‘When Emmitt Thomas coached in Philadelphia and Green Bay, he always had great respect for Vikings safety Robert Griffith. Now that Thomas is the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, he has an even greater appreciation for Griffith’s talents. "The thing I admire about him is that from looking at people from afar, you never get the full impact," Thomas said. "When I was at Philadelphia and at Green Bay, we really loved this young man. And then coming here, he’s not a disappointment. He’s a heavy hitter, good cover guy and a good team player. "He is smart, but he also likes to compete. He’s intense and very competitive, even in practice. He’s got a great work ethic, and is the leader of our defense."’