Game thoughts

purplefaithful wrote:
McCarthy false starts ‘Griddy’

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips commended quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s pocket presence to buy time by stepping up and finding throwing lanes downfield. But he wasn’t as big of a fan of McCarthy’s “Griddy” touchdown celebration during a 1-yard run in the second quarter. McCarthy swung the ball by his ankles as he crossed the goal line. McCarthy said after the game he had done the dance in practice and was told not to do it during the game.

“As coaches, it doesn’t matter what the player or position,” Phillips said, “we want them to just cross the goal line first and then celebrate; do your thing. There’s been examples this year of guys taking the ball from a tucked position and starting to put the ball over the goal line and fumbling.”

I don't get the angst over this. They have full on group skits after scores or interceptions in the league now. Who cares if McCarthy griddy'd across the goal line. That kids been through so much shit this year, he's entitled to show a little excitement and exuberance. I know I loved to see it

supafreak84 wrote:

I don't get the angst over this. They have full on group skits after scores or interceptions in the league now. Who cares if McCarthy griddy'd across the goal line. That kids been through so much shit this year, he's entitled to show a little excitement and exuberance. I know I loved to see it

I agree. For real

supafreak84 wrote:

I don't get the angst over this. They have full on group skits after scores or interceptions in the league now. Who cares if McCarthy griddy'd across the goal line. That kids been through so much shit this year, he's entitled to show a little excitement and exuberance. I know I loved to see it

If there's one thing most fans love to hate, it's when players celebrate before crossing the line.  If you want to get labeled a dumbass for all football eternity, the fastest way is to celebrate before the chickens have hatched and to screw it up and have it bite you in the ass.

I also was fine with it, but if he fumbled it out of the endzone or something, that would have erased a large chunk of the goodwill he's acquired.

medaille wrote:

If there's one thing most fans love to hate, it's when players celebrate before crossing the line.  If you want to get labeled a dumbass for all football eternity, the fastest way is to celebrate before the chickens have hatched and to screw it up and have it bite you in the ass.

I also was fine with it, but if he fumbled it out of the endzone or something, that would have erased a large chunk of the goodwill he's acquired.

Agreed.  I am not going to come down hard on JJ for it, but would have been smarter to do it after he was across the line.  I think Jefferson did his first griddy before he crossed the line as well.  And he acknowledged that wasn't smart and hasn't done that again.    Dance all you want once the TD is scored.

I watch JJ with as much apprehension as I do my own son playing sports. I didn't have a huge problem with it at the time, but man, if that ball hit his knee or just slipped out of his grip, bounced off the turf with JJ crawling after it, butt in the air, looking like a total buffoon, yeah I worry about shit like that sometimes. Same with "9." I'll be happy if I never see that face again.

StickierBuns wrote:

Again, IMO I don't get the angst over any of this. The 9 thing is so overblown, lol. You are talking about hypotheticals here and I'm trying to remember the last time a guy was as wide open as JJ was on that TD run ever mess up by fumbling the ball doing anything. Never? I've seen guys drop the ball when they thought they crossed the goal line, but fumble it because they did a small move like the mini-Griddy? I mean JJ high fives all the first responders in Dallas and its 'performative' to some online?

You're just set up to fail with social media and everyone having an 'opinion'. Didn't hear anyone complaining after Jefferson did this before scoring...I mean he moved the ball up and down here, swinging it before crossing the goal line. JJM just held it in front of him. Literally no one ever said anything about this and its WAY more egregious. Just pointing it out.

This is one of my all-time favorite moments as a Vikings fan. I was never really into celebrations as I always preferred the Barry Sanders approach, or even early Moss, where you just hand the ball to the ref and move on. But for some reason, this one completely changed things for me. It was pure poetry in motion.

Maybe it was seeing my youngest son jump up in awe and immediately break into an almost perfect Griddy, while my wife couldn’t stop smiling. Maybe it was watching the entire league suddenly take notice of Jefferson and the Vikings, turning that celebration into a worldwide phenomenon. Or maybe it’s simply because it puts a smile on my face every single time.

Even now, whenever Jefferson scores, I make sure my wife is watching, because the way her face lights up never gets old, and neither does the moment.

StickierBuns wrote:

Again, IMO I don't get the angst over any of this. The 9 thing is so overblown, lol. You are talking about hypotheticals here and I'm trying to remember the last time a guy was as wide open as JJ was on that TD run ever mess up by fumbling the ball doing anything. Never? I've seen guys drop the ball when they thought they crossed the goal line, but fumble it because they did a small move like the mini-Griddy? I mean JJ high fives all the first responders in Dallas and its 'performative' to some online?

You're just set up to fail with social media and everyone having an 'opinion'. Didn't hear anyone complaining after Jefferson did this before scoring...I mean he moved the ball up and down here, swinging it before crossing the goal line. JJM just held it in front of him. Literally no one ever said anything about this and its WAY more egregious. Just pointing it out.

StickierBuns wrote:

...and he should, because this was way worse than what JJ did, but I don't remember him getting any flak over this, at all. JJM stuck the ball out in front of him at like the 5 and waltzed in. Its a nothing burger here. But again, its just my opinion.

I don't really care either. But IMO, ya celebrate once you are in the endzone.  That is what Jefferson basically said about himself as well.

greediron wrote:

I think part of it is the inexperienced QB.  Teams are rolling lots of coverage his way, so his windows are pretty tight.  Darnold and Cousins were able to read the D and make them pay for the focus on Jefferson, so it was tougher for a D to do it all the time.  If JJ can start hitting Addison, Hock, Nailor, it will open the game up for Jefferson too.

^^^^this

I cut the kid some slack on this one, he has been knocked around pretty good after his flashy start, but who was it that said "act like you've been there before and that you are going to be back" I like that one. If he can stack solid performances for a few years and wants to show boat once in a while... fuck it, but until then he has a lot to prove before grandstanding on guys that have made their bones. JMO, dont really care either way, but dont cry when the chips are falling the other way for him either.

StickierBuns wrote:

Now this is just way more to the point for the fans that don't like it but don't want to admit it: JJM hasn't 'proven' anything yet so he shouldn't be doing it. Why? Are his hands more slippery than Jefferson's because he's played only 8 games? This is why I bring up the curmudgeon factor sometimes here, not sure what paying some kind of imaginary dues does to make anything legit or more acceptable. 

If you don't like players that do this kind of thing, that's one thing. But to say he needs to prove something first and then its ok is goofy.

I just think It's better to have a little in the bank before you go on a spending spree.  This isn't an old guy thing,  its how I was coached from a kid up,  act like youve been there before.  if a guy later in his career wants to risk being the fool,  thats one thing,  but somebody doing it that hasn't accomplished shit...that can become something bigger and end up defining a career.  I would prefer they all just hand the ball to the ref and get on with it,  ( except Josh Oliver,  his spikes set off seismographs)  the funny celebrations were ok,  but the mugging for the camera and flashing hand gestures is just stupid, especially when they sprint 50 yards to do it,  but then run out of gas on a play in the next series.

Like I said,  I didnt really care either way when he did it,  but had it gone wrong I would have been seriously pissed,  and they do go wrong once in a while,  so why risk it,  also early celebrations are more like taunting and why create fuel for the opposition?  

You've kind used the shit out of curmudgeon, might try a new word for a while,  that one is getting kind of losing its impact. :P

X-rays negative on JJ McCarthy's hand per Kevin O'Connell.

Short week for the Lions, but there might be a chance his season isn't over.

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) December 21, 2025