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There’s a Huge Hint about Kyler Murray’s Future with Vikings

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Kyler Murray looks on after the Cardinals defeat the Falcons at State Farm Stadium.
Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) looks on after beating the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings did not onboard Kyler Murray late last week as a one-hit wonder. According to SI.com‘s Albert Breer, the franchise envisions a long-term role for Murray, assuming 2026 goes swimmingly.

Minnesota’s previous long-term quarterback picture may not be as locked in as it seems.

And that’s pretty splashy news for a club that spent a 1st-Round pick on J.J. McCarthy less than two years ago.

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Albert Breer’s Nugget Turned up the Volume on Minnesota’s QB Questions

Murray’s immediate future in Minnesota takes shape

Kyler Murray looks on before a Cardinals game against the Browns at State Farm Stadium. Kyler Murray Vikings
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) watches from the sideline before kickoff against the Cleveland Browns at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Murray prepared for the matchup while going through pregame routines and observing warmups ahead of the contest played on Dec 15, 2019, as Arizona readied for the interconference game. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports.

SI.com: Murray Is Not a Band-Aid

Albert Breer dove deep this week, examining Murray’s choice to become a Viking, and the main takeaway centered around more than just a one-year deal.

Breer wrote, “While Murray still has to win the job from McCarthy, what O’Connell said to Murray did stick with him — that he was the one guy on the market that they could see as a potential longer-range answer, rather than a one-year Band-Aid. The idea of growing with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and O’Connell and his staff was already wildly attractive to begin with. The chance to, perhaps, put down roots only made it more so.”

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Breer also added, “Murray and Burkhardt had identified Minnesota as, far and away, his best option, with the plan being to prioritize winning, sign a one-year deal and then hope for a long-term landing spot, be it in his 2026 home or elsewhere, in 2027. As part of it, they’d even come up with the idea to do Zooms with teams that might not have an interest in 2026, but could in 2027—to take advantage of the fleeting freedom Murray would have to do so.”

A “longer-range answer” means O’Connell would love for Murray to be his quarterback for the next half-decade. Perhaps longer.

The Contract Is a “Prove It” Situation

This is Murray’s big chance, although the Vikings might need him to stabilize the quarterback spot more than he needs them. So long as Murray isn’t an utter trainwreck in 2026 — he won’t be — oodles of teams will knock on his door in 2027 free agency, a list that might include the Los Angeles Rams after Matthew Stafford’s eventual retirement.

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The important part is that Murray picked the Vikings this go-round — the team he grew up cheering for — and he has one big chance to prove the relationship is worth it for the long haul.

Minnesota hasn’t employed a long-term quarterback since Kirk Cousins for 5.5 seasons, between 2018 and 2023, and even he was good but never elite. Murray has a chance to showcase his elite talent skill set — and then just be the Vikings’ QB1 henceforth. He’s 28 years old, and he could headline the franchise for a decade if all goes according to plan.

But he must nail the 2026 audition.

How Will McCarthy Respond?

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Meanwhile, McCarthy is just 23. Sam Darnold showed the universe last month that teams shouldn’t give up on quarterbacks too early, and Minnesota might be on the verge of doing precisely that.

Barring a trade request, McCarthy will have a chance to compete against Murray this summer, probably lose the battle, and then watch and learn in 2026, emulating a path the Green Bay Packers have forged where the young passer just sits indefinitely.

J.J. McCarthy warms up before a Vikings game against the Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kyler Murray Vikings
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up on the field prior to a matchup with the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. McCarthy went through pregame throwing drills with teammates before the NFC North game played on Jan 4, 2026, continuing preparations ahead of kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, McCarthy appears to have the humble personality needed for such an arrangement, and the self-awareness to know he’s missed 70% of all games since turning pro in 2024. Minnesota needs a quarterback who can be on the field; to date, McCarthy emphatically is not that.

The Almighty Escape Hatch for O’Connell

The Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 30th, a gesture that could be interpreted as a statement that the club got the McCarthy draft pick wrong. Of course, no one in the building will come out and say that — it’s too soon — but actions speak louder than words.

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If one operates under the pretense that McCarthy was a draft pick by Adofo-Mensah that O’Connell merely signed off on or settled for, well, O’Connell has a dazzlingly clean slate with Murray. For example, if Murray cooks in Minnesota, O’Connell’s quarterback-whispering reputation will be restored in a matter of weeks, letting O’Connell off the hook for failing to cultivate McCarthy and his wacky mechanics in 2025.

