Did we miss Diggs on Sunday?

I don't have documented evidence, other than vague statements by Diggs and reports from older sources, but I think there was more going on behind the scenes than we know.

Things we do know:

1. Diggs wanted the ball, and being one of the best deep threat player in the NFL, he thought he should have received more targets.

2. Cousins is slow at reads and tends to zero in on one guy or side of the field on plays. If Thielen was the primary, it doesn't matter if Diggs was open on the other side, Cousins wouldn't get to him.

3. Cousins was known for his outspoken religious beliefs in college and in Washington. When Cousins was a free agent, I posted my fears that he would be a locker room cancer and force other players out.

4. Reports from Washington were that Cousins tried to force his backup QB out of Washington because of that player's language and bawdy humor.

5. Diggs was voted is a short poll to be the player least likely to have other Vikings players date their sisters. All in fun, but there's a sign.

6. Thielen was written up in an article by a Christian sports magazine for his faith.

7. Thielen had heated conversations with Cousins on the sideline while Diggs was ignored and called a hot head.

8. Diggs had good rapport with Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater. Not so much with Kirk Cousins.

9. Diggs saw the same things we did with Kirk Cousins, but we are not in the huddle, so who would have more insight?

10. Diggs did post it was time to move on when Cousins was extended. The writing was on the wall, and Diggs did not see a bright future. After rotating quarterbacks and offensive coordinators in his seasons with the team, Diggs had seen enough of the Spielman/Zimmer led Vikings to know that the Vikings were lost on offense and Cousins was not the answer. It is likely Diggs saw extending Cousins as doubling down on a bad hand.

I have stated my problems with Diggs acting stupid, getting flagged for avoidable penalties, and falling down far too often short of the first down, but I don't blame Diggs for wanting out of this situation. He thought he had more skills than were being used, he was being disrespected, and Cousins was not going to lead the Vikings to anything but a long plane ride after a playoffs loss.

Unlike with the loss of Randy Moss and the drafting of Troy Williamson, I thought the Vikings got good value with the trade, and hopefully they would draft a good replacement. Unlike with Treadwell, who I did not like as a draft pick on draft day, I did like the Vikings drafting Justin Jefferson. On film, CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson looked like the best NFL prospects. Lamb made better cuts, but Jefferson had great ball skills. When Jefferson ran well at the combine, his status improved. There was still worry that he needed to get stronger to defeat jams in the NFL, but he was a much better prospect than Williamson, Treadwell, and Diggs coming out. A few good games doesn't make Jefferson a superstar, but it looks good so far.

In the long run, this trade may work out well for both teams. The Bills got the veteran starter that they needed, and the Vikings got a good prospect and some extra draft picks.  That doesn't resolve the elephant in the room though, and that has to do with the reasons Diggs wanted to move on from Minnesota when Cousins was extended. What we do know is not a good sign, but what we don't know could be a larger problem.

One bad game by the rookie and people are back to being insecure about the trade and feeling they need to tear down Diggs once again.

I don't recall Keenum, Bradford, or Bridgewater ever proselytizing while playing football. We know Cousins did do this in college and in Washington. Cousins even put bible text on his eye shade in college and had asked other prospects to have a prayer circle before taking their Wonderlic tests - of which the other players promptly refused.

I don't recall Keenum, Bradford, or Bridgewater ask team management to cut their competing backup because of foul language. It has been reported that Cousins did this in Washington.

Kirk Cousins has been greatly influenced by his dad, Don Cousins, pastor of Discovery Church in Orlando, who preached that Satan, like Hitler, “has an agenda,” and is behind textbook changes, secular universities, and Black Lives Matter's influence in pro sports. At the same time, Kirk Cousins posted, ignoring all science, "Just talking, no one else can get the (Covid) virus." These guys are nuts.

You don't believe Diggs knows the Cousins family views on Black Lives Matter, Confederate statues, and race issues? You don't believe Cousins religious statements and viewpoints in practice and in the locker room could be a problem? They are not the whole problem, but they have been a problem on his past teams, and there is no reason to believe this has changed after joining the Vikings.

This reminds me of guys that would want to join in on pick-up games of football in our area. They would play some football and then try to proselytize their beliefs after the game. It made everyone else uncomfortable - even my friends who went to Catholic schools.

I am cool with that, but still on the topic of why Diggs wanted out and not getting political or spouting my agenda:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.christianpost.com/amp/minnesota-vikings-players-credit-the-lord-for-miracle-playoff-victory-that-was-god.html

In the end it was about the money and Cousins did play a role in how much money the Vikings could afford.

God = Luck and the Vikings have very little of it. Even less without Case and Diggs.

You let me know when I've ever said Moss is/was too good for the team. I would never say something so dumb, and that's about Randy-freaking-Moss. And I've already mentioned 2010. My all-time favorite player decided he was too good for my struggling team. Yep, it hurt, but I thought it was right to move on. Eff him and his ungrateful attitude! That was messed up and extremely disappointing.

And I'll "shut up about it" when some of you guys quit trying to use Diggs' immature behavior as some sort of validation of your negative feelings about the team. You'll never see me making excuses for Moss walking off or being a jerk in 2010 let alone celebrating it. It's ridiculous. Nope, won't even do it to be anti-Childress, because his actions were still embarrassing. See how that works? Team before player. Always. End of discussion.

Sorry my signature triggers you. He's the reason I fell in love with the Vikes - and Reign was nice enough to make it for me - but you won't catch me making excuses for his bad behavior, regardless of that. Make sense?

Wow, this thread went from comparing Diggs & JJ to going full tin foil hat on this. I guess Kirk sucks because he's a racist Christian COVID-denier! This is why I stay out of the non topic discussions.