Are We Unserious?

[pattersaur]

If sensitive look away but I need to get this out.

Are the Vikings a joke? Before you roll your eyes--

We don't win Super Bowls and we don't really win that many playoff games either, but we don't suck. The culture and vibes are usually solid. The games are fun to attend. We aren't the Browns or the Raiders or the Falcons or the Jaguars, most years. For the vast majority of my almost 30 years as a fan, the Vikings haven't been a punching bag or a circus. In the last few months, it feels like that's changed.

What kind of team spends two years selling their fans on a QB as The Guy, and then pines him after 10 starts in which he went 6-4? I'm not sure it's ever been done.

What kind of team waits til a month after the season to fire a GM (who's record was 34-17 btw), and then spends the next week smearing the guy? And then decides we're gonna be the one team in the NFL that doesn't really need a GM for draft.

What kind of team churns through mid QBs like we do decade after decade and thinks one magic year everything will fall into place and we can become the 2002 Buccaneers? That is not a long term strategy, it's a prayer.

I love the NFL and the Vikings and even if we didn't win The Big One, we're a solid team for the most part. Teams don't see us on the schedule and smile. KO felt like a great hire and I still think he's a great coach. But he's a COACH. Not a GENERAL MANAGER. Maybe after 3 rings that can change but as much as I like O'Connell and still do-- objectively he has not earned the power he currently has, he's simply filling a void. A stopgap solution to a bigger problem.

WHY IS IT ALWAYS STOPGAP SOLUTIONS WITH THIS FREAKING TEAM.

Alright I guess that's enough. This board is great and I value the opinions shared here more than my own. There are many ways where Kyler works and we all have lots of fun this season. Darnold and Keenum and Favre did it. But even more than wins I'd like to see a team that's building something that indicates the future will exceed the past. I thought that's what we were doing with McCarthy. Now I'm kind of left reeling (clearly lol). As of Friday, March 13, 2026, I'm not seeing the longterm vision.

Gonna return to my armchair and watch this plays out.

[StickierBuns]

I hear you and you are totally valid in expressing your thoughts. Everyone should do that here....its what a message board is for, to read and partake if so inclined.

I guess you could look at it through this lens, and this comes from a fan who doesn't agree with this direction but will get behind it....do you think Seattle looks at Uncle Sammy as a stopgap solution that wasn't worth it? He was a talented bust that made good in the biggest way possible. That's the same line of thinking with Kyler Murray. I'm not comparing Darnold to Murray, different kinds of QBs, but situations similar with Murray not being a bust, but underperforming . The thinking from KOC is that Minnesota is talented enough to go far with above average QB play this year. The expectation is that the players, the coaches and the environment will elevate a latent talent like Kyler to new heights. And lets not forget that salary: $1.4 million. Its nothing as far as comp goes....almost irresistible for a confident guy like KOC.

So again: not that I agree with it as far as it applies to JJM and his development, but its not like I can't see the other side of the argument. And with the NFCN being so tight and open, I guess they are taking a swing. Just like anything else, its great if it works and very shitty if it doesn't.

[purplefaithful]

The list of QB's here is unfathomable...It's so common in MN that I had forgotten what it's like as a fan to start a rook QB last season.

I posted elsewhere earlier this am that I hate the rent a qb play and would rather go down the longer-term path of a good young qb to grow with. I would have been fine with JJM and G.Smith or someone of that ilk in the QB room. That makes more sense to me than Murray at times.

I also understand how the Vikings may have been handed a BIG GIFT from the football gods. Darnold, Dimes and now Murray? I mean u cant make it up

Here is the flip side to me -- and that is we are about to re-live a 2009 scenario in 26 - hopefully with a happier ending.

Hey, it's possible? And yah, I know 2010 redux is possible too for all the negative eyores reaching for their keyboards.

Hoping for the best, we aint getting any younger...

[supafreak84]

It's the Wilfs, bottom line...it's the Wilfs. They have been the one constant over the last 21 years of ineptitude and it has to do with their unrealistic philosophies, running the organization like fans without having an understanding of how the league works, competitive rebuilds, triangles of authority, and the unrelenting waves of nonsense spearheading by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb never ends. That may chide the hides of some...but it's the absolute truth.

[Vikesrock]

It's the Wilfs, bottom line...it's the Wilfs. They have been the one constant over the last 21 years of ineptitude and it has to do with their unrealistic philosophies, running the organization like fans without having an understanding of how the league works, competitive rebuilds, triangles of authority, and the unrelenting waves of nonsense spearheading by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb never ends. That may chide the hides of some...but it's the absolute truth.

I contemplated a couple of times dropping my anger in here on this.  Supa is right, except, we were a shitshow prior to the Wilfs as well.  From Max Winters; yeah at least they made some Super Bowls, to Pohlad, Mike Lynn and the gang of ten, to McCombs and now Wilf.  Hell even the two failed sales in there to Tom Clancy and Reggie Fowler were a complete disaster.

I just can't put my finger on it.  Is there something in the water over there in Minneapolis?  Why do we KEEP doing the same damned thing?  These people have made billions of dollars, and they can't figure this out?  

