1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: The time for x's and o's with Minnesota Vikings head 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: coach Kevin O'Connell, also Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now from 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice of 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: the Vikings, Paul Allen. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 2: Welcome to X and O's of Kevin O'Connell, presented by 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 2: Ken Moore. Through the short week No Kevin O'Connell in 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 2: for him the gm quasy Dopamensa. 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 3: He joined pa. 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 4: Exis and o's is in the air this week with 10 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 4: quaisdaufo Mensa, General manager for the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O'Connell, 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 4: the regular Tuesday guest. We have some short week stuff 12 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 4: going on right now with a Christmas Day game at 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 4: three point thirty, so that's Thursday. And whenever we have 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 4: short weeks taking place, the general manager is nice enough 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 4: to stop by, which means we are nice enough to 16 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 4: breach iHeart audio rules and play some post malone. 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 3: Is it's post Malone? 18 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 4: And sway Lee? 19 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 3: Is that is that? 20 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: Who that is? 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: Yeah? 22 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 4: So that Brett Blakemore, who's a guy named the Great 23 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 4: Ship Love Covenant back a KFA and he'll pull that 24 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 4: out of the podcast and we'll move on with our 25 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 4: lives here with x'es and o's and this is the 26 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 4: first time you've been here since. We have a second camera. 27 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 4: That's Paige Ager's camera. It's very tantam out to capture 28 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 4: all three of my chins and that'll be your camera there. 29 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 4: And the general manager of the Minnesota Vikings joins us 30 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 4: with Christmas Thursday, sot at your household? Do do you guys? 31 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 4: Load up the kids with gifts and toys and maybe 32 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 4: a Beginner's Manual to Learning Predictive Analytics for Business Forecasting 33 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 4: and Planning by something CPF Eric Wilson and good morning. 34 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 5: Oh my god, that's too funny. You know that reminds 35 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 5: me of how I was brought up. You know, in 36 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 5: Sega Genesis I'm dating myself was the video game system. 37 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 5: I remember asking for my mom and she said, you 38 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 5: can have it, but these you can be your first games. 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 5: It was Jeopardy, We have a Fortune, and there's like 40 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 5: a third just educational game. I didn't get mad, and 41 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 5: that was not the first game really, But now we 42 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 5: you know, I am who I am, so I do 43 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 5: a ton of little counting stuff with me, your son, 44 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 5: because predictive analytics at the base base level is a 45 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 5: distant funk distance function. You're just counting at the end 46 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 5: of the day, minimizing distance. So I try to get 47 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 5: him counting and stuff like that. But you know what, 48 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 5: I will talk about Christmas. I had probably one of 49 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 5: my favorite moments last week where I felt like a dad. 50 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 5: My wife asked me to put together one of his 51 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 5: his toys and I kind of waited till the last second. 52 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 5: She's like, I'll have somebody else do it, and I 53 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 5: was like, you will not have somebody else do it. 54 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 3: I'm going to do it myself. 55 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 5: So I get home at probably ten o'clock after a 56 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 5: long day and I'm it looked like a stick figure drawing. 57 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 5: I don't know what the instructions were. I was like, 58 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 5: I'm set up to fail here, and she's She's like, 59 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 5: you should just go to bed, which was the wrong 60 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,839 Speaker 5: thing to say because I was like, I'm never going 61 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 5: to go to bed until I finished this. So I'm 62 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 5: up till one thirty putting together this this What was 63 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 5: it like? Actually, I don't want to say, just in 64 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 5: case my son sees this to he's got to be 65 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 5: surprised on Christmas Day, But so did you put it 66 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 5: together the right way. It is functional. It is really functional, 67 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 5: and it works, and it's rare. It's crazy how proud 68 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 5: of yourself you are. That's and then also like this 69 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 5: connection you feel to like I just wanted to go 70 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 5: up to every dad and be like, hey, man. 71 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 3: Hey, me too. 72 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, what if your wife had said, honey, honey, your hey, 73 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 4: the world needs white collar people too, the next door. 74 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 4: We need somebody blue collar like vern next door. Let's 75 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 4: have him come over and put this thing together. That 76 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 4: wouldn't have gone over. 77 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 5: I would have tried to fix things in the house 78 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 5: that have been really bad for. 79 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 4: Everybody speaking, so that when I was putting this thing together. 