Interesting that there is no discussion on this one.  Is this a matter of respect for our fellow posters that we acknowledge that there will be a disagreement as to blame?  I would really like to think this is the case for the sake of our board.

I doubt that is the case though so please be civil as the fucking media and politicians ratchet up the mis information and rhetoric in order to keep our brothers and sisters at odds.

SKOL VIKES!!!

Four cuts the Vikings can make to save $44 million against the 2026 salary cap
Story by Joe Nelson • 36m •
3 min read


At an estimated $46 million over the 2026 NFL salary cap, the Minnesota Vikings have major roster decisions to make before free agency opens in March.

While much has been discussed about center Ryan Kelly and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave being potential cut candidates, two offensive stars could also be on the way out: tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones.

Kelly carries a $12.1 million cap hit next season. By cutting him, Minnesota would save roughly $8.7 million while absorbing about $3.3 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap.

Hargrave's 2026 cap hit is a whopping $21.5 million. After failing to meet lofty expectations this season, cutting him is a realistic money-saving option for the Vikings. While they would eat $10.5 million in dead money, they would free up $11 million in cap space by releasing him.

Hockenson simply hasn't been the same player since suffering a torn ACL on Christmas Eve 2023 when Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph dove at his knees. In 15 games before the injury, Hockenson shredded defenses with 95 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns. In 25 regular-season games since then, Hockenson has 92 catches for 893 yards and five touchdowns.

The Vikings signed Hockenson in August 2023 to a four-year, $66 million extension. His contract calls for a $21.3 million cap hit in 2026 and a $23.3 million cap hit in 2027. Minnesota can wait until June 1 to cut him, and by doing so, they would free up $16 million in 2026 and $18 million in 2027, while absorbing $5,3 million in dead money each of the next two seasons, followed by a $1.7 million hit in 2028.

On Monday, former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber was asked to provide a percentage chance of certain players returning next season, and he gave Hockenson no chance to return.

"Zero percent," Leber said. "I think that's part of the reason why he didn't play yesterday. I think that's part of the reason Aaron Jones didn't play yesterday. I mean, they don't want to be on the hook injury-wise because these are most likely two guys they're going to jettison for contract reasons."

By cutting Kelly, Hargrave, and Hockenson, Minnesota would free up roughly $36 million.

They can get that number to $44 million by cutting Jones, who has a $14.8 million cap hit in 2026. Releasing him would save $8 million and force the Vikings to absorb another $6.8 million in dead money.

If you're keeping track, Minnesota would go from being $46 million over the cap to only about $2 million over by making those four moves.

According to Alec Lewis of The Athletic, the Vikings are "not sweating the cap situation," largely because they also have opportunities to restructure expensive contracts. Lewis mentioned right tackle Brian O'Neill and linebacker Blake Cashman as players who could sign extensions and free up even more cap space.

Per Over The Cap, signing O'Neill to an extension would create $14 million cap space, while doing the same with Cashman would generate an additional $4.5 million in 2026.

Lewis also noted that Minnesota can convert 2026 base salaries into signing bonuses, specifically mentioning wide receiver Justin Jefferson, linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., tight end Josh Oliver, and offensive linemen Christian Darrisaw and Will Fries.

Here are the base salaries for those players in 2026:

Jefferson: $24.99m
Greenard: $18.39m
Van Ginkel: $15.39m
Murphy: $15.36m
Oliver: $6.69m
Darrisaw: $13.29m
Fries: $12.61m
The Vikings could convert part or all of those base salaries into signing bonuses, essentially kicking the can down the road and dealing with larger cap hits in future years.

In the end, the Vikings aren't going to be among the league leaders in cap space, but they have options to at least become somewhat competitive when free agency begins in a couple of months.

Can someone explain how we’d be any better then Russia if we invaded a sovereign nation? 

Hell, it’d be 2 countries in under month if they get after it. 

At least you can make an argument that Venezuela was supplying drugs. There’s absolutely no defense to invading Greenland.

That sacking of Harbaugh in Baltimore might just be the scenario that BFlo leaves for. 

I would sure as hell consider it if I were him and got an opportunity there for HC

If anyone watched the FCS National Championship last night, you were treated to one helluva game.
My hats off to the unseeded Illinois State Redbirds.  They proved that knocking off NDSU was not a fluke.

But the Natty came back to Montana State. The Bobcats got bragging rights for this year, and all of Montana (yes, even us Griz fans) are proud of them.
Will any of those boys play on Sundays in the NFL?  It's possible.  The FCS sends some to the big show every year.  Seattle's #1 pick, G Gray Zabel played for NDSU last year, and we all remember Jimmy Kleinsasser.

