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It is with a heavy heart that I share some sad news with you. Our old friend and Skoloholics member from way back in the early DN days, Scott Backstrom, known to most of us as Admiral Big Gun, passed away. I don’t have many details, but I believe he was battling cancer. He contacted me back in August & told me that he had a seizure while on vacation (never had them before), and after a stay in the hospital and some follow-ups back home, he was waiting on a test to come back that they suspected may be cancer. Man, the world just lost a really good dude. We’ll see you in Valhalla, good sir.
Minnesota Vikings Discussion Topic of the Day
Even during the Vikings current win streak, the rushing offense has been consistently abysmal in 2023. What does the team have to do better in order to have a semblance of a run game?

Minnesota Vikings News:
Taylor Heinecke will start against his former team on Sunday when the Vikings visit the Falcons, per ESPN. The Falcons are benching Ridder. You likely remember Heinecke as the backup Vikings QB who Bruce Lee’d a glass door & cut his foot in training camp back in 2016.
Kirk Cousins’ surgery to repair his achilles tendon was successful and he’s now on to recovery, according to the Pioneer-Press.
The crew at Good Morning Football takes a look at the future of the Vikings’ QB position.
Vikings.com has the week 9 Vikings-Falcons injury report, and a Vikings @ Falcons game preview.
The Raiders have hired Antonio Pierce as their interim head coach, a position left vacant when the team fired Josh McDaniel, according to NFL.com. The Raiders weren’t done making changes, as they are also replacing Garoppollo with Aidan O’Connell as their QB, according to CBS Sports.
From ESPN, former employees describe what it’s like to work for Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill. They don’t paint a very pretty picture, yikes.
The Titans ruled out Tannehill and are rolling with Levis, according to ESPN.
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Falcons top receiver did not practice again today.
Did Not Participate
Ours did not change from yesterday.
Hey all, it’s late here and I’m tired. Just wanted send out a quick post.
Heard about Cousins injury, sad for the team. Not sure what Hall, Mullens, Mannion, or now Dobbs I hear, can do. Hall is not going to be able to run the full offense at the level Cousins did. That said, KOC can put an offense together that reduces the “load” on Hall, with one read throws and zero read throws similar to what Kyle Shanahan did with RGIII his first year in Washington. RGIII never made a protection call or adjustment, at the line, never called an audible, never made more than one read, and basically only threw 4 routes well. He was successful doing that. Hopefully Hall can get enough done so we can score some points, and the defense dominates. SKOL.
Good to hear from you. Hope you are safe and well. You’ll be happy to hear KOC took some of your advice on the play calls. Even without JJ, the offense has been clicking really well.
You mention RGlll. Remember when he first went down with his knee problem for a couple of weeks. I thought Shanahan actually opened the playbook up when Cousin substituted and they were throwing it all over.
Anyways, all the best. We’re still in the payoff race.
Thanks JR, my internet connection here is very slow. Takes about 10 minutes or so for a post to go through. Glad to hear KOC finally took my advice. About time… grin. Headed to bed now.
Glad you were able to check in.
If Shanny can make it work with Mr Last Pick I believe it is possible for KOC to do it with Mr 5th Round.
With our next five opponents it shouldn’t be a herculean task.
Will He? Unknown. But it is conceivable that he could.
Thanks. I agree it’s doable, but the pressure is on the receivers to get open quickly and give him somewhere to go with the ball. Cousins was the second most blitzed QB in the league, so I doubt that will change with Hall in there. Teams are going to try and pressure him hard.
Night.
Keep your head down.
Good to hear from you, the injury to Kirk does indeed suck
Would think the Four Seasons would have better WIFI. Glad all is well.
Hey mate, good to read that you are well. Kirk’s injury sucks big time, he had a very good season so far, and the offense finally started to click.
Well, it is what it is. Stay safe!
ABG Obituary
https://www.larsonfuneralpelicanrapids.com/obituaries/scott-backstrom
Thanks DE.
“Viking attire is encouraged. ” – Man…that got me a little. Hope folks show out for the service. RIP
Thank you DE.
Question for the cap experts?
Read below id Vikings don’t resign Kirk they take a $28 mil cap hit.
What if he physically can’t play or is unable to by start of next season?
He isnt under contract so it all tolls to 2024.
If he is signed to contract, which is what would have to happen, his void years remain as they are today. Pushed out to 2027.
Thanks. Seems kind of tuff on the team. Suppose team and Kirk agree to something pending pass of physical, but leg is acting up. They are all just waiting – pretty tough stuff for team if they are going to get it done as soon as they can.
The contract will have to be completed before the start of the next league year as well so the Vikings are really the only team in the league with any motivation to sign him before he’s healthy. That’s why I see an incentive laden extension getting signed fairly early.
Sure as heck sounds better than a 28 mil cap hit for nothing.
Yep. It’s gotta be part of the math in my opinion. Just can’t be giving him a high dollar fully guaranteed contract at his age and coming of an injury. And please, please, please, no more void years.
Cap stuff is not my thing. Think they’ll get thing worked out – fair to both.
Thought it was interesting Kirk used team physician and didn’t even look around.
And ignored Rodgers’ suggestion on doctors. Unless Rodgers used the Vikings doctor anyway.
Pretty sure it speaks to Kirk’s loyalty to the Vikings organization.
I think he realizes that the Vikings are his best option. My guess is it’s a choice of retiring or playing for the Vikings on mostly KAMs terms.
