Happy Hump Day, everyone, and welcome to Skoloholics, your home for Minnesota Vikings Discussion! Every day you can join us for the latest Minnesota Vikings news, lots othef Minnesota Vikings talk, also NFL news and updates, and most anything else you may have on your mind. At Skoloholics, the real action is in the comments, so if you haven’t checked out the comments section yet, sign up and join the conversation.
Vikings Discussion and Random Thoughts
Wow, the Minnesota Vikings had a busy day in free agency yesterday, and free agency doesn’t even start until later today. Kwesi-Adofo Mensah got to work bright and early, and by the time many of us were having our first cup of coffee, the Vikings had already worked out a deal with Jonathan Allen. Before that first cup of coffee was empty, the Vikings had also worked out a deal for guard Will Fries. Within an hour, the rumor mill was humming again that the Vikings were negotiating with former 49ers DT Javon Hargrave, and shortly after that, they had a deal worked out with him, too.
Adding Size
Combine yesterday’s activity with the action from Monday, and the Minnesota Vikings added A LOT of beef to their interior line on both sides of the ball, over 1,200 pounds worth. This is something that many of us have been loudly demanding for years. The deals with pending free agents will not be official until the new league year starts today at 3 pm central time, but from the looks of it, the Vikings have turned their biggest areas of weakness into areas of strength.
Offensive Line
Upgrading the guard and center positions will ensure that J.J. McCarthy has the best possible opportunity to succeed as an NFL quarterback. I’m guessing Aaron Jones was also happy to see Ryan Kelly and Will Fries coming to town, with visions of running lanes instead of clogged trails. The two weakest links on last year’s offensive line are being replaced, and the Vikings offense with all of its playmakers looks to be lethal in 2025 and beyond.
Defensive Line
Adding beef on the defensive line will hopefully help the Vikings to be able to apply pressure with their front four so they don’t have to blitz as much as they’ve had to in order to try to apply pressure. Last year’s losses had a lot to do with Goff and Stafford making the Vikings pay for blitzing, as most good quarterbacks will do. The additions on defense should help the Vikings make things a lot tougher for opposing quarterbacks, and give more opportunities for Van Ginkel, Greenard, and Turner to go make more big plays.
Vikings News
The Vikings were awarded a high compensatory pick due to Kirk Cousins’ departure via free agency last off-season, from Vikings.com.
Vikings.com shares details on the signing of former Commanders DT Jonathan Allen.
Yahoo Sports has info on the deal with Javon Hargrave.
See the latest moves in Vikings free agency at the free agency tracker over at Vikings.com
NFL News
Keep up with free agency moves around the entire league at the CBS Sports NFL free agency tracker.
The Buffalo Bills have added veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa, per NFL.com.
NFL.com has the full NFL draft order for all 7 rounds, including recently awarded compensatory picks.
The Colts signed QB Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson for their starting QB spot, per NFL.com. It would have been nice to keep Jones in Minny, but not for $14.5 million a year. He’ll have a better shot at seeing the field in Indy, I don’t see J.J.
Media Selection
Over at the Purple FTW podcast, they talk about the Vikings’ free agency moves thus far. Enjoy!
Thread Guidelines
- Keep politics to a minimum. We are adults, news happens, and we can talk about it. What we don’t want is to go down rabbit holes and turn a productive conversation into name calling and personal attacks.
- Be respectful and civil. You don’t need to agree with everyone, you also don’t need to make it personal. Attack the argument, not the poster.
- Keep the NSFW language/pictures to a minimum. We don’t want anyone getting in trouble at work for hanging out here.
- To summarize, behave like adults. Treat each other with respect, and things will be fine. Mods will take out content they feel is pushing the boundary. If you want to reach out about something, please do. We want to have robust discussions, that’s why we’re here, just be civil.
- Twitter sized version: Be cool to one another.
Harrison Smith agreeing to 14th year according to a headline at the DN that I didn’t click on…..
He must believe we’ve got something worth coming back for ……
You know it. He saw JJ in practice and knows there’s something special getting ready to happen.
I suspect he loves what he does, and loves where he does it.
This is a player that means it, when he says he wants to retire a Viking.
Cooper Kupp released by the Lambs.
Given his history with KOC will he be our new #3?
https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2025-nfl-free-agency-rams-release-cooper-kupp-after-failing-to-find-a-trade-partner-for-the-wide-receiver-181324574.html
I think that would be good but he’s in his early 30’s and probably going to retire soon.
Even if KOC could make him decent for 1 year it would help.
