The reason Kirk Cousins was the breakout star of Netflix's "Quarterback" docuseries last year was because the then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback pulled back the curtain on who he was as a person. Cousins had seemed plastic and corporate during much of his time with the Vikings, but then we got a closer look at a guy who embraced his quirkiness, let us into his home and found happiness playing for head coach Kevin O'Connell in a 13-4 season.
The eight-episode series from NFL Films and Peyton Manning-led Omaha Productions also featured Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Atlanta's Marcus Mariota and proved to be a hit because of the behind-the-scenes access it provided on and off the field. The fact Cousins turned out to be a character made him more popular not just with Vikings fans but many football fans across the country.
The second version of the docuseries, entitled "Receiver", was released by Netflix on Wednesday and provided the same type of access to four wide receivers and San Francisco tight end George Kittle. One of the receivers was Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson.
It's safe to say, he won't be getting the same type of reviews that Cousins did a year ago.
Upon learning that Jefferson would join Las Vegas' Davante Adams, Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown and San Francisco's Deebo Samuel as featured players on the show, it didn't seem as if Jefferson would be the one to peel back the curtain, in part because what you see seems to be what you get with the 25-year-old.
Jefferson, unlike Cousins, has never seemed calculated in his approach to dealing with the media. Jefferson isn't an open book, but he's always come across as a young man with phenomenal talent, who loves playing football and knows he's one of the best at it. There isn't a conceit but there is a justified confidence.
Jefferson explains early in the series the difference between "Justin" and his alter ego "Jets," who likes the attention from which Justin shies away. The jewelry, the post-touchdown griddy dances, all of those things fall under his "Jets" persona. Jefferson, however, seems to be far more comfortable as "Justin."
While many of the subjects in "Receiver" live in luxurious homes, Jefferson purchased his home near the Vikings' facility (we see it early in the show) for a modest (by NFL standards) $405,000. He remains there despite signing a four-year, $140 million contract this offseason. Jefferson does display an impressive collection of jewelry, but his other obsession seems to be candy.
The best behind-the-scenes look we get at Jefferson -- at least off the field -- might be his relationship with his parents, John and Elaine, and his brothers, Jordan and Rickey. Justin Jefferson seems to be very well grounded for a man of his talents and it's clear his parents played a major role in that.
This isn't to say Jefferson comes across as boring, it's clear his talents on the field and personality make him a leader in the locker room. But if one of the five subjects in "Receiver" could be labeled as the most normal it's Jefferson.
That won't make him a star of this series, but it should make the Vikings and their fan base extremely happy.
Judd Zulgad is co-host of the Purple Daily Podcast and Mackey & Judd podcast at www.skornorth.com.
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