Anyone think JJ McCarthy...

JJM's known that competition was coming since before his last press conference, so none of this recent babble is news. Kyler has been unimpressive for years, and no amount of "QB Whispering" will add height or endurance to Murray...plus, the long pass dynamics of KOC's offense might be a serious problem for a guy who's undersized among modern QBs.

Even Wilson's slightly taller, and (like Darnold) got a ring on a Seattle team with a vicious, young defense and a genuine "Beast Mode" rushing attack.

If Murray gets the call and is every on the field for the Vikings, I'll cheer for him...but, I've never been very impressed and he wouldn't be my first or second choice.

Vikergirl wrote:
I don't see JJM doing that, he wants to prove himself

I don’t think this has anything to do with JJ not wanting to prove himself or face a challenge. In fact I don’t think this affects his confidence in himself one bit. 

What I am saying is his confidence in this organization having his back will evaporate the second the ink dries on that contract. The Vikings will in essence be telling him “we do not believe in you, your development, or your ability to improve this offseason”. 

Maybe he doesn’t ask for a release, but I can see him asking to be traded. He’ll prove himself somewhere he’s “wanted”

CFIAvike wrote:

I don’t think this has anything to do with JJ not wanting to prove himself or face a challenge. In fact I don’t think this affects his confidence in himself one bit. 

What I am saying is his confidence in this organization will evaporate the second the ink dries on that contract. The Vikings will in essence be telling him “we do not believe in you, your development, or your ability to improve this offseason”. 

Maybe he doesn’t ask for a release, but I can see him asking to be traded. He’ll prove himself somewhere he’s “wanted”

All these assumptions don't mean anything...JJ knew competition was coming and should welcome it.  Murray will probably be here one year and then move on hoping to resurrect his career, going after the big money which won't be in Minnesota.  JJ is the current future for the Vikings.  Let's not overly read into it that much.

CFIAvike wrote:
What I am saying is his confidence in this organization having his back will evaporate the second the ink dries on that contract. The Vikings will in essence be telling him “we do not believe in you, your development, or your ability to improve this offseason”. 

Maybe he doesn’t ask for a release, but I can see him asking to be traded. He’ll prove himself somewhere he’s “wanted”

They let go of their pro bowl QB who led them to 14-3, who went on to win a Super Bowl so they could give job to JJM.
Also let go of another legit starter to give JJM the job.
Did not bring in Rodgers who was begging to come here to give JJM the job.
They spent their 1st rounder on a guard and spent heavily on another guard and center to give JJM the best OL possible. 
They brought in a low level backup so there was absolutely no QB competition. 

So tell me how they have not made JJM feel wanted?  You act like they have treated him horribly.  They have done everything to help him succeed. He has played in 10 games of 34 in two years, when he has played he has been incredibly inconsistent.  They are bringing in a guy for the vet minimum on a one year deal, no one has given up on him.  They deservedly are bringing in insurance to protect themselves.  I guarantee JJM is accepting the challenge and not sitting home overreacting about it.

JR44 wrote:

They let go of their pro bowl QB who led them to 14-3, who went on to win a Super Bowl so they could give job to JJM.
Also let go of another legit starter to give JJM the job.
Did not bring in Rodgers who was begging to come here to give JJM the job.
They spent their 1st rounder on a guard and spent heavily on another guard and center to give JJM the best OL possible. 
They brought in a low level backup so there was absolutely no QB competition. 

So tell me how they have not made JJM feel wanted?  You act like they have treated him horribly.  They have done everything to help him succeed. He has played in 10 games of 34 in two years, when he has played he has been incredibly inconsistent.  His HC has been visibly frustrated with his development.  Do you expect for them to just hand him the job for another year and take the chance to repeating last year?   They are bringing in a guy for the vet minimum on a one year deal, no one has given up on him.  They deservedly are bringing in insurance to protect themselves.  I guarantee JJM is accepting the challenge and not sitting home whining about it like you are.

They’re not potentially bringing in Kyler Murray to run the scout team, dude. He’s not here to “compete” or be insurance. He’s here to take over QB1. There is no room for an “open competition” when Kyler will be taking literally every first team rep to try to learn the offense. JJ gets kicked to the back of the bus and will “develop” while running other teams offenses on the scout team. 

