Very Confusing

The Minnesota Vikings signed a couple of linebackers yesterday. They signed Dom DeCicco and, get this, Mike Zimmer. No, not that Mike Zimmer. A different Mike Zimmer. The linebacker Mike Zimmer tried out at the Vikings recent Rookie Mini-Camp. The coach Mike Zimmer saw enough of the linebacker Mike Zimmer to sign him, the linebacker. The two Mike Zimmer's are not related. It's just a coincidence. It's an even bigger coincidence that the coach Mike Zimmer and the linebacker Mike Zimmer both played linebacker at Illinois St. Both are from Illinois but were born in different cities. That's about the only thing that separates them. Well, that and their relative job security with the Minnesota Vikings. It's all very confusing.

The linebacker Mike Zimmer spent the 2013 training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in all four preseason games but was released before the regular season. Not to get lost in all of the confusion is the signing of DeCicco. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He made the team and played in all 16 games. He had 12 special teams tackles that season. He played in only four games for the Bears in 2012 and was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster last season.

Mike Zimmer, the linebacker not the coach, is a long shot to make the Vikings. Mike Zimmer, the coach not the linebacker, is certain to have a long, successful coaching career with the Vikings.