DAILY CLIPS SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Sunday, July 26, 2020 Star Tribune Mike Zimmer's contract extension reinforces his long-term approach By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/zimmer-s-contract-extension-reinforces-his-long-term-approach/571908542/ Dalvin Cook expected to report for Vikings training camp after all By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/dalvin-cook-expected-to-report-tuesday-to-vikings-camp-per-mike-zimmer/571906332/ Pioneer Press Vikings’ Mike Zimmer, 64, ‘blessed’ to get contract extension considering ‘my age’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/07/25/vikings-mike-zimmer-blessed-to-have-contract-extension-taking-him-into-his-late-60s/ Mike Zimmer says Dalvin Cook will report Tuesday to Vikings camp but there’s still some drama By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/07/25/mike-zimmer-says-dalvin-cook-will-report-tuesday-to-vikings-camp-but-theres-still- some-drama/ The Athletic With new contract in hand, Mike Zimmer is right where he wants to be By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/1951897/2020/07/25/mike-zimmer-vikings-contract-extension-right-where-he-wants-to-be/ Skor North Dalvin Cook’s agent says his client never talked to Mike Zimmer about training camp By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/07/dalvin-cooks-agent-says-his-client-never-talked-to-mike-zimmer-about-training-camp/ Mike Zimmer on free agent DE Everson Griffen: “I’d love to have him back” By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/07/mike-zimmer-on-free-agent-de-everson-griffen-id-love-to-have-him-back/ Mike Zimmer on new deal: “I always felt like this was going to get done” By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/07/mike-zimmer-on-new-deal-i-always-felt-like-this-was-going-to-get-done// Purple Insider Takeaways from Mike Zimmer's pre-camp Zoom call with TC media By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/takeaways-from-mike-zimmers-pre-camp NATIONAL NEWS: Sunday, July 26, 2020 ESPN Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says Dalvin Cook told him he will report to camp, but agent denies it By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29537075/vikings-coach-mike-zimmer-says-dalvin-cook-told-report-camp-agent-denies-it CBS Sports Dalvin Cook plans to report to Vikings training camp, will not hold out for new contract By Cody Benjamin https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dalvin-cook-plans-to-report-to-vikings-training-camp-will-not-hold-out-for-new-contract/ Associated Press Zimmer says Cook told him he’d report to Vikes camp on time By Dave Campbell https://apnews.com/034c54989b6584b5b5a7ee17daf913cb Maven Media Dalvin Cook to Report to Training Camp Next Week, Per Mike Zimmer By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/dalvin-cook-report-camp-next-week-mike-zimmer 50 Days Until Vikings Football: Eric Wilson is a Fantastic No. 3 Linebacker By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/50-days-vikings-football-eric-wilson-no-3-linebacker MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Sunday, July 26, 2020 Zimmer: This Is My Team and These Are My Guys By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/zimmer-this-is-my-team-and-these-are-my-guys GMFB: Are The Vikings Being Slept On As NFC Contenders? By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/gmfb-are-the-vikings-being-slept-on-as-nfc-contenders What about Dalvin Cook? By WCCO http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=800d2335-e16a-4518-a915-50276dcae794 Zimmer “Humbled” to Sign Contract Extension By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=6709e529-ceaa-4e89-a4a2-8134100ea21e Vikings’ Questions Answered By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=6709e529-ceaa-4e89-a4a2-8134100ea21e VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Sunday, July 26, 2020 Presser Points: Zimmer Grateful to Keep 'Taking Swings' with Vikings By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-zimmer-contract-extension-grateful-to-stay-with-team NFL Officially Cancels 2020 Preseason Games By Vikings.com https://www.vikings.com/news/2020-nfl-preseason-schedule-canceled-games PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/26/20 Mike Zimmer's contract extension reinforces his long-term approach By Andrew Krammer A long-term outlook was one of Mike Zimmer's priorities once his agent started the process of his three-year contract extension. Zimmer wanted to be signed through at least the 2023 season, after which he'll turn 68, to increase the chances of ending his career with the Vikings. He added Saturday he has not yet determined how long he'll coach. "That was very important to me, partly because of my age," Zimmer