Schadenfreude : Viking fan reaction
February 3rd, 2022 at 5:57 AM ^
Rule #1 on this board is never complain about negs.
Your first post makes you sound like an a-hole and then you are upset over the response.
You have no idea whether the Vikings offered or not- Viking fans seem to think they offered but Harbaugh declined. It is impossible to confirm or deny this without insider information. Nobody on the board has that kind of access.
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:00 AM ^
Is this Maizen?
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:56 AM ^
Zarkin - I’ll try to help you understand…
he didn’t get offered the job. He wanted to leave and lost out on every position. This job is his fall back
Those are three statements that you are presenting as facts because a “source” or two said so. Pure speculation on all 3. Looking at a lobster on the menu doesn’t mean you’re going to order it. You might consider it for a minute but you always knew steak was for dinner!
February 3rd, 2022 at 10:31 AM ^
You're being negged because even if what you said is true, you're still an insufferable bastard and nobody likes you. Seriously, go follow something else if this makes you so miserable.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:42 PM ^
Amusing to read because I perused their subreddit a few times this week and they were celebrating it as a done deal. Talking about staffs and all that. Admittedly, any fanbase would've done that but it's a little sweet to see it work out for us in the end
Like this one is amusing:
The hype was very clearly orchestrated from Harbaugh's camp to give him leverage for control of the hiring process. This reads more to a front office wanting a talented coach, but not wanting to give him complete control (and an absurd salary).
The fact that Harbaugh immediately went public after the meetings to control the narrative leads into that.
Harbaugh has no camp
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:47 PM ^
They mad.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:50 PM ^
OSU and MSU fans also mad, and showing it by making it about themselves.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:19 PM ^
Big mad.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:51 PM ^
I was in the Vikings subreddit a lot today. They thought he was their guy. They were full on us in 2015. Posting milk steak pics, discussing his antics with recruits (a new one for me, while at a sleepover at a recruits house, the recruits mother went into labor. Jim stayed up, played chess and drank milk with the recruit’s little brother. They were even leaving out Milk and Khakis for him.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:55 PM ^
I’m surprised the Vikings fans would want Harbaugh over O’Connell. The young analytical offensive mindset coach is dominating the NFL right now.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
But he's never been a head coach.
Harbaugh's about as safe a HC hire as you can make, records-wise. 29-6 at USD. Turned Stanford from 1-11 to 12-1 in four years. Took the 49ers to three NFC title games and one Super Bowl in four years. Took Michigan to the CFP.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:06 PM ^
Look at the coaches who made the NFL playoffs this year.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:20 PM ^
Well, 14 teams made the playoffs so that list includes:
- Bill Belichick
- Andy Reid
- Mike Tomlin
- Bruce Arians
- Matt LeFleur
- Sean McVay
- Mike McCarthy
- Mike Vrabel
- Sean McDermott
- Kyle Shanahan
- Kliff Kingsbury
- Zac Taylor
- Nick Sirianni
- Rich Bisaccia
So some older guys, some younger guys, and a couple in between. Yes, younger coaches who were hired on rebuilding teams made it, and experienced coaches who have had success in the NFL also made it. Jim Harbaugh wasn't a good candidate if you were looking down the barrel of a 4-year rebuild, but if the Vikings think they've got a chance now to win then he'd make a lot of sense.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:18 PM ^
He's not even the play calling OC for one.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:57 PM ^
I actually feel kinda bad for them
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:27 PM ^
The comments are actually entertaining. I liked the one where the Vikings fan said "we finally figured out how to lose against a college team"
February 3rd, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
I personally like "Probably came to the interview expecting to see dumptrucks of cash in the parking lot waiting for him, but instead had to go inside and do an actual interview."
I'm not sure if he was being sarcastic or not but: Yes, "thatissomeBS", that's it. Harbaugh hates interviews. If the job requires an interview, he "nopes" out of that so fast /s. Also, it doesn't help your case if the interview was 9 hours long (supposedly).
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:44 AM ^
Owners are wealthy but most don't seem to make the best decisions running a football team.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:07 PM ^
Best comment by far . . .
"Too_Hood_95:
A real kick in the nuts for sure."
"ReallyisGreatBanter:
If it was a kick we'd have missed."
