Everson Griffen to Apologize For Kirk Cousins Tweets After Signing Vikings Contract

Defensive end Everson Griffen is back on the Minnesota Vikings, which means the defensive line will have a familiar face and veteran leader this season.

It could also mean some awkward initial interactions with the team's quarterback.

Griffen held a press conference after the Vikings announced they signed him on Monday and told reporters he plans on apologizing to Kirk Cousins after posting and deleting critical tweets about the signal-caller in January.

"I'm just going to talk to Kirk and apologize to him and have a man-to-man conversation and we're going to leave it like that," he said.

Griffen played for the Vikings for the first 10 seasons of his career from 2010-19 and was a four-time Pro Bowler during that span.

He spent the 2020 campaign on the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions and finished with 33 total tackles and six sacks. It was a solid showing from the veteran, although he was also far behind the pace he showed in his prime while leading the Vikings' pass-rush.

The USC product had 12 sacks in 2014, 10.5 in 2015 and 13 in 2017 as one of the best pass-rushers in the entire NFL.

He may not be that productive at this stage of his career, but head coach Mike Zimmer said in the team's announcement that the plan is to use him as a "situational player" who can be used in pass-rushing situations.

As for the since-deleted tweets about Cousins, it should be noted that Griffen apologized for the comments in January when he tweeted at the Vikings: "I'm sorry for saying anything negative. I love this organization. Vikings will always have a place in my heart. If you want it, go get it. All love for real."

He is now back with the organization that drafted him and will look to help lead the Vikings back to the playoffs after they went 7-9 without him in 2020.