http://www.startribune.com/vikings-s...ior/494267331/
Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was growing increasingly paranoid and feared someone was trying to kill him in the weeks and days before troubling incidents Saturday at a downtown Minneapolis hotel and in his Minnetrista neighborhood sent law enforcement looking for him, according to police reports released Tuesday.
The behavior prompted the Vikings to ban a disruptive Griffen last week from practice and seek mental health treatment, the reports said, which also noted that the 30-year-old husband and father is not suspected of a crime.
By the end of Saturday afternoon, Griffen was taken in an ambulance for treatment, but not before another outburst prompted police to intervene and escort him to the emergency vehicles' destination.
Griffen did not play in Sunday's 27-6 loss to Buffalo at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was on last week's injury report as sidelined by a knee injury. On Monday, the Vikings listed him on the injury report as not having practiced because of "knee/not injury related."
On Monday night, Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman issued a statement that read, in part, "We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard."
Griffen is at a mental health facility for evaluation and treatment, NFL sources have confirmed. His struggles raise doubts when Griffen might get back on the field as well.
Griffen first drew police attention about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis, where the three-time Pro Bowl player was threatening to assault staff employees and lying on the lobby floor, according to a Minneapolis police incident report.
Emergency audio dispatch revealed as events unfolded that he "said that if someone doesn't let him in his room that he is going to shoot someone," but no gun was seen.
An officer met with Griffen's wife at a park Saturday in Mound and recounted events leading up to the hotel incident:
She said her husband awoke in the middle of the night on Sept. 16 and left the home. She said he does this at times when he is fighting "demons" in his head. She said he returned Wednesday only to leave an hour later and not return until Saturday morning.
She said Griffen wasn't making sense, became combative and ordered her out of the Minnetrista home. He then went to the Hotel Ivy, which is where he stays during the week. She said Griffen needs to be medicated for his mental struggles and had been without sleep for days.
The officer called Griffen on his cellphone, and Griffen said he was going to be gone for about a week and was rambling incoherently before hanging up.
Police learned from Vikings player development director Les Pico that Griffen "has been really struggling for the past few weeks," the police reports read, and that the Griffens are facing possible divorce.
Pico said Griffen "has been explosive, screaming and yelling" at practice, the reports continued. Pico called Griffen paranoid and prone to repeating himself.
The team notified Griffen's agent that its defensive star was banned from practice until his mental health is evaluated.
Griffen's wife then called and said he was at teammate Trae Waynes' home down the road. Griffen was trying to break in, had jumped through bushes and was shirtless. Within minutes, Griffen's wife notified police that he was in a pickup truck with someone who didn't know what to do with him. The man had encountered Griffen at a gas station, and delivered him home.
Police met Griffen outside late Saturday afternoon, and he was making comments about "777" — having to do with angels — and that he went to Waynes' home because "God made me do it."
Griffen agreed with the officer to be taken for mental health treatment. But soon after the ambulance was en route, Griffen fled the vehicle. By the time police arrived, he had returned and had his hands in the air. Eventually, Griffen agreed to continue the trip under police escort.
The Vikings selected Griffen in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has been chosen for the Pro Bowl the past three seasons and received a four-year, $58 million contract extension from the team in 2017 that put him under contract through the 2022 season. He was elected a team captain for the third consecutive season in 2018.
Griffen was arrested twice in three days in Los Angeles in 2011, following his rookie season, for public intoxication and driving with an invalid license.
Star Tribune staff writers Liz Sawyer and Ben Goessling contributed to this report.
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He is coming back.
Originally Posted by :
Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, who has been away from the team for a month while receiving treatment for mental health issues, will resume team activities Wednesday, the team announced Tuesday.
Griffen was taken to a mental health facility by ambulance Sept. 22 after being picked up in his Minnetrista neighborhood. According to police reports, he had been kept away from Vikings practices earlier that week with a request to seek mental health treatment.
"We have been in communication with Everson's medical professionals throughout this process," Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "Our focus will continue to be on providing an ongoing support system for Everson and his family."
Said Griffen in the statement: "While this is an exciting and positive move forward for me, it is only the next step in a longer process. My larger focus remains on addressing my personal health, and I'm hopeful the time will come when I feel comfortable sharing my story and using my platform to bring awareness to these issues."
Griffen, who has missed the Vikings' past five games, drew police attention on the afternoon of Sept. 22 at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis, where he was threatening to assault staff employees and lying on the lobby floor, according to a Minneapolis police incident report. Griffen had been staying at the hotel.
Later in the day, Griffen met with police outside his home and agreed to be taken for an evaluation. The 30-year-old was not arrested nor accused of a crime.
The capacity in which Griffen returns to the field remains to be seen. He last played Sept. 16 against the Packers, and has been away from the team for more than a month while receiving treatment. Indications on Tuesday evening, though, were that Griffen had a chance to be active Sunday night for the Vikings' game against the Saints.
The Vikings selected Griffen in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He has been chosen for the Pro Bowl the past three seasons and received a four-year, $58 million contract extension from the team in 2017 that put him under contract through the 2022 season. He was elected a team captain for the third consecutive season in 2018.
During his four weeks away from the team, his teammates expressed support when asked about the situation.
"When the situation with Everson came up, we knew he was in tremendous hands," defensive end Stephen Weatherly said two weeks ago.
With Griffen out, the Vikings moved Danielle Hunter to right end, starting Weatherly for the past five games at left end. Hunter has 7½ sacks this season, while Weatherly has two in his first substantive work as a starter.
Griffen's usual seat inside the defensive line meeting room, the one right next to his position coach, remained empty.
"Nobody else sits in that chair," defensive line coach Andre Patterson said. "He's still a part of us, and he always will be a part of us."
The NFL has taken strides to address mental health issues, especially since 2012, when Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau died by suicide — "a pivotal moment," said Arthur McAfee, the NFL's senior vice president of player engagement.
The league now has a 24-hour, confidential mental wellness and suicide prevention hotline for players and their families. Each player also has access to eight counseling sessions per year under their Cigna health insurance benefits.
Since 2016, the NFL Players Association has had its own director of player wellness, Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti.
Football has long fought the stigma that its players are too tough to talk about their mental struggles. But just the past year, former players such as Percy Harvin (anxiety) and Brian Dawkins (depression, suicidal thoughts) have opened up about battles from their playing days.
"I wouldn't say I savor those moments, but the more that we are willing to have those conversations in a public space, the less stigma is attached," NiiLampti said. "And the more people are willing to reach out because they recognize they're not alone."
I could not let that happen if I was an owner.
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