Idle thought --- why is it that Americans typically stampede and trample each other getting into stores to buy even more stuff on Black Friday, when just the day before, over a typical gluttonous Thanksgiving day feast, they gave thanks for what they already had?
The quarterback situation for the Minnesota Vikings has certainly taken some weird twists and turns in recent times.
A few years back, they thought Teddy Bridgewater was the answer to their long term problem. So they drafted him in the first round with the 32nd and last pick. Bridgewater had enjoyed much success while playing college ball at Lousville, including big bowl game wins over the likes of Florida and Miami, both of which he was named MVP of. A projected NFL star waiting to happen indeed. Plus, typical of rookie contracts, the Vikes had him under wraps for four years at less than $2 million a year. A bargain by any account. Currently, Bridgewater is still only the relatively young age of 25.
Conversely, the career path of one Case Keenum traveled a much different route. While he played at Houston in college, certainly a Division 1 program, but not with the footprint of a Louisville, Keenum set all-time NCAA records for most passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. Very impressive stuff. Yet he went completely undrafted by the NFL when his time came. Seven full rounds and his phone never rang.
Finally he got a shot with the Houston Texans, but it didn't work out well. Then off to the then St. Louis Rams, where he failed to impress either. Many thought Keenum was headed for the scrap heap of NFL wannabes. So good in college, but a bust in the NFL. It happens a lot at a variety of positions, but especially QB.
Then again, the high position in the draft, or lack thereof, doesn't necessarily equate to success or failure. That Brady guy in New England was a mere 6th round pick, almost an afterthought, and he seems to have worked out rather well over the years.
In late August of 2016, on the cusp of the regular season beginning, Teddy Bridgewater suffered a severe non-contact knee injury. So the Vikings sacrificed a couple high future round picks and went out and got one Sam Bradford to step in as their QB. The problem was like it's always been. While immensely talented, one can seemingly measure how long Bradford will stay healthy with an hour glass before something breaks -- with plenty of sand left over. Sure enough, out he went again with yet another injury.
Along the line, Case Keenum had quietly became the Vikings third string quarterback. Backup to a backup. Pretty much a clipboard holder that never saw any reps in practice. And yes, he's 29, a few years Bridgewater's senior, but still in his "prime" years.
But with both Bridgewater and Bradford on the injured reserve list, Keenum found himself called into active duty as the starter. Surely this was destined to be a disaster, right? All the pundits said so. The Vikings were desperate and about to flounder.
But it didn't work out that way. Instead, Keenum has blossomed into quite the force under head coach Mike Zimmer's (and his staff's) tutelage. After the Thanksgiving day win in Detroit, the Vikings have reeled off seven Ws in a row and now sit comfortably atop the NFC Northern Division, by a whopping three games. True, the broken collar bone suffered by Green Bay stud QB Aaron Rodgers pretty much snuffed out the Cheeser chances this year, but sometimes that's just the way it goes in the NFL.
Thing is, the Vikings made a major mistake earlier (in May) this year. They had a (cheap) fifth year option on Bridgewater, but turned it down, even before Keenum emerged as a star, and when Bradford was still healthy, thinking Bridgewater might forever remain damaged goods. And he just might at that -- time will tell.
That in effect makes Bridgewater a free agent after this season is over. Had the Vikings spent a couple more million bucks to keep him around, even as a back-up to Keenum next year, they would have been far further ahead down the road.
Look at it this way. Even if Bridgewater was 100% fully healthy and good to go -- you can't bench a guy that's led your team to seven straight wins, regardless of how he became the starter in the first place. To do so would send a couple messages, both very bad. Keenum would think no matter what he did, it was never going to be good enough. Demoralizing stuff. And if Bridgewater were to return as the starter and promptly lose a couple games -- what do you think the rest of the players on the roster would think about it? And Bridgewater's confidence would take a serious hit as well. A lose-lose scenario. Boneheaded moves like that are a recipe for a head coach to "lose" his team in a hurry. Mike Zimmer is a very smart guy and knows better. If it's running just fine, don't try to fix it.
But there's the rub. If they still had Bridgewater under contract for a fifth year, even as a back-up, and also assuming he returns to full health by the time the 2018 campaign gets under way -- he should -- dear Teddy would have represented some serious trade bait.
Hey, he was pretty good as an NFL starter before the freak knee injury. No doubt there would be several other teams around the league interested in his services.
No, Teddy probably wouldn't have fetched a first round pick, but maybe a second and a lower one or two to compliment it in future drafts.
Instead, by writing him off while the dude's still only 25, and saving a couple million chump change bucks, the Vikings get nothing back in return.
The Minnesota Vikings reeling off seven wins in a row with once "bum" Case Keenum as quarterback is an unlikely scenario indeed. But like the aforementioned Tom Brady, you never know how these things might work out. Best not to give up on them too soon, like the Vikes did Bridgewater.
It might just come back to bite them in their keesters down the road. A couple extra draft picks in the future, regardless of the round, surely couldn't have hurt.
But for now, all hail Case Keenum. The dude is most definitely getting the job done -- and then some.
Yet guess who also becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season?
Yep, Case Keenum. He was signed for a measly couple million this year just like Teddy was being paid.
Methinks the way the one-time Houston record-setting hot shot, then undrafted by the NFL quarterback has lit it up in recent times for the Vikes, will be in line for a super-duper hefty raise come the off season. The team doesn't appear to have much choice. And somewhere his agent smiles.
At long last -- cha-ching.
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