his second contract is where he stands to make his big money.
But that will only happen if Addison gets his act together. Talent is great but Addison now has two strikes on him and the next one almost certainly will eliminate any chance of him being a Viking long term.
Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell can't preach culture to their team and then allow one player to thumb his nose at what they are attempting to establish.
So do the Vikings have a Jordan Addison problem? No matter what the GM and coach say, right now the answer is yes.
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com.
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