ORLANDO –Herm Edwards loves the game of football.
The former cornerback and NFL head coach, now an analyst with ESPN, can't stray too far away from his passion. Edwards is attending this week's Pro Bowl festivities in Orlando and relishes in the familiar atmosphere.
Edwards spent time Thursday visiting with fans, players and coaches alike.
"This is a great gathering spot where the young kind of meet the old," Edwards said. "The old guys are trying to give the young guys wisdom, and I think that the best thing the old guys can tell them is that we're all keepers of this great game. And you have to honor the game when you play it or coach it. That's important because it doesn't belong to you – it belongs to the guys that follow you."
When Edwards looks at the Minnesota Vikings, he sees that honor for the game that he speaks of.
The former coach said he felt the pain the Vikings went through in losing Teddy Bridgewater just before the season but continued that Minnesota "has a great nucleus and an outstanding football coach."
According to Edwards, the current Vikings reflect Head Coach Mike Zimmer is through their toughness and resiliency.
Edwards and Zimmer got their coaching starts around the same time. Edwards' first NFL gig was as defensive backs coach for the Chiefs in 1992. Two years later, Zimmer was hired as the Cowboys defensive backs coach. While Zimmer moved on to become a defensive coordinator in Dallas – and later Atlanta and Cincinnati – it was Edwards who first received a head coaching offer.
Edwards, who coached the Jets from 2001-2005 and the Chiefs from 2006-2008, said Zimmer's opportunity to lead a team was long overdue.
"Coach Zim' is one of my favorites. He's been a lifer in this game," Edwards said. "I think Minnesota found out that they have a unique man, in the fact that he's a man of great integrity. There's no 'gray-area Zim'.' He's going to tell it like it is. And I think players want the truth – they want a coach that coaches them hard, that gives them chances to be successful, and that honors the game."
Added Edwards: "He does it that way, and he has much respect in this league. He always has, and he's got a good football team."
