Race to the 1 seed

[Vanimal46]

The Vikings now control their own destiny and have a path to the 1 seed if they keep winning…

Detroit, especially on defense, are running on fumes. They lost another impact player DT Alim McNiel who tore his ACL last night. Off the top of my head I think that’s 15 injuries on defense alone. 

Philly has a chance to win out as well. Best bet for them to lose is next week against Washington. They’re a team on the tipping point of dominating, or blowing up on their coach. No in between. 

[Mike Sixel]

I like Philly's chances. I like MN, GB, and Detroit about equally right now for the division. I think MN is the third best of those, but with all Detroit's injuries, I think they're all about equal. Minnesota winning all their games, or losing all their games wouldn't surprise me. 

Exciting times, especially compared to what we all thought would be happening. 

[Aggies7]

David Montgomery possibly out for the season for Detroit. Wow. Just horrible injury luck for the lions 

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

David Montgomery possibly out for the season for Detroit. Wow. Just horrible injury luck for the lions 

Unreal. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

David Montgomery possibly out for the season for Detroit. Wow. Just horrible injury luck for the lions 

Yeah, sounds like bad news for their offense, but they might get a hidden benefit from that as Gibbs is so much better of a running back. I think he's the most dynamic rusher with the ball in his hands in the league right now.

They might be better giving him more carries anyway. Of course the downside of giving him more carries is a higher risk of injury, which is the trend they're dealing with. Or maybe just the added workload wears him down by the end of the game.

[gunnarthor]

Vikings Bills Super Bowl. Battle of the 0-4s. 

[Original_JB]

22 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Vikings Bills Super Bowl. Battle of the 0-4s. 

Vikings Steelers SB. Rematch, + 2 teams using (possibly) 1 yr, disposable, "placeholder" QBs.

[Danchat]

Not  #1 seed related, but Kirk Cousins has been officially benched. We all knew the Falcons overspent on him, but now they're stuck paying him a boatload of money for absolutely nothing. They assumed his Achilles would heal just fine but it's apparent he can't throw the ball like he used to.

[TheLeviathan]

8 hours ago, Danchat said:

Not  #1 seed related, but Kirk Cousins has been officially benched. We all knew the Falcons overspent on him, but now they're stuck paying him a boatload of money for absolutely nothing. They assumed his Achilles would heal just fine but it's apparent he can't throw the ball like he used to.

They're going to have to try and get off that deal.  It's going to hurt.

[Aggies7]

10 hours ago, Danchat said:

Not  #1 seed related, but Kirk Cousins has been officially benched. We all knew the Falcons overspent on him, but now they're stuck paying him a boatload of money for absolutely nothing. They assumed his Achilles would heal just fine but it's apparent he can't throw the ball like he used to.

Heard on the Dan Patrick show that  they will owe him $27 million if he’s cut during the offseason. Not crazy horrible considering they’ll have Penix on a rookie deal for some time. Everyone scoffed when they signed Kirk and drafted a QB, but it seems that it’s actually played out not horribly bad (aside from Kirk being very disappointing). Not nearly as bad as say the browns and Watson or giants and Daniel jones 

[gunnarthor]

23 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Heard on the Dan Patrick show that  they will owe him $27 million if he’s cut during the offseason. Not crazy horrible considering they’ll have Penix on a rookie deal for some time. Everyone scoffed when they signed Kirk and drafted a QB, but it seems that it’s actually played out not horribly bad (aside from Kirk being very disappointing). Not nearly as bad as say the browns and Watson or giants and Daniel jones 

Besides the 27m, isn't there a big cap deadspace hit?

[Aggies7]

6 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Besides the 27m, isn't there a big cap deadspace hit?

Yeah but apparently they can greatly reduce the hit if they trade him. It would go from 65 million to 37 million with a trade 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Aggies7 said:

Yeah but apparently they can greatly reduce the hit if they trade him. It would go from 65 million to 37 million with a trade 

If Cousins allows them to trade him, instead of making them cut him so he can keep his salary and choose his own team, Cousins would be foolish. And based on his long history of shrewd contract decisions, he doesn't seem foolish in this regard.

[Aggies7]

25 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

If Cousins allows them to trade him, instead of making them cut him so he can keep his salary and choose his own team, Cousins would be foolish. And based on his long history of shrewd contract decisions, he doesn't seem foolish in this regard.

Maybe, it’s interesting since he appears to be washed at the moment. What if he just steps away? Will be interesting to see if he tries to squeeze every dollar he can out of the falcons considering how bad he’s been for them.

[nicksaviking]

34 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Maybe, it’s interesting since he appears to be washed at the moment. What if he just steps away? Will be interesting to see if he tries to squeeze every dollar he can out of the falcons considering how bad he’s been for them.

