January 31st, 2011 
Adam Warwas 
Posted in Defensive ends Ray Edwards and Brian Robison are scheduled to become unrestricted free agency when the offseason begins.
They may have just gained a ton of leverage.
The Vikings fourth round pick of 2010, USC defensive end Everson Griffen was arrested by LAPD for felony battery.
After spending a day visiting coaches and players on the USC campus, Griffen was pulled over in a traffic stop. According to an LAPD spokesperson, Griffen did not have I.D. and quickly became aggressive when officers questioned him. He tried to run away and then assaulted an officer before being tased and arrested.
Griffen has had at least one prior run-in with the law, when he was cited for a noise violation during a party.
The Vikings thought they were getting a steal when Griffen was available with the 100th pick of the draft last year after many draftniks pegged him as a first rounder.
Rick Spielman had this to say about Griffen shortly after the draft:
“Then in the [third] day, Everson Griffen, for him to be there in the fourth round, when we had a lot higher grades on him, I think most people did, and feeling very comfortable after spending some time with him, that he’s the type of football player we want here.”
Griffen was thought to be a candidate to replace Ray Edwards as the starting left end next season, but now I have to wonder if he will even be on the team. Zygi Wilf has preached about his commitment to character in the past, and while at times it has appeared to be just lip service, these are not the type of stories he wants his P.R. staff to be working on while a stadium battle is right around the corner.
I mean, what the hell was this kid thinking?
Not having I.D. is no reason for running from the police who deserve to have our respect and cooperation at all times. Unless of course, Griffen had even more things to worry about and the full story isn’t known yet.
Either way, these are my least favorite stories to read, and while he is unlikely to receive a suspension from the league because this is his first offense, this certainly won’t look good for a young player that has done very little with his career thus far.
He better get his head on straight if he wants to be successful as a football player. If he doesn’t, then he’ll become just another fourth rounder that didn’t pan out.
“…..and the full story isn’t known yet”.
Hold that thought right there. We are only hearing one side of the story at this time. Perception is a funny thing.
FYI, no anti-police bias here, my brother in law and a nephew are cops
All I meant by that is that maybe Everson had more to hide than just a missing ID, and we don’t know about it yet. Pure speculation, but why run from the cops for driving without ID?
Is there empirical evidence that Griffin was “running from the cops”? Camera in police car? What kind of “traffic stop”.
Don’t get me wrong, Adam. If Griffin was breaking the law, let the legal system sort it out. However, the LAPD does have a checkered history. Charlie Sheen can snort a suitcase full of cocaine and nothing. Griffin rolls through a stop sign and he gets tased? Something ain’t right about this.
We’ll see…
maybe.
This is disappointing. I was hoping he could line up on the other side of Allen, but with incidents like this, I dont think it will be easy for him to become a starter. He has a lot of work to do and hopefully Frazier and co. can turn this kid around.
Dugan would have out run the cops
Bryant McKinnie was arrested for Felony Assault in Miami, after a police officer ordered him to stop, and he didn’t get tased. All I’m saying is maybe the LAPD jumped the gun on this one
New Information per Access Vikings, evidently Griffin attacked a police officer.
Yup, this doesn’t look good for his future with the Vikings
The original story noted that… as did I.
sorry Adam. Just showing off what a big dumbass I am
No worres, Ole. I do that here on a daily basis
*worries
nothing here Adam, but that is just one Dumbass’ observation
Thanks Ole.
wow griffen, nice job…it doesnt matter what its about…the guy was/is in a bad situation and he shouldnt be