Everson Griffen reached out publicly for the first time on Thursday following a tumultuous week of reports regarding legal and mental health concerns surrounding the Minnesota Vikings defensive end.
He released an Instagram statement apologizing “to everyone who was impacted” while promising to return as a “much-improved person and player.”
On Monday, reports broke that Griffen was involved in a Saturday incident at a Minneapolis hotel where he allegedly threatened to shoot someone.
He allegedly told the staff that if “someone wouldn’t let him into his room that he was going to shoot someone,” KSTP in Minneapolis reported.
Police disputed the report, telling the Associated Press that there was no belief of a credible threat from Griffen after they were called to investigate a threat of physical violence at the hotel.
“There was absolutely no indication that threat was credible,” Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told the Associated Press. “There was no indication of a firearm. There was no belief that a threat was capable of being carried out at that time.”
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Griffen missed last week’s game originally attributed to a knee injury. But Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters after the game that his absence was due to a “personal matter.”
General manager Rick Spielman released a statement on Monday addressing Griffen’s status.
“We are aware of the situation involving Everson Griffen and certainly concerned by what we have heard,” Spielman said. “We are currently focused on Everson’s well-being and providing the appropriate support for him and his family.”
On Tuesday, multiple reports broke that Griffen was in a Minneapolis-area hospital being evaluated following Saturday’s incident.
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