I really have no idea what his best option is, but do know he wants to retire a Viking.
Got my tooth screw.
Oral surgeon was very chatty. She spent the whole time telling me how she had money falling out of her backside. She told me how much she paid for her lakeside home (neighbor is Freezy, possibly?). She told me how much of the loan she has paid off. She told me how she bought a restaurant because she doesn’t know what to do with all her money. On and on…I have never heard a professional talk so freely of their financials. The restaurant recently entered profit territory, so now she has even more money.
Maybe she was into the nitrous oxide before she worked on me?
She is single if anyone wants to schedule an appointment there as a way to break the ice.
oh yes, must be kathy. she is chatty. and rich.
No kidding?
I am fortunate in that I rarely have to see DDS (just routine teeth cleaning), but know of some that have poor social skills (no different than MDs) and one thing that those with poor social skills like to do is talk about money. DDS are much more risk tolerant than MDs in general and are more than willing to leverage themselves into hock. Maybe going on as a DDS to get an OMFS magnifies those tendencies?
Sounds like she is compensating for something.
she probably has a tiny penis
She might have an oral fixation.
Got to love a woman with an ‘oral fixation’.
She is very attractive in that movie.
Maybe just here way of hitting on you. A lot of guys go for rich women.
Trying to make herself seem more attractive in a financial type of way.
When I was much younger a pretty smart guy told me – you can love a rich one just as easy as a poor one.
Is she good looking, age?
She probably upgrades when she flies like money bags Ben.
Random question, because I know there are a lot of stats guys on this site, besides Brady what is the longest tenure of a player for Bellichek.
If I say I want Jaren Hall to play more like Matt Cassel than Joe Webb, does that make me a racist??
Of course.
As a white male everything you do or say is racist.
Obviously you need to go back indoctrination.
The Cackle has spoken.
You sure? OK for first year and then steady downward spiral after that. Was pretty poor by the end (as I remember).
I mean you’re saying you want him to suck either way
Heh I dropped my old beast pickup at the tire shop this morning so they could swap on the winter tires, and my wife gave me a ride to work. She just picked up the pickup and realized after five minutes that the all season tires weren’t in the back. Went back to the tire shop and they are having trouble finding the tires.
probably on the pickup that was leaving as she was pulling back in
They found ’em in a pile “marked down for quick sale $100 cash only please”
They called me back (guy’s name is Josh, every Josh I have ever known is a goof) and said they had two sets of Cooper Discovery same size which one is mine. I asked which ones had more tread? That’s mine.
good answer.
Correct !
Or, since they made the mistake, just say I will take four new once since you’re not sure which ones are mine.
Sounds like a liability issue to me if they give you the wrong ones and one of them is bad. What if it blows out on the interstate?
4 tires is way cheaper than a lawsuit.
If a tire blows out you can always fall back on the tire warranty hahahahaha…breathe….tire warranty is as valuable as the paper it is printed on.
But is it as valuable as GB Packer stock?
Your wife…..
RIP Admiral Big Gun. He was one of the good ones.
Summary:
RIP AdmiralBigGun, eat bacon in his honor today
MT reports that Wrenage’s dentist will be getting a boat and going through a divorce
Surly thinks ABG should have taught Kirk grilling skills
Airplane etiquette discussion
Work vs. personal cell phone discussion
According to Freezey Matt Cassel saved 15% or more on car insurance by calling Geico
Bow says Kurt Warner was sacking groceries on the Rams bench when Trent Green got hurt
Freezey can’t do Karen
Jrob thinks the Vikings will play better games without Kirk
Bow will blame Hall for everything that goes bad
Surly reminds everyone that its all still Kirk’s fault
SkolfromMT wants to “stiff the band”
Surly is looking for more than Love
Bow rolls away from his wife in bed because he doesn’t like her touching him
Slow day, not sign of the lazy millennial whose name I will not mention
i had a chance to hangout with stu earlier….
here is a video of that
Ah how sweet.
Did an UGI on the sweetest 7 month old boy earlier. Love playing with the babies.
my youngest is 4, and that’s kind of sad.
rarely do i get cuddle session with him when he isn’t sick.
My 6 year old likes to cuddle with my wife. My 8 year old wants little of that, he’s like me. My wife is a touchy person and I am absolutely not. I like my personal space. My wife complains because I apparently roll away from her in my sleep even.
bow in bed
Yep, I’m a roller. Not quite that round though.
not quite that round or cute.
Are you a holy roller?
Don’t know if this was posted below but Danielle Hunter named NFC Player of the Month for October
And Jordan Addison named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Month for October as well.
Next up, Hall?
Gonna be a race between him and Addison for Rookie of the Year.
i certainly hope so!
NFC Player of the Month or
NFC Defensive Player of the Month?
Option A would be more huge-er than option B.
*Defensive…..
Since we all want t get to the SB, thought I’d pass along a discussion I heard last week from a couple of former coaches on what it takes to be a good playoff team. These are not everything but foundational.
First, a good defense – no surprise. Second, a line capable of protecting QB – no surprise. Third – a rushing game. Bit of a bit of a surprise. Thinking was keeps defenses honest and there are times you need to control the clock. Doesn’t have to be great, just OK..
Looking at Vikings. Defense has improved a lot as well as pass blocking. But the run game, seems to be headed in the wrong direction and who knows why.
Still, as a team, some progress in the right diection.
