Minnesota Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson (50) celebrates the win against the Washington Redskins at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings win 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson was once a great player on the defense in 2010 and 2011, and he was viewed as a budding star due to his excellent work on run defense. But Henderson has run himself afoul of the law and of the Vikings organization, and this latest incident is fully expected to cost him his job with the team.
According to the USA Today’s Tom Pelissero, Erin Henderson was arrested on suspicion of DUI, and he was actually arrested for the same exact crime in late November. The Vikings already punished him by essentially suspending him for a game, and former head coach Leslie Frazier demoted him from the “Mike” to the “Will”. He was already down on Henderson before, and he was even more upset with Henderson following his first arrest.
Now that he’s been arrested for DUI for the second time in a period that is barely more than a month, Henderson is likely to receive his walking papers. According to Pelissero, the Vikings are expected to cut Henderson once the NFL rosters are “unfrozen” to allow transactions, and it would honestly be a bit of a surprise for the Vikings to hold onto Henderson following his second screw-up.
It’s not a huge loss for the Vikings, but they are still losing a solid linebacker who recorded 112 tackles and four sacks this season, though his poor work in coverage outdid his solid work against the run. And the second DUI arrest? Well, that’s sealed his fate.