Kevin O’Connell watches Vikings players during training camp practice in Eagan. Kyler Murray Vikings
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell observes practice during the team’s training camp session at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility in Eagan. O’Connell monitored drills and player activity while preparing the roster for the upcoming season during camp workouts held on Jul 29, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

Murray can be O’Connell’s savior. Twenty years ago, the San Diego Chargers got rid of Drew Brees, and he landed in New Orleans for a Hall of Fame career. There’s no reason that can’t happen in Minnesota with Murray and O’Connell running the show.

Overall, know that Murray is in the Twin Cities to be the franchise quarterback. He’s not a “bridge” or “patchover” guy, used to get McCarthy over the hump of growing pains. Some fans will recommend that pro-McCarthy path, but the long-term QB1 job is Murray’s to lose.


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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat | Cricket News

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CSK script history, go past RCB in elite IPL list… despite heavy defeat

Even in a crushing 43-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chennai Super Kings quietly ticked off a major milestone that adds an interesting layer to the evolving scoring trends in the IPL.Most 200-plus totals in the IPL37 – CSK36 – RCB33 – PBKS32 – MI30 – KKRCSK’s 207 all out while chasing 250 at the Chinnaswamy took them to 37 totals of 200-plus in IPL history, the most by any team. They have now edged past RCB, who are on 36, with Punjab Kings (33), Mumbai Indians (32) and Kolkata Knight Riders (30) following behind.What makes the stat intriguing is the timing. In an era where 200-plus scores are becoming increasingly common and often not enough to guarantee wins, CSK’s record came in a match where they were comprehensively outplayed. Chasing a massive 250, they still managed to cross 200, but the gap in quality and execution was evident throughout the contest.The night belonged entirely to RCB’s power-packed batting unit. Devdutt Padikkal laid the platform with a well-paced 50, but it was the late assault that completely blew the game open. Rajat Patidar and Tim David dismantled the CSK bowling attack with a ruthless fourth-wicket stand. Patidar’s unbeaten 48 off 19 balls and David’s brutal 70 off 25 lifted RCB to a towering 250 for 3, with 97 runs coming in the last five overs.In response, CSK never really found stability. Early wickets left them struggling at 30 for 3, and the chase was effectively over in the powerplay itself. Sarfaraz Khan showed intent with a quick half-century, while useful contributions from the lower middle order helped them go past 200, but the target remained far out of reach. The match summed up the modern IPL perfectly. Big scores are frequent, momentum shifts quickly, and even crossing 200 does not carry the same weight it once did. On this occasion, CSK ended up on the wrong side of the result, but still moved to the top of a high-scoring chart that continues to grow with every season.

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West Virginia rallies, beats Oklahoma in OT to win College Basketball Crown

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NCAA Basketball: Brigham Young at West VirginiaFeb 28, 2026; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Honor Huff (3) is interviewed after the game after defeating the BYU Cougars at Hope Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Honor Huff scored 38 points and made eight 3-pointers to help West Virginia rally for an 89-82 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the College Basketball Crown championship game on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Chance Moore added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers (21-14), who trailed by 13 points in the second half before rallying. Brenen Lorient scored 15 points in the program’s first postseason tournament title since winning the 2007 NIT.

Nijel Pack led Oklahoma (21-16) with 24 points and seven assists, followed by Tae Davis’ 19 points and Xzayvier Brown’s 13.

Oklahoma scored the first six points of overtime, taking an 82-76 lead on Pack’s layup.

Jasper Floyd then hit his first 3-pointer of the game, followed by Huff’s triple to tie the score with 2:14 remaining. After Pack missed a 3-pointer, Floyd hit another trey to give the Mountaineers an 85-82 lead.

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West Virginia got stops on its next two possessions and Huff drilled four straight free throws to seal the championship win.

Oklahoma pushed its four-point halftime lead to 10 on Pack’s 3-pointer, forcing a West Virginia timeout less than four minutes into the second half.

Brown’s jumper extended the margin to 13, before Huff’s three-point play and Moore’s layup cut the deficit to 59-51.

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Lorient’s basket at the 5:23 mark pulled West Virginia within three. Derrion Reid and Davis scored on Oklahoma’s next two possessions, giving the Sooners a 71-64 lead.

From there, Huff scored five straight points and Lorient made a layup to tie the score at 71 with 1:45 remaining.

