MANKATO – Mike Zimmer was addressing the media outside Sears Hall at Minnesota State Mankato on Thursday when he raised many a nearby eyebrow by saying, "People are saying we're not even in the top half of the NFC."
A reporter spoke up, essentially calling bullfeathers on the Vikings' third-year coach.
"So, you've already found people counting you out?" someone asked Zimmer, one of only three NFC coaches to win 11 games during the 2015 regular season.
"Oh, yes," Zimmer said as players filed in for the start of training camp. "Lots. I have, and I'll mention it [Thursday night] in the [team] meeting.