Classic.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:12 PM ^
This kinda makes sense, you gotta figure with his resume and relationship to the GM and then having him in on NSD he was there to sign a contract in his mind, they said they weren't at that point and he probably took offence to it and both parties ultimately passed.
https://twitter.com/CourtneyRCronin/status/1489061164004876288?t=DZDhdV-aRicyDRQZwmUXhw&s=19
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:16 PM ^
The last couple days I was trying to understand why UM sources wrote this as a done deal and the NFL (specifically Vikings) beat writers just wrote it up as another interview. Honestly her thoughts here sort of point to validity to all of those reports and a general miscommunication of how this process was going to work.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:29 PM ^
The weirdest thing was that it was clearly reported that Minnesota was going to bring in 3-4 guys for in-person interviews, and yet you had reporters saying it was a done deal already. That didn't add up.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:36 PM ^
And Harbaugh saying his thank yous and goodbyes yesterday. The Michigan reporters probably heard it was done from the Michigan side cause he assumed it was based on preliminary conversations or a general feeling or whatever and that could have been the reason he didn't get an offer ultimately and both sides just simply passed on the other because of it. The entire thing with Minnesota has been strange for sure
February 3rd, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
I agree, it really doesn't. I mentioned this on another post, but what makes a bit more sense to this situation in my mind is that I think JH was using the Vikings for the Miami job. I think there was some truth to the "Ross-taking-Harbaugh-if-he-really-wanted-to-go-and get-offered-by-other-teams" rumor. Of course, I don't think JH, Ross or anyone was expecting that massive blow up that occurred and that's why this situation played out the way it did.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:15 PM ^
My read is that the GM likely conveyed a "we're going to offer you but you have to convince my bosses" vibe to Harbaugh in their earlier interview and then the two sides got into a room and realized that wasn't going to work relationship-wise and so they parted ways.
I absolutely believe Harbaugh wanted to coach in the NFL but I also think that's true for most of the top coaches in college and few do because NFL teams are weird and insular and have their own processes. I also do take his word that this is it for him - I doubt he wants to go through another interview cycle when he's over 60.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:13 PM ^
I think the Vikes fucked this up. They missed on candidate A and B and took the highest risk with C. Who knows, could be the next Zac Taylor and will have my support. I also wonder if Kirk is traded now, vs what I thought was an excellent pairing with Harbaugh...
Either way: bad for the Vikings, bad for the rest of the Big Ten.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:20 PM ^
And how would you know that the reason he wasn't offered is because they would not agree to what he required to accept the job? It fucking amazes me how people jump to ignorant conclusions and convince themselves they're correct.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:10 PM ^
It's weird that fans who follow the Vikings pretty intensely (it seems) figured the Vikings screwed this up while a bunch of NFL media types are rushing to say "oh yeah, Jim Harbaugh didn't take this football interview seriously enough and that's why the Vikings are going to keep interviewing a bunch of first-time coaches" wherein they just keep citing each other.
Again, I have no doubt the Vikings didn't offer Jim Harbaugh a job, but I also think the assumption that it was because they didn't want him from a football perspective is a fair bit of gaslighting.
February 3rd, 2022 at 2:03 AM ^
According to Bacon on Twitter Harbaugh prepped with Matt Weiss all day for a grueling with the Vikes today. So clearly he took the interview seriously. Bacon said Harbaugh had to dispel the notions he is difficult and too old school and he he had to convince the Wilf family he wasn't a blight because Jed York and minority owner Jim Stapleton said he was. They didn't want Harbaugh at all!
But Viking GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who had worked with Harbaugh in San Francisco was a big fan.
The reality is we won't know what happened and pundits will always read the tea-leaves in a way that suits their narrative.
The Minnesota situation isn't ideal. Their defense is bad are they are older. Cousins contract isn't ideal. The 34 yo is set to make 35 mil with a possible 45 mil cap hit. Not great for a roster that needs to move pieces. So Harbaugh's task is to advance a old mediocre team.
That is a lot different from SF where he Alex Smith and Colin Karpernick and a young D with up and coming studs.
February 3rd, 2022 at 7:56 AM ^
Great points. Maybe more to do with the modern coaching business and I don't take it personally.
2021-2022 was an unexpected year - even the most optimistic fans could not have expected such a great year after what had happened last year and the previous years. Likewise, would CFB fans in general have expected Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley to bolt to new spots in the manner that they did? It is a new world for CFB and things might get stranger as NIL and the portal full manifest. We are just seeing the dawn of that era.
Finally the key point may be what you mentioned, that Kwesi-Adofo-Mensah had worked with Harbaugh in the past.
1. Harbaugh still harbors some flickering embers of interest in the NFL and wanted to be sure that the NFL world knows those fires are still smoldering.
2. He hasn't done a serious interview since the whole SF ending.
3. Adofo-Mensah wants to get a good interview process and show he can draw some interesting options. Harbaugh may have been doing this for him as a friend - and in years past, he would have just done this more discreetly or by phone but now, and after his public contract reduction decided to just go and see. He might have figured any recruiting fall out can't be any worse that prior years.
