Griffin's injury is going to hurt

It didn't feel good watching Cedric Griffin lie there on the field on Monday night — reaching for his knee, that couldn't be a good sign. Then he got up, and the ESPN announcers wouldn't let you forget that he tore his left ACL during the NFC Championship game.

Lightening couldn't strike twice, could it?

It did — Griffin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee this time.

Here was a man who grew up in front of our eyes. And no matter the severity of the injury, at that point, you had to feel bad for Griffin as he went off the field.

The 2006 second-round pick went through his own growing pains initially. But then everything clicked. Griffin started all but one game from 2007 to 2009 and had a career-high four interceptions last year.

There was the Williamses, Henderson, Greenway, Allen, Winfield and Griffin. He was establishing himself with those names on the defense.

Defenses attacked Griffin early on in his career — maybe Asher Allen could learn something from how Griffin grew up, he developed. Offenses have always avoided Antoine Winfield's side of the field. Maybe it's out of respect. I'm not sure, but it seems that has been the case since he's been in Minnesota.

No matter the reason, Griffin was an important piece on this defense and his loss is going to hurt.

On Monday night, even with Griffin in the game, Mark Sanchez and the Jets were able to pick apart the Vikings' secondary until New York got to the red zone.

Now, Griffin is gone for the season. And Chris Cook is still trying to come back from a knee injury. So Minnesota has to rely on Frank Walker and Lito Sheppard and Asher Allen.

Sheppard got his chance earlier this season and he did nothing to prove he should get another this time around.

Griffin's injury puts the pressure squarely on Allen's shoulders. He was the one Santonio Holmes and Sanchez were picking on, on Monday night. He's going to be thrown into the fast paced river and this is when the Vikings need him swim like Michael Phelps.

If Allen can't do the job then Cook will be the next option. But he's a rookie. And he's a rookie who's recovering from an injury. How much can we realistically expect from Cook during the next few weeks? And these are very important weeks for the 1-3 Vikings.

These young cornerbacks won't have much help in the secondary, either. Let's face it: the safeties don't instill confidence in anyone. With Griffin sidelined, Winfield is the only reliable player in what was already considered a weak unit.

There is nowhere near the same amount of questions about the linebackers or defensive linemen.

Griffin's injury added something else to laundry list of doubts and concerns surrounding this team. He may not be a marquee name, but on this defense he certainly is.

You may have felt bad for Griffin when he left the field Monday night, but that may pale in comparison to the negative feelings you'll have about this secondary for rest of the year.