NFC North

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said he's confident the team will win its first Super Bowl title during his tenure alongside wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

"We gon' win us one," Cook told TMZ Sports in an interview released Sunday, though he wouldn't put an exact timetable on bringing a championship to the Twin Cities. "We gon' win us one. Yeah."

Cook, Jefferson and wideout Adam Thielen combined to create one of the NFL's most productive playmaking trios in 2021 as they scored 26 total touchdowns.

Their strong performance didn't lead to consistent team success, however, as the Vikings missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record.

Minnesota has reached the postseason twice since Cook was drafted in 2017. It reached the NFC Championship Game during his rookie year and made it to the divisional round in 2019. Jefferson joined the roster in 2020 and has quickly emerged as one of the NFL's top receivers.

The Vikes are hoping a coaching change can bring an end to their brief two-year playoff drought. They hired former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach to replace Mike Zimmer, who was fired in January after eight years in charge.

"I hope to bring a lot of those characteristics to our football team here that he's instilled that just helped us win a world championship," O'Connell told reporters about working under Rams head coach Sean McVay following the team's triumph in Super Bowl LVI last weekend.

Cook, Jefferson and Thielen are all under team control through at least 2024, so the biggest question in the Vikings' pursuit of a championship is whether Kirk Cousins is the answer at quarterback. He's under contract for next season, so he'll likely get one more year to prove he's the right person for the job, but the team could move in a new direction next offseason if the results don't improve.

Ultimately, the Vikings have the offensive playmaking talent to make a serious championship push over the next couple of years, but there's work to do elsewhere on the roster to reach that goal.

If the Minnesota Vikings want to extend quarterback Kirk Cousins' contract, they can reportedly expect to pay top dollar to do so.

Per reporter Jordan Schultz, Cousins has "zero intention" of taking a pay cut, and an extension could cost the Vikings around $40 million per season.

The Vikings need to make some moves this offseason to get under the salary cap. They are $14.7 million over the 2022 cap, per Spotrac. 

Cousins has the highest 2022 cap hit on the team and the third-highest among NFL quarterbacks ($45 million). He is entering the final season of the two-year, $66 million extension he signed in 2020.

Xavier Woods, Tyler Conklin and Anthony Barr are among Minnesota's key free agents.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported Thursday that Cousins' camp could "try to force the Vikings' hand by not wanting to go back to the negotiating table just yet" to either play out his deal or force a trade.

New head coach Kevin O'Connell said during his introductory press conference Thursday that he is "excited to coach" Cousins in 2022:

We've already started thinking about how we're going to build those systems for him and our other quarterbacks and really the tremendous skill group that we have, our guys up front. It takes all 11 to move the football on offense, to run it, to throw it, to score points in the red zone. But I'm anticipating Kirk being a part of what we do.

Cousins just finished his fourth season with the Vikings. The three-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 16,387 yards and 124 touchdowns in 63 starts since 2018.

He ranked ninth in the NFL with 4,221 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in 2021. The Vikings finished second in the NFC North with an 8-9 record but missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.   

If Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to play for the Green Bay Packers in 2022, it seems like he will have to force a trade or retire. 

Per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the Packers have shown "zero interest" in trading Rodgers despite receiving inquiries from multiple teams already. 

Rodgers has yet to officially say if he will return to the NFL in 2022. He told reporters after the Packers' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers he would "take some time and have conversations with folks around here" and make a decision at some point before the start of free agency. 

The Packers and Rodgers seem to be in a good place this offseason. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Feb. 13 the team is "prepared to go all-in" to entice the reigning NFL MVP back, including "spending as close to the cap this year and spreading it into future years as much as possible."

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, another option being considered by the Packers is offering Rodgers a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league on a per-year basis. 

The two sides agreed to a reworked deal in July that made it so the Packers couldn't use the franchise tag on him when his deal voided voided on the seventh day before the start of the 2023 league year. 

One of the teams Schultz mentioned as having reached out to the Packers about Rodgers was the Denver Broncos. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett spent the past three seasons as Green Bay's offensive coordinator. 

If Rodgers returns to the Packers, he will almost certainly have to rework his contract. They are currently $48.45 million over the 2022 cap with Davante Adams and De'Vondre Campbell set to become unrestricted free agents. 

Rodgers, who has won back-to-back MVP awards, led the Packers to their third straight NFC North title in 2021. The 38-year-old threw for 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns and completed 68.9 percent of his attempts in 16 starts this season.    

