The Minnesota Vikings recently traded backup quarterback JJ McCarthy to the New York Giants in exchange for a future fifth-round draft pick. The move brought an end to McCarthy's tumultuous tenure in Minnesota, which featured a lost rookie season due to injury, a brutal lone season as the starter, and now, a trade for a relatively low return.
Now, more information has come out about how some of McCarthy's antics rubbed members of the Vikings' organization the wrong way.
“McCarthy’s comments regarding his “Nine” alter ego — a reference to his jersey number — earned several internal eye-rolls. He similarly baffled members of the organization when he told reporters that he bucked his coaches’ advice by dancing the “Griddy” before he reached the end zone against the Cowboys in Week 15,” reported Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
The Vikings themselves weren't the only ones puzzled by McCarthy's comments about his alter ego, as the declaration became the subject of a slew of internet memes last year during games in which McCarthy struggled, of which there were plenty to choose from.
The dancing also certainly didn't do anything to help McCarthy shed the reputation of “youth and defiance, evident both in front of the cameras and away from them inside the TCO Performance Center,” as Lewis put it.
Now, the Vikings will soldier on with Kyler Murray as the starter once again after recently returning from a concussion. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen what kind of opportunities McCarthy will get with the Giants, who recently saw starter Jaxson Dart go down for the year with a knee issue.
The Vikings will next hit the field on Sunday at home vs the Miami Dolphins.