In the immortal words of Meatloaf:
“2 outta 3 ain’t bad”
what about kickers?
because we are screwed in that facet haha
Good point
Didn’t quite get that granular. But do believe playoff teams do have good kickers as well as Special Teams. We also need work here.
Run game will look a bit better when they shift the majority of snaps to Akers.
But they’d better be thinking of an upgrade next spring.
With Hall starting this Sunday, all I really want is for him to prove he is better than the FTP QB.
Low bar, but that is what I am looking for,
It is…. Read yesterday that 7 games into AR’s first season with FTP they extended him.
Puker GM wouldn’t commit to Love as the long-term starter after this year.
And now a hearty guffaw
Have I mentioned that I also loathe the end of daylight saving time? SO SO ridiculous.
its pointless
and with kids its even worse. so dumb
Daylight saving time is pointless. Glad we’re already back on normal time over here.
you guys do it over there too?
We do, unfortunately. I am always missing that one hour until I get it back.
As do I
Also a spike in MI’s statistically twice a year coinciding with the time changes.
I always find this annual topic interesting.
If you don’t move clocks back an hour, it would be dark until like 8:00 am or later the farther north you live.
The time change doesn’t bother me one bit.
But it would also stay light out longer at the end of the day when people are actually awake. I hate going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.
Let’s take Minot, ND.
If the clocks are not turned back an hour,
The sunrise would be 9:35 am and sunset would be about 5:52pm
I’d guess there would be just as many complaints about watching the sunrise while at work. Or more likely, parents/teachers complaining about their kids at the bus stop when it’s dark.
Kids getting hit by buses in the morning just so bow can have 15 min of daylight when he gets home from work.
Accurate.
In your example the sun still doesn’t rise until 8:30 with changing the clocks. Does ND wait to start school until 10 or what?
My first example was an average time depending on how far north or south you live.
But that’s a good question Bow.
Do schools delay start time because it’s too dark? Then you would have pissed of parents trying to figure out what to do with kids until school opens don’t you think?
The answer is no they don’t so we should just do away with daylight savings time so I can see the sun a little.
Bow……
LOL….
It doesn’t bother me at all.
I just find the annual discussion intriguing.
Actually I would fight you I would keep daylight saving time permanent as I like the extra evening light in the summer. I don’t care a wit if it is dark out in the morning in the winter, it is actually nice for spotting wildlife around my place when I walk the dogs at six.
I go to work early enough that moving sunrise earlier does nothing. It is dark now when I go to work and will be dark after the clock change. Give me the daylight when I can enjoy it.
This a ray of logic streaming through the nonsense…. Keep it all year.
It’s been tried on several occasions, and reversed because of other issues.
Which is my point.
It’s America. We are free to complain about anything we want.
Its America, everyone is entitled to their own wrong opinion.
I would like permanent daylight savings time too.
When we turn the clocks back, we are going to regular time. Regular time sucks ass, and not in a good way.
That’s a bullshit excuse. Are kids raised as dumbasses these days, don’t know what a bus is at the age of six? Shit, I’m amazed I wasn’t still breastfeeding and in diapers in first grade the way things are anymore.
I mean, look at all those kids every year that are run over in Canada and Alaska while waiting for the school bus.
me when MT swears
Me when someone says kids will get mowed down by a bus unless it is full sunrise.
Me just poking the bear and getting a good response.
Why I oughta….
Yeah I got zero problem with that, for the reason bow says. I am on the eastern edge of the time zone and it blows in winter. Even way south in Glendive the month of December and January the sun is barely rising as I go to work and has definitively gone down by the time I get off work. At least with sunset at 5:12 pm (if DST stayed in effect) here in the mountain time zone I would have some dusk on the drive home and walking the dogs.
In Edmonton sunrise is 8:48 and sunset 4:16. That was the worst.
I don’t care either.
It doesn’t affect me one way or the other.
I’m just pointing out that there would likely be just as many pissed off people if clocks are not changed in the fall.
Don’t you enjoy an extra hour of <insert pastime of preference here>?
Doesn’t change how much I can hunt, just what time my alarm says in the morning.
Exactly, but everyone else gains an hour of sleep, if hunters get up according to sun up we don’t.
Doing any good out there?
No, I tried to go out this weekend and take my kid with but it was too cold for him. Heading back to Dillon tomorrow. Hopefully a little more eventful than opening weekend.
True – just moves your 5 hours of daylight one hour earlier. But, if the weather is crappy and you can’t hunt, you get an extra hour of sleep/drinking/watching TV/etc.
A thought on the discussion below regarding ABG (who I didn’t know, but RIP) and Ben’s buddy (same)…
I’ve always looked at death as paying the band. Life was the dance, but at the end we’ve all gotta pay the band. That’s all that death is. It’s sad, often untimely and feels nothing less than unfair to lose someone we love – but it’s a part of it. Gotta pay the band.
The part that often gets lost is how good things were when our loved ones were here – when we could see them, touch them, talk to them. Knowing your buddy or family member was safe, even if not near you. Knowing that while all people struggle and have roadblocks that it’s reasonable to assume that every day that you wake up, they will too, and with that comes new opportunities to overcome struggles and roadblocks. Everyday is that opportunity in some fashion – until it isn’t.
Remember that all of the crying at the end, the feeling of helplessness and loss, the fear of future days without our loved ones to share – that’s all necessary and a part of the life process. We feel so awful because we had it so good.