The Green Bay Packers are reportedly bringing back one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite coaches. 

Tom Clements is coming out of retirement to serve as quarterbacks coach for the Packers, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. Clements reportedly verbally agreed to the job but has yet to sign a contract. 

Clements previously served as quarterbacks coach for the Packers from 2006 to '11, when Rodgers was still in his 20s. During that time, more specifically from 2008 to '11, Rodgers took his game to the next level.

The now 38-year-old completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 17,037 yards, 131 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in 62 games across those four seasons, leading the Packers to a 41-21 record and a Super Bowl title in 2011. 

Rodgers was also a two-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro and MVP in that span.

Clements then became the Packers' offensive coordinator in 2012 and served in that role through 2014. Rodgers also excelled during that time frame, winning another MVP award during the 2014 season and earning two Pro Bowl selections. He was also named a first-team All-Pro in 2014. 

After that, Clements served as assistant head coach for the Packers from 2015 to '16. Rodgers was a Pro Bowler in those two seasons and finished fifth in MVP voting during the 2016 campaign. He also finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2016. 

The impact Clements has had on Rodgers' career is clear, so it should come as no surprise that the franchise is bringing him back at a time the quarterback's future in Green Bay is uncertain. 

During the week leading up to Green Bay's divisional-round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Rodgers said he was "deeply thankful" for coaches like Clements who helped him "understand that facet of leadership and being a quarterback," per Demovsky. 

Rodgers also referenced Clements during the regular season when discussing a pass he threw to Davante Adams in a Week 17 win over the Minnesota Vikings. 

He said, according to Demovsky:

I learned from Tom Clements, we always had three mortal sins [as] the quarterback: Don't throw late down the middle, don't make any blind throws and no premeditated decisions. And so with all apologies to Tom and his excellent training over the years, I kind of had a premeditated decision to throw it to Davante on that play.

While Rodgers does have a great relationship with Clements, it's unclear if his hiring will keep him in Green Bay. It's also uncertain whether he'll return for another season, as he could opt to retire. 

New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Thursday that the team will build its offense for Kirk Cousins amid trade rumors about the veteran quarterback. 

"I know he's under contract and I'm excited to coach him," O'Connell said. "We've already started thinking about how we're going to build our system for him. ... I'm anticipating Kirk being a part of what we're going to do."

Cousins' future with the franchise has been put into question because the Vikings are $14.73 million over the salary cap, per Spotrac. The veteran has a cap hit of $45 million, and restructuring or extending his contract would allow the franchise to get some cap relief. 

O'Connell's comments come after ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported Thursday that she would "not be surprised to see Cousins' camp try to force the Vikings' hand by not wanting to go back to the negotiating table just yet. That means he'd play out his expensive contract or force the team to trade him." 

However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Sports Illustrated's Madison Williams) reported Thursday that Cousins was expected to remain in Minnesota for the 2022 season. 

“It seems that the hire of Kevin O'Connell was very good news for Kirk Cousins. They have a familiarity. They were actually together in Washington. Kevin O'Connell has spent a bunch of time with Kyle Shanahan, knows the system, obviously has been with [Sean] McVay. So much of what Kirk Cousins did, especially in the beginning of his career, was thanks in part to Kyle Shanahan. There‘s some shared mindset there with O'Connell and with Shanahan.”

Cousins joined the Vikings ahead of the 2018 season after a six-year career in Washington. He has been solid over his four seasons in Minnesota, too, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and at least 30 touchdowns in three of his four years. 

During the 2021 season, the 33-year-old completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. It was his second straight season with more than 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. 

However, the Vikings have made the playoffs in just one of Cousins' four seasons. During the 2019 campaign, Minnesota reached the NFC Divisional Round, but lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

The team's struggles shouldn't solely be placed on Cousins, though, and if the franchise can work a little cap magic this offseason, the Vikings could be in good position to compete for a playoff spot in 2022. 

As the Minnesota Vikings prepare for a fresh start in 2022 with new head coach Kevin O'Connell, Kirk Cousins' contract status is reportedly going to be a topic of discussion for the organization this offseason. 

According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Cousins' camp is considering forcing Minnesota's hand "by not wanting to go back to the negotiating table just yet," leading him to either "play out his expensive contract or force the team to trade him."

Minnesota is in a tricky spot with the salary cap heading into the offseason as new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks to upgrade the roster. 

