@StarTribune Vikings beat guy, @KFAN1003 contributor, AV track/Augsburg CC ass't, husband, girl dad, sinner saved by grace. BSky/Threads/IG: @bengoessling
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I spent the summer learning about the QB development industry: the private coaches and elite camps that produces many of the country's top prospects.
It's a complex, costly path to the NFL. But for the ones with the skills and drive to do it — like J.J. McCarthy — it can help fulfill a childhood dream.
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J.J. McCarthy won’t be at #Vikings practice today; his fiancée Katya Kuropas went into labor, so he’s with her as she delivers the couple’s baby boy.
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Kirk Cousins, in a walking boot a couple weeks after his Achilles surgery, is serving Thanksgiving meals with Vikings teammates at the Salvation Army in St. Paul tonight.
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The first game in Vikings history for which Sid Hartman is not alive is today at Lambeau Field. Nice touch by the Packers to memorialize Sid in the press box.
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Several players mentioned a heartfelt message from Mike Zimmer on a team-wide Zoom call. Ameer Abdullah: "He said, 'I don't understand, and maybe I haven't given this as much attention, but I love every single one of you guys and I'll fight for you like you're my sons."
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Justin Jefferson took responsibility for J.J. McCarthy’s interception on Monday night, saying he needed to take two more steps before breaking on the route. “J.J. wasn't ready for me to be out that soon. That's why the ball was thrown inside of me, where it needed to be outside. So it’s mostly on me, on that play. I'm just happy that J.J. really didn't think about it too much. J.J. was on to the next play.”
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Vikings touchdown leaders this season:
Justin Jefferson 4
Jalen Nailor 3
Andrew Van Ginkel 2
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New #Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz: “You walk down the halls, and see [pictures of] all the guys you grew up cheering for. It’s definitely cool to be back.”
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Kevin O’Connell said before J.J. McCarthy left for the hospital yesterday, he gave him some pointers on what to say in the car.
“And, more importantly,” the father of four said, “what not to say.”
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Justin Jefferson on @SiriusXMNFL after the pick: "
“That’s just something that I have to prove going to Minnesota -- that I can be that inside and outside receiver. Minnesota, I’m ready for you guys, and let’s go win that Super Bowl.”
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With the #Vikings down 17-6 in the third quarter, J.J. McCarthy said to teammates in the huddle, “Where would you rather be?”
McCarthy said he’d never said that to teammates before. “It juiced us up,” Justin Jefferson said. “He never gave up. That was the big thing about it.”
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Mike Zimmer on the challenges of players preparing for a Thursday game: "I've asked a couple of them if they're tired or they're sore. They said, 'Maybe a little,' and I said, 'No one cares.' That's basically the extent of that conversation."
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Here's the Vikings' new social justice video, featuring seven players -- Anthony Barr, Kirk Cousins, Latavius Murray, Kyle Rudolph, Adam Thielen, Xavier Rhodes and Everson Griffen -- talking about the value of cross-cultural relationships in society:
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The #Vikings plan to pay out the remainder of Khyree Jackson’s signing bonus to his estate.
Players will wear helmet decals, and coaches will wear pins, with the initials ‘KJ’ throughout the season. Jackson’s number 31 will go unused.
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#Vikings players are warming up in a T-shirt with a big graphic of Kirk Cousins, in honor of the quarterback:
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Kevin O’Connell said he told J.J. McCarthy at halftime, “You are going to bring us back to win this game.
“The look in his eye was just fantastic,” O’Connell said.
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The pass from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson traveled 55 yards in the air, as Jefferson beat George Odum downfield while Jalen Nailor's route pulled Charvarius Ward out of the play.
Next Gen Stats
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Sam Darnold said his knee feels good after the game, though he said it’ll be evaluated tomorrow.
The fan reaction when he returned to the game, Darnold said, “meant everything. Not only that, but my entire time here in Minnesota has been amazing with the fans.”
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Kevin O’Connell called it a “MVP performance” by the #Vikings’ sideline to get him a new battery pack on the drive. Said he thought the timing of the headset’s failure was “curious.” Sam Darnold ran to the sideline to get the call on the next play.
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The NFL suspended Broncos safety Kareem Jackson for four games without pay, after his helmet-to-helmet hit on Vikings QB Josh Dobbs on Sunday night.
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Kirk Cousins presented game balls to Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah today. Late in the game, he said he went over to Zygi Wilf and asked if he could give O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah the game balls. “I believe strongly that everything rises and falls on leadership,” he said
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Today’s games were the first in NFL history to be played on a day for which Sid Hartman was not alive.
