Minnesota Vikings remind me, at times, like The Joker in The Dark Knight. The scene where The Joker is cackling as he is about to light the money on fire is the part that reminds me of Minnesota. It fits in a way because they’re both rocking the purple and anyone wearing Vikings gear is usually a person to avoid. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman gets a bunch of media love (Aka he has some friends), but he is one of the more careless cost guys in the National Football League. Case in point, the Kyle Rudolph deal he made last night. Vikings signed Rudolph to a four-year 36 million dollar extension when they drafted Irv Smith Jr. in the second round. What?

ICYMI: Vikings giving veteran TE Kyle Rudolph a four-year, $36 million extension that keeps him in Minnesota, per source. Rudolph scheduled to sign the deal this morning.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 11, 2019

This would be like the Green Bay Packers deciding to give Jimmy Graham an extra couple of years when they drafted Jace Sternberger in the third round. It makes no fucking sense. I get that Rudolph is a leader of the team, but that doesn’t mean you reward him with a deal. If they dealt Rudolph, could it hurt team chemistry? Maybe, but these are not reasons to give a player an additional four years and 36 million dollars. Time and again, Spielman and the front office shows a lack of caring about how much things cost for the team.

The only thing I can give a devil’s advocate perspective for Minnesota is that rookie tight ends are usually not ready Day 1. It is rare to see a rookie tight end make an impact from the get-go. Therefore, it made sense to keep Rudolph. But why not play out his contract, and deal with the consequences later on? There’s no reason to sign him to a big deal when you know damn well there’s a second round pick waiting for his time.

As a Packers fan, I hope Spielman and the front office stays in town for the next decade. They’re going to keep running themselves into problems because money needs to be a reason to let go.