Vikings Trade J.J. McCarthy

“I believe organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations.”

      - Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell

Sometimes, no one failed. Sometimes, it simply doesn’t work out.

The Minnesota Vikings selected quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yesterday, the Vikings traded McCarthy to the New York Giants for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

As one of the few fans that still believes in J.J. McCarthy’s potential, I’m disappointed in the trade. If I’m forced to be realistic with the situation, I get it. Really, I have no choice but to get it. If one were so evil as to script a horror-filled, initial two-plus years for a young quarterback, it might be McCarthy’s start with the Vikings. He lost his rookie season to a torn meniscus suffered in his first preseason game. Anointed the starter in his second season, three separate injuries forced him to bounce between the field and sideline throughout the season. McCarthy was never on the field consistently enough to establish any consistency. Still, he managed to start 10 games and lead his team to a 6-4 record in those games. It might not always have been pretty but the first starts of a young quarterback often aren’t always pretty. Ultimately, only wins matter and McCarthy won more than he lost. For what it’s worth, the Vikings selected Christian Ponder with the 12th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was given three seasons to prove his worth as the starter. He never showed anything close to the potential in those three seasons that McCarthy showed in those 10 games. As the head coach, it’s probably safe to assume that Kevin O’Connell has a higher standard for quarterbacks than Leslie Frazier. Going into McCathy’s third season, the Vikings signed Kyler Murray to compete for the starting job. Neither quarterback really separated himself from the other. It felt that experience was the tiebreaker and Murray had that. The “lost” quarterback competition was the beginning of McCarthy’s end in Minnesota. I hoped that it wasn’t but I felt that it was. When the Vikings released Alan Page early in the 1978 season, I was forced to understand that my feelings on a player simple don’t matter. It’d be a beautiful thing if all of your favorite players could stay with your favorite team forever. It might not be a successful thing but it’d be a beautiful thing. 

After news broke of the J.J. McCarthy trade, Kevin O’Connell and general manager Nolan Teasley addressed the media. Both addressed sentiments that they believe McCarthy’s NFL story has yet to be written, that they believe he has the potential to succeed. If they truly believe any of that, why trade him? The truth is that the Vikings decision-makers no longer believed that J.J. McCarthy has the potential to be the team’s long-term answer at the all-important quarterback position. Agree or disagree, they should know better than any of us. I’ve been waiting since Fran Tarkenton retired in 1978 for the Vikings to draft their next long-term franchise quarterback. For nearly 50 years, I’ve wanted the next drafted quarterback to be that quarterback. Tommy Kramer, Steve Dils, Wade Wilson, Rich Gannon (technically, the Vikings traded for Gannon but they still got him as a rookie), Brad Johnson, Daunte Culpepper, Christian Ponder, Teddy Bridgewater, J.J. McCarthy. I wanted every damn one of them to be Tarkenton’s heir. Most showed potential. A few showed great potential. Without fail, the future of each was wrecked by injuries. The Vikings quarterback story since Fran Tarkenton has been so frustrating. J.J. McCarthy is simply the latest quarterback in that story. 

The media and many fans want to blame someone for the failure of the Vikings - McCarthy union. Why does there always have to be someone to blame? The situation with team and player on draft day is very different than the situation today. Teams would have a much better success rate if the draft was done in hindsight but you can’t redo something that’s already been done. If McCarthy hadn’t missed his rookie season and missed time during his second season, I believe that he’d be the starter this season. But it really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I believe. Those injuries happened. That can’t be undone. McCarthy’s time as a Vikings quarterback was disrupted too often for him to ever get comfortable in the job. Is that anyone’s fault? The only way to prevent injuries in football is to never play. No one failed at their job. The draft is always a risk, a gamble. The Vikings took a shot with J.J. McCarthy. It simply didn’t work. 

I’m disappointed in the trade. Mostly because another first-round quarterback didn’t become the Vikings next franchise quarterback. I’m also disappointed in the fifth-round return. Then again, I’m often surprised by the compensation in most NFL trades. 

Moving forward, best of luck J.J. McCarthy. Unless the Minnesota Vikings are involved. Thank you for the fun of the ten games that you played. 

