Minnesota
The stunned frustration of the Vikings’ locker cleanout
EAGAN — The Minnesota Vikings anticipated to spend the Monday after Wild Card weekend getting ready their gameplan for the San Francisco 49ers. As a substitute, they cleaned out lockers.
Lower than 24 hours since shedding 31-24 to the New York Giants at US Financial institution Stadium, it was onerous for gamers to speak about, nicely, absolutely anything.
“I wasn’t anticipating us to be on this scenario, I’m simply coping with it proper now,” linebacker Eric Kendricks mentioned.
It didn’t appear proper to replicate on the nice occasions. It felt incorrect to speak concerning the season as a failure after successful 13 video games, a lot of which got here in dramatic style. And the way may anybody talk about the intense future forward when no one actually is aware of what’s subsequent contemplating the age and contract standing of so many gamers?
Vikings’ gamers had not appeared to have come to phrases but with the shock of the season coming to an finish towards a 9-7-1 Giants workforce that they defeated just a few weeks in the past. Week after week they watched somebody step up within the largest moments however that by no means got here versus New York. Even when reporters prodded gamers to present themselves slightly pat on the again, they couldn’t get previous the paradox of successful a division title within the common season after which shedding within the first spherical.
“We had an excellent season, you’ll be able to name it an excellent season however I wouldn’t name it successful,” receiver Justin Jefferson mentioned.
Each Kendricks and Jefferson had been scuffling with the truth that they wouldn’t be going by way of any extra battles with their teammates for a very long time.
“This workforce was positively shut,” Jefferson mentioned. “Our workforce chemistry is one thing that we emphasised on as quickly as [Kevin O’Connell] got here into the constructing. It’s positively one of many closest groups that I’ve been round. It’s powerful to have such a loss understanding that we’re so shut as a workforce.”
“The blokes, it’s all the time concerning the guys within the locker room,” Kendricks mentioned. “We had a lot enjoyable this yr. It sucks that it’s over…I’m simply completely happy that I received to expertise it with these guys within the locker room.”
No one wished to speak about their futures on Monday, not even Jefferson, who’s eligible for a contract extension that will probably make him the best paid receiver in NFL historical past.
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“It’s probably not one thing I’m actually worrying about or that I’ve my mindset on,” Jefferson mentioned. “The cash stuff, that comes with the job. I’ll be wherever I’m wished. If they need me right here, I’m right here. That’s not one thing that I can actually management.”
Some gamers’ 2023s are very a lot up within the air, together with Kendricks and Dalvin Cook dinner. Neither are free brokers however chopping Kendricks would create $9.5 million in cap area and Cook dinner round $8 million and each performed beneath their earlier requirements.
“That’s not my job to find out, I’m simply going to do what I do,” Kendricks mentioned.
“These are are questions that don’t have anything to do with me, it has to do with Kwesi, my agent and [O’Connell],” Cook dinner mentioned.
The uncertainty with the roster made it troublesome for anybody to argue on locker cleanout day that subsequent yr is their yr. The one constructive spin for the long run was relating to the working setting that O’Connell created.
“The most important distinction was teaching round right here,” Cook dinner mentioned. “Guys believed that we may win each recreation. When you might have that kind of teaching, you’ve got guys who’re keen to combat and work. Wanting to return into work and revel in it. It was a pleasure to have.”
In the long term, gamers will most likely look again at 2022 as a reasonably particular season. They went undefeated in one-score video games and walked off in unpredictable style again and again, from the loopy recreation in Buffalo to the most important comeback in historical past versus the Colts. However reminiscing concerning the good occasions received’t be occurring for some time for the gamers who thought they might be flying to San Francisco relatively than headed on trip.
“I’m not there but, truthfully, I’m right here to win so it’s nonetheless upsetting,” Kendricks mentioned.
Justin Jefferson on his contract: ‘If they need me right here, I am right here’
Thielen on unsure future: ‘I do know that I’ve loads of ball left’
On Thursday night, the Minnesota Timberwovles hosted Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks at the Target Center.
