As it turns out, Sam Darnold is pretty darn good.

Why it matters: The Minnesota Vikings have struggled for 45 years to find a franchise quarterback. They may have pulled one from the unlikeliest of places: the scrap heap.

Catch up quick: Darnold's early career struggles earned him the bust label. The New York Jets, who drafted him third overall in 2018, gave up on him after three poor seasons and traded him to the Carolina Panthers, who also gave up on him.

• He was forced to take a backup role with San Francisco just to salvage his career.

The Vikings signed him in March to be a veteran "bridge" quarterback for a rookie first-round pick, who later turned out to be J.J. McCarthy. The plan was for Darnold to start a few games or even a full season, but the job would be McCarthy's in 2025.

Yes, but: McCarthy was ruled out for the entire season due to a knee injury in August and Darnold has thrown a monkey wrench into everyone's plans, leading the team to an 11-2 record and posting the third-best rating of 45 qualified NFL quarterbacks.

• He now has the sixth-highest odds of winning the league's MVP award.

Between the lines: Darnold, who is only 27 years old, will be a free agent when the season ends. The Vikings will have to decide if they try to keep him around in 2025 and beyond, or stick with the plan and turn the franchise over to McCarthy.

The intrigue: Quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. If the Vikings have found a good one, should they really just let him walk away?

The other side: Darnold's stellar play has driven up the price it will cost to keep him, and in a league with a hard salary cap, spending big on the QB would constrain the team's ability to surround him with talented players.

• McCarthy will be on a relatively cheap rookie contract for four more seasons and head coach Kevin O'Connell has earned a reputation as a quarterback whisperer.

What we're watching: The Vikings don't have to make any decisions until the season's over.

• Darnold's audition continues at 7pm tonight against Chicago at home.

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Holiday shopping is in high gear — and so are delivery package scams where scammers impersonate USPS, UPS or FedEx via text and email.

Why it matters: Americans lost roughly $1.3 billion in 2023 to scammers pretending to be from the government or tech support, according to FBI data.

• One in five scam attempts started through a text message or messaging app, according to a recent report.

The big picture: The U.S. Postal Service and other carriers are warning consumers not to fall for pings that try to trick them into entering personal information.

• USPS never contacts a consumer via text message unless the customer initiates the request, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service says.

More tips and what to do if you're targeted ...

🐘 GOP delegates ousted Minnesota Republican Party chair David Hann after three years, electing Alex Plechash, a Wayzata council member and former RNC committee member, as their new leader. (Star Tribune)

• Between the lines: Hann, who took the helm at a tumultuous time for the party, had faced criticism from some conservative activists, even as he helped the GOP climb out of debt.
• The intrigue: Deputy chair Donna Bergstrom narrowly won re-election over a Hann-backed challenger.

⚾️ The deep-pocketed owners of the NBA's Phoenix Suns — who spent big on players and facilities after purchasing that team — have emerged as potential buyers for the Minnesota Twins. (The Athletic/Bloomberg/ESPN)

🗳️ The trial starts today in an election challenge over mishandled ballots in a close Shakopee House race. The outcome could determine control of the state House. (MPR News)

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called for reform of the presidential pardon process. The Minnesota Democrat said some of President Biden's recent acts of clemency were "righteous," but she disagreed with Biden's blanket pardon of his son, Hunter. (WCCO)

🏢 A joint venture that includes local investors has bought Wells Fargo Center, downtown Minneapolis' third-tallest building, from a Florida firm. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is one of more than a dozen congressional Democrats planning to sit out President-elect Trump's inauguration, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Not every Democrat skipping the ceremony will do so to protest Trump — but a formal boycott is materializing as a first act of resistance against the incoming president.

State of play: Martin Luther King Jr. Day coinciding with the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremony gives many Democrats an easy out, though others planning to stay away cited a distaste for inaugurations, a loathing of Trump — and even fears for their safety.

• Omar said that attending MLK Day events instead "makes sense, because why risk any chaos that might be up here?"

Between the lines:: At least one prominent Minnesota Democrat will play a key role in the event: Klobuchar is chairing the bipartisan congressional committee tasked with putting on the inauguration.

What we're watching: Many Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, say they are still grappling with whether to attend.

Full story

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The last week was a roller coaster of weather, with below-zero temps followed by highs approaching 40.

The intrigue: Nick raised this question on social media: Assuming it's a calm day, would you prefer 5 degrees and bright sun, or 30 degrees with grey skies?

• Vote here