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Since there aren’t very many other stories to talk about coming out of Minnesota Vikings’ OTAs, let’s do one more about the absence of linebacker Anthony Barr from last week’s session.
Barr gave some clarification at today’s festivities in Eagan, and his reasoning was that he was waiting on an insurance policy. No, really.
Anthony Barr on why he missed last week's OTA: "I was hoping to get [a contract] done before OTAs. That didn't happen, so I protected myself, got an injury insurance policy, and that took about a week to get situated. I got that; now I'm good to go."#Vikings
— Sam Ekstrom (@SamEkstrom) May 30, 2018
So, the absence was at least partially contract-related, as Barr thought he was going to get a long-term deal worked out before the offseason sessions started and wound up not having that happen. So, he went and got an insurance policy on himself.
Barr is playing on his fifth-year option, and because we’re already past the start of the new league year, his $12 million salary is fully guaranteed for 2018. I’m not sure what sort of insurance policy he was waiting for, other than obviously being something to potentially protect his long-term prospects if anything should happen to him before a contract gets worked out.
It’s tough to fault Anthony Barr for missing a voluntary workout session for something like this. With this in the rear-view mirror, however, he’s back now and getting his work in with the team. Here’s hoping that Barr’s insurance policy turns out to be nothing more than a precautionary measure.