Sam Darnold’s performance on Monday night was a shocking display of lost poise in a crucial moment that carried a judgment. There’s no possibility Darnold will return in a Vikings uniform, unless it’s years later as a 35-year-old without a job and the team requires a third-string quarterback.
This strong conviction resulted in a query: During Minnesota’s many years of major team sports — defined as the professionals and the Gophers — who could be identified as the analogous sports figures to Darnold?
A hero for many months, then an abrupt downfall and exit from our stage?
For a genuine Darnold comparison to exist, there must have been an initial success, and the failure resulting in exit cannot be attributed to injury.
Doubting my recollection, I reached out to over 20 seasoned members of the Twin Cities sports media asking for nominees.
One name referenced multiple times was Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the Japanese infielder who was signed by the Twins for the 2011 season. Indeed, there was anticipation surrounding Nishioka as a possible star, but without success, there was no comparison to Darnold.
Another name from the early days of Twins baseball popped into my head:
Bill Dailey, a right-handed relief pitcher acquired from Cleveland prior to Opening Day in 1963. He was exceptional that season. Organist Willie Peterson played “(Won’t You Come Home) Bill Bailey,” and the crowds at Met Stadium were singing along and turning it into a celebration. Then, in 1964, Bill’s arm became useless.
Injury disqualifies the comparison to Darnold.
There’s a connection between the quarterback role and the Vikings, as it’s arguable that the closest equivalents to Darnold as potential Minnesota sports icons might be two itinerants who played that position (one of whom was called “Case”):
Jeff George, 1999: Randall Cunningham could not replicate his impressive achievements from 1998. The Vikings entered Detroit with a record of 2-3 and were behind the Lions 19-0 at halftime, with a Cunningham interception being the sole touchdown.
George, who was let go by Oakland, entered the game in the second half, sparked the Vikings’ offense, and the final score was a 25-23 defeat. It was October 17, my birthday, and as I went downstairs after the game, I thought this was the gift:
Provoking Denny Green with multiple forms of the query, “Who is your current starting quarterback?” Then Green entered his postgame media session and quickly announced that George would start the next week against San Francisco.
The Sheriff outwitted us once more.
George and the Vikings finished 8-2 for the remainder of the season, defeated the Cowboys 27-10 in their playoff debut at the Metrodome, and then traveled to St. Louis. They were defeated 49-37, with George infamously choosing not to dive for a fumble that was right in front of him near the end of the game.
The majority of Purple supporters were fine with his departure to allow young Daunte Culpepper to step in during 2000.
Case Keenum, 2017: Sam Bradford sustained a knee injury while Teddy Bridgewater (coach Mike Zimmer’s preferred option) was still recovering. Keenum, in his third team over five seasons, assumed the role of quarterback, achieved an 11-3 record, threw for 3,547 yards and had a 22-7 touchdown to interception ratio.
Our friend Zim appeared to believe that much of Keenum’s success was due to good fortune. The concluding moment of that was the “Minneapolis Miracle” — Keenum to Stefon Diggs — in the postseason win against New Orleans at the Metrodome.
Keenum underperformed alongside his teammates in the 38-7 NFC Championship Game defeat against Philadelphia.
Farewell, Case. Greetings, Kirk Cousins. Both recorded an equal number of playoff victories here — Case in one season, Kirk in six.
Here’s the remainder of a personal top 10 for semi-Darnold games featuring notable Minnesota sports personalities:
Sure! Please provide the text you’d like me to paraphrase. Scott Bjugstad, North Stars: The Bugler scored 43 goals in his second complete NHL season (1985-86) and netted 14 in the two seasons that followed. Injuries played a role in that — but 43, wow!
Sure, please provide the text you would like me to paraphrase. Crystal Dangerfield, Lynx: Named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2020, a reserve in 2021, released in 2022, and has moved around in the subsequent seasons.
Sure! Please provide the text you would like me to paraphrase. Rick Rickert, Gophers men’s basketball: The 6-foot-11 forward excelled during his two years with the Gophers (2001-03), but he didn’t transform the sport as anticipated, which was the expectation when he came from Duluth East.
Please provide the text that you would like me to paraphrase. Frantisek Musil, North Stars: Sure, he doesn’t match Darnold in terms of time, but when Louie Nanne risked smuggling the Czech defenseman out of Eastern Europe in a trunk in 1986, we anticipated more than just numerous penalties.
It seems like you didn’t provide any text to paraphrase. Please share the specific text you’d like me to work on, and I’d be happy to help! Martín Pérez, Twins: His left-handed pitching gave the Bomba Squad the ace they required in 2019. For a duration of three months. Then he was unable to rescue your grandson. However, he continues on today.
8. John Smiley, Twins: Another southpaw. Brought in to take over for the one-time but ever-heroic Jack Morris in the rotation for 1992. Finished 16-9, with a 3.21 ERA over 241 innings — but he departed, never truly embodying his last name in front of the Twin Cities press.
Sure, please provide the text you would like me to paraphrase. Bucky Irving, Gophers football: Provided a solid showcase as a freshman for a 2021 Gophers squad that finished 6-3 in the Big Ten: 133 attempts, 699 yards. Departed for Oregon. Currently the primary running back for Tampa Bay. Bucky, we barely knew you.
Please provide the text you would like me to paraphrase. Russell Shimooka, TV: Arrived in the Twin Cities market as a sports anchor for the prominent KARE-11 in 1994 amidst significant publicity. Wasn’t skilled at pronouncing some names from Minnesota. Endured for four months.
Now include your own comparisons for Darnold. Numerous options are still accessible.
I didn’t even mention Larry Calton, the brief Twins announcer (1974-75) who was punched by Danny Walton over a comment that the player deemed overly personal.
