""You're almost to the end," a European journalist remarked during a press conference last Friday. "Two sleeps," O'Connell interjected, mimicking the phrasing parents sometimes use with restless children. "Two sleeps left. But who's counting?" Vikings players, coaches and staffers were more than ready to head home two sleeps later. A trip that began with confidence proved to be a challenge, one that would test any NFL team's routine-oriented process."
"The Vikings' medical staff was taxed by a rash of injuries, and their personnel department had limited options to fortify the roster. Some players and coaches took advantage of the free time abroad to see the sights, first in Dublin and then in London. But many said they felt out of sorts while away from their families and admitted they were much more tired -- due to the change in sleep patterns and limited recovery tools -- than they feel during a normal NFL week."
The Minnesota Vikings endured a challenging 10-day international road trip to Dublin and London. The team's medical staff was taxed by a rash of injuries, and personnel had limited options to fortify the roster. Travel disrupted routines, with players experiencing altered sleep patterns, limited recovery tools, and dietary changes that increased fatigue. Some players and coaches used free time to sightsee, while others felt unsettled and missed their families. A disciplinary benching occurred when receiver Jordan Addison missed a walkthrough. The trip produced a 24-21 loss to the Steelers and a last-minute 21-17 win over the Browns, finishing 1-1.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]