EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings kept two essential principles in mind when searching for a quarterback in the 2024 draft. They needed to assess the skills of each player, of course, but they also wanted to project the type of team to build around the player they ultimately acquired.

"What people don't understand about the quarterback-selection process is that it's not just the quarterback themselves," coach Kevin O'Connell told ESPN at the time. "It's: 'What does the rest of the picture look like with that quarterback?'"

The second part drove the Vikings' team-building plan for this season, when they tapped J.J. McCarthy to take over the position and then assembled the NFL's third-oldest roster with a cash payroll of nearly $350 million to support his development in real time. It made sense. 

The No. 10 pick was the youngest member of the 2024 quarterback draft class, with by far the fewest college passing attempts and less of the transcendent physical traits that some of the others possessed.

After he missed his rookie season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee, McCarthy couldn't be counted on to elevate the team as the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels and the New England Patriots' Drake Maye have. To succeed in 2025, the Vikings would need to win with McCarthy -- sometimes in spite of him and occasionally because of him.

Let's consider five ways the Vikings hoped to support McCarthy and how it has impacted their 4-4 start. 

Many of them hadn't surfaced until he returned from a five-week absence (high right ankle sprain) for Sunday's 27-24 upset of the Detroit Lions -- and it is not an exaggeration to say they will remain key to Minnesota's chances of reaching the playoffs.

"There were some real elements of quarterback play," O'Connell said this week of McCarthy's play in Detroit. "And then in the moments where maybe it got loose, or we can tighten things up, that's what we're here for, and that's all part of the journey he's on."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4688...-jefferson

I mentioned on MB’s thread that I had an operation yesterday. So, I’m not feeling any too good physically today. But I AM feeling a lot of gratitude for this site. Thank you Vikesrock, for reminding me of the Viking Update days! I even remember its precursor the Viking Report. I think it was called Tommy Kramer’s Viking Report which morphed into the old Update. I loved those. And Purple Thoughts and now Vikefans. Vikefans has combined all that came before it—up-to-the-minute news, humor, and truly knowledgeable fans who teach me a lot. I love the back and forth on current topics and the effort to do it without bringing politics into it. That’s a tall order in these divided times. 

This site brightens my day. I always look forward to reading the latest from
VikeFans. Thanks for all who post, and a special shout out the the Mods!

Ivar Brogger aka Caactorvike

I hate plea deals like this one. IMO she should serve a long, long sentence in jail for what she did...

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The driver accused of being drunk when she struck and killed Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson and two of his high school friends in a high-speed collision in Maryland has confessed and is now facing prison time.

Jackson, a fourth-round 2024 NFL draft pick out of the University of Oregon and a Maryland native, died in the wreck that occurred shortly after 3:10 a.m. on July 6, 2024, in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Upper Marlboro, Md.

Cori Imani Clingman, 25, pleaded guilty Friday in a Prince George’s County courtroom to three counts of negligent homicide under the influence of alcohol.

The county’s State’s Attorney Tara Jackson said her office will recommend Clingman receive a 15-year sentence, but with 12 of those years set aside. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 4, when a judge will decide whether to accept the terms.

Also killed in the same vehicle with Jackson were his close friends and fellow former Upper Marlboro Wise High School teammates: passenger Anthony Lytton Jr., 24, and the driver, 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel.

Speaking after the hearing to gathered news media, Jackson said, “Incidents like these are not just accidents. They are preventable tragedies that occur from conscious choices. Driving under the influence is a crime. Speeding at high rates of speed is a crime.”

Separately, in a statement issued by her office, Jackson said that “while [this] plea brings a measure of accountability, I know that it cannot ease the heartbreak or bring back Khyree, Isaiah, and Anthony. I hope that this case serves as a reminder of how quickly lives can change and brings greater awareness to our community about the dangers of reckless and impaired driving.”