That 4th quarter and the OT was something to watch.
An entertaining Championship game!

Brian O'Neill excited to get healthy Christian Darrisaw back

If Harrison Smith and C.J. Ham retire, as both seem likely to do, Brian O'Neill will be the Vikings' longest-tenured player, heading into his ninth season with the team in 2026. He's played in just four playoff games during his first eight seasons in Minnesota, and after a season that left the Vikings a half-game short of the postseason, "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some disappointment," O'Neill said.

The Vikings have known since Dec. 14 they wouldn't be in the playoffs, which the team captain said makes the end of the season a little easier to handle.

"Last year [when the Vikings lost in the first round of the playoffs], I was planning to play for a while. So when it abruptly ends and you weren't expecting it to, that makes it harder," O'Neill said. "I guess that's kind of the difference."

Change is inevitable in the NFL, and there will be plenty coming for the Vikings in 2026 as the team tries to clear cap space before March. O'Neill is heading into the final year of his contract and has a $23.2 million cap number in 2026, though the Vikings could lower that number with an extension that keeps the 30-year-old in Minnesota for several more years. After fighting through knee and heel injuries this season, O'Neill said his body will be fine with some offseason recovery.

"The one in Europe with the knee was unfortunate; it happened on a special teams play when somebody fell on me," he said. "But I was able to work back from that. I had a little nick in the Dallas game that I had to manage, but that's life."

Recovery was a bigger part of his offseason in 2023, after he returned from an avulsion fracture he'd sustained at Lambeau Field at the end of 2022. It gave him an appreciation for how long a full recovery from a major injury can take, as the Vikings wait for Christian Darrisaw to completely move beyond his October 2024 knee surgery.

"I can't speak for anybody else, but I know after an Achilles [injury], the first year back, I didn't feel was my best ball, not close to my best ball. And the next year was a really good one," O'Neill said. "When you're just not able to train, and you're not able to practice, and you're not able to recover from [minor injuries beyond the surgery], it piles up. So having a full healthy offseason is good for everybody."

Coach Kevin O’Connell has said he expects Darrisaw will be completely beyond the knee injury in 2026. O'Neill said he expects the Vikings will feel the difference with Darrisaw back.

"Having one of the best left tackles in the league, I think a lot of teams would sign up for that. I certainly would," O'Neill said. "I'm excited for him to get back to the availability and the elite-level play we all know and love."

J.J. McCarthy planning to train in California this offseason

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy appeared briefly in the locker room while reporters were present; he had his right hand in the same kind of fingerless compression glove he wore after a hairline fracture forced him out of the Giants game on Dec. 21. McCarthy finished the year having played 523 offensive snaps, or 52.25% of the Vikings' season total. He will work out in Southern California this offseason, before returning to Minnesota for the start of offseason workouts in April.

He said Sunday he might have pushed back his offseason recovery time slightly by playing against the Packers but said his hand won't require surgery.

"We got time for that, unfortunately," he said, referencing the fact the Vikings missed the playoffs. "We'll see where it goes. But going to continue to rest and recover for sure. Everything's stable [in my hand]. There's the fractures and all that. But everything's stable."

Will Fries proud to have started every game

Right guard Will Fries, who just finished the first season in a five-year, $88 million contract signed last March, said he’s already starting 2026 on a better note than last year because he’s not in the middle of rehabbing a broken leg.

“Definitely looking forward to a healthy offseason and being able to train hard again,” Fries said while cleaning out his locker. “Just hungry for a lot more.”

Despite the 2024 injury that slowed his start to his first Vikings camp in August, Fries joined receiver Justin Jefferson as the only players to start every game for the injury-riddled Vikings offense. Fries was the lone constant on the O-line, playing a team-high 99% of the offensive snaps.

“The guy who came here with a broken leg last year was the only one who played every snap,” right tackle Brian O’Neill said. “That’s tough. That’s a real dude to be able to do that. … I’m really proud of him for that. I enjoy playing next to him.”

Fries thanked the Vikings training staff for helping him through a rehab that required two surgeries on his leg. He said he was proud he started every game.

“I view that as a really good accomplishment,” Fries said. “Who knows where you end up in free agency, and to end up here, I was really lucky to help navigate that situation with them. I was excited about a lot of things I did this year.”

Fries also acknowledged the need to improve after surrendering a team-worst 37 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said recently that Fries is "still on the rise as far as his potential and growth in this league."

