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I’m sure that this has been all over the internet today, but I first saw it over at Purple PTSD, so I’ll give them the credit.
Throughout last season, one of the stranger stories for the Minnesota Vikings included the status of Sharrif Floyd. Floyd played about half of the snaps in the Vikings’ Week 1 victory over the Tennessee Titans, and then didn’t play again. . .only the Vikings kept him on the active roster and didn’t put him on injured reserve until early December. Head coach Mike Zimmer was openly critical of the progress that Floyd seemed to be making in rehabbing his injury, and it all seemed a little bit strange for the fourth-year defensive tackle.
Well, from what we can glean from a post that Floyd made to his Instagram on Thursday, things may be much worse than originally thought.
If, for some reason, you can’t see the Instagram post embedded above, here’s what Floyd’s message says in full and unedited:
My to the big guy #upabove we've been on this train for so long, you have blessed me in more why's then I could've possibly imagine. For that I I'm truly thankful. You've been there when there was no one around, you've held me together when I thought I was at my edge, you've aloud me to play a game that kids dream about to this day. For that I continue to place my hands together I come to you tonight that same kid in 2006, not moved by greed, not moved by negativity, not moved in bad behavior. I'm down on one knee praying my road doesn't end here.... there are so many more lives to touch, so much more joy to spread. You've believed in me for to long to turn your back on me now. Don't let me go out this way. All I ask is for a fighting chance... this game means so much to me and the foundation is still being laid one stone at a time. I'm hurting and I don't know how to say it aloud, I am truly humbled in your grace. Grant me one last run, I promise I'll lay my soul on the line.
I’ll tell you what. . .this sounds really ominous, at least from where I’m sitting. It sounds as though Floyd feels his career is in some pretty serious jeopardy. In asking his Creator for “one last run,” it sounds like whatever knee issue was giving him problems in 2016 is still causing him problems, and that it could potentially put him on the shelf for good.
I really hope that isn’t the case. Floyd seems like a genuinely decent guy, and he’s been a force for the Vikings when he’s been able to stay on the football field. The Vikings picked up Floyd’s option for the 2017 season, but from what Floyd is saying here, it doesn’t appear that he’s sure he’s going to be ready.
This is one story that we’re definitely going to have to keep an eye on as this team approaches offseason mini-camps and things of that nature. In the meantime, hopefully Sharrif Floyd can continue to make progress in his recovery so that we can see #73 out on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium this coming NFL season.