Gotta Hear It: Vikings Quote of the Day — March 18, 2022
Each day, we select a quote about the Minnesota Vikings, uplifting the sentiment of the day or highlighting something notable.
The remark can come from a Vikings player, coach, writer, fan — or anybody, really. Selection of the quote is arbitrary. The excerpt may be insightful, humorous, groundbreaking, outlandish, or foolish. If you have a quote of the day (your own or from someone else), please send it to [email protected].
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This quote is from March 17th, 2022, by Devi Benjamin, who emailed PurplePTSD offering her take on the state of the Vikings:
“Ho-hum. Seen it all before: Mediocrity, thy name is the Minnesota Vikings. I can say that with great honesty and exasperation. I have been a fan since 1961. I am now 85 years old and seen it all.”
– Devi Benjamin | Vikings Fan
At 85 years old, Benjamin’s opinion holds extra weight. Her assessment of mediocrity occurs inside an era of change for the Vikings, as the team hired a new general manager and head coach after the 2021 regular season ended.
Indeed, the numbers check out. While the Vikings were the NFL’s 10th-best franchise per win percentage under Mike Zimmer, Minnesota is 33-31-1 (.515) since the addition of Kirk Cousins via free agency in 2018. That record is the 15th-best in the league amid the last four seasons.
Most “mediocrity” related criticisms of the Vikings evolved after Minnesota underwhelmed in 2018, 2020, and 2021. The team was three quarters away from a home Super Bowl in 2017, acquiring Cousins to shove the squad over the top. Alas, that did not happen, and the head coach, Mike Zimmer, was fired accordingly.
In the Super Bowl era, the Vikings are the NFL’s fifth-best team, according to wins and losses. But they have no Super Bowl triumph, leading men like Benjamin to frustrating opinions about the team he loves.
The only way to fix it, for now, is the hope new head coach Kevin O’Connell has a trick up his sleeve — because the fresh brand of leadership recommitted to Cousins for two more seasons.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
