Last year, the plan involved building a Vikings roster so formidable that J.J. McCarthy didn’t need to be Superman. In fact, there was even some chatter about merely wanting a game manager.

Minnesota is pivoting toward a new strategy.

Whoever is going to start in 2026 needs to be an “elevator.” Such is the desire from head coach Kevin O’Connell. The skipper appeared alongside GM Nolan Teasley — fresh off a slobberknocker of a deal for Brian O’Neill — to chat about what’s coming in training camp. Coach O’Connell wants a passer who is going to make his teammates better rather than insisting on the teammates making the quarterback better.

Kevin O’Connell Wants an “Elevator” at QB

Conveniently, the Vikings’ social media crew cut up the presser in a way that makes things pretty neat and tidy. Look at what the coach had to say:

In a lot of ways, Kevin O’Connell is asking for something that’s pretty simple. After all, he distills the job of an “elevator” down to being somebody who can feel comfortable in the scheme (albeit an evolving, dynamic scheme). There’s a need to distribute the ball, doing so in a manner that’s similar to a point guard in basketball. Keep things simple by getting the ball to the playmakers to do damage, as Kirk Cousins used to say.

O’Connell has for years discussed the need to complete passes. Sounds basic, of course, and yet there’s a reason why he goes to such great lengths to emphasize that point. Yet again, he is doing so by explaining that he wants his starter to easily complete passes.

Putting things in baseball terms would mean saying that the starting pitcher can throw the ball for strikes. O’Connell’s focus isn’t on whether the pitcher prefers a 4-seam fastball over a 2-seam fastball. Nor is O’Connell asking for a great curve ball, slider, or changeup, at least not in this particular response. Instead, he wants somebody who can locate his pitch.

Last year, that basic ability was lacking.

J.J. McCarthy was often put in a position to fail. Still, the kid wasn’t close to good enough. His debut season as a starter — just ten games due to three separate injuries — involved completing a stunningly poor 57.6% of his passes. Do note, though, that NFL Next Gen Stats insists that his expected completion percentage was a healthier 61.8%.

Presently, Kyler Murray is almost certainly a better quarterback than McCarthy. A key caveat is that we’re considering real human beings; they’re dynamic, meaning they’ll be getting better or worse in the coming weeks. Who proves better when it’s time to make a call on who is going to start in Week 1?

Of note within Kevin O’Connell’s response is that he is understanding the issue in a contextual manner. He wants the best passer for within his scheme.

In other words, the accuracy and completed passes that O’Connell covets isn’t going to be measured in some form of bizarre, Pro Bowl style throwing contest. Rather, the successful combatant in this quarterback battle needs to be the point guard in O’Connell’s scheme.

O’Connell is going into his fifth season as the Vikings’ head coach. Good chance, folks, that he hasn’t made a decision that’s weightier than the decision he needs to make in the coming weeks for who will begin the 2026 season as the starting quarterback.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

An amateur cricket match in England has found itself at the centre of a major controversy after a fielder was accused of using a finger-clicking trick to fool the umpire into giving a batter out. The incident, which has gone viral on social media and is now being called “Clickgate” or “Clicky Ponting”, occurred during a North Yorkshire and South Durham (NYSD) Cricket League Division Two match between Saltburn Cricket Club 2nd XI and Norton Cricket Club.

What happened?

The controversy revolves around a dismissal involving Norton batter Noman Shabir. As the bowler delivered the ball, it passed close to Shabir’s bat without appearing to make contact. At that exact moment, a Saltburn fielder stationed at first slip clicked his fingers, creating a sharp sound that closely resembled the noise of the ball edging the bat. The wicketkeeper caught the ball cleanly, Saltburn’s players immediately appealed, and the umpire, believing he had heard an edge, gave the batter out.

Shabir protested the decision, insisting he had not touched the ball, but the umpire stood by his verdict. A video of the incident quickly spread across social media, with many viewers claiming the finger click had deliberately deceived the umpire.

Discrimination remains “deeply embedded” within English football, according to the chief executive of Kick It Out, as reports of abuse surged by 25 per cent last season.

The anti-discrimination charity recorded 1,744 reports in the 2025-26 campaign, a significant rise from 1,398 in the previous year. For the first time, the number of distinct incidents surpassed 1,000, reaching 1,255.

Kick It Out clarified that while one incident can generate multiple reports, the reports-per-incident ratio for the past season stood at 1.39. The increase was widespread across various platforms and levels of the game.

Reports of online discrimination rose by five per cent to 650, while incidents in the professional game and at grassroots level both saw a 41 per cent increase, reaching 636 and 458 reports respectively.

The charity’s data revealed alarming increases across all types of abuse. Islamophobia reports soared by 88 per cent, homophobia by 46 per cent, and anti-Semitism by 43 per cent. Racism reports were up 19 per cent, sexism by 12 per cent, and ableism by 20 per cent.

Samuel Okafor, Kick It Out’s chief executive, stated: “These figures show that discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game at a time when we’re also seeing rises in hate crime and divisive political rhetoric in Britain. But they also show that people are more willing to stand up to abuse when they see it, and it’s encouraging to see professional players set that example last season.”

Mr Okafor added: “While we recognise that there is a lot of good work ongoing in football to tackle discrimination, we will continue to work with football authorities, clubs, leagues, regulators and Government to ensure we match the courage shown to report abuse with clear and consistent action so that football is welcoming to everyone.”

The season also saw a 41 per cent increase in reports of discriminatory mass chanting, reaching a record 142 instances. This included rises in racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist chants.

Furthermore, Kick It Out noted a concerning rise in anti-immigrant language, with terms such as “stop the boats” and “send them back” reported at all levels. The 39 reports of this nature in 2025-26 was more than the 37 in the previous two years combined.