The Vikings are currently $14.73 million over the cap, per Spotrac. Extending or restructuring Cousins' deal would be the easiest way to open up money. His $45 million cap hit is the third-highest among all quarterbacks, behind Matt Ryan ($48.7 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($46.7 million). 

Minnesota previously restructured Cousins' deal in March 2020 when he signed a two-year extension worth $66 million that runs through the 2022 season. The contract cleared $10 million in cap space for the Vikings to use the franchise tag on safety Anthony Harris. 

Cousins' individual performance over the past four seasons in Minnesota has been quite good. The three-time Pro Bowler averages 4,097 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and has completed 68.3 percent of his attempts since the start of 2018. 

However, the Vikings have struggled to be playoff contenders during this span. Their lone postseason appearance came in 2019 when they upset the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card game before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. 

Minnesota has gone 15-18 over the past two seasons combined. It's the first time since 2013-14 the franchise has posted losing records in back-to-back years.

The New Orleans Saints reportedly aren't planning to pursue a trade for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the 2022 NFL offseason.

A source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk on Thursday there's "no way the Saints will make a run" at the four-time Most Valuable Player.

Neither the Packers nor Rodgers have given a clear indication they've decided to go their separate ways before the start of next season despite the ample speculation, which stems from the quarterback staying away from the franchise for most of last offseason before returning for training camp.

After the team's campaign ended with a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the 38-year-old California native said he didn't want to wait through a roster reconstruction at this stage of his career.

"I don't want to be a part of a rebuild if I'm going to keep playing," Rodgers told reporters in late January.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur responded to those comments by saying that's not the direction the team is planning to go.

"There's no plan for a rebuild," LaFleur said. "You get this close, obviously win a lot of football games, and we know in order for there not to be that, he's got to be a part of this thing. I don't think that's anybody's intention."

If Green Bay wants to convince Rodgers to stay for another year, the process probably begins with getting his favorite target, Davante Adams, under contract, either via an extension or the franchise tag.

Should the 10-time Pro Bowl selection ultimately seek a trade, the Saints had made sense on paper following a season where they posted a 9-8 record despite being hampered by subpar quarterback play after Jameis Winston suffered a torn ACL in October.

Spotrac projects New Orleans is $76.2 million over the salary cap ending the offseason, however, and the $46.7 million cap hit in Rodgers' contract would only further complicate the situation.

The Saints could probably make it work by releasing players and restructuring the deals of others, but whether that would leave a roster that's still at a title-contention level is far from certain.

Rodgers may find it difficult to land in a more promising situation than Green Bay if his main focus is winning another championship.

The Packers are coming off a year in which they posted a 13-4 record to sit atop the NFC standings, and the AFC is loaded with young quarterback talent, so switching conferences would lead to more playoff hurdles.

So, unless his relationship with the front office is irreversibly broken, staying put may once again be his best bet amid another spring likely filled with plenty of rumors about his future.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and actress Shailene Woodley have reportedly split up and called off their engagement.

According to In Touch Weekly, a source said: "While Shailene is supportive of Aaron's career, he put football first and they were barely spending any time together. She felt he neglected their relationship. Neither of them was happy."

The source said Rodgers is an "independent guy" and "got cold feet" regarding marriage.

Rodgers and Woodley announced their engagement last February after they began dating in 2020.

Another source said Rodgers and Woodley tried to make their relationship work but couldn't, adding they are "both adults and decided to part amicably."

The 38-year-old Rodgers has been in high-profile relationships over the past several years with actress Olivia Munn and former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick.

Rodgers started dating the 30-year-old Woodley shortly after he and Patrick broke up in July 2020.

Woodley is best known for her roles in movies such as Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars, as well as the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Big Little Lies.

Rodgers is a 17-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career with the Packers and is coming off two of the best seasons of his career.

The future Hall of Famer is a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro, one-time Super Bowl champion and four-time NFL MVP. He won two of those MVP awards in the past two seasons.

Rodgers has won those awards amid turmoil, as he expressed unhappiness with the organization after the 2020 season and almost didn't return to play for the Packers in 2021.

Green Bay convinced Rodgers to return by agreeing to work with him on a potential trade after the 2021 campaign if he no longer wanted to be a Packer, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.

Rodgers was spectacular during the regular season, leading Green Bay to its third consecutive 13-win season and NFC North title, but the Packers again fell short of the Super Bowl, losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs.

It is unclear what Rodgers' NFL future holds and where he will be playing in 2022.