KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 5 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Sam Howell Acquisition Likely Ends Vikings QB Room Drama

Posted on April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings were headed for controversy if they had added either Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins to their quarterback room this offseason.

The ultra ego Rodgers would have landed here surrounded by paparazzi, with immediate expectations to replace 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy as the 2025 season starter. Cousins would have likely been willing to be McCarthy’s backup but as soon as the inexperienced QB had a difficult stretch, fans would have been in revolt and chanting Kirk’s name.

The Vikings saved millions of dollars in payroll by not pursuing the two veterans. They also negated the potential soap opera of having a former star quarterback either replacing or at least looking over McCarthy’s shoulder. In a worst-case scenario, the tumult could have even disrupted the kumbaya in the locker room.

Instead, the Vikings made a trade last week with the Seahawks for 24-year-old Sam Howell, a rather obscure NFL player who has played in 20 games in three years, including two last season. He could walk through the airport here and no one would recognize him. And in a sense, that’s the point.

Howell is clearly arriving at TCO Performance Center to be a reserve, a guy with limited starting experience to back up McCarthy. Howell was a 2022 fifth round draft choice of the Commanders. He started one game his rookie season, then 17 in 2023 throwing 21 touchdown passes and 21 picks. He led the league in passing attempts, interceptions and sacks (65).

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and QB coach Josh McCown excel in developing quarterbacks. Just ask Sam Darnold, the journeyman who had the best NFL season of his life leading the 2024 Vikings. Now the prime students are McCarthy and Howell who played in one game for the Seahawks last season.

McCarthy’s skills have intrigued the Vikings since before they selected him No. 10 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Injured all of last season, he’s destined to start his first NFL games in September and to do it without a marquee name drawing attention away from him.

Howell’s career is in need of rehab. The former North Carolina QB was traded by the Commanders last year and played in two games, attempting 14 passes. With “Doctor” O’Connell, he will no doubt get a thorough evaluation from arm angle on his throws to his progressions as plays develop.

Worth Noting

The Wild lost a second consecutive overtime game to the Golden Knights last evening in Las Vegas. It looked like Minnesota would win 3-2 with a goal late in the third period only to have a video replay negate the score by Ryan Hartman. Teammate Gustav Nyquist was offside on the play.

Minnesota icon Lou Nanne was prophetic talking to Sports Headliners about the importance of “little things” prior to the game where the Wild was trying to go ahead 3-2 in the best of seven playoff series. “You gotta be sharp all the time. You gotta be thinking every time you’re on the ice. You gotta be aware of what’s going on.”

The Wild had to play the third period and overtime with Marc-Andre Fleury, the backup to Filip Gustavsson who had to leave the game because of illness. Nanne labeled Gustavsson the best goalie in the series and Kirill Kaprizov, with five goals in five games, the “best player on either team.”

Asked to compare the rosters of Vegas and Minnesota, he said the Knights are deeper and then added: “Pretty well balanced. It’s just that they are bigger and they are stronger. But I think it’s a good match for us. We have as much opportunity to win as they do.”

To win the series, the Wild will need to rally with victories Thursday night in the Twin Cities and Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Timberwolves, leading 3-1 in their playoff series against the Lakers, are about five-point underdogs tonight in Los Angeles. Worry if you wish about the Wolves blowing the series, but the NBA began in 1947 and only 13 teams have ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a seven-game series.

There are fans who think the Lakers, with their storied championship legacy and huge TV market, will be given preferential calls by the officials tonight because the NBA wants the Lakers to extend the series. This kind of conspiracy has been present for decades but it’s rubbish because the NBA powers would be foolish to issue edicts about who should win games and thereby destroy the league’s credibility.

Minnesota native Ken Mauer, who refereed in the league for 37 years, told Sports Headliners yesterday “it’s make believe” to think the refs will favor the Lakers.

The officials also have a reputation to maintain. And, BTW, the NBA has admitted the officials missed a late game call in Sunday’s Minnesota win that hurt the Lakers.

Sunday’s game on ABC peaked with 10,274,000 viewers, according to Nielsen, and was the most watched NBA game of that day and evening.

Dating back to the regular season, the Wolves are 20-5 in their last 25 games.

Last week’s three-day NFL Draft from Green Bay was viewed by an average audience of 7.5 million people across ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and digital channels. It is the second most-watched NFL draft ever, behind only 2020 and up 27% from last year.

Top Twins prospect outfielder Walker Jenkins hasn’t played in a minor league game for Double -A Wichita since early April because of an ankle injury.

Ex-Twin Tyler Mahle is probably the biggest pitching surprise in MLB this spring. He is 3-0 for the Rangers with a gaudy 1.14 ERA, second best among starters.

The Twins traded for Mahle during the 2022 season and injuries limited his availability during parts of two seasons. In December of 2023 he signed as a free agent with the Rangers and has worked his way back from Tommy John surgery to stardom.

