1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: You gotta get credit for word credited due the NFL 2 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: has done an amazing job in terms of, like you said, 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: understanding the why the NFL is moving in the right direction. 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: The Senior Bowl may have been the most critical events 5 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: that we have been able to have this year. What 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: is going on, Vikings fans? It is episode number eighty 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: two of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. It's Chris Corso here 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: and I'm joined as always by Vikings dot COM's Gabe 9 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: Henderson and of course producer Jay Nelson, bringing you all things. 10 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings were really excited today. It was a big 11 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: time newsday at the TCO Performance Center. Vikings General manager 12 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: Rick Spielman addressed the media. So there is a lot 13 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: to break down, including the tough decision that needed to 14 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: be made for tight end Kyle Rudolph. After a decade, 15 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: Number eighty two is no longer a member of the 16 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings and Rudolph parted ways on Tuesday, 17 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: and definitely a lot to break down there. So with that, 18 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: I bring in Gabe Henderson, who had the opportunity to 19 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: interview a very special former Viking this week. That'll be 20 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: later on in the show. So Gabe, why don't you 21 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: start out by introducing that interview and kind of what 22 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: it was all about. Husain Abdullah, former safety for the Vikings, 23 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: had an opportunity to sit down and talk to him 24 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: about his career with the Vikings. Spent four years here 25 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: back in two thousand and eight and then took a 26 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: year off and then played for the Chief for three years. 27 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: And we more so talked about that year off in between, 28 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: because he took a year off like pretty much at 29 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: the prime of his career. And it's unique hearing the 30 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: reasons why. Of course he's a practice in Muslim and 31 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: there is a lot of emphasis behind that in this conversation, 32 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: and you know, some of the things that he believes 33 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: and why he believes hit And I asked him, you know, 34 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: would you still do it again? And he says absolutely. 35 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: So it was a great conversation and we talked, you know, 36 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: just some things post career. So I think it's a treat. 37 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: I think it's a treat. He's a guy with a 38 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: lot of knowledge, and I don't think I can talk 39 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: anymore without first and foremost thinking Jay for setting this up. 40 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: Jay is the magician behind all a lot of these interviews. So, Jay, 41 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: thank you for setting this up. Who's saying, Abdulah phenomenal 42 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: human being, phenomenal person. I think he's going to have 43 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: a phenomenal future with whatever he puts his mind too. 44 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: So it was a great conversation with who's saying that. 45 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,399 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to you guys listening to this later 46 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: in the show. Yeah, thanks Jay for the intro to that. 47 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: Like I said, a jam packed show ending with that 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: awesome interview with the Vikings safety. We talked about some 49 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: of the newsworthy things, obviously the top newsworthy story of 50 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: the week for the Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was 51 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: a officially released by the Minnesota Vikings Tuesday afternoon. As 52 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: I previously said, ending his decade long season career with 53 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: the team. We know he's a fan favorite, we know 54 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: all the things that he's done in the community absolutely unbelievable, 55 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: a Vikings Man of the Year candidate multiple times. So 56 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: I'm throwing it to Jay, who's been with the Vikings 57 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: for over a decade, coming up on hopefully two decades here, 58 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: what was it like just going through the last decade 59 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: with Kyle Rudolph covering the events on the field, off 60 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: the field, and I think it's been a really positive 61 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: kind of experience for the Vikings and Kyle since the 62 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: departure on Tuesday, and everyone's kind of been talking about 63 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: the good times rather than focusing on on how the 64 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: split just happened. Yeah, I think it's you know, Rick 65 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: kind of brought it up just a tiny bit in 66 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: his press conference too, is saying one of the things 67 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: about this is the business side and sometimes that, you know, 68 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: gets in the way of the personal side. And I 69 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: guess if you look at the the organization, Kyle, coach, Zimmer, Kirk, Cousins, 70 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: everybody across the board, especially social media wise, last night, 71 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: everything was glowing saying thank you and we appreciate everything 72 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: that you've done. Great player, even better human being. And 73 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: you know, being the resident old guy here, it's always 74 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: interesting to me now when I see these guys come 75 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: in when they're you know, fresh faces out of college 76 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: and kind of how they're maybe sometimes a little more 77 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: quiet and reserved and