Aside: I've been asked to interview for academic jobs that I wasn't that serious of taking but (1) flattered that someone would ask, (2) asked by a friend and it looks bad for them when no quality candidate will come and look, those places benefit because they are getting a free outside review of their programs, (3) curious to learn more about what is going on there, (4) wanted to know what they were offering financially, (5) show present place that you're appreciated widely. My boss knew about it but moving about isn't that unusual and looking at places isn't uncommon for my role. He himself was asked to look at other division jobs. This may be a similar situation.
So Harbaugh went and had a look. It was in many ways a win-win. Not for us Wolverine fans left in limbo but that's the new reality. Why?
He got to see what the current NFL hiring situation is like.
He got to help a friend and colleague and keep up in the networking - never know when that would help. His friend showed he has connections and if a guy like Harbaugh will do him a solid, it just looks good. Maybe when he ready to hang it up, he'll get a consultancy gig or something like that with the Vikings. You just never know - and keeping up contacts and networking matters.
He could get an inside look at the contract and personnel situation - more than what he could know from the outside. This could just be professional interest and help him when discussing pro futures with prospects.
The Vikings showed they had searched far and wide. They got a "name" person to look at the job. And underappreciated, they got essentially a free review of their team and situation. Harbaugh has been a good judge of talent, and Minnesota now is no way as good as the 49ers were when he took them over. The Cousins contract may force the Vikings to a Goff-Stafford deal in the future if they want to get clear and make a serious run at the Super Bowl.
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
That's what always surprised me about the Vikings job. This wasn't really a turnkey situation he would've been walking into, or a young team with talent that just needs a sense of direction like what he had in SF. The Vikings are a bit of a mess all over the place between Dalvin Cook's injury history, Cousins' contract, and just the defense in general. Not to mention being in a really bad cap situation.
I think a 45-50 year old Harbaugh might've taken on a rebuild challenge, but he's pushing 60 before too long, and I had to believe that he would've wanted to walk into the best possible situation, or at least the one that offered the quickest path to the Super Bowl. I'm not sure how appealing a full-scale rebuild would've been at this point in his career, but maybe it wouldn't have mattered to him so what do I know?
February 3rd, 2022 at 1:49 AM ^
I have nursed a burning hatred for the Vikings since I was 5; this pleases me. Though not as much as Fran Tarkenton shuffling off his mortal coil - hurry up already damnit.
WCF hated the Vikings too.
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:53 AM ^
Or a steely eyed Bud Grant pounding it to the Lions.
February 3rd, 2022 at 8:33 AM ^
Ditto on hating the Vikings since the Tarkenton days. And after the 1987 American League Divisional Series, I've hated the Twins even more.
February 3rd, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
Generally, for Lions fans, where do the Bears and Vikings fall on the hatred scale? I assume the Pack is #1
February 3rd, 2022 at 11:05 AM ^
For this Lions fan, the hate least goes:
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Bears - Chicago arrogance because of Bulls bothered me as a lad, strong animosity toward the 80-90 Bulls.
3. Vikings - Generally hapless after the Fran years
4. Packers - Never had any emotion toward them until Aaron Rodgers - Didn't like or dislike Favre but they always lost in Green Bay
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:27 AM ^
Just scared of the Eberfloos Bears
February 3rd, 2022 at 3:49 AM ^
The comment from Internet Guy who works for the AD mentioned that this was a Weiss thing. If true, interesting comment.
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:45 AM ^
BPONE Vikings style. I honestly feel sorry for them. Brutal.
February 3rd, 2022 at 6:48 AM ^
Lifelong Vikes fan here. Gotta say, the only thing worse than having Cousins as QB on my team would be having that team coached by JH after he walked away from A2. Not upset about how this played out at all.
February 3rd, 2022 at 7:47 AM ^
I did kind of feel bad for the guy who bought 200 pairs of khakis.
February 3rd, 2022 at 8:35 AM ^
good heavens, i can't think of anything less interesting than reading viking fan reactions to jim harbaugh not being their next coach.
February 3rd, 2022 at 12:01 PM ^
We are probably never going to know what went down in Minny and that’s fine. The hindsight narratives are mostly a mirror of various sides rationalizing their biases after the fact. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. My personal headcanon is that Harbaugh wanted to sign on the dotted line, and stripped off his shirt and khakis to dive into Lake Minnetonka and was put off by how none of the Vikings officials joined him, demonstrating a lack of enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Did that actually happen? Probably not, but it’s as good a guess as any.