After an Oklahoma timeout, Pack and Huff traded triples. Davis then turned the ball over and committed a foul on Huff, who drained two free throws with 33 seconds left.

Davis’ ensuing layup tied the score at 76. Huff missed a go-ahead 3-pointer on the other end, sending the game to overtime.

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The Mountaineers connected on eight of their first 10 3-point attempts, including Huff’s three straight triples to build a 26-11 lead.

Oklahoma answered with a 16-2 run, cutting its deficit to a point on Pack’s mid-range jumper with 5:25 left in the first half.

After Moore’s layup snapped a four-plus minute West Virginia scoring drought, the Sooners scored nine straight points, taking a 36-30 advantage. Davis closed the first half with a three-point play to give Oklahoma a 41-37 halftime lead.

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–Field Level Media

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Monday gallop to shape Gin Twist’s 2026 campaign

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The decision on whether Gin Twist forges ahead to another start or enters a spell phase hinges on her performance in a track gallop.

Lindsay Park’s two-year-old filly is a potential runner in Saturday’s Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, contingent on a satisfying showing in Monday’s gallop.

She was the hot favourite dispatched in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington March 28, leading early before stopping to take third.

Ben, Will and J D Hayes prepare Gin Twist, who was accounted for by more than three lengths by the Sydney mare Satono Glow.

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Ben Hayes mentioned optimism surrounds the filly’s readiness for Saturday, as she exhibits no adverse aftereffects from the race.

“We’ll make a decision on Monday whether she runs or not after she does some work,” Hayes said.

“We feel that one, she raced a bit fresh last week and two, she didn’t handle the heavy track, but she has pulled up fine.

“It is a good opportunity for her and if she doesn’t work well, we won’t run her, but if she works well, we’ll run her.”

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The filly had previously claimed the Listed Festival Stakes (1000m) victory at Flemington on February 28, and was next in line as third emergency for Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21.

Lindsay Park refrained from interstate travel for her, aware a start was improbable.

Hayes is of the view that Gin Twist copes with 1200m and merits another attempt on a good track.

“I think she is a very fast horse, and 1200 metres is her limit,” Hayes said.

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“But it is hard to judge her off that run over 1200 metres, which was down the straight, and on a heavy eight (track).

“We can find out if she can the trip and then we’ll know how to place her next prep.”

Secure the best value with betting sites offering markets for the Redoute’s Choice Stakes.

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Liv Morgan breaks character to discuss her relationship with Rhea Ripley

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Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with WWE star Rhea Ripley. Both Ripley and Morgan will be challenging for major titles at WrestleMania 42.

In an interview with Esteban Ramirez, Liv Morgan broke character to comment on her relationship with Rhea Ripley. The Judgment Day star noted that she knew her former rival was going to be a star while they were in NXT together and left Ripley her locker when she got called up to the main roster.

“Rhea and I have quite a bit of lore. I remember back in the Performance Center when I saw her, I knew that she was gonna be a star. It was just very evident to me. So when I had gotten called up to the main roster, I had left Rhea my locker. I told her, ‘You can have my locker, you can move your stuff into my locker.’ She didn’t even have a locker yet,” said Morgan.

The Women’s Royal Rumble winner added that they will always be connected and compared their rivalry to Batman and The Joker.

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“I came back on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour and took everything that she loved including Dominik, the Judgment Day and the Women’s World Championship. So I feel like we are both the heroes and villains in each other’s stories. She is the Batman to my Joker, and I am the villain in her hero’s story, and she is the villain in my hero’s story,” she added. [H/T: WrestleTalk on X]

You can check out the interview in the video below:

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Morgan will be challenging Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42.

Liv Morgan comments on recent WWE injury

WWE RAW star Liv Morgan recently discussed her injury last year that caused her to miss several months of WWE television.

In an interview with Brad Gilmore, the 31-year-old noted that the injury was devastating for her last year as she was on an upward trajectory. The WWE veteran added that she was upset about the situation during her hiatus last year.

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“I do feel like in the moment that I got injured, I was on a very upward trajectory. And so the injury obviously devastated me. I was very, very angry the whole entire time I had off time,” she said.

Liv Morgan says she was “angry the whole time” when she was recovering from shoulder injury: “I was mad the whole entire time,” Morgan said. “I got injured in a moment [when] I had multiple things going on for me. I was really enjoying and loving what I was doing. So to have all

Only time will tell if Liv Morgan can defeat Stephanie Vaquer to become champion once again at WWE WrestleMania.