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VikingsTerritory’s Purple Rumor Mill is a two-day chronicle every week. All of the week’s rumors are lassoed and plopped in two spots — articles on Saturday and Sunday — for evaluate. In the present day is the February 2nd version.
Vikings Rumors: Mike Zimmer’s Subsequent Transfer, Darkish Horse Group for Sam Darnold, O’Connell’s Contract
Keep in mind — rumors are rumors. What you learn on weekends in these items is what the world is speaking about pertaining to the Vikings, not essentially objects that may come to fruition.
Right here’s the second batch of the week. Yesterday’s may be learn right here.
Rumor: Mike Zimmer will retire this offseason.
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Zimmer could certainly retire, in line with ESPN’s Ed Werder.
“Mike Zimmer tells me that he will not be returning to the Cowboys as a member of Brian Schottenheimer’s coaching staff and will likely retire from coaching in the NFL. Zimmer served as defensive coordinator last season. Cowboys likely to hire Matt Eberflus as DC, per sources,” Werder tweeted on Sunday.
The Cowboys’ protection ranked twenty eighth per EPA/Play on Zimmer’s watch this season, also called fifth-worst within the NFL.
The 68-year-old not too long ago acquired engaged, so maybe his NFL retirement will coincide with that occasion.
It’s evidently the top of the NFL street for the ex-Vikings coach.
Rumor: The Indianapolis Colts might be a low-key participant for Sam Darnold.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen walks the sphere earlier than an Indianapolis Colts recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. © Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photos.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook not too long ago sized up the Darnold Sweepstakes, and the Colts made an look. “Despite calls for change, the Colts kept GM Chris Ballard after their disappointing finish to the 2024 season, a campaign in which they bounced back and forth between Anthony Richardson and Joe Flacco. Ballard admitted they need to bring in competition for Richardson in 2025, and Darnold could provide such a battle,” he wrote.
Most anticipate the Colts to roll with Richardson in 2025 after investing a 1st-Spherical choose in him in the course of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Shook added, “They have $28 million in cap space to work with at publishing, per Over The Cap, making such an addition possible financially. Richardson could make a Darnold signing pointless if he cleans up his mechanics and proves he can stay healthy, but after being caught in a tough spot in 2024 because of Richardson’s inconsistency and Flacco’s age, the Colts owe it to themselves to consider veteran options.”
The Colts have a latest historical past of onboarding veteran quarterbacks, together with Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Jacoby Brissett. So, this rumor is worth it.
Rumor: Kevin O’Connell’s contract connects him to Minnesota via the top of 2029.
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.
Based on two sources, VikingsTerritory has realized that the deal is value $13 million per season and extends O’Connell’s keep via the top of the 2029 marketing campaign — so 5 extra years in complete.
O’Connell had one yr left on his contract coming into the 2025 offseason, leaving many to surprise when the deal would finalize. The offseason didn’t get older than two weeks. Minnesota acquired its man.
It’s protected to imagine that O’Connell will stick round to supervise the J.J. McCarthy period.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.