Vikings - Buccaneers

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-16 on Sunday. The Vikings are 3-0.

It’s a win. It wasn’t a pretty win. Actually, it was a nice game from the defense and special teams but the Vikings offense has to get better. A lot better.

I’d like to say that the Vikings offense looked rough because receiver Justin Jefferson left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He spent most of the rest of the first half on the sideline with his helmet on his head and looking itchy to get back in the game. He never got back in the game and the offense definitely missed him. 

Kyler Murray looked out of sync all game. Very little looked right with him. At least he finished the game. Murray’s best throw was his first throw. It was probably the only throw that looked in rhythm. Of course, the throw went to Justin Jefferson. A nice 22-yarder to start one of the two best drives of the game. The last offensive play of the drive was a 10-yard catch-and-run to Jefferson. Unfortunately, that 10-yard play was on 3rd-and-19. The Vikings had to settle for a 54-yard Will Reichard field goal. 

The other good drive of the game came after the Buccaneers had tied the score at 10-10. Unlike the first good drive, this good drive ended with a touchdown. Four plays, 73 yards. 71 of those yards came on two plays. The first was a 30-yard sideline throw to Jordan Addison. The great toe-tapping catch of Addison saved Kyler Murray from another overthrow. Three players later, Murray chucked a 41-yard pass to Addison. He caught the ball at about the three, hit the ground untouched, and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. 17-10 Vikings with about four minutes remaining in the first half. That was the score at the half. 

Thanks to strong defenses on both sides, neither of the offenses moved the ball much. The Buccaneers punted nine times. The Vikings punted 8 times. 17 punts. The teams combined for 20 first downs. Combined, the offenses were 4-32 on third down. It was that sort of game. 

The difference in the game may have been the 86-yard punt return touchdown by Myles Price. It’s been ten years since the Vikings returned a punt for a touchdown. Price showed big return potential as a rookie last season. His 68-yard kick return in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers was one of the key plays in that wild comeback win. His 86-yard punt return score yesterday against the Buccaneers provided the winning margin. On a day the Vikings offense struggled, the special teams score was critical. 

After a rough first half in the Week 1 game against the Packers, the Vikings defense has been outstanding. With the offensive struggles, the Vikings needed that sort of performance. 

Kyler Murray and the Vikings offense have to get things figured out. Hopefully, Justin Jefferson misses zero games. Things can get difficult when a team loses their best and most explosive player. Still, the Vikings have too many playmakers, not named Jefferson, on offense to make moving the chains so difficult. Maybe being at home next week will ignite the offense. Next up is a home game against the Miami Dolphins. A rematch of Super Bowl VIII. 

Flea Flicker Week 3 Predictions

It’s on to Week 3. Here are guesses at the games.

Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings bump their record to 3-0.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

The Chargers need to get their shit together to make this the intriguing game it should be.

Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Panthers

After stunning the Buccaneers last week, the real Browns return this week. 

New York Jets @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Lions

The Lions are another team that needs to get their shit together. 

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Texans

These are the two best 0-2 teams in the league. One of them has to win this game.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Chiefs

Chiefs roll.

Tennessee Titans @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants

Even without Jaxson Dart, the Giants should handle the Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Bengals

Bengals roll.

Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks should easily handle the Commanders without Jayden Daniels.

New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jaguars

This could be a fun game.

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers 

Pick: 49ers

49ers roll.

Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Ravens

It’s only Week 3 and both teams really need this game. 

Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

The Raiders are surprising 2-0. Their undefeated ways end this week. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Rams

Rams roll over Sean Payton.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Eagles

The Eagles should handle Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum at quarterback. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Tampa Bay for tomorrow’s Week 3 game against the Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been in the league since 1976. Initially, they were one of the worst teams in league history. Then they surprised everyone with a singular playoff run in 1979. Then they went into a long stretch of mediocrity. Things changed for the Buccaneers in the 2000s. They won Super Bowl XXXVII with an excellent defense. They won Super Bowl LV with Tom Brady. One of the peculiar aspects of the Buccaneers history is that the league jammed them into the AFC West in their first season. Perhaps as peculiar, the league flipped them to the NFC Central division after a single season in the AFC. Geography be damned, from 1977-2001, the team from Florida competed in the same division with the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions. On the eve of this big game between former division foes, here’s an All - Time Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Tom Brady

