Mike Zimmer is someone for whom the phrase 'a man with a short fuse' could have been invented.
It comes with the territory as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, the long-standing masters of misfortune.
Mike Zimmer oversees practice ahead of a make or break season in Minnesota
Zimmer has had eyesight-saving surgery, lost a franchise quarterback to a life-threatening injury, been onboard as the team plane skidded off a runway and recently saw last year's first round draft pick indicted for felony assault.
But now, ahead of a make or break season, his eighth in Minnesota, Zimmer faces his most exasperating challenge.
The NFL announced that over 90 per cent of its players are vaccinated against Covid, the Washington Post revealed the Vikings to be the NFL's least vaccinated team. Just 65.4 per cent of their players are fully inoculated with 70 per cent having had one jab.
‘There are quite a few guys that are just against it,’ Zimmer said. ‘I’m not going to be able to change their mind. It’s like half the country, I guess.’
Zimmer has continually urged his players - and everyone - to get vaccinated against Covid-19
'These guys, some of them just won't do it. I shouldn't say it, but some of the things they read is just, whew, out there. I don't know if it's misinformation. It's their belief, so whatever they've heard or read or been told.'
‘I just don’t understand. I think we could put this thing to bed if we’d all do this, but it is what it is,’ he rued.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins remains unvaccinated.
Entering his fourth year in Minnesota, Cousins is the most divisive player in the NFL. Equally capable of astounding throws or boneheaded decisions, the 33-year-old will earn a base salary of $21million guaranteed, while carrying a cap hit of $31m.
In July, Cousins explained to Kyle Brandt that