80 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 81 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 4: The the Beginner's Manual to Learning Predictive Analytics for Business 82 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 4: Forecasting and Planning by Eric Wilson, Well that's why I 83 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 4: used it because it was Eric Wilson, but not our 84 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 4: Eric Wilson. But speaking of our Eric Wilson, you know, 85 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 4: we Nordo and I last week because he's just been 86 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 4: he's been awesome, man, And you know it's we're going 87 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 4: to get into culture. And the way I'll phrase it 88 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 4: outside of culture is, hey, human nature gets to win too, 89 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 4: you know. And and you see some scores and some 90 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 4: things from around the league from teams not going to 91 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 4: the playoffs, and you don't see it here. And that's culture, 92 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 4: and that's Eric Wilson and holy Kyle the way he 93 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 4: and Cashman are hitting right now. But with Eric, you 94 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 4: doubled his pay and it's not my business to be like, 95 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 4: is that what it took to get him here? But 96 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 4: he's won three in Green Bay after a handful of 97 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 4: one year deals, got one here too. His first bonus 98 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 4: in twenty seventeen was ten thousand dollars. See it makes 99 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 4: me smile too, like you know, five hundred change a year, 100 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 4: and Quasi and crew roll in like we want you, 101 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 4: we need you. Let's take that one three and make 102 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 4: it a two six. And he came over here. That's 103 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 4: great when things like that work out so well. Nice 104 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 4: hit on Eric. 105 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, the great job by the pro staff 106 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 5: and the coaching staff when that time of year, we've 107 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 5: got to make sure that you're aligned and especially that position. 108 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 5: And Eric has just been an awesome addition. You're talking 109 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 5: about somebody who also loves Minnesota. He had actually better 110 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 5: offers and that he could have taken. He ended up 111 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 5: coming here because he loves it here, had a great 112 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 5: first experience here. 113 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 3: A lot of guys can relate to that. 114 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 5: But you know, the versatility on the ball, off the ball, 115 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 5: how they use him as just a kind of a 116 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 5: chess piece and probably the most well conditioned athlete I've 117 00:04:59,640 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 5: ever been. 118 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm playing. 119 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 4: They can't make up the arms. 120 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 5: All defensive snaps, but special teams. I mean at practice, 121 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 5: he's he's taking all the reps of practice, he's helping 122 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 5: the alignment. After practice, he's shooting hoops afterwards. He got 123 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 5: a little game to him as well. So he's a 124 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 5: unique person. We're really glad glad to add. 125 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 4: Him with the well just to give you a snapshot 126 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 4: into Quasi Adolpho Menzo's life. Firstitch and I day of 127 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 4: the Cowboys game. It's a night game. We're sitting in 128 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,799 Speaker 4: one of these nooks at this cool hotel the teams 129 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 4: stayed at, and Quasy walks by and he stops and 130 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 4: he's cordial, and he says hello, and you know, we're 131 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 4: chatting about a bunch of different things. But then as 132 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 4: he ended, you know he and okay, the Browns were 133 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 4: big underdogs at the Bears, but just the way you 134 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 4: ended it. I'll never forget because it gives us a 135 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 4: glimpse into your life where you're like, you mentioned three 136 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 4: or four things that could happen, and maybe the Browns 137 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 4: will beat the Bears and keep playoff hopes alive, and 138 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 4: it was a long shot. And so you went from 139 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 4: that to like, all right, well, I gotta go look 140 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 4: at some people for the draft coming up. You just 141 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 4: set a specific position, stay away from that. I gotta 142 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 4: i gotta go look at some guys for the draft. 143 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 4: That right there, in a nutshell is your life. 144 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: Yep, yep, it's it's it's awesome. 145 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 5: It's you're living in tomorrow, living in today, living in 146 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 5: two weeks. 