He squeezed every dollar out of the Vikings and both sides seemed amicable about the situations (well, except for Mike Zimmer). If he gave Atlanta free money everyone better start questioning if there was an under-the-table deal to save Atlanta cap space.

Whether they cut him or trade him, he'll keep his salary, so I'd think the only way he'd step away is if they cut him. And if they did cut him and he 'retired' that would leave the door open for him to come back later with any team he chooses.

[Vanimal46]

Kirk’s not gonna play ball with a trade. Full no trade clause. He’s gonna force Atlanta to eat $65 million next year and find another team to play for. 

“One thing is certain: Cousins continues to build his first-ballot Business Hall of Fame resume”

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Kirk’s not gonna play ball with a trade. Full no trade clause. He’s gonna force Atlanta to eat $65 million next year and find another team to play for. 

“One thing is certain: Cousins continues to build his first-ballot Business Hall of Fame resume”

As he should. He has a contract, he should hold ATL to that contract. They'd cut him with zero pay in 1 second if they could, he owes them nothing.

[Mike Sixel]

As to the original topic, I maintain my belief this team is 50% smoke and mirrors, and are the 4th best team in the NFC (which, really, isn't much smoke or mirrors). I could see them winning out, even in the playoffs, or losing out. Nothing has changed in my thoughts.

[Aggies7]

36 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

As he should. He has a contract, he should hold ATL to that contract. They'd cut him with zero pay in 1 second if they could, he owes them nothing.

Yeah, I’m trying to think of a player in any sport who was like “nah keep your money I didn’t earn it”. The only one I can think of is nishioka 😂

[gunnarthor]

5 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Yeah, I’m trying to think of a player in any sport who was like “nah keep your money I didn’t earn it”. The only one I can think of is nishioka 😂

Cuddyer retired rather than take the 9m the Mets still owed him.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It happens. 

but yeah, Kirk has got to be the best businessman-athlete negotiating the best deals for himself in all of professional sports, although a close second would be either Bobby Bonilla or Randy Dobnak…

[TheLeviathan]

I read today about the Browns.  They owe Watson obscene money they have no path out of....and then add Cousins to it?  Woof.

Man did that franchise screw themselves.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I am having a hard time seeing the Vikings win in Seattle and then also beating the Packers and the Lions, but if they do, there is a very strong chance they are 15-2 and don’t get the #1 seed.  That would be unbelievable on a number of levels.

Still, getting the division crown would be a big boost; two home games vs two road games is a major difference.  
 

 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

I read today about the Browns.  They owe Watson obscene money they have no path out of....and then add Cousins to it?  Woof.

Man did that franchise screw themselves.

Yeah, I could see it if Cousins was free, but he won't be even when he's cut, he can sign with the highest bidder while keeping his Atlanta severance. Like you said, that franchise just makes bad decisions because they have a bad owner.

Cousins and Stefanski were together for only one season, but maybe they have a strong relationship. Not sure if Stefanski has any pull, or even if he'll keep his job though.

[gunnarthor]

1 hour ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

I am having a hard time seeing the Vikings win in Seattle and then also beating the Packers and the Lions, but if they do, there is a very strong chance they are 15-2 and don’t get the #1 seed.  That would be unbelievable on a number of levels.

Still, getting the division crown would be a big boost; two home games vs two road games is a major difference.  
 

 

As discussed above, if the Vikings win out they get the #1 seed because the NFC East is really bad. 

[Vanimal46]

Incredible. Imagine if Falvey made a trade and Joe Pohlad said “Hold on partner. Have you seen his rating on MLB the Show?” 

[nicksaviking]

24 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Incredible. Imagine if Falvey made a trade and Joe Pohlad said “Hold on partner. Have you seen his rating on MLB the Show?” 

That is perhaps the one benefit of having an ownership group like the Pohlads. They don't get involved, either because they don't care enough or because they don't know enough. In either case, leave these decisions to the professionals.

Also, if it seems odd that an elderly man like Woody Johnson knows about Madden stats, he doesn't. Further reporting says that it was his teenage sons (really? OK Mick Jagger) were the ones telling him not to do the trade because of the Madden ratings. Teenagers. Having input on a multi billion dollar company's decisions.

[TheLeviathan]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Incredible. Imagine if Falvey made a trade and Joe Pohlad said “Hold on partner. Have you seen his rating on MLB the Show?” 

The most shocking part about that, to me, is that a 77 year old man is using Madden ratings for real life.

I mean...you hire a 17 year old you could see it.  Woody Johnson....at seventy freaking seven....is playing Madden?

(Edit....sniped by nick)

[Vanimal46]

Thank you Washington! We have a clear path to the 1 seed. Just keep winning 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Thank you Washington! We have a clear path to the 1 seed. Just keep winning 

No one to blame but themselves if they don’t get it. Exactly how it should be with two games to go.