McKinnie Could Start the Season Suspended

May/04/08 10:07 PM Filed in: Bryant McKinnie
BryantMckinnie
ProFootballTalk is hearing rumors that the Vikings are preparing to begin the season without left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who may be suspended over an off-season incident in which he attacked a bouncer outside a Miami club.

There is nothing concrete along with these “rumors,” since the NFL won’t comment on McKinnie’s situation, nor will the Vikings, nor will McKinnie. But you don’t really need anything concrete in this situation…McKinnie is clearly looking at some kind of discipline from the league.  Possibly a two-game suspension like Jared Allen got at the start of last season.

Should McKinnie be suspended, it’s likely that Artis Hicks would play left tackle, unless the Vikes wanted to take a look at Chase Johnson, a guy who could be a candidate to permanently replace McKinnie down the road.  Either way, the loss of McKinnie would mean a diminished run game, and possibly an improved pass game due to a reduction in the number of right ends screaming around to level the quarterback.

(thevikingage.com)