Vikings: 3 players who are as good as gone after Mike Zimmer, Rick Spielman firing

The Minnesota Vikings cleaned house on ‘Black Monday’, a day in which coaches and front office executives are unceremoniously shown the door.

The Vikings failed to reach their ultimate goal, and these are the consequences. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman were fired as a result of the Vikings missing the playoffs.

The Vikings undoubtedly had the talent to be a playoff team. Spielman provided them with that talent, minus a few key components and depth pieces. Zimmer, however, failed to coach them up. Regardless, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf doesn’t have time to play with.

So with Spielman and Zimmer out in Minnesota, what could come next for the Vikings? A culture change is at play, and the Vikings are expected to part ways with some familiar faces as a result.

3 Vikings players who are next out the door: Everson Griffen

Griffen was a staple on the Vikings defensive front-seven for years until he parted ways for the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, in just one year in Dallas, he failed to prove himself independent from Minnesota.

So, the 34-year-old took his talents back to where it all began. He’s a stalwart in the locker room and around the team facility, but Griffen has no place in the Vikings’ future.

Griffen finished the season with five sacks, production that ought to be fairly easily replaceable in the long run, either via free agency or the draft. Selecting a younger defensive end in the first few rounds with potential has more value than keeping Griffen around, who at this point is more name recognition than an actual impact performer.