May 17, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jason Tatum. Compulsory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports.
The offseason had a strong green light to rebuild the franchise after the dismissal of Minnesota Vikings general manager QC Adopho-Mensah Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. Instead, he hired a head coach, Kevin O’Connell, to lead a list like the 2021 edition that ended the 8-9 season.
Since Adopho-Mensah took office, he has also spoken of “surviving now” with nausea. And As for his vision of the “future” team-building, a reconstruction – something some fans desperately wanted – was never in the docket.
Adopho-Mensah has spoken with Mike Florio since Wednesday Pro Football Talk And explained his argument for creating a competitive list in 2022. To put it bluntly, he does not believe in the effectiveness of reconstruction. Adopho-Mensah told Florio, “Everyone says it’s too early to just tear it up, doesn’t it?” It’s like the easiest thing to say in sports. But there are costs and things involved. “
And while detailing why the Vikings will be competitive on his watch, Adopho-Mensah compared the current Vikings to the 2022 Boston Celtics, one game away from the NBA Finals until May 26th. Four months ago, the Celtics’ two best players, Jason Tatum and Jillian Brown, sank into a trade rumor mill because some viewers believed it was time to move on.
Adopho-Mensah admitted to the 2022 Celtics that, “Four months ago, everyone wanted the Celtics to trade their two best players, didn’t they?” How many years did it take to create the draft capital? “
If the Celtics had done business with Tatum and Brown, it is unlikely that the franchise would be on the verge of appearing in its 27th NBA Finals.
Adopho-Mensah continued, discussing ways to study Tatum and Brown instead of trading Boston players. [the Celtics] Too close? Is there a way to improve the little things to make them better enough? And in the end they did. So ultimately, that’s how we look at ourselves [the Vikings] List. “
Evidence of imitating the Vikings’ strategy was evident in the Free Agency and 2022 NFL draft. Minnesota has signed influential players such as Jaderius Smith, Harrison Phillips and Jordan Hicks, now hinting at a visible desire to win rather than establishing an emotional rebuild. Then in the draft, Minnesota has rebuilt its secondary, with Lewis Cine (S), Andrew Booth (CB), Aquileb Evans (CB), and even linebacker Brian Asamoah, who have features like safety.
And this offseason said nothing more about the Vikings “having a course” than re-signing quarterback Kirk Cousins. With a no-trade clause to boot, Adopho-Mensah left the Cousins around Minneapolis with an extension until the end of the 2023 season.
Based on his comments to Florio, his purple insanity method involved “improving the little things,” perhaps a compliment to the Vikings’ terrible 2021 situational defense. Minnesota regularly allows opponents to score arbitrarily during the last four minutes of the half, repeatedly wasting any chance of reaching the playoffs.
Citing the Celtics example, the context suggests that Adopho-Mensah aimed at a championship. This Year – because that’s where Boston can go in a few days.
When Vikings ownership hires a young executive, there will never be a lion-like or jet-like rebuild.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