The Rangers signed him to a two-year $22 million contract that pays him $16.5 million this season, per MLB.com.

The college football transfer portal is closed and for a second consecutive season the Gophers have retained most of their core players. Offensive linemen Phillip Daniels and Martes Lewis could be significant transfer losses.

247Sports ranks the Minnesota transfer class as seventh best in the Big Ten. The website lists 22 incoming and 20 outgoing transfers with the program.

The Big Ten announced men’s basketball opponents yesterday for the 18 league teams for the 2025-2026 season. Each team will play 20 league games, facing 14 opponents only once. Dates and times announced later. Below is the Golden Gophers list of opponents.

Home: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, UCLA, USC.

Away: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Washington.

Home/Away: Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin.

Tempting for this writer: A Kentucky Derby bet Saturday on a horse named Journalism, a bay colt with $600,000 in career earnings who has emerged as a Derby favorite.

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Look for Vikings to Extend GM’s Contract Soon

Posted on March 11, 2025March 11, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings hired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January of 2022, giving him a four-year contract. Kevin O’Connell was hired as head coach in February of that year, also on a four-year deal.

Almost two months ago the Vikings announced a multi-year extension for O’Connell, but nothing has apparently been finalized regarding an extension for the GM whose original contract will end after next season.

What’s going on?

A former executive with NFL teams, who spoke to Sports Headliners on condition of anonymity, said there was “urgency” to get an extension done with O’Connell. He said players and staff become “nervous” when a head coach goes into his final season with uncertainty. The general manager’s staff is much smaller.

“No, I think he’s going to get extended,” the source said. “Certainly, before the draft, I think.”

The NFL Draft is April 24-26. The authority quoted here disagrees with speculation ownership and chief operating officer Andrew Miller may be waiting on a new Adofo-Mensah deal to see how the 2025 draft and free agency signings materialize.

Adofo-Mensah’s initial draft in 2022 was a flop but in fairness he had only a few months to prepare. Draft results since then have been better, and free agent signings and trades are impressive.

O’Connell, who was named AP NFL Coach of the Year in February, has won 34 games in the last three regular seasons, with free agent signings playing a major role in the success. That group includes: Blake Cashman, Sam Darnold, Jonathan Greenard, Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin, Aaron Jones, Byron Murphy Jr., Harrison Phillips, and Andrew Van Ginkel.

A majority of those players signed during the offseason in 2024 and were key contributors to a 14-3 team that was a Super Bowl contender. The source described the work in signing them as “fantastic.”

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

He also praised trades during the Adofo-Mensah era. Acquisitions include one of the NFL’s best tight ends in T.J. Hockenson, plus offensive tackle Cam Robinson and running back Cam Akers.

“And I am sure they’re happy with the way he navigated the Cousins deal to get them out from under that deal. Especially the way it turned out for Atlanta.”

Rather than become salary cap strapped with a $100 million-plus contract for an aging quarterback, the Vikings chose not to do an expensive multi-year deal with Kirk Cousins. Instead, they replaced him with Darnold who for much of 2024 was among the better quarterbacks in the NFL.

In recent days the Vikings reportedly are off to a head turning start in free agent signings of players who can help them in 2025. Included are defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, guard Will Fries, center Ryan Kelly and cornerback Isaiah Rodgers.

It’s evident Adofo-Mensah is deserving of an extension which could be for three or four more years. His original deal was for four years and $12 million, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe and Ian Rapoport in 2022.

Worth Noting

The NFL source referenced above believes this is a deep draft, with high quality players to be found going into the second round. Among Minnesota priorities after the first round could be a running back with speed and shiftiness to complement 30-year-old Aaron Jones who the Vikings just re-signed. He had a career high rushing attempts of 255 last season, but the NFL authority said his workload was too extensive.

“I think Aaron played a little too much this year, and at the end he kind of fell off. Compared with how Green Bay used him in the past he really was more of a split time guy and then he was great in the playoffs two years ago for them. …He just didn’t look the same at the end of the year (for Vikings) as he did earlier.”

Saturday’s column on Gopher men’s basketball prompted many comments from readers with the majority favoring a new head coach. One reader suggested Ben McCollum, now in his first season at Drake after winning four Division II national championships at Northwest Missouri State.

Vikings’ linebacker Blake Cashman will join his former Gopher and Eden Prairie teammate Carter Coughlin, now a linebacker with the New York Giants, in speaking to the Twin Cities Dunkers on March 19 at Interlachen Country Club.