not as equation set times when 78 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:31,800 Speaker 1: you're trying to get an interview in a sound bite 79 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: and you start to think about it and you're like, yeah, 80 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: this is a college kid coming out where. Yeah, he 81 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: came from a big time program in Notre Dame and 82 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: he had a lot of accolades grown up, But still, 83 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: this is somebody who's trying to figure out going to 84 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: your pro career, what's it going to be like? And 85 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 1: then to see ten years later on sound bites, podcasts, radio, TV, 86 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 1: a Sonic children's hospital and working with the University of 87 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: Minnesota and just as outgoing and gregarious and just a 88 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: good human being that that he's at least been in 89 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: his time here for the last ten years. I think 90 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: it really shows and how everyone across the board tends 91 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: to feel right now, and there's the sadness of losing 92 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,119 Speaker 1: him after having him be a part of the Viking 93 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: family for the last decade. At the same point, I 94 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: don't think anyone at this point expects for his career 95 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: to be over. So it's going to be one of 96 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: those situations kind of like it was with the Jared 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: Allen or whatever, that you just look at it and say, 98 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: we loved having him here. He's still a part of 99 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 1: the Vikings family, even though he might finish out his 100 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: career someplace else. But at the same point, you can 101 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 1: root for them unless they're playing the Purple squad. So 102 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: it's it's cool to see, you know, what we got 103 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: out of him for the last ten years and that 104 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: relationship that we've built. And I have a hard time 105 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: believing that that's the last we're going to hear of 106 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: Kyle Rudolph here in tcopc and at US Bank Stadium. 107 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: So it'll be interesting to see how all of this 108 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: plays out and if he does go someplace else, you know, 109 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: root root for those callers, except for on Vikings game days, 110 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: and in normal Kyle Rudolph fashion, he writes a letter 111 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: in the Player's Tribune, just an awesome letter kind of 112 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,799 Speaker 1: outlining everything that he's been through here in the Twin Cities. 113 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: I mean, when you think about a second round tight 114 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: end at a university and Notre Dame in twenty eleven, 115 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: and you look at the things that he's accomplished here, 116 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: doing things at the tight end position that have never 117 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: been done in franchise history, catching the first ever touchdown 118 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: pass at US Bank Stadium in twenty sixteen, obviously, the 119 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: touchdown in the big time playoff game in New Orleans 120 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: from Kirk Cousins at the back of the end zone. 121 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: I will never forget that, and you can just go 122 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: down the list of the moments that we're just amazing. 123 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: I mean, being a Pro Bowl MDP in the game 124 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: early in his career, it's just amazing when you look 125 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: at a second round tight end draft pick the things 126 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: that were accomplished by him, and then you just go 127 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: down the list of the things off the field, building 128 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: the Kyle Rudolph end zone in the University of Minnesota 129 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: Masonic Children's Hospital that you heard it from Vikings general 130 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: manager Rick Spielman in the press conference this week. The 131 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 1: things that he was able to do off the field 132 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: as a guy who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio that 133 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: made Minneapolis, in the Twin Cities and the rest of 134 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: the state home over a decade. It's it really is 135 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: phenomenal game. I know you spent only a year covering 136 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: the Vikings with Kyle Rudolph, but what were your overall 137 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: just takeaways of covering him the last season and seeing 138 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: him at the elder years of his time here with 139 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: the Vikings. He was a pro's pro. I mean, he 140 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: did everything the right way. He came in early, left late. 141 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: I had a couple opportunities to work with them, on 142 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: you know, a few partnership deals and just he was 143 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: always open with the audience. And you know, like you said, 144 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: you don't really get back from a lot of players. 145 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: Somebody who is an open books. You can ask him 146 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: a question, he will answer. He's not like a you know, 147 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: the the big name guy, and I think the players tribute. 