Purple Rumor Mill: Caleb Williams’ Weird Shade for Vikings, Not So Fast on Sam Darnold, Ivan Pace
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 December 1st edition.
Purple Rumor Mill: Caleb Williams’ Weird Shade for Vikings, Not So Fast on Sam Darnold, Ivan Pace
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 second batch of the week. Yesterday’s can be read here.
Rumor: Caleb Williams doesn’t think too highly of Sam Darnold, throwing shade at a press conference after his team lost to Darnold’s Vikings.
Williams spoke about Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, and either inadvertently or jarringly, threw a little shade at Minnesota signal-caller Sam Darnold.
“Met O’Connell at the draft and all these different things, so when someone comes over to you, that’s having guys, Sam Darnold, even, out there balling. He’s been a great coach so far, I believe, and those encouraging words are important,” Williams told reporters.
In all likelihood, Williams got tongue-tied and threw in the word “even” accidentally. Both men attended USC, and NFL quarterbacks exist in a fraternity-like setting. However, Williams implied that “even Sam Darnold can be good with that guy,” which is an obvious slight.
Williams would likely re-word the statement if given the opportunity.
He also wasn’t wrong.
Rumor: Sam Darnold may not have a robust starter’s market in free agency.
Because Sam Darnold is on pace for about 4,200 passing yards and over 30 touchdown passes, many assume he’ll land a starter’s job on a $40+ million price tag.
But consider the teams that will possibly be seeking quarterbacks in the offseason:
- Cleveland Browns
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
Would any of those franchises sign Darnold as the end-all solution at QB1? Probably not.
If Darnold departs Minnesota, he may be on tap for another bridge quarterback assignment, and those don’t typically cost $40+ million per season.
Rumor: Ivan Pace Jr. will return in Week 17 for the Vikings’ showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
Pace Jr.’s injury, although disheartening, is not season-ending. His best-case scenario to return is Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
When the Pace Jr. news injury hit this week, the lightning word was “injured reserve.” Few details clarified season-ending or four-games.
It seems Pace Jr.’s injury is enough to sideline him for a month — but not the rest of the season and playoffs.
Vikings Dealt Brutal News
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.
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