He is not a #1 receiver any more, Maybe #2 on most teams.
He would be the #3 receiver for us, probably #4 with Hock.
I would rank him with Adam Thielen, decent enough for our needs if they are cheap enough.
32 in June. Not the same player but there’s a long list of guys who’ve produced well into their 30’s. If he’s completely healthy he’s worth the shot at the right price – we’re likely to see an Addison suspension. Could be a nice fill in for those games.
.
Admin posted so must be true…
Ban him!!
LOL, I love it. Think of all the drama! This is inevitable, guys. I think I’ll be entertained.
Hey Bow.
Nothing personal…
The terms agreed upon are the Vikings calling him a “Loon” and him calling the Vikings “the team I’ll never get to play for.”
Even randos on Reddit are waking up to reality.
Eh, he made the Vikings competitive and watchable. One of the best QB’s the Vikings have ever had. Was he paid too much? Yes, most would would say so. Was he the reason the Vikings ultimately failed and didn’t have much playoff success? I would say quite a ways down the list (Zimmer old man ways, extremely bad oline, kicker woes, CB’s being generally terrible, big contract for Barr who sucked, a lot of other things…).
Your opinion. The Vikings were never “competitive” during his tenure imo. Had no chance to make a NFCCG therefore no chance at a bowl. Thats not competitive.
Agreed, sound assessment.
Extremely accurate.
Fools Gold. Looks good when given time, turns to pyrite when it matters.
Dude cannot improvise to save his life. All of his nicknames are earned.
Tweak.
Spaz.
Dork.
Captain Panic.
Duck and cover.
Mister Roboto.
So glad he is finally off the payroll.
*for now
Just stopped by, I see a certain someone is high on the kirk and orange man love again today, SMH.
Its a way of life down in the south
It’s okay to like him. What I don’t get is all the people with TDS hating him for no reason.
Kirk’s contracts are the single biggest reason that the Vikings could not field a competitive team for the entire time the guy was here.
Most overpaid but average QB in memory. There are a few contracts that were worse. Watson/Osweiler come to mind.
This is simply not true. It was the players they chose to bring in via the draft and free agency, not the cap, that was the reason the team sucked. Plus Zimmer ball, allowing teams to stay in games by not even trying to get a first down, then watching as his defense choked games away.
Personally, I always thought he was snake oil.
Never bought into his, I want to retire a Redskin, I want to retire a Viking, I want to retire a Falcon nonsense.
Its always been about the money.
Just say I wanna get paid.
I don’t get why people believe and buy into his schtick.
Get the man a ring.
Can still proudly wear his jersey next season as an active player. Hell yeah
Bring The Hitman back!
backup CB and punt returner?
Dudes a special teams ace and thats about it.
does he replace Sherfield in that role?
I’d say thats an equal comparison.
Good slot corner, too. What I heard.
Every good defense needs one of those.
Looks like Mariota is staying with the Redskins. Cross him off the list.
I am hoping we can get to Minshew after he is released.
Would like to have Minshew, but we’ll get Rodgers. Book it.
Still waiting to see who will be our QB2 and QB3…
That is certainly the big question mark, and I think the team is waiting for Minshew to be released. Then KAM will make an offer. Of course, Ryan Tannehill is out there and available right now, and could see the Vikings bringing him in.
I am fine with waiting.
Better the right decision than the quick one.
QB2 right now is Rypien. He will probably end up QB3 eventually.
Greatness awaits.
Mac Jones the next student in KOCs QB School?
He is only 26 and a former 1st round pick.
KOC will figure out if he qualifies and KAM will see if they can get him at a decent price.
https://thevikingage.com/jaguars-patriots-mac-jones-could-next-minnesota-vikings-qb-rehab
A couple out of the box ones I thought of. How about Will Levis or Hendon Hooker?
We would have to trade for either one of those.
Mac was a FA as of yesterday.
Yeah, but it would likely be a cheap trade. Give Tennessee a 2026 7th or send Detroit a fart in a bag.
I’m okay with sending Detroit a fart in a bag and getting nothing in return.
Jones has shown very little improvement in four seasons and 52 games. Yes there are some real reasons for not being very productive at times, but when I have watched his play, I have seen some very amateurish plays at times. If the Vikings bring him in, I think he will have a lot to learn and develop. Just my opinion here.
Sounds a l lot like Sam when he got here.
Has the physical tools but needs a reboot between the ears.
