After a season ends, as the Minnesota Vikings’ did Sunday night, one sees a variety of reactions.
Some players sit in silence in the locker room. Some are angry. Some are sad. Some go about their normal business.
Eric Kendricks, for instance, was so perturbed by Minnesota’s 38-7 loss, he couldn’t muster up the words to wish his brother Mychal Kendricks congratulations for reaching the Super Bowl with the Eagles.
Quarterback Case Keenum, on the other hand, was pleased to see Philadelphia QB Nick Foles emerge with a three-touchdown, 352-yard performance in the Eagles’ win.
Keenum considers Foles a close friend after the two were teammates with the St. Louis Rams in 2015. They’ve stayed in touch throughout the year and communicated about common film that they’ve watched.
On Wednesday, Keenum chided reporters about failing to predict the Keenum vs. Foles matchup in the NFC Championship Game. Neither were starting quarterbacks when the season began.
Now Foles gets to advance to play at U.S. Bank Stadium on Feb. 4.
“The way he came out and played, it couldn’t happen to a better guy,” said Keenum.
Foles’ and Keenum’s wives are good friends, so the group met up after Sunday’s game — Keenum in his dress clothes; Foles in his party gear, fresh off a trophy celebration.
The difference between these two surprising quarterbacks? Foles is under contract with the Eagles next year, while Keenum now faces the prospect of free agency, unless the Vikings opt to use the franchise tag to retain him.
Either way, their respective performances have likely ensured some lucrative future earnings.
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