
Players in the NFL often try to talk to the media without throwing them red meat in the form of quotes that can be interpreted as drama, but Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy gave the media something to talk about earlier this week with comments that he made about his relationship with fellow quarterback and teammate Kyler Murray.
When asked about his relationship so far with Murray, McCarthy was perhaps a bit too honest and didn't paint the friendliest picture. "It's just like two guys in a classroom," McCarthy said. "He sits on one side, and I sit on the other side. It’s the coaches' responsibility to teach us and coach us."
So, don't expect these two to sing "Kumbaya" and roast marshmallows together anytime soon. But now, McCarthy is getting some support for his comments from a former Vikings player.
During an appearance on Thursday on KFAN, former Minnesota linebacker Ben Leber said that not only was McCarthy's comment not a big deal but that it was "the facts."
"I don't know why everybody's so shocked," Leber said. "Maybe because we’ve been getting a little more political answers from [McCarthy] lately. But the thing is, it also wasn't so over the top. It was just, 'Here's the facts. He sits on this side of the room. I sit on this side of the room. That's it. We’re here to compete.'"
Have #Vikings fans given up on J.J. McCarthy?@Chris_Hawkey @nacholeber discuss on The @PowerTripKFAN pic.twitter.com/F1RkfcRYZ7
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) May 28, 2026
Leber makes a good point that everybody knows these two are competing against each other. McCarthy was simply stating the obvious, that he and Murray both want the starting quarterback position, and that's what they're both focused on right now, not being friends. You have to give props to his honesty.
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