Signing Murray has done one thing.  It has prevented the Vikings from winning a Super Bowl for at least 3 years.  We now stunt the growth of JJM, and worse yet, we have 1 year to make a decision on his 5th year.  So now wtf do we do?  We go in to next offseason with more QB horseshit.  Murray got the no tag provision in place, so even if somehow he was a Super Bowl worthy QB, you won't get to keep him.   Someone will pay him.  But more so, what if Murray plays so-so?  Now do you commit what will be probably 55 million to him?  Do you keep JJM on a 5th year?  You have essentially screwed yourself on picking one of the highly rated QB's out of the draft in 27.  And here we are sitting here wondering wtf happened...AGAIN. 

Yeah, I am angry, disappointed and distraught over this.  Honestly, at this point, I hope KOC rides Murray right out the door and goes with him at this point.  Kiss my ass Vikings, I have been a fan since the Miracle in the Met, it's going to be another hard year to stomach.

[JimmyinSD]

in case any of you Chuckleheads need a reminder of what we signed up for as fans of this team.....

[Waterboy]

It's the Wilfs, bottom line...it's the Wilfs. They have been the one constant over the last 21 years of ineptitude and it has to do with their unrealistic philosophies, running the organization like fans without having an understanding of how the league works, competitive rebuilds, triangles of authority, and the unrelenting waves of nonsense spearheading by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb never ends. That may chide the hides of some...but it's the absolute truth.

They are the most well-intentioned owners in the league. Their problem is they need someone on site (a strong someone) to GM this team.  They are more than willing to resource the team but they're clueless as to what's happening day to day.  Judd is annoying, but he's right on the spot with that analysis.

[purplefaithful]

I contemplated a couple of times dropping my anger in here on this.  Supa is right, except, we were a shitshow prior to the Wilfs as well.  From Max Winters; yeah at least they made some Super Bowls, to Pohlad, Mike Lynn and the gang of ten, to McCombs and now Wilf.  Hell even the two failed sales in there to Tom Clancy and Reggie Fowler were a complete disaster.

Pohlad???

Things went off the rails later in his tenure, but the golden years were under Winter...

I still relish the 60/70's when this team was winning with Grant/Finks, a perennial division winner, winning BIG NFCCG's and getting to super-bowls. 

Y'all know the curse Hunt/AFC put on the Vikings back in 60/61 right?

[supafreak84]

I contemplated a couple of times dropping my anger in here on this.  Supa is right, except, we were a shitshow prior to the Wilfs as well.  From Max Winters; yeah at least they made some Super Bowls, to Pohlad, Mike Lynn and the gang of ten, to McCombs and now Wilf.  Hell even the two failed sales in there to Tom Clancy and Reggie Fowler were a complete disaster.

I just can't put my finger on it.  Is there something in the water over there in Minneapolis?  Why do we KEEP doing the same damned thing?  These people have made billions of dollars, and they can't figure this out?  

Signing Murray has done one thing.  It has prevented the Vikings from winning a Super Bowl for at least 3 years.  We now stunt the growth of JJM, and worse yet, we have 1 year to make a decision on his 5th year.  So now wtf do we do?  We go in to next offseason with more QB horseshit.  Murray got the no tag provision in place, so even if somehow he was a Super Bowl worthy QB, you won't get to keep him.   Someone will pay him.  But more so, what if Murray plays so-so?  Now do you commit what will be probably 55 million to him?  Do you keep JJM on a 5th year?  You have essentially screwed yourself on picking one of the highly rated QB's out of the draft in 27.  And here we are sitting here wondering wtf happened...AGAIN. 

Yeah, I am angry, disappointed and distraught over this.  Honestly, at this point, I hope KOC rides Murray right out the door and goes with him at this point.  Kiss my ass Vikings, I have been a fan since the Miracle in the Met, it's going to be another hard year to stomach.

Mediocrity is the Wilf way. They'd rather do everything in their power to stay mediocre then eat a shitburger season or two while the team resets to make another run. Sometimes that's just what you have to do and it's why we have been one of the better regular season teams, but are also one of the worst when it comes to postseason success. I'm tired of the carousel at quarterback and would rather eat a bad season as a potential consequence of finding out if McCarthy can be our long term starter, but oh no, if this franchise can find a way to screw things up, they will. I'm right there with you though in my frustrations with this organization and how it's been run. I'd be more than good seeing OConnell's fraudulent ass sent packing at seasons end and if the Wilfs sold the team and decided to nap full time in New Jersey, I'd celebrate like we just won the Super Bowl.

[pattersaur]

It's the Wilfs, bottom line...it's the Wilfs. They have been the one constant over the last 21 years of ineptitude and it has to do with their unrealistic philosophies, running the organization like fans without having an understanding of how the league works, competitive rebuilds, triangles of authority, and the unrelenting waves of nonsense spearheading by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb never ends. That may chide the hides of some...but it's the absolute truth.

Consciously or otherwise I've resisted the "Blame ownership!" temptation because it's akin to yelling at a cloud. I mean, all of this is, but going after the owners REALLY is because there's an almost 0% chance of anything changing in that regard. At least with staff and players you have some turnover. If we conclude that the Wilfs are the problem then what hope do we have left? Knicks fans have wanted Dolan to sell for years and years but the perennial clown show continues. So while you might be right, I have to continue to believe they'll figure it out. Because the other option is too grim to entertain.