March 27, 2025 • 13 mins
The conversation delves into the ongoing speculation surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Minnesota Vikings, particularly focusing on the dynamics between the team's management and their quarterback situation. It highlights the internal discussions about Rodgers, the relationship with Kevin O'Connell, and the potential impact of J.J. McCarthy's performance on the team's decision-making regarding Rodgers. The dialogue emphasizes the uncertainty and strategic waiting game both the Vikings and Rodgers are playing as they assess the quarterback landscape.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Things continue to get juicier and juicier with the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It's the never ending story and it will continue to
be the never ending story as long as the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Continue to run with the story.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
The Vikings could have ended this story three weeks ago.
They could have ended the story yesterday. Quesci Adolfo Mensa
takes to the podium for the first time in a
long time to answer questions from all of the Vikings insiders.
(00:59):
Kevin Seafert tweets this, Quescy Adolpho Mensaw on Aaron Rodgers,
right now, we're happy with our quarterback room. What does
that even mean? Right now we're happy with a quarterback room.
What he could have said is we have no interest
(01:19):
in Aaron Rodgers. It was a thing for a week.
We've moved past it and we are not going to
look back at it anymore.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Didn't say that.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Alec Lewis asked Quesci Adolpho Mensaw if he or Kevin
O'Connell had direct conversations with Aaron Rodgers, and this is
what he said. Yeah, so you're taking Yeah, so you're
talking about a player who Kevin has known a long time.
(01:53):
When you have a relationship like that. I'm typically the
type who is like, hey, who's ever got the best relationship?
Talk to them? If I'm like the dork Elvis. Kevin
is the QB Elvis type of guy. He's got a
lot of respect in that community, and he deserves it,
not just for what he brings from a schematic standpoint before,
(02:16):
how he cares about players and people. A lot of
times the environments around quarterbacks are not supportive two quarterbacks,
and so for that reason, he's got a great relationship
with a lot of these guys. He's got a great
relationship with Aaron. They've had a lot of conversations. He
looped us in. We kind of met and went from there.
(02:37):
It's a new thing to talk about a player of
that caliber. I'm always somebody who wants to learn and
grow myself, So being involved in those dialogues was really special.
So this idea thrown out by the Vikings fan base
of all people, that the Vikings were never interested or
(03:00):
discussed Aaron Rodgers to the squad.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Was never true.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Quesci says, right here, they've had a lot of conversations.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What are Rogers and O'Connell talking about if they've had
a lot of conversations. He looped us in what are
you talking about? There has to be some sort of
method in place or plan in place.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Because.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The Vikings could have killed this three weeks ago. And
we all like to make fun of Aaron Rodgers because
he does bring on some criticism himself for decisions he makes,
Darkness retreats, things like that his COVID stances don't bother me.
(04:02):
I actually agree with some of them. But as far
as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, the best decision for Rodgers
is to play this out and wait as long as
possible to make a decision. Why would he decide to
(04:23):
sign with the Steelers right now still March. If you're
gonna sign with the team, skip OTA's skip this mandatory
BS and sign with the team early July. It's the
best way to do it if you're a forty two
year old quarterback. And it appears that Aaron Rodgers at
(04:49):
this point in time is Vikings or bust.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
He met with the.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Steelers for hours at the facility, but did not walk
away with a deal. He has a relationship with Kevin
O'Connell and here's my conspiracy hat throwing on here. And
I don't know if it's as much as a conspiracy
as it is just truth, but I'll call it a
(05:16):
conspiracy too because it sounds more interesting, and because I'm
not technically a Vikings insider, but I do like to
think that I think like an insider. Aaron Rodgers and
the Minnesota Vikings are waiting for how Jajon McCarthy looks.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
This spring and into the summer.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
If McCarthy looks the part and remains healthy, Aaron Rodgers
will not sign with the Vikings. However, if there is
concern over McCarthy's ability to step in seamlessly with the
(06:08):
Vikings after missing what almost three hundred.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Days of.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Practice of physical reps, then you could probably expect that
the Vikings would be in play for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I thought Kevin Severer did it well? Did it justice
on x? He says.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Fact Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings has never been likely.
