Birdies releasing Kirko...

No no no no no no no no no before anyone suggests we bring him back. Done with that mediocre experiment. Maybe for the league min.

SurfnRide wrote:
No no no no no no no no no before anyone suggests we bring him back.  Done with that mediocre experiment.  Maybe for the league min.

He was top 2 in both yards and TDs when his knee went, and he set records with JJ.

The "mediocrity" was more commonly with an interior o-line that was consistently awful (sound familiar?) and a defense that was rated in the 30s for 3 of those seasons.

If he can accept a likely back role/salary, he already knows the system and many of the players...so...what's the problem?

Am I crazy about the idea? No. But compared to last year it would be less of a trainwreck.

Zanary wrote:

He was top 2 in both yards and TDs when his knee went, and he set records with JJ.

The "mediocrity" was more commonly with an interior o-line that was consistently awful (sound familiar?) and a defense that was rated in the 30s for 3 of those seasons.

If he can accept a likely back role/salary, he already knows the system and many of the players...so...what's the problem?

There is no problem. He's definitely someone who should be in the running, and likely near the top. People hate this or that idea "because he hasn't won a Super Bowl" or "we already tried that" or "he's too old" or "he doesn't fit our offense" or "he doesn't fit our culture." 

To that I say, all QBs in your 20s who've won a Super Bowl, haven't played for us before, and who fit our offense and culture, please take one step forward.

Last year he would have been the ideal fit for the backup in terms of what we were looking for. However, I think it is a much different situation this year, I think we are looking at someone who can compete for the starting job. If JJM does not turn out to be the guy for us this year, I think it is another year .500 year of football if we have to depend on Kirk starting. Think he would be great to fill in for a game or two, but not more than that.

He is a good conservative counterbalance to KOC's reckless yolo instincts.  Together they won 13 games.  Flores is here to pick up the pieces on D.  It will get the Wilfs their coveted 1st round playoff appearance.  They'll be able to deal JJM away for a bag of peanuts now that the it's-all-Kwesi's-fault narrative is in place, ride with Kirko for a year or two, and draft another kid from what is allegedly a stocked 2027 draft class.

What's not to like? ;)

It’s time for a Kirko watch at the Lakeville Pizza Ranch…!  :P

RS_Express wrote:
Am I crazy about the idea? No.  But compared to last year it would be less of a trainwreck.

His last year here was still substantially a trainwreck with Cousins going 4-4 and the season ending up at 7-10 with 4 total QBs being QB whispered and all 4 of them not being on the team a year later.

I get your point though.

Kentis wrote:
It’s time for a Kirko watch at the Lakeville Pizza Ranch…!  :P

MaroonBells wrote:

There is no problem. He's definitely someone who should be in the running, and likely near the top. People hate this or that idea "because he hasn't won a Super Bowl" or "we already tried that" or "he's too old" or "he doesn't fit our offense" or "he doesn't fit our culture." 

To that I say, all QBs in your 20s who've won a Super Bowl, haven't played for us before, and who fit our offense and culture, please take one step forward.

If he could have taken a step forward he wouldn't have gotten hit so much and the OL wouldn't have  looked as bad.  Between kirks total lack of mobility to extend plays,  and KOC'S play designs,  its a disaster plan.  Think about how many hits Wentz took,  kirk is less mobile..

JimmyinSD wrote:

If he could have taken a step forward he wouldn't have gotten hit so much and the OL wouldn't have  looked as bad.  Between kirks total lack of mobility to extend plays,  and KOC'S play designs,  its a disaster plan.  Think about how many hits Wentz took,  kirk is less mobile..

He's also a much, MUCH better quarterback...or at least he was 2 years ago. And therein lies my concern with him. He was OK in Atlanta, but not up to his standards. Is he washed? Or would he once again look fantastic in this offense? Dunno, but it's a give and take. There is no perfect option.

Personally I think Derek Carrwashed is somehow less washed than Kirk and doesn't come with the same baggage. Sticking with Carr as my pick to backup JJM.

If the team is truly done with McCarthy and they're bringing someone in with hope that they start the entire season, then they should be aiming higher than either Carr or Kirk.

