Coach's Kid

It's probably true of all team fan bases but Minnesota Vikings fans rarely agree on anything. The hiring of Mike Zimmer as the Vikings head coach was one of those rare occasions when nearly everyone was in agreement. They were thrilled. They should be. It was the most greatest coaching hire since Bud Grant returned to the team nearly thirty years ago. They were so thrilled that they had to really struggle to find something to upset them. Vikings fans are truly uncomfortable when they aren't unhappy. One target for some manufactured frustration was the hiring of Scott Turner as quarterbacks coach and Adam Zimmer as linebackers coach. Seriously? Vikings fans are complaining about position coaches nine months before a real game is even played. If the fans are thrilled with the choice of Mike Zimmer as the head coach of their team, one would think that they would trust his choice for coaches on his staff. He's worked decades for this opportunity. Why would he make risky choices?

The real reason that the fans question the choices of Turner and Zimmer is nepotism. Scott Turner is the son of new offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Adam Zimmer is the son of the new head coach. The fans love the addition of senior Zimmer and senior Turner. They question the addition of the juniors. Well, many question it. I still maintain that Zimmer would never hire coaches that will bring down the quality of the coaching on his team. That's just stupid. Again, why would he work so hard for so long to monkey with his first shot at a head coaching job? It makes no sense. If the fans trust the coach, they should trust his choices. I like that Adam Zimmer and Scott Turner grew up in the coaching business. They both started their coaching careers separate from their fathers. Scott Turner played some quarterback at UNLV. He was a graduate assistant at Oregon St. Coached at the high school level at South County Secondary School in Lorton, VA. Returned to the college level as assistant on Dave Wannstedt's staff at the University of Pittsburgh. Moved to the NFL as quality control/offensive assistant with the Carolina Panthers. Last year he coached the receivers coach of the Cleveland Browns. Adam Zimmer played defensive back at Trinity University in San Antonio. He started his coaching career in the NFL as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints. He was with the Saints team that won the Super Bowl in 2009. He moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the Cincinnati Bengals last season. Each made their own way as coaches for nearly a decade until they joined their fathers with Ohio NFL franchises last year. Each has earned this opportunity. Besides, Bill Parcells once said that you can't go wrong when you hire a coach's kid.