Here are five takeaways about Minnesota's QB situation covered during O'Connell's session:
**1\. O'Connell describes conversations with Aaron Rodgers**
O'Connell elaborated on what General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said last week about the head coach speaking with longtime Vikings foe and four-time All-Pro Aaron Rodgers.
"Aaron and I have had a relationship for a long time, and when he initially reached out, and we were able to have some conversations, as you know, \[we're\] on the hunt to always improve our football team and put our football team in the best possible chance to win," O'Connell said. "You're constantly acknowledging all of — and evaluating — all of the opportunities that may be out there, and certainly that was one that I found to be interesting, just because it speaks to what our \[organization\] has kind of turned into for quarterbacks, which I know Kwesi and I are very proud of, our coaching staff is very proud of.
"But at the same time, we've had a quarterback plan in place with J.J. McCarthy, and we really like where he's at in that journey right now, and looking forward to getting the offseason program going with him, in addition to all the work he's done leading up to that time coming up here in a few weeks," O'Connell added. "And that's kind of where we left things."
**2\. McCarthy & others aware of Rodgers discussions**
Reporters asked O'Connell how discussions with Rodgers may have impacted a young quarterback like McCarthy.
They were reminded by O'Connell about his commitment to transparency and authenticity with the team, as he explained McCarthy was made aware of the conversations "almost in real time."
"Because I do see him every day, throughout the week, and I thought it was important, just so that he was hearing it from me, and my perspective, from the very first time I had any communication in regard to Aaron and any of the other free agents that we've discussed at kind of all positions," O'Connell said. "It's fun to keep players in the loop. I talked to Justin Jefferson, I talked to T.J. Hockenson, Brian O'Neill, Jonathan Greenard, all these guys, as much as I possibly can, just because that's what we try to build our whole organization around, is that communication."