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So lets address the elephant in the room.... - StickierBuns - 01-04-2026
No matter how you feel about the current Viking's QB situation, collectively our worst nightmare is Uncle Sammy winning a Superbowl this year in Seattle. Don't deny that you haven't thought about it, even for a minute....we all have. We don't have a clear path right now for a franchise QB, things still need to be determined and won't be by the end of this Packer's game today. Not saying we might not have one in JJM, but we certainly don't have any clue in reality. If Darnold wins a SB, the funk that will be laid on the fanbase, especially for us long-timers, would send many to a California retreat like Don Draper at the end of Mad Men. Might happen.
For Minnesota to have passed on both Darnold and Danny Dimes, they win some meaningful games, JJM never becomes The Guy and the franchise is set back for god knows how long is just a horrible, worst-case scenario. But unfortunately it would be oh so Vikings. All I can say is for God's sake, no.......hell no....
![[Image: 200w.gif]](https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyOTVvY25jbXJxMDc1amx5d2c3cmYyaWQ2cWR2MTN6ZWxsbXlwbmR6dSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/JYZ397GsFrFtu/200w.gif)
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - mblack - 01-04-2026
(01-04-2026, 08:08 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: No matter how you feel about the current Viking's QB situation, collectively our worst nightmare is Uncle Sammy winning a Superbowl this year in Seattle. Don't deny that you haven't thought about it, even for a minute....we all have. We don't have a clear path right now for a franchise QB, things still need to be determined and won't be by the end of this Packer's game today. Not saying we might not have one in JJM, but we certainly don't have any clue in reality. If Darnold wins a SB, the funk that will be laid on the fanbase, especially for us long-timers, would send many to a California retreat like Don Draper at the end of Mad Men. Might happen.
For Minnesota to have passed on both Darnold and Danny Dimes, they win some meaningful games, JJM never becomes The Guy and the franchise is set back for god knows how long is just a horrible, worst-case scenario. But unfortunately it would be oh so Vikings. All I can say is for God's sake, no.......hell no....
I don’t personally hold any bad feelings about it. The right decision was made at the time given all that was in play. We were not and are not still a team that can compete for a superbowl or play at the level of the Seahawks, Rams and Eagles. We easily forget all the factors that were in play then:
- Poor Oline (poor protection for QB and inconsistent running game)
- Poor Dline (not great at stopping the run and inconsistency in applying pressure at QB
- Suspect secondary (it’s a miracle what BFlo has managed to do)
- Depth concerns especially on defense (example: significant drop off when Gink was injured). All teams have some key players but the drop off from key to back up should not as significant.
- Cap situation and implication given Darnold a long term deal
- Everyone knew this team needed more prices than Darnold (especially after the Lions and Rams games). So we needed to create money or cap space to sign players. The fact that some of the players did not pan out is a separate issue.
- Darnold’s desire to stay with Vikings knowing JJ was breathing down his neck. Many here even said JJ was the better QB at camp (for what it’s worth) before injury. If that was remotely true then do you think Darnold would want that around him?
I am very happy for Darnold (especially with what he has been through from the media some deserved some not so much)
When you watch the Seahawks play, you see a complete and mature team top down with good depth. The Vikings are no where near that. We are more like the Commanders - a team that had many holes but over achieved due to fantastic play of a rookie QB.
When you look at the 2024 and 2025 match up, the weird thing is Darnold did not do much to help Seattle from a statistical standpoint.
We however got undone by terrible QB play. The number of points Seattle scored in both games was pretty much the same: 24 vs 26 (remember they got a pick six). Both teams had under 100 yards throwing the ball: 96-94 Vikings.
Key areas we really struggled were running the ball and turn over margin (with third string QB)
I guess my point being Darnold is a big piece of Seattles success but not the main reason they are superbowl contenders. The team was already built and needed a decent QB. The Vikings on the other had had a decent QB (Darnold) and a good team albeit with some key flaws. Not having Darnold just exposed the flaws even more.
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - Vikergirl - 01-04-2026
Meh it is what it is. I watched the Seahawks and 49ers. Good for Darnold. Maybe last year was his practice run. I am not at all bothered by it. Things play out how they play out. As long as the Packers and Bears get beat, the rest doesn't matter
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - Vikesrock - 01-04-2026
(01-04-2026, 08:08 AM)StickierBuns Wrote: No matter how you feel about the current Viking's QB situation, collectively our worst nightmare is Uncle Sammy winning a Superbowl this year in Seattle. Don't deny that you haven't thought about it, even for a minute....we all have. We don't have a clear path right now for a franchise QB, things still need to be determined and won't be by the end of this Packer's game today. Not saying we might not have one in JJM, but we certainly don't have any clue in reality. If Darnold wins a SB, the funk that will be laid on the fanbase, especially for us long-timers, would send many to a California retreat like Don Draper at the end of Mad Men. Might happen.Probably not a popular opinion, but I disagree with this. I don't think Sammy winning the Super Bowl is a nightmare. I say good for the kid. At the time the Vikings made the decision to move on, they had what they felt was a promising rookie QB on a rookie deal. A plan to move forward utilizing the cap space provided by that. As luck would have it (See every other Vikings season ever), it didn't work out. I do believe without the injuries to McCarthy, the Vikings are a playoff team right now. We can 2nd guess the decision now as the season has played out and it has been disappointing to say the least, but I still say the right decision was made at the time with the information that was available.