While many on the left proclaim loudly Trump’s tariff policies are bad, market data shows Trillions of dollars in foreign investment are flowing into the U.S., directly as a result of the president’s policies.
The left has spent this country into over 36 Trillion dollars of debt, and continue to want to spend two Trillion more dollars a year than they take in. Americans are seeing the results of the Trump policies take seed, and our economy has already grown several Trillion dollars in 50 days. The left is really showing they have no business governing this country.
Yeah, but the overly bloated stock market is crashing so Orange Man Bad.
Yeah Bow, I think you and I understand that Wall street sells, when they are uncertain of what is going on. They also know it benefits them to drive the market down, so they can turn around and buy low, growing their portfolio exponentially.
Woke News and ‘Experts’ are going to amplify anything negative that they can find.
It is a complicated so some can always find something to spin as negative.
The proof is in the pudding in multiple ways.
Chargers have agreed to terms on contract extensions with LB Troy Dye and WR Jalen Reagor.
Happy Hump Day 🐫
Right back at you.
Rec
I am worried that JJ is gonna play well enough to get to NFCCG and then make an essentially rookie mistake in the game and lose. We will all be pumped for 2026 and a SB win. But, as we have seen in 1999 and 2010, can’t always repeat the magic.
So do the vikes have a realistic chance of winning the SB with douche under center. Would it be a terrible organizational move? He actually doesn’t bug me as much as he used to.
I think they have a better chance with JJ than they do Rodgers and even if they falter in the NFCCG, that is experience to be taken into the future.
I think Rodgers has just as much of a chance to make a dumb mistake, too, which would include not being aggressive enough to win (which Packers fans knocked him for when he was in his prime).
I also just don’t want our first Super Bowl to be with Aaron Rodgers.
If JJ weren’t ready or they didn’t think much of him, they would have tried harder to sign Daniel Jones or Sam Darnold.
Umm…our first SB with Rodgers? Good point, I couldn’t stomach that.
That’s the biggest issue for me: JJ would be so much easier to root for. Rodgers, almost impossible.
Fifth…
LOL.
Hey MP, I’m such a downtrodden Vikings fan that I thought you were talking about a superb owl appearance.
Not an actual superb owl win.
Haha no worries. I should probably assume it would top out at SB appearance.
I am not sure I could watch a 5th SB loss
You will, it will just be the Bills losing to the Vikings.
Well if you watch it life you won’t know until the end if you ‘watched a 5th SB loss’.
I guess you can wait for the replay but then you risk not watching their 1st SB win live.
‘I also just don’t want our first Super Bowl to be with Aaron Rodgers’
So it is better to have no Super Bowl Wins or to get one with the Douche?
This is something that I struggle with.
None (until one with someone else)
The douche only managed one SB in his prime. JJ is a better option at this point. They just need to bring somebody in that will help keep JJ’s head straight and the more I’ve thought about it Flacco would be the best backup for the long term success of JJ.
Only got the SB because his o-line could hold all day and never be called. Went on a 9-game streak of no o-line holding calls. Imagine that for a second. The Packers with no holding calls for 9 games. Almost as bad as Goodell giving the taints a SB in 2009.
Not aware of that. That’s mind boggling if true.
Have to disagree here. I’d love if Rodgers could do what Favre could not (obligatory FT*), just so we FINALLY get our first SB win. Not getting younger over here…
i think this team is being built differently than those 98 and 09 teams….
that being said, if JJ takes us to the NFCCG his first year?? that would be incredible
The Douche has lost like 8 or 9 straight playoff games?
True dat
So do the vikes have a realistic chance of winning the SB with douche under center.
(I’m just razzin ya)
Comments are loading fine for me
Are you on mobile or desktop? I haven’t tried mobile yet. I’ll try a different browser too.
Two browsers going. One has 109 comments, the other 92.
Desktop. All of these sports form/chat room type websites are dog shit on mobile.
Not me. Having to reload to show.
What browser?
Chrome
I’ve tried Firefox and Edge. Oddly, when I had both open, one of the two would seem to load, but not both and they took turns. Now I closed Edge and we’ll see from here.
Now that I only have one browser going again, having to refresh again.
Mine are refreshing, but it does take a while.
For me on Chrome, if I leave this page as the “no longer” active window for a while (for example, go to another tab on Chrome or switch to a different program altogether), when I come back there is no autopopulation of comments. Even if I then leave this window as the active window for a while, there is no autorefresh. Once I reload the page the new comments come up but now they are all marked unread.
If you’re around GF, comments still don’t seem to be loading.
