Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy explains alter ego, viral glare - ESPN

EAGAN, Minn. — J.J. McCarthy seemed to have an edge throughout his triumphant return Sunday as the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback. On multiple occasions during the Vikings' 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions, and in one viral moment in the postgame locker room, McCarthy's normally joyous face was scrunched into a mean mug.

Speaking Wednesday with reporters in Minnesota, McCarthy acknowledged his new gameday persona. He referred to it by a name — «Nine,» a reference to his jersey number — and said it is a product of the anger built up over missing 23 of his first 25 NFL games because of injury. McCarthy missed all of his rookie season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee and five games this season because of a high right ankle sprain.

«It really kind of started to show up this year,» he said, «and it came about last year during IR. Just never had a full season, where you want to be out there so freaking bad, but you can't. It was just this built-up anger that was kind of ready to just explode, and I chose to harness it instead of letting it go into a self-destructive kind of way.»

The Vikings have won two of McCarthy's three starts this season. He accounted for three touchdowns in each of the wins, in Week 1 over the Chicago Bears and then Sunday against the Lions.

On Sunday, McCarthy was caught staring intensely at coach Kevin O'Connell as he gave a postgame speech.

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