“I think there’s a lot more out there for me individually and our whole group,” Fries said. “I’m excited to get after it this offseason so I can continue to improve.”

Jalen Nailor: "Just wait and see"


Jalen Nailor reacted in surprise when he turned around from his locker to a crowd of media.

The fourth-year receiver will be a free agent this spring and is likely to be a commodity after finishing the season with a career-high 444 receiving yards and team-leading four receiving touchdowns.

“Just wait and see,” said Nailor of his headspace entering the offseason. “See where this offseason is heading. Hopefully I get to be back.”

Pressed if he would like to be back, Nailor said, “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind.”

Nailor was one of just two draft picks remaining on the roster this season from the current Vikings regime’s inaugural class. He was drafted No. 191 overall in Round 6 in 2022.

Nailor said he hasn’t thought yet about parting from teammates like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, his fellow starting receivers.

Jefferson is under contract through the 2028 season; Addison is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract.

“It’s going to be a pretty interesting offseason, but I’m just excited for what’s to come,” Nailor said.

Strib

How the Vikings add to their quarterback room, and whether they re-sign Flores, will be the two biggest stories of the winter.

Even if they hand McCarthy the starting job and re-sign Flores, there are many other issue they’ll need to address.

All they need is …
Another quarterback, either to compete with McCarthy, or to back him up. Finding just the right player will be difficult, as was proven this season, when they tried out Sam Howell, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer and missed the playoffs because none of them were good enough.

A center. Ryan Kelly is an outstanding player when healthy, but he should retire rather than risk another concussion or three.

A healthy Christian Darrisaw. Maybe being another season removed from his knee surgery will make him feel more comfortable playing on a weekly basis. That would help, since he’s probably the second-best player on the team.

A tight end like T.J. Hockenson. That might be Hockenson returning to the form he showed in 2022 and 2023, or it might be someone replacing Hockenson, who has had two poor seasons in a row.

A running game that matches up with the rest of the division. Aaron Jones Sr. remains versatile and Jordan Mason is a quality runner, but the Vikings running game can’t compare with those of their divisional peers.

The Bears invested heavily in their running game and won the division. The Packers rely heavily on power runner Josh Jacobs, and they made the playoffs. The Lions have the best back in the division in Jahmyr Gibbs, who made them Super Bowl contenders the previous two seasons before they fell out of contention because they didn’t run the ball as well.

The Vikings need to run the ball better and more often. They planned to do so this season but didn’t. In 2024, with Sam Darnold performing at a high level as quarterback, the Vikings ran the ball 45% of the time. In 2025, with three different quarterbacks mostly struggling, the Vikings ran the ball 46% of the time (if you round up.)

More from their 2025 class of veteran free agents. The Vikings invested heavily in defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, then watched the undrafted Jalen Redmond outperform both of them.

More Harry. It would be difficult for Smith to return after the Vikings put on such a great farewell party for him, but he should play the Favre card — let the Vikings chase him when they realize early in training camp that they desperately need him. Smith would get to skip most of camp, get a big check and help the franchise he loves.

A better version of Jordan Addison. He dropped too many passes and was far too unproductive for a former first-round draft pick. He needs an offseason in which he doesn’t run afoul of the law, and a regular season in which he plays like a true No. 2 receiver.

Luck. You don’t think NFL teams need luck? In a salary cap league, every team has weaknesses and lacks depth. Winning teams tend to remain mostly healthy, and have their injuries occur at positions of strength. The Vikings can’t afford injuries to their offensive line, pass rushers or secondary.

A good draft. This roster needs an infusion of young talent. Dallas Turner and Donovan Jackson appear to be on their way to nice careers, but they could use some help in propping up an old roster.

Linebacker health. Just because the Vikings have depth at linebacker doesn’t mean they don’t need injury luck at that position. If they could have Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Turner, Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson healthy at the same time, they could play all kinds of mind games with quarterbacks and offensive coordinators.

Blinders. I was on board with giving McCarthy every chance to be the franchise quarterback, but Aaron Rodgers and Darnold are in the playoffs and could cause the Vikings’ brain trust all kinds of psychic pain if they perform well in January.

Strib

Take it for what you will, was listening to the podcast today and Judd thinks there are big changes coming to the Vikings coaching staff, front office or maybe both. Thinks some heads will roll after not making the playoffs and cited the big money spent in free agency and the impatience of the Wilfs. I found it interesting because I did not think they would after the mini "streak" and still don't think anybody of real significance will be let go,  stay tuned...

https://www.youtube.com/live/tVgY968e8vA...ejhqdPePKX