Minnesota Vikings News Dump (8.4.2025) | Night Practice, KOC Taking Notes, Anticipation

Minnesota Vikings News Dump (8.4.2025) | Night Practice, KOC Taking Notes, Anticipation

[Music] What’s going on, Jerome? Beautiful Monday. Birds are indeed chirping and stuff and it’s time for another Vikings news dump. Just I I I know that, you know, typically people dread Monday. I I I like Mondays. They’re not so bad. I get back in the swing of things and very lucky to have this side hustle. Thank you, Jerome, for coming about. I’m a lucky man. Especially with this season coming up where I I feel like, yeah, obviously we’re pretty hyped about the season, but at least it’s not like 2011. You know what I mean? Where you’re staring down the barrel of an ass season. The Vikings went three and 13 that year. Plus, everyone kind of knew, right? Because even though they drafted Christian Jerome Ponder in the first round, got Rudolph in the second round, chemistry, connection, long time. I mean, Donovan McNab was here. Like, everyone knew that team was going to be ass. Thank you. All right. And still, we weren’t doing the podcast in 2011. We started like late in 2013, but it was still, oh, here we go. OG Willer. Oh, go give it the good old try, boys. Come on. And then not so much. At least Jared Allen did some work. Good times. Uh, so night practice is tonight, uh, Monday, August 4th. And night practice is a lot of fun. Hopefully weather’s going to cooperate and because you never know in August in the great state of Minnesota, right? Uh, it’s a familyfriendly event, a very low-key, and it’s a good memory. It’s kind of cool getting getting out there and, uh, you know, the Vikings chill, layback, put on a little bit of a show. a lot of 11 on 111, seven on seven work, airing things out, playing to the crowd, everyone gets hyped up. It’s good times. Hopefully Riker will make his kicks. Otherwise, we may have full on meltdown. Uh a night practice mid I I don’t know, Bob Seekers. Plus, this is bad. Like I I need to I need to stop having Roco do the photoshops, man. That’s all. Yeah. But Kevin Oonnell, Dear Diary, everyone liked the famous Kevin Oonnell guacamole at at uh at the potluck, but then they started fighting at training camp. Probably fighting over trying to get their recipe for the Okonnell famous guacamole. The the secret ingredient is raisins. Aya, man. Yeah. Uh but of course everyone can’t wait to see JJ McCarthy under the lights because remember so McCarthy played in the first preseason game then had you know routine soreness with the knee and then was shut down and originally they had night practice on the 5th but then they delayed it due to weather. I think it was weather. Yeah. But they delayed it to the 12th. So this is actually McCarthy’s first night practice. So uh under the lights fans want to see number nine feeling fine. Plus, you know, we can’t overstate the chemistry between nine and three. Like McCarthy and Addison just seem to connect for big-time plays every single day, right? And we we talked about it’s one of the drawbacks cuz even though Jefferson was uh present at OTAAS and mandatory mini camp, I mean, these training camp reps are really important because right before the season, getting on the same page, chemistry between a quarterback and the receivers, it’s paramount, right? And it’s nice that McCarthy and Addison are getting in all of these reps possible. Uh you know because you know McCarthy talks about more reps is better or something like that. And also with Addison probably facing that three-game suspension coming on very soon. I mean any day I know that the NFL has had uh stuff going on but you know uh I ideally we’ll get word on the suspension sooner rather than later. I mean it’s probably going to happen, right? But getting in these reps cuz I I love this throw because McCarthy lets this thing fly before even before Addison put his foot in the ground and got into his break. Like this was elite anticipation. Kind of good to see, right? Also, uh the play of the day on Saturday was McCarthy going in the red zone over the top uh to Jordan Addison. Also overdue Mclothan who actually had decent coverage on this rep. But I I I love that beating Nudy for a touchdown like that that’s the the high water mark now just getting after things. But Addison I I I know that Addison isn’t eligible for the Earl of Egan or Mr. Mano, but he’d be up there. Certainly would be. But uh the real Earl of Egan is probably Nudy Mcloth. Like uh Nudy, you know, three straight practices with a pick. Honestly, if he had I mean he might have another pick six like he did last preseason against the Browns. It would be kind of be beautiful to see and he’ll lock that up. It would be good. Speaking of Madison, pro persuasion, in 2024, Jordan Addison was targeted 17 times in the red zone. He caught 16 of those passes for six touchdowns. All he does is catch touchdowns. That’s why he needs to be right. So, he needs to be more of a weapon uh when he gets back from suspension. I again I feel it in my bones cuz yeah definitely not a fountain of fantasy advice but I feel like too many people are going to overindex Addison’s suspension and also downplay JJ McCarthy. I think the numbers are going to be there. I I I feel like Addison might still be in line for a thousand yard season, 10 touchdown season, you know, 75 plus catches. Uh even even being suspended three games. I I I really do and it’ll be good. Plus, I feel like so not to tangent off in