Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
The nopedy nopes are weekly Minnesota Vikings-themed items that we’re not buying. It’s a spin-off of our rumor mill, and we hope you enjoy. Here is the 28th batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
Three times in the last week or so, ESPN employees have bemoaned the Vikings’ 2-0 start, claiming the quarterback is a virus, the team’s success an overreaction, and the latest — Kevin O’Connell’s squad is a “pretender.”
Benjamin Solak was the latest. “I wish they were contenders. It would be so cool if they were contenders. But Sam Darnold falls below the bar of QB play necessary to be a true contender,” he wrote Tuesday, two days after Minnesota stayed undefeated to start the season.
“The only way I’d be willing to buy the Vikings is if I were certain that coach Kevin O’Connell is so good an offensive schemer that he can do what Sean McVay did for Jared Goff in 2018 and what Kyle Shanahan did for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019. And it’s harder to do it now than it was then,” Solak added.
One day before Solak dismissed the Vikings, ESPN’s Dan Graziano seemingly agreed. He called the notion of quarterback Sam Darnold leading the Vikings to the postseason an “overreaction” 24 hours after Minnesota’s 23-17 triumph over San Francisco, Darnold’s former team.
“The Vikings’ upcoming schedule is an absolute gauntlet — vs. Texans, at Packers, vs. Jets (in London) and vs. Lions. They finish the season with games against the Seahawks, Packers and Lions,” Graziano opined.
“The receiving corps, thin to begin with, is already suffering injuries, with Jordan Addison (right ankle) missing Sunday’s game and Justin Jefferson leaving it early because of a quad injury. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is still likely a few weeks away from returning from last year’s season-ending injury,” he wrote.
Graziano also delivered his formal overreaction nugget: “I do think Darnold and the Vikings will continue to play well; the coaching will make sure of that. But there’s just too much working against them for me to predict them as a playoff team, even after the 2-0 start.”
And last week, Stephen A. Smith, also an ESPN employee, compared Darnold to a virus. “If you’re around some people with a cold enough, you’re going to get one. If you’re around some people with a virus, you’re going to get it. Contamination. You ever heard of that word? It happens,” Smith said last Thursday about Darnold’s presence on the Vikings’ roster.
One negative mention is fine, but an avalanche is too much. Nobody really claims the Vikings are elite, and ESPN is fighting back at Minnesota like it has a huge claim to fame. Not really.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
Alexander worked out for Minnesota earlier this week, perhaps because Ivan Pace Jr. suffered quad and ankle injuries. Pace Jr. will miss Sunday’s game versus the Houston Texans.
Alexander, who reached the Pro Bowl seven years ago, had some name recognition. But the Vikings said “nope” and signed little-known linebacker Max Tooley instead.
The Alexander tryout was for nil.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
The Vikings cut Jalen Reagor loose 13 months ago, and some believed he could find more playing time with the New England Patriots. Fast forward to 2024, and even though New England arguably holsters the worst wide receiver corps in the NFL, the Patriots dropped Reagor. He’s a free agent.
His career is on life support, and he did not live up to the 1st-Round promise in Philadelphia, Minnesota, or New England. The geographical cure in New England did not work.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
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.