And we’ve gotta pay the band.
Skol
well said.
Deep for a Vikings blog
Wish we could just stiff the band.
Me too
Obvious training program before they graduate to the National Level.
Yep. Obviously failed since they got caught. I’m sure zero punishment will happen, and they will be right back at it to improve their technique.
Of course, they are “fighting the good fight”.
Gotta be fake news. I have been told multiple times this sort of thing did not and does not happen.
The Democrats follow the Packers playbook – it’s only holding if it’s called.
LOL, exactly ^^This^^
They do this everywhere.
Disgusting
I think this is the updated ABG facebook page.
Not a lot of direct information, but you can see how he handled the last couple of months. Great dude. You do have to be logged into facebook to see his posts.
https://www.facebook.com/admiral.biggun
Still no word from Lifer huh? I thought the Kirk injury would lure him back for at least a quick drop in this week. Still don’t understand what happened there. Sad that NLNVF isn’t around either. Stupid terrorists. If you’re checking in NLNVF, stay safe.
Hoping NLNVF will be back with us soon.
Yep – both would provide interesting and perhaps differing opinions on what lies ahead for the team. Good to hear all sides.
Hope both are well and NLNVF is out of harm’s way.
He’s probably at the Four Seasons with Hamas
It is amazing ow well terrorists live.
Its pretty wild. That whole situation is peak “whats wrong with humanity”
well if you don’t want to live well like a terrorist, you can always become a political activist – The BLM execs seem to do quite well.
Lifer had gone full doomer before he bailed. Not thinking his insight would differ that much. Miss them both though, solid contributors – and in NLNVF’s case a study in the fine art of copy & paste….
One thing NLV would be happy about is KOC’s game plans the last couple of weeks.
True.
Starting Howell in 2 of my 5 fantasy leagues. Dude dropped 30 last week on philly…watch him get like 10 this week.
Oh and Levis in a 3rd….Rookies dont fail me now!
I think I’m gonna pick up and roll with Hall in Sleeper.
See ya Jaren……
Thankfully I have Josh Allen as my main QB – Kirk was my superflex. I’ve also got Purdy and just grabbed Aidan O’Connell off waivers. Get JJ back soon and have Puka – strength of my team is WR. Hoping O’Connell keeps the job and flourishes and I’ve got a decent trade piece or a solid superflex going forward.
I’m glad you typed that out. If you posted AOC, I would have been like WTF…..
I implore folks to go into the stretch of games before our bye week with 0 expectations, good or bad. We are at an unknown stage right now ( ISNT THIS FUN?!). If we look boring and win, great, if we look boring and lose, great. If we look great and win, great, if we look great and lose, great! Its a win/win. Theres going to be ugly plays from anyone we start at QB at this point, that should be expected, if there isnt, thats a surprise. And cut the young kids some slack under center, they dont have a decade + of experience and actually deserve some excuses, if we see growth from Hall that would be awesome. A good backup is VALUABLE in this league. Lets see what we have.
I’m on board – excited to see what we’ve got. My expectations are tempered. Rookie, on the road, formidable defense licking its chops. Considering Hall is 46 years old he should have the maturity to handle the moment.
Just hope he isn’t distracted by his grandchildren running around….
SKOL!
Lol I get the “Hall is old Jokes” but..isnt he like..24…?? Thats nothing
He’s 25…..and a HALF!
He may have taken some time off after high school to do the Mormon Mission thingie…
Thats what he did indeed. So thats two years less of football wear and tear…less time learning I suppose too but. Meh
I believe he used an injury redshirt, which cost him the starting job to Wilson, and than had the Covid year.
He also spent 5 years in college
He spent 6 months of “quality time” with each of his wives.
I heard Hall and Harry are going to be sharing a room at the senior center.
Why would you “implore” that. We have lost our starting QB but have backups and at lest 2 with NFL experience. Yes, we may play some ugly games, maybe not, but we have a lot of other guys on the roster capable of playing top notch football. Hall or anyone else that plays QB just needs to be adequate and with our schedule we can win a lot of games.
My expectations are neither high or low – just counting on backups and other regulars to do their jobs, and let’s play the games.
Because a few folks (3 specifically that havent posted in over a month) said they would be full doomer and everyone sucks once Kirk is gone. I think thats a shitty mentality and is the equivalent of throwing a toddler age tantrum. So im hoping the more sane posters here dont hop on on Monday if we lose and start this “woe is me I miss Kirk” garbage.
OK – but at this point it ain’t about Kirk. We still have a good chance to win games and also see what some of the other guys can do
Do we really need to worry about the guys that are no longer here – seems like a waste of energy and more of a distraction.
But do as you please.
Fair enough. Agreed
Kirktober is over. It is now Hallvember.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
HE CALLED THE SHIT POOP!
HAHAHA
Would be more fun if we had our QB 1 who played a very good season so far. Vikes are definitely not known for finding late round diamond in the rough QBs, so I don’t expect much from Hall. Offense will get worse with him at the helm, question is how much.
If he is the next Purdy, great. Far greater chance of him flaming out. We’ll find out, I guess?
Dobbs? Yeah, serviceable probably, but nowhere near the level Kirk is able to play. Not much to look forward to for the rest of the season, except where the Vikes will pick in 2024.
Imo there wasnt anything realistic to look forward to in 2023 with or with out Kirk. Still not a SB contender so, im more excited to watch games now tbh.