Fact it was discussed both with Rogers and internally. Fact
it hasn't been ruled out. Fact jaj McCarthy is the
likeliest QB one to sum up what the Vikings general
(07:03):
manager said at the podium yesterday. Is basically that the
Vikings have had internal discussions about bringing Aaron Rodgers in
and they still have not killed it. They asked quesci, hey,
(07:23):
is this thing done well? You can't say one hundred
percent on anything that's not my job. What you certainly can,
and because he didn't, the play is to see how
McCarthy looks, and the play for Rogers is to wait
(07:47):
on the Vikings to see how McCarthy looks, because the
last thing the Vikings want to do is have a
Super Bowl roster offensively and defensively. Is shell out millions
and millions and millions of dollars to offensive and defensive linemen,
(08:12):
and then the one position holding you back is your
first year starting quarterback because he's not physically ready to
play after missing an entire year of practice.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
So that's why this thing is still happening.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
That's why the Vikings have not killed the Aaron Rodgers story. Now,
the likelihood is that McCarthy does look the part, and
he looks solid, and he looks like he's going to
be a good fit on the Vikings next season. That's
(08:52):
what the Vikings are expecting. But they are holding out
a sliver of opportunity for Aaron Roddy in case McCarthy
does not look like they expect him to look. And
that's really why rogers to the Vikings has been any
(09:13):
possibility whatsoever, and also why McCarthy admitted that the Vikings
have not named him QB one.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yet and why should they.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
He's an unproven quarterback that's missed almost a year of
physical football reps. And McCarthy understands that he's got a
good head on his shoulders that I want to earn it.
I don't want anything handed to me. So he handled
that perfectly. The answer was incredible. He could have played
(09:47):
the whole bitter route, but he's not going to do that.
McCarthy's a smart leader and a smart guy, and he
knows how to answer those questions, and he knows how
to respond to.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
The Vikings not naming him QBE. It's got to prove it.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
He missed almost a year of practice and hasn't played
a regular season NFL football game. So to summarize everything
that's happening, the Vikings are waiting on McCarthy to prove
that he is the guy and to prove that he
(10:23):
is ready physically and mentally to step in. If he is,
Rogers is a non story. If he is, Rogers is
not coming to the Vikings. On the other side of it,
if McCarthy does not look the part and is struggling
consistently in practice, well then Rogers to the Vikings is
(10:47):
in play. Also, if McCarthy goes down with the injury,
Rogers is in play, as he should be. But I
should clarify some comments because I said it, but I
want to make sure you really hear it. If McCarthy
(11:09):
struggles consistently, consistently, okay, we're not talking about one bad
day of practice and then the Vikings are going to
pick up the phone and call Aaron Rodgers. We're talking
about a week or two of consistent struggles from McCarthy.
That's the only way Aaron Rodgers is a Minnesota Viking.
(11:31):
If McCarthy struggles for a week or two consistently, okay,
they're not going to pick up the phone after one
bad day of practice and say Roder.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
As we need.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yah, McCarthy's not looking the part. They'll give him time
to adapt and find his rhythm again. He's got to
be rusty. When was the last time he dropped back
to throw and throw a football with offensive lineman and
defensive lineman and reading a defense and all that stuff.
So the Vikings will give McCarthy time, and we should
(12:04):
not overreact.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
To one bad day of practice.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But if you start to get four to five, six, seven,
eight bad days of practice in a row, well, then
Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings will be a realistic possibility.
And if you're Aaron Rodgers, that's what you're waiting for.
That's why you haven't signed with the Stealers, because you're
(12:30):
waiting for something to go down with Jaje McCarthy and
the Vikings organization. So that's really what's going on, and
that's why the Vikings haven't killed the story. They're waiting
to see how McCarthy looks in the spring. So I
think that makes sense. Anyways, thank you for making this
(12:51):
podcast part of every day. I appreciate it. Hit that
subscribe and follow button wherever you are watching and listening,
Tell your friends and I'll see you guys tomorrow morning,
if not later today, we'll see what happens. Thank you
for making this podcast a part of your day and
for going on this podcasting journey with me.