Running Back

Warrick Dunn

Fullback

Mike Alstott 

Wide Receivers

Mike Evans

Chris Godwin

Tight End

Jimmie Giles

Tackles

Paul Gruber

Tristan Wirfs

Guards

Ali Marpet

Davin Joseph

Center

Tony Mayberry

Defense

Defensive Ends

Lee Roy Selmon

Simeon Rice

Defensive Tackles

Warren Sapp

Gerald McCoy

Linebackers

Derrick Brooks

Hardy Nickerson

Lavonte David

Cornerbacks

Ronde Barder

Donnie Abraham

Safeties

John Lynch

Cedric Brown

Special Teams

Kicker

Martin Gramatica

Punter

Josh Bidwell

Kick Returner

Micheal Spurlock

Punt Returner

Karl Williams

Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Former New York Giants safety Emlen Tunnell was one of the best football players of the 1950s. He was one of the best football players in NFL history. In his terrific autobiography, Footsteps of a Giant, Tunnell selected his All - Time Team. All of the players on the team played during his time in the league. So, this is clearly a team of the best players Tunnell played with and against. I always enjoy seeing who the best players think are the best players and Tunnell put together an interesting team. Here is that team.

Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

John Unitas, Colts

Norman Van Brocklin, Rams, Eagles

Charlie Conerly, Giants

Otto Graham, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

I’m not ducking when I pick four quarterbacks. Unitas was the best all-around man, but Van Brocklin, Graham, and Conerly were superior to John in some phases of play. Van Brocklin was the greatest long passer of my time. People forget that Graham was a remarkable runner. Conerly, a superlative strategist and leader, didn’t have the receivers or, perhaps, the passing offense that complimented the other three.

Halfback

Hugh McElhenny, 49ers

Ollie Matson, Cardinals

Fullback

Jim Brown, Browns

Steve Van Buren, Eagles

Marion Motley, Browns

Tight End

Billy Wilson, 49ers

Tunnell’s comments:

Billy Wilson unquestionably was the greatest end I played against. He wore me out. After tailing Billy for an afternoon I was bushed, physically and mentally. 

I’ve long thought that Billy Wilson was one of the most underrated receivers, and football players, in league history. It’s a damn shame that his Hall of Fame debate has fallen on the deaf ears of the voters for decades. 

Spread End

Tom Fears, Rams

Tunnell’s use of “tight end” to describe Billy Wilson and “spread end” to describe Tom Fears nicely describes offensive football schematics of the 1950s. 

Tackle

Roosevelt Brown, Giants

Lou Rymkus, Browns

Guard

Frank Kilroy, Eagles

Abe Gibron, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

Abe Gibron brought maneuvers to guard play that had never been executed before. As Abe puts it, he “went first,” which means that he led plays through areas that guards weren’t expected to penetrate. Critics say Abe went first because he beat the snap. I watched him on hundreds of plays, and I’m still not sure how he did it. 

I like Tunnell’s comments on Gibron because he’s another player that seems to be lost in history. 

Center

Frank Gatski

I’m a little surprised that Jim Parker didn’t make Tunnell’s team. 

Defense

End

Andy Robustelli, Rams, Giants

Len Ford, Browns

Gino Marchetti, Colts

Tackle

Arnie Weinmeister, Giants

Ernie Stautner, Steelers

Linebacker

Chuck Bednarik, Eagles

Bill George, Bears

Joe Schmidt, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

My selection of three middle linebackers may seem unfair to the tremendous outside backers I’ve seen, but I’m convinced that Schmidt, George, and Bednarik could have been just as great on the outside as they were in the middle.

Safety

Jack Butler, Steelers

Jack Christiansen, Lions

No Emlen Tunnell?!? 