There was a lot of emotion due to the fact that Towns made his return for the first time as a member of another team.
The Timberwovles lost by a score of 133-107.
Via StatMuse: “Karl-Anthony Towns tonight:
32 PTS
20 REB
6 AST
10-12 FG
5-5 3P
+31
Showed out in his return to Minnesota.”
Karl-Anthony Towns tonight:
32 PTS Showed out in his return to Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/BZBZ3Wmuf6
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 20, 2024
20 REB
6 AST
10-12 FG
5-5 3P
+31
After the tough loss, Anthony Edwards called out his team when he met with the media (h/t Dane Moore of Blue Wire).
Edwards: “We don’t have s**t on offense. We don’t have no identity. We know I’m gonna shoot a bunch of shots, we know Ju gonna shoot a bunch of shots and that’s all we know. We don’t really know anything else. It’s not on the coaches at all. It’s on us. We’re out there playing.”
Anthony Edwards on the Wolves’ offensive identity
“We don’t have shit on offense. We don’t have no identity. We know I’m gonna shoot a bunch of shots, we know Ju gonna shoot a bunch of shots, and that’s all we know.” https://t.co/Lh3W8sFRtL pic.twitter.com/HR6udkJlr7
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) December 20, 2024
Edwards finished the loss with 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one block while shooting 7/16 from the field and 3/7 from the three-point range in 34 minutes of playing time.
The Timberwolves dropped to 14-12 in 26 games, which has them as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
They are still 6-4 over their last ten.
Anthony Edwards asked about fixing the offense: “They not going to like what I say, so I’m just going to keep it to myself.”
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) December 20, 2024
Following New York, the Timberwolves will play their next game when they host Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Saturday evening.
Since trading Towns over the offseason, they have yet to look like a team that is coming off a 2024 Western Conference finals appearance.
Minnesota United and Major League Soccer announced today the full schedule for the 2025 MLS Regular Season.
MNUFC kicks off its ninth season in MLS on the road against LAFC at BMO Stadium on Saturday, February 22 before coming home to host Eastern Conference opponent CF Montréal on March 1 for the 2025 home opener at Allianz Field.
Additional key matchups in the 2025 schedule include:
- LA Galaxy: MNUFC hosts the 2024 MLS Cup Champions on Saturday, March 22 at Allianz Field and will face the Galaxy on Decision Day, October 18 on the road. The Loons faced the LA Galaxy in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals at Dignity Health Sports Park, where the Galaxy defeated MNUFC to advance to the Western Conference Final and MLS Cup.
- Inter Miami CF: The Loons will host the 2024 Supporters’ Shield winners, Inter Miami CF, for the first time in club history on Saturday, May 10 at Allianz Field. MNUFC last played Miami in 2022 on the road.
- San Diego FC: Minnesota United will welcome new Western Conference opponent San Diego FC to Allianz Field on Saturday, June 14. The Loons will travel to Snapdragon Stadium to face the expansion side on September 13.
- Eastern Conference: In addition to CF Montréal and Inter Miami CF, MNUFC will face New York City FC, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire FC.
Minnesota United will have four nationally televised games in 2025 featuring Western Conference opponents LAFC for the 2024 MLS season opener on February 22 (FOX), Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 15 (FS1), FC Dallas on Fourth of July (FS1) and Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, August 16 (FS1). Additionally, MNUFC will have two MLS Season Pass Game of the Week matches in 2025 featuring FC Dallas on Sunday, April 20 at Allianz Field, and Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, June 1 at Lumen Field.
MNUFC will release the 2025 Theme Nights schedule at a later date.
Single-game tickets for all MLS home games on the 2025 schedule will go on sale in early February. As usual, MNUFC insiders will receive first access to single-game tickets through a series of exclusive presales, beginning with Itasca Members, followed by Season Ticket Members, then members of The Preserve, and finally subscribers to the MNUFC newsletter. Limited quantities of single-game tickets will be held for each of those windows throughout the presale process.