148 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: An article that you alluded to is him in a nutshell, 149 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: you know. He said Minnesota like I'm not leaving, like 150 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: this is where my kids were born, this is where 151 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: I grew as a man, this is what I expect 152 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: my future. This is where I planned to live after 153 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: my playing career, even though it's not over it. There 154 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: were so many things that you can take away from 155 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: Kyle as a human being, I guess right now as 156 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: a as an NFL player, and he showed it. He 157 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: demonstrated it. He was the model citizen. I remember just 158 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: talking to him when he was here last year. I 159 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 1: always said, hey, like you are mister Minnesota Viking. Like 160 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: when you think of the Vikings, the first thing I 161 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: think about is Kyle Rudolph. And he did everything that 162 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: he needed to do to prove that he's still a 163 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: really good tight end and he's still going to be 164 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: playing for it for years to come. So it was 165 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: great to talk to him, great to read his player's tribute, 166 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: an article where he said a lot of positive things. 167 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: So I think the next big thing now that he 168 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: said in that article is whoever gets his parking spot, 169 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: make sure you take care of it. So at the 170 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: next bed, whoever is the next longest Tayar person up there, 171 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: they're going to have that spot now. And Kyle, Kyle Rudolph, 172 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: he said, Ah, he kept the lions painted white on 173 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: the side, so he did a great job. Yeah, it 174 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: gave references the fact that Kyle was talking about he 175 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: literally has the first parking spot um for the players 176 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: closest to the building at the TCO Performance Center because 177 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: he's built a team for so long that the most 178 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: tenured player gets that parking spot, which is very clutch 179 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: in the Minnesota winters when it's like negative twenty, which 180 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: gave his finally learned this winter here in the Twin City. 181 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: So uh yeah, definitely a spot that will not be 182 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: filled the same way, um, which just just what Kyle 183 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: brings to the locker room. And and yeah, that's what 184 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: stands out when I read that article in the in 185 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: the player's Tribune, when you see names like Steve Hutchinson 186 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: and Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen, guys who like remind 187 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: you of like the two thousands of Vikings teams, and 188 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: you say, man, Kyle Rolfe was a part of that team, 189 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: and now he's still a part of the team. With 190 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: a Dalvin Cook and a Garrett Bradberry and Justin Jefferson 191 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: in the Players of the Future, it's it's just amazing 192 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: the amount of time that he's been with the organization, 193 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: especially at the tight end position. You don't see that 194 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: very often in the NFL. I mean, you look at 195 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: a Rob Gronkowski's career was cut short in New England 196 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: with the injuries that he that he went through it 197 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: at that position. So it's unbelievable what Kyle was able 198 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: to do. It's unbelievable. But the length of time that 199 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: he was here with the Vikings and obviously it is 200 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: absolutely extraordinary what he was able to do here in 201 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: the Twin Cities off the field. So perhaps the Kyle 202 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: Rudolph you hear, the Ian Rappaports and the Mike Garret 203 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: Folds of the world on Vikings Dot com saying that 204 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: they expect him to be picked up very soon by 205 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: a different team in the NFL, so keep your eyes 206 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: out for that. And uh yeah, this move helps the 207 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: Vikings save five point one million dollars in additional cap 208 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: space for the team. So, Jay, when you look at 209 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: that and you hear Rick Spielman speak today, I think 210 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: it's just the business decision that had to be made 211 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: here as you look forward to our free agency that's 212 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: going to be absolutely insane this year. Yeah, there's a 213 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: lot of factors and we kind of we'll address it 214 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: a little bit later in the show too, but it's 215 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: it's between the salary cap still being somewhat unknown. You've 216 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: got some bigger name veterans who are making some higher 217 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,239 Speaker 1: end salaries that I think there were probably some calculations 218 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: done pre pandemic when they signed them that they were 219 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: banking on salary cap going up, not potentially down. So 220 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: there's not only for us. I don't think this is 221 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: just a Viking centric thing. I think there are other 222 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: teams that are also in a similar boat, and some 223 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: of them way way worse at this point. But there's 224 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: going to have to be some As Rick says, tough 225 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: business decisions made, and you know, I just like this 226 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: is one of those. It stinks to see it happen now. 227 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: At the same point, it's also a sign of respect. 228 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: You're trying to give these guys as much time as possible. 