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Pierce Plans to Stuff Runs & Bolster His Pass Rush for 2021 Vikings Apr 16, 2021 at 08:30 AM Copied!
EAGAN, Minn. Away from football for the first time since age 4, Michael Pierce developed a weekly Sunday morning routine to help cure his restlessness.
He got in a ride on his Peloton, hit the sauna and went to church before settling in at home with a plate of food and a glass of wine to watch the Vikings.
The mammoth defensive tackle was supposed to be a key piece in the middle of the Vikings defense, a prized free agent addition from Baltimore who could stuff the run and help free up linebackers while also providing leadership in the locker room.
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NFL offices, however, were closed at that time because of the pandemic. As the reopening plan took shape, players were allowed to opt out if they had COVID-19 concerns.
Pierce s history of upper respiratory problems led him to choose that route and not play football for the first time since the 28-year-old Alabama native was 4.
Now fully vaccinated, Pierce felt comfortable accepting the invitation to Minnesota this week. They wanted to show me the love that they ve shown to everybody else that they brought in through free agency, even though I signed last year, Pierce said. That was something they thought of, and I m super appreciative of that. I ve literally walked the whole campus, got to see the [Minnesota Vikings]