NFL
Vikings release CB Bashaud Breeland after 'verbal altercation'
The former Super Bowl champion appears to hold no grudge, but what matters most now is that he's without a team.
The Vikings were forced to take disciplinary action ending in the termination of a contract after a verbal disagreement became physical on Saturday.
The Minnesota Vikings release Bashaud Breeland
According to reports on Saturday, veteran cornerback Bashaud Breeland was released by the Minnesota Vikings just two days before their Monday night meeting with the Chicago Bears. The decision to terminate Breeland's contract was taken after he entered into a verbal altercation with coaches and some of his teammates. According to an NFL.com report from Tom Pelissero and ESPN's Ian Rapoport, Breeland took off his cleats and proceeded to engage in a physical confrontation with a number of his teammates who were actually trying to restrain him in an effort to calm down the situation.
Interestingly, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer had disclosed earlier in the day that Breeland had been a late addition to the injury report, saying that the 29 year old was questionable for their Monday Night Football game against the Bears due to a "non-injury related matter." It is also understood that Breelend had additional physical altercations - which he initiated - with running back Dalvin Cook, defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, and ultimately GM Rick Spielman, who was forced to enter the fray in an attempt to diffuse the confrontation. Interestingly this isn't the first time Breeland has found himself in trouble as he missed the first four games of last season after violating the league's policy on substance abuse.
Bashaud Breeland responds
"Wow," was the word that Breeland wrote on Twitter shortly after the reports of his release from the Vikings surfaced. The now x Vikings cornerback later went on to post a second message in which he expressed his appreciation for the Vikings and his time with them. "No hard feelings no love lost," Breeland wrote.
Acquired in the last offseason, the defensive back was a starter for the Chiefs team which won Super Bowl LIV.On the season so far he had registered two interceptions and forced two fumbles. Additionally he also posted 63 tackles with five breakups across his first 13 games for the Vikings.
How will the Vikings replace Breeland?
The most likely choice for the Vikings in terms of covering the void left in the starting line up by Breeland, will be Kris Boyd. A seventh-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Boyd has made 20 tackles while recovering a fumble in the 12 games that he has featured in this season. A decent defensive player, Boyd has played in 38 regular-season games, starting five games during the 2020 season. Thus far he has posted 76 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and defended three passes.
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Though using Boyd as the first option seems logical, the Vikings do in fact have other choices in players such as starter Patrick Peterson, cornerbacks Cameron Dantzler, Harrison Hand and Mackensie Alexander. Dantzler for his part already has a credible 25 tackles and one interception this season, while Hand has recorded four tackles in his limited playing time. Alexander, is actually a Vikings veteran who has spent five of his six NFL seasons in Minnesota. To date he has recorded 30 tackles and four pass breakups in 13 games. Regardless of who the Vikings choose they will need to focus against their division rivals on Monday. With a current record of 6-7 and trailing the Packers by four, they have no margin for error as they try to clinch a playoff spot.
As for Breeland, it's all but assured that a player of his stature will begin to receive offers from other teams around league in the coming days.