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Video board just showed Kevin O’Connell high-fiving fans in the field-level club as he walked onto the field.
Kid in Packers clothing stuck his hand out for a high five; O’Connell paused for a second and thought about it, before smiling and giving the kid a high five.
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Adofo-Mensah on stockpiling draft picks: “There’s no amount of seventh-round picks that will equal the value of the first pick.”
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Kevin O’Connell closes his remarks to #Vikings fans by saying, “At our stadium, we should never, ever see the other team’s colors in the stands. I don’t want to see any green, I don’t want to see any yellow, at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 11.”
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Jim Harbaugh will interview with the #Vikings on Wednesday -- also known as National Signing Day.
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The Vikings' pursuit of Yannick Ngakoue stepped up after they missed out on bringing Everson Griffen back, from what I'm hearing this morning. They've enjoyed having two top-end pass rushers for a long time; they've now got two Pro Bowlers under the age of 26.
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Carson Wentz, the #Vikings’ starter for Sunday: “I grew up rooting for this team. It’s one of those things, when you play long enough, you kind of forget about those things. Running out of that tunnel this week will probably hit me a little bit different.”
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With Sam Darnold surpassing 30 touchdown passes today, the Vikings are the first team in NFL history to have six different QBs throw for 30 TDs in a season (Darnold, Kirk Cousins, Brett Favre, Daunte Culpepper,. Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon).
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Press release from the Maryland State Police on the car crash that killed #Vikings fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson and two of his high school teammates early this morning.
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Adam Thielen ihas agreed to a four-year extension from the Vikings. $64 million, and could be worth up to $73 million.
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Kevin O’Connell: “There were two [LBs] in the NFL with 100-plus tackles and four interceptions last year. Both of those guys will be playing linebacker for our team.”
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Justin Jefferson on the #Vikings’ Creed invasion: “The only ‘Creed’ I knew about was the boxing movie. I did not know about no Creed until Kirk Cousins started playing it in the locker room.”
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J.J. McCarthy said he had a medial and radial tear in his meniscus. He realized it the day after the Raiders game when his knee buckled going down the stairs.
Said he was “extremely shocked” how serious it was. “It’s tough. It’s kind of a kick in the balls. But you take everything life throws at you and you find the positive in it.”
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Harrison Smith is staying in Minnesota; the #Vikings reached a new agreement that will keep the safety with the team.
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Seriously. Look at the athletic ability from back judge Tyree Walton here. Sprints downfield, throws on the brakes to get out of the way and catches back up to the play. Impressive stuff.
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Source confirms the #Vikings have released Brett Rypien. Their QB room would seem set, with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer.
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Kevin O’Connell on his Justin Jefferson Griddy hoodie today: “We’ve got some superstars with their own clothing lines around here, and it’s not just JJ, so I try to be supportive. I’m a big fan of free gear, so if it shows up on my desk, I’m going to try to find a way to wear it”
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Justin Jefferson with a message to McCarthy at the end of his press conference: “If you’re seeing this now, congratulations, my boy. I’m excited for [you] with this new chapter. But after you get done, come on back.”
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Vikings ownership just issued a statement on GM Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer:
"We value Mike and Rick’s leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations, next year and beyond.”
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Rick Spielman at his pre-draft press conference: "My wife said if you draft another corner, don't come home."
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Stephen Weatherly on Danielle Hunter: "That guy's parents are great for getting together and making a guy like that."
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The Vikings got four picks from the Saints for No. 105, and Rick Spielman has 13 picks on Day 3.
Yes, 13.
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Justin Jefferson said he’s “for sure” playing against the Texans on Sunday. His quad injury continues to improve, he said.
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Stefon Diggs on Kyle Rudolph's one-handed TD catch: "I didn't have the best view, but I saw my guy stick that big Mickey Mouse hand up there."
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Texted @harrismith22 today to ask if he was coming back; he wrote back this afternoon, “I wish I had another Prince photo to send u.”
The legend of @christomasson lives on.
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Patrick Peterson is hosting 50 kids from the Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities for his annual “Shop With a Jock” event tonight. Each kid gets $100 to spend at Walmart; Peterson is walking through the aisles, providing quick math to help kids keep track of what they’ve spent.
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The #Vikings and Panthers are discussing a trade that would bring Adam Thielen back to Minnesota, sources said. We’ll see if the sides agree on a price, but there’s certainly interest in making a Thielen return happen.