147 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 3: It's. 148 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: Uh. 149 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 3: You know, that's the job. 150 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 5: A lot is asked of you, and in the in 151 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 5: that sense, but you've got to make sure that you're 152 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,279 Speaker 5: in the right time space for the person who's in 153 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 5: front of you. And what I mean by that is, 154 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 5: you know, sometimes with keV, you know the way my 155 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 5: mind works, I'm drifting, I want to talk about long 156 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 5: term things, and he's just trying to get through Wednesday practice, 157 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 5: Fursday practice, and I always have to make sure I 158 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 5: adjust to meet him in that space and. 159 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 4: That's analogous for relationships, no question, like men and women, 160 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,239 Speaker 4: marriages or whatever. It really is, right, no question, honey, 161 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 4: I don't feel well. I don't want to talk about 162 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 4: Jill with all due respect. 163 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 5: This this this job, and as probably in my my relationship. 164 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 5: Obviously they go together just to help you be better, 165 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 5: a better person for both. 166 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 4: Quasi's here with us for x's and o's with the 167 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 4: with the final two and and and you can finish 168 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 4: with a winning record. Back in seven and eight, finish 169 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 4: finished nine and eight, got a winning record. 170 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 3: The fan has learned. 171 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 4: Why is that important? Given no playoffs for the team 172 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 4: or on the horizon this year. 173 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 5: You know, it's and obviously it's disappointing that we were 174 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 5: not going to be playing in that tournament because you know, 175 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 5: we talked earlier this year before the season starting being 176 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 5: the team that kind of probably needed to get going, 177 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 5: but will be that team that nobody wants to play 178 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 5: coming down here down the stretch and look the way 179 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 5: our defense is playing, where we are offense starting to click, 180 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 5: and we're close to maybe being that. But you know, 181 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 5: it's a credit to Kevin, the culture he's built, how 182 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 5: he can keep guys motivated the people that we brought 183 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 5: in here who love football. You know, that's a that's 184 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 5: a cliche that I think it's said. But when a 185 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 5: Josh Mattelis decides to play through multiple injuries for multiple 186 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 5: games for his team and comes in, you know, doesn't 187 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 5: want to be shut down like those are the type 188 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 5: of people that. 189 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 3: That set programs. 190 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 5: And so I do think it is important for us 191 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 5: to continue to play good football because also we're gonna 192 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 5: have a lot of a lot of these same players 193 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 5: are gonna be here next year. So we're building something 194 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 5: I think all momentums, all malementium is you know, contained 195 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 5: and it's real. And we've got a lot of players, 196 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 5: young quarterbacks, uner received, young young this young that veterans 197 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 5: are going to be here next year, and we're all 198 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 5: building that cohesion towards you know what, we want to 199 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 5: be a better result next year. 200 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 4: And Brian O'Neil is analogous to what you just said. 201 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 4: And here we are at MetLife and it's two and 202 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 4: a half three hours, two and a half hours before 203 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 4: the game when I get down to the field two 204 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 4: fifteen maybe well there he is down there with with Tyler, 205 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 4: with the medical staff, and Cooper might have been there, 206 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 4: the offensive line coach, whomever. That's about twenty five percent 207 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 4: those guys play when they're doing that before the game. 208 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 4: Oh by the way, you're not going to the playoffs. 209 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 4: Oh by the way it's called. Oh by the way, 210 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 4: it's windy. Oh by the way, whatever hurts. And then 211 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 4: I chatted with him with a drive by as I 212 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 4: call him after the game about that. I mean, that's phenomenal, man. 213 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 4: I mean, you talk about personal pride, pushing through things, 214 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 4: not for yourself. There might be a little bonus there, 215 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 4: who knows, but it's for others. It's a thy not 216 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 4: I approach to his career. He's become one of my 217 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 4: favorite players in all my years calling games because of 218 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 4: things like that. 219 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 5: Absolutely, you know, I try never to throw this term 220 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 5: around too often, but program player, that's what we mean 221 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 5: by program player, the type of ability he has, but 222 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 5: also the culture setting, what he does to uplift others, 223 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 5: and what he does to have that personal responsibility that 224 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 5: I'm sure that was built long ago with his parents, 225 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 5: his family. You know, I've never I haven't really met 226 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 5: the people that ever in his life with that type 227 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 5: of accountability. 