The Vikings are effectively saying they’re giving up on JJ and don’t believe he can improve enough this offseason to beat out a 28 year old QB who got benched by his former team. That they believe THAT guy puts them in a better position to win than he does. 

Bringing in competition is one thing. Bringing in a replacement is a completely different one all together.

I do believe that Murray will be the starter, and the hope surrounding the possibility of JJ progressing so much this summer that he beats out a 7-year veteran just doesn't seem very likely. I like JJ's future, but he's got work to do. 

But I don't believe that this necessarily spells the end for JJ in Minnesota. It's possible. But among the dozens of scenarios that could play out, I see only one that moves Minnesota off JJ. And that's if Murray explodes in 2026, stays healthy the whole year, and the Vikings extend him. In that scenario, the Vikings would likely want to keep JJ as the backup, but at that point, I think he asks for a trade, and it could be granted. 

But let's say Murray suffers an ankle injury that knocks him out for 3 games. If JJ comes in and shines in those three games, that might give the Vikings pause. Do they pay Murray for $50M per? Or do they stick with our QB-on-a-rookie-deal plan on the belief that there is now evidence of real growth in the kid. More than we saw last year. It may not even take the 3-game sample. He may show that improvement in practice. 

He doesn't have to suddenly become Patrick Mahomes; just show enough improvement to have the Vikings seriously weighing Murray for $50M on one hand and JJ for $5M on the other. And then, of course, there all the scenarios where Murray doesn't light things up. No, I absolutely do not believe that this 1-year deal ipso facto spells the end for JJ in Minny.

MaroonBells wrote:
I do believe that Murray will be the starter, and the hope surrounding the possibility of JJ progressing so much this summer that he beats out a 7-year veteran just doesn't seem very likely. I like JJ's future, but he's got work to do. 

But I don't believe that this necessarily spells the end for JJ in Minnesota. It's possible. But among the dozens of scenarios that could play out, I see only one that moves Minnesota off JJ. And that's if Murray explodes in 2026, stays healthy the whole year, and the Vikings extend him. In that scenario, the Vikings would likely want to keep JJ as the backup, but at that point, I think he asks for a trade, and it could be granted. 

But let's say Murray suffers an ankle injury that knocks him out for 3 games. If JJ comes in and shines in those three games, that might give the Vikings pause. Do they pay Murray for $50M per? Or do they stick with our QB-on-a-rookie-deal plan on the belief that there is now evidence of real growth in the kid. More than we saw last year. It may not even take the 3-game sample. He may show that improvement in practice. 

He doesn't have to suddenly become Patrick Mahomes; just show enough improvement to have the Vikings seriously weighing Murray for $50M on one hand and JJ for $5M on the other. And then, of course, there all the scenarios where Murray doesn't light things up. No, I absolutely do not believe that this 1-year deal ipso facto spells the end for JJ in Minny.

Excellent rational post, which perfectly summarizes the situation.

CFIAvike wrote:

They’re not potentially bringing in Kyler Murray to run the scout team, dude. He’s not here to “compete” or be insurance. He’s here to take over QB1. There is no room for an “open competition” when Kyler will be taking literally every first team rep to try to learn the offense. JJ gets kicked to the back of the bus and will “develop” while running other teams offenses on the scout team. 

The Vikings are effectively saying they’re giving up on JJ and don’t believe he can improve enough this offseason to beat out a 28 year old QB who got benched by his former team. That they believe THAT guy puts them in a better position to win than he does. 

Bringing in competition is one thing. Bringing in a replacement is a completely different one all together.

We're not dealing with two eight-year-olds worrying about being picked last on pick-up game and someone getting their feeling hurt.  These are two grown ass men on a professional football team which they're getting paid to play.  Neither one of them are under any illusions on what's happening here.  Chances are good both will play games during the up-coming season for whatever reason. The coaches and the organization just don't want the big drop-off at the quarterback position like they had last season and want to have the chances to win a few extra games.  Let's not go down the rabbit hole on this and over think it.  It is what it is.

AGRforever wrote:
Neither can play a full season. I expect Brosmer to start a game or two.

Alright this made me chuckle. All of this consternation from everyone including me-- and by Week 5 we're back to Brosmer  :P  :( . Would be very, "us".

pattersaur wrote:

Alright this made me chuckle. All of this consternation from everyone including me-- and by Week 5 we're back to Brosmer  :P  :( . Would be very, "us".

The Return of Max Gopher!