Vikings reunite with Griffen

The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran pass-rusher Everson Griffen on Monday, the team announced.

Griffen, 33, played his first 10 NFL seasons for the Vikings before opting out of his contract to become a free agent after the 2019 campaign. He then signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, who later traded him to the Detroit Lions midway through the 2020 season.

The four-time Pro Bowler admitted he regrets leaving Minnesota after 2019. He racked up 33 tackles, six sacks, and four pass breakups last campaign.

"I left because I thought the grass was greener on the other side, to be honest, and it wasn't," Griffen said, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "I learned I'm back home and I'm happy to be home. I should have stayed last year, to be honest. Where people love me, where the fans love me, where you guys love me."

Griffen, a former fourth-round pick, previously recorded 74.5 sacks through 147 appearances in Minnesota from 2010-19.

The veteran pass-rusher also plans to apologize to quarterback Kirk Cousins after calling the quarterback "ass" on Twitter earlier this offseason.

"I haven't really talked to him yet but I'm going to get around to doing that," Griffen said. "Apologize to him, apologize to Coach Zimmer, (GM) Rick (Spielman) about what I said. I take full ownership in that. I've still got to talk to Kirk and apologize to him about that."

Although Griffen's prime may be behind him, he could be a solid contributor to the Vikings' defensive line, which lacks star power opposite Danielle Hunter.

Minnesota also bolstered its pass rush this year by signing Stephen Weatherly and drafting Patrick Jones in the third round.