228 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 4: I met him in New Orleans. Yeah, yeah, a couple 229 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,359 Speaker 4: of years ago. And the dad and mom are straightforward. 230 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 4: That's where it comes from. And I actually I have 231 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 4: met his dad actually in the hotel one time. But 232 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 4: that's where that probably comes from. Just that accountability, the 233 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 4: self and the team. That's that's awesome. Can you imagine if, 234 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 4: like your job at the highest level was the way 235 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 4: high school parents for like hockey players, absoletes and stuff, 236 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 4: or they all got an opinion. They're always yelling, They're 237 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 4: always like, hey, play my some more playing do this dude? 238 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 4: Can you imagine like if somebody came up to you 239 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 4: and is like, my son's up at the end of 240 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 4: the year, what are you thinking, Well, what would you 241 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 4: do if that happened? 242 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 5: I mean, the parents just get replaced by agents. My 243 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 5: job's probab be different than than than than that in 244 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 5: that sense, right, But you understand it's human nature. 245 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 3: Everybody wants to play. 246 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 5: They believe in that they've gotten to this place where 247 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 5: they're the one percent of the one percent of the 248 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,319 Speaker 5: one percent because there's a belief, there's a belief that 249 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 5: they should be out there. So just because they're on 250 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 5: a field with other great players, I mean, they don't 251 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 5: think they should be playing, right. 252 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 3: So it's it's part of the job. 253 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 5: It's great because you know what happens, it happens, It 254 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 5: absolutely happens. It's a great dynamic. To me, I was 255 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 5: kind of those one of those self. I was like, 256 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 5: I don't think I'm as good as that guy. I 257 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 5: don't think I should be playing. So, you know, I 258 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 5: was kind of one of those realistic players. So it's 259 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 5: good to be around the opposite. 260 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, I've I've met some moms and dads this year, 261 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 4: probably more this year than I have from the sideline work. 262 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 4: Donovan Jackson's mom and dad. I mean, you can tell 263 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 4: that why he squared away. Well, Justin's dad too. Jefferson, absolutely, 264 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 4: I mean, and and that's like, you know, with with 265 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 4: all the media reports and social media, like Justin's handling 266 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 4: this well, and you see this in Seattle. He's sitting 267 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 4: on a helmet and he's not happy. Okay, maybe in 268 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 4: that moment he's not. But with Justin when you're really 269 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 4: get to know him behind the scenes, man, he gets it. 270 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 4: I mean he yeah, he wants more. Sure, he doesn't 271 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 4: want to have two touchdowns, but he gets it from 272 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 4: a ye not. I standpoint, and it never was a 273 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 4: problem with justin behind the scenes. 274 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 3: The way this season has gone just unreal. 275 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 5: I think, you know, adversity reveals character and you know, 276 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 5: a lot of the great things he's done, you know, 277 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 5: we can talk about at nauseum. You could do a 278 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 5: whole show and multiple shows on it, but stuff like 279 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 5: this is what you know. But I'll remember where the 280 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 5: you know, everybody talks about the one catch in twenty 281 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 5: twenty two, but buff not Buffalo was the game where 282 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 5: he had it. We didn't end up winning the game, 283 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 5: but he had. He recovered a fumble, he hustled back 284 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 5: thirty yards of recover. Fumbell then made a great fourth 285 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 5: down catch the next play. Things like that people don't remember, 286 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 5: but that's the ultimate competitors. So when they see the 287 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 5: downsat sitting on a cool or whatever, it's the same 288 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 5: person who the fire to win is just in him. 289 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 5: And then the joyful guy off the field up where 290 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 5: that comes from his family, the upbringing, the great life 291 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 5: that he has. Yeah, he's a special player. To get 292 00:11:58,240 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 5: another program player that we're so glad to have. 293 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 2: Minnesota needed a go to source for everything in high 294 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 2: school sports. That's why the Minnesota Star Tribune created Strib Varsity. 