Maybe all of us local rubes are so smitten with the reputation of Kevin O’Connell as a quarterback guru that it takes an authority from beyond fly over-country to voice skepticism about J.J. McCarthy.
Colin Cowherd expressed his doubts the other day about McCarthy who missed his rookie season in 2024 but is considered all but certain to be the Viking starter this season—partially because of O’Connell’s confidence in him and the weak competition from Sam Howell and Brett Rypien. “In a league where every good team knows who their quarterback is, nobody knows what J.J. McCarthy is. I am a skeptic,” said Cowherd, the popular national sports talk host.
“First of all, he played for a college team known for a run game and defense. He was not asked to win games. He was asked not to lose them.
“What the draft people said about J.J. McCarthy coming in (was) ‘his strength (is) mental prep. Well, he plays with a chip on his shoulder.’
“Weakness? Modest arm strength, average escape ability. Very few examples of him adjusting protections at the line.
“All this stuff I am supposed to love is this sort of nebulous he is a winner; he plays with a chip.
“How is his arm? How is his athletic ability? How is his size? Eh, huh.”
In three seasons as Vikings head coach O’Connell has dazzled with his impact on quarterbacks. His most praised work came last season when he transformed journeyman Sam Darnold, in his lone 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.
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 2024 national champion Michigan, apparently has successfully rehabbed from knee surgery.
The Vikings made McCarthy their selection at No. 10 in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He and O’Connell, and others, can express all the confidence about succeeding as an NFL starter but it’s all conjecture. Just ask Herd.
Worth Noting
Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves 23-year-old guard, made five three-point shots last night to set an NBA record. His career total of 108 is the highest in league history for a player under 24 years old.
He scored 28 of his 36 points in the second half as the Timberwolves came from behind to defeat the Warriors, 102-97, and take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoffs semifinals best of seven series.
Howard Sinker, writing recently in the Fluence Media sports newsletter, reports that Chris Hine’s book on Edwards will be out June 3. Sinker talked to the Star Tribune’s Wolves beat writer who said Edwards best sport growing up was football and he didn’t blossom in basketball until he was a teenager.
“…Another thing is people may not realize how he can read people,” Hine told Sinker. “He knows how to read a room, and one person close to him called him a ‘politician.’ He’s very in touch with how to deal with people, who has his best interests at heart and who doesn’t, and it’s been that way for a long time.”
The book is titled: Ant: The Incredible Journey of NBA Rising Star Anthony Edwards.
No surprise to the news that the Wolves’ Mike Conley Jr. was named to the inaugural NBA All-Interview team (second team recognition) last week. The Professional Basketball Writers Association recognized players “who are consistently thoughtful, insightful and engaging with the media,” per a news release from the PBWA.
Steph Curry, of the Warriors, and Kevin Durant, from the Suns, were the top finishers in a vote by PBWA members and are joined on the All-Interview first team by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks; Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers; and Draymond Green, Warriors. With Conley on the second team are: Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers; Bam Adebayo, Heat; Josh Hart Knicks and Damian Lillard, Bucks.

Happy Birthday next Friday to retired Gopher baseball coach John Anderson who turns 70 years old. In various roles, including head coach and as a player, Anderson spent 49 seasons with the Gophers before retiring last year.
Marc Ryan, one of the all-time good guys in the University of Minnesota Athletic Department for 36 years, is retiring effective June 15. The longest tenured employee in the department, Marc has served in various roles over the years. Currently as senior associate athletics director, he is the sport administrator for nine teams at the U. His charm and wisdom will be missed!
The Giants need a win today to avoid being swept by the Twins at Target Field for only the second time since Interleague play began in 1997 (also swept in 2002). The Twins have won seven consecutive games to put their season record at 20-20.
Condolences to my former North Stars colleague Peter Jocketty following the recent passing of his brother Walter, 74. The Minneapolis native was a much-admired baseball executive whose transactional moves helped the Cardinals to championships including the World Series crown in 2006.
Seven players from the 2025 Wild roster will represent their countries at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark, from May 9-25.
Canada: goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Jared Spurgeon.
Czech Republic: defenseman David Spacek.
Slovakia: goalie Samuel Hlavaj.
Sweden: defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Marcus Johansson.
United States: defenseman Zeev Buium.
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