Fans who want to give themselves the best shot at securing single-game tickets for the season’s most popular games can join The Preserve. For $25 per seat, Preserve membership holds the fan’s spot in line for season tickets, while unlocking early access to tickets presales, including for MNUFC home games, MLS Cup Playoffs, US National Team Games, and other marquee events at Allianz Field.
Additionally, fans can sign up for the MNUFC newsletter to receive presale access following members of The Preserve.
In the meantime, fans can get a jump on the action with one of two partial plans that are currently available. Starting at $145, the First Five Package includes a ticket for the Loons first five home games of the season, along with increased access for season tickets in 2026. Meanwhile, the Holiday Hat Pack includes a ticket to MNUFC’s first two home matches, plus a limited-edition knit hat, all starting at just $86.
Other ticketing opportunities include discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more, as well as single-game rentals of Allianz Field premium spaces, both of which will go on sale in January. Fans interested in purchasing group or premium tickets should place a refundable deposit today to guarantee their spot in the annual Group and Premium Selection processes, when most of the season’s most popular games are sold out. Note that group tickets will not be available for the May 10 match vs. Inter Miami.
Leagues Cup 2025, the official Concacaf tournament between LIGA MX and Major League Soccer, will be played July 29 to August 31, 2025 in the United States and Canada. A new format will be announced at a later date, along with the schedule and additional information. Concacaf will continue to award three qualification berths to the Concacaf Champions Cup to the Leagues Cup champion and second and third-place finishers.
Austin FC will host the 2025 MLS All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, July 23 (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22. Additional details on the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T and the opponent for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game will be announced at a later date.
The MLS regular season concludes with Decision Day 2025 on Saturday, October 18. The slate, which features Eastern Conference matches kicking off at 5 p.m. CT and Western Conference matches beginning at 8 p.m. CT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, decides who is in and who is out in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Additionally, New York City FC will host Seattle Sounders in an interconference match at 5 p.m. CT on the final matchday of the season.
MLS Pause for FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup
MLS stadiums across the United States and Canada will be featured prominently with 14 MLS venues serving as hosts to the first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 Gold Cup, Concacaf’s flagship men’s national team tournament. MLS will pause regular season play from June 15-24 for the FIFA Club World Cup, an event featuring Inter Miami CF and Seattle Sounders FC, and the Concacaf Gold Cup.
With the addition of San Diego FC as the league’s 30th club, the MLS schedule format will include every MLS team competing in 34 regular season games, featuring 17 at home and 17 on the road. Clubs will play conference opponents twice (28 games), once at home and once away. Each club will play six different cross-conference opponents.
Every Match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MLS action returns to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in 2025 with all 510 games available in one dedicated destination with no blackouts in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. New for this upcoming season, MLS Season Pass will broadcast a featured game on Sunday evenings with enhanced production and dedicated studio programming. More details will be shared at a later date.
The popular whip around studio show, MLS 360, provides live look-ins from every active match alongside expert analysis in English and Spanish. Pregame and postgame studio shows, MLS Countdown and MLS Wrap Up in English and MLS La Previa and MLS El Resumen in Spanish, return with full preview and postgame analysis and insights across all matchday action.
MLS Season Pass will also continue to feature a wide array of on-demand content and in-depth special features spanning all 30 MLS clubs.
Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who have lost three of their last four games, including another lopsided defeat (6-1) on Wednesday against Florida. Goaltending has been the biggest part of the Wild’s resurgence this season, and they need Filip Gustavsson to recover soon from his lower body injury. Otherwise, advanced data says their season will be in peril.
7:00: Kirk Cousins spoke to the media for the first time since he was benched by the Falcons. Hear what he had to say.
10:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment, which this week focuses on these subjects: Who will win the NFC North? How important is Thursdays’ Wolves vs. Knicks game? And what do we think of a wacky MLB idea?
30:00: Side stories are nice, but Thursday should just be a good basketball game.
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