things, but so gambling and fantasy football, like I obviously partake in both, but h how do I say this? Like the influencers or, you know, the the experts in both industries, they’re they’re just salespeople. like they they try to sell you on, you know, buying their buying their picks, buying their perspectives, buying buying everything. I feel like I don’t know like getting honest like good advice. It’s kind of rare out there. Everyone’s trying to sell something. So, I don’t know. Plus, most fantasy advice is like, I told you last year Brian Thomas Jr. is going to be good. Oh, Ry. Oh, really? Good job. Or, I told you about Bucky Irving. Great. So did everyone. Anyways, uh be beautiful. Over the weekend, Jared Allen got inducted into Hall of Fame. I I I didn’t expect to be crying in the club on a Saturday afternoon, but Jared Allen sent me there. Also, collection of Vikings Hall of Famers uh at Canton. Beautiful. So, you got Ron Yerry, Roland Ron Yerry, great tackle from back in the day for the Vikes. Warren Moon. Warren Moon was the first quarterback I I can actually like remember. Like I I don’t really remember Tommy Kramer and stuff cuz I’m too young for that. But do you remember Warren Moon cuz I I remember the comic book sorry graphic novel of like the NFL quarterback club and it was just when Moon got to the Vikings and he was riding a snowmobile and then like chucking chucking it to Chris Carter. I don’t know why I remember that. It’s good stuff. I got to get me a copy of that. Uh then also Paul Krauss the unbreakable record 81 picks. Woo. Let’s go. Randall McDaniel cruising down the street in my six for Jared Allen as well as jumping John Randall. Oh, sorry. A fan in between the two Randalls. Yeah. But also, so John Randall, I believe undrafted 1990. Uh, and then Randall McDaniel, first- round pick out of Arizona say 1988. Just imagine those those practices like in the in the mid 90s, man. just every single day. Hall of Fame versus Hall of Fame. Every single rep, making each other better. It’s good stuff, man. All right. And then John Randle played a lot of left defensive end uh towards the end of his Vikings career. Chris Carter always does catch touchdowns. Steve Hutchinson looking like a crooked small town sheriff. Yeah. And then also the coach Tony Dunie, former great defensive coordinator for the Vikings under Denny Green. Woo. That that’s a collection. It’s a great photo right there, man. Pretty fantastic. Also, also fantastic is I I like when the Vikings bring out uh guests, you know, coaches for the other Minnesota sports teams. So, new Gophers basketball head coach Nico Medv is on the sidelines. Just Frier Jefferson out there is like Jefferson’s like, “Hey, I got one more year of eligibility. I I could light things up for the Gophers.” I don’t know. Also, here’s like Jefferson is barely 6-1. like he’s 6’1 and eighth or no it might be 2 ace from his combine can’t remember but I mean I I understand that you know basketball is basketball maybe uh Nico Medved was a guard or something but he looks 5’4 doesn’t he? I don’t know man. Plus Nikico Medv sounds like a hockey coach or like a Soviet defector. Nicl Medvid sold out Mother Russia to the American capitalist pigs. That’s Feda or something. I don’t know. But anyways, you’ll have to see that. Right. Also, so I love and respect Sfon Gilmore, but I have no interest in running it back. All right. And then Ben Gestling Star Tribune was just like, “Okay, uh Vex Vampage put this together. Uh it could be him Gilmore. I would not be surprised at all if they added somebody at that position.” No, no, I’m just not into it, man. Because I know that Gilmore is a name. I know that Gilmore is probably going to be Hall of Famer. I know that Gilmore is 2019 defensive player of the year. Know all of that. Last year, last year he was fine, but he really faded towards the end of the season, right? And I don’t know, 59.2 PFF coverage grade. I gave up five touchdowns, had a 99.8 8 quarterback rating when thrown at it, which is not just not good. Also, uh 87 targets last year. He only played 94 snaps. I mean, quarterbacks are just not afraid of him. Like, they were not scared about going after him. Plus, at his age, sort of limited the amount of man-to-man that Flores could play, had had to play a lot of zone. So, I don’t know. I know that Gilmore’s talked about playing this year. I think that he will get a job somewhere, but I I I just don’t see it. Honestly, I would rather see not not even honestly rather see. I just like So Rogers, Akuda, and Murf I feel like are one, two, three locked in. Nudy has had himself phenomenal camp. He’s cemented as cornerback four. Blackman is quarterback five. I I feel like even guys like Cleassie has had a great camp as well. Uh Zamaya Vaughn, the undrafted free agent from Utah, definitely want to kick the tires on him. Tavier Thomas is going to uh make the roster as more of a special teamer. So, I mean the Vikings quarterback room is at least six. You can make a case maybe seven uh depending how you see Thomas deep. So, I I don’t know like I I I just frank I just don’t see it, you know. Uh and I I I love and respect uh Gilly, but not this year, right? Also, so position of contention through camp so far. Again, it’s early. It’s early, but Sam How has not taken care of the football. Made some bad decisions. Brett Ripen ass has been getting more second team reps when it was mostly Howal early on. Uh, so it seems like we have legitimate quarterback