MINNEAPOLIS — The largest and loudest player on the Vikings’ roster toils in anonymity, lost in the scrum of entangled linemen that rarely gets noticed by TV cameras or analysts. But Minnesota’s coach, Mike Zimmer, couldn’t lose track of Linval Joseph even if he tried. When the 6-foot-4, 329-pound nose tackle isn’t silently terrorizing offenses on the field, he’s a sideline hype man constantly chirping in Zimmer’s ear.
“Keep coming after them, coach,” he’ll bark. “Keep your foot on the pedal, coach.”
The headman always obliges with a, “Yes, sir.”
That was never more evident than two weeks ago when, during the final minutes of the Vikings’ lopsided 31-13 win over the Texans, Joseph lobbied to go back into the game.