Few saw it coming after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, but quarterback Sam Darnold totally crumbled thereafter.
Sam Darnold Sounds Like a Goner
The reclamation-project quarterback produced a marvelous regular season, complete with 36 total touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 4,319 passing yards. But when it mattered the most, twice with trips to the Divisional Round on the line, Darnold regressed — so much so that his team never really had a chance against the Detroit Lions or Los Angeles Rams.
Now, Minnesota’s season is over, and Darnold is scheduled to hit free agency in March. Right after Week 17, Vikings fans immersed themselves in serious debates over re-upping with Darnold for $40+ million per season. Yet, after the blunders against Detroit and Los Angeles, those conversations seem laughable.
And per the lips of Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, Darnold sounds like a goner. Of course, Minnesota could find a way to reunite with Darnold for cheap and ask him to compete with rookie passer J.J. McCarthy this summer, but O’Connell’s words Monday night did not make it sound like a sequel was on the menu for Darnold in the Twin Cities.
“The other phase of it for Sam is acknowledging the things that made him a winning quarterback this year. The consistency and the times he had it throughout the year and what that meant for our team. Because I think that can stay with him moving forward as he goes back to work,” O’Connell explained.
“Proud of him. Proud of everybody in that locker room but Sam and the journey him and I went on this year will always be something that has a special place in my heart, for sure.”
Always be something that has a special place in my heart — sounds like the verbiage of break-up. That’s what a man or woman says when departing a romantic relationship on good terms.
O’Connell did not say, “We look forward to getting Sam back and fixing some of these issues. Our future is bright.”
The Vikings skipper also acknowledged his personal blame in the Rams loss: “It did not work out in the end, and I think Sam would be the first one to tell you, could he have played better tonight? I’m sure he would tell you he could have. Could I have coached better? I promise you I could have.”
After Darnold’s two-game skid, he might’ve cost himself millions. We’re talking millions. As of January 14th, he feels like the kind of quarterback who will fetch a two-year deal somewhere worth $40 million or so. Maybe $30 million.
In early December, Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips also spoke about Darnold as if he were playing in Minnesota for one year only. “I think we all know that Sam is going to be a sought-after type of guy from wherever that may be. Whatever his future ends up being, I know all of us in this building are going to be happy for him, no matter where that ends up being. I don’t think he has to worry about that anymore,” Phillips told reporters a month ago.
“I would hope he would kind of say, ‘Hey, the body of work that I’ve put in so far is going to take care of the future. Really, all I need to worry about is right now.'”
“The worry might’ve been, ‘OK, this might be my opportunity to play.’ He’s past all that. He’s proven the doubters, and he’s proven that he can play in this league. Let’s just make this the best possible season we can have,” Phillips added.
Vikings coaches talked — and continue to talk — as if the Darnold experiment in Minnesota had a one-year shelf life.
It helps that Minnesota has rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the locker room, waiting for his turn.
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 Vikings 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.
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