NFL Writer Calls for More Outrage over the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings allowed Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to depart in free agency, putting all their hope in J.J. McCarthy. And with Darnold + Jones performing well in 2025, while McCarthy is sidelined with a high ankle sprain, one prominent NFL writer is severely upset that Minnesota is not getting trashed for its offseason choices.
One man isn’t happy with the treatment of the Minnesota Vikings, claiming the organization should take more heat for its offseason decision-making.
His name is Dan Hanzus, and he’s fed up with the perception that the Vikings are getting a pass.
Dan Hanzus Says the Vikings “Deserve Way More Sh|T”
Can’t please them all, evidently.
A Guy Named Dan Hanzus Is Mad at the Vikings
Hanzus works for Sky Sports, and during Minnesota’s Week 7 loss, he became unusually triggered by the current state of affairs in the Twin Cities. Carson Wentz threw a horrid interception that was returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt, and Hanzus sounded off.
He tweeted, “The Vikings deserve way more sh|t than they’ve gotten for how horrendously they’ve botched their QB situation. Darnold *and* Dimes walk, McCarthy off in witness protection, Wentz Wentzing all over himself. What a mess.”
Hanzus has an audience of 100,00 people on the app formerly known as Twitter, and over 700,00 people saw his tweet.
He wants the Vikings to be scorned.
Vikings Rolled with J.J. McCarthy for His Ceiling, Not Mid-Tier Career Performance
Minnesota has a long, long history of signing a veteran quarterback it didn’t draft, hoping to squeeze the very best out of him after years of misunderstanding or mediocre performance. The franchise even tried its damndest for six seasons to win with Kirk Cousins, a very capable passer, but nothing has ever worked to the tune of a Super Bowl for the Vikings.
So, after Darnold utterly flopped when Minnesota needed him the most in the final two games of 2024 — the man played like absolute feces — refocusing on the original plan of rolling with McCarthy seemed like a no-brainer.
Re-signing Darnold or Jones came with a ceiling of more first-round playoff exits. McCarthy does not have that cap. The Vikings could either re-up with the guy who just flopped for megabucks or hope they got the draft scouting process right with McCarthy.
It’s short-term thinking to decry Minnesota’s quarterback strategy without seeing more than two games of McCarthy’s.
McCarthy Due Back Any Day
Of course, McCarthy is currently injured, nursing a high ankle sprain back to health. He should return to the lineup by Week 9, depending on the coaching staff’s comfort with his ankle.
At that time, McCarthy will resume his development and maturation. During his injury, it’s just a forum for writers like Hanzus to gawk at Darnold and Jones while pointing at the Vikings and bemoaning their decision-making.
Minnesota didn’t offload Darnold and Jones in favor of Kellen Mond or Jaren Hall. The leadership regime believes it has “its guy” in McCarthy. That’s what’s missing from Hanzus’ commentary.
Darnold and Jones in Postseason Will Tell All
Seahawks and Colts fans have big plans for their teams, aiming to cruise to the postseason and praying the run lasts through February.
Well, Darnold did this exact thing in the Twin Cities last year, winning games right and left but melting under pressure when it mattered most. Too, Jones played great in 2022 before turning into a pumpkin in the Divisional Round of the playoffs that year and in 2023 and 2024 (those entire seasons).
A determination on the Vikings’ strategy cannot be judged until McCarthy’s ceiling becomes clearer or Darnold + Jones put postseason footage on tape.
It’s just complaining about an incomplete puzzle, which Hanzus has undertaken this week.
Sporting News Piles On
Hanzus wasn’t alone.
Sporting News‘ Billy Heyen tackled the topic this week, writing, “The Minnesota Vikings have such a talented football team. They just might not have a quarterback. And a quick look at last year’s roster makes that all feel a whole lot worse.”
“That’s because at the end of last season, the Vikings had starter Sam Darnold shining bright while trash-heap pickup Daniel Jones was waiting in the wings. Now, Darnold is in Seattle starring for the Seahawks, and Jones is one of the best stories in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts.”
Darnold and Jones rank in the Top 10 through seven weeks of the league’s MVP race.
Heyen continued, “The Vikings are stuck with J.J. McCarthy, who didn’t look quite ready before his ankle injury, and Carson Wentz, who hasn’t been good enough as a fill-in. This offseason, the Vikings also had the option to pursue Aaron Rodgers but decided against it, a vote of confidence in McCarthy that so far probably would’ve worked out better if it was instead a vote of confidence in Rodgers. The McCarthy injury did make this a tougher evaluation.”
“He had that magical fourth quarter against the Bears that maybe could’ve been bottled up and used more throughout the season. But with him out, rhythm was disrupted, and it could be disrupted again when he gets back. It’s just not ideal at all for the Vikings right now.”
A McCarthy-fueled win streak soon would help erase much of the faux tension conjured by grousers like Hanzus.
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