Things continue to get juicier and juicier with the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
It's the never ending story and it will continue to
be the never ending story as long as the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Continue to run with the story.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
The Vikings could have ended this story three weeks ago.
They could have ended the story yesterday. Quesci Adolfo Mensa
takes to the podium for the first time in a
long time to answer questions from all of the Vikings insiders.
(00:59):
Kevin Seafert tweets this, Quescy Adolpho Mensaw on Aaron Rodgers,
right now, we're happy with our quarterback room. What does
that even mean? Right now we're happy with a quarterback room.
What he could have said is we have no interest
(01:19):
in Aaron Rodgers. It was a thing for a week.
We've moved past it and we are not going to
look back at it anymore.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Didn't say that.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Alec Lewis asked Quesci Adolpho Mensaw if he or Kevin
O'Connell had direct conversations with Aaron Rodgers, and this is
what he said. Yeah, so you're taking Yeah, so you're
talking about a player who Kevin has known a long time.
(01:53):
When you have a relationship like that. I'm typically the
type who is like, hey, who's ever got the best relationship?
Talk to them? If I'm like the dork Elvis. Kevin
is the QB Elvis type of guy. He's got a
lot of respect in that community, and he deserves it,
not just for what he brings from a schematic standpoint before,
(02:16):
how he cares about players and people. A lot of
times the environments around quarterbacks are not supportive two quarterbacks,
and so for that reason, he's got a great relationship
with a lot of these guys. He's got a great
relationship with Aaron. They've had a lot of conversations. He
looped us in. We kind of met and went from there.
(02:37):
It's a new thing to talk about a player of
that caliber. I'm always somebody who wants to learn and
grow myself, So being involved in those dialogues was really special.
So this idea thrown out by the Vikings fan base
of all people, that the Vikings were never interested or
(03:00):
discussed Aaron Rodgers to the squad.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Was never true.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Quesci says, right here, they've had a lot of conversations.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
What are Rogers and O'Connell talking about if they've had
a lot of conversations. He looped us in what are
you talking about? There has to be some sort of
method in place or plan in place.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Because.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
The Vikings could have killed this three weeks ago. And
we all like to make fun of Aaron Rodgers because
he does bring on some criticism himself for decisions he makes,
Darkness retreats, things like that his COVID stances don't bother me.
(04:02):
I actually agree with some of them. But as far
as Aaron Rodgers is concerned, the best decision for Rodgers
is to play this out and wait as long as
possible to make a decision. Why would he decide to
(04:23):
sign with the Steelers right now still March. If you're
gonna sign with the team, skip OTA's skip this mandatory
BS and sign with the team early July. It's the
best way to do it if you're a forty two
year old quarterback. And it appears that Aaron Rodgers at
(04:49):
this point in time is Vikings or bust.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
He met with the.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Steelers for hours at the facility, but did not walk
away with a deal. He has a relationship with Kevin
O'Connell and here's my conspiracy hat throwing on here. And
I don't know if it's as much as a conspiracy
as it is just truth, but I'll call it a
(05:16):
conspiracy too because it sounds more interesting, and because I'm
not technically a Vikings insider, but I do like to
think that I think like an insider. Aaron Rodgers and
the Minnesota Vikings are waiting for how Jajon McCarthy looks.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
This spring and into the summer.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
If McCarthy looks the part and remains healthy, Aaron Rodgers
will not sign with the Vikings. However, if there is
concern over McCarthy's ability to step in seamlessly with the
(06:08):
Vikings after missing what almost three hundred.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Days of.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Practice of physical reps, then you could probably expect that
the Vikings would be in play for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
I thought Kevin Severer did it well? Did it justice
on x? He says.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Fact Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings has never been likely.
