3 months ago
Minnesota Vikings training camp 2026 has one burning question on every fan's mind: do the Vikings have a quarterback who can win in the NFC North? After nine practices, Two Old Bloggers — Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano on Vikings 1st & SKOL — are sounding the alarm. The honest answer, delivered with trademark candor, is unsettling: both Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy have been, in the words of reporter Tyler Forness, "just fine." And fine may not be enough to beat Jordan Love, Jared Goff, or Caleb Williams.
The quarterback competition has dominated Vikings coverage, and for good reason. Murray has received roughly twice the first-team reps as McCarthy, raising legitimate questions about whether Kevin O'Connell has already decided the outcome. But rep count aside, neither signal-caller has seized the moment. As Darren put it bluntly: "The second worst outcome is what we have right now — both guys are so-so. ****** ody's really running away with it." Dave echoed the concern, noting that a viral tweet framed it perfectly: Kyler should be proving he's light years ahead of J.J., not the other way around. A Mike Sando survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives reinforced the worry — Murray ranked 23rd overall (Tier 3), McCarthy 34th (Tier 4), and every NFC North rival QB ranked ahead of them.
Beyond the QB room, however, genuine reasons for optimism are emerging — and Two Old Bloggers covered them all.
Charles Demmings (CB, 5th round) is making plays daily against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings — the Vikings haven't drafted and developed a quality corner since Xavier Rhodes in 2013
Caleb Banks (DT, #18 overall) is fully participating with no reported foot issues — a massive win after multiple surgeries; he's being worked in gradually alongside Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jaylen Redmond, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
#mccarthy #bloggers #darren #caleb
The quarterback competition has dominated Vikings coverage, and for good reason. Murray has received roughly twice the first-team reps as McCarthy, raising legitimate questions about whether Kevin O'Connell has already decided the outcome. But rep count aside, neither signal-caller has seized the moment. As Darren put it bluntly: "The second worst outcome is what we have right now — both guys are so-so. ****** ody's really running away with it." Dave echoed the concern, noting that a viral tweet framed it perfectly: Kyler should be proving he's light years ahead of J.J., not the other way around. A Mike Sando survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives reinforced the worry — Murray ranked 23rd overall (Tier 3), McCarthy 34th (Tier 4), and every NFC North rival QB ranked ahead of them.
Beyond the QB room, however, genuine reasons for optimism are emerging — and Two Old Bloggers covered them all.
Charles Demmings (CB, 5th round) is making plays daily against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings — the Vikings haven't drafted and developed a quality corner since Xavier Rhodes in 2013
Caleb Banks (DT, #18 overall) is fully participating with no reported foot issues — a massive win after multiple surgeries; he's being worked in gradually alongside Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jaylen Redmond, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
#mccarthy #bloggers #darren #caleb
4 months ago
Vladimir Putin's troubles are adding up. His public denials notwithstanding, the war in Ukraine and economy at home are heading in the wrong direction.
His implied social contract with his subjects — you support me in this war and I will shield you from its consequences — is beginning to fray. An ****** ault on a NATO member state, followed by a nuclear ultimatum to end the war on Moscow's terms, debasing the alliance in the process, is looking like an increasingly attractive option.
Four factors are forcing Putin's hand.
After an estimated 1.2. million Russian dead and wounded, at around 35,000 average monthly casualties, the "special military operation" has turned into an endless war of attrition he cannot win and cannot afford to lose. Russia's key advantage over Ukraine — cannon fodder — has become all but irrelevant. Throwing 300,000 more men into the trenches by ordering another "partial mobilization," as even the militaristic Russian "Z" bloggers warn, will only result in the draftees' dying without altering "the nature of the war." A "technological breakthrough" is needed, the bloggers declare, to counter Ukrainian drones.
But despite Putin's promises, none appears on the horizon.
His implied social contract with his subjects — you support me in this war and I will shield you from its consequences — is beginning to fray. An ****** ault on a NATO member state, followed by a nuclear ultimatum to end the war on Moscow's terms, debasing the alliance in the process, is looking like an increasingly attractive option.
Four factors are forcing Putin's hand.
After an estimated 1.2. million Russian dead and wounded, at around 35,000 average monthly casualties, the "special military operation" has turned into an endless war of attrition he cannot win and cannot afford to lose. Russia's key advantage over Ukraine — cannon fodder — has become all but irrelevant. Throwing 300,000 more men into the trenches by ordering another "partial mobilization," as even the militaristic Russian "Z" bloggers warn, will only result in the draftees' dying without altering "the nature of the war." A "technological breakthrough" is needed, the bloggers declare, to counter Ukrainian drones.
