“If you can’t find the meaning of life, try looking under the couch cushions.”
Interesting read here …
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Talks Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, Competitive Rebuild
On Justin Jefferson…
Talks were had last offseason, when Jefferson first became eligible for an extension, but a deal didn’t get done. Then he went out and continued to dominate, exceeding 1,000 yards in just eight full games. Now the pressure is mounting for the Vikings, even with Jefferson secured under the fifth-year option for 2024.
“I had a great dialogue with his representation this morning,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We catch up, obviously I stay in contact with all of our players’ representatives, but we had a great, great relationship, and the good part is we have a shared history now. We did a lot of the work last season, so we talked and said, ‘Let’s plan to talk again soon.’ I’m always optimistic about those things. Obviously, we have to address that and a bunch of other things, but I’m looking forward to those conversations.”
On the “competitive rebuild”…
“The point of that (idea) was to still provide ourselves a chance in the tournament every year while regaining financial flexibility, finding the next generation of great Vikings players, incorporating our systems that we value so much, and I think when you look back at it, I think we’ve done a lot of positives,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I think we’ve regained some of our financial flexibility. We have competed to be in the tournament last year as the division champions and this year, through adversity, had a lot of meaningful games late.
“There’s some things we need to be better at, no question. I think, again, you want to get to a point from a depth, from a top-end standpoint, where you can overcome the adversity we have. So right now, in the competitive rebuild, we want to get to a place where there’s no rebuild, it’s just competitive in a window, and I think we’re close to that. It’s going to take a big offseason … and I’m excited for the challenge.”
There’s inherent risk in whatever the Vikings do. There’s risk in re-signing Cousins — who is coming off an Achilles tear and turns 36 in August — and trying to patch up the defense without a ton of cap space. There’s risk in letting Cousins walk and taking a swing at a quarterback in the draft. That’s what makes this offseason so fascinating.
“I do believe we do have the ability to both address those offensive players but also provide resources for the defense,” Adofo-Mensah said.
…
It is hard to decipher what Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is trying to accomplish. Everyone has to judge these comments with their own preferences in mind which may lead to a different viewpoint.
It sounds like to me that KAM feels the “rebuild” is almost done and that being competitive every year (i.e., getting into the tournament) is the only true goal. A Super Bowl would be nice but since it is not mentioned, one could wonder if that is the most important goal (I’m sure it is).
Maybe just getting to the playoffs every year is enough? Maybe these men (who are much smarter than me) believe that the playoffs are a crapshoot and luck sometimes play a big role. I can understand that and if you don’t get to the dance you got no shot.
I think he wants Cousins back on his terms and was trying to get a feel of what JJ wants in the negotiations last year. Maybe that number went up but with the hamstring injury KAM could try to lower the offer (or leave it where it was at the last meeting)? Who knows? Just pay the young man.
Maybe it is just GM speak and we should not believe everything verbatim?
Maybe I need a new hobby?
If I am not doing this, the I have very lengthy and never ending HONEY-DO list that I try to avoid as much as possible.
Since yore last open thread
Vikings Off-Season Evaluation Part IV: Defensive Overview
Other Vikings News
Jaguars, Vikings and Bears Designated to Host Games in London in 2024
“Each team’s opponent, along with the dates and kickoff times will be announced when the 2024 schedule is revealed this spring,” the NFL said in a release.
“Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the U.S. — will host games featuring both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings while the Jacksonville Jaguars will return to Wembley Stadium as part of their multi-year commitment to playing a game in the U.K, in what will be their 12th game in the capital.”
“Yeah. I think I’ve been pretty consistent with that,” Odofo-Mensah said. “ Kirk the player is somebody that, as we saw what he does to this team, I thought we were playing really good football before he got injured, and it’s the most important position in sports. Now ultimately it always comes down to can you find an agreement that works for both sides and all those things, but as a player it’s certainly my intention to have him back here.”
“There’s a lot of factors that go into these things. It’s age, injury, but it’s also performance,” Odofo-Mensah said of a potential extension for Cousins. “How do you believe the performance will go? And there’s different examples through time and obviously you have to pay attention to the person and what he puts into his body and how regimented and detailed he is. All those factors go into it but at the end of the day you’re just taking risk. We try to measure it as best we can and protect ourselves and insure against it, but on his side he’s trying to take less risk, right? That’s his job and they should do that. We’ll try to find a place in the middle and see where we end up.”
“I do think it’s important to be aware of,” Cousins said earlier this week of potentially taking a hometown discount, via the team site. “I think God has blessed me financially beyond my wildest dreams, so at this stage in my career, the dollars are really not what it’s about.
“I had a coach who I was with, who was a younger coach at the time, this was back eight, nine years ago, before my first franchise tag [in Washington ], and we were talking about the situation and he made a great comment and he said, ‘ Kirk, it’s not about the dollars, but it is about what the dollars represent.’ I thought that was an interesting comment that he made. There will always be some of that, but at today’s point, structure is probably more important.”
Adofo-Mensah & O’Connell on Intention for Kirk Cousins, Attention on QBs
Adofo-Mensah acknowledged the reality that reaching a deal likely means some give and take from each side.
“I think there are a lot of factors that go into negotiations, right? So there are levers that you pull that if you get this thing, maybe you give up this other thing,” he said. “We have a really great shared history with [Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney] and his other representatives, so these aren’t new conversations that are happening. Each side kind of understands the other, and we’re going to go have those conversations and see where we end up.”
Who are the Minnesota Vikings’ most important free agents?
Cousins, Hunter, Risner, Hicks, Wonnum, Akers?, Schlottmann, Udoh?, Powell, Mundt
Two Vikings Make PFF’s 2023 All-Rookie Team, One Snubbed
Jordan Addison, the Vikings’ first-round pick, didn’t make the list despite becoming the 12th player in the Super Bowl era to have ten receiving touchdowns as a rookie. Those three spots went to Puka Nacua, Rashee Rice, and Tank Dell. Nacua obviously deserves to be there, but Rice and Dell making it over Addison (and Zay Flowers) is a bit interesting, even when taking PFF grades into account. Dell only played in 11 games.
Pace Jr and Blackmon made it.
Vikings Sign RB Myles Gaskin to Futures Contract
Vikings Defenders Want to Build on Brian Flores’ 1st Season
Each offseason elicits questions about the unknown. Hunter, who has been with the Vikings for nine seasons, has a contract set to expire. There’s also been speculation about safety Harrison Smith, 34. Candid and emotional after Sunday’s game, Smith said he hadn’t decided what was next.
Hunter hopes they’ll remain teammates.
“Hopefully, it’s not [the last time],” Hunter said. “But he’s a good dude. I like talking to him, on and off the field. I spent a lot of time with him. We did a lot of recovery sessions together. And it was just a great experience. Getting to learn from one of the greats. I compare him to Troy Polamalu. So it was definitely an honor.”
Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:
- No discussion of politics or religion
- No feeding of the trolls
- Leave the gender hatred at the door
- Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
- Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
- No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
- If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
- While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm
You must be logged in to post a comment Login