I blame Ukraine
and Ponder.
And Kirk
Not relevant enough to blame for anything. Nothing is his fault. He is the most unlucky player to ever play in the NFL. If he had half the teams around him that every other QB in the history of the NFL have had, he would have won 10 Super Bowls.
Like these guys?
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/604599-top-10-quarterbacks-that-never-reached-a-super-bowl
That looks like a list of guys I’ve never heard of but they put up good numbers and guys who had success in the playoffs but just didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. Take Rivers for example. He was a good QB. Yeah, they never made the SB, but even with the ineptitude surrounding him, they still made it to the AFCCG and didn’t just lose in the first round of the playoffs once every 4 years.
And don’t even get me started on #4 on that list. He should have won the SB if not for Denny Green taking a stupid fucking knee and God Damn Kickers.
He must have been ‘the most unlucky player to ever play in the NFL’.
Still made it to a Championship game.
Sonny is interesting.
‘Despite the fact that Jurgensen was possibly the best pure passer of his generation, he never actually led any of his teams to the playoffs‘
There have been some teams win their Division with losing records, but bad teams don’t win playoff games, and rarely even get to the playoffs. A great QB on a bad team, isn’t going to win shit.
i might be in the minority here, but i hope we don’t trade/cut Bradbury. I don’t think it’s the end of the world to have a starting caliber center on the roster IN CASE our new one gets hurt.
I would be SHOCKED if he would garner more than a 6th round pick, which at this point, i’d rather stick with bradbury and his 6mill cap hit and have him around.
With the ‘Kumbaya Crew’ it will depend on what ‘Bradbury wants’. Doubt they will keep him around if he wants to be traded somewhere he can start.
I am not savvy to the ability of the 32 starting OC’s, serious question, could he start anywhere?
I think there are actually a lot of people around the league that like Bradbury and about half the teams in the league would like to have him.
but why do you think that???
Because I’ve heard the “experts” on the radio talk pretty highly of him and be flummoxed about Vikings fans shitting on him.
He might think so.
Similar to Cleveland, LG, that we let go for peanuts who starts for the Jags.
I will take two 7ths!!
Shut up Rick.
When it comes to Russia, Trump is holding all the cards.
While distasteful, and completely against his position of peace, Trump can use the enormous challenges Russia will face in 2025 as leverage to secure critical concessions in ongoing negotiations to end the war by continuing and even expanding military support to Ukraine. Russia will likely face a number of materiel, manpower, and economic issues in 12 to 18 months if Ukrainian forces continue to inflict damage on Russian forces on the battlefield at the current rate. Russia’s defense industrial base (DIB) cannot sustain Russia’s current armored vehicle, artillery system, and ammunition burn rates in the medium-term. Russia’s recruitment efforts appear to be slowing such that they cannot indefinitely replace Russia’s current casualty rates without an involuntary reserve mobilization, which Putin has shown great reluctance to order. Putin has mismanaged Russia’s economy, which is suffering from increased and unsustainable war spending, growing inflation, significant labor shortages, and reductions in Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. MOST importantly though is Trump’s “drill baby drill” policy which will give the U.S. the ability to sell oil to Europe, which has a massive dependency on Russian oil. If he takes that income away from the Russia economy, Russia is cooked.
Trump knows he’s in the driver’s seat here, and so does Putin.
As bad a it is for Russia it is worse for the Ukraine.
Left alone Russia wins, Ukraine get the silver medal.
NATO is propping up Ukraine and it is bleeding Putin dry. Russia had population issues even before the war, much worse now with all the young men that have been killed.
Both sides need an offramp, Trump provides that. The interesting part is what concessions each side makes.
Each side wants more than it will get. Ukraine is a terrible country, undeserving of anything. It’s racist and corrupt, with real Nazi supporters and white supremacists vying for power. Criminal organizations run rampant. Russia is to date, a sworn enemy of the U.S. This war is a conflict of interests on both sides of the fence, and it’s a heaping pile of shit that we have poured hundreds of Billions of dollars into. Ukraine is not a good country who was an innocent victim. There is no good vs evil here. It’s bad vs bad.
‘It’s bad vs
badworse’FIFY
Never claimed that there were good guys involved. I think Russia is the bigger threat to the US and the world, the Ukraine is a smaller cesspool.
It’s bad vs bad…. the bad vs worse perspective is a lie. Ukraine is a terrible, corrupt Nation. They are not “better” than Russia in any way, and in some ways much worse.
Not better, just a smaller threat globally.
