Flip and Eric are back for Viking Hot Takes. They are wondering if your Minnesota Vikings are making sound moves to start off the NFL’s brand-new league year. You hear that you can’t win the Super Bowl in March. That may be true, but you start to build a team that can in March. The moves to date feel familiar, i.e. like extending Kirk Cousins and signing a new linebacker [Jordan Hicks] and defensive tackle [Harrison Phillips] like last season. Kevin O’Connell said today they got better. But did they? All of us expected the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be different. Is he? Is he being handcuffed by the COO or ownership that was embarrassed last season when they found out that Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer hadn’t talked for 3 months? Have the Vikings improved because of the moves made so far?

Tonight, Flip will battle Eric for the 30th episode of Viking Hot Takes on the Climbing The Pocket channel on Thursday night. Following the usual format of the show, we put the usual 20 minutes on the clock and asked each other three questions:

Flip asks:

1. Should the Vikings be tanking harder?

2. Hunter/Smith/Kendricks - Trade one, Extend one, Replace one

3. What's the next move on offense?

Eric asks:

1. Was the Kirk Cousins extension smart?

2. Do Adofo-Mensah's first moves as GM feel a little TOO familiar?

3. Who will be Cousins' backup in 2022?

Fan with us!!! Talk with Flip Mazzi @Flipmazzi, with Eric Thompson @eric_j_thompson, and producer Dave @Luft_Krigare as part of a @Climb_ThePocket Network’s & @DailyNorseman’s production. Also, with our newest partner at CTP, Lake Monster Brewing @LakeMonsterBrew as we venture beneath the surface in search of something unknown and extraordinary, both in their wonderful selections and our coverage of your favorite team.

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Happy New League Year everyone! Climbing the Pocket is celebrating Vikings Happy Hour with special guest Darren “Doogie” Wolfson bringing the scoops. Enjoying your favorite beverage [and we suggest a fine beer from Lake Monster Brewing], as we talk about all the extensions, cuts, signings, re-signings, and rumors for your Minnesota Vikings. Make sure you get the latest player moves and transactions. This is because the Vikes get under the cap and can legally sign free agents in this time of NFL Free Agency.

Listen for the discussion on the possible Danielle Hunter trade, Mac Alexander denial, and the actions that seem to be happening at the Vikings headquarters.

Tonight, we are proud to bring you the second CTP and Lake Monster Brewing Giveaway, their March Madness™ bracket giveaway with a chance to win an LMB gift certificate. Test your knowledge and luck and win. It is like free beer that is really awesome! What an opportunity if you nail your bracket. Skol!

Discussion topics tonight:

- Intro

- March Madness™ contest

- What you’re Drinking?

- Recap Viking moves (Kirk Cousins, anything we hear today)

- Scoops

- Vikings chatter

- Plug draft show

Fan with us!!! Guest Darren “Doogie” Wolfson @DWolfsonKSTP from KSTP Cannel 5 and SKOR North contributor @SKORNorth The regulars: @Matt Anderson @MattAnderson_8, Ryan Ortega @sportsguyry, Myles Gorham @MylesGorham85, and Producer Dave @Luft_Krigare enjoying another @LakeMonsterBrew. This is a @Climb_ThePocket & @DailyNorseman production.

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BJ Reidell and Drew Mahowald discuss Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins's 1-year extension, what it means for the team as well as the signings of free agent Harrison Phillips and Jordan Hicks.

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Tonight on In The Huddle, Jason Brown and Nick Olson will discuss what feels like the “Same Old Same Old” in the land of the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Free Agency is upon us and the new league starts Wednesday. The only transactions from the new Vikings front office look like the old Vikings front office. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was billed as the forward-thinking analytics guy that would apply a new direction and way of thinking, but that hasn’t happened yet. They sign a perennial practice squad guy, extend Kirk Cousins even though teams were interested, let their best guard walk, talk about bringing back Kirk’s security blanket to back him up, agree to deal with the third interior defensive lineman in three years, cut another one, and agreed to add a 30 linebacker. Where’s the new forward-thinking? The reset? Anything? Could Andrew Miller, the Vikings COO in conjunction with Mark Wilf be sabotaging any potential progress before it even starts? Inquiring minds want to know.

Join the conversation!

Agenda:

- Moves

Re-signed IDL T.Y. McGill

Extend QB Kirk Cousins

Tender K Greg Joseph

Agreed to sign IDL Harrison Phillips

Cut IDL Michael Pierce

Reports of a desire to re-sign Sean Mannion

Agreed to sign LB Jordan Hicks

- Kirk extension

- Phillips for Pierce swap

- Why does it feel like they’re running back the same strategy as the old regime?

Fan with us!!! Come join the @Climb_ThePocket Network's and @DailyNorman's "In The Huddle" show with host Jason Brown @brownjayson and Nick Olson @NickOlsonNFL. Producer Dave @Luft_Krigare joins us from the truck and enjoying an OUTSTANDING brew from @LakeMonsterBrew.

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At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

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The decision has been made! The first domino fell. Your Minnesota Viking and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had made has inked his first big contract signing Kirk Cousins to a one year contract extension keeping him on the team through 2023. Was that a smart deal? How does it impact the salary cap? Does the Vikings plan change over the next few months in building a team? Join Tyler, Deshawn, and Dave as they break it all down in-depth, including a fired up rant from Tyler after his piece from earlier today eviscerating the move.

Talking points for tonight’s show: 

- Tyler Forness wrote a piece over at USA Today’s Vikings Wire

- Changing the narrative?

