Purple Rumor Mill: Kareem Hunt in Town, Ivan Pace as That Guy, Jefferson a ‘System WR’
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 August 12th edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Kareem Hunt in Town, Ivan Pace as That Guy, Jefferson a ‘System WR’
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.
Here’s the first batch of the week.
Rumor: Kareem Hunt met with the Vikings and could soon toss on purple clothes for 2023.
Rick Spielman predicted this one in July and could be materializing in August.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted on the X app Friday afternoon, “Free-agent RB Kareem Hunt is visiting with the Vikings today, per source.”
Hunt also met with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts this week. The 28-year-old’s production dipped last year, tabulating 3.8 yards per carry in 2022, down from 4.9 in 2021. But as an RB2 or RB3, Hunt would serve as a creative pass-catcher in a Vikings RB room navigating life without Dalvin Cook.
If the Vikings met with Hunt, it proves they’re at least somewhat interested in adding depth behind Alexander Mattison, the new RB1.
Rumor: Ivan Pace Jr. is more than just a training camp sensation and could command regular season playing time.
Ivan Pace Jr. went undrafted in April, was an utter machine in college, and the rest is turning into a budding fairy tale.
The Cincinnati alumnus ran with the second-teamers during his first week of Vikings training camp, the first-teamers since, and looked quite prepared for the NFL’s speed in the preseason game Thursday night.
Pace Jr. likely won’t start as an off-ball linebacker against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, but he could be the next man up if something happens injury-wise to starters Jordan Hicks or Brian Asamoah.
The man isn’t a fluke or training-camp-only hype recipient.
Rumor: Justin Jefferson is a ‘system wide receiver.’
We’re not sure where folks dig up such takes, but this was one of the offseason’s stupidest.
On CBS radio, the Maggie & Perloff Show, Andrew Perloff dropped an opinion about Justin Jefferson this week, “I think he’s awesome, but I do think he’s a bit of a system guy, so No. 2 on this list makes no sense.”
Jefferson pulled down the ranking of the NFL’s second-best player from NFL Network’s annual ‘NFL Top 100.’ Perloff evidently had beef with the list.
Perloff continued, “I love Justin Jefferson, but he’s definitely a product of Kirk Cousins and that offense. He’s a bit of a system guy.”
This implies that Kirk Cousins — not Justin Jefferson — is the kingmaker inside the Vikings offense, and that is twilight-zone material. It almost makes one miss the good ‘ol days of Cousins-related slander.
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 Sal Spice. His Viking obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.