When the Minnesota Vikings signed quarterback Sam Darnold, there wasn't a lot of fanfare. Honestly, some people were frustrated the team gave him $10 million but that's the going price for a backup quarterback.
On Tuesday, Darnold took the field for the first time in front of the media. It also is the beginning of a new chapter in Vikings football officially unfolding, as the starting quarterback will not be Kirk Cousins for the first time in seven years.
Darnold spoke to the media for the first time since his introductory press conference and talked about being here and being excited to mentor J.J. McCarthy.
"J.J.'s been great. I know with him coming here, before we even got on the field together, we were at one of the (Timber) Wolves games together, so we got to chat a little bit.
"First of all dude, congratulations on getting drafted. It's a great experience and I know it flies by. He's been great so far and continuing to learn and be a great quarterback in that room.
"With J.J. just talking to him a little bit, I feel like the pressure he experienced at Michigan and playing in a National Championship, obviously when you get drafted that high the pressure comes with it. I feel like he's already been there. He's felt that pressure before and obviously this is the next level. But again, like any questions, anything he's curious about, he's been asking me and I've been answering. Just going to continue to have that bond. I'm always happy to help."
Darnold doesn't speak like somebody who is only 26 years old but like a true seasoned veteran who has been in the league for a long time. His experiences are ones that McCarthy can learn from over the next few months, perhaps years.