EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison discovered himself in a “darkish place” after his arrest earlier this month on suspicion of driving underneath the affect, he stated Wednesday in his first public feedback for the reason that incident. He emerged, he stated, largely due to the surprising stage of assist he acquired from teammates and coaches.
“I used to be shocked by the assist that I acquired,” Addison stated following the Vikings’ first observe of coaching camp. “I did not suppose it was going to be the way it was, nevertheless it was actually necessary. I used to be at nighttime place. I used to be feeling down, they usually actually uplifted me, uplifted me to return out right here and simply carry out at a excessive stage nonetheless. So, by way of the whole lot that is happening, I’ll put it behind me and I am nonetheless going to carry out at a excessive stage, come out right here, give the followers, what they pay for.”
Simply earlier than midnight on July 12, a California Freeway Patrol officer discovered Addison asleep behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce on I-105 close to the Los Angeles Worldwide Airport. The automobile was blocking a lane of the freeway, and a DUI investigation led to his arrest. As of Wednesday, there have been no formal charging paperwork filed in courtroom.
Addison might face self-discipline from the NFL, relying on the result of the authorized course of.
“No matter’s on the market for me,” he stated, “no matter comes with it, I will come clean with the whole lot. I really feel like something that comes my method is supposed to occur or is deserved.”
The incident occurred virtually precisely a 12 months after Addison was cited for driving 140 miles per hour on a Minnesota freeway in July 2023. He agreed to plead responsible to a misdemeanor rushing cost, with a cost of reckless driving dismissed. He paid $686 in fines.
Coach Kevin O’Connell stated earlier this week that he was “disenchanted” in Addison however added: “I am excited to get Jordan again in our constructing, get him round his teammates, and start that strategy of wrapping our arms round him … with the self-discipline and accountability being part of it.”
Receiver Justin Jefferson was among the many teammates who’ve supplied Addison assist in his return, saying Wednesday: “I am at all times going to be that person who he can lean on.”
Addison stated he had been making an attempt to “block the world out” within the quick aftermath of the arrest.
“It is loads on me generally when issues come out within the media,” he stated. “Lots of people that is studying it do not actually know who I’m for actual from the incident. So, they only choose me off incidents that occurred. They don’t seem to be round me daily. They do not know what I do for individuals exterior of soccer, however that is all it’s. It is robust.”
Requested if he thinks he has a difficulty that must be addressed away from soccer, Addison stated: “I am simply going to continue learning. I am saying that is all I can do, is simply be taught from my errors and preserve shifting ahead. That is what it’s.”