229 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: You know, look at what just happened to JJ Watt. 230 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: Give them as much time as possible to pick where 231 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: they want to be able to go on their own, 232 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: because like in our situation that we need to make 233 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: the move and at the same point give the player 234 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: their respects that they and their agent can run around 235 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: and kind of choose where they want to go as well. 236 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's it's it's a tough business decision. I 237 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: don't think this is the last of it, not only 238 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: on our team but across the league. And as Rick 239 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: said earlier in his presser, I think it's going to 240 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: be a very active free agency period coming up here 241 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: in the next couple of weeks. Absolutely, And that brings 242 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: us right to a perfect little segment here that Jay 243 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: has cut up. He cut up three of the best 244 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: most informational bites from Vikings general manager Rick Spielands press 245 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: conference on Wednesday. You can go down the list, I mean, 246 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: he talked for about twenty eight minutes, so I think 247 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: this is a good way to kind of cover the 248 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: main talking points of the press conference on Wednesday. So 249 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: we're going to start out Obviously, the Senior Bowl this 250 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,959 Speaker 1: year it was different than most years, and Rick Spieldan 251 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,599 Speaker 1: said the Senior Bowl was as critical as ever in 252 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: a very important event in the Vikings offseason for the 253 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: front office. Where we're at right now in our process. 254 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 1: We finished our initial draft meetings. Just a couple of 255 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: things about the draft process. The Senior Bowl may have 256 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: been the most critical event that we have been able 257 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: to have this year. It was the only time that 258 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: we were able to go down see these players practice. 259 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: The other thing that was extremely important was the interview process. 260 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: This will be the only chance we get to interview 261 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: the players in person. Over a four day period, there 262 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: was five of us down there. We were able to 263 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 1: interview one hundred and twenty eight players. The other thing 264 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: that was great about the Senior Bowl is that some 265 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: of the players that opted out of the two thousand 266 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: and twenty season they were down there. So it's the 267 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: first time you got a chance to see them since 268 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: the nineteen film that you watched or if you were 269 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: watching them at all nineteen. The other thing was there 270 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: were a couple of kids down there from smaller schools 271 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: who were not participating in a fall because their school 272 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: wasn't going to play till this spring. So you had 273 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: a couple of kids down there are that are very 274 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: talented that we got an opportunity to see as well. Yeah, 275 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: that's super interesting because the Senior Bowl is really not 276 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: covered on a national level to the extent that these 277 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: front office guys the importance that they take out of it, 278 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: and that's just putting it lightly, because it's one of 279 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: the biggest events of the year when it comes to 280 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: the Vikings front office and all the front offices in 281 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: the NFL game. So when you hear that from from 282 00:14:55,960 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: Rick Spielman in a year where the Combine is not 283 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: taking place um at Lucas Oil Stadium, what does that 284 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: mean to you of what the Vikings really were able 285 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: to take out of the Senior Bowl this year. I 286 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: think Rick, you know, hit it on the head. He 287 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,359 Speaker 1: said they interviewed over one hundred and twenty eight guys 288 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: in four days, so they pretty much made the most 289 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: out of their time in Alabama. After Senior Bowl and 290 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: I think, you know, for them to be able to 291 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: have that time, for them to be able to spend 292 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: that time with the prospects in person, I think that 293 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: was crucial to their decision making. I think the Combine 294 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: is only just the icing on the cake. Okay, is 295 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: this guy healthy, because they'll they'll most likely see some 296 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: of these guys that they saw at the Senior Bowl 297 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: at their pro day in between now and the Combine, 298 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: so that the icing on the cake will be, you know, 299 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: are they healthy and whatnot. But like you said, that 300 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: Singer Bowl was critical, especially for some of the players 301 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: that opted out last year. I mean, we saw a 302 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: lot of guys that didn't play. I mean even some 303 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: of the FCS guys that are playing right now that 304 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: I mean, of course, you know FCS is starting back 305 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: and started back last week, but they're guys who aren't 306 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 1: planning this season that we're at the Senior Bowl that 307 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: didn't participate that the Vikings were able to interview. So 308 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: they made the most out of their time and I 309 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: think that's going to play pay huge dividend when it 310 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: comes into April. Yeah. Absolutely, I mean it's crazy that 311 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: you're able to do all that stuff. At the Senior 312 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl, but then the Combine doesn't take place, and 313 