That is true. It doesn’t make them innocent victims though or the “good country” vs the “bad country” as has been peddled by the media.
I have never stated that the Ukraine is ‘innocent victims’ or a ‘good country’.
I can admire the fight that they have put up though.
Can, will, Trump over play his hand and back Putin into a corner making Putin desperate and thus unpredictably dangerous?
Seems like DJT pushes people into a corner and then plays nice. Once he gets the upper hand he can adjust his aggressive stance. He seems to know that he has to leave stuff on the table for the ‘other guy’ in order for the ‘deal’ to work.
As I’ve said before, Trump knows it is impossible to negotiate from a position of weakness, especially in foreign policy. He carries a big stick, and he lets his opponents know it. He says it out loud. We can talk and work things out like adults, or I can beat you to death.
In a similar vein, I’ve always told my kids if you don’t have any leverage you’re only begging and no one likes a beggar.
When asked by one of my daughters how that r/t buying a car and negotiations, I responded get up from the negotiating table and walk away.
‘get up from the negotiating table and walk away’
My Niece (an attorney) stated that this was the best advice I ever gave her and she uses it, successfully, often.
Putin doesn’t have the will to start a nuclear war over Ukraine as he intoned when he went in. He doesn’t want WWIII. He was talking tough, and our President caved. As Trump said, the war would have never started had he been in office.
Trump ALWAYS negotiates from a position of power, and he wields power more effectively than any President in our history. Putin is in a weak position, and Trump can force him to submit in the end.
But he will have to give Putin more than we, or Zelinski wants.
Putin needs to come out with something that he can spin to Russia that it was all worth while.
And as Trump stated ‘good luck getting Russia out of the territory that they have taken’. Some hopefully but certainly not all, not the Crimea.
Trump isn’t giving or taking anything. He’s ending a war, so taxpayers stop losing hundreds of billions of dollars, and people stop dying. What Ukraine “loses” doesn’t matter at all. As I said, they are a terrible country. Trump doesn’t care about who gets what. He wants us out, and the war to end.
Right now WE’RE the losers here.
I don’t really care who gets what, ‘not my monkey-not my circus’.
Ukraine still has Europe supporting them (not enough to win but enough to make it messy) and has to agree to whatever the final deal is.
I can see a senerio where Zilinski digs in his heals, demands too much, Russia balks, Trump washes his hands and lets the Euros and the Russians duke it out.
Russia will agree to the cease fire and Ukraine will launch a false flag to drag NATO back in.
Interestingly enough, KAM has arrived at the point where he will totally own the roster. The Vikings have the most free agents on the block I think we’ve ever seen, and subsequently we have a lot of cap space. 25 guys will need to be replaced by KAM, and when the dust settles, the team will be whatever KAM is capable of making it. Right now, I am seeing some strong moves, that are making the trenches better IMO. I think we will be a contender this coming season.
About time Kirko does something that helps the Vikings
Yes, besides setting franchise records…
Which at the end of the day meant absolutely nothing.
Yeah, because you don’t need a guy setting production records under center to keep your team barely competitive due to a bad defense, a bad O-line, a bad running game, and even a bad kicker. The only piece of the team that was consistently good over 6 years was the QB and the passing game. The rest of the team was immensely mediocre for years.
And the truth shall set you free…
We do need a good QB.
We also need a good ‘ defense, O-line, running game, kicker’. KAM appears to be building a complete team now with the Cap Space that he has.
QB is the biggest question mark currently. Lots of reason for hope with JJ (QB) but as we Vikings fan have learned time and time again it things can always go badly.
McCarthy has a really good arm. However, so did Jeff George. Playing QB in the NFL is much more complicated than college, so really, the OC is forced to tell his QB where to go with the ball on every play for a while, until the QB can really run the offense on his own.
Defenses will make choices against McCarthy. Some will rush four, and drop seven in coverage to make it hard to find open spaces to throw the ball into. Some will bring pressure to force him to throw quickly, and hopefully impact his accuracy. Also challenge his decision making.
KOC is now in his 4th year with his offense. It’s mature. That is the huge advantage McCarthy has. KOC has made his mistakes, and learned his lessons. That will make a difference.
Yep.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
The same team that missed the playoffs with your nephew made it to the NFCCG the prior year with Case Keenum playing QB. I know, Kirk is the most unluckiest QB in the history of the league and that’s why he’s the only great QB to never actually accomplish anything. All the greats just had better luck than him to have teams around them to carry them to all those wins. I know when I’m listening to the radio they talk about how the Chiefs are a perennial contender because of the WRs, O-line, etc. Narry a mention of the QB.
