Confidence unshaken, Griffin says, 'I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing'

Having watched the Vikings struggle for years to upgrade their strong safety position with solid special teamers who fall short of their standard for a starter, the logical question to ask Michael Griffin on today's media conference call was …

"So, Michael, since it's your job now, what do you add as a starter next to Harrison Smith?"

After all, Griffin has started 133 of 141 games in nine seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He played under current Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, who was Tennessee's defensive coordinator from 2011-13. He's going to work for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, the DB Whisperer with a long track record of getting the most out of older players (See: Newman, T.) And, at this point, his primary competition is incumbent Andrew Sendejo, who was re-signed but probably isn't the right guy when you consider Zimmer said last month that the team was still looking for "the right guy" to start next to Smith.

Griffin, who was released in Tennessee last month, signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal. The Vikings announced it today and made Griffin available to reporters. So, what say you, Michael?

"A lot of people ask me if I'm going to start and whatnot," Griffin said. "The way I look at it, I'm a team player and I'm a humble guy. You got to compete. There is nothing in this league that is given to you. I know Harrison Smith has solidified himself as a starter. He's a great player in this league. You can say he's a young up-and-coming safety, but I do not look at him like that. I've been watching this game for a long time now and he's one of the top three, four safeties right now.

"I look at myself coming in and competing and trying to help this team win ballgames. Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I'm going to do it. I look it as team before me."

The 6-foot, 215-pound Griffin is 31 years old. He was the 19th overall pick in 2007. The Vikings have another old guy from that draft who's still pretty good. A running back you might have heard of.

"People always say the grass isn't greener on the other side, but the way I look at it is as an individual, you are who makes it greener on what you put into it and how you make of it."

One other question comes to mind when a player of this standing — two Pro Bowls, 25 career interceptions, 153 tackles as a second-team All-Pro in 2010 — gets kicked to the curb. When that happens, what kind of motivation is it, Michael?

"I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing," he said. "To be able to go through four head coaches, I don't know how many different defensive coordinators, how many different position coaches, even ownership changed from Bud Adams to his son-in-law to now his daughter, there was a lot going on in that organization. I did everything I had to do.