Clingman was driving an Infiniti Q50 when she tried to change lanes on northbound Pennsylvania Avenue to pass a Dodge Charger, according to State Police, and instead struck the Charger, sending it off the road. Both drivers were traveling at more than 100 miles per hour after leaving the same location around the same time, according to prosecutors.

A Maryland grand jury indicted Clingman with three counts each of negligent manslaughter; criminally negligent manslaughter; negligent homicide while operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol; and homicide while driving impaired by alcohol. She was also charged with one count of drunken driving.


STRIB

Sounds like Ty Chandler started doing side work this week and could return in a week or two. It'll be interesting to see if he will be able to beat out Zavier Scott for the RB3 role late in the year, because he's probably lost all return duties to Myles Price. 

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Speaking of Chandler, it's never not a good time for some Raymond Chandler quotes. 

“From 30 feet away she looked like a lot of class. From 10 feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from 30 feet away.”
― Raymond Chandler, The High Window

“She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket.”
― Raymond Chandler, Farewell, My Lovely

“I'm an occasional drinker, the kind of guy who goes out for a beer and wakes up in Singapore with a full beard.”
― Raymond Chandler, Philip Marlowe's Guide to Life

So its a complete train wreck in Vegas, Grandpa Pete isn't working out and Raiders' ownership is always basically a joke. So Carroll now fires the special teams coordinator? The guy (Tom McMahon) has been in National Football League for 16 seasons for teams such as the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and currently the Raiders. Its not like he can't or forgot how to coach. These two got into a heated argument on the sidelines during that game. 

https://www.si.com/nfl/pete-carroll-fire...ss-broncos

I think its bullshit to fire a guy you handpicked this early in the season off the staff. Hell, I think its wrong to cut anyone off a coaching staff mid-year. What you are saying is you are solely responsible for us being shit.....which we know one coach isn't the problem. Anyway: rant over.

You all probably know that I live in a remote corner of Montana, about an hour from Canada and apparently not far from the Arctic Circle! 

Had a good friend let me know last night that she was doing a photo shoot for the builder of Steve Mariucci's recently built home here.  She knew him as former Head Coach of the Niners (she's from Door County, WI and is headed home to watch the Packers in the next week or two). I knew him (of course) as being a native Yooper from Upper Michigan who worked his way up the coaching ranks.  Mooch was finishing his QB career at Northern Michigan University the year I moved to da U.P.

He does have a Niner's connection here...former owner Eddie DeBartolo has a spread north of the airport here, and was famous for his Fourth of July bashes, which is probably where Mooch got exposed to the place.  Eddie is slowing down these days.

Drew Brees bought a place in the valley a few years ago and last year he upgraded to some nice acreage on the road we drive to visit some good friends of ours.  This year he added some Black Angus cattle...maybe to assure that he got his agriculture tax treatment?  Smart.

Drew Bledsoe's mom & dad live here in the valley and I understand Drew is finally selling his lakeshore place here.  Years go, Mack (his dad) played in a band that I had hired out at the ranch for a pig roast event we hosted. 

One thing that I have learned is that unlike the mountain ski resort towns of Colorado, folks come to this corner of Montana to NOT be bothered, to blend in, and for the most part, that's exactly what they get.  Most locals who know where these folks live, are pretty tightlipped, thank heavens.

I was really disappointed this summer when a local realtor was bugging Alan Jackson downtown for an autograph (and then posted nasty on social media when he quietly just walked away)...what an idiot.  LEAVE HIM ALONE.

I think it was around 1995 when I first found the Bob Lurtsema's Vikings Update messaging board.  I was on dial up in the military living in Darmstadt Germany.  I discovered the magazine as well, somehow that led me to here now a days through different messaging boards:

'McCarthy's leadership comes with ease for Vikings, who face another back-on-track team in the Ravens'

https://kdhnews.com/sports/nfl/mccarthys...5f944.html

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — J.J. McCarthy burst into Minnesota's locker room in Detroit last week in the afterglow of a critical victory for the Vikings, meeting his boisterously welcoming teammates with an enthusiasm and intensity that took the party for the visitors to an even higher level.

