What the hell is going on in MN politics?  How is what this person doing being allowed?

Those with better insight feel free to chime in. I’m told republicans currently hold a 67-66 advantage in the house. The democrats have a seat they can get through a special election but can’t do said election until 3 weeks after a legislative session is opened. Which for now gives the republicans a 1 seat advantage. 

What rights are being taken away?  Walz is governor. There’s a co-leader of the senate. 

https://youtu.be/kP8Ij1T22YM?si=1HONxSVqXqe3iurO

Like corner, this draft class appears to have good value in the late 1st for DTs. And the thing I've noticed that is unusual about this class is how many BIG guys there are this year, with 5 of the top 8 on one board all weighing in over 320 lbs. That is rare. 

So despite being ineligible according to rules, resulting in me removing him from my betting app, Sam is still a finalist for Comeback Player. 

Kiper released his first mock yesterday and has the Vikings taking CB Benjamin Morrison. Interestingly, in his position rankings, he has Shavon Revel ranked ahead of both Morrison and Barron. Revel tore his ACL in September. He should be fine by training camp, but he's probably going to miss the combine, pro days and OTAs. Revel is intriguing, but do the Vikings want two corners returning from ACLs? 

24. Minnesota Vikings
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Minnesota has big-time cornerback questions. All three starters -- Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin and slot guy Byron Murphy Jr . -- are free agents, along with backup Fabian Moreau . So, even though the Vikings led the NFL in interceptions by quite a bit (24, five more than second best), they might have to restock their CB room in the draft. Morrison missed all but six games in 2024 with a hip injury, but he's a top-tier cover man. He has sound technique, and he has the ball skills to keep Minnesota's INT total high. Morrison had nine picks and 21 pass breakups over his career.

......

1 Titans 3-14
2 Browns 3-14
3 Giants 3-14
4 Patriots 4-13
5 Jaguars 4-13
6 Raiders 4-13
7 Jets 5-12
8 Panthers 5-12
9 Saints 5-12
10 Bears 5-12
11 49ers 6-11
12 Cowboys 7-10
13 Dolphins 8-9
14 Colts 8-9
15 Falcons 8-9
16 Cardinals 8-9
17 Bengals 9-8
18 Seahawks 10-7
19 Broncos 10-7
20 Buccaneers 10-7
21 Steelers 10-7
22 Chargers 11-6
23 Packers 11-6
24 Vikings 14-3
25 Texans 10-7
26 Rams 10-7
27 Ravens 12-5
28 Lions 15-2

https://www.tankathon.com/nfl

Vikings only have 3 picks as of now, 1st and two 5ths. We're expected to get a comp pick, projected to be the 33rd pick in the 3rd round, for the Cousins departure. The other FA's that we lost were canceled out by the FA's that we picked up.

Kiper is already out with his 1st mock today.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6079452...extension/

Last summer, longtime NFL quarterback Colt McCoy was trying to explain what made Kevin O’Connell different from other NFL coaches.

“As smart as he is with X’s and O’s,” McCoy said, “he’s equally as good at legit coaching. Like, coaching.”

What did that — coaching — mean?

“How do I bring together all of these players?” McCoy said. “How do I get these 25-year-olds and veteran players with families to believe in each other? People think, ‘These are just millionaires.’ But no, it can be a team.”

https://www.nfl.com/news/head-coach-kevi...th-vikings

Multiyear contract. Financials unknown at this point.

After listening to all the pundits say why we will re-sign Darnold on a Franchise tag, sign him to a 4-year deal, blah blah ad nauseum, and why we will trade JJM and nobody knows what to do with Daniel Jones...I think I can reasonably forecast what will actually happen in the end. 

It's going to be a business decision (just like letting Cousins walk, which worked out pretty well for us).  After trying to make it complicated, I realized it's not that complicated.

You're going to tie up around $41 million to secure Darnold for one year on a franchise tag, or between $35-$40 million/year on a 3-4 year deal.
You have maybe $50-70 million (depending on who is calculating what) in salary cap room. 
Do you tie up $40mm on one person?  Or do you use that as capital to re-sign the FA's we badly want to keep, and go on the hunt for more help on both interior lines?
JJM's cap hit is team friendly this year and for a couple more years.  

If they are serious about building a Championship calibre TEAM, it makes more sense to spread that salary cap around, not hamstring us into oblivion in future years by deferring cap hits (thanks Spielman).   You've theoretically got say $35mm to spend on improving the roster, and that includes keeping JJM and signing Daniel Jones to a one year backup extension for say $5mm/year (while he attends QB Whisperer School with KOC).  

One variation on that them would be the tag & trade option for Darnold.  Franchise tag him and trade him to some QB desperate team.  There are very few proven options out there and I'm certain that some teams would think they died and went to heaven if they could get Darnold for a bargain $41mm with the option of a long-term deal.  

I'm impressed with some of the moves Kwesi has done to build this roster and get us out of cap hell that he inherited.  It doesn't happen all at once.  I think he learned from blowing the draft his first year, and he's a smart, shrewd guy.  We are sitting with an embarrassment of riches in our QB room, and that give us leverage.  Not one person thought we'd be in this situation 365 days ago.