The National Football League (NFL) and the Minnesota Vikings were caught in a lump of controversy when Wes Phillips, the esteemed offensive coordinator of the Vikings, was caught in a compromising situation.
On Friday night, Phillips was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
It was a significant setback not just for Phillips personally, but also for the NFL and his team, the Minnesota Vikings.
Post his arrest on Friday night, the Vikings allowed Phillips to travel with the team to Las Vegas for Sunday’s game.
This stemmed from him being an integral part of the Vikings’ coaching team. Yet, his future with the team seems precariously uncertain.
When asked if he would be accompanying the Vikings for the game against Cincinnati on Saturday, he refrained from providing a definite answer.
“I’m not the one who’s going to make that decision,” Phillips said “I’m just going to keep coaching until they tell me otherwise.”
Dealing with this sensitive issue, the NFL is likely to suspend Phillips, following an exhaustive investigation. The protocol has always been strict in such cases.
This implies that Phillips not only faces public shame but also potential professional consequences in the wake of his DWI arrest.
In his first public address since the incident on Tuesday, Phillips was sorry. He expressed remorse for not living up to the standards set by the NFL and his team, the Vikings.
Wes Phillips on DWI: I didn't live up to the standards set by the NFL and the Vikings. https://t.co/6ODpJF7QfZ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 13, 2023
“Aside from the standards I have for myself, I do understand as a coach in this league, there are certain standards from the NFL and the Vikings. I didn’t live up to those standards,” Phillips said. “The last thing I would ever want to do is detract from the attention being on the great things that these guys do on the field. So that was unfortunate. I do believe in being accountable, learning from your mistakes, accepting whatever discipline may come down the road and growing from it.”
Despite the negative light cast by his arrest, Phillips’ tenure with the Vikings may hinge more on his professional performance than his personal mistakes.
The coaching business doesn’t play favorites, and value is determined by a simple question: Can you help the team win?
Recent struggles faced by the Vikings, highlighted by their ugly performance in Sunday’s 3-0 win, have put Phillips under scrutiny.
It’s clear the Vikings are in dire need of a turnaround, or the consequences could be severe not only for the team but for Phillips himself.
