12-01-2017, 04:28 AM
For Vikings QB Case Keenum, stature rises even while status uncertain
Case Keenum’s celebrity status is reaching new heights even if his hold on the Vikings’ starting quarterback job remains up in the air.A day after leading Minnesota to a 30-23 victory at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Keenum attended a Timberwolves game and received a standing ovation from the Target Center crowd when introduced. Appreciative fans didn’t seem to care that earlier that day Vikings coach Mike Zimmer wouldn’t guarantee anything beyond Keenum starting Sunday’s game at Atlanta.
On Wednesday at Winter Park, it was more of the same. Zimmer was asked if there is anything Keenum could do to be named the outright starter over Teddy Bridgewater, who has not played since suffering a torn ACL in August 2016 and has been the backup the past three games after being activated off the physically unable to perform list.
“We’re just going to keep going one week at a time,” Zimmer said. “That’s the way it is. I’m not looking to pull him, but every week’s a different week in this league.”
Keenum is 7-2 as a starter for the 9-2 Vikings. No wonder sports fans in the Twin Cities are believers.When Keenum was introduced from a courtside seat during the second quarter of the Timberwolves’ 109-97 loss to Miami last Friday and shown on the jumbotron, he got perhaps the biggest cheer of the night.
“People immediately stood up and started clapping,” said Fox Sports North sideline reporter Marney Gellner, who interviewed Keenum later in the game. “They were waving to him. They were pointing to where he was sitting. It was a pretty boisterous ovation.”
Plenty of Vikings players have attended Timberwolves games in recent years and been introduced, including Adam Thielen, Everson Griffen, Kyle Rudolph and Xavier Rhodes.
“I can’t think of anyone (from the Vikings) who has gotten a bigger ovation in recent years,” Gellner said. “People wanted to show how much they’ve appreciated (Keenum). They just wanted to shower love on him. It was really cool.”
http://www.twincities.com/2017/11/29/vik...k-starter/