Same.
We get to find out what Hall can do. I hope he gets several games and does not have a short leash.
LOL
If Hall implodes, I do wonder how many people will be so willing to make excuses for him and claim it’s not his fault.
i already am seeing many a hedged bet…
I will – he’s a rookie with no experience. I expect he will be fine, but if it doesn’t go well, it’s a learning experience.
I can promise I will give him a lot more leeway than I would Kirk (or Mullens, or Dobbs).
He is a rookie. There will be mistakes made.
Time will tell if drafting him was another Kwesi mistake.
Yep.
Rookie versus 10 year vet……
He shouldn’t be in this position, but the two QBs above him on the depth chart are hurt. When he sucks on Sunday I won’t blame him.
I will both make every excuse imaginable for Hall on Monday and blame him for everything bad that happens.
i will call him jalen hull until he proves his worth to me.
I will call him Karen hall until he proves otherwise
that was rodgers nickname. i can’t do that one.
Same, Karen Hall it is.
I will call him “Hall of famer Hall” until he proves otherwise.
Holy Hall.
Jugular Jaren
Rarin Jaren
I’ll come up with more.
THE STORMIN’ MORMON!
You sir, are the winner!
I’ve seen that one on the tweeters too much already. I’m trying to be original. I think my favorite so far is rarin Jaren.
Everything is still #KirksFault
I am officially a Hallastan, until further notice.
I expect Hall to play well and the team to raise their game some and that we will have a fair chance at playoffs going into last 3 weeks of season.
Now, if he plays well. I expect that and it shows he can play at the NFL level – nothing more. And even if he isn’t quite up to snuff, he’s a rookie and it isn’t the end of world either – for him. He can still learn and develop.
Rooting hard for the kid…
Matt Cassel was a 7th round pick, came in and salvaged the Patriots season after Brady went down in week 1..
Cassel was in his 3rd year when that happened so not a direct comparison. But still, a young, inexperienced, low round draft pick came in and saved the season.
It can happen, just sayin…
Kurt Warner was sacking groceries and came of the bench for the Rams.
The Pats didn’t even make the playoffs, what exactly did he save?
he saved 15% or more on car insurance by calling Geico
They went 10-6 or something though didn’t they and it was a freak year that had lots of AFC teams with 10 or more wins?
They actually finished 11 and 5.
If we win 2 of very 3 games from here on out I will take it.
If the Vikings went 11-6/12-5 after starting 0-3 this year, we would never hear the end of how Kirk saved our season.
If Hall manages to take them to the playoffs it will both be exciting and depressing. Unless Hall looks like the second coming of Mahomes, we will be left with the forever thought of what if. I mean, if a 5th round rookie could step in and take the team to the playoffs from 4-4, what would they have been able to do with a healthy Kirk at the helm?
Depends how Hull does it. If he does things Kirk couldnt do, then there is no what if. My contention with Kirk is we know what we have, we know how far he is capable of going, we have a decade + of that data and eye test. Fun Big regular season stats, and little to no play off appearances or wins. Thats it. There is no “what if” for me with Kirk at this point. That what if ended in January of 2020.
If Hall plays well, takes them to the playoffs and wins a game, he will have as many playoff victories as Kirk.
There in lies my point. And how much does Hall cost? And how much more can we add to the team now? Yeah….exactly.
What if he just plays ok and the team makes the playoffs because of the play of the rest of the team?
He should play OK (good) and the rest of team should also, and we get JJ back. Schedule gets easier. If he can play like an average NFL backup, we can make the playoffs.
Now I would expect Hall can do things that Kirk can’t (like scramble) but I’d also expect Hall can’t do a lot of things that Kirk can. That’s OK too
Then that would be fun!! I would actually get excited, that means that young guys are getting it and out performing expectations, and should provide comfort that a new young stud QB is coming to a great situation and we may actually be contending sooner rather than later.
Lol someone downvoting wanting the Vikings being competitive, and im called the doomer
That what if ended in
January of 2020.2018 vs chicagoWe all know the….”If kirk was playing, we would have been so much better…..” unprovable claims will be used.
Much like all of the “we would be able to build a better team if not for Kirk’s contract” unprovable claims.
True.
But we won’t know that until Kirk’s contract is not affecting the team. Kirk has cap hits until like 2027 or something.
We still won’t know, because we don’t know if we would have built a better team.
I thought the point was that Kirk’s contract was the problem? If the contract is no longer on the books, wouldn’t we know if the roster and the team was better?
No, because we don’t know what the front office would have done if they did sign Kirk.
Oh.
Yeah well that is the never ending question for Kirk.
If they don’t sign him, all of the dead years get accelerated to the 2024 cap. If they don’t extend/re-sign him, he will have a $28 mill cap hit next year.
Ok.
So we will know by 2025 & 2026 if Kirks cap hit was an issue.
Nah, he’ll be under contract through 2025. I just hope they don’t add more void years after that.
What if a player rolls into a coaching position before his contract is up. Can his contract be absorbed as a coach and not count against the cap?
Not a chance.
Signing bonuses and void years are the NFL salary cap equivalent of a credit card. You might not have to pay it now, but you do have to pay it. If a player moves to a coaching role, the player contract closes and a new contract would be necessary.
Probably.
I’d guess 2 more years.
They missed the playoffs that year after going 11-5….
Well, he’ll be more mobile for sure. He should be able to hit the wide open targets easy enough….the question is can he hit the not-so-wide-open targets like Kirk can?