295 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 2: So now at Startribune dot com slash Strib Varsity, more 296 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: X's and O's at the GM, around the corner on 297 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. Hey Vikings fans, right now 298 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: you can pick up a commemorative Pepsi Vikings Cup at 299 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 2: us Bank Stadium or participating High V, Fast and Fresh 300 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 2: and Buffalo Wild Wings locations for your chance to win 301 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 2: Victor's Ride another great prizes. Vikings fans deserve Pepsi, more 302 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 2: x and O's th the GM. 303 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 4: Now, what are you starting to see in McCarthy? You 304 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 4: know you're going to like moving forward. 305 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 3: It's just there has been growth moments, you know. 306 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 5: I try and make sure that my dialogue with him 307 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 5: is weighted incredibly positive because you know, if you think 308 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 5: about this world on the you got the external world 309 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 5: who's always going to be negative, and then you've got 310 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 5: coaching who are going to be positive, but they're also 311 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 5: going to coach them. So me, I try and always 312 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 5: make sure I'm highlighting Hey man, this is a great 313 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 5: thing that I'm seeing. You're doing things like playing up 314 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 5: in the pocket. You know a lot of young quarterbacks 315 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 5: when they get pressure in their face, they're trying to 316 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 5: bail out the back. He's very good about getting up 317 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:02,840 Speaker 5: in the pocket, either to make scrambles or make good decisions. 318 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 5: Some of those great plays that Kevin's already highlighted where 319 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 5: you know it's a play action shot play where he 320 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 5: just says, hey, it's not here, I'm going to check 321 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 5: it down to Aaron Jones for eight yards growth plays. 322 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 3: Those are growth plays. 323 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 5: And then you see the special plays where he's rolling 324 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 5: out to his left and he hits nailor on an 325 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 5: aggressive decision or a play and the scene to TJ. 326 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 5: So you're seeing the plays where he you know, quarterback position. 327 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 5: To me, you know, it's a person who's maybe not 328 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 5: an expert, just kind of an evaluator and kind of 329 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 5: a big picture thinker about it. It's about being Clark 330 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 5: Kent Superman. It's right, how many times you're going to 331 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 5: put the cape on, but sometimes you just need to 332 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 5: keep the glasses on and be that guy and kind 333 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 5: of do those things. And that's the balance these have 334 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 5: because the great ones are wired to want to put 335 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 5: the cape on all the time. And I think that 336 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 5: we're seeing him put the cape on a couple times, 337 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 5: three times, four times a game, but also do the 338 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 5: Clark Kent things, the boring things that really just matriculate 339 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 5: offensive football down the field. So those are the things 340 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 5: that I'm really excited to see. And then just the preparation, 341 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 5: showing up, a week of practice, getting the game plan, 342 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 5: doing all those great things. Being their first teams really 343 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 5: exciting to say. 344 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 4: So that's why a few games ago when O'Connell at 345 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 4: a press conference or here at X's and O's, when 346 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 4: he said, I was so proud of JJ he took 347 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 4: the check down. I didn't get it. I'm like kind 348 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 4: of always there, but the Clark kept bit. Yeah, that's 349 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 4: a wonderful analogy by Quasia Dopa mensa general manager for 350 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 4: the Minnesota Vikings. It's X's and O's the Jalen's first redman. 351 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 4: It can be argued he's the defensive MVP. That's my opinion. 352 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 4: Nobody maybe nobody else in here, but that's my opinion. 353 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 4: How did you guys find him last year? 354 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 5: So that was you know, Ryan Grigson is, He's obviously 355 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 5: an accomplished history in this league. He will he loves 356 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 5: looking at other leagues, he loves looking where he doesn't 357 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 5: think other people are. One of his first jobs was 358 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 5: in the CFL, so he's got an affinity to other leagues, 359 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 5: and so he's really hard in our pro group. 360 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 3: He's like, hey, I don't want you to don't just. 361 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 5: Gloss over those UFL guys or whatever, because because the 362 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 5: NFL missed them, the markets aren't always perfectly efficient. 363 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 3: There are guys that slip through the cracks. 