Spielman extended, Zimmer excited about Cousins with Kubiak

[MaroonBells]

The Vikings have extended the contract of GM Rick Spielman, owner Mark Wilf says (Twitter link via Chad Graff of The Athletic). Spielman, like head coach Mike Zimmer, is now under contract through the 2020 season.
The Vikings acquired and locked up much of their core under Spielman. Key players such as Danielle Hunter, quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook, wide receiver Adam Thielen, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, center Pat Elflein, linebacker Eric Kendricks, safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and defensive end Everson Griffen are all under contract through 2020 and beyond.
Spielman, 56, spent six years as the team’s vice president of player personnel before being promoted to GM in 2012. Since then, the team has seen its fair share of ups and downs, including last year’s disappointing 8-7-1 finish. Still, the talent is there, and the Vikings have the potential to contend in 2019.
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Mike Zimmer said he had a really interesting conversation with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday night about Kirk Cousins and explained how much the Shanahan influence in what Cousins will soon be working with under Gary Kubiak will help him elevate his game in Year 2. Bottom line, Zimmer said, "It’s games. That’s where he’s got to play better," but the offensive philosophy and terminology Cousins is already used to within this West Coast system is what he believes will help him make the jump. "He’s going to play good," Zimmer said. "This offense with Kubiak and Stefanski is going to be right down his alley. So I think this is going to be a really good fit for Kirk."

Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer4h ago

[Guest]

wheres the heart emoji . talking about the offense 

[Guest]

I like Zim's comments on our offensive direction. I love the idea of the QB being an offensive centerpiece from a playcalling standpoint. The QB should dictate everything you do; he shouldn't be a guy who is just out there trying to run your plays. We've got him for a couple more years, it's nice to know that our offense going forward will recognize and build off of his talents first and we won't handcuff him to "what we want to do." ... they're the same thing now it seems.

The sliver of doubt has been sowed though, on the flip side. Zim is saying flat out he needs to play better in games. While it may not be a secret he needs to play better I wonder how long he has left to impress the head coach. His comments will simply make it easier for us to be like "yea, he sucks!" if we're sitting 1-4 or something. 

[Guest]

I guess I see the point where you lock him up for a year if
he fixes the OLine and you can still easily fire him if he doesn’t.  Doesn’t seem super enthusiastic to only give
him an extra year, but I’m glad they didn’t lock him up long term as I really
think the OLine should be the basis for his extension.

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure Zim and Rick get the jest of it...

[Guest]

I’m still here... #SpielEmoji 

[Guest]

These sound like one year prove it deals to me. It feels more like 2019 better be special or there will be no 2020. As it should be really. I like both Rick and Mike. What they have accomplished pales the previous few regimes. However compare them to others in the league not our own preceding failures. Every other year being almost, is just not good enough. Not for what they have been given in comparison to their predecessors.

[Guest]

@suncoastvike said:
These sound like one year prove it deals to me. It feels more like 2019 better be special or there will be no 2020. As it should be really. I like both Rick and Mike. What they have accomplished pales the previous few regimes. However compare them to others in the league not our own preceding failures. Every other year being almost, is just not good enough. Not for what they have been given in comparison to their predecessors.

The organization went all in with Cousins: its do or die for them in 2019. The Wilfs said, 'what you need?', Spielman told them and now results are expected. Its that simple. 

[Guest]

@StickyBun said:

@suncoastvike said:
These sound like one year prove it deals to me. It feels more like 2019 better be special or there will be no 2020. As it should be really. I like both Rick and Mike. What they have accomplished pales the previous few regimes. However compare them to others in the league not our own preceding failures. Every other year being almost, is just not good enough. Not for what they have been given in comparison to their predecessors.

The organization went all in with Cousins: its do or die for them in 2019. The Wilfs said, 'what you need?', Spielman told them and now results are expected. Its that simple. 

Cousins was a huge piece. There's been more. Pushed through new state of the art stadium and practice facilities. Spent right up to the cap most years. The Wilfs can only spend their money. The results need to come from these two. Otherwise they will invest in others. 
Rick and Mike are not dumb. Both have been around enough to understand. This however doesn't make for an environment that fosters long-term team goals. That is my worry. You think Rick and Mike can afford to be thinking about what makes the team better in 2020?  We will always be a team chasing that one championship. True champions think about the next one and the next. Until we do get one, the team the owners and the fan base will be stuck in this cycle. I've been around long enough too.

[Guest]

@suncoastvike said:

@StickyBun said:

@suncoastvike said:
These sound like one year prove it deals to me. It feels more like 2019 better be special or there will be no 2020. As it should be really. I like both Rick and Mike. What they have accomplished pales the previous few regimes. However compare them to others in the league not our own preceding failures. Every other year being almost, is just not good enough. Not for what they have been given in comparison to their predecessors.

The organization went all in with Cousins: its do or die for them in 2019. The Wilfs said, 'what you need?', Spielman told them and now results are expected. Its that simple. 

Cousins was a huge piece. There's been more. Pushed through new state of the art stadium and practice facilities. Spent right up to the cap most years. The Wilfs can only spend their money. The results need to come from these two. Otherwise they will invest in others. 
Rick and Mike are not dumb. Both have been around enough to understand. This however doesn't make for an environment that fosters long-term team goals. That is my worry. You think Rick and Mike can afford to be thinking about what makes the team better in 2020?  We will always be a team chasing that one championship. True champions think about the next one and the next. Until we do get one, the team the owners and the fan base will be stuck in this cycle. I've been around long enough too.

But at the same time a dynasty starts with the first championship...or the first million is the hardest to make.  Maybe to much comfort makes them lose a bit of focus on the now,  like last year when the ignored what most fans saw and used Elmer's glue and tissue paper to address the weakest part of the team and then watched as a promising season was derailed as a result.