Lions' Griffen responds to Zimmer: I'm not good, 'I'm a great player'

The Detroit Lions' Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings means more to Everson Griffen than a Lions debut against a former team: The defensive end wants to prove Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wrong.

Zimmer recently said Griffen "was a good player" for the Vikings during his 10 seasons with the team, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. However, the veteran defender expected more from his former boss, who coached him for six campaigns.

"This is the best I've felt in a long time, and I got a little frustrated when I read that comment what Zimmer said, 'Oh, Everson was a good player,'" Griffen said Thursday. "Like, coach Zimmer just wasn't a good coach, he was a great coach to me, so for him to call me a good player, that kind of hurts my feelings.

"On Sunday, I'm really looking forward to playing the Vikings and showing them that I am a great player. I'm excited, I'm ready to execute, my mental health is strong, my physical health is strong, my mind is strong, and I'm ready to go out there and dominate. I'm ready to create, adapt, and go out there and win."

Griffen was named to four Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team with the Vikings after they drafted him in the fourth round in 2010. In 147 appearances, he racked up 74.5 sacks, which ranks fourth in franchise history.

The 32-year-old opted out of his contract with Minnesota in February and later signed a free-agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys. He made just seven appearances with Dallas before he was traded to the Lions two weeks ago for a conditional draft pick.

Griffen's accrued 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season.

The 3-4 Lions will visit the Vikings looking to bounce back from a 41-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

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