Vikings Nopedy Nopes: Sam Darnold as the Future, Terrion Arnold’s Declaration, Slandering the QB
A weekend publication from VikingsTerritory, we present to you: the Vikings Nopedy Nopes of the week.
Vikings Nopedy Nopes: Sam Darnold as the Future, Terrion Arnold’s Declaration, Slandering the QB
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 42nd batch of Vikings nopedy nopes in the series’ history.
The Nopedy Nope: ESPN’s Dan Graziano claims Sam Darnold should not be trusted as the Vikings’ future.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Minnesota should be leery of extending Darnold, even if the man has nibbled at MVP consideration this season. “I think it’s going to be very expensive to keep him, and I don’t know — they have the 10th pick in this year’s draft on the roster. I know he got hurt, he couldn’t play. But I think — this is the best year Sam Darnold’s ever had, like easily, right?” Graziano said on Get Up this week.
“If you play roulette and you put all your money on number 17, and it comes up, and you hit it, you don’t put it all right back on 17. You keep the money. The reason you pay Justin Jefferson $36 million a year, and you know you can get away with that, is because you know you’re going to have a rookie quarterback contract for the next three or four years of J.J. McCarthy. I don’t think Sam Darnold fits with the Vikings’ long-term team-building philosophy,” Graziano continued.
Darnold could cost as much as $50 million per season in 2025.
Graziano concluded, “Unless he’s willing to take a team-friendly deal, I don’t think it’s a responsible decision to bring him back.”
It’s a nopedy nope on from Graziano on Darnold’s future in purple.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Lions CB Terrion Arnold claims his team’s defense is a bad matchup for Minnesota, even after Detroit surrendered over 400 passing yards to the 49ers last week.
Arnold spoke with the media on Wednesday and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to contain the Vikings’ wide receivers in Week 18. Few teams have done so in 2024.
“We’re a bad matchup for Minnesota,” Arnold claimed. “They got receivers, but we got cover guys.”
There’s obviously nothing wrong with a little bravado and hubris in sports; it’s just that Arnold’s claim doesn’t quite add up per recent history. Detroit surrendered 400 passing yards to the San Francisco 49ers three days before Arnold’s declaration, allowing the NFC foe to tabulate 34 points in a Lions win on Sunday Night Football.
Detroit’s secondary did not play well against San Francisco sans a couple of crucial late-game interceptions, and in fact, it looked horrid at times.
The Lions may play well against the Vikings, but on paper, they do not have the horses to cover Minnesota’s wideouts, mainly because of injuries.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
The Nopedy Nope: Stephen A. Smith says Sam Darnold isn’t very good because he hasn’t thrown for 300+ yards in a few weeks.
Smith just cannot reconcile the fact that Darnold has reclaimed his career.
“He deserves credit. We know he’s had a stellar season, et cetera, et cetera. The man hasn’t thrown for 300 yards since Nov. 24 against Chicago. I’m just throwing it out there. I mean, we acting like — let’s not act like this is the second coming of Dan Marino … I’m just saying, can we pump the brakes?” Smith said this week on Get Up.
Darnold has produced 36 touchdowns this year and is on the brink of taking his team to the postseason. In fact, Minnesota could earn homefield advantage throughout the playoffs if it topples the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday night.
Smith also called Darnold a “virus” earlier this season. He’s been critical of Darnold every step of the way, and Darnold keeps performing well.
Nobody cares when Darnold last threw for 300 yards.
Verdict: Nopedy nope.
ESPN’s Playoff Prediction for Vikings Is Unbelievable
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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