- Arif Hasan’s premonition

- What is Kirk’s percentage of the cap?

- Why the no trade clause

- How will this effect the 2022 draft strategy?

- Mock draft version 6…

The results:

Rd 1-27 Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida,

Rd 2-46 Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA,

Rd 2-55 George Pickens, WR, Georgia,

Rd 2-60 Josh Paschal, Edge, Kentucky

Fan with us!!! Tyler Forness @TheRealForno, and Deshawn Vaughan @vikingsfans16. In the truck is Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this @Climb_ThePocket Network’s & @DailyNorseman’s production, and enjoying an OUTSTANDING brew from @LakeMonsterBrew.

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Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/climbingthepocket

Watch the show here: https://youtu.be/pd2UZsCbhR4

At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

https://www.lakemonsterbrewing.com/

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Your Minnesota Vikings have announced an extension for Kirk Cousins. It happened last night and amounts to a “Reload” to the team in an effort to be competitive. Mark Wilf spelled it out weeks ago at his presser so when when he tells you that, believe him. Jonas has views on the subject from CTP Europe and joins Producer Dave to hash them out. Is it a reload? What about the defense? What about a long term plan? Watch and find out.

Fan with us!!! Jonas Stärk @JonasStaerk and Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this @Climb_ThePocket Network’s & @DailyNorseman’s production. 

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Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/climbingthepocket

Watch the show here: https://youtu.be/1xYxLCj6JVQ

At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

https://www.lakemonsterbrewing.com/

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There it is… Kirk Cousins has been extended and the details are confusing, but we’ll try to break it all down for Minnesota Vikings fans.

Fan with us!!! Jayson Brown @brownjayson, and Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare producing this @Climb_ThePocket Network’s & @DailyNorseman’s along with @LakeMonsterBrew’s production.

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Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/climbingthepocket

Watch the show here: https://youtu.be/-hPSn9usZR0

At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

https://www.lakemonsterbrewing.com/

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Your Minnesota Vikings are quickly running out of time to get cap compliant by the start of the new NFL league year on Wednesday. Fans keep asking, have they, “Done Anything Yet?” Rumors and tweets of rumors are flying, but nothing as of yet. Hopefully, that changes soon, but we all know with legal tampering starting at noon Eastern on Monday, things are about to really get wild and the Climbing The Pocket along with our thirst-quenching partner, Lake Monster Brewing, is here for it all.

Darren and Dave today will be looking at how Kevin O’Connell will set the tempo on the field no matter which quarterback is running it. Then we dive into our second to last position group analysis, and this is the most significant and relevant to date… the quarterbacks. Will the Vikings roll with Kirk Cousins and his massive cap hit? Will he extend to work so Rob Brzezinski can work some cap magic? Will he be traded? Will the Vikings acquire a free agent like Deshaun Watson? Will they draft a QB high? Oh, we don’t know yet, but may soon. Let’s all hope so.

Two Old Bloggers are comprised of Dave and Darren, who both started blogging on the Purple decades ago. They will talk over issues and events in the offseason, so get ready for the Climbing The Pocket and Daily Norseman 2OB commentary and interaction show!

Here are the themes for the show:

Theme #1 - Vikings moves?

Theme #2 - Setting the tempo

Theme #3 - Positional analysis QBs

Join us for your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst Two Old Bloggers and join the conversation! Fan with us!!! Come join the @Climb_ThePocket’s & @DailyNorseman’s blogger show with Darren @KickassblogVike and Dave @Luft_Krigare, and enjoy an OUTSTANDING brew from @LakeMonsterBrew.

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Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/climbingthepocket

Watch the live show here: https://youtu.be/b2M5hjms0Nw

At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

https://www.lakemonsterbrewing.com/

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What is guest Ben Goessling from the Star Tribune hearing? The quarterback moves continued today and there were reports of other teams inquiring or making offers for Kirk Cousins, but was the price right? With the QB carousel moving, does it change the approach from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell toward the direction they want to move? Are there any other players on the trade market from the Vikes? 

Tonight is the first Lake Monster Giveaway to a lucky viewer that liked @LakeMonsterBrew and @Climb_ThePocket and RT’d the giveaway tweet. Who will get the LMB hat and the cool mini-sign for the man or woman cave? Grab your favorite Lake Monster Brewing beverage and join the conversation! Skol!

Discussion topics tonight:

- Intro

- Lake Monster Brewing Giveaway

- QB moves in the NFL

Aaron Rodger extension

Russell Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos

Carson Wentz traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Washington Commanders

Kirk Cousins inquiries 

- Does this shift Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mindset?

- Is Kirk's extension looming?

- Other Vikings’ player moves, acquisitions, trades, or extensions?

Vikings signed defensive tackle T.Y. McGill

Fan with us!!! Guest Ben Goessling @BenGoessling from Star Tribune @strib The regulars: @Matt Anderson @MattAnderson_8, Ryan Ortega @sportsguyry, and Producer Dave @Luft_Krigare enjoying another @LakeMonsterBrew. This is a @Climb_ThePocket & @DailyNorseman production.

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Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/climbingthepocket

Watch the live show here: https://youtu.be/401ZT_rS0zA

At Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/climbingthepocket/

https://www.facebook.com/thedailynorseman/

For your beer and food needs:

https://www.lakemonsterbrewing.com/

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BJ Reidell and Drew Mahowald discuss the Minnesota Vikings' decision to move on from head trainer Eric Sugarman in favor of former Los Angeles Rams assistant Tyler Williams as well as the swelling trade market for the quarterback position and, of course, Kirk Cousins.

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