But despite Putin's promises, none appears on the horizon.
4 months ago
The Minnesota Vikings can’t catch a break this offseason — and Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano of Two Old Bloggers [2OB] on Vikings 1st & SKOL are here to make sense of the chaos. In this episode, your two favorite old bloggers unpack the Dianna Russini police body cam scandal involving head coach Kevin O’Connell, debate whether it signals a locker room trust crisis, and ask the question every Vikings fan is thinking: does any of this actually matter when the 2026 season kicks off?
Beyond the drama, Darren and Dave get into the real football questions that will define the Vikings’ 2026 season. Can Blake Brandel — a career backup who had never started at center before last year — anchor the offensive line? Will Dallas Turner finally emerge as the edge rusher the Vikings desperately need after trading Jonathan Greenard? And with Ryan Fitzpatrick openly questioning Kyler Murray’s leadership on the Rich Eisen Show, is the Vikings’ new quarterback already carrying baggage before he’s taken a single snap in purple? As Dave puts it: “It’s bad juju.”
With training camp less than four weeks away, Darren and Dave also put the spotlight on Caleb Banks’ mysterious foot injury rehab, the safety position void left by Harrison Smith’s departure, and Tai Felton’s development as a future wide receiver option. The boys wrap with a look at leaked details about the Vikings’ new darker purple uniforms — and as always, the conversation is honest, unfiltered, and unmistakably Viking-obsessed.
Russini Scandal: Reporter showed a KOC text to a cop to dodge a ticket — a major journalism ethics breach that could erode player trust in the head coach
Blake Brandel at Center: A career backup starting at center for the first time ever; PFF grade of 61.4 last year, but showed improvement over the season
Beyond the drama, Darren and Dave get into the real football questions that will define the Vikings’ 2026 season. Can Blake Brandel — a career backup who had never started at center before last year — anchor the offensive line? Will Dallas Turner finally emerge as the edge rusher the Vikings desperately need after trading Jonathan Greenard? And with Ryan Fitzpatrick openly questioning Kyler Murray’s leadership on the Rich Eisen Show, is the Vikings’ new quarterback already carrying baggage before he’s taken a single snap in purple? As Dave puts it: “It’s bad juju.”
With training camp less than four weeks away, Darren and Dave also put the spotlight on Caleb Banks’ mysterious foot injury rehab, the safety position void left by Harrison Smith’s departure, and Tai Felton’s development as a future wide receiver option. The boys wrap with a look at leaked details about the Vikings’ new darker purple uniforms — and as always, the conversation is honest, unfiltered, and unmistakably Viking-obsessed.
Russini Scandal: Reporter showed a KOC text to a cop to dodge a ticket — a major journalism ethics breach that could erode player trust in the head coach
Blake Brandel at Center: A career backup starting at center for the first time ever; PFF grade of 61.4 last year, but showed improvement over the season
4 months ago
Are the Minnesota Vikings leaving wins on the table because Kevin O’Connell isn’t putting in the late-night film sessions that Ben Johnson is doing with Caleb Williams in Chicago? Or is he? That’s the provocative question Dave Stefano and Darren Campbell tackle head-on in this week’s episode of Two Old Bloggers, a Minnesota Vikings podcast produced by Vikings 1st & SKOL.
The Bears’ 12-4 turnaround — after Williams credited his two-hour nightly film sessions with Johnson — has Dave asking out loud: “Is somebody in the organization sitting down there and spending that extra time with the quarterback?” It’s a question ******* ody in the Twin Cities media seems to be asking, and it might be the most important one of the offseason. Or is it a big nothing-burger?
The Caleb Williams–Ben Johnson film room revelation from the Pardon My Take podcast, where Williams described daily one-and-a-half to two-hour meetings with his head coach during the season. The duo contrasts that with what’s publicly known — and not known — about Kevin O’Connell’s mentorship habits with J.J. McCarthy and now with Kyler Murray. As Darren notes, “O’Connell’s big on empowerment and trust — and that trust paid off with Darnold in 2024.” But does it go far enough?
They draw comparisons to Belichick/Brady and Payton/Brees, both marathon film-room partnerships that produced Super Bowl rings. From there, the show pivots to the NFL rumor mill’s latest offering: NFL insider Jason La Canfora floating a Jordan Addison trade to the Baltimore Ravens. Darren breaks down the case for and against, weighing Addison’s drop issues, off-field arrests, and contract situation against the reality that “his poor stats were largely driven by poor quarterback play.”
