Questions Answered: Best Team in Vikings History, Cousins Overpaid, Troy Dye
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the July 4th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: CBS Sports called the 1998 Vikings team the best in team history. Do you agree?
A: For memory’s sake, it’s probably the 1998 team. But statistically and compared to the rest of the NFL at the time, the 1969 team was probably the best.
The 1969 team actually outscored opponents by an average of 17.6 points, whereas the 1998 team outscored opponents by 16.3 points. In terms of domination, the 1969 team was even more dominant than the 1998 squad.
Joe Kapp was the quarterback, Bud Grant was hitting his groove, and the Purple People Eater defense was fully emergent.
It’s not a popular take, but the 1969 team was the best in franchise history. Folks under the age of 50 simply weren’t around for it.
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Q: Is Kirk Cousins overpaid?
A: Yes.
Cousins is the NFL’s third-most expensive passer in 2022, according to cap hit, behind Ryan Tannehill and Patrick Mahomes. Then, per average annual salary, he’s the eighth highest-paid player.
In any given season, Cousins is around the 11th-13th best quarterback leaguewide. The third-most cap hit or eighth-most per average annual salary — whichever you prefer — is a higher ranking than his usual performance.
Therefore, he’s overpaid. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.
Q: Will Troy Dye receive a lot of linebacker snaps for the 2022 defense?
A: Dye should receive a moderate amount of snaps in 2022.
He’s certainly not a starter, nor is he a guaranteed bench warmer. Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks will hog most of the starting snaps, leaving Brian Asamoah and Dye to compete for the reservist jobs.
We shall see if he takes the Year Three jump. With 4th-Round draft capital from the 2022 draft, he could go either way.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. 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).
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