Few divisions in professional sports breed as much contempt for opposing teams as the NFC North. There isn't a single matchup of teams that don't hate each other for one reason or another. That's what should make the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback situation so entertaining for Green Bay Packers fans.
It was an up-and-down season for Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whose flashes of prowess were often overshadowed by some equally unpleasant moments over the course of his first go-around in the NFL. In 10 starts, the 23-year-old threw for 1,632 yards, or 163.2 per game, and 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions — not nearly enough production to justify moving forward without some competition.
That simple fact made the availability of former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray intriguing to Minnesota's front office, leading to a quarterback competition between the two.
During recent interviews at the Vikings' voluntary offseason workouts, both QBs were asked about the competition and what their relationship has been like so far. While Murray gave a nuanced answer with mountains of praise and respect for McCarthy, the second-year quarterback didn't reciprocate that same sentiment.
"It's just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side, I sit on the other side, and it's the coaches' responsibility to teach us and coach us," McCarthy said. When asked if there's any "awkwardness" between the two, McCarthy returned to his high school analogy, claiming "that's just kind of how it is, so I wouldn't say there's any awkwardness."
When you're reading the quote, it might not strike the same undertones as when you're watching his answer, but those who saw the video of McCarthy's response on social media could clearly sense that he has some hidden feelings about competing this summer.
Vikings' awkward quarterback situation gives Packers a small boost in the fight for NFC North supremacy.
Professionalism is key in the NFL, and even if you don't like a teammate, you can't let that out to the public. While it's completely valid for McCarthy to feel some type of way about the Vikings bringing in another quarterback, he wouldn't share that sentiment if he were running the front office. Even Packers quarterback Jordan Love faced a little bit of competition in the form of Malik Willis, but he used that as motivation to go out and prove what he's made of.
Murray has struggled to live up to his potential over the last several seasons. While health was the primary factor, a general sense of dysfunction in Arizona and questions about his focus added to what was already a murky situation. Although he probably wanted to escape the drama he faced with his former team, it appears that a new source of tension has arisen in Minnesota.
For Packers fans, this is a fantastic opportunity to kick back, munch on some popcorn, and enjoy the show. Quarterback drama is some of the worst drama in this league, and when your bitter rival is going through it, you can't help but soak it all in.
If Minnesota cannot get back to the success of recent seasons, it leaves the door even more open for Green Bay to win the division. As of right now, the Vikings are far from the biggest obstacle in their way, but this is a fun way to throw a wrench into things at the start.
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