Posted: 9/18/02

Full count: Vikings bring Haayer home

When Adam Haayer left the Metrodome field as a member of the Tennessee Titans on Friday, Aug. 23, he had no way of knowing it would be his last game for the Titans.

Nor could he have ever imagined it would be the first in what may be many games at Metrodome in his NFL career.

A mere three days after seeing considerable playing time as left tackle on the Titansí offensive line against the Vikings, Haayer was cut by Tennessee as teams began trimming their rosters to get under NFL-mandated player limits.

Monday, Aug. 26, started like most days for Haayer. He got up, spent the early morning hours lifting weights and then went to get taped-up for practice. After getting taped, Haayer sat down for a breakfast meal which was interrupted by a tap on the shoulder and a trip to Titan coach Jeff Fisherís office.

Fisher told Haayer the Titansí plans to keep just three offensive tackles instead of four and that the Forest Lake grad simply hadnít beaten out nine-year veteran Jason Mathews for that back-up tackle spot.

And with that, Haayer was unemployed and uncertain if he had a future in the NFL.
He went home to an empty house. His wife Summer and young sons Austin and Aston were still in Minnesota. He called them, called his agent and then waited.

About 36 hours later his wait ended when the Vikings claimed him off waivers.

ìIt was crazy,î Haayer said about his first hours as a member of the Vikings. ìThey picked me up Tuesday night, Wednesday morning I got on a plane and had a physical at Winter Park. They slapped a helmet on my head and put me on a plane back to Pittsburgh.î

Haayer joined the team in Pittsburgh for the preseason finale. He saw playing time despite having a raw knowledge of the Vikingsí playbook.

His knowledge of the Vikingsí system has had a chance to get better recently because he made the final roster cuts. Haayer went from one of the first cut by the Titans to an important piece of the Vikingsí offensive line.

In fact, after not playing in the Vikingsí season opener, Haayer played nearly the entire game against Buffalo on Sunday and earned the praise of Vikingsí coach Mike Tice following the game.

Haayer came to a team short a pair of offensive tackles because it has yet to sign first-round pick Bryant McKinnie and lost Lewis Kelly due to the death of his wife and unborn baby, and is listed as the teamís back-up at both left and right tackle.Ý

His signing with the Vikings doesnít come as a complete surprise for reasons other than Minnesotaís dire need for players at his position.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Haayer caught the eye of Tice, who at the time was the offensive line coach, at the NFL combines.

In fact, Tice told a member of Haayerís family the Vikings would draft Haayer if he was still around in the late rounds of the 2001 draft.

Haayer was around in the late rounds but the Vikings ñÝthen under the direction of Dennis Green ñ passed on him and the Titans grabbed him in the sixth round.

Now that he is a member of the Vikings, Haayer said itís almost like living a dream.

ìEverybody who grows up in Minnesota dreams of someday playing for the purple and gold. Thatís just the way it is,î he said last week before running off to a meeting at Winter Park. ìThis is my home state and (the Vikings) are my home team. The situation Iím in couldnít be better.î

Itís far from perfect, though. An NFL life may seem glamourous on the surface, but it hasnít been completely easy making the transition from Tennessee to Minnesota.

Since coming to Metrodome as a member of the Titans, Haayer had yet to see his wife and children as of last Thursday ñÝa stretch of three weeks.

As odd as it might sound, Haayer said his job of cutting defensive ends or getting his pads on a linebacker is easier than the job his wife has been left with ñÝpacking the belongings, selling the house, saying the goodbyes in Tennessee ñÝis much harder.

ìItís not as hard on me as it is on my wife and family because Iím so busy,î Haayer said. ìShe has a lot of stress on her to sell the house, do the packing and being away from me.î

As things have worked out, Haayer said the fact he was cut early by the Titans was a blessing in disguise.

ìThey did me a favor doing it early,î he said. ìThe last cut, a bunch of guys get cut and you can get lost.î

Haayer didnít get lost. Heís found his way home.

Top of Page