Vikings concerned over Griffen incident

The Minnesota Vikings say they're concerned about defensive end Everson Griffen, after what the team called a personal matter that has kept him out of U.S. Bank Stadium and practice in recent days.

General manager Rick Spielman said the team is providing support to Griffen and his family, but isn't saying what prompted his absence or the concern for his well-being.

"The only thing we're concerned about with Everson isn't anything to do with football, it's about him getting better," coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday at his regularly scheduled press conference ahead of Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams. "In the long run, he's a really good kid."

Minneapolis police say they were called to the downtown hotel where the team was staying Saturday on a report of a disturbance.

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A summary of the call from Minneapolis emergency communications center says hotel staff called to report a guest was causing a disturbance, was laying in the lobby and had threatened to assault hotel staff and was possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

A caller later told dispatchers that the guest was threatening to shoot someone if he wasn't let into his room, although no weapon was visible.

Read the MPD Incident Detail Report here.

Various media outlets, quoting unnamed sources, say Griffen was involved in the matter, although the Vikings have not offered any explanation or made Griffen available.

Police say the subject of the call left the building soon after police arrived, and was not detained.

Police spokesperson John Elder said hotel staff did not lodge a formal complaint, that there was no property damage reported and that officers didn't file a report on the incident or positively ID the subject of the complaint.

The incident summary appears to indicate emergency medical services and five police officers responded to the call.

Griffen is a nine-year veteran of the Vikings defense and has been named to the Pro Bowl each of the last three years. He was one of the NFL's sack leaders last season.