Vikings’ First Round Rookies Unlikely to Hold Out of Training Camp

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J.J. McCarthy & Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings at Vikings.com

We are less than ten days till Minnesota Vikings’ Training Camp and neither rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy and outside linebacker Dallas Turner have signed their rookie contract. Not only that, but rookies are set to report to training camp on Sunday, June 21.

Rookies can attend a minicamp or organized team activities without a contract, but they are not allowed to be part of training camp while still negotiating with their team. This means that signatures are needed from McCarthy and Turner by Saturday, June 27. If not, they will not be able to practice on the field in training camp.

Would J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner really hold out of Minnesota Vikings’ Training Camp?

Although this deadline is rapidly approaching, Minnesota Vikings’ beat writer Alec Lewis (The Athletic) is confident neither McCarthy or Turner will be holding out of training camp. Especially McCarthy, who is trying to win the confidence of the team as the highest drafted quarterback in franchise history.

I think [J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner] and their representatives understand what that would mean in terms of optics, both publicly and among teammates. And that is really important. Like, if you draft a QB and he’s trying to gather the confidence of the other players in the room, starting out in your first training camp by not being there probably is not the way to approach it.

Alec Lewis (The Athletic) via KFAN

Lewis remains confident that a deal between these two players will be reached at some point before June 27th. With that said, sometimes you have to wait until the deadline until movement is spurred into action.

Is it bad look for Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner if they hold out?

There’s been quite the rumors that McCarthy will hold out of Minnesota Vikings’ Training Camp if he does not receive his signing bonus up front. Whether these rumors are true or not, there’s obviously something going on behind the scenes between McCarthy and Turner. Turner is likely waiting to see what happens with McCarthy’s contract.

Overall, Lewis really hammers the point, specifically McCarthy, about the impact it’ll have on the team if McCarthy fails to show up. Drafting a quarterback that high, and him not showing up to his first training camp on time sets a terrible example to the team. As Lewis pointed out, it’s his job to gather the confidence of the team.

Related: Vikings’ Star Tight End Has Some Big Praise for Rookie QB

Given the magnitude of his draft status, the future quarterback of this team, and the nature of McCarthy’s personality, it does seem extremely unlikely that he holds out of training camp. Expect a deal to be reached sometime late next week. Maybe even on June 21st when both McCarthy and Turner are required to report to TCO Performance Center.

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