EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Taylor Mays' reunion with coach Mike Zimmer was short-lived.
The Minnesota Vikings announced they released the sixth-year safety less than an hour after the team's mandatory minicamp was to begin Tuesday.
When asked about the move, Zimmer said, "It wasn’t working out."
Mays, 27, had played for Zimmer -- Minnesota's head coach -- for three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals when Zimmer was the team's defensive coordinator. Mays had started only four games in those three seasons but was signed by the Vikings, who are searching for more stability at safety next to Harrison Smith.
Robert Blanton has been getting the majority of practice time as the first-team safety next to Smith during organized team activities. Second-year draft pick Antone Exum has been with Andrew Sendejo on the second team for much of OTAs.
Shaun Prater, a cornerback for much of his career, has been practicing at safety. The team is also high on undrafted free agent Anthony Harris, who was signed after the draft out of Virginia. Harris hasn't been practicing as he's recovering from shoulder surgery in December.
Mays played in 16 games last season for Cincinnati but was mostly a special teams player. He had nine tackles and one safety last year.
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