Rival WR Ignites Beef over Vikings’ Treatment of J.J. McCarthy
Over the last week, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has bubbled to the surface as the team’s would-be QB1 in 2025, thanks to the dying off of Aaron Rodgers rumors.
Rival WR Ignites Beef over Vikings’ Treatment of J.J. McCarthy
Minnesota drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last April, nominating him as the quarterback of the future. But McCarthy tore his meniscus four months later and experienced a redshirt year accordingly.
And last week, former NFLer James Jones expressed disgruntlement about how the Vikings are “treating” McCarthy.
James Jones Weighs In on J.J. McCarthy
Jones spoke on FS1’s The Facility show, calling into question Minnesota’s treatment of its quarterback.
“Aaron Rodgers gives them the best chance to win a Super Bowl, but I don’t want to see it. Go with the young boy. Let the young boy play football. You drafted him 10 overall, let him play football, and to be honest with you, I hate what the Minnesota Vikings are doing,” Jones opined.
The Vikings want McCarthy to earn the QB1 job this summer, not take a March hand-off or coronation.
Jones added, “Give the young boy some confidence. Let him know he’s the starter, man. Let him know, ‘This is your football team. We drafted you 10th overall. Let all the Aaron Rodgers talk go out the window. We believe in you.'”
McCarthy’s Comments about QB1 Job
McCarthy spoke with Kay Adams of The Up and Adams Show one week ago and told her that no one had handed him anything in the way of a QB1 job.
“They haven’t told me, and I’m happy they didn’t because I try to earn it every single day. I never want that to be given to me. It’s such a privilege and an opportunity to give me that chance. I’m just gonna make the most of it every single day,” he said to Adams.
The statement surprised folks because, through their actions, Minnesota has very much handed the QB1 baton to McCarthy. Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Daniel Jones joined new teams this offseason, and Minnesota bowed out of the Rodgers sweepstakes. McCarthy must earn it, he says.
Shortly after, some ESPN commentators criticized McCarthy for the comments.
“First of all, they don’t have to tell a damn thing. They already did. Did you re-sign Sam Darnold? No. Did you bring Aaron Rodgers there? No. I mean, damn. It’s your spot. We all know you. You just gotta go and play. I don’t get it. Here’s the deal. He was a rookie last year and got injured,” Stephen A. Smith said on First Take.
Former tight end Shannon Sharpe piled on, “Stephen A… what does he want? Does he want a quarterback reveal? You know how we see all these TikTok trends and gender reveals. So, what’s he want, a quarterback reveal? QB1 is JJ McCarthy and it’s blue. Man, get outta here. Go play football, man.”
A bizarre ordeal.
Vikings GM Affirms McCarthy’s Role
Meanwhile, Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke with reporters last week at a pre-draft press conference and all but named McCarthy as “his guy.”
“When we pool the resources we did to draft J.J., and you go through that long process and all those things, I can’t stand up here and say that’s not the outcome we want. That’s the outcome we’re headed towards,” Adofo-Mensah confirmed.
“At every checkpoint, whether it’s been the draft process or practice, until the injury, and really the offseason now, he’s met the bar. I mean, he’s exceeded our expectations at every point.”
The Aaron Rodgers Angle
Jones’ befuddlement and “hatred” mainly exist because Aaron Rodgers remains in Minnesota’s rumor mill.
The 41-year-old apparently wants to play for the Vikings in 2025, but Minnesota decided, for the time being, that he isn’t the best option.
“We didn’t think it was the right move at this time. It is also his decision whether he signs with another team. That’s ultimately up to the player. For me to sit here and say that, you know, anything’s 100% forever, that’s just not the job,” Adofo-Mensah explained at the same press conference.
Most McCarthy concerns, like Jones’, will blow over when Rodgers signs with a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason or retires.
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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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