Despite the stark figures, Kick It Out marked a milestone during the season, delivering its 500th fan education session to individuals found to have discriminated in football, with a reoffending rate of just 1.25 per cent.

Gulveer Singh, of India, crosses the finish line to win the silver medal in the men’s 10,000 meters final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh scripted history by becoming the first Indian ever to win a medal in the men’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games after claiming a memorable silver medal at the 2026 edition in Glasgow on Tuesday.The national record holder clocked 27:49.78 to finish second behind Australia’s Ky Robinson, who took home the gold medal. David Mullarkey of the Isle of Man completed the podium with bronze, while traditional distance-running powerhouses Kenya and Uganda were surprisingly shut out of the medals.

Gulveer executes perfect race strategy

Competing in challenging rain-soaked conditions, Gulveer adopted a composed and tactical approach throughout the race. He remained comfortably within the leading pack for most of the 25-lap contest, conserving energy while closely tracking the frontrunners. With one lap remaining, the Indian runner was positioned in third place before producing a stunning burst of speed in the closing stages. His powerful finishing kick carried him into second place, securing a historic silver and one of India’s greatest achievements in Commonwealth Games distance running.

Historic milestone for Indian athletics

Gulveer’s podium finish ended India’s long-standing wait for success in the men’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games. No Indian athlete had previously won a medal in the event, making his silver a landmark moment for Indian athletics.India’s medallists so far are Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women’s shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men’s high jump), Gulveer Singh (silver, men’s 10,000m), Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women’s shot put F57) and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).

Rick and Morty season 9 ends with Morty returning to his original universe after his attempt to find a better life in another reality ends in tragedy. In episode 10, Field of Dreams, Morty explores alternate universes through “funeral hopping” and discovers a version of the Smith family that initially appears happier without Rick.

As the episode progresses, that seemingly ideal reality reveals its own hidden problems and ultimately collapses in a violent confrontation. After witnessing those events, Morty returns home with Rick and reunites with his family. The finale also follows the downfall of an alternate Rick and concludes with a mid-credits scene that leaves the search for the original Mr. Poopybutthole unresolved.

Why does Morty return to Rick at the end of Rick and Morty season 9?

The ending of Rick and Morty season 9 follows Morty’s realization that no alternate universe can provide the perfect life he has been searching for.

After receiving a Portal Junior from another Morty, he begins “funeral hopping” across different realities. During one visit, he arrives in a universe where his counterpart, Mort, has recently died. At first, this version of the Smith family appears happier and more stable because Beth and Jerry separated themselves from Rick years earlier.

Morty spends time with the family and considers staying permanently. Jerry even asks him to become their new son. However, the situation changes when Jerry destroys the Portal Junior, preventing Morty from returning home.

As events unfold, the family’s seemingly peaceful life begins to unravel. Jerry’s protective nature turns controlling, and Morty discovers supplies that Mort secretly hid before his death, suggesting he had been planning to escape his father’s survivalist lifestyle.

The truth becomes fully apparent during a confrontation with Professor Rick. The conflict ends with Jerry, Summer, and Professor Rick dead, while Beth takes her own life after witnessing the violence.

Another interdimensional estate sale follows, and Rick eventually arrives to bring Morty back to his original universe.

Back home, Morty tells Beth and Summer that he loves them before leaving with Rick. During their motorcycle ride, Rick refers to Morty as his son, and Morty calls Rick his father.

The ending does not suggest that their relationship is free of conflict. Instead, Rick and Morty season 9 shows Morty accepting that every universe has its own problems. After witnessing the collapse of a reality that initially seemed ideal, he chooses to return to his own family rather than continue searching for a perfect alternative.

What happened to Professor Rick?

Another important narrative in Rick and Morty season 9 is about an alternate Rick who chose to have a stable life instead of becoming the cynical scientist portrayed throughout the series.

This Rick is a physics professor at MIT and has been clean for 17 years following his break-up with Beth. He lives with his wife Julie, and is researching portal technology as a speculative scientific project, rather than for interdimensional travel.

That changes with the appearance of Morty. He wants Professor Rick to continue researching portal technology so he can return to his own universe. The experiments keep failing, the project eats Rick. The pressure pulls him back into drunkenness, and Julie leaves him just before he finishes a workable prototype.

His story resembles in important ways other versions of Rick. He gives up the stability of the life he’s built to pursue portal travel.

The conclusion doesn’t imply that all Ricks are going to pursue the same route. Instead, it suggests that Morty’s coming is a contributing factor to the demise of this reality. In his efforts to find his way home, Morty inadvertently nudges Professor Rick closer to becoming the Rick he wanted to leave behind at the beginning.

What does the Rick and Morty season 9 mid-credits scene mean?

Season 9 of Rick and Morty ends with its characteristic mid-credits scene featuring Mr. Poopybutthole. Amy starts her quest for the authentic Mr. Poopybutthole because she has learned that somebody replaced him. Amy and a team of scientists use DNA of the fraud to turn on the interdimensional tracker and find him. Unfortunately, the tracker stops working and disappears before showing the location.

The mid-credits scene does not connect to the events of Field of Dreams and is related to the continuing subplot but does not give any answers to the questions raised.

To sum up, season 9 of Rick and Morty ends with a focus on Morty. Having returned back home, Morty understands that no universe has a perfect family and accepts himself as Rick’s sidekick. In addition, the collapse of Professor Rick indicates that portal technology can change any person’s life.

Rick and Morty season 9 is now streaming on Adult Swim and Max, where viewers can watch all ten episodes of the season, including the finale, Field of Dreams.