Halfback

Otto Schnellbacher, Giants

Russ Craft, Eagles

Dick Lane, Rams, Cardinals, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

Otto Schnellbacher, my partner in the original umbrella, wasn’t called “The Claw” just because some writer was desperate for a colorful nickname to put in his story. Otto had marvelous hands, and it was no trick for him to grab a long pass one-handed. He is one of the few on this honor team of mine that doesn’t have a long service record. “Ots” led the NFL in interceptions in 1951 and then retired, just like that. Craft isn’t remembered or appreciated by many fans because Russ played at a time when the football writers weren’t immortalizing defensive players the way they do today. Russ had a couple of years in when I came up to the Giants, and he was the first defensive back to impress me with his knowledge of receivers and his ability to cut down the angles. 

I always enjoy seeing and hearing corners referred to as halfbacks. 

Emlen Tunnell is one of my favorite players from one of my favorite football eras. There really isn’t enough written about him. I’m glad that I finally got my hands on his autobiography. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Defensive Lines

The Minnesota Vikings have pieced together an intriguing defensive line. It’s an interesting group for their NFL origins as well as their diverse talents and potential.

Levi Drake Rodriguez - 2024 seventh-round pick

Jalen Redmond - signed out of the XFL in 2024

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - 2025 fifth-round pick

Elijah Williams - 2025 undrafted

Caleb Banks - 2026 first-round pick

Domonique Orange - 2026 third-round pick

Until using high-end picks on Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings had gone the bargain route to build their defensive line. Jalen Redmond emerged as a difference-maker last season. Another leap this season and he’s in the conversation with the league’s best. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins might be on a similar trajectory. Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange have the physical talent to be early draft picks. Both immediately add large and physical presences to the Vikings defensive line. Both have the size, talent, and potential to dominate. Elijah Williams made the roster and flashed at times as a rookie last year. His biggest obstacle to getting on the field is his five linemates. 

I really like this Vikings defensive line group. I liked it last season when the undrafted and late-round youngsters were outplaying high-priced additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. I liked the group even more when high-end talents Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange were added. This really is a talented group with a high ceiling. For his first three years in Minnesota, defensive coordinator Brian Flores really had to scheme much of the pressure. Now he has the defensive line talent that can only enhance those schemes. Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams, Caleb Banks, and Domonique Orange are fun and talented football players. I can’t wait to see how they grow, work, and evolve together. I believe that they are already a very good group. They might become a great group. How great? If the Vikings have had a history of riches at any position it's been the defensive line. Strong defensive fronts are a tradition in Minnesota and that tradition started with one of the most disruptive defensive lines in the history of the NFL. The Four Norsemen. The Purple People Eaters. Three Dots and a Dash. No matter how they were known they were great.

DE Jim Marshall

DT Alan Page
DT Gary Larsen
DE Carl Eller

Alan Page and Carl Eller are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many feel that Jim Marshall belongs there as well. Gary Larsen was the least acclaimed of the four but he was solid. He even played in a couple of Pro Bowls. All four made the Pro Bowl in 1969. The Vikings had the best defense and one of the best teams in the league for several years beginning in 1969 and the four up front were the reason. Doug Sutherland eventually replaced Gary Larsen in 1974 but this line played together for a remarkable ten years. That sort of consistency doesn't happen much these days.

The Vikings drafted some solid defensive linemen in the mid- to late-1970s that the team hoped would step up when the greats that preceded them stepped down. Doug Martin was often outstanding. Mark Mullaney was solid. The Vikings just couldn't put together a complete group. That was the case until the late 1980s when another great defensive front popped up in Minnesota.

DE Chris Doleman
DT Keith Millard
DT Henry Thomas
DE Al Noga

This line had a few seasons of outstanding play. Chris Doleman is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Keith Millard played a couple of seasons like few defensive players ever have. He was Defensive Player of the Year in 1989. If injuries hadn't derailed his career, he'd be in the Hall of Fame with Doleman. Henry Thomas did all of the dirty work. He ate up blocks. He took up space. He stopped the run. Al Noga was a terrific pass rushing threat opposite Doleman. This front probably would have received much more attention if the team had more success. The Vikings were really good at times but never great. They also played in the same conference as dominant, even dynastic, teams like the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins. The Vikings did manage to knock off one of those 49ers teams while on their way to the NFC Championship game in 1987. Millard, Doleman, Thomas, and Noga swarmed Joe Montana and the 49ers offense into utter frustration in that playoff game. 