Not really. The team that made it to the NFCCG had a dominant defense that led the league in points scored against, and a running game that was damn good. That faded away as a new OC came in and stopped running the ball, and the defense allowed more points, and forced almost no turnovers. Every team is different year to year, especially when you change OC’s out like I change my shirt. The offense was much better under Cousins, everything else went the other way.
That same defense was there in 2018 and was top 3ish in the league. So you can toss that excuse.
That defense that stopped opposing offenses at ends of games in 2017, failed to do so in 20128. When the defense was given the game to win in the 4th quarter, they failed a lot.
Top 9 in 2018 versus top 1-3 the year prior. Significant difference.
Not gonna get away with this for long…
Minnesota Vikings – (overall PFF grade 49.3). It’s hard to believe a team with Super Bowl aspirations sends out such a poor line, but that’s a testament to the play calling of former OC Pat Shurmur and former QB Case Keenum’s mettle under center last year. This line arguably does not feature a single solid starter, and it’s the lowest rated overall PFF rank of any line in the league – yes, even worse than Seattle’s group. So why isn’t it the worst overall in these rankings? Well, the Vikings’ unit did post the 6th best Adjusted Sack Rate according to Football Outsiders last year thanks to creative play calling that forced the ball out quickly against a soft pass schedule. This year, the line draws the third easiest rushing schedule of any team in the league this season, something that bodes well for RB Dalvin Cook, though many along the line are returning from injury and Cook himself is coming back from an ACL tear. Elite WR route runners Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs draw the 7th softest schedule against opposing secondaries, which should further take pressure off the line. And QB Kirk Cousins should represent a noticeable upgrade from Keenum, despite the former’s surprisingly stellar play last season. However, the line will face much stiffer pass rushes from opposing defenses this season, so again, every rose in Minnesota seems to have its thorns. Since the Vikings are essentially returning the same line this year as last, and the offense produced quality studs in Cook, Diggs, and Thielen, it’s unlikely that the line will completely compromise the quality of this offense this year, especially with new OC John DeFilippo bringing a lot of concepts from Philadelphia’s high powered and balanced offense into the fold.
Do you remember John DeFilippo? Terrible playcaller. Compared to Shurmer prior. That’s also a big deal IMO.
Bullshit
Over that same period, Harrison Smith was probably top 3 as a safety the entire time Kirko was top 10 to top 15 at his position, yet paid top 5. There are other positions that also excelled.
Team is better off without Kirko.
Sam Darnold did better in 1 season than Kirko did in any of his seasons. No whining from Sam about “gee, new offense, new coach/cordinator, new wr. team needs time to gel” etc.
All those arguments out the window. Things did not need to be “perfect” for the team to win with an average QB.
Team got more out of a cast off than they ever did with Kirko.
No excuses, just results.
ATL now realizes that Kirko is fools gold. Nothing more.
Its amazing how someone can view Kirks time here and in Atlanta as a “success” and be viewed fondly. I really dont understand how many mental hoops you have to jump through to come to that conclusion. I ain’t jumping.
He was so great in Atlanta he was benched for a rookie.
After he suffered injuries to his throwing shoulder and elbow GF. Before that, the Falcons went 6-3, Cousins was productive, and the Falcons were expected to win the Division. When they didn’t have a QB who could throw the ball, they lost a lot of games. Clear evidence that when Cousins is healthy, his production gives his team a chance to win.
Context matters GF.
Not sure why you’re calling me girlfriend, but if he was too injured to play then he shouldn’t have been on the field.
You don’t get to say I’m fine and then after the fact play the injury card.
Lots of players play hurt, in fact they all do. The team felt even though Cousins was hurt, he was still probably a better option than Penix. Eventually though it became clear Cousins couldn’t really throw the ball with the same level of accuracy he had always shown. To date, he is still trying to recover from the injury, and so it wasn’t a minor complication. If you look at Penix’ stats, you will see he was not good. He should be better this year, but he’s got a couple years of learning curve ahead of him. I think the Falcons violated league rules BTW, by not listing Cousins on the injury report after week 11.
Should be healed by September but he’s still going to be the second highest paid backup in the league. Can’t even beat out Penix. So bad that he’s not even being given the option.
I don’t know… Raheem Morris is not a good head coach. The Falcons GM is a bit befuddling too I hear. I’m not a Falcons fan, and I don’t follow them, but they have been bad for a long time.
