The decision of Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner to resign his job with the Vikings was as shocking as it is mysterious. More than a day later, it’s still not clear why Norv walked away.
No one is talking. No one. Those who are in a position to know aren’t saying a word.
It’s no surprise. Norv has no reason to stir the pot; his son, Scott, still serves as the quarterback’s coach. The Vikings have their hands full, as they scramble to adjust to the departure of Norv and the elevation of Pat Shurmur -- a process akin to changing the tire of a moving car.
Appearing on KFAN after Wednesday’s basic, nuts-and-bolts press conference, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said a few things that suggest that something was amiss.
Explaining his muted reaction to an ugly Monday night loss in Chicago, Zimmer told Dan Barreiro this, via Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “It’s a long season and you’re going to have ups and downs. Even when I won a Super Bowl in Dallas there were so many ups and downs. . . . I didn’t feel like me going in and tearing everyone’s heads off was the right thing to do. Plus there may have been some other factors.”
Press on those “other factors,” Zimmer said, “I’ll keep those to myself.” He also added that he “shouldn’t have said it.”
And so the whyhedunit continues, with all sides committed to secrecy and no one able to get to the truth. In many ways, it doesn’t matter; the Vikings have to move forward without Norv regardless of why he left.
In other ways, it matters plenty. Understanding why Norv walked away will help predict whether similar problems will arise as a 5-2 team that suddenly feels like it’s worse than 2-5 can turn things around with upcoming games against the Lions, Washington, the Cardinals, the Lions again, and the Cowboys.
