Vikings DE Griffen being evaluated after outbursts

Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen was growing increasingly paranoid and feared someone was trying to kill him in the weeks and days before troubling incidents Saturday at a downtown Minneapolis hotel and in his suburban neighborhood that sent law enforcement looking for him, according to police reports released Tuesday.

The behavior prompted the Vikings to ban a disruptive Griffen last week from practice and seek mental health treatment, the reports said, which also noted that the 30-year-old husband and father is not suspected of a crime.

By the end of Saturday afternoon, Griffen was taken in an ambulance for treatment, but not before another outburst prompted police to intervene and escort him to the emergency vehicles’ destination.

Griffen did not play in Sunday’s 27-6 loss to Buffalo at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was on last week’s injury report as sidelined by a knee injury. On Monday, the Vikings listed him on the injury report as not having practiced because of “knee/not injury related.”

“We’re going to do everything we possibly can, not only to help Everson, but all of the players on our team, and not just them but their families as well,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday.

Griffen is at a mental health facility for evaluation and treatment, NFL sources have confirmed.

Griffen first drew police attention about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hotel Ivy in downtown Minneapolis, where the three-time Pro Bowl player was threatening to assault staff employees and lying on the lobby floor, according to a Minneapolis police incident report.

Emergency audio dispatch revealed as events unfolded that he “said that if someone doesn’t let him in his room that he is going to shoot someone,” but no gun was seen.

Police learned from Vikings player development director Les Pico that Griffen “has been really struggling for the past few weeks,” the police reports read. Pico said Griffen “has been explosive, screaming and yelling” at practice, the reports continued. Pico called Griffen paranoid and prone to repeating himself.

The team notified Griffen’s agent that its defensive star was banned from practice until his mental health is evaluated.

Titans: Tennessee added a quarterback with Marcus Mariota dealing with an injured elbow and backup Blaine Gabbert in the concussion protocol. The Titans made a flurry of moves Tuesday, including agreeing to terms with veteran quarterback Austin Davis. They also placed offensive lineman Kevin Pamphile on injured reserve to create a roster spot after he started the last two games.

Panthers-Bills: Carolina addressed an injury-depleted offensive line by acquiring veteran Marshall Newhouse in a trade with the Bills. Buffalo acquired a conditional draft pick from Carolina in the trade on Tuesday.

The Bills then filled Newhouse’s spot by signing offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year contract. Sirles was cut by the Panthers three weeks ago.

Late Monday

Steelers 30, (at) Bucs 27: Vance McDonald insists he wasn’t sending some sort of message when the Pittsburgh tight end extended his right arm toward Tampa Bay’s Chris Conte and jammed the Buccaneers defensive back into the turf on Monday night.

It was a show of force that sprung McDonald for a 75-yard touchdown reception and seemed to snap the two-time defending AFC North champions out of an early funk that threatened to swallow their season whole.

“Just playing big,” McDonald said after Pittsburgh held on for a 30-27 victory. “It was frustrating. I was (injured) in training camp, so this was kind of just a ‘Welcome Back’ almost.’”

McDonald was talking about himself. He might as well have been talking about the Steelers, too.

While there remains plenty of issues — particularly when it comes to penalties and pass defense — Pittsburgh (1-1-1) played with a sense of urgency it lacked at times during a maddening opening two weeks.

The defense put a sudden halt to Tampa Bay quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s hot streak by forcing a turnover on four consecutive possessions.

Ben Roethlisberger did the rest while throwing for 353 yards and three scores.

“That was a total team win, all the phases, and that’s what Steeler football is about,” Roethlisberger said.