Just a gentle reminder....

[StickierBuns]

KAM getting canned is probably gonna be one more thing McCarthy has to overcome. Historically, QBs get a longer leash from the GM who drafted them than from his successor.

I still believe.

Yep, we are going to find out if JJ was KOC's guy or if he was just trying to make lemonade out of lemons.

[Vikergirl]

Not sure where he's lacking in either. In what way? This criticism makes no sense to me. There's certainly other things to be critical of, but these two?

If KOC thought JJM wasn't ready, how is he going to respond to that. Or if there is a division otherwise on which qb should have been picked, how is that dealt with. The whole nine thing is dumb as hell at this point. The taunting penalty was stupid, I get his excitement and enthusiasm but I can see where the ADHD is an asset and a hinderance for him. ADHD strengths can include energy and creativity. ADHD challenges can include difficulty with concentration and focus. He has had moments where he was able to channel that energy and creativity and that has helped him on the field. But the hypersensitivity could be an issue. He has had mental lapses (focus and concentration) and again that could be due to immaturity and learning on the job but it is something to consider. He was overthinking the part about mechanics and dumbing down the playbook for him. Part of it was learning on the job and finding what he was and was not ready for. He is a work in progress. KOC did not do him any favors at times either. We'll see if he can get his head and whether or not he succeeds. I want him to succeed but he has to take the criticism and get to work. Same goes for KOC, he has to take the criticism and accountability now. There is no one for him to hide behind. He needs to balance play calling more. Ideally give up play calling but that is not where he is at. Mental toughness can always be improved and should be. Also he has so much to catch up on. More growing pains on the way, he is young still. Thick skin because of the changes, the media is going to be less kind this season.

[IceRatz16]

If KOC thought JJM wasn't ready, how is he going to respond to that. Or if there is a division otherwise on which qb should have been picked, how is that dealt with. The whole nine thing is dumb as hell at this point. The taunting penalty was stupid, I get his excitement and enthusiasm but I can see where the ADHD is an asset and a hinderance for him. ADHD strengths can include energy and creativity. ADHD challenges can include difficulty with concentration and focus. He has had moments where he was able to channel that energy and creativity and that has helped him on the field. But the hypersensitivity could be an issue. He has had mental lapses (focus and concentration) and again that could be due to immaturity and learning on the job but it is something to consider. He was overthinking the part about mechanics and dumbing down the playbook for him. Part of it was learning on the job and finding what he was and was not ready for. He is a work in progress. KOC did not do him any favors at times either. We'll see if he can get his head and whether or not he succeeds. I want him to succeed but he has to take the criticism and get to work. Same goes for KOC, he has to take the criticism and accountability now. There is no one for him to hide behind. He needs to balance play calling more. Ideally give up play calling but that is not where he is at. Mental toughness can always be improved and should be. Also he has so much to catch up on. More growing pains on the way, he is young still. Thick skin because of the changes, the media is going to be less kind this season.

A lot of this feels like over-analysis searching for a problem that isn’t really there.

The taunting flag was absurd.  We’ve watched QBs celebrate far more aggressively for years without penalties; Baker does it weekly.  McCarthy made a rare physical play and showed some emotion.  That’s not a character flaw, it’s competitiveness.

The whole “nine” thing is even more of a nothingburger.  Players have nicknames, alter egos, celebrations, this isn’t new.  Acting like it’s some red flag says more about fan hypersensitivity than McCarthy’s maturity.  By every account, he’s been professional, accountable, and composed with teammates and media.

As for “overthinking” and growing pains… yes.  He’s a rookie.  One who went more than 600 days without live football, stepped into a constantly shuffled offensive line, and was asked to adjust mechanics midseason.  That’s not a lack of toughness, that’s learning on the fly in the hardest position in sports.

He’s already shown he can win games, handle pressure, and lead a locker room.  Expecting polish instead of progression from a 22-year-old QB is unrealistic.

Criticism is fine. Turning normal rookie development into a psychological diagnosis or a referendum on his future isn’t.  Let the kid play, let him grow, and judge him on results, not vibes.  At some point this stops being analysis and starts being nitpicking because people are impatient.

[StickierBuns]

A lot of this feels like over-analysis searching for a problem that isn’t really there.

Criticism is fine. Turning normal rookie development into a psychological diagnosis or a referendum on his future isn’t.  Let the kid play, let him grow, and judge him on results, not vibes.  At some point this stops being analysis and starts being nitpicking because people are impatient.

This ^. I mean, it might be time for a few fans to breath the air if they are going this far into some kind of a reach for some kind of weird armchair psychoanalysis, lol. Good lord. 

