Cowherd Unconvinced on JJ
Nothing new here, but he's just wrong on a couple points.
Why did the Vikings keep flirting with other QBs? Because they've built a Super Bowl roster and they wanted a top-level backup behind their young QB. None of Jones, Darnold or Rodgers were going to be handed the starting job without a competition with JJ, including Rodgers. Vikings were willing to spend a lot of money on their QB1b, but all three knew they were more likely to start elsewhere.
Cowherd's partner there says JJ's got a big arm. Cowherd's response is "he doesn't...go read the scouting reports" instead of go watch the film. If I had a dollar for every time a scouting report was not just wrong but stated the opposite of the truth, I could retire. People see "game manager" and think every QB who has that label in college has "game manager" characteristics. That is not the case with JJ. He's a dangerous runner and his 61 velo at the combine shows his arm is one of the strongest in the NFL. He can struggle with deep accuracy, but it has nothing to do with arm strength.
"Why does Minnesota keep flirting with other quarterbacks?”@colincowherd and @jasonrmcintyre react to reports of J.J. McCarthy struggling at Vikings OTAs. pic.twitter.com/wkpoxZv8y2
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 11, 2025
Cowherd clearly has an agenda here. He likes making declarative, controversial statements. If he's right, he looks smart. If he's wrong, he gets the opportunity to admit it and sound magnanimous. To his credit, he does this a lot.
Another thing he mentions is that McCarthy threw an interception in three straight practices. One interception per, as if that's a big red flag, or even news. Personally, I think that's a good pace. I think KOC would agree that a QB should be be testing his limits in these early practices. What JJ hasn't done, at least not yet, is throw multiple interceptions in a practice, like we've seen from several other QBs this spring.
Just another uninformed opinion from someone who knows less about JJM than most who post on this board! He mentions physical traits when the majority of what makes a great QB is mental. Joe Montana did not have a cannon but was accurate and very intelligent. Joe had a great surround as well. JJM has a strong and accurate arm with a great surround as well. Not comparing a virtual rookie to one of the greatest to ever play, but the potential is there.
Theoretically, Cowherd has to pretend to be an expert on EVERY one of the 32 NFL teams, all of the NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA (since Caitlin Clark), as well as college sports. If he doesn't take a contrarian opinion daily, he doesn't get clicks, he doesn't get eyeballs, he doesn't get a paycheck. And even if he has a 1% chance of being right, as the old saying goes, "it COULD happen". He makes news by being contrarian. Dog bites man is not news. Man bites dog is news.
Cowherd can say what he likes, because the kid's NFL play is still pure speculation. That said, I'm expecting JJM, KOC, and the rest of the cast to feed him a Costco-sized bag of crow by midseason.
KOC, JJM, Flores...make a good plan, or you'll be following Kwesi....
Where Colin was wrong............
Montana Tom wrote:
Theoretically, Cowherd has to pretend to be an expert on EVERY one of the 32 NFL teams, all of the NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA (since Caitlin Clark), as well as college sports. If he doesn't take a contrarian opinion daily, he doesn't get clicks, he doesn't get eyeballs, he doesn't get a paycheck. And even if he has a 1% chance of being right, as the old saying goes, "it COULD happen". He makes news by being contrarian. Dog bites man is not news. Man bites dog is news.
People take talking heads way too seriously. His job is to fill time, and get eyeballs on his content. There are zero people on this earth that can consistently fill his timeslot with knowledgeable content. And even if that person existed, most of us are dumb asses, and we're going to rage click on things that piss us off or are ridiculous homer takes, and ignore rational takes.
What he said literally worked the way it was supposed to. Here we are talking about it. We chose that this is what we want more of.
First thing I am wondering is when did Kyler Murray, Herbert and Stroud become benchmark QBs in this league? Want to poke holes in a QB, you can have a field day with those 3. The other thing that is a complete joke is has he seen JJ throw the ball, seen his metrics from the combine or talk to anyone in the organization regarding his arm strength, which every player, coach and media member has stated it is elite without question. And mentioning his interception in practice for the 3rd day in a row makes him look like such a moron, that is like questioning a MLB pitcher giving up a HR in a spring training game, you do not think these guys are out there trying some new things and experimenting, that is what practice is for, not for trying to make conservative passes, but to test your limits.
Also, his rant about the Vikes looking at other QBs demonstrates that he is not tied into the league at all and has no connections, otherwise he would know there was never any serious interest from the Vikes in Rodgers or any other QB. And if they didn't have confidence in JJ, either Darnold or Jones would be a Viking. Lost any kind of respect for this guy, just rambling on without any kind of facts or an ounce of knowledge.
“The people that know, know” -JJ McCarthy on his arm strength pic.twitter.com/iT6TFgyx4N
— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) June 12, 2025
...and just fyi, I looked up what Bob McGinn's anonymous scouts said about JJ. The only time his arm was mentioned was here:
His record was 27-1. “He’s better than Harbaugh was,” a fourth scout said. “It’s difficult to have a personality like Harbaugh but he might be close. He does some different things. Meditation, all this he does. He’s got feet. He’s at least a 4.5 guy. He’s got a strong arm. But everything about this guy is development. He won’t make as big an impact maybe as the three above him at first but he can overtake Caleb Williams and Maye. If you play for Jim Harbaugh and win a national championship, you’re good.”
Canthony wrote:
Talk about a dude that is going to eat a bag of dog shit here soon... Nothing he said is even accurate lolPS. Don't talk about my QB like that!
When he's proven wrong he absolutely will admit it. He literally has a daily segment discussing what he was right and wrong about. More in his profession should humble themselves like that.
Despite what the people getting their panties in a bunch think about the dude, he is one of the biggest names in sports media to constantly heap praise on MN. He's consistently spoken well of the team dating back to at least 2019.
I don't really listen to his radio show, it's super performative. His podcast wrapping of each week during the season is pretty solid. Less character and more his real feelings.
MaroonBells wrote:
Cowherd clearly has an agenda here. He likes making declarative, controversial statements. If he's right, he looks smart. If he's wrong, he gets the opportunity to admit it and sound magnanimous. To his credit, he does this a lot.Another thing he mentions is that McCarthy threw an interception in three straight practices. One interception per, as if that's a big red flag, or even news. Personally, I think that's a good pace. I think KOC would agree that a QB should be be testing his limits in these early practices. What JJ hasn't done, at least not yet, is throw multiple interceptions in a practice, like we've seen from several other QBs this spring.
And the bottom line, controversy generates attention. He is an attention whore and does mind sounding like an idiot to get it.
StickierBuns wrote:
....and stupid hype like this in June:Are we sure Daniel Jones isn't a great QB?
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) June 12, 2025
His only chance has been with a bad Giants team with Darius Slayton as his WR1 pic.twitter.com/emMoIAfq6tStupidly early, yes, but hey, if Jones turns into a quality starter this year after only a few months with the Whisperer, teams will be begging to send us a dozen 1st round picks for our coach. Not that we'd take it.
Dimes is the best QB on that Colts roster...I dont blame him at all for leaving here when he did.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
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