Icarus, Aaron Rodgers, & Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Walk Into a Bar
K. Joudry
|
How are these jokes supposed to work? Three connected figures head into an establishment that sells adult beverages and some sort of hilarity ensues. In the version I’m exploring, there is less humor and more insight. A cautionary tale, perhaps, for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota’s still-young GM.
First, though, a very brief trip down mythology lane.
Many readers will be familiar with the saying that someone has “flown too close to the sun.” The general sentiment is that someone has pushed their ambition far too high, undermining their chance of success due to their overly-lofty pursuit of success. We derive this saying from the story of Icarus, a mythological being with some wax wings.
Ask yourself: what would happen if you had wax wings and then flew very close to the sun? Answer: the wings melt and your joy ride would come to a quick end.
Flying too close to the sun – allowing one’s aspirations to reach humongous heights – can be someone’s undoing. Does the situation offer any clarity about the Packers’ recent past and where things are going for the Minnesota Vikings?
I think so.
For the past while, the Packers have enjoyed Hall of Fame play at QB given that they’ve been able to rely upon Brett Favre and then Aaron Rodgers. In fact, they combine for 31 seasons of starting for GB. That’s more than three decades of having a legit QB1 under center.
Few franchises have known such luxury.
Somewhat understandably, the Packers wanted to keep the good times rolling, so they made the stunning decision to draft Jordan Love at the end of the first round in 2020. Drafting Love was, as far as I can tell, an attempt to transition into the next great quarterback. Rodgers is nearing the end of his career, so a succession plan does make some sense.
What’s so surprising, though, is that the team drafted Love at the expense of more pressing needs, such as legit receiving weapons for #12. Just imagine how much different things would look for the Cheeseheads if they had Tee Higgins, who was chosen 33rd in the 2020 NFL Draft (Love was chosen 26th). Partnering Higgins with Davante Adams would have given GB a fearsome duo and, perhaps, another Lombardi.
Did the team’s leadership become overly ambitious in the pursuit of finding even more QB success?
The Takeaway for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
One wonders if GB isn’t altogether unlike our friend from mythology. Rather than hunker down for a few more seasons of elite play from Rodgers, Green Bay began preparing for life without Rodgers. In so doing, they quite possibly lessened their chances of capitalizing on someone who will be in the Hall of Fame for the way he can sling a football.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t have a QB as talented as the one over in Wisconsin, but he does have a team that is coming off an impressive 13-4 season. Oh, and the quarterback in the purple uniform has put together a pretty stellar season.
Tomorrow, they’ll even get a chance to begin a playoff run when they look to topple the New York Giants. Putting together some playoff wins would add further credence to the argument being made in this piece.
Initially, there was some uncertainty with how Adofo-Mensah was going to proceed with the Vikings’ roster. Many believed a full-scale rebuild was prudent, meaning the GM would be cutting contracts and shipping out talent. Instead, he decided to leave his squad with a two-year window for contention as he evaluated what he had. The 2022 success may prompt Minnesota’s leadership to extend the window by another season or two.
If that’s the case, one wonders if there will be an effort to avoid looking too far ahead. The window is open now, so the team may look toward contending now. In other words, picking a RD1 QB – as some are already suggesting – seems like a misguided approach. Super Bowl windows are fleeting; better to strike while the iron is hot.
Adding another pass rusher, some more competition at slot corner, a 3T who can get penetration, increased iOL competition, and some added depth at every offensive skill position is needed. Minnesota isn’t a team that’s good enough to be complacent.
Achieving so much success in 2022 should be energizing for the team’s leadership. Rather than reason to sit back, the recent success should ignite a renewed desire to get better, relentlessly attacking the team’s weak spots in an effort to capitalize while there is an opportunity to go get a Lombardi.
In other words, harness the ambition so that it gets fully put into the short-term. Grabbing a Super Bowl is no easy task, so the Vikings might as well give it all they have.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