March 28 Cashman will participate in a Q & A at the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic at the DoubleTree Park Place in St. Louis Park. Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck also speaks to clinic attendees on that date. https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/page/show/2279758-mfca-clinic-information

That Friday there will be a free noon reception at the DoubleTree for retired football coaches. Committee chair Dan Essler is seeking contact information for retired coaches to send invitations. His email is esslerd@nls.k12.mn.us

Jess Graba and Alison Lim, coaches for St. Paul’s two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Suni Lee, will headline the Capital Club breakfast meeting this Thursday at Mendakota Country Club. Minnesota Sports & Events CEO Wendy Blackshaw, who was responsible for bringing the 2024 US Olympic Gymnastics Trials to Minneapolis, will moderate the discussion.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve will speak to the club on March 19. Also, the franchise’s president of basketball operations, Reeve has won four WNBA Championships with the Lynx. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

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NFL Authority Not Touting Vikes Mullens as McCarthy Backup

Posted on March 3, 2025March 3, 2025 by David Shama

It appears likely the Vikings are moving on from Sam Darnold as their No. 1 quarterback and replacing him with J.J. McCarthy as the starter for the 2025 season. So, who will back up McCarthy?

Nick Mullens, the 29-year-old who backed up Darnold last year when McCarthy was injured and out for the season, has been with the Vikings since 2022, knows the offense and is a personable leader. But in his six-season NFL career, Mullens has thrown 31 interceptions in 34 games, including double-digit totals in two eight-game seasons starting for the 49ers.

“No, I don’t trust Nick Mullens,” a former executive with NFL teams told Sports Headliners. “I know he had a couple snaps last year and did okay, but we saw enough of him the year before to know that he’s a turnover machine (eight picks in 148 pass attempts).”

The source, asking that his name not be used, indicated the importance of a worthy backup is accentuated by McCarthy’s injury history as a rookie in 2024 who played in one preseason game before injuring his knee. He suggested it’s on the Vikings to find a higher-level talent with experience to be the No. 2 QB. Among names he mentioned were 27-year-old Daniel Jones who Minnesota acquired last fall and might re-sign in the offseason as a free agent.

The authority, who still follows the NFL closely including the Vikings, is okay with Mullens as No. 3 on the QB roster. He points out that Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell likes Jones and said that if he were in charge he would offer the former Giants 2019 first-round draft choice a two-year deal at $12.5 million.

Prior to joining the Vikings in late November, Jones completed 64.1 percent of his career passes for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. A starter for 10 games with the Giants in 2024, he has 2,179 career rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 399 carries.

Sam Darnold image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to franchise tag Darnold, if that’s their intent. The move might cost Minnesota about $40 million and it’s believed the Vikings would do so only if they thought they could trade him for a high future draft choice. If they can’t move Darnold, then Minnesota would be stuck with the $40 million, eating up perhaps two-thirds of the franchise’s salary cap room to sign other players.

Darnold resurrected his pro career in his initial season with Minnesota. The Sporting News and Professional Football Writers Association of America both named him league Comeback Player of the Year for his 2024 production that included career highs in several passing categories.

Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record but disappointed in the two biggest games of the year. With the NFC No. 1 seed in the playoffs at stake, Darnold and the Vikings lost in their regular season finale to the Lions and then failed to win in Minnesota’s opening playoff game against the Rams. In the Lions game he twice missed a wide-open Justin Jefferson in the end zone. He was a combined 43 of 81 passes in the two games and was sacked nine times by the Rams.

The way Darnold played in his last two games tempers enthusiasm and interest in the 27-year-old who until 2024 had been an NFL journeyman. “It was so disappointing how he played at the end,” the source said. “I mean, really just killed them (Vikings’ chances).

“That’s why I say how can you put big money into a guy if you can’t trust him to win a big game? And you got a young guy (McCarthy) you picked 10^th overall who you expect to be the future, and you got a coach who is a great quarterback coach.

“That’s why it all makes sense that it’s going to be turned over to McCarthy. I’ll be surprised if that’s not the case. And I expect some team to probably give Darnold a decent deal and I don’t think the Vikings are going to try to match that. It would make no sense unless they didn’t have faith in McCarthy, which I think they do.”

Could Darnold raise his game to be elite on the biggest of stages? “It’s possible because we didn’t think he’d get to what he did last year in the first 16 games.” the authority said. “But you invested in a first-round pick and you think that guy is special, which potentially I think he could be.

“And the one thing about McCarthy, in the big games (in college) he was clutch. National championship, playoffs.

“And that’s what Darold wasn’t was clutch at the end. So to me, you cut the cord. …”

It’s thought that Darnold will seek a multi-year deal as a free agent with any one of several teams, with perhaps the Raiders and Steelers the most likely of suitors. Would they be willing to pay $35 to $40 million per season?

The Vikings, with their own free agent needs, are likely to spend cap money on re-signing players like cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. And shopping in free agency for help in the interior offensive and defensive lines, and at cornerback.

O’Connell seems committed to McCarthy who he referred to last year as the “young franchise quarterback.” The 22-year-old, who was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan and has an ideal NFL QB physique at 6-foot-3 and about 220 pounds, apparently is successfully rehabbing from knee surgery. He likely impressed teammates and coaches last year in the spring and summer with his physical skills and leadership.

The authority thinks the Vikings have long had a plan to make McCarthy the starter in year two of his NFL career. The bigger issue now looks like who will be his backup.

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