Vikings CB Terence Newman led the mutiny against Mike Zimmer’s game plan

In a 38-25 loss against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told cornerback Xavier Rhodes to follow Packers receiver Jordy Nelson for the entire game.

However, in the early stages of the game, veteran cornerback Terence Newman told Rhodes that he would also cover Nelson. He was suggesting that both of them should stay on their own side of the field. Newman’s defensive game plan only lasted for a few series.

Rhodes allowed Newman to do what he wanted, and Zimmer confronted Rhodes on the sidelines. The young cornerback didn’t know whether to listen to his head coach or Newman.

Nelson had seven catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Rhodes shadowed the veteran receiver in the second half, and he only caught two passes for 9 yards.

Zimmer said, “That’s what he was supposed to do the whole game. Someone decided they wouldn’t do that.”

Following the game, Rhodes defended the veteran cornerback.

“We felt as a team, as players, we came together and we felt like we’d never done that when we played against the Packers,” Rhodes said. “Us as DBs felt like we could handle him. That’s how we felt as DBs that we could stay on our side and cover him. In the beginning, we’d always played against them and played our sides, so that’s what we as DBs went with.”

According to Zimmer, Newman went up to him on the sideline and “said something to me like ‘I can cover this guy, let me have him.’ I said: ‘Do what you’re supposed to do.’”

Newman didn’t talk about the situation after the game. He said, “nothing. I have no idea.”

On Monday, Newman told reporters that it was just a miscommunication, and it was corrected early.

So far this season, Newman racked up 38 tackles and one interception. Rhodes has 48 tackles and four interceptions. Minnesota is now eliminated from the playoffs at 7-8. The Vikings have a Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium.