quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Todd M

Teams have given the bag to QB’s in the hope they’ll be the answer. We got a discounted preview. Sam works. Is showing he can be the guy. He has a final exam to pass though..

Final exam to pass? He's 14-2. What exams has McCarthy passed to deserve the job, beating the Washington Huskies?

Sam has final exams in terms of whether or not the Vikings pay him $40-$50 mil a year. The Lions and the playoffs are a huge test. If he shits the bed, then he has reproduced Cousins 2022 season.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It was nice of McCarthy to allow himself to get hurt, so Sam could shine, and get a nice contract next year.

I wouldn't trade McCarthy, he probably won't end up being the best QB in the '24 class, but my gut tells me he will end up winning the most Super Bowls out of that class.

I think Brad is under-rating McCarthy, and Brad will eventually be surprised of how good of a pro McCarthy ends up being.

I hope you are right, but I still think the Vikings are dumb if they turn over the keys of the Mercedes to a kid that hasn't completed a pass in the NFL. That would be a silly, unnecessary risk.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Todd M

Teams have given the bag to QB’s in the hope they’ll be the answer. We got a discounted preview. Sam works. Is showing he can be the guy. He has a final exam to pass though..

Final exam to pass? He's 14-2. What exams has McCarthy passed to deserve the job, beating the Washington Huskies?

Sam has final exams in terms of whether or not the Vikings pay him $40-$50 mil a year. The Lions and the playoffs are a huge test. If he shits the bed, then he has reproduced Cousins 2022 season.

I don't agree with that final assessment. A lot of teams have lost to the Lions, so that shouldn't be a huge black mark. If the defense goes out and gives up 40, you can't blame that on Darnold.

IMO (just being honest), the Vikings have been a little smoke a mirrors. They started out red hot and looked great. The London trip threw them off and after Darrisaw got hurt they showed a weakness up front. They capitalized on a very soft schedule, but capitalized they did. Now they have beaten two straight playoff teams vying for the playoffs and have a third on deck.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It was nice of McCarthy to allow himself to get hurt, so Sam could shine, and get a nice contract next year.

I wouldn't trade McCarthy, he probably won't end up being the best QB in the '24 class, but my gut tells me he will end up winning the most Super Bowls out of that class.

I think Brad is under-rating McCarthy, and Brad will eventually be surprised of how good of a pro McCarthy ends up being.

I hope you are right, but I still think the Vikings are dumb if they turn over the keys of the Mercedes to a kid that hasn't completed a pass in the NFL. That would be a silly, unnecessary risk.

The Vikings turned over the keys to the Mercedes to Sam Darnold, who has several years in the NFL and did absolutely nothing before he got here. . KOC, McCown, Wes Phillips, turned him around. Who is to say they can't pull that out of JJ McCarthy too?

It's really going to come down to this. Will they franchise tag Darnold? If they don't, it's likely they will be outbid for Darnold's services in 2025. They have to be prepared for that. Unless Darnold is so grateful and wants to stay and accepts the lower contract we offer him...

We can't bury our salary cap in two or three guys. and keeping Darnold would probably do that.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE what Darnold has done...I am just trying to prepare myself for the reality of what is likely to come.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Todd M

Teams have given the bag to QB’s in the hope they’ll be the answer. We got a discounted preview. Sam works. Is showing he can be the guy. He has a final exam to pass though..

Final exam to pass? He's 14-2. What exams has McCarthy passed to deserve the job, beating the Washington Huskies?

Sam has final exams in terms of whether or not the Vikings pay him $40-$50 mil a year. The Lions and the playoffs are a huge test. If he shits the bed, then he has reproduced Cousins 2022 season.

I don't agree with that final assessment. A lot of teams have lost to the Lions, so that shouldn't be a huge black mark. If the defense goes out and gives up 40, you can't blame that on Darnold.

IMO (just being honest), the Vikings have been a little smoke a mirrors. They started out red hot and looked great. The London trip threw them off and after Darrisaw got hurt they showed a weakness up front. They capitalized on a very soft schedule, but capitalized they did. Now they have beaten two straight playoff teams vying for the playoffs and have a third on deck.

Your employing quite a double standard here Brad. In 2022 Cousins led the Vikings to 13 wins, including 11-0 in one score games. He led a lot late game drives to pull those games out. This despite being saddled with one of the 3 worst defesnses in football and an online at least as bad as this one if not worse. In the playoff game, despite the defense not stopping a single Giants drive until the 4th quarter, Cousins had them in position to win or tie in the last minute. Suddenly they went from 1st and 10 just shy of FG range to 4th and 8 just shy of FG range. At that point Cousins bowels let loose with both barrels. Few QB coming off a very successful season have so thoroughly demonstrated that a moment was too big for them.

In 2024, Darnold has led the Vikings to a bunch wins, including a lot of one score wins. He's piled up huge numbers in the process. Sam has set the stage for the big moment. I want to see how he does in that moment before committing $50M a year to him.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It was nice of McCarthy to allow himself to get hurt, so Sam could shine, and get a nice contract next year.

I wouldn't trade McCarthy, he probably won't end up being the best QB in the '24 class, but my gut tells me he will end up winning the most Super Bowls out of that class.

I think Brad is under-rating McCarthy, and Brad will eventually be surprised of how good of a pro McCarthy ends up being.

I hope you are right, but I still think the Vikings are dumb if they turn over the keys of the Mercedes to a kid that hasn't completed a pass in the NFL. That would be a silly, unnecessary risk.

The Vikings turned over the keys to the Mercedes to Sam Darnold, who has several years in the NFL and did absolutely nothing before he got here. . KOC, McCown, Wes Phillips, turned him around. Who is to say they can't pull that out of JJ McCarthy too?

It's really going to come down to this. Will they franchise tag Darnold? If they don't, it's likely they will be outbid for Darnold's services in 2025. They have to be prepared for that. Unless Darnold is so grateful and wants to stay and accepts the lower contract we offer him...

We can't bury our salary cap in two or three guys. and keeping Darnold would probably do that.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE what Darnold has done...I am just trying to prepare myself for the reality of what is likely to come.

Darnold was not the initial plan in 2024. He was a backup plan and a veteran to help mold the new kid. It was never the intention of the organization to have him start 16 games.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
i have a sense that darnold would give us a tom brady type deal...like $40mm/yr over five years...he would much rather stay with o'connell and his teammates than move on for a little more money....

if one is making $200mm over five years, are they really going to be able to live a better life making $250mm, or $275mm...we have the best facilities in the NFL, and the best stadium, and coaches, and teammates...plus, we made darnold what he is today....

he'll take less than market...about 25% less....

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Todd M

Teams have given the bag to QB’s in the hope they’ll be the answer. We got a discounted preview. Sam works. Is showing he can be the guy. He has a final exam to pass though..

Final exam to pass? He's 14-2. What exams has McCarthy passed to deserve the job, beating the Washington Huskies?

Sam has final exams in terms of whether or not the Vikings pay him $40-$50 mil a year. The Lions and the playoffs are a huge test. If he shits the bed, then he has reproduced Cousins 2022 season.

I don't agree with that final assessment. A lot of teams have lost to the Lions, so that shouldn't be a huge black mark. If the defense goes out and gives up 40, you can't blame that on Darnold.

IMO (just being honest), the Vikings have been a little smoke a mirrors. They started out red hot and looked great. The London trip threw them off and after Darrisaw got hurt they showed a weakness up front. They capitalized on a very soft schedule, but capitalized they did. Now they have beaten two straight playoff teams vying for the playoffs and have a third on deck.

Your employing quite a double standard here Brad. In 2022 Cousins led the Vikings to 13 wins, including 11-0 in one score games. He led a lot late game drives to pull those games out. This despite being saddled with one of the 3 worst defesnses in football and an online at least as bad as this one if not worse. In the playoff game, despite the defense not stopping a single Giants drive until the 4th quarter, Cousins had them in position to win or tie in the last minute. Suddenly they went from 1st and 10 just shy of FG range to 4th and 8 just shy of FG range. At that point Cousins bowels let loose with both barrels. Few QB coming off a very successful season have so thoroughly demonstrated that a moment was too big for them.

In 2024, Darnold has led the Vikings to a bunch wins, including a lot of one score wins. He's piled up huge numbers in the process. Sam has set the stage for the big moment. I want to see how he does in that moment before committing $50M a year to him.

I'm not giving him $50-million. I'm franchise tagging him, which was $38-million last year (not sure what it is next season).

And yes, it probably is a double-standard because I hated Cousins. I thought he was an awful leader and a choker when it mattered. Despite the close numbers (in terms of wins), Darnold has been a much different quarterback than Cousins. He is always pressing the ball downfield, with very few checkdowns.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It was nice of McCarthy to allow himself to get hurt, so Sam could shine, and get a nice contract next year.

I wouldn't trade McCarthy, he probably won't end up being the best QB in the '24 class, but my gut tells me he will end up winning the most Super Bowls out of that class.

I think Brad is under-rating McCarthy, and Brad will eventually be surprised of how good of a pro McCarthy ends up being.

I hope you are right, but I still think the Vikings are dumb if they turn over the keys of the Mercedes to a kid that hasn't completed a pass in the NFL. That would be a silly, unnecessary risk.

The Vikings turned over the keys to the Mercedes to Sam Darnold, who has several years in the NFL and did absolutely nothing before he got here. . KOC, McCown, Wes Phillips, turned him around. Who is to say they can't pull that out of JJ McCarthy too?

It's really going to come down to this. Will they franchise tag Darnold? If they don't, it's likely they will be outbid for Darnold's services in 2025. They have to be prepared for that. Unless Darnold is so grateful and wants to stay and accepts the lower contract we offer him...

We can't bury our salary cap in two or three guys. and keeping Darnold would probably do that.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE what Darnold has done...I am just trying to prepare myself for the reality of what is likely to come.

Darnold was not the initial plan in 2024. He was a backup plan and a veteran to help mold the new kid. It was never the intention of the organization to have him start 16 games.

Dan termed it the Keenum situation which is about the only part of his massive whatever I agree with (except there is a difference in physical skills of course).

Franchising Sam for one year and options doesn't hurt the salary cap as we saw in 2024 FA. They predict 43 million it would cost.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
i have a sense that darnold would give us a tom brady type deal...like $40mm/yr over five years...he would much rather stay with o'connell and his teammates than move on for a little more money....

if one is making $200mm over five years, are they really going to be able to live a better life making $250mm, or $275mm...we have the best facilities in the NFL, and the best stadium, and coaches, and teammates...plus, we made darnold what he is today....

he'll take less than market...about 25% less....

Baker Mayfield contract would be ideal 3/100.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
i have a sense that darnold would give us a tom brady type deal...like $40mm/yr over five years...he would much rather stay with o'connell and his teammates than move on for a little more money....

if one is making $200mm over five years, are they really going to be able to live a better life making $250mm, or $275mm...we have the best facilities in the NFL, and the best stadium, and coaches, and teammates...plus, we made darnold what he is today....

he'll take less than market...about 25% less....

Baker Mayfield contract would be ideal 3/100.

Unfortunately Baker has already outperformed that deal.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Darnold doesn't have to win any more games but he:

- can't have any 'old Darnold' moments
- can't have a bunch of errant passes whereby he is 'off today'
- can't choke on a play the game hinges on
- can't be ho-hum, game-manager safe in situations where he needs to lead
- can't be the reason the team lost

He has the weapons, the coaching, the arm, etc. It boils down to whether he has the nerves, the moxie, mental strength, etc.

Does he have IT?

Yes, stay on.
No, hit the road.


If this is true, and Sam is right now guaranteed at least a 40+ million/year for next year and maybe beyond, Sam might just allow himself to be injured in the next game.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
i have a sense that darnold would give us a tom brady type deal...like $40mm/yr over five years...he would much rather stay with o'connell and his teammates than move on for a little more money....

if one is making $200mm over five years, are they really going to be able to live a better life making $250mm, or $275mm...we have the best facilities in the NFL, and the best stadium, and coaches, and teammates...plus, we made darnold what he is today....

he'll take less than market...about 25% less....

Baker Mayfield contract would be ideal 3/100.

Unfortunately Baker has already outperformed that deal.

There are people that really, really want to KEEP Darnold but they really, really don't want to PAY Darnold.

It's like the Seinfeld car reservation skit:

See, you know how to take the reservation. You just don't know how to hold the reservation. And that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=926568895452859