As coach Kevin O'Connell wrapped up his postgame speech, saving the last game ball for his young quarterback, McCarthy's expression turned menacing through the sweat-smudged thick black paint on his cheeks. After he accepted his award with a hug from the coach, McCarthy called the players in for one more huddle to implore them to pivot their focus forward.

“I just know to give him the football, deliver the message that I’d like to deliver, and then get the hell out of the way for my own personal safety in that moment,” O'Connell said.

For a 22-year-old player whose career is merely three games long, McCarthy sure seems to have the captaincy part down.

“He’s got something to him. I love protecting for him,” left tackle Christian Darrisaw said. “It’s fun to go out there and do what we do when you know you’ve got ‘Nine’ back there."

After a head-turning fourth quarter rally to win the opener at Chicago against his childhood favorite team, McCarthy returned to Minnesota for a shortened week of practice, missed one day to join his fiancee for the birth of their son, and mostly struggled through his home debut in a decisive defeat by Atlanta. During that game, he badly sprained his ankle, an injury he played through that night but needed six weeks to fully recover from.

Now, after a potentially season-saving performance by the entire team in Detroit, McCarthy finally has another opportunity to play in the comfort of U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. The Vikings (4-4) host Baltimore (3-5), another back-on-track contender aiming for a much better finish than start.

“We saw his leadership, his ownership, how he commanded the offense, all the great talents he has, what kind of quarterback he can be,” linebacker Blake Cashman said. “That’s what makes him a winner, and we’re counting on him to be like that the rest of the year.”

McCarthy's alter ego is named ‘Nine’
Not only have his Vikings teammates taken to calling to him by his single-digit jersey number, McCarthy revealed to reporters this week that he also refers to himself as ‘Nine,’ an ode to his intense gameday persona.

He said it developed last season while resigned as a rookie to rehabilitation work on his surgically repaired knee, the product of “built-up anger that was just ready to explode” from the absence of playing time.

“I chose to harness it instead of letting it go to a self-destructive kind of way,” McCarthy said. “I love feeding that wolf.”

Putting the pressure on
When Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2021, they beat the Ravens 22-10 by blitzing Lamar Jackson with reckless abandon. Over the last couple of seasons in particular, the two-time NFL MVP award winner has fared well on plays when he has faced extra pass rushers. Jackson has taken 17 sacks in five games this year. Seven of those came in Week 3 against the Lions.

“I tried to focus on everything I could to get better, and blitzing was one of them, because early on in my career, I was getting sacked like crazy,” said Jackson, who'll make his 100th career regular-season start on Sunday. “Just getting older in my career, it’s like, ‘Man, we have to get the ball out.’"

Well-rested opponents
This will be the second foe with extra preparation and recovery time the Vikings face in a three-game span, with the Ravens having played on Thursday the week before. Though the Vikings had a 10-day rest period after a Thursday game last week, the Lions were fresh from their full bye.

The advantage the Vikings had in Week 7 out of their bye was lessened a bit by Philadelphia's previous game being on Thursday. The Vikings also played with one fewer rest day than the Falcons after opening the season on Monday.


Revamped defense for the Ravens
The Ravens allowed 177 points over their first five games, but they’ve permitted just 39 in their last three.

Better health has been a key, but the secondary got a boost by the acquisition of safety Alohi Gilman a month ago in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens made another addition this week, dealing for pass rusher Dre’Mont Jones at the trade deadline after he had a sack in each of his last four games for Tennessee.

Gilman’s arrival has allowed his former college teammate at Notre Dame, two-time Pro Bowl pick Kyle Hamilton, to play predominantly in the slot closer to the line of scrimmage in a three-safety nickel defense with first-round draft pick Malaki Starks.

“It’s an incredible challenge,” O’Connell said. “We feel great about our skill guys, but we’ve got to show up ready for a really tough task and test.”