Jan 11, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Rapper 50 Cent smiles during warmups of the game between the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images.
VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle each week. All the week’s Vikings rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for review. Today is the September 20th edition.
Remember — rumors are rumors. What you read on weekends in these pieces is what the world is talking about pertaining to the purple team, not necessarily items that will come to fruition.
Here’s the first batch of the week. All past rumors can be read here.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz posted a video on Monday morning of Minnesota players — and head coach Kevin O’Connell — celebrating a 23-14 win over the San Francisco 49ers to the lyrics of 50 Cent’s anthem in the team’s locker room.
The rapper took notice on X and weighed in personally: “Oh shit 😎👏👏👏 Let’s go Vikings. Set the tone get the Vibe right and go for it all. 💣Boom. gunitbrands.com.”
Here’s the full tweet.
So, yes — 50 is skollin’ hard.
According to Bleacher Report, Minnesota should get greedy and add free-agent wide receiver Russell Gage.
Last week, the same website and author(s) recommended cornerback C.J. Henderson from the open market. No team signed Henderson this week, and the purple team’s cornerbacks played quite well in Week 2.
“While Jordan Addison’s ankle injury isn’t believed to be serious, he did miss Week 2, and Jefferson is banged up as well. It would be smart for the Vikings to add another wide receiver to the active roster or practice squad just in case,” BR’s collective staff explained about Gage to Minnesota.
At wide receiver, the Vikings employ Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, and Trishton Jackson. Gage may not represent a serious upgrade to any of those men.
BR added, “Having a five-year veteran like Gage, who has nearly 250 career catches for 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns, on hand wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Like the Henderson idea last week, this one is unlikely to materialize.
Exiting Week 2, O’Connell had +1000 odds of winning COY, trailing Jim Harbaugh from the Los Angeles Chargers (+600) and Mike MacDonald from the Seattle Seahawks (+700). For new bettors, the +1000 moneyline means a wagerer would win $1,000 if she placed $100 on O’Connell to take home the COTY trophy.
Then, the odds changed to +800.
O’Connell is rapidly becoming a COY favorite. He’d be in the driver’s seat for the award if the Vikings win 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. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.