---

If KOC thought JJM wasn't ready, how is he going to respond to that. Or if there is a division otherwise on which qb should have been picked, how is that dealt with. The whole nine thing is dumb as hell at this point. The taunting penalty was stupid, I get his excitement and enthusiasm but I can see where the ADHD is an asset and a hinderance for him. ADHD strengths can include energy and creativity. ADHD challenges can include difficulty with concentration and focus. He has had moments where he was able to channel that energy and creativity and that has helped him on the field. But the hypersensitivity could be an issue. He has had mental lapses (focus and concentration) and again that could be due to immaturity and learning on the job but it is something to consider. He was overthinking the part about mechanics and dumbing down the playbook for him. Part of it was learning on the job and finding what he was and was not ready for. He is a work in progress. KOC did not do him any favors at times either. We'll see if he can get his head and whether or not he succeeds. I want him to succeed but he has to take the criticism and get to work. Same goes for KOC, he has to take the criticism and accountability now. There is no one for him to hide behind. He needs to balance play calling more. Ideally give up play calling but that is not where he is at. Mental toughness can always be improved and should be. Also he has so much to catch up on. More growing pains on the way, he is young still. Thick skin because of the changes, the media is going to be less kind this season.

What? JMO, but slow your roll here, Dr. Phil. I think you are diving into the weeds that aren't there with the ADHD. And you think he's the only QB that is fiery? I mean, I don't have anything to add after IceRatz's post, it says it all...actually every fan should read it all in its entirety because its full of perspective. But some of you act like the team won 2 games last year. The projection here is a bit weird, JJ was 6-4 as a starter. Who's hiding? Certainly not KOC nor JJM, all I've read is them taking full responsibility.

[MaroonBells]

This ^. I mean, it might be time for a few fans to breath the air if they are going this far into some kind of a reach for some kind of weird armchair psychoanalysis, lol. Good lord. 

---

What? JMO, but slow your roll here, Dr. Phil. I think you are diving into the weeds that aren't there with the ADHD. And you think he's the only QB that is fiery? I mean, I don't have anything to add after IceRatz's post, it says it all...actually every fan should read it all in its entirety because its full of perspective. But some of you act like the team won 2 games last year. The projection here is a bit weird, JJ was 6-4 as a starter. Who's hiding? Certainly not KOC nor JJM, all I've read is them taking full responsibility.

I could be wrong, but I think Vikergirl does this professionally. I'm not going to get too far into his brain, but I do think his mental and emotional makeup is a big part of who he is...and isn't yet. 

The weight loss is the thing I keep coming back to. It was blamed on an inability to workout after surgery. Man, that just doesn't compute for me at all. He was said to have lost 25-30 lbs. One report suggested as much as 40 lbs. For a kid who weighs 219, this is unfathomable to me. And all because he missed a few months of leg days? I don't buy it, and I wonder if it might have had something to do with his history of depression. 

And now all the offseason upheaval on the team is just more shit he has to deal with. So likely more social media posts from JJ about ignoring the haters, which obviously means you're not ignoring them. Jim Rome placed most of the blame for Kwesi's dismissal on the shoulders of JJ McCarthy. Rome's a knob and this is an obvious oversimplification, but man I don't envy the kid and all he's having to go through.

[StickierBuns]

I could be wrong, but I think Vikergirl does this professionally. I'm not going to get too far into his brain, but I do think his mental and emotional makeup is a big part of who he is...and isn't yet. 

The weight loss is the thing I keep coming back to. It was blamed on an inability to workout after surgery. Man, that just doesn't compute for me at all. He was said to have lost 25-30 lbs. One report suggested as much as 40 lbs. For a kid who weighs 219, this is unfathomable to me. And all because he missed a few months of leg days? I don't buy it, and I wonder if it might have had something to do with his history of depression. 

And now all the offseason upheaval on the team is just more shit he has to deal with. So likely more social media posts from JJ about ignoring the haters, which obviously means you're not ignoring them. Jim Rome placed most of the blame for Kwesi's dismissal on the shoulders of JJ McCarthy. Rome's a knob and this is an obvious oversimplification, but man I don't envy the kid and all he's having to go through.

So I'll just say this, again JMO: its silly to say this about his 'mental and emotional' makeup....I guess I give up on this, lol. Everyone can believe whatever they'd like. 
But the whole line of thought on this.....IMO.....is really something. In any event, we'll find out soon about the QB position!

[JR44]

A lot of this feels like over-analysis searching for a problem that isn’t really there.

The taunting flag was absurd.  We’ve watched QBs celebrate far more aggressively for years without penalties; Baker does it weekly.  McCarthy made a rare physical play and showed some emotion.  That’s not a character flaw, it’s competitiveness.

