Purple Rumor Mill: The Kicker, Andrew Booth Time, Magic Number
Dustin Baker
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Purple Rumor Mill
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the November 19th edition.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the Vikings, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Rumor: Because of his ongoing extra-point woes, plus inability to hit long field goals, the Vikings should explore an alternative kicker to Greg Joseph.
It is unclear how short — if at all — Greg Joseph’s leash is as the Vikings kicker. Indeed, he continues to miss extra points and hasn’t been given a chance recently beyond 50 yards to re-prove himself. Thankfully, though, his antics haven’t been the undoing of a game — yet. Joseph missed a game-winning field goal in Week 2 of 2021, temporarily causing his stock to sour.
But last year, Joseph redeemed himself and probably has it in his DNA to recreate Weeks 3-18 of 2021. The Vikings next six games are indoors, so he’ll have a chance to “get right.”
Otherwise, Minnesota would have to decide if a free-agent kicker like Rodrigo Blakenship, Gabe Brkic, Elliott Fry, Austin Seibert, etc., is more trustworthy than Joseph.
We predict that Joseph will even out.
Rumor: Andrew Booth will start versus the Dallas Cowboys.
This is correct. With Cameron Dantzler on the shelf for at least three more weeks, plus Akayleb Evans out of Week 11 in the NFL’s concussion protocol, Booth gets a crack at CB2 duty opposite Patrick Peterson.
Booth spoke to reporters about nerves on Friday, “There will definitely be. But I had nerves before every college game I played. Before every high school game I played, I had nerves. I think nerves are good for me to keep my adrenaline going.”
It’s Booth’s time to shine, which is what Vikings fans kind of wanted at the end of April. Buckle up.
Rumor: The Detroit Lions are more of a threat to the Vikings “magic number” right now than the Packers.
Hilariously, this is accurate.
The Vikings “magic number” was formulated with the Packers in mind — no one besides Green Bay could catch the Vikings from behind in the NFC North, right? — but the Lions can be heard via faint meow. After the Packers failure at home on Thursday Night Football at the hands of the Titans, their playoff chances dwindled to breadcrumbs.
Minnesota’s magic number in unison with Green Bay is three — and four with Detroit.
You can book it — the Vikings are winning the NFC North.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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