Fact it was discussed both with Rogers and internally. Fact
it hasn't been ruled out. Fact jaj McCarthy is the
likeliest QB one to sum up what the Vikings general
(07:03):
manager said at the podium yesterday. Is basically that the
Vikings have had internal discussions about bringing Aaron Rodgers in
and they still have not killed it. They asked quesci, hey,
(07:23):
is this thing done well? You can't say one hundred
percent on anything that's not my job. What you certainly can,
and because he didn't, the play is to see how
McCarthy looks, and the play for Rogers is to wait
(07:47):
on the Vikings to see how McCarthy looks, because the
last thing the Vikings want to do is have a
Super Bowl roster offensively and defensively. Is shell out millions
and millions and millions of dollars to offensive and defensive linemen,
(08:12):
and then the one position holding you back is your
first year starting quarterback because he's not physically ready to
play after missing an entire year of practice.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
So that's why this thing is still happening.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
That's why the Vikings have not killed the Aaron Rodgers story. Now,
the likelihood is that McCarthy does look the part, and
he looks solid, and he looks like he's going to
be a good fit on the Vikings next season. That's
(08:52):
what the Vikings are expecting. But they are holding out
a sliver of opportunity for Aaron Roddy in case McCarthy
does not look like they expect him to look. And
that's really why rogers to the Vikings has been any
(09:13):
possibility whatsoever, and also why McCarthy admitted that the Vikings
have not named him QB one.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Yet and why should they.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
He's an unproven quarterback that's missed almost a year of
physical football reps. And McCarthy understands that he's got a
good head on his shoulders that I want to earn it.
I don't want anything handed to me. So he handled
that perfectly. The answer was incredible. He could have played
(09:47):
the whole bitter route, but he's not going to do that.
McCarthy's a smart leader and a smart guy, and he
knows how to answer those questions, and he knows how
to respond to.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
The Vikings not naming him QBE. It's got to prove it.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
He missed almost a year of practice and hasn't played
a regular season NFL football game. So to summarize everything
that's happening, the Vikings are waiting on McCarthy to prove
that he is the guy and to prove that he
(10:23):
is ready physically and mentally to step in. If he is,
Rogers is a non story. If he is, Rogers is
not coming to the Vikings. On the other side of it,
if McCarthy does not look the part and is struggling
consistently in practice, well then Rogers to the Vikings is
(10:47):
in play. Also, if McCarthy goes down with the injury,
Rogers is in play, as he should be. But I
should clarify some comments because I said it, but I
want to make sure you really hear it. If McCarthy
(11:09):
struggles consistently, consistently, okay, we're not talking about one bad
day of practice and then the Vikings are going to
pick up the phone and call Aaron Rodgers. We're talking
about a week or two of consistent struggles from McCarthy.
That's the only way Aaron Rodgers is a Minnesota Viking.
(11:31):
If McCarthy struggles for a week or two consistently, okay,
they're not going to pick up the phone after one
bad day of practice and say Roder.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
As we need.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yah, McCarthy's not looking the part. They'll give him time
to adapt and find his rhythm again. He's got to
be rusty. When was the last time he dropped back
to throw and throw a football with offensive lineman and
defensive lineman and reading a defense and all that stuff.
So the Vikings will give McCarthy time, and we should
(12:04):
not overreact.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
To one bad day of practice.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
But if you start to get four to five, six, seven,
eight bad days of practice in a row, well, then
Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings will be a realistic possibility.
And if you're Aaron Rodgers, that's what you're waiting for.
That's why you haven't signed with the Stealers, because you're
(12:30):
waiting for something to go down with Jaje McCarthy and
the Vikings organization. So that's really what's going on, and
that's why the Vikings haven't killed the story. They're waiting
to see how McCarthy looks in the spring. So I
think that makes sense. Anyways, thank you for making this
(12:51):
podcast part of every day. I appreciate it. Hit that
subscribe and follow button wherever you are watching and listening,
Tell your friends and I'll see you guys tomorrow morning,
if not later today, we'll see what happens. Thank you
for making this podcast a part of your day and
for going on this podcasting journey with me.
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