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: the average football fan probably didn't know almost that because, 314 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: like I said, the Senior Bowl really isn't covered at 315 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: a national level at the way the Combine is on 316 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: NFL Network and all the different channels that they're able 317 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: to cover that it's become such a big media event 318 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: over the years, and obviously that's something that's missing this year. 319 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: All the players who do their normal workouts at the 320 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: Combine at the Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium, they'll be 321 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: doing it at their on site college pro days this year, 322 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: so a good chance of the Vikings front office to 323 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: meet a lot of different players. And then obviously Rick 324 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: Spueland talked about the players that they were able to 325 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: meet who opted out of last season, who got got 326 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: to be down there and work out and be a 327 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 1: part of that weekend. So really cool to hear that 328 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: from Rick Spieland. And obviously that brings us to the 329 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: topic that is really upcoming, and that is the NFL 330 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: free agency period. I am super excited for this from 331 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: a national level to a team level, for the Vikings 332 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: to seeing what decisions are going to be made after 333 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: this big Kyle Rudolph decision. I just think that the 334 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: NFL free agency is one of the most fun times 335 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: to be just to be a fan of the league 336 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: and to see the way all these quarterbacks are going 337 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,119 Speaker 1: to start moving around. Like I guys, I could we 338 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: can talk for days about that kind of stuff. So 339 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: let's hear what the general manager has to say about 340 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: this year's free agency. You know. The other thing I 341 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: just mentioned quickly is, you know, as we're watching this 342 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: UFA process, it's going to be an interesting dynamic on 343 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 1: the players getting cut. As twelve, there's already been some 344 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,719 Speaker 1: significant players cut. I think it's going to be a 345 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: very active market this year, which I'll get into in 346 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: a minute. You know, just a situation yesterday with Kyle Rudolph, 347 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: who not only has been an outstanding football player here 348 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: and help us win many games, but even more importantly, 349 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: what he's done and would an impact him and his 350 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: wife Jordan have had out in the community. I know 351 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: our ownership group has reached out and talked to Kyle 352 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: as well, and just to let him know how much 353 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 1: he meant to us. But we still got a lot 354 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: of work to do. We're still in the process. But 355 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 1: I think I have a pretty good sense right now 356 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 1: before free agency kicks off here in a couple of 357 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: weeks where the strengths of the draft are, where the 358 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: strengths of free agency is, and how we're going to 359 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: kind of roadmap and fill as many needs as we 360 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: possibly can. So it's been widely reported throughout the NFL 361 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: that the salary cap will be going down this year 362 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: rather than going up like it has a majority of 363 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: the last five years or so for the league. So 364 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: that's usually helped teams out like the Vikings and Rob Razinski, 365 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: the salary cap wizard, when it comes to fitting in 366 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: certain contracts that needed to be fit in, and obviously 367 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: that is not the case this year. And I think 368 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: when you have a guy like Rick Spielman, who is 369 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: really throughout my time here, at least in the past 370 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: five or so years, he's really his mindset has been 371 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: constructing the roster through the draft and constructing it through 372 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 1: developing your own guys from the defenses of Eric Kendricks 373 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: and Daniel Hunter and Anthony Barr and all the players 374 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: that he was able to develop over his time here 375 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: alongside Mike Zimmer and the Vikings coaching staff. I think 376 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: it's got to be a real positive in a year 377 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: like this year where the Vikings are probably a little 378 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: strapped when it comes to the salary cap. As Rick 379 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: kind of mentioned multiple times throughout the press conferences over 380 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: the past couple of weeks, and Jay, I'm just gonna 381 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: throw this to you, kind of what do you think 382 00:19:57,760 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: the blend is going to be for the Vikings front off? 383 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,719 Speaker 1: That's just from a developing through the draft and adding 384 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: through the draft, but also adding through this year's free agency. 