That said, Cousins is recuperating, and of course he knows he is still a top shelf QB when healthy. He doesn’t want to play for a losing team, and if Morris thinks Penix is “better” than Cousins, he has no business being a head coach. At this point, we might see Cousins retire honestly. There is one team that he could go to, and actually have a chance to win. That would be the Steelers. I don’t see anything else out there for him.
Illigitimi non carborundum.
Well, I did not call anyone a bastard, but I guess this is what to expect from a grumpy old man.
It’s a common phrase used around the Pentagon which I thought NLV would be familiar with.
I have taken your grumpy old man comment to heart and as such don’t comment during the week around here anymore.
Today things looked very one sided and I couldn’t help myself. Will try to use better restraint in the future.
Hey JR, great to see you here. I am very strong willed person. I know that rubs people the wrong way at times, but when I base my perspectives and positions on facts and data, I’m fine with naysayers trying to “grind me down”. It’s just never going to happen.
The Biden administration had “facts” on their side as well. You overlook obvious realities and dig through your “facts” to fight for your narrative far too much.
That may be one of the most insulting things ever said to me Bow. Bidens “facts” were all lies. How dare you compare me to that POS? Have some class.
I tell the truth. You deny the truth.
You use stats that mean nothing and ignore facts that don’t fit your narrative. You have yet to tell me a single great QB that never made a championship game. You continue to push the narrative that Cousins is somehow just the unluckiest QB in the history of the NFL while ignoring the fact that the good ones, even with sub par teams, still win. Kirk was middle of the pack as a QB, above average intelligence and probably a fun guy to have a drink with (probably a White Claw, and I better be the one running the grill). Jameis Winston has put up stats too, but I don’t see you waving banners for him.
I have to disagree with this. Production stats are the only way to measure a QB’s performance over his career. Then you look at the circumstances. Did he have a great line? Did he have great receivers? Did he have a great OC? Did he put good numbers in spite of a lack of these things, or was he aided by having them? I look at reality, and you sit here and claim I don’t. That’s just wrong Bow.
BTW sub par teams don’t win, which is why they are referred to as a sub par team. Your faulty logic is very evident with that statement.
The Bills and even the Chiefs this last year were not great teams, simply ok teams surrounding a great QB.
Laughing… the Chiefs were awarded 5 wins by the refs this year and they have a LOT of top tier talent. Their offense was weaker because of O-line issues, but their defense was top shelf. They were 4th in the league in points allowed.
The Bills are one of the most talented teams in the league. They were second highest scoring team in the league, averaging over 30 points a game, while their defense allowed 21 points a game.
Please Bow, try checking the data before you push a narrative.
The Bills have a bunch of mid to no name players on offense and are productive on offense because they have a top tier QB. Same with the Chiefs. Between the two teams, Cook is probably the only WR or RB that would have a chance of starting on the Vikings.
Oh, I know you have the will and strength. You arguing for Cousins and getting ganged up on is like Edge posing a progressive agenda here. Different day, same agendas and results.
Love the folks that pull one phrase out of entire post, then create their OWN strawman and argue against that, not the thesis of the original post.
Oh well, off to practice golf. Going to shoot my age by my birthday come hell or high water.
Watch your six.
Thanks! Don’t kill or maim anyone on the course! That’s my normal goal.
Harrison Smith is a great player, but he didn’t have many game changing plays. He had lots of TD’s scored on him. That’s the facts.
And your argument that Sam was better than Cousins, completely discounts the fact that Cousins before his Achilles injury, was on a record setting pace, because he was finally in the second year with an OC and a system. When Sam came in, the whole offense was basically going into its 3rd year. He just had to do what he was told. BIG difference there. I told everyone here that Darnold had plenty of talent. His problem was always between his ears.
My point remains that Cousins played at a very high level game in, and game out, for years. 6 years in a row as the starter, and always putting up big numbers despite having a new OC every year, and a bad O-line.
Harrison Smith is pretty much best all time in a bunch of stats. Not for the Vikings, for the NFL. You’re high old man.
Yes, when a player is good, and has been in the league a long time, they are going to pile up stats. I’m not arguing that Hitman hasn’t been a great player. I’m saying he has had a lot games where he was a total none factor, and gotten beat a at the end of games. You ignore the reality here, and once again simply push narratives and anecdotal commentary as your position. My position is supported by facts and data.
Like all other stats for all other Vikings teams and players? Well, then might as well not have a Ring of Honor or Hall of Fame. Vikings never won anything, so who cares about any of their stats?
