Former Vikings player takes parting shot at longtime athletic trainer

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo takes a shot at longtime Vikings lead athletic trainer Eric Sugarman. 

Ever since Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah arrived in Minnesota, he’s been determined to shake things up and bring in a new era for the organization.

The Vikings fired head coach Mike Zimmer in favor of Kevin O’Connell, and Adofo-Mensah even hinting at drafting a new quarterback to replace Cousins. Now, it seems he is moving on from longtime lead athletic trainer Eric Sugarman after 16 years.

While many sent Sugarman well wishes for his time in the Twin Cities, former Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo shared scathing words on Sugarman and his reputation.

Alleging that Sugarman is “not a good man”, Odenigbo said that whatever positive popular narrative surrounded him was “fabricated.” Vikings reporter Will Ragatz revealed Odenigbo’s story about an early encounter he had with Sugarman.

“It was my rookie year with the Vikings,” Odenigbo tweeted according to Ragatz. “I was put on practice squad during the season, I had a small injury and I wanted to get treatment, so I asked the trainers to see me. Eric Surgarman tells me ‘I wish I got paid 6 [figures] to work 3 times a week’ then he proceeded to ignore me. This [is] one of many stories and encounters people had with him on a regular [basis].”

Former Vikings DE Ifeadi Odenigbo goes off on Vikings athletic trainer Eric Sugarman

Odenigbo isn’t the only former Viking who endorsed the narrative that Sugarman isn’t all that sweet to players. Jeff Badet cosigned what Odenigbo said, and Jaleel Johnson replied to Odenigbo with a co-sign in a now-deleted tweet.

While Odenigbo and others seem to have had negative encounters with Sugarman personally, he is noted for being a critical part of Adrian Peterson’s miraculous recovery in 2012. He also helped Teddy Bridgewater to overcome his knee injury in 2016.