Really nice signing of Kirk by Atlanta, by the way. Very well thought out and executed all around. Money well spent.

I would prefer Kirk to many of the options out there. Knows the offense, if our line stabilizes, he would be a good fit. A few years removed from last success with us, but certainly much better than a 5 years washed out Wilson or someone like Murray.

JimmyinSD wrote:

If he could have taken a step forward he wouldn't have gotten hit so much and the OL wouldn't have  looked as bad.  Between kirks total lack of mobility to extend plays,  and KOC'S play designs,  its a disaster plan.  Think about how many hits Wentz took,  kirk is less mobile..

Ironically, as it was the IOL that sucked worst, that "step forward" was usually full of 350 lb opponents.

Zanary wrote:

Ironically, as it was the IOL that sucked worst, that "step forward" was usually full of 350 lb opponents.

My wording was intentional,   his inability/unwillingness to move around at all caused as many sacks as the IOL,  likely more,  and KOCs play calling exasperated the situation by causing him/ and pretty much every QB,  to hold the ball to long in most instances.

Most QBs will step up in the pocket under pressure,  KCs patented pocket statue then turtle move allowed for a lot of easy hots and sacks that the line took blame for.  They werent without blame,  but KC deserved his share as well.   I say no to the kc 2.0 experiment.

StickierBuns wrote:

I've said for a while that Kirk and Murray will both be released. No one is taking on those deals.

Cons on Kirko:
-Less mobile (was never very mobile before Achilles injury)
-Did not excel in Atlanta
-Has won only one playoff game (2020) against 4 playoff losses; not a clutch winner
-Might not accept a backup/mentoring role

Pros on Kirko:
-Knows the KO system and playbook
-Knows our WRs and had great chemistry
-Knows the Minnesota culture
-Might accept a backup/mentoring role for JJM

Bottom line...it's a tossup, a total gamble.
In a perfect world, IF IF IF we opted for this option, the best possible situation is that he holds a clipboard the entire season.

JimmyinSD wrote:

My wording was intentional,   his inability/unwillingness to move around at all caused as many sacks as the IOL,  likely more,  and KOCs play calling exasperated the situation by causing him/ and pretty much every QB,  to hold the ball to long in most instances.

Most QBs will step up in the pocket under pressure,  KCs patented pocket statue then turtle move allowed for a lot of easy hots and sacks that the line took blame for.  They werent without blame,  but KC deserved his share as well.   I say no to the kc 2.0 experiment.

I repeat that the step up was usually toward abuse, as that's where our line was worst. I don't know a single QB that does well when A gap pressure is essentially guaranteed, and I've also never seen a team so unable to fix a problem for so many years.

At this point, I see Kirk as having incredible upside IF he can take the rank/money demotion. That said, I think a repaired Wentz with a full offseason could still be a great possibility, much better than Murray (who, I think, is essentially done) and Rogers (whose long ball arm seems also to be done, plus I never want to see him in purple). I don't see a huge move for Burrow or Jackson happening, and...yeah, the potential list of backups/"Challengers" is muddy at best.

Zanary wrote:

I repeat that the step up was usually toward abuse, as that's where our line was worst. I don't know a single QB that does well when A gap pressure is essentially guaranteed, and I've also never seen a team so unable to fix a problem for so many years.

At this point, I see Kirk as having incredible upside IF he can take the rank/money demotion. That said, I think a repaired Wentz with a full offseason could still be a great possibility, much better than Murray (who, I think, is essentially done) and Rogers (whose long ball arm seems also to be done, plus I never want to see him in purple). I don't see a huge move for Burrow or Jackson happening, and...yeah, the potential list of backups/"Challengers" is muddy at best.

Not usually....that implies failure more than success and as much as I bagged on GB,  there wasn't that much failure in that front 3,  fact is under KOC our OL has looked largely over matched and a fair bit of that is on the QB that can't move a pocket and a play designer that is looking to hurt teams deep/ intermediate before just keeping the chains moving.  Trust me,  if I could justify putting this on the IOL I would,  but credit where credit is due also means blame where blame is due and KC never has done his OL any favors.  Never.