JJ McCarthy (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy is reportedly planning to hold out if the team fails to meet one of his conditions.
The Vikings traded up one spot via the New York Jets to select JJ McCarthy with the No. 10 selection. The Michigan product bolstered his draft value by helping the Wolverines win a national championship in his final college season.
Among all six quarterbacks who were taken in round one, only McCarthy and Caleb Williams (first overall to the Chicago Bears) have yet to sign their rookie contracts. But according to a new report, McCarthy is prepared to drag this out if necessary.
Following up on his report from last month, X/Twitter user @prettyrickey213 claims that the 21-year-old JJ McCarthy plans “to hold out if he doesn’t receive his full signing bonus payment upfront.”
@prettyrickey213 isn’t a reputable NFL insider like ESPN’s Adam Schefter or NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. However, the account has a history of beating such insiders to breaking news, including Trevor Lawrence’s $275 million extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tyler Boyd’s decision to join the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal.
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So, make of this JJ McCarthy report from the account as you will. But until/unless the former Michigan star puts the pen to paper, the holdout rumors will continue to swirl.
JJ McCarthy May Sit In His Rookie Year
After parting ways with Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins (signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency) the Vikings signed Darnold with the idea of him being a short-term starter while they develop their next QB (McCarthy).
Many scouts and analysts viewed McCarthy as a prospect that wasn’t quite NFL-ready; one that needed time to sit and hone his craft before taking on the starting role. So compared to other rookie QBs, he wouldn’t have that much leverage in contract negotiations.
VIDEO: Former NFL Superstar Reveals He’d Give Back His 2 Super Bowl Championship Rings To Change His One Career Regret
Lombardi Trophy (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
If a former NFL superstar running back had it his way, he’d have one Super Bowl ring with his hometown team instead of two with a pair of different clubs.
Former NFL running back LeSean McCoy spent his best years with the Philadelphia Eagles (2009 to 2014) and Buffalo Bills (2015 to 2018). Though he was well past his prime, McCoy had the luxury of winning back-to-back Super Bowls to close out his career — with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Speaking on FS1’s “Speak with Joy Taylor, James Jones and Emmanuel Acho, McCoy admitted that being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2015 will forever haunt him. Not only that, but McCoy would have given up his two championship rings if it meant winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles.
“I shouldn’t say it, but I would trade all that stuff I done did to give it back…to just be with the Eagles and get that one championship. Just because of like, and then if my career would have went how I know it would have went…I probably wouldn’t have did TV…probably be somewhere in the office studying (Eagles GM) Howie (Roseman) to be the next GM.”
As the two-time Super Bowl champion pointed out, he needed just six seasons to become the Eagles’ all-time rushing leader (6,792). Wilbert Montgomery, second all-time on the franchise rushing list (6,538), played eight years in Philadelphia.
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In the 2015 offseason, the Eagles traded McCoy to the Bills in exchange for star linebacker Kiko Alonso. Hindsight is 20/20, but the blockbuster move worked out nicely for all parties.
McCoy finished with 11,102 career rushing yards and 73 touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing during the 213 season (1,607 yards) and was named to six Pro Bowls and the 2010s All-Decade Team.
LeSean McCoy Can’t Complain About Two Super Bowl Rings
McCoy continued his stardom in Buffalo before eventually claiming back-to-back Super Bowls to close out his career. His efforts also helped the Bills end an 18-year postseason drought in 2017. Three years after the bold move to trade McCoy, the Eagles went on to win Super Bowl 52 over the New England Patriots.
Understandably, McCoy wanted to win it all with his hometown team, but two Super Bowl championships will always be better than one. Pure and simple.
