welcome back morning victory. Yesterday, I wrote about my biggest concerns about the NFL and this year’s Super Bowl. Today, I want to write down my second thought about this big game: The Minnesota Vikings must be kicking themselves.
Last season, the Vikings won 14 games with Sam Darnold at quarterback, second-most in the NFL. This season, they suffered a five-game skid and missed the playoffs after parting ways with Darnold, and all three quarterbacks have put the team in trouble to varying degrees. Darnold, meanwhile, is heading into the Super Bowl, with his Seattle Seahawks as 4.5-point favorites.
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That had to sting.
Look, I don’t want to be that guy who second-guesses what was a non-controversial decision like Minnesota’s refusal to re-sign Darnold to a long-term contract. Of course, there are those who think the team would be foolish not to bring him back after he finally shows signs of franchise quarterback potential in his career in 2024, but the consensus still seems to be that he’s not a franchise quarterback. Especially after he fell to the ground in a wild-card playoff loss to the Rams. Additionally, the Vikings have first-round pick JJ McCarthy waiting in the wings. And because of the lack of originality among NFL teams, Minnesota didn’t stop to think that maybe their unique situation shouldn’t be given up for “rookie QB contract…cap space…yay!”
But here’s the thing: McCarthy simply doesn’t look ready to take over the reins this season, and if anyone should know that, it’s the Vikings. After recovering from a torn meniscus, it was clear throughout the season that he would need to keep another year on the clipboard. Did he have his moment of glory? certainly. But this is a team that’s ready to win now, and the Vikings sacrificed a year to develop a player who they hope will find answers quickly. This move backfired.
The more prudent decision would be to follow Green Bay’s lead and let your rookie do the cooking on the bench while bringing back Darnold. Or at least Daniel Jones, who also had a good year after leaving Minnesota. Instead, the Vikings went to McCarthy too early and had to wonder what would have happened. More importantly, Darnold’s campaign has certainly fueled excitement for 2026.
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Is Karl-Anthony Towns on the move?
Since Dec. 31, the Knicks are 4-9.
As the New York Knicks continue to struggle of late, there are conflicting reports on whether the team is trying to move on from star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. While some say the Knicks plan to keep Towns and ride out the season, Mark Stein reports that some teams believe Towns is still in the game.
With the trade deadline approaching, our own Brian Kalbrowski put together a list of five potential landing spots if the Knicks decide to change things up. The first place is no surprise:
“If the Knicks were to trade Towns, their primary target would almost certainly be Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite his injury, this is the most compelling name imaginable if New York is going to have a big game and is worth putting all of its chips in the center of the table.”
While Milwaukee has been rumored for a long time, the other options on this list are worth thinking about.
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Quick Clicks: Cole Calhoun on Minnesota…Browns coaching search…and more
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It’s time for Terry Bradshaw to call time on his broadcasting career. The Hall of Famer was great, but he was shocking during Sunday’s halftime show on Fox.
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This article originally appeared in To Win: Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl run made Vikings look stupid