The show wraps with three “This Week in Vikingsland” topics: Nolan Teasley’s completed front office rebuild (with Ryan Pace, Trent Kirschner, and Tyler Hamblin now aboard), a Mac Jones-to-Vikings 2027 scenario worth monitoring, and Darren’s bold bounce-back prediction for T.J. Hockenson — fueled by improved QB play and Kyler Murray’s history of targeting his tight end.
The Bears’ 12-4 turnaround — after Williams credited his two-hour nightly film sessions with Johnson — has Dave asking out loud: “Is somebody in the organization sitting down there and spending that extra time with the quarterback?” It’s a question ******* ody in the Twin Cities media seems to be asking, and it might be the most important one of the offseason. Or is it a big nothing-burger?
The Caleb Williams–Ben Johnson film room revelation from the Pardon My Take podcast, where Williams described daily one-and-a-half to two-hour meetings with his head coach during the season. The duo contrasts that with what’s publicly known — and not known — about Kevin O’Connell’s mentorship habits with J.J. McCarthy and now with Kyler Murray. As Darren notes, “O’Connell’s big on empowerment and trust — and that trust paid off with Darnold in 2024.” But does it go far enough?
They draw comparisons to Belichick/Brady and Payton/Brees, both marathon film-room partnerships that produced Super Bowl rings. From there, the show pivots to the NFL rumor mill’s latest offering: NFL insider Jason La Canfora floating a Jordan Addison trade to the Baltimore Ravens. Darren breaks down the case for and against, weighing Addison’s drop issues, off-field arrests, and contract situation against the reality that “his poor stats were largely driven by poor quarterback play.”
The show wraps with three “This Week in Vikingsland” topics: Nolan Teasley’s completed front office rebuild (with Ryan Pace, Trent Kirschner, and Tyler Hamblin now aboard), a Mac Jones-to-Vikings 2027 scenario worth monitoring, and Darren’s bold bounce-back prediction for T.J. Hockenson — fueled by improved QB play and Kyler Murray’s history of targeting his tight end.
5 months ago
Well, we have ourselves another QB debate! The sides are lining up and slinging arrows already (yours truly included). Gotta love it no? I do not know what is going to happen but we have now reached the stage of bloggers, media types, and doofuses (of doofi – also raises hand) are speculating on trading JJ. Things move fast eh?
I am going to guess that the team laughs about it internally. You cant stop the speculators from speculating. If the team, not any of us fans, decided to trade him they would eliminate any lingering summer quarterback controversy and eliminate media distractions. If Kyler starts and play most or all of the season then JJ is going to be sitting on the bench and his value will be less next year.
You can see from the links below that some “writers” are already going way too far with some of the stuff liek JJ stretching away from the other QBs. Maybe Kyler is a gassy dude? Maybe JJ had gas? Who knows? I watched Edelman talking about Moss who always stretched with the defensive linemen. It’s much ado about nothing but that is the kind of stuff that will get written all summer. Every facial expression will be **** yzed.
I think the Jets who have three first round picks next year should jump at the chance to get JJ. They might do badly and have a top pick next year but if not, then they have to hoep to be able to trade up. The Vikings were unable to trade up for Maye (I’m told). Then, what do they do? Sign Baker Mayfield is he hits the market? IDK. I think the Jets have the draft capital to make a deal.
The Jets send a 2027 2nd and a 2028 conditional 5th for JJ.
I am going to guess that the team laughs about it internally. You cant stop the speculators from speculating. If the team, not any of us fans, decided to trade him they would eliminate any lingering summer quarterback controversy and eliminate media distractions. If Kyler starts and play most or all of the season then JJ is going to be sitting on the bench and his value will be less next year.
You can see from the links below that some “writers” are already going way too far with some of the stuff liek JJ stretching away from the other QBs. Maybe Kyler is a gassy dude? Maybe JJ had gas? Who knows? I watched Edelman talking about Moss who always stretched with the defensive linemen. It’s much ado about nothing but that is the kind of stuff that will get written all summer. Every facial expression will be **** yzed.
I think the Jets who have three first round picks next year should jump at the chance to get JJ. They might do badly and have a top pick next year but if not, then they have to hoep to be able to trade up. The Vikings were unable to trade up for Maye (I’m told). Then, what do they do? Sign Baker Mayfield is he hits the market? IDK. I think the Jets have the draft capital to make a deal.
The Jets send a 2027 2nd and a 2028 conditional 5th for JJ.
