Getting the kid right...

[pattersaur]

I agree, it was very concerning.  I am not sure if it was a lapse or an act.  The more I have seen him this year and some of his actions, his 9 thing, his comment about wanting to defy the coach, it all seems disingenuous and like he is trying to create this persona.  I remember during the combine focusing on him and Nix and Nix seemed like a total gym rat who would do whatever it took and did not care about his appearance, while JJM seemed more like a lot of what he did was calculated and for show.  Just a feeling.

I do sometimes wonder if his teammates at Michigan went to his birthday party.

[JR44]

Pretty interesting for someone like Leber who works for the Vikes and is always very pro Viking to blast JJM publicly. I don't think he says this unless there is a lot more behind it that he knows overall about his season.

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/news...ckers-game

[JimmyinSD]

I think he might be guilty of acting like a 22 year old male, in the biggest football league in the world, dealing with a huge uptick in intensity, new fatherhood, sudden "mortality" with his slew of injuries, and a sports press that never goes away while social media will pile on (mostly) made-up controversies.

22 years old, and a lot going on.

With the sideline thing, the defender led with his helmet and JJM may have thought it was late...I'm not sure, but he's got more to prove every day. That's got to be huge to deal with.

JJM had every chance to avoid that all together,  he squared and lowered his shoulder instead of just peeling OB,  he went hunting for that hit and then ran his mouth about it.  I love the kid, but that was a 10 cent brain type of move by a guy that is supposed to be smart and the leader of the O.  He needs to be better than the average 22 year old, especially when you look at the play and his injury history.

[pattersaur]

JJM had every chance to avoid that all together,  he squared and lowered his shoulder instead of just peeling OB,  he went hunting for that hit and then ran his mouth about it.  I love the kid, but that was a 10 cent brain type of move by a guy that is supposed to be smart and the leader of the O.  He needs to be better than the average 22 year old, especially when you look at the play and his injury history.

Your post reminded me of this haha. Luke Skywalker figured it out eventually!

[purplefaithful]

That (the out of bounds stuff) was a dumb move and it looked like KOC let him know how he felt about it afterwards.

I dont know if I cut the kid some slack being 22?

The year has been a shit show and I'm glad its over. I'm not sure JJ had much fun in 25.

[Zanary]

JJM had every chance to avoid that all together,  he squared and lowered his shoulder instead of just peeling OB,  he went hunting for that hit and then ran his mouth about it.  I love the kid, but that was a 10 cent brain type of move by a guy that is supposed to be smart and the leader of the O.  He needs to be better than the average 22 year old, especially when you look at the play and his injury history.

Well, he's got most of Winter, all of Spring and most of Summer to see what worked, didn't work, and kinda worked in everything about his first (playing) season in the NFL.

He should also remind himself that Mahomes, Penix, Jones, Daniels, Burrow, and others certainly lost chunks of time...so, it ain't just him. Still, he needs to beef up and have all the muscle and bone builders in his meals that he can stomach.

Regardless what level of inevitable veteran QB comes in, JJM has to reassess every aspect of his game to stay in the NFL, not just on the Vikings. That said, it's true of most QBs every offseason. Jeno Smith went from resurgent to regurgitation. Goff just reminded everyone what stats look like without deep January games. Mahomes just showed everyone what the "top QB" looks like when he's not on a top team. He joins Jones and Penix in spending much of the offseason unable to physically work on much.

Maybe what occurs to me most is that Mullens, who's years older, is infamous for gunslinging his way into 4 pick games and plays that are equal parts wincing and cheering. Mahomes is basically a constant MVP candidate, but spends games as an INT dispenser every season. Allen is an obvious all-pro that is also his team's worst enemy when his mind fractures....


...so, when I don't only think about JJM, things seem less specifically bleak.

[MaroonBells]

Well, he's got most of Winter, all of Spring and most of Summer to see what worked, didn't work, and kinda worked in everything about his first (playing) season in the NFL.

He should also remind himself that Mahomes, Penix, Jones, Daniels, Burrow, and others certainly lost chunks of time...so, it ain't just him. Still, he needs to beef up and have all the muscle and bone builders in his meals that he can stomach.

Regardless what level of inevitable veteran QB comes in, JJM has to reassess every aspect of his game to stay in the NFL, not just on the Vikings. That said, it's true of most QBs every offseason. Jeno Smith went from resurgent to regurgitation. Goff just reminded everyone what stats look like without deep January games. Mahomes just showed everyone what the "top QB" looks like when he's not on a top team. He joins Jones and Penix in spending much of the offseason unable to physically work on much.

Maybe what occurs to me most is that Mullens, who's years older, is infamous for gunslinging his way into 4 pick games and plays that are equal parts wincing and cheering. Mahomes is basically a constant MVP candidate, but spends games as an INT dispenser every season. Allen is an obvious all-pro that is also his team's worst enemy when his mind fractures....


...so, when I don't only think about JJM, things seem less specifically bleak.

I'm convinced that even with someone like Nick Mullens this team is in the playoffs.

[Vikesrock]

I think everyone forgets, he is 22 years old. He is still a kid really. When I was 22, I was in the military, trying to be Mr. Badass. I wanted to fight everyone and everything. I thought that chicks totally wanted that. Of course he has a 10 cent head in an adult world.

I think that baby is going to mature him up. I still believe have patience, it will come around, IF he can stay healthy. To me the only remaining concern is if he can actually play a season. I can see a Joe Burrow within him, but he needs to PLAY. If he can't stay healthy, none of it matters, but if he does...LETS GO!

[greediron]

Pretty interesting for someone like Leber who works for the Vikes and is always very pro Viking to blast JJM publicly.  I don't think he says this unless there is a lot more behind it that he knows overall about his season. 

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/onsi/news...ckers-game

I agree with Leber on the timing of him pulling himself out mid-drive, but the towel and holding his hand behind his back made sense.  He was slapping hands with everyone, so he was reminding himself and others and simply protecting himself from hurting the hand worse.

[Magnus]

I'm convinced that even with someone like Nick Mullens this team is in the playoffs.

I agree, I was recently telling someone the same thing. If the Vikings would have known from the start Daniel Jones was leaving, they may have kept Mullens around or got a better back up QB.