Happy for Uncle Sammy

[StickierBuns]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4638...-cardinals

"Sam's playing out of his mind right now," coach Mike Macdonald said. "You see him, he's just such a cool customer. But he's a guy on a mission. He's so determined for us to be a great team and a great offense, and he's doing a great job leading us."

He does look confident out there. Its obvious he's got all the tools, he really does. So far, so good for Sam in Seattle.

[MaroonBells]

Only caught the last quarter and a half of the game but Darnold was dropping dimes. 

[JimmyinSD]

Good for him, but its still September, the real test is what happens when they start playing games with the media paying attention?

Would be easier to still cheer for his success if it wasn't with the seabitches.

[StickierBuns]

Good for him,  but its still September,  the real test is what happens when they start playing games with the media paying attention?

....and really, that's the truth of it. I on one hand really appreciate his talent as a passer and on the other hand, as I said at the end of last year, I want a QB that is clutch and doesn't shit the bed. That's my hope of what JJ is. Darnold hasn't changed any narratives, but he can't until he's in that situation again against really good teams in very meaningful games/playoffs. 

My post on this is to really just marvel at his talent. My opinion is he'll still come up short when it counts as I don't think he's clutch when its really important.

[purplefaithful]

Could KOC eventually have gotten him over the "ghosts, shit the bed" stuff?

I think it was 50/50 and no need to take that on when you just drafted a QB in the Top 10 - and the cap freedom it provided.

It was a fun year till it wasn't and I didnt lose sleep having him walk. I think I may have wanted Dimes more than Darnold if it came down to that TBH.

[pattersaur]

He’s balling out and I’m happy for him!

I was very vocal about wanting to extend Darnold during most of last season— with the thought that you don’t just let an asset like that leave and get nothing back. I figured having potentially two good QBs on the roster was better than potentially none.

However that take become hard to defend after Sam messed the bed in the final two games. The attractive trade piece I’d envisioned suddenly was a danger to become an immovable albatross to the team. That was still unlikely but in my mind it became possible. At that point the team couldn’t risk paying Sam a ton of money for it to maybe work out. The Vikings did the smart thing in moving on but there’s a nonzero chance we live to regret it. Seattle looks good.

[MaroonBells]