Also, how much will they have to dumb down the playbook for him? Will defenses react better and shut our O down with less challenging routes?
when you say “dumb down”, are you just meaning taking out the plays he doesn’t have the arm strength for? or that take some actual experience to navigate and diagnose?
he should obviously have a good grasp of the playbook as he has been studying it since he was drafted.
Yes.
i’ll be curious to see how noticeable cousin’s cannon vs hall’s heave will be
You mean Hall’s Howitzer?
I just rewatched his highlights. Puts a lot of touch on his throws, hits the WR in stride with an over-the-shoulder basket catch 20-40 yards downfield. Pretty accurate. I only saw a couple where he unleashed a rope, but he is capable of it.
They’ll probably take out more complex plays that require he read the defense right after the snap, like option routes. They’ll likely install more rollouts where he doesn’t have to read the entire field. I think by “dumb down” they mean take out the plays that require more processing of defenses post snap.
yep and that makes sense.
after watching some of the play calls on sunday, i may be joining the KOC is a good offensive mind camp…
i think if hall holds his own/does well, and KOC gets him some good looks/plays…perhaps i will be firmly entrenched in that camp.
I am kinda with FF on this. I think the onus is on KOC and OC to design effective plays/reads that work to Hall’s strengths. Realize what Hall can and can’t do and design and call accordingly.
Vikings next?
https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1719931681518338074?s=20
LOL do it !!!!!!
While Kirk watches……
I think Kirk would be very happy if that were to occur.
Yep. He would get that super bowl trophy for his shelf !
Name of Julie’s sex tape
wow, just read the news of ABG…
that happened REALLY fast….
praying for his family.
man, our time on earth is but a snap of the fingers….
Dust in the wind…..
Yeah, a couple of weeks ago my closest friend was killed in a vehicle accident at age 39, I’ve never been so stunned in all my life as when I found out.
Wow. That’s awful Ben. Sorry to hear.
well dang, i’m really sorry to hear that, Ben.
you doing ok?
how’s his family doing?
I am managing ok. It is tough though when you grew up with someone, went to college and lived together, worked together, joined the military and served together and remain close as adults, then one day its just over and you’ll never talk or see eachother again. His family is, in a word, devastated, I check on them regularly. Only child of parents who never thought they would be able to have kids, they do have a huge extended family that is very very close though. It just sucks the worst.
Sorry Ben. God bless.
Man, hang in there. My condolences, I am sure you are still a bit numb.
No doubt stunning.
We lost a friend ours at 50 a month ago.
No health issues. Heart attack out of the blue.
Hang in there…..
Damn. That’s the shit they make country songs about……
Sorry to hear that.
We’re here for a good time, not a long time. So have a good time, the sun can’t shine every day.
looks outside, indeed the sun doesn’t shine everyday
It shines everyday, we just can’t see it everyday.
I have a business question for those of you in who are not self employed but depend on a paycheck from a corporation/business for your livelihood.
Does your company/business pay for your cell phone plan? If so are you restricted to using your cell phone only for business purposes? If not, do you use your personal cell phone for business purposes.
Since my cell phone is not paid for, I have a VoIP app I use. With it, I can make calls through our VoIP provider from my cell phone so they’ll come up on caller ID as from my office. I guess I’m still using data, but I figure that is minimal and inconsequential. I was also able to set it up so that calls to my office number will only go to the VoIP app during certain hours (not at night or weekends).
I think the business should pay for or at least part of the cell phone if it is required and expected to be used for business purposes. If you aren’t going to pay part of my plan, don’t expect me to hand out my personal cell phone number to business contacts. Our owner does like to text and call at all hours and days, but I just go with that is the nature of the beast on that one.
Just became an employee after years of contract work.
I get reimbursed $30/month for my cell phone, and it is my phone not theirs.
I get reimbursed because they can (and do) call sometimes when there are issues they need my help with.
Also, my phone is on DnD from 10 pm to 6 am.
I am not 24/7 data support. I will log in over the weekend if there are db issues. Just not overnight.
i would say my phone is 80% personal 20% company (i send pictures of parts to customers, then they end up just calling my cell phone to order, pull up work email, use inventory etc) but do not get reimbursed.
i’m on mint so i pay $25 a month for my line so it’s not that big of a deal.
they have offered to do company phones, but then i would have to have 2 phones, and that’s fairly daunting to me since i can barely keep track of my personal phone.
retired now but had a cell for years when I did and the company paid for it and I could use it for anything.
Thinking was they wanted me available 24/7 and were willing to pay for it. And they knew people weren’t going to walk around carrying two phone.
We reimburse employees who use their personal cell phone.
Some people have a company cell phone that the company pays 100%.
The rule/agreement we have with employees who use their personal cell phones and get reimbursed $40 per month, is that their personal cell phone use information may be subject to exposure if our company was ever involved in litigation.
IRS warning…..
The IRS is looking into forcing cell phone use to be taxable to the individual.
They haven’t acted on it yet, but it is on their radar.
Thanks everyone for your feedback..our company currently does not pay for cell phones and I know most of our employees use cell phones for business at least occasionally since they travel. Our company used to reimburse, but decided to stop that practice a few years ago, we do have a VoIP option from their computers. I was just trying to see what the standard is currently.
The VoIP app I use is Zoiper. It’s free but has additional features if you pay for it. If you can use VoIP on the computer, you should be able to set it up on a mobile device.
