Not long after Mike Zimmer conceded to the wishes of his doctors and co-workers, the Vikings coach had a request for his most trusted assistant: be his voice while he’s away.
“He just texted me and asked me to make sure I kind of get his message across to the team,” said defensive line coach Andre Patterson. “We’ve been together a long time. We have a close friendship, and I think he trusts I’m going to do the best job I can to get his voice across.”
Before Zimmer relented to admonitions and is taking a couple weeks at his northern Kentucky ranch to rest his eight-time surgically repaired right eye, he received a nudge from Patterson, a friend of 30 years.