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A story emerged of how Eric Kendricks helped a neighbor with their groceries years ago.
The Minnesota Vikings have had a rough go of it lately in the public eye. It was already looking bleak when Sam Darnold led Seattle to a winning record. Then he won some playoff games.
And then he won the Super Bowl.
Is it as simple as saying the Vikings would currently be Super Bowl champions if Darnold stuck around? No, that’s not exactly how it works. However, they would be in a heck of a lot better position when it comes to their future.
Fans have every right to be annoyed. Even players on the Vikings opened up recently about the decision to roll with McCarthy instead of Darnold. Regardless, Minnesota made the bed they must now sleep in.
The former Vikings linebacker duo of Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr posted a clip to the internet discussing the decision.
Former Vikings Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks Discuss Darnold Decision
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 08: Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks #54 and teammate outside linebacker Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings react against the Atlanta Falcons in the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Adam Patrick of The Viking Age did a great job capturing the words between the two beloved former Vikings.
“Barr: Most people in that building knew that J.J. just wasn’t quite ready yet. I think he needed an older mentor to kind of shadow for another two years.
Kendricks: Mentorship is crucial. There’s some positions where it pays to have a veteran in front of you, and a little bit of experience goes a long way. I mean, we see the resurgence of Sam Donald’s career.
Barr: The city’s dying for a champ. The state’s dying for one.
Kendricks: I agree.
Barr: I think [McCarthy] still has potential. I think he can still be great. He’s a quarterback. He’s a year two, right? Year two, playing full-time.
Kendricks: We’re not counting him out.
Barr: I think they do regret not signing a vet to let J.J. learn from for another one or two years. I mean, quarterbacks, they’re not granted or afforded the same patience that a lot of different position players are given.”
Minnesota’s 2026 Starting QB Remains Unclear
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
There are a ton of rumors surrounding the Vikings’ debatably-available 2026 starting QB gig. While it’s safest for now to assume that it’s J.J. McCarthy’s role, that doesn’t stop the rumor mill from churning out material.
Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray, and the retired Derek Carr are just a couple of names making the rounds in recent days as candidates for the job. The Vikings’ fanbase understandably isn’t in a consensus agreement regarding the topic.
But the real questions is; what other options do the Vikings have? On the surface, Minnesota had their guy with Sam Darnold a year ago and cast him away. Now, they have to pick up the pieces, and sleep in the bed they made.
Brevan Bane Brevan Bane is a sports scribe covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Brevan began his writing career by making a platform on Twitter and leveraging his presence into writing and content creation opportunities for outlets like PurplePTSD, Vikings Territory, The Noise, Hockey Wilderness, and the VikesNow YouTube channel. You can follow him on X @brevmanbane. More about Brevan Bane
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