When a scrub on the Vikings’ practice squad was arrested for drunk driving, the team acted quickly and cut him. When someone more important to the team was arrested for drunk driving, the team was considerably more lenient.
The Vikings have acknowledged today that defensive coordinator George Edwards was arrested in May and charged with 4th degree DWI and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Edwards later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of careless driving, which did not become publicly known until today.
“George Edwards immediately notified the team of this situation when it occurred,” the team said in a statement. “He was significantly disciplined by the Vikings. George has fulfilled both his legal obligations as well as the additional team-imposed discipline.”
Whatever “significantly disciplined” means, it means something less than happened to practice squad offensive lineman Isame Faciane, who got cut after his drunk driving arrest. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said of Faciane’s arrest, “that’s one of the things that I’m trying to get rid of around here.”
But it’s a lot easier to “get rid of” a practice squad offensive lineman than a defensive coordinator. And so Edwards was able to drive drunk without losing his job.