Troy Aikman’s scathing verdict on Sam Darnold’s $40million contract after breaking unwanted 57-year record
“He deserves $40 million a year.” Micah Parsons knows a thing or two about NFL quarterbacks, he’s sacked enough of them. Darnold could not hope with the Rams defenseAP The Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher is a big fan of Sam Darnold, who rebuilt his career with the Minnesota Vikings this season, and praised the former New York Jet on his podcast. That figure was not plucked out of mid air, per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer there was a feeling among some teams that Darnold would be a “better bet” on $40million a year than the available options in April’s NFL Draft. A signal-caller for a 14-win team wouldn’t usually even come close to free agency but the Vikings are in a tough position. Rookie J.J. McCarthy showed plenty of early promise – bit it was preseason – he appeared destined to take the starting job at some point this season were it not for a brutal meniscus tear. Darnold – on a one-year deal worth $10million – stepped in and defied expectations to lead the Vikings to the postseason. Had they beaten the Detroit Lions in Week 18 to be crowned NFC North champions, the Vikings would have enjoyed a bye and this conversation could have been delayed for at least another week. But Darnold came unstuck, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 rout. That set up a clash against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. Monday Night Football viewers saw Darnold seeing ghosts again – an infamous quote from his days in New Jersey – and the boo-boys were out in force. He lost a total of 82 yards on nine sacks – the most in playoff history. Ex-Green Bay Packer Bart Starr lost 76 against the Cowboys in a 1967 NFL championship game also known as the Ice Bowl. O’Connell appears to have made up his mindGetty Images - Getty Darnold’s bank account could take a hit after the last two weeksGetty What may have been a tricky decision for Kevin O’Connell, who has been a fan of the quarterback since high school, has all of a sudden become very easy. “A winning quarterback this year, the consistency, the times he had this year and what it meant for our team. I think that can stay with him moving forward as he goes back to work,” he said after watching Darnold struggle in a 27-9 defeat to the Rams. “I’m proud of him, I’m proud of everybody in that locker room, but Sam, the journey he and I went on this year, will always have a special place in my heart for sure.” It sure sounds as if the journey is over. Troy Aikman and Joe Buck called the game on ESPN and think Darnold’s primetime displays have cost him a wedge. “That [quarterback] conversation’s a different conversation today than it was two weeks ago,” said Aikman. “Not to be simplistic,” added Buck. “But the way the Vikings have played, and Sam Darnold has played over the last couple of weeks, he’s at least cost himself some money.” Aikman went into further detail after the game. “I know they really like J.J. McCarthy, he’ll be back, he’ll be healthy,” he explained. “What that looks like for Sam, he’s had a great year, there’s no denying that. “He did a lot of good things for this organization, obviously a big part, quarterback always is, won 14 games, played at a really high level. “Last week and this week, gonna leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth going into this offseason. “Big impact. These last two weeks will have a big impact on his future. Not only what that may look like for the Minnesota Vikings, but a big impact on what that may look like for him going to another team. “Is there going to be a big payout? That looked inevitable a few weeks ago. It may not be quite as big as what Sam or others thought. “These are the games that matter. He knows that, every quarterback in this league knows that. When you get into these games, that’s what you’re judged on. “It’s not all on him, there were a lot of people who contributed, but the quarterback is expected to overcome those things. “It’s a tough way to finish. It doesn’t really matter if you win 14 games. Not getting to the Super Bowl, only two teams get to do that, but not to win a playoff game, you’re lumped in with all the teams that didn’t make the postseason.” Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league. Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.
“He deserves $40 million a year.”
Micah Parsons knows a thing or two about NFL quarterbacks, he’s sacked enough of them.
The Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher is a big fan of Sam Darnold, who rebuilt his career with the Minnesota Vikings this season, and praised the former New York Jet on his podcast.
That figure was not plucked out of mid air, per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer there was a feeling among some teams that Darnold would be a “better bet” on $40million a year than the available options in April’s NFL Draft.
A signal-caller for a 14-win team wouldn’t usually even come close to free agency but the Vikings are in a tough position.
Rookie J.J. McCarthy showed plenty of early promise – bit it was preseason – he appeared destined to take the starting job at some point this season were it not for a brutal meniscus tear.
Darnold – on a one-year deal worth $10million – stepped in and defied expectations to lead the Vikings to the postseason.
Had they beaten the Detroit Lions in Week 18 to be crowned NFC North champions, the Vikings would have enjoyed a bye and this conversation could have been delayed for at least another week.
But Darnold came unstuck, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 rout.
That set up a clash against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round.
Monday Night Football viewers saw Darnold seeing ghosts again – an infamous quote from his days in New Jersey – and the boo-boys were out in force.
He lost a total of 82 yards on nine sacks – the most in playoff history. Ex-Green Bay Packer Bart Starr lost 76 against the Cowboys in a 1967 NFL championship game also known as the Ice Bowl.
What may have been a tricky decision for Kevin O’Connell, who has been a fan of the quarterback since high school, has all of a sudden become very easy.
“A winning quarterback this year, the consistency, the times he had this year and what it meant for our team. I think that can stay with him moving forward as he goes back to work,” he said after watching Darnold struggle in a 27-9 defeat to the Rams.
“I’m proud of him, I’m proud of everybody in that locker room, but Sam, the journey he and I went on this year, will always have a special place in my heart for sure.”
It sure sounds as if the journey is over.
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck called the game on ESPN and think Darnold’s primetime displays have cost him a wedge.
“That [quarterback] conversation’s a different conversation today than it was two weeks ago,” said Aikman.
“Not to be simplistic,” added Buck. “But the way the Vikings have played, and Sam Darnold has played over the last couple of weeks, he’s at least cost himself some money.”
Aikman went into further detail after the game.
“I know they really like J.J. McCarthy, he’ll be back, he’ll be healthy,” he explained. “What that looks like for Sam, he’s had a great year, there’s no denying that.
“He did a lot of good things for this organization, obviously a big part, quarterback always is, won 14 games, played at a really high level.
“Last week and this week, gonna leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth going into this offseason.
“Big impact. These last two weeks will have a big impact on his future. Not only what that may look like for the Minnesota Vikings, but a big impact on what that may look like for him going to another team.
“Is there going to be a big payout? That looked inevitable a few weeks ago. It may not be quite as big as what Sam or others thought.
“These are the games that matter. He knows that, every quarterback in this league knows that. When you get into these games, that’s what you’re judged on.
“It’s not all on him, there were a lot of people who contributed, but the quarterback is expected to overcome those things.
“It’s a tough way to finish. It doesn’t really matter if you win 14 games. Not getting to the Super Bowl, only two teams get to do that, but not to win a playoff game, you’re lumped in with all the teams that didn’t make the postseason.”
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