RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Minnesota Vikings are facing a tough choice this preseason: Should they stick with former first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, or is the more experienced Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray the better option?
One legendary former Viking who's more likely than not to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year said the choice seems relatively clear from where he sits.
Speaking with Kyle Odegard of Roto Grinders , all-time great Adrian Peterson was clear about who he thinks should get the starting spot.
For Peterson, Murray's experience — he was Offensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler in his seven seasons in Arizona — makes him the clear-cut choice.
“I feel like the sky is the limit for (the Vikings),” Peterson said. “The defense played outstanding last year, and the year before that, too. When I saw it going across the ticker that they were getting Kyler, I thought, ‘That’s a hell of a move right there.’ Kyler being down there in Arizona, you could see the writing was on the wall.
“Whatever the reason was, I don’t know, but he’s a tremendous talent. Great agility as a quarterback and has an incredible arm. And a guy that can keep a play alive. I thought it would be a really good fit for Minnesota with the talent they have. He really could be a game-changer for them.”
Peterson acknowledged that it would "definitely be a surprise" to see McCarthy get the job, as "he's still a young quarterback" who has "a lot of growing to do."
“I feel like he has the potential to be an outstanding quarterback, but some of his decision-making, from my own perspective, I’m just like, ‘Ah, come on now,’” Peterson said. “There are certain things you can’t do, and certain things you need to do. Me watching the Vikings last year, there were times when I was like, ‘Come on. Come on. You’re better than that.’ So with that, and with Kyler being a savvy vet with that experience and having that new sense of life — I’m sure the competition has been really good, and they’re pushing each other.”
It's also worth noting that Murray's messy split with Arizona could be the motivating factor he needs to perform at his best, and the Vikings could benefit from that.
“A lot of people give Kyler Murray a hard time for not being able to perform at a high level all the time and consistently, but he just needed a fresh start, something new to revive him,” Peterson said. “A different outlook on things and give them a boost they needed. When they picked him up, I thought this was an opportunity to change his mindset and say, ‘You know what? I’ve been blessed to go to an incredible team that’s very talented offensively and defensively, and now I can be that piece.’ I feel like if he comes in with that mindset, he can be the one that gets us over the hump.”
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