The Moment We Will Look Back To

StickierBuns wrote:
McCarthy and his family desperately wanted him to go to Minnesota. Its a great video, in fact the whole draft video the Vikings did was excellent. Nobody is going to outwork this kid.

He's had a whole year to acclimate to the town, his new house, the team facilities, potty train the pup and know where the bathrooms are....The re-hab is probably 98% complete, so now he can concentrate on being a QB1 for the franchise. 

I would say the runway is pretty clear...

I'm hopeful he'll be the guy we all want. But not going to declare victory before he's won a single battle. Premature Vikings fan ejaculation is a long-standing jinx.

Surround is even better this year (on paper) vs 25 too...

Vikings have done a really good job of surrounding their rook, and I think Washington did too in retrospect. I like both the head-coaches 

Nix had a decent enough surround in 24 and that should get better.

Poles is trying to catch-up with Caleb and NE is trending the right way as well...Even though he leans to the D side, I really like the Vrabel hire for them.

It's fair, and on-brand, for the Purple People to be hesitant to jump fully onto the JJM train. After all, we have a tiny sample size from one preseason game to go by, and that came with a potential "fragile" stain on the kid's reputation.

As has been mentioned for years, we're pretty brutal on our QBs. We had one of the very best ever early, and some great successors since, but we didn't have the whole package...ever. The QBs bear unfair responsibility for that, but are also paid like royalty. It's still not fair, but tears are more easily wiped away with two commas in one's bank balance.

I'm optimistic but wary, which is likely similar to most on this site. The kid already has a ridiculous amount to live up to before taking a single game snap, as we all hope that the coaching staff has pumped his brain full of usable wisdom and guidance that will make his real "rookie season" comparable to Jayden Daniels'. That's kinda unfair, but with the targets and system JJM will have, it's the unspoken expectation.

I just hope the fanbase finds the patience it hasn't shown our QBs much over the past decade-plus...because, as a young'un, he's still getting the outer shell needed to shrug off haters.

StickierBuns wrote:

If you're talking about Bridgewater, he wasn't one of the 'very best'. McCarthy has way more ability and upside than Teddy Bridgewater.

I'll never put Teddy in that category, sadly. Great kid, rooted hard for him, but when the QB ratings posted...yeah, his mid-pack position was completely legit.

Not much arm, not enough overall athleticism despite a pretty good football IQ and character.

As far as drafted QB's go, Pepp was probably a top 1 or 2 for the Vikings. It wouldnt be Teddy.

I think Francis was a 3rd round pick? You wouldnt have to twist my arm to rate him #1.

That was also 64 years ago now...Lots of QB's between Tark and JJM, thats for sure

purplefaithful wrote:
As far as drafted QB's go, Pepp was probably a top 1 or 2 for the Vikings. It wouldnt be Teddy.

I think Francis was a 3rd round pick? You wouldnt have to twist my arm to rate him #1.

That was also 64 years ago now...Lots of QB's between Tark and JJM, thats for sure

Imagine Fran with today’s rules.

StickierBuns wrote:

I think we're beyond jinxes and superstitions with the Vikings, let the fan freak flag out if you want. It all has to be proven, for sure, we're all painfully aware of that fact as Viking's fans. And if JJM shits the bed, I'll be first in line to admit it. I've never planted a flag about a player before like I have young Skywalker, er I mean McCarthy. ;) 

But so far this offseason, Daddy likey.

I'm right there with you, Sticky.  I'll live stream myself eating a real f#cking crow if JJ McCarthy busts.

I'm excited to see him play this season.  I think he'll make a lot of the media wonder why they weren't talking more about him last year.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

I'm right there with you, Sticky.  I'll live stream myself eating a real f#cking crow if JJ McCarthy busts.

I'm excited to see him play this season.  I think he'll make a lot of the media wonder why they weren't talking more about him last year.

I think you're pretty safe. I don't think McCarthy has a very big bust factor in 2025. And no discredit to him, but that's because of the offense he's in and the coach and weapons he has. Unless he's the second coming of Josh Rosen--and we already know he's not based on the comments and actions of our head coach--JJ should have a pretty high and stable floor in 2025. And the ceiling? Through the roof. He'll have a much improved IOL, a better run game and a better defense than Sam did and Sam was top 5 in many categories.

purplefaithful wrote:

He's had a whole year to acclimate to the town, his new house, the team facilities, potty train the pup and know where the bathrooms are....The re-hab is probably 98% complete, so now he can concentrate on being a QB1 for the franchise. 

I would say the runway is pretty clear...

Maybe runways aren't the best analogy at the moment.  :cool:

JustInTime wrote:

Maybe runways aren't the best analogy at the moment.  :cool:

That went over my head...

purplefaithful wrote:

That went over my head...

The recent uptick in airline mishaps.

Recovery is not a linear timeline. There will be peaks and valleys.
@jjmccarthy09's mindset helped him as he attacked his recovery his rookie season.

💤: @SleepNumber pic.twitter.com/gUWIRMRjhI

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 24, 2025

We're on our 2nd sleep number over the decades...The adjustable base is stoopid $$ and worth every penny lol!

purplefaithful wrote:
We're on our 2nd sleep number over the decades...The adjustable base is stoopid $$ and worth every penny lol!

We just picked one up in October. It’s the bomb.