385 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: I think we've seen over the last couple of years 386 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: we've had what double digit draft picks kicking out that 387 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: we've been selecting, and yeah, so like we've been trying 388 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: to develop, you know, getting there's always the cyclical nature 389 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: of the whole thing where you have your your senior 390 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: veteran leadership, you've got a group of players who tend 391 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: to leave through free agency because you know, it's not Pokemon, 392 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: you can't keep them all, and it's it's one of 393 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: those things where I think it's I think the hardest 394 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: part for fans to understand is there are the salary 395 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 1: cap restraints and a lot of times there are talented 396 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: players that you just you can't keep. And this year 397 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: being one of those weird seasons. Like you said that, 398 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: there was the plan of having more money instead of less, 399 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: and this is just the way it's shaken out. And 400 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: like I said earlier, it's not just us. There's a 401 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: lot of teams that are in this boat. For us. 402 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: What I think it means is, you know, probably or 403 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: hide priced, high ticket first day or first week free 404 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 1: agent signings with a lot of the big names that 405 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: get these fat contracts. I just I don't necessarily see 406 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: that being an option. Again, this isn't necessarily my realm. 407 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: This is where Rob Razinski and Spielman and these guys 408 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,200 Speaker 1: get get compensated handsomely in order to understand and have 409 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 1: a roadmap and a plan. And you know, God knows 410 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: these guys have been guy's end gals have been working 411 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: on this stuff, or at least the last year when 412 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 1: they kind of saw the writing on the wall when 413 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 1: the pandemic happens. So I personally, I feel like when 414 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: it comes to free agency that we're probably gonna you know, 415 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: we always dip our toe in the water and we 416 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: try to grab a couple of supplemental pieces, especially in 417 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: some of these areas that we've talked about for a 418 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: while now too, that there's some deficiencies, but it might 419 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: not necessarily be the big splashing name on the front end. 420 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: So I just think as a fan, be patient and 421 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: understand that these people have worked on a plan as 422 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: far as what they want to happen, what they think 423 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: is going to happen. And then on top of that, 424 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: you're gonna see, like Rick alluded to a little bit, 425 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,120 Speaker 1: you're probably going to see some some big name players 426 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: across the league period who are are going to be 427 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 1: made available. And then you have to look at it 428 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: from their perspective. Do you want to go through and 429 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: sign a big contract right now or do you take 430 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: the smaller contract for a year and bank on the 431 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: fact the salary cap will go up next season and 432 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: then you go and strike and try to, you know, 433 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: get that longer contract. So there's going to be a 434 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 1: lot of calculated risks for teams, there's gonna be calculated 435 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: risk for players, and I think there's going to be 436 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 1: a very very very interesting free agency period coming up 437 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 1: here in the next month. I think Rick Kitty right 438 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: on the head. He says he thinks some of those 439 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: top name guys, Like, while there will be a lot 440 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: of players getting cut, some of those top name guys 441 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: will still get top money this year. He's worried about 442 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,719 Speaker 1: that middle class, the guys that aren't the superstars, Like 443 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: are they going to sign, you know, one year contracts 444 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: and then take a bet on themselves to get extended 445 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: in year two, or are they going to stay with 446 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: a team, will reduce restructure or just agreed to not 447 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: come to terms and find another team. There's a lot 448 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: of things the way this year, and Jay, you hit 449 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: it right in. Yeah, it almost brings me to like 450 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: the free agency period in the MLB when you have 451 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 1: some of these players. I mean, you could make like 452 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 1: an absolute free agency team of players that could start 453 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: on other teams in the league. Like last year, it 454 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: took some of these guys so long to be able 455 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,479 Speaker 1: to sign with MLB teams and they ended up having 456 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: a free agent spring training last year obviously with everything 457 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: that was going on with COVID and some of the 458 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: disagreements between the owners and the players and stuff like that. 459 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: So definitely something something the track in the NFL. We 460 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: are in uncharted waters here, to say the least. When 461 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 1: it comes to the pandemic, when it comes to the 462 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: salary cap going down, and when it comes to a 463 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: lot of things that are happening this offseason. So definitely, 464 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: as a fan of the league and as a fan 465 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: of the Vikings, stay tuned to what is going on 466 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: on all levels of the free agency especially, but the 467 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: quarterback carousel that has been going on already. To see 468 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: Matt Stafford in La Ram's jersey is not something that 