said via video conference Saturday, a day after finalizing his new contract. "If I go two more years, I'll be 66 or something. My chance of being a head coach somewhere else would be not as good. So, I wanted to be here with the Vikings. I wanted to be here with the group we've put together." Tying the knot took some long talks, according to Zimmer, who acknowledged the process dragged out longer than he expected. Andrew Miller, the team's new chief operating officer, handled negotiations, which did not pick up steam until after the NFL draft in late April, when the pandemic started shrouding the season. "I'm not the most patient guy. It took a while to get started," Zimmer said. "Time gets closer and closer, you get antsy and want to get something done. They did, too. They wanted to get something done. We had some hard negotiations there, and some of the parts of the contract took a little longer than we anticipated. There wasn't any time where I didn't feel like it was going to get done." This Vikings team, in Zimmer's seventh year in Minnesota, might also require a long-term outlook. Zimmer turned Saturday to mapping out the team's camp schedule, which could not be finalized until Friday's agreement between the NFL and NFLPA on key issues, including camp structure. Meetings remain virtual until players register two negative coronavirus tests, taken three days apart. Even in-person sessions will be limited in capacity to, for instance, an offensive group meeting of about 40. Teamwide meetings will remain virtual. Zimmer is focused on quickly developing a young roster with 15 draft picks. Every NFL team is limited to 14 padded practices until the regular season. Without preseason games, the Vikings will push the intensity of those practices, according to Zimmer, including creating more game-like situations. The first padded practice can be held Aug. 17. "Number one, we're going to have live contact," Zimmer said. "Our younger guys against our better guys and try to evaluate those players in those situations." Zimmer said he's also focused on finding ways for players to bond, since many will be meeting each other in person for the first time this week. "Trying to get some team chemistry, I think, is going to be important as well," he said. "So, we're very fortunate to have so much space in [TCO Performance Center] that we can have some meetings that aren't virtual." Running back Dalvin Cook is expected to report to camp Tuesday, according to Zimmer, after threatening to continue his holdout amid contract negotiations. Zimmer said Saturday he'd heard directly from Cook about the running back's intentions, which led Cook's agent, Zac Hiller, to deny hours later in a statement that Cook had spoken to Zimmer about camp. While Cook didn't share his intentions with Zimmer, he did with his position coach, according to NFL Media, and is expected to report after all. More roster uncertainty awaits Zimmer, who acknowledged the challenge of losing three starting cornerbacks this offseason. Mike Hughes, who has appeared in 20 games with five starts, is the Vikings' most experienced player at that position. This Vikings season will be unlike any other for Zimmer, but he has dealt with plenty of adversity in the past. "My first year, I had my running back [Adrian Peterson] suspended in the second game. Nobody knew that was going to happen," Zimmer said. "Teddy [Bridgewater] blows his knee out. [Sam] Bradford, you know. Everson [Griffen] misses a game. There's so many things that happen that kind of callous you. "My eye, missing the game, the eight surgeries," Zimmer continued. "When [players] get a guy hurt, they understand that's part of the game, and they'll understand if a guy misses two weeks because he tests positive for COVID." PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 7/26/20 Vikings finalize three-year contract extension for head coach Mike Zimmer By Andrew Krammer Dalvin Cook is expected to report to Vikings training camp on Tuesday, as head coach Mike Zimmer said earlier Saturday, despite Cook’s agent denying Zimmer’s claim hours later. During a press conference about his recent three-year contract extension, Zimmer said he was told “by [Cook]” that the Vikings running back would end a brief holdout and report on time for camp. Cook’s agent, Zac Hiller, responded Saturday night. “First, congrats to coach Zimmer on his well-earned contract extension,” Hiller said in a statement to ESPN. “However, Dalvin has not spoken to him in regards to reporting to camp. We are unsure why this was said. I hope Dalvin can continue to play a major role in the Vikings future success.” However, Cook instead told his position coach, who relayed the message to Zimmer, that the running back would report to camp without a new contract, according to NFL Media.