We have an option here. Either use a company provided phone or get a stipend to use your personal phone for work purposes, I think its $35. I have a work phone, but migrated my personal cell phone number and closed my personal account. I can use my work provided phone for personal use, I think there is an expectation that I don’t use it for certain purposes though.
I think they draw the line somewhere between cakefart videos and taking pictures of homeless guys’ cocks, I believe BSF would know the exact details on such matters.
My company offers to pay for a cell phone and line, however, you would have to give them access to your personal number and have them take it over to their account. So instead, I chose to have a separate business line, added to my phone via an app so that number can be used on my personal phone. So they pay ME $40 a month for using my personal device, and I keep my personal phone and number on top of that. Win /win
Mine employer gives a cell phone stipend so I can continue to use it personally as well.
$35 stipend.
Our EHR sends a verification code to prescriber’s cell phone when Rxing Scheduled drugs. Have to have it or would be limited to Rxing Viagra.
Sad for Kirk’s situation, and ABG moving on to Valhalla.
That said, I am very much looking forward to this week’s game.
Jaren Hall will either inspire confidence, or we will be looking forward to the draft..
I hope he plays well enough to start the rest of this season, and Kirk comes back next year (yes, I said that) to help continue the journey.
Kirk’s agent can go pound sand, however…..
I’m guessing Hall has a similar first start to what what T-Jack (RIP) had in his first start where they lost like 9-6 or some such score and Jackson was around 50% and like a hundred yards, gross game to watch.
I disagree, you should be able to put your seat back, if the person sitting behind you doesn’t like it they can pay to upgrade.
Bottom line,
Most people suck.
True
another reason why i hate flying
At 6’4 and a half, my knees are firmly planted into the back of the seat in front of me. If some asshole (ben dum dum) tries to put their seat back I am knee bouncing that son of a bitch the whole flight.
And no, just because you are tall I do not believe you should be required to pay extra for your airline seat.
I am 6’6″ and there isn’t much of a difference whether the seat is back or not. The seats are already too close and uncomfortable.
I will never fly on any aircraft that I cannot upgrade to at least business class, part of the reason is if I want to recline my seat I can do so without the person behind me throwing a fit.
What about the 350# person who takes all of their seat, half of yours, and half of the person on their other side?
I actually think at some point you should have to buy 2 seats.
I am a big guy myself. I always get an isle seat so I can lean out away from my seat mate. But if your fat rolls are spilling onto the lap of the person next to you, you should be required to get another seat. Unlike height, you can actually do something about your weight.
That sounds like fat shaming, and probably racist too.
Exactly this, I am big, I get an aisle seat and apologize to the person next to me but I still don’t overtake the person next to me. One time there was me in the aisle, and another big college athlete D-lineman it turned out as well had the window, the guy between us tried seat hopping until it turned out everyone seat was taken. My ex-wife was a few rows up (wife at the time) and said… you want to trade? I’ll sit next to the big guy haha.
I’m also a large man and do the same thing…..
I bet he was all over that!
I hate people that do that – it ain’t suppose to be a bed. It’s cramped enough in the first place.
I blame the airlines. I grin and bear it but loathe when the person in front of me puts their seat back.
I don’t know why, but it has happened more than once that I have the following scenario.
Person of average height sits in front of me. As soon as plane takes off, they recline and seat back grazes my nostrils. Now the monitor in front of me is off kilter, and I have barely enough room to deploy my tablet. They get up to go to bathroom, seatback jiggles down goes the iPad etc.
This is the odd part. They start announcing we have begun initial descent, please bring your tray tables and seat backs etc…and repeatedly the person in front of me does not bring their seat back up. Flight attendant comes through a couple of times, straightens out those around the cabin, doesn’t see the guy in front of me. Plane lands taxis to gate cabin door opens and I have to do the limbo to get out of my seat.
I blame Ponder.
Sucks about ABG, I tried several of his recipes, which were always good, and would donate annually to his polar plunge. RIP.
What did I miss? Admiral?
Passed away from cancer, apparently.
That sucks! I should have read the top… rarely do haha.
What was his website? I can’t find the shortcut to it. There was a pork belly recipe he had on there I wanted to try and forgot about.
https://www.tailgatemaster.com/
Some good recipes there.
Great guy.
Thanks
Here you go https://www.tailgatemaster.com/smoked-pork-belly/
I have never smoked pork belly… but I need to… I really need to
I tried this recipe, super easy, I think next time I’ll wrap it in bacon.
Bacon wrapped bacon? ABG just smiled.
I mean, why not
That’s the one and I just so happen to have half of a pork belly in the freezer.
Shit….seemed like a good dude…pretty young to from the pics I saw.
Yep. very good grillmaster/BBQ guy. Should have taught Kirk how to cook better.
The Polar Plunge thing shows how much he put others first.
He is missed, for sure.
I know the NFL is too greedy to let this play here, but I’m pulling for Hall. Seems like he has his head on straight.
Watching Kwesi’s press conference yesterday too, I think he is taking a good approach to things. His draft picks may lack luster thus far, but if they can learn from it and Cine/Booth in particular come around he’s done pretty good overall. I also think he wants Kirk to come back, but there is no way he’ll give him a fully guaranteed contract, even pre-injury. That’s not a winning formula in the NFL, he knows it, and he seems like somebody who is going to stick pretty heavily to his formula.