469 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: I don't think any Vikings fan is used to at 470 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: this point. So let's hear what Rick Spielman has to 471 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,679 Speaker 1: say about the salary cap and what's happening there. This 472 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: year is going to be a little bit more unique 473 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 1: from a challenge standpoint on the cap, and that's where 474 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 1: the salary cap is. You know, a lot of the 475 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: deals that we have done or had put in place 476 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: were pre COVID or pre pandemic. So as we've always 477 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: talked about, we've been planning out, you know, not only 478 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: for what the cap would be in twenty but what 479 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 1: the cap would be in potentially twenty one and twenty 480 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: two as we moved forward. Well, I don't think anyone 481 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: predicted the situation where we even thought about the cap 482 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: gore in the opposite way. And you know, it started 483 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: out at the minimum of think the floor was one 484 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy five million. It got bumped up to 485 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: one hundred and eighty million. I don't know where the 486 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: final cap number is going to be yet. I know 487 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: the NFL and the NFL Pierre still working through that. 488 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: But I know at least we're working off the one 489 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: eighty cap number right now, which is the floor. And 490 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: we're going to have to be very creative this year. 491 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: You know, we're going to have to make a lot 492 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: of tough business decisions. And so that process is getting 493 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 1: started this week and next week. You know, normally I'm 494 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: down at the combine and we're getting an opportunity to 495 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: talk to all or the players agents down there. This 496 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: you know, is over by phone or by zoom or 497 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: whatever we have to do this year. But that process 498 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: is is getting started. The one thing I can tell 499 00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,880 Speaker 1: you from our ownership group standpoint, even though we didn't 500 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: have fans and the cap has gone down and the 501 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: revenues have gone down this year, our ownership was fully 502 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: committed to giving us the resources necessary to try to 503 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: go out and do what we have to do to 504 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:10,120 Speaker 1: improve this football club. They've never hesitated once not us 505 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: being aggressive in our approach going forward. This process is 506 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: always a moving target, like it is every year. There 507 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: will be some different and unique challenges this year, especially 508 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 1: with the cap and how we're going to work around 509 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: some of our cap issues. But I know their creativity 510 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: that in Roberzinski is one of the best in the business. 511 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:35,400 Speaker 1: As we sit there and lay out our financial planning 512 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: along with our ownership, I know it's we're going to 513 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: be able to still go out there and hopefully do 514 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: some things to improve our ball club. Yeah. I mean, 515 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: it's pretty amazing when you hear a general manager of 516 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: an NFL team say that we weren't expecting this salary 517 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: cap to be at this point this year. And that's 518 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: something that Rick Spielman always brings up in his draft 519 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: press conferences, is offseason press conferences. Is him and and 520 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,959 Speaker 1: Rob Razinski have been tracking what they thought that the 521 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: salary cap would be from a five year perspective, from 522 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,479 Speaker 1: a three year perspective to obviously the next year. They 523 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: didn't expect for the salary cap to go down. I 524 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: guess a little over a year ago you wouldn't have 525 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: known that the salary cap would have gone down because 526 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 1: of what has gone on with the pandemic and what 527 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,360 Speaker 1: a year it was for the NFL. So, Gabe, when 528 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: you hear that from from Rick's Fielman, what's your instant reaction, Like, 529 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: it's just like like I said before, we're absolutely uncharted 530 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: waters in the NFL. I think it forces them to 531 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 1: be creative. They've they've got to get creative with how 532 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: they attack this year. I mean, every everybody has had 533 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: to adjust. I mean he made a good comment earlier. 534 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,439 Speaker 1: It's like, you know, adjusting isn't a surprise anymore. So 535 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: this is just another adjustment in the process, so that 536 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: their process driven people. I just think this this time 537 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 1: of the year now will have to be more so 538 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: trying to figure out, all right, what is best for 539 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: our team with what we have right now. And I 540 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:07,280 Speaker 1: think it's it's kind of a life lesson. All you 541 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: can do is control what you can control, and you 542 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 1: just take that and run with it. I mean, it 543 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: is what it is at this point. You plan for 544 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 1: the worst and hope for the best. Yeah, that's a 545 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:18,399 Speaker 1: really good point, Like you can only do so much 546 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:23,640 Speaