Justin Jefferson’s Comments Will Only Stir the Pot for National Media
The NFL mock draft community has already used the last few weeks to fantasize about a Justin Jefferson trade.
Then Wednesday happened.
Justin Jefferson’s Comments Will Only Stir the Pot for National Media
Jefferson sat down with various shows in Las Vegas at the Super Bowl’s radio row, and predictably, nearly every host asked about his contract extension. One might think, “Yes, that makes sense why they’d do that.” But in the aftermath of his comments, various outlets lifted tidbits from Jefferson’s words to paint a picture of his alleged disgruntlement.
It’s all weaponry for engagement — accounts and websites hoping to stir the pot on a possible Jefferson exit from the Twin Cities. The weird part? If one listened to or read Jefferson’s words, there really isn’t any mystery about his intentions: he wants to remain with the Vikings and “break the bank” while doing so.
Jefferson told Mad Dog Radio’s Adam Schein, “I want to break the bank, and I want to be a part of an organization that wants me and really gives me what I deserve. I feel like, eventually, the Vikings will do what they need to do to have me in the building, but I don’t really know at this moment. Only time will tell. I feel like I have the right people in my circle to negotiate and to do what’s right, and I feel like this whole process of how we handle things, I feel like we did a great job with it.”
Schein then asked Jefferson if he’d consider other options if no extension from the Vikings materialized, and Jefferson replied, “I’m not really too sure at this very moment. I definitely am grateful for what Minnesota has done for me. I wouldn’t be in this situation if they didn’t pick me. Everything that has happened and everything that I have given for the organization, of course, I wanna stay. That’s what I’m calling home ever since I got into the league. It is what it is at the end of the day, but I just want to play football.”
Thereafter, aggregator sites on X ripped portions of Jefferson’s quote to insinuate he could leave the Vikings while excluding his comment about wanting to stay with the Vikings:
And others:
Why do accounts or people do this? It creates false commotion. Throughout an average person’s day, he or she might only see the tweet from MLFootball or Kleiman and not the full Jefferson interview. Skimming the MLFootball tweet might lead one to think, “Oh, wow. Jefferson’s not happy with the Vikings, huh?”
That person, through word of mouth, then says to another, “I heard Jefferson wants a big paycheck and wants to leave the Vikings.”
It’s a slippery slope to misinformation, especially leaving out Jefferson’s intentions regarding the Vikings.
If the objective is to tell the full story, including Jefferson’s desire to break the bank, this information from Jefferson’s lips must be included:
I’m definitely grateful for what Minnesota has done for me. I definitely wouldn’t be in this situation if they didn’t pick me, to be the fifth receiver taken. With everything that has happened and everything I have gave to the organization, of course, I would want to stay.
– Justin Jefferson
Otherwise, the takeaway from his interview is jaded.
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 Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, 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.