Minnesota’s List of Captains Includes a Couple Surprises

C.J. Ham
Nov 8, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Our season begins tomorrow, so there’s no time like the present to officially announce the team captains. Per Vikings.com, the Vikings will have eight captains this year:

  1. Anthony Barr
  2. Dalvin Cook
  3. Kirk Cousins
  4. C.J. Ham
  5. Brian O’Neill
  6. Patrick Peterson
  7. Harrison Smith
  8. Adam Thielen

The list, for the most part, is pretty straightforward. Say what you want about Kirk, but the dude became a captain as soon as he signed those huge deals. Patrick Peterson has a history of elite play and has been around for a while; the same can be said Smith. Both deserve to be captains. What more can be said about Thielen at this point? He’s still our WR1.

Barr is out for Week 1, but it’s not surprising that he is one of the team captains. Throughout his time as the team’s head coach, Zim has repeatedly and consistently praised Barr for both his on-field abilities and his intelligence. Moreover, Dalvin Cook really set himself apart last season as one of the team’s best leaders. He could be seen hyping up the team before games. His ability to bounce back from major injuries suggests he’s someone who works incredibly hard. Good things happen when you partner his natural abilities with his work ethic and intelligence. He has rightly been recognized as being among the league’s preeminent players.

The two most notable names are Brian O’Neill – who recently signed his massive extension – and C.J. Ham. Both deserve their spot on the list.

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O’Neill is yet another example of Minnesota rewarding a young exemplary player toward the end of their rookie contract. The message is clear: when you come to Minnesota as a rookie, you’ve got a legit shot at getting life-changing money if you establish yourself as one of the best within your position group. O’Neill, quite evidently, is being retained for more than just what he does on the field. When he was first chosen, O’Neill was considered a depth option who would need time to develop as he packed on muscle. Injury opened opportunity to start in his rookie year and he far exceeded expectations. Since his rookie season, O’Neill’s playing time has increased, a trend that happens to correspond to a higher level of play. He deserves the recognition he is getting.

Ham is the most surprising name on the list. A fullback – one of the game’s most overlooked positions – rarely gets the spotlight. The Vikings are a different team, though, and Ham is a different player. He not only helps the offense to prioritize the run, he also contributes on specials teams. Keep in mind that he was an UDFA who came into the league in 2016. Since that time, he has developed into one of the most respected members on the team.

Of course, these 8 players will be crucial to our team’s success, especially the player who wears #8. 7 of our 8 captains will be out there against Cincinnati tomorrow, so we’ll soon get a sense of how the team is coming together.

Skol.

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