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Kevin O’Connell said Kirk Cousins plans to remain a major part of the #Vikings’ quarterback room after his Achilles surgery. He’ll continue to participate in meetings and offensive planning sessions.
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Doesn't mean much in light of the game, but had to laugh at this from the broadcast. Kirk Cousins got a smirk out of Kevin O’Connell and Matt LaFleur -- who've both coached him -- as he ripped his shirt off before blowing the Gjallarhorn last night.
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Harrison Smith is last out of the tunnel as the #Vikings introduce their defense
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Kirk Cousins: 34 of 54, 460 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs.
His 460 yards are a career high.
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Happy anniversary to those who celebrate
When I recently texted #Vikings safety Harrison Smith to ask about his contract situation, he simply sent back this photo of Prince. Since Prince is a Minnesota icon, I asked if that means he’s sticking around. But I didn’t hear back.
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T.J. Hockenson was dumbfounded in the #Vikings locker room about the overturned TD call. Said two officials on the field told him they had it as a TD. “New York can't call in and say that it's not a catch when every other ref out there says it is,” he said. “It’s just crazy.”
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Mike Zimmer is quarantining from his ranch in Kentucky with two of his three kids -- one of them being co-defensive coordinator Adam Zimmer. They've got a golf course with a green and four tee boxes, a BBQ smoker, places to hunt and all the time in the world to talk football.
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The #Vikings got the help they needed from the Bills, and they’re in control of their own destiny for the first time since Oct. 20. If they win out, they’ll win the NFC North.
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Antoine Winfield Jr. is honoring his father (and longtime #Vikings cornerback) Antoine Winfield Sr., who never got closer to the Super Bowl than the NFC title game after 2009.
We teamed up with @brkicks and @MACHE275 to make some custom Super Bowl cleats for @AntoineWJr11
Fulfilling the legacy 🏆
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On Tuesday, J.J. McCarthy referenced a quote he’d found after learning about his ADHD diagnosis.
“People with ADHD, they find calm in the chaos and chaos in the calm,” he said. “I’ve always felt, ever since I was a kid, just any competitive environment I was in, I felt like I was at home. Playing at Michigan, there’s 110,000 [people] and you’re at one of the most prominent universities out there. That’s where I feel most comfortable, is when the lights are the brightest, the stage is the biggest stage out there. And I know it’s going to be a lot more of that to come.”
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The #Vikings plan to send this play in to the NFL for a hip drop tackle. Certainly looks like they’d have a case.
Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy expected to miss Sunday’s game vs. Bengals with an ankle injury. startribune.com/minnesota-vi…
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Jared Allen said he was at his house when his dogs started barking. He looked out in his front yard, and saw Steve Hutchinson standing in his gold jacket. "I went, 'Well, I guess this is the knock,'" he said.
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That's the longest field goal in #Vikings history. And Kevin O’Connell now has more victories than any first-year coach in team history.
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What's next for the plane ride home, Kirk Cousins?
"I think we reached the mountaintop last week. I don't know that there's anywhere to go from here. Someone else may have to take the mantle."
Patrick Peterson said players have something planned for Cousins. Stay tuned.
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The #Vikings, just as we all expected, are alone in first place in the NFC North after two weeks.
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Danielle Hunter completed his medical check with the #Vikings at their facility today. He’ll be at minicamp tomorrow.
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Mike Zimmer said he hasn’t heard about his job status. “I haven’t heard about yours, either,” he says to the reporter who asked the question.
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Checking in on the Matthew Stafford-to-the-Vikings rumors I’ve been getting lots of questions about. Source said there’s zero truth to the idea the Vikings are trying to trade for him.
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Adam Thielen is back: “You guys know, without me saying it, how much this place means to me.”
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It’s a knee bruise with no structural damage, for Sam Darnold, source says. He is not expected to miss any time.
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Total cap hits of the five #Vikings deals we've seen terms for so far (Byron Murphy Jr., Jonathan Allen, Aaron Jones, Isaiah Rodgers and Ryan Wright): $23.51 million.
Rob Brzezinski and senior manager of football administration Emily Badis are running a master class.
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Brian Flores said today he first learned about Blake Cashman from former Gophers linebackers coach Mike Sherels, whose daughter had become friends with Flores’ daughter from school in Eden Prairie.
“This was October, November of last year; we ended up hanging out together with the daughters,” Flores said. “He’s like, ‘You know, Blake Cashman, I had him at the U. He was the best guy we had.’ I didn’t know much about Blake at that point. That’s when I turned on the tape, and [Sherels] was right.”
