11-14-2023, 05:59 PM
https://www.inforum.com/sports/pro/dane-mizutani-its-time-to-give-vikings-gm-kwesi-adofo-mensah-the-respect-he-has-earnedVikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nervously paced around his
spot in the press box during a game a couple of weeks ago. He had just
acquired journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at
the NFL trade deadline, not at all expecting him to be thrust into
action less than a week later.
Yet, there he was filling in under
center with the Vikings trying to pull off an improbable comeback win on
the road. As the game wound to a close, Dobbs got the ball back with 2
minutes, 8 seconds left, needing to go the length of the field to take
the lead. That’s exactly what he did, miraculously scrambling for 22
yards to keep the drive alive, then throwing a touchdown pass that put
the Vikings on top for good in a 31-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons.In that moment, Adofo-Mensah couldn’t contain his excitement,
dapping up a few members of the front office before the final seconds
ticked off the game clock. That scene could end up defining this season
for the Vikings as it kept their hopes alive when the flame could have
easily started to flicker.
It’s fair to wonder where the Vikings
would be right now had Adofo-Mensah not been so savvy at the trade
deadline. They certainly wouldn’t have been able to stomach losing
rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to a concussion in Atlanta the way they
did, with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and backup Nick Mullens
already out.
The only reason the Vikings are still in a position to compete
for a spot in the playoffs is because Adofo-Mensah made sure there was a
contingency plan in place. Though he couldn’t have predicted that Dobbs
would become the talk of the NFL soon after, Adofo-Mensah knew it was
incumbent to bring in a veteran with experience.
All it cost him was a measly swap of late draft picks. Talk about a heist.
The
shrewd move from Adofo-Mensah at the trade deadline likely has his
haters in shambles. There has been a group spitefully praying for his
downfall seemingly at every turn.
The underwhelming haul in
the 2022 draft — namely the selection of safety Lewis Cine in the first
round — has been the common refrain among those that believe
Adofo-Mensah has no idea what he’s doing.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Those not
blinded by their own agenda would see that Adofo-Mensah has skillfully
navigated the “competitive rebuild” he set into motion when he got hired
on Jan. 26, 2022.
There are going to be swings and misses along the way. That comes with the territory of trying to hit a home run.
On
that note, the decision to acquire Dobbs at the trade deadline this
season, and the decision to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson at the
trade deadline last season, might as well go down as grand slams.
Fittingly, those two players helped lead the Vikings to a 27-19
win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Neither performance can be
overstated, as Dobbs threw for 268 yards and a touchdown and ran for 44
yards and a touchdown, while Hockenson played through a rib injury to
make 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
As
impressive as Dobbs and Hockenson were, however, with the mastermind
behind their arrivals watching from above, the haters were probably
stuck on the fact that Cine stood on the sideline as a healthy scratch.
There
are a number of other examples that prove Adofo-Mensah has a good pulse
on things with the Vikings. He parted ways last winter with some
players who were fan favorites, which has allowed younger players to
flourish. He selected rookie receiver Jordan Addison late in the first
round of this year’s draft, which looks like a steal in hindsight. He
opted not to extend Cousins last summer, which helped keep the books
clean moving forward.
All of it has worked out.
It’s pretty clear that Adofo-Mensah has the Vikings headed in
the right direction. The franchise is 19-8 since he took over, for
crying out loud. It’s time to give the man the respect he has earned.
spot in the press box during a game a couple of weeks ago. He had just
acquired journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals at
the NFL trade deadline, not at all expecting him to be thrust into
action less than a week later.
Yet, there he was filling in under
center with the Vikings trying to pull off an improbable comeback win on
the road. As the game wound to a close, Dobbs got the ball back with 2
minutes, 8 seconds left, needing to go the length of the field to take
the lead. That’s exactly what he did, miraculously scrambling for 22
yards to keep the drive alive, then throwing a touchdown pass that put
the Vikings on top for good in a 31-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons.In that moment, Adofo-Mensah couldn’t contain his excitement,
dapping up a few members of the front office before the final seconds
ticked off the game clock. That scene could end up defining this season
for the Vikings as it kept their hopes alive when the flame could have
easily started to flicker.
It’s fair to wonder where the Vikings
would be right now had Adofo-Mensah not been so savvy at the trade
deadline. They certainly wouldn’t have been able to stomach losing
rookie quarterback Jaren Hall to a concussion in Atlanta the way they
did, with starting quarterback Kirk Cousins and backup Nick Mullens
already out.
The only reason the Vikings are still in a position to compete
for a spot in the playoffs is because Adofo-Mensah made sure there was a
contingency plan in place. Though he couldn’t have predicted that Dobbs
would become the talk of the NFL soon after, Adofo-Mensah knew it was
incumbent to bring in a veteran with experience.
All it cost him was a measly swap of late draft picks. Talk about a heist.
The
shrewd move from Adofo-Mensah at the trade deadline likely has his
haters in shambles. There has been a group spitefully praying for his
downfall seemingly at every turn.
The underwhelming haul in
the 2022 draft — namely the selection of safety Lewis Cine in the first
round — has been the common refrain among those that believe
Adofo-Mensah has no idea what he’s doing.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Those not
blinded by their own agenda would see that Adofo-Mensah has skillfully
navigated the “competitive rebuild” he set into motion when he got hired
on Jan. 26, 2022.
There are going to be swings and misses along the way. That comes with the territory of trying to hit a home run.
On
that note, the decision to acquire Dobbs at the trade deadline this
season, and the decision to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson at the
trade deadline last season, might as well go down as grand slams.
Fittingly, those two players helped lead the Vikings to a 27-19
win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Neither performance can be
overstated, as Dobbs threw for 268 yards and a touchdown and ran for 44
yards and a touchdown, while Hockenson played through a rib injury to
make 11 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.
As
impressive as Dobbs and Hockenson were, however, with the mastermind
behind their arrivals watching from above, the haters were probably
stuck on the fact that Cine stood on the sideline as a healthy scratch.
There
are a number of other examples that prove Adofo-Mensah has a good pulse
on things with the Vikings. He parted ways last winter with some
players who were fan favorites, which has allowed younger players to
flourish. He selected rookie receiver Jordan Addison late in the first
round of this year’s draft, which looks like a steal in hindsight. He
opted not to extend Cousins last summer, which helped keep the books
clean moving forward.
All of it has worked out.
It’s pretty clear that Adofo-Mensah has the Vikings headed in
the right direction. The franchise is 19-8 since he took over, for
crying out loud. It’s time to give the man the respect he has earned.