364 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 5: So they elevated him to RG and then RG and 365 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 5: he's excitable guy. So once he gets excited about something, 366 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 5: he's making the cut up. He's that big, big shadow 367 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 5: figures in my doorway. He's like, hey, we got to 368 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 5: sign this guy. I remember standing over his shoulder looking 369 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 5: at the cut up and he's you know, he's describing 370 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 5: to me, and I'm like, for a for a twitchy 371 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 5: passwords guy, I feel like the run game is better 372 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 5: than you're you're giving on and you know. And so 373 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 5: that time of the year, I think it was a 374 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 5: May something like that. It's you're not looking for Reggie White, 375 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 5: You're you're looking for a good player to come in 376 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 5: and compete for your ninety many And see what happened. 377 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 5: He had some unique circumstances coming out where blood clot yeah, 378 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 5: and some things like that, and so but really you 379 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 5: ran a ran a really good combined time, really good athlete. 380 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 5: As you see the play style show up on film 381 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 5: and man, credit to that, to Marcus and and that 382 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 5: and the staff of marj everybody just's really put their 383 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 5: hands on him. He's gotten a lot better. He's really 384 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 5: really physical in the run game, has kind of worked 385 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 5: on his pass rush and then just a play style. 386 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 5: Love his play style, Love the play style in that room. 387 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 5: So he's been exciting to see him. And the credit 388 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 5: to personnel, credit to coaching. That's that's one of those 389 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 5: aligned success stories. 390 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 4: And he's of available and he's one of those I 391 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 4: was with the Dallas Renegades a year and change ago. 392 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 4: You can't make the club and the tub I'm playing 393 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 4: through this thing and he's come through six sacks like 394 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 4: eleven TFLs. Then you get to the other Jaalen Nailor, 395 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 4: and he's said to be an unrestricted free agent after 396 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 4: the year. So welcome to the microcosm of the life 397 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 4: of the general manager. It's like, yes, great sack by Wilson, 398 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 4: Oh great, hey, look at Nailor. 399 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 3: Oh great. 400 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 4: You know what I'm saying is you then now and 401 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 4: what's coming? 402 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 3: And how do you handle that? You know, I first 403 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 3: start with all these guys you bring. 404 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 5: In, you call them on the draft day and or 405 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 5: you sign them in May. You're not lying when you 406 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 5: say you want them to achieve whatever their dream is. 407 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 5: You want the best version themselves, for their family, for themselves, 408 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,040 Speaker 5: and obviously in the hope of helping the Vikings. So 409 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 5: first and foremost, I'm really happened for Jaily Jalen. I 410 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 5: think when we drafted and we saw this coming, and 411 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 5: that first year he had a really good special teams role, 412 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 5: had some good gunner reps and we were healthy in 413 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 5: that room, so he didn't get to time on offense. 414 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 5: That next offseason he was amazing and it just got hurt. 415 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 5: So I think some of this stuff we're seeing was 416 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 5: delayed a year because the injuries last year. Kind of 417 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 5: inconsistent with some things, but really works hard. I mean, 418 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 5: Keenan I think is the best in the best in 419 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 5: the NFL. And you know that's just hands down how 420 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 5: it is. And so when he was going through some 421 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 5: of those things during the indoor work with him working 422 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 5: on some things and building up the confidence. They knew 423 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 5: this was coming and so just proud of him, happy 424 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 5: of him. You saw in college. It's it's difficult. Sometimes 425 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 5: there's a guy. Man, this guy looks like he's getting open. 426 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 5: He's just not getting the ball. If you're looking at 427 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 5: counting stats, maybe the numbers weren't weren't there, but we're 428 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 5: seeing a guy who's getting open on tape. And he 429 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 5: played on the other side of a pretty good player 430 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 5: plays for another team in R a division I won't name, 431 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,160 Speaker 5: but you know we really liked him obviously, the combine stuff. 