The whole “nine” thing is even more of a nothingburger.  Players have nicknames, alter egos, celebrations, this isn’t new.  Acting like it’s some red flag says more about fan hypersensitivity than McCarthy’s maturity.  By every account, he’s been professional, accountable, and composed with teammates and media.

He did not celebrate, he showboated there is a huge difference.  It was a huge deal and he deserved the flag.  And the biggest issue of all is that he did it in practice and his coach told him never to do it again and he not only did it anyways, but he went on in an interview to brag about how KOC telling him not to do it made him want to do it even more and proceeded to laugh about it.  There is no NFL HC that is going to let that go and I guarantee KOC is not chalking that up to him being young.  

I also feel the nine thing is over the top and not a positive trait. There are players with alter egos, but they are typically defensive players, not the QB who is suppose to have his head in the game at all times and maintain a level headedness.

[purplefaithful]

I feel for McCarthy right now as well...

Snake bit is the only word I can come up with. My lord, I hope he's not glass or he wont last long in this league.

Plus (as others have noted) he just 22 years old. Despite being under the searing lights for years, that doesnt mean you're to handle such pressure well at such a young age.

Hope 2026 is the year the worm turns for him (and us fans.)

[IceRatz16]

He did not celebrate, he showboated there is a huge difference.  It was a huge deal and he deserved the flag.  And the biggest issue of all is that he did it in practice and his coach told him never to do it again and he not only did it anyways, but he went on in an interview to brag about how KOC telling him not to do it made him want to do it even more and proceeded to laugh about it.  There is no NFL HC that is going to let that go and I guarantee KOC is not chalking that up to him being young.  

I also feel the nine thing is over the top and not a positive trait. There are players with alter egos, but they are typically defensive players, not the QB who is suppose to have his head in the game at all times and maintain a level headedness.

You’re dramatically overstating this. That stiff-arm penalty is the one I was talking about; a QB making a grown-man play and reacting in the moment.  That call almost never gets made on QBs, especially when guys like Baker routinely jaw, bump facemasks, and chirp without consequence.  Pretending this is some clear-cut line the league enforces evenly just isn’t true.

As for the practice story, let’s stop rewriting it like KOC dropped a “do this again and you’re benched” ultimatum.  Coaches tell players all the time to rein things in during practice.  McCarthy laughing about it isn’t defiance, it’s a 22-year-old acknowledging emotion and competitiveness.  If KOC truly viewed it as a serious discipline issue, we wouldn’t be guessing, we’d know.

The “QB must be emotionless at all times” argument is outdated.  Brady screamed, Rodgers smirked and taunted, Baker lives in defenders’ heads, and Mahomes celebrates constantly.  Leadership isn’t about suppressing personality, it’s about channeling it.  Nothing McCarthy has done suggests he’s losing focus or command.

If a brief celebration after fooling an entire defense is suddenly a red flag, then yeah, the No Fun League is officially back.  This is being magnified because people are already looking for reasons to nitpick him, especially you.

Let the kid play football.  If this is the worst thing we’re worried about, we’re doing just fine.  This is manufactured outrage because some people already decided they don’t like him.

[StickierBuns]

You’re dramatically overstating this. That stiff-arm penalty is the one I was talking about; a QB making a grown-man play and reacting in the moment.  That call almost never gets made on QBs, especially when guys like Baker routinely jaw, bump facemasks, and chirp without consequence.  Pretending this is some clear-cut line the league enforces evenly just isn’t true.

As for the practice story, let’s stop rewriting it like KOC dropped a “do this again and you’re benched” ultimatum.  Coaches tell players all the time to rein things in during practice.  McCarthy laughing about it isn’t defiance, it’s a 22-year-old acknowledging emotion and competitiveness.  If KOC truly viewed it as a serious discipline issue, we wouldn’t be guessing, we’d know.

The “QB must be emotionless at all times” argument is outdated.  Brady screamed, Rodgers smirked and taunted, Baker lives in defenders’ heads, and Mahomes celebrates constantly.  Leadership isn’t about suppressing personality, it’s about channeling it.  Nothing McCarthy has done suggests he’s losing focus or command.

If a brief celebration after fooling an entire defense is suddenly a red flag, then yeah, the No Fun League is officially back.  This is being magnified because people are already looking for reasons to nitpick him, especially you.

Let the kid play football.  If this is the worst thing we’re worried about, we’re doing just fine.  This is manufactured outrage because some people already decided they don’t like him.

JR wanted to keep Uncle Sammy, so he's not a big JJM fan. And spot on: the manufactured outrage is because they don't like the kid, which I don't get but I've been around long enough to understand fans are going to fan. The 9 thing is SO overblown I can't even....but again, its content for the X-heads.