controversy for quarterback 2, right? And as we’ve seen in recent years, I mean, knocking on all the wood, obviously McCarthy is the guy and hopefully healthy and good to go, but you can’t have one play derail this entire season, right? And do you feel confident in Howell or Ripen right now? No. No. I feel like How has a higher ceiling, but also he’s got a way lower floor than Ripen. You know what I mean? And long story longer, Gestling again. Uh, Vikan Page, Ben Gestling on Kurt Cousins being an option, the highly paid, highly compensated backup quarterback for the Hot Atlanta Falcons. I don’t think it’s impossible. There’s still a good relationship there between Kurt Cousins and Kevin Oonnell. Everybody would have to be on the same page about what the roles are, what expectations are. That would be the biggest hurdle. Well, couple things here. Number one, I’m not paying the full salary. No, f that noise. A Falcons got to pick up the bulk of the tab. That’s fine. Number two, you’re not trading a lot. You know, I think at most it’s a late round draft pick swap, like a fifth for a six, fifth for a seventh, somewhere in there. All right. Number three, roles are important. So, I This is the nice thing. I feel like at Curt’s age at 37, still coming off the Achilles, especially given how he played last year, got benched, I don’t see a locker room schism happening. I feel like everyone on this team is team McCarthy and even with Kurt coming back in where, you know, Kurt was a starter here for a couple of years with some of these veterans, I I I don’t see a locker room room split. I just I just don’t. So, under those parameters, fine. But you’re not moving a high draft pick or even a mid draft pick. You you’re not paying most of the money. You’re not doing Also, you’d have to talk about the 10 million has guarantee in 2026. So, I don’t know. Like, honestly, if you can make it cheap, fine. But I I don’t know if the Falcons will go for it. I don’t know if Curts will go for it. Remember, he still has a no trade clause that he would have to wave. So, I don’t know. But also, the dark horse in this. Come on on down, Brazmer. Let’s go, man. Like I honestly all all of this talk about Kurt Cousins, all this talk about uh Howell and ripping ass. I mean that could be put to bed if How comes out tonight and just lights it up, which he certainly could where yeah, he’s playing with the threes and the fours, but also he’s playing against threes and fours, right? So Bromer comes out, lights things up, and you we’ve seen players in training camp really start making waves, right? Just lighting things up in night practice and preseason. Hal Slutter, Taylor Hineki, uh Jake Browning when he was the only quarterback available because of the Rona. Yeah, that weird season. Uh but overall, then he got cut that same year. It’s weird. Uh some people can’t handle success, but Bromer, honestly, if Bromer shows up and shows out in night practice, the three preseason games, which he’ll get he’ll get some run and as well as the joint practices with the Patriots. I consider giving him the quarterback two job. Really, honestly, let let’s go. Damn the torpedoes. I don’t know. Pick up jumping Jiren Hall the Mormon missile or something. That’s quarterback three. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. Lastly, so I actually grid over a pro football reference. Uh so with the grid, you got to find a player that has played actual regular season or playoff snaps uh with the two teams or sometimes they have categories like a Texans player and also thousand plus rushing yards in a season, all that stuff. It’s fun. It’s it’s definitely a game catered towards nerds. And I I love when the Vikings are on the list because go deep, right? Because you get more points the more obscure player that you get. But also, you got to be careful. A player could be on a team, sure, but if they don’t have any regular season snaps, they don’t count. All right. Uh, and yes, yesterday’s Sunday’s one uh was good. So, Chris Boyd. 008. We got the West Phillips action on here. Dear Roma should do Vikings Bears.9. Uh, Vikings Bills. We got Latavis Murray, recent retired. The pride of Central Florida, respect. Uh the the one I’m Well, so not going to lie, uh I couldn’t think of one for the Bills and 49ers. Oh, wait. I could have said OJ Simpson. Damn it. Uh but the one I thought of was Frank Gore, but I accidentally picked Frank or Jr. So that’s why I didn’t get credit. I mean, Frank probably would have been a pretty popular one, probably like 40%, so whatever. Uh but the Texans and Cardinals, I got Nuke, uh Texans and Bears, sexy Rexy Grossman. Texans and Bills got Case Keenum uh just in case, right? Miss Minneapolis America, man. I love it. Uh 49ers and Cardinals. Mike Aupati who also as you see was with the Seahawks. Kind of funny. And then the 49ers and the Bears. Rick Meyer, remember he was drafted out of Notre Dame. He was supposed to be the cat’s ass with with the se uh with the Seattle Seahawks. Nope, not so much. But again, I I love when the Vikings are on here because we can go obscure. Yeah, we we can go deep. We can do all that stuff. It’s going to be good. Anyways, that’s it. Night practice tonight. Uh enjoy yourself if you’re headed out and we’ll be here. You want us on this wall, you need us on this wall. You guys are the best. You know what to do. Skull production value.

Minnesota Vikings News Dump for Monday, August 4th.

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