Each NFL team’s Olympic candidate

Minnesota Vikings: Everson Griffen, Ice hockey

He’s slowed down from his first-half domination but Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has been one of the most consistent players at the position over the last four seasons. He’s totaled 43.5 sacks during that time and is the leader of a Vikings defense that’s been dominant the entire season. Even with the play of Case Keenum and the offense, it’s the defense that keeps the Vikings going this season.

How good has Griffen been this season? He has more than one-third of the Vikings’ sacks this season and has put himself in NFC Defensive Player of the Year conversation with his play. As the Vikings head into the postseason, Griffen will be the player that opposing teams will look to stop. That’s easier said than done and when he gets going and starts terrorizing quarterbacks, he’s one of the hardest defensive players to stop.

Griffen is so quick and powerful off the edge that you forget he’s 280 pounds. He moves more like 250 with how fast he gets off the line of scrimmage. Goodluck to any offensive lineman trying to slow him down because that usually takes more than one player and sometimes even double teams aren’t the answer. Opposing quarterbacks have learned to throw the ball away when Griffen is coming around the edge and for good reason. All it takes is one hit and it could be a fumble going the other way in the Vikings’ favor.

Griffen strikes me as a player that wants to play physical no matter what, which means he’s going to participate in the only sport in the Winter Olympics that allows you to put pads on and that’s ice hockey.