Serious question for everyone; would we have gotten better than a 3rd round pick if we had signed Cousins to an extension and traded him?
I know there will be a few that say we would have gotten a couple 1sts and some that will say we couldn’t trade him for a UDFA. Remember he was coming off Achilles surgery and his health was an unknown.
Would have been lucky for a Spam sandwich.
I think we could have gotten a 3rd and possibly a later round pick for him, but we would be no further ahead, and quite possibly further behind from where we are now.
It’s all fantasy football. There’s a reason teams don’t sign players and trade them or tag and trade them, like ever. It’s all just blather on the interwebs that is not realistic.
I agree, I don’t think we would have benefitted enough to sign Cousins and trade to make it worth the effort or risk.
Getting a 3rd round Comp pick is about as good as we were going to get for Kirk. Plus we were able to use the added cap money to upgrade last year and now, as we are seeing, are able to really beef up the team.
It was the best possible comp pick also, 97.
You are assuming Kirko would sign a contract without a no trade clause. He wouldn’t allow it.
Kirko plays hardball on contracts.
Gino Smith was trade for a 3rd, so we should have gotten at least that. Maybe a 3rd and 6th???!!
Geno Smith didn’t have a NTC and a boat anchor of a contract.
Assuming Kirko agrees to a trade.
Same issue as with Sam.
Need a definite buyer/deal on the table or you risk being stuck with the QB and his cap hit.
KAM did not believe the risk was worth it and let them both go.
Since the pick is after the 96th pick, is it really a 3rd round pick or a 4th round pick???
First Comp Pick.
Could be considered the start of round #4 if all the comp picks moved down.
First pick of round 4 might be better since it would be the first pick of day 3 and give teams a chance to fight for the pick. It’s still a day 2 pick and I have a feeling they won’t be picking in the first round.
At least later in the 1st round.
Round 3.5
Even a former Lion can’t degrade the Vikings. He knows what is about to happen to the league, even if he won’t admit it out loud. The Vikings are going to win so much that KOC and Trump/Vance get on a first name basis. They’ll probably even give KOC a bedroom at the Whitehouse for all his visits.
Not even going to need corners with the pass rush they’re going to have.
GENIUS!!!!
this is next level GMing
They’re going to sack the QB before he even takes the snap.
They’ll grab the enemy by the nose and kick him in the ass.
This whole site has been screaming for this for years. This is not “genius” it’s first grade level GMing.
i was referring to the not needing corners because the Dline will sack the qb on his 2nd step back
just being facetious
Oh… my bad Freeze… went right over my head…
it’s all good, boo
Love to Lafleur at halftime…
Are the tweety things working today?
I approve of the Marcus Mariota to the Vikings rumors.
that would be nice
I’d prefer Minshew, if he’s available.
Mariota has talent, but he has some flaws as a QB. Minshew has his limitations, but I would take him all day long over Mariota.
Looks like he’s staying in Washington.
I’m nervous. I really don’t want Aaron Rodgers on the Vikings. They wouldn’t do that, right?
i would consider boycotting the team, seriously, I would. But I think Douchebag will go to the Giants, which will piss my wife off, or Steelers.
Anyway, I expect a QB signing today for us. Russell Wilson perhaps?
No to Russell Wilson, purely from a locker room standpoint.
I wouldn’t care…if he was still good. Aaron Rodgers amuses me.
I’m not sure he isn’t cooked, though. From what I saw of him on the Jets, it was not good. Unless he was simply infected with the malaise of the Jets.
But…dude is 41. Yeah, he isn’t as ancient as Harrison Smith, but he is still pretty old.
I doubt Rodgers ego would let him take a 5-6 million dollar back up/ mentor gig
And one thing I just thought about that gives me great comfort: If the Vikings were communicating the QB2 position as any sort of competition, then Daniel Jones would have signed here. That tells me they communicated to Jones that it’d be a backup role, which Rodgers would never take.
I agree. Also, if there was a bidding war for Jones, no way the Vikes were going to dish out up to $17 million
Or Jones was around JJ enough to realize he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of beating JJ in a competition.
I don’t think anyone could have success on that team, they’re dysfunctional.
I would be nervous if I was him with the DEI hire pointing her/it’s weapon at the back of his head.
Good morning, SKOL!
FTP!
Skol
FTP
FT*
How I feel when I think about the trenches this year.
Happy Hump Day!
So far, this is a glorious off season.
SKOL!
FTP!
FIRST!
FTP Auto Rec.