432 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 5: An explosive player, really good early speed in the forty 433 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 5: and then just a really great worker. Just and again, 434 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 5: if you mix that with the room, the environment, a 435 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 5: room led by Justin Jefferson. You get to watch him 436 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 5: take India every day. You're gonna learn some things and 437 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 5: you're going to listen to Tony and Keenan and all 438 00:17:58,480 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 5: the great environment. 439 00:17:59,440 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 3: Kevin. 440 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 5: I mean, he just gets such great coaching that is 441 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 5: really happy for him. And look, we'll cross those bridges 442 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 5: when we get to the off season. We'll have those conversations. 443 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 5: I know he loves it here and we love him. 444 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 5: We'll deal with those economic realities when they come. But 445 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 5: first and foremost happy. 446 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 4: For him, it is will reikerd a human or a machine. 447 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 5: You know, it's remember the conversation about that, and you 448 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 5: know hat all our scouts we just love the guy. 449 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 5: And you know, we talk a lot about kickers needing 450 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 5: to be you know, everyone knows like closures in baseball. 451 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 5: I'm always just like, you gotta be some messed up 452 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 5: kind of dude. 453 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 3: Three three guys. 454 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 5: That stadium is yelling you got one run, three guys 455 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 5: on you kind of just look around and it's like 456 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 5: the joker almost like this, and you're kind of kickers 457 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 5: got to be the same, you know, And I just 458 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 5: admire people like that. So in the process, obviously we 459 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 5: have all the expected points added and all these metrics 460 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 5: about how good he was, and he was top three 461 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 5: in the class to us. But the story they told 462 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 5: about him at the combine workout and some of the 463 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 5: stuff we had heard but from the school about the 464 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 5: competitor and how he's wired, that was the stuff that 465 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 5: was like, Oh, I think this guy has that machine 466 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 5: or the joker, the lover of chaos and him just 467 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 5: the you know, he makes a feel goal when he's 468 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 5: doing the Carmelo, the three point thing. I mean, it's 469 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 5: just it's awesome to see that stuff from those ideas 470 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 5: we had a couple of. 471 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: Years come and then and then to the player he 472 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:11,880 Speaker 3: is now. 473 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,440 Speaker 4: Lastly, your analogies are great, by the way, Harrison Smith, 474 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 4: they have. Man, if he's done after fourteen years, so 475 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,479 Speaker 4: be it. He's not playing like a guy who's done. 476 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,639 Speaker 4: I mean, okay, so we have the cat and mouse 477 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 4: with Dak. That that I mean flummox Dak. Let's just 478 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 4: put it that way. In Dak's im last game, darts 479 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 4: Young running up there here, I come here, I come back, 480 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 4: battles messed everything up. But when he did come in there, 481 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 4: he's faster now than he was at this stage last season, 482 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 4: don't you think? 483 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 5: Yeah, he's I mean, he puts so much into it. 484 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 5: I'm sure if you interviewed him, he'd tell you about 485 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 5: that crazy machine he uses to extend his career. But 486 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 5: he's you talk about the mental game and how you're 487 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 5: able to be faster because his mental game. I think 488 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 5: Flow calls him probably the smartest player he's ever been around. Wow, 489 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 5: it's Brian Flora says that I'm pretty I'm pretty sure 490 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 5: it was. 491 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 4: An offhand comment. A lot of range with a lot 492 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 4: of Patriots. Well, you know what I mean, it's the 493 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 4: ultimate compliment. 494 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, And he's just that that level of player. 495 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 5: And so you know again, I've only been a GM 496 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 5: with Harrison Smith here, right, He's going to be involved 497 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 5: in some way what he's done. 498 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 3: I'm gonna make him. 499 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 5: That's great to come here and just just give me 500 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 5: the knowledge and the lifeblood that he's given me. 501 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 3: Just this organization has been lucky to have him. 502 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 4: Sam Newton's holding to sign up for me. I know 503 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 4: you have Pat McAfee three minutes from now, and that's 504 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 4: going to be an hour fifteen. 505 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 2: So thank you for joining us for this week's episode 506 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 2: of X's and O's. Kevin O'Connell this week with Quasi 507 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: dol Fa Mensa. X's and O's is presented by Ken Moore. 508 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: In is the official production of the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network.