One of the greatest players in the history of the Minnesota Vikings is defensive tackle John Randle. Through most of his brilliant career he was the lone threat on the defensive line. His first Pro Bowl and All Pro selection came in 1993. That Vikings defensive line was probably the best of his 11 years in Minnesota.

DE Chris Doleman
DT John Randle
DT Henry Thomas
DE Roy Barker

Doleman was traded to the Atlanta Falcons after that season and Randle never again had a line partner close to his caliber in the destruction of opposing offenses.

It wasn't until the latter half of the 2000s that the Vikings tradition of strong front fours returned. That front was completed when the Vikings acquired defensive end Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade. The Vikings had their missing pass rusher and another dominant defensive line.

DE Jared Allen
DT Kevin Williams
DT Pat Williams
DE Ray Edwards

This defensive line was great. No one ran on the Williams Wall. Jared Allen and Ray Edwards could just tee off on opposing offensive tackles. Kevin Williams could also apply some pass rushing pressure up the middle. Allen and both Williams' made a couple of Pro Bowls. Allen is the fifth Vikings defensive lineman to have a bust in Canton. Kevin Williams should soon be the sixth. Brian Robison was the link between this great defensive line to the next one. 

DE Everson Griffen
DT Sharrif Floyd
DT Linval Joseph
DE Brian Robison

That terrific line evolved into this one with the emergence of the freakishly talented Danielle Hunter. If Sharrif Floyd hadn’t had his career ended by a surgical mishap, this defensive line would’ve been ridiculous. 

DE Everson Griffen
DT Tom Johnson
DT Linval Joseph
DE Danielle Hunter

Danielle Hunter is still building on his likely Hall of Fame career. Unfortunately he’s doing so with the Houston Texans. It was a sad day when he departed Minnesota. Despite his ridiculous talent, he wasn’t an ideal fit in a Brian Flores defense. That doesn’t take away from his presence on one of the great defensive lines in the Vikings great history of defensive lines. 

The first, great Minnesota Vikings defensive line set an incredibly high bar for the franchise. That bar is one of the best in NFL history. The current line is loaded with talent and very young. There’s great potential in the group. Who knows? Maybe they'll take a run at the Purple People Eaters. That's a bold suggestion. A Super Bowl title(s) would certainly help their cause.

 

Minnesota Vikings Roster Tweaks

Injuries have forced the Minnesota Vikings to make some tweaks to the roster. Fortunately the tweaks have been more precautionary than roster overhauls. None of yesterday’s moves involved the 53-man roster. After last year’s relentless run of injuries, it’s still a little worrisome. 

Vikings rookie punter Brett Thorson exited Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears with a sore hamstring. The extent of the soreness has yet to be revealed but it was enough of a concern to bring back Johnny Hekker. Yesterday, he was signed to the practice squad. As soon as I heard that the Vikings were concerned enough with Thorson’s injury to look at available punters, I hoped that Hekker was one of them. He’d competed with Thorson for the punting job through training camp. Hekker is familiar with the kicking battery of kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola. If Thorson can’t punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Hekker should be able to easily step in as the holder. The continuity of the kicking battery is critical. After 14 years of experience, Hekker can easily handle the actual punting part of the punter job.

With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones Sr. had a heavy workload against the Bears. 23 carries on a soggy, spongy turf and his 31 years clearly has the Vikings decision-maker concerned about the sustainability of leaning so heavily on Jones while Mason is out. That’s why the Vikings signed Jarret Patterson to the practice squad yesterday. The signing results in the following running back room.

Aaron Jones Sr.

Demond Claiborne

DeeJay Dallas

Jerome Ford - practice squad

Jarret Patterson - practice squad

Jones must stay healthy. While I really like what I’ve seen from DeeJay Dallas, I hope that speedy rookie Demond Claiborne gets much more than a few carries in the coming weeks. 

Signing players always means losing players. To make room on the practice squad for Johnny Hekker and Jarret Patterson, the Vikings released receiver Trayvon Rudolph and cornerback Bryce Phillips. 

The Vikings also announced that defensive tackle Taki Taimani has been waived from injured reserve. 

An NFL roster is always a fluid thing. Hopefully, any further roster tweaks made by the Vikings isn’t due to injury.