Leber doesn't sound all that impressed

badgervike wrote:

Leber doesn't sound all that impressed

Me neither....

Its all upside imo, very little risk...

there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.

About 2.5 million cheaper than Pace.

purplefaithful wrote:

Its all upside imo, very little risk...

No risk at all, really. Leber's talking about Jamal Adams like we're paying him a lot more than we are. $0 guaranteed. He's getting a THIRD of what we're paying UDFA Ivan Pace Jr. No one expected anything from the Eric Wilson signing last year, so if Flores thinks he can help us, he can probably help us.

JimmyinSD wrote:

there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.

Happens every year with signings. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?

For me this is classic national media dumbshittery: "Kyler Murray is going to ROCK in Minnesota this year, he and KOC are a match made in heaven!" Projected record: 4th in the NFCN, 8-8. lol, how does that align?? 🤔

JimmyinSD wrote:

there is so much hype around this team, but then again... what July hasnt there been? I am kind of getting to the point of "enough about the labor... show me the fucking baby" every new signing draws ooh and aaahs, every player we lose was a bum, its time for this franchise to actually show something before I can get frothy again, and I mean over a few years, not the roller coaster that we've been on for decades.

StickierBuns wrote:

Happens every year. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?

Spoken like a true, long-time vet Jimmy...

Sticky I agree the Vikings are absolutely under the radar, at least heading into the season. Between the painful 2025 season and the Qb talk, it does get (shall we say) taxing...

I still enjoy being on the precipice of the new season (that never gets old for me). Cant take it for granted and I'll leave it at that...

Lets go...

StickierBuns wrote:

Happens every year with signings. I think we might be especially burnt out this almost August as fans because of all the QB1 talk. I don't think there's a lot of hype around the team.....I think most of the media thinks the team is the bottom of the NFCN. There's these kernels of 'anonymous executives' and just a couple random fringe media people that think Kyler is going to rock this year, but probably 80%+ don't think much of the Vikings. More of an out of sight, out of mind scenario probably considering last year, but not seeing the 'so much hype' thing you're talking about?
For me this is classic national media dumbshittery: "Kyler Murray is going to ROCK in Minnesota this year, he and KOC are a match made in heaven!" Projected record: 4th in the NFCN, 8-8. lol, how does that align?? 🤔

Cuz it is all about the offense. Media doesn't pay attention to defense, we were 9-8 last year, winning games on defense alone with Brosmer at QB. But that doesn't matter, The Bears and Packers are darlings, the Lions (minus Ben Johnson and half their o-line) are somehow still a favorite.

Gotta love this guy's attitude, lol.....

At 30, it's a little early for severe age-related decline with Adams. No doubt, all the injuries have slowed him down and he's never again going to be the player we saw back in the day, but at $1.3M, the Adams signing might rank up there with the Murray signing in terms of ROI.

I'm not seeing it, but there sure is buzz around this guy's signing. Hope I'm wrong, go get it, Jamal.....

Jamal Adams' first media session since joining the Vikings was an electric one. He talked about his winding path to get here and his belief that the "sky's the limit" with his fit in Brian Flores' defense.

My story: https://t.co/vtX5MAXRm2

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) July 30, 2026

Adams worked at linebacker on the first day of training camp Wednesday after signing with the team earlier this week. Afterward, Adams said he picked the Vikings for two primary reasons.

“Nolan and BFlo,” he said.

That’s new general manager Nolan Teasley, who worked in the front office in Seattle during Adams’ stint with that organization, and Flores, the man whom Adams believes can resurrect his career.

“There are certain DCs in the league that you pray that you can play for one day,” Adams said. “He fits me. We fit each other.”

This is a low-risk move by the Vikings that, if successful, could allow Flores to show even more creativity in his scheme and personnel.

Adams began his career on a superstar trajectory as a hard-hitting safety for the New York Jets and Seahawks. A torn quadriceps tendon in the 2022 season opener sent his career tumbling down a different path.

“It’s probably the toughest injury you can go through in all of sports,” Adams said. “It’s not an ACL or Achilles. No offense to anybody who has that. But it’s a different level. When you tear your tendon, it takes years to really get back to yourself. You might heal, but you’re not back to yourself mentally and physically.”

Doubt crept in the longer his recovery took. He couldn’t practice at full speed, which made it difficult to find that gear on game day. Adams naively had predicted that he would beat his surgeon’s timeline for full recovery.

“You’re like, ‘Nah, I’m an athlete, I’ll be back [sooner],’” he said. “You try to beat the system. I had no chance.”

He had briefs stints with the Titans and Lions, then switched to linebacker last season with the Las Vegas Raiders and played in all 17 games.

Adams turns 31 in October and is six years removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign. He believes being healthy again and paired with Flores can unlock that old version of himself, the game changer.

“Everybody was like, ‘Man, you link up with Flo, the sky could be the limit,’” he said. “He can use you in unique ways.”

Josh Metellus is a case study. Technically, he is listed as a safety. Flores deploys him all over the field in a hybrid role.

Adams’ size (6-1, 213 pounds), physical nature and football acumen create opportunities for Flores to go the drawing board again. Flores described Adams as a “football guy [who] lives and breathes the game.”

Said Flores: “I tell guys all the time: Your role with this unit is whatever you make it and the more you can do and be productive with.”

Adams embraced a position change in his ninth NFL season a year ago. He found playing linebacker a little different but not awkward. It’s still football, he noted.

“The basic fundamentals is see ball, get ball,” he said. “Obviously there are different things that you’ve got to adjust to. I’m obviously dealing with bigger guys up front that I don’t like to deal with. But other than that, it’s cool.”

Adams isn’t sweating details. He sounds happy to feel healthy again and afforded a chance to make an impact. This opportunity might not go the way he envisions. He might not find a role, or a new contract, or the performance level that made him a star. But he’s betting on himself.

“I know what I can do,” he said. “I know what I can bring to the table.”

He believes Flores will maximize whatever that is.

Strib

Brian Flores on Jamal Adams

On Wednesday, Flores talked about his excitement for Adams to join his defense. “Always had a lot of respect and a lot of admiration for Jamal and his game going all the way back to college,” Flores said. “Obviously a high draft pick, who has had a lot of very, very productive years…just spending time with him, this is a football guy. He kind of lives and breathes the game. There’s a joy and a love for the game that’s infectious. You can kind of feel that in 24 hours.”

The Vikings are listing Adams as a linebacker so he is presumably going to spend the vast majority of his time in the box. But Flores’ defense always opens the door for versatility when it comes to LBs and safeties.

When Adams was asked why he was interested in playing for the Vikings, he said: “Nolan and Flo”