KAM sucks, cut him
Word
At this point in his career, now compounded by the injury, doubt Kirk cares too much bout guaranteed contract.
Little has been said about this,but would bet Kirk’s injury has some bearing on the JJ negotiations. – from both sides.
Eh. I doubt it.
JJ is looking out for JJ. If he is tying his future to some other player, he has a foolish agent.
I don’t. But What happens at QB has a bearing on JJ to some degree and the team for that matter.
For example, why would you have the highest paid WR and TE in football, if you weren’t sure you had somebody who could get them the ball. It of course is not everything, but it’s something.
And JJ – he of course wants his money and deserves it. But he sure doesn’t want to drop down to number 10 in stats. Again, maybe not huge, but it’s something.
Yeah, and having the highest paid TE and WR in football will limit other options.
I would prefer they not repeat the 2018 off season by overpaying people like they did Kirk (at that time).
If JJ wants all the money, how do you build a team around him?
Math is hard….
Interesting. Have heard of building a team around a defense, an offensive line, a stud QB, but never a WR.
I agree, and that is why I am fine with the team trading JJ.
I would prefer amazing linemen on both sides of the ball so the team has options to actually run or pass.
and can stop other teams.
JJ is other worldly and the thing about him is I think he ages well. He is not just a sick athlete that beats guys with crazy athleticism. He has enough of that juice but he makes his real money with his route running and focus. Just unmatched.
For sure he is a great talent and terrific route running. I was just suggesting, at first, if we are going with high priced receivers and tight ends, we do need someone to get them the ball – sort of goes hand in hand.
Literally goes from hand to another hand… but I digress. Keep JJ! Nuff said.
I’m not saying it’s zero impact, but JJ doesn’t know the future. If he waits in theory for “his preferred QB” choice before he signs a contract, and he then pulls an achilles, he loses out on his big payday.
I don’t know if there is a preferred QB, but he does want someone that can get him the ball.
If Kirk is done, who is it then?
And how will JJ be able to navigate the contract with that unknown?
The longer he waits, the bigger the risk of losing money.
It’s more of an abstract thought. He will do what is best to get money – and still care about getting the ball, even if he can’t do a lot about it.
Ok. I get it.
It seemed like you were saying that JJ will hold off signing a contract until he knows who is throwing him the ball.
JJ could not care less if Kirk is here or not. Period. Thats paranoid, unfounded speculation. If anything Kirks injury just made the Vikings decision to pay JJ more of a for sure thing.
As usual you make it about Kirk – why you do that I have no idea.
My point was Kirk’s injury puts more doubt into who will be throwing the ball next year. It more than likely won’t be Kirk, but JJ still cares about who will get him the ball.
Hall sucks, cut him
Ben sucks, cut him
Also true
Word
I’m actually looking forward to watching the game this week.
I don’t expect anything great, but at least we have a glimpse into the future.
Yeah, the unknown is intriguing and I have no expectation of how this is going to go. It could go anywhere on the spectrum of great to absolute garbage.
The future looks bleak at the QB position
Hall could be very good.
He is not Mahomes, but he can move around, and has a stronger arm than Teddy did.
Also a smart guy (so is Dobbs) and that is needed.
I’ve seen him play all of 3 plays. But If he can throw the ball fairly accurately with some timing he should be fine.
I mean anyone could be very good, but the likelihood is quite low.
That’s the conventional wisdom.
It would be so hilarious and fun to watch this team march deep into the playoffs without Kirk.
As a huge Kirk fan, that is exactly what I hope happens.
That would be great
Its an unknown to literally everyone.
Yup, cheering for this guy. How amazing would it be if we have our QBOF?
I think we’ll be just fine. Run the system and trust everyone to do their jobs.
That would go against everything in the Vikings history, especially considering he was an afterthought 5th round pick in the draft..
I mean, it would be amazing, but I ain’t getting my hopes up.
My hopes are up to see what the unknown holds. An unexpected run with Hall at the helm would be entertaining and if the combination of he and Dobbs totally sucks, better draft spot next year. The injury should help the Vikings with contract expectations if they decide to extend Kirk. All in all, there is very few outcomes that lead to this year not being a success. With the way the NFC is going, if they miss the playoffs, they will be fairly high in the draft as I think the AFC will have teams with more wins missing the playoffs than some of them in the NFC that make the playoffs.
What we know is no QB taken in later rounds has ever in recent years come in to start because of injury has ever done well. It would be a Purdy weird scenario if that were to ever happen, that’s for sure!
Ha!
I’m off to get a screw put in my gumline. It begins!
HA!
Let me know how it goes.
I’m wondering about the long term effects of implants.
Short term effect the maxillofacial surgeon gets a new boat. Long term effect he goes through a messy divorce after taking a couple of hotties in bikinis out on said boat.
The effects are indeed difficult to foresee.
Thank you for bringing them into focus.
LOL…..
Very sad news about ABG.
RIP ABG.
I feel we should all eat a little extra bacon today.

I am on board for that plan.
Yes, Fuck Cancer…
Wow. Shockingly quick.
This is what happened to my dad in 2014.
Diagnosed in Aug 2014, gone in Feb 2015
May the LORD rest upon your loved ones ABG.
Rest In Peace, ABG. SKOL!
To ABG
Amen…always a gentleman and shared some great recipes.
RIP Admiral Big Gun. You were one of the great ones. Valhalla awaits my friend.