He filed it away, “but it’s such a random conversation,” Flores said. He did some research, and found out Cashman would be a free agent, but didn’t know if the Texans would re-sign him. When the Vikings had a chance to bring Cashman back to Minnesota, Flores recalled what Sherels told him.
“That happens,” Flores said. “You have a conversation with somebody, you don’t know somebody all that well, but it’s someone who has no agenda — just a former coach that knows him personally, speaks highly of him. You look him up, and there he is.”
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#Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was voted NFC coach of the year in the 101 Awards, an awards ceremony created by former Chiefs owner and AFL founder Lamar Hunt. Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt revived the 101 Awards this year, with a panel of 101 voters from across the NFL media landscape.
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The #Vikings waited for Sam Darnold to finish his postgame interview with Tom Brady. Once he got to the locker room, they doused him with water bottles (Jonathan Greenard’s idea). Several teammates picked him up. “I didn’t know what to do with my hands in that situation, Ricky Bobby-style,” Darnold said.
Co-owner Mark Wilf walked out of the locker room with his suit coat splashed with water. “Everybody got a little wet,” Cam Akers said.
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Kevin O’Connell went out of his way in his postgame press conference to highlight C.J. Ham, whose grandfather died this morning. "He's actually local here in Chicago," O’Connell said. "By the grace of God, [C.J.] got to spend a bunch of time with him last night, in his final moments. And then C.J. shows up today and plays a lot of snaps. We really leaned in on that '21' grouping, and he's one of our captains, and he knows that he's got a locker room full of brothers that'll have his back right now."
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With the Patriots about to lose at Gillette Stadium for the first time in 22 games (including playoffs), the Vikings have the longest active home win streak in the NFL at six games.
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The #Vikings are hiring Ed Donatell as their next defensive coordinator, according to a league source.
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Kirk Cousins has now won three of his last five starts on Monday night since 2019.
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The Vikings confirmed linebacker Eric Kendricks restructured his contract to make room for first-round pick Garrett Bradbury.
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Ahmad Rashad, Chuck Foreman, Dave Osborn and Rickey Young carried Bud Grant’s casket at the Hall of Fame #Vikings coach’s funeral today in Eden Prairie (via Michael Hirschuber/Vikings)
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Patrick Peterson was cooking dinner on Monday night when his daughter Paityn said there was a big hit in the game. When he saw Damar Hamlin getting CPR, his wife Antonique brought the kids upstairs.
“They know I play. I didn’t want that on their minds and their hearts,” he said
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The #Vikings recorded noise levels north of 125 decibels at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Against the 49ers last week, the noise reached 130 dB.
"If we can get off to good starts, it feels like a tidal wave of momentum," Kevin O’Connell said. "And our players feed off of it."
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Josh Metellus, with his new three-year extension, to the state of Minnesota: “I’m here, baby. I love it here.”
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Gonna go out on a limb here and say Danielle Hunter will be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week in a few days.
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The 2024 season is the Wilfs’ 20th as the #Vikings’ owners. By the end of the decade, their ownership tenure will be approaching the longest in team history. On and off the field, the franchise seems as healthy as ever.
I talked with the Wilfs, Vikings leaders and current and former players to reflect on their tenure: buff.ly/3Pqj61v
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In terms of the biggest regular season games in #Vikings history, where does this Lions game next week rank? Gotta be pretty close to the top of the list, right?
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J.J. McCarthy said he’ll stay in Minnesota this summer, but plans to throw with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and the rest of the #Vikings’ receiving crew as much as possible. “If I have to go find them, I will,” McCarthy said.
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Eric Kendricks was working out with Anthony Barr this offseason while Barr was going through his free agent decision. He said he sent Barr a text telling him, "It's going to be weird not playing with you."
Kendricks said Barr wrote back, "Wait a second."
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Andrew Van Ginkel said when he was near Aaron Rodgers in the second half, Rodgers told him, “Christmas came early for you.”
Van Ginkel said he just told Rodgers thank you.
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I’m a bad lip reader. He’s saying, “Cover your pumpkin pie,” right? Seems like a sensible cooking tip for the holiday season.
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Ed Donatell said Danielle Hunter will be an outside linebacker/defensive end in the #Vikings’ scheme. He said Hunter can do both.
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I say this with no knowledge of any developments, but ... the Patrick Peterson move makes me wonder if he might have any other longtime teammates in Arizona that could be interested in coming to the Vikings.
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