For Minnesota to have passed on both Darnold and Danny Dimes, they win some meaningful games, JJM never becomes The Guy and the franchise is set back for god knows how long is just a horrible, worst-case scenario. But unfortunately it would be oh so Vikings. All I can say is for God's sake, no.......hell no....
To put it in perspective, Darnold had 1 productive season as a QB in the NFL. 6 disappointing seasons. He also laid an egg when the lights were the brightest. They also made an effort to keep Daniel Jones. Everything I have heard, they even offered him more money then Indy. He wanted to start.
This all may still work out for the better. McCarthy "looks" like he was improving. If next year he is a 4k passer this season will be but a memory.
No, the nightmare is Chicago or Green Bay winning the Super Bowl and having to listen to their insufferable fans for an entire off-season.
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - StickierBuns - 01-04-2026
Loving the different replies so far to this, interesting to read how other Viking's fans view this.
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - Zanary - 01-04-2026
I'm basically happy for Darnold, but having to be around the "12s" in general makes me hopeful that the Seahags fall very short in the playoffs. Given that I don't want either the Bears or the Pukers to win, either, it's hard to say who I'd want to win at this point:
No Seahags, no Bears, no Pukers...
...no to A-a-ron and the Steelers...
...no to Buffalo, they don't get to escape 0-4 misery ahead of us...
...no to Denver, because Payton can burn in hell...
...so, I'm hoping it's a Tampa-Houston superbowl, or something very similar.
As for the "we missed on Darnold", it's all been explained above: he made an offer, but we're determined to develop our guy. Sam had exactly 1 good season before this year, so spending a ton for him was iffy at best, anyway. Our team's issues this season, also listed above, include but are far beyond JJM.
Darnold had us all wincing on several occasions last year, but still got to benefit from team wins. Likewise, Seattle's defense had more to do with last night's victory than Sam did.
It still takes a team, regardless how much "sellers remorse" is being bandied about.
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - purplefaithful - 01-04-2026
I watched Seattle last night and I was very wrong about the quality of the team Sammie signed with. Thats a really good D with a good coaching staff. And boy, was I wrong about Emmanwori too.
I think Eagles at Seattle would be one hella NFC CG
Living in the midwest, Bears or Packers not winning it all falls in line at about #2 of my football priorities - after the Vikings do winning it all. At least once.
I be rooting for Sam the rest of the way...And I still support the decision the Vikings made with JJM on the roster.
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - MaroonBells - 01-04-2026
I'm rooting for Sam. I thought he was an underrated signing back in '24 and I disagreed with those who thought he'd be crap in Seattle, as if he learned nothing at all from KOC.
I hadn't thought too much about what it would mean for us if he were to win the Super Bowl....until now. You're right. The media will have a field day. The whispers will become screams. The egg on our face will become a three-layer Denver omelette. So maybe it's best if he doesn't.
But here's the deal. He was never a serious option for us. He signed a 3-year, $100M contract with Seattle. Even if the Vikings were prepared to beat that offer, why would Sam turn down an opportunity to be the franchise QB in Seattle to compete for the job on a team who just drafted their franchise QB the year before?
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - StickierBuns - 01-04-2026
(01-04-2026, 12:28 PM)MaroonBells Wrote: I'm rooting for Sam. I thought he was an underrated signing back in '24 and I disagreed with those who thought he'd be crap in Seattle, as if he learned nothing at all from KOC.
I hadn't thought too much about what it would mean for us if he were to win the Super Bowl....until now. You're right. The media will have a field day. The whispers will become screams. The egg on our face will become a three-layer Denver omelette. So maybe it's best if he doesn't.
But here's the deal. He was never a serious option for us. He signed a 3-year, $100M contract with Seattle. Even if the Vikings were prepared to beat that offer, why would Sam turn down an opportunity to be the franchise QB in Seattle to compete for the job on a team who just drafted their franchise QB the year before?
Damn, MB. You've been on one this week, spinning gold with the takes. Totally agree. Agree with all this ^
RE: So lets address the elephant in the room.... - Kentis - 01-04-2026
You bet yer ass Sticky , we’re thinking about it…!!!
