After signing Kirk Cousins to a massive deal with $84 million guaranteed, the Minnesota Vikings are basically stuck with him at quarterback through 2020. That fact kept the team from signing CFL quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
According to 3downnation.com — Mitchell stated he worked out in December for the team after being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
An unnamed team official met with him after his workout and asked how he could help the Vikings win.
“I was like, ‘Well, for one, I’ve never been anywhere in football and not won a championship as a starter,’” Mitchell said. “‘High school, DI, DI-AA, now here in the CFL. Everywhere I’ve ever been I’ve won a championship within the first three years I’ve been there. I can help you do that. I’m going to come in here, I’m going to take Kirk’s job.’”
According to Mitchell, that is not the answer they wanted to hear.
“He was like, ‘Oh, no, no, n-n-n-no, we don’t want you to take Kirk’s job. We want you to come in here, help him with his eyes, tell him what you see, do everything you can to make him a better quarterback. But we need a good quarterback room, we don’t want you to cause controversy. At that moment I was like, ‘Well, I’m not signing with the Minnesota Vikings.’
“I don’t understand that thought process. All that tells me is there’s a culture in that building right now that, ‘Hey, your job is secure because of the money we paid you. Don’t worry about anything you do or the decisions you make or anything the media says, just do what we tell you to do and you’re going to be fine.’ It’s mind-blowing. You don’t even want a guy that’s pushing him or creating competition.”
The Vikings are content with living and dying on the hill of having Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. Even if it means upsetting the rest of the team.
