Trying to stop the bleeding is a good description of the current status of the Minnesota Vikings these days. Nobody saw this coming. Of course, nobody was even able to predict if there was to be a season to be played as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to tighten its grip on the United States. For the Vikings, one of their top free agent signings, Michael Pierce, decided to opt out of the season out of safety concerns. Danielle Hunter, then suffered a neck injury in training camp, which kept him from seeing the field for the entire 2020 season. On top of that, you had the departures of key players such as Everson Griffin, Trae Wayans, and Stefon Diggs.
The Vikings attempted to help the defensive line by trading away a second round draft pick and a conditional fifth round draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue was supposed to bolster a defensive line along Danielle Hunter to make an unstoppable force on both ends of the line. With the Vikings starting the season with a record of 1-5, the Vikings then traded Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens for a third round draft pick and a conditional fifth round draft pick.
To make this more complicated, when Ngakoue was brought in, he also brought with him a high salary. The high salary was something that the Vikings didn't need as their salary cap was already maxed out. Riley Reiff, Offensive Lineman, had to take a significant pay cut to make room for Ngakoue's big contract, and I am sure that Reiff is now completely pissed off for renegotiating and taking millions less. If Reiff would not have renegotiated, then he would've been cut, which is the other way the Vikings would've made room for Ngakoue.
Kirk Cousins, the starting Quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, is another chapter that is far from a pleasant read. Kirk Cousins was given a contract extension prior to the 2020 season, and that includes a 41 million dollar salary cap hit for next season. Kirk Cousins, who has led the Vikings to a 1-5 record, also has a league leading 10 interceptions in six games this season, including 3 interceptions in the first half of last week's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins should've been benched last week because that is how poor his performance was. The problem is that the Vikings really can't afford to bench Kirk Cousins. For one thing, Kirk Cousins can't just sit and collect that massive paycheck next season. For this season, there is no solid backup Quarterback that can replace Kirk Cousins long term. If a guy is going to be paid 41 million dollars, you have to play him. If the Vikings were to just cut Kirk Cousins, they still would be on the hook for 41 million dollars against the salary cap due to his guaranteed contract status.
There are reports coming out today saying that Danielle Hunter is going to demand his salary be doubled in a new contract, or he will be requesting a trade. This is crazy. How is a guy with a long term neck injury needing surgery, missing an entire season, able to command this type of money? I believe Danielle Hunter has multiple years left on his contract. Which really angers about professional athletes is that when a contract is signed, it isn't honored until the end in most cases. If a team decides to hold their ground then the athlete makes it miserable enough until the only option is to trade.
On a positive note, Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson, appears to be the real deal. Last week, Justin Jefferson set a Vikings Rookie Record for receiving yards. Justin Jefferson has caught over 600 receiving yards in just his six first games as a Viking. If you have not yet seen Justin Jefferson play, he appears to be special and that he could be dominant in this league for a while.
I am also a Minnesota Vikings fan, they are my team. This season is a disaster and there is no way to sugarcoat it. They just need to hang on and try to find the bright spots. Again, they are my team and they always will be. I just wish they would just have one amazing season and win a Super Bowl.
Be Kind To Everyone!
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