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

Justin Jefferson used the nickname endearingly but in a tone fitting of a soon-to-be seventh-year veteran who took on a new level of leadership during the 2025 season.

“Young’un’” is what he called quarterback J.J. McCarthy after the Vikings’ season-ending win over the Green Bay Packers, which McCarthy exited early after aggravating an injury to his throwing hand.

“It’s definitely on to more work. On to getting my young’un right,” Jefferson said of his plans for the offseason. “Making sure we don’t have the same outcome [as] this season. I’m ready for the offseason. Ready to go back to work and prove I’m still one of the best.”

Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for his sixth straight season, but it took three quarterbacks and a final push against the Packers to get him there. His 1,048 yards this season are the fewest of his career, even 26 yards shy of his 2023 total when he appeared in only 10 games because of injuries.

Jefferson finished the season with a career-low three 100-yard games in the season, none of which came solely from McCarthy’s hands.

McCarthy got Jefferson most of the way to his 101 total on Jan. 4, but it was backup Max Brosmer who bumped him to triple digits with a 16-yard pass to start the fourth quarter. Jefferson’s other two 100-yard games both came with Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Jefferson’s not been shy about discussing the frustrations of this season and has been equally straightforward about the need to build a better foundation with McCarthy this coming offseason.

He didn’t put too much stock, though, in limited time working as a pair last offseason as affecting their chemistry.

McCarthy was still rehabbing his 2024 season-ending knee injury through spring 2025, and Jefferson then missed most of training camp because of a hamstring strain..

While Jefferson did agree that missed time inherently has some effect, he said the pair still found some opportunities to connect this season. They just need it to translate more in-game.

“Just like I’ve said before, we need to get J.J. out of the little, small bad habits that he had throughout the season,” Jefferson said. “But he’s still young. He still has room to grow. He still has time to really blossom as a quarterback. This is his first real year playing.

“People need to give him a little bit more leniency, but we definitely will go back to work and still put in that work to get where we need to get.”

McCarthy‘s trio of connections with Jefferson on the Vikings’ opening drive were some of the pair’s best of the season. Jefferson amassed 39 yards on those three catches, the yardage total higher than five of his full-game totals this season.

McCarthy said in his postgame presser that he and Jefferson had been working this season on trusting each other and “trusting [Jefferson’s] gonna make the play if I put it to the spot.”

While the two’s chemistry hasn’t always manifested on the field, their rapport has been evident off it. Jefferson never wavered on his public support of McCarthy and often spoke in a mentoring way about the near 23-year-old.

The Vikings will have decisions to make at quarterback, and what improvement McCarthy makes this offseason will impact how they view any competition upon the return to organized team activities and then training camp.

Jefferson didn’t want to get into whether McCarthy would or should be the quarterback in 2026.

Said Jefferson: “J.J. is our guy right now, so my job is to connect with him during the offseason and get him to where we need to go.”

Strib

Tonight 7:30 pm.  Should be a good matchup.  Montana State coming in after losing the 1st 2 games of the season and haven't lost since.  Including 2 wins over arch rival U of Montana.  

While I grew up a Grizzly and may have played a little football there, most of Montana is rooting for the Bobcats to bring home a national title.  (Montana Tom, I have seen you are a Griz too, but rooting for the Cats tonight?)

Illinois State took down powerhouse North Dakota State and then rolled in to the national championship as an unranked team.  

Should be a fun game.

What a terrible way to end the season if you are Balt...brutal

I thought Rogers still looked pretty, pretty good last night. Especially w/out any wide receivers. 

He's so old now, I cant help but think he hangs it up after this season. 

Tomlin has been doing it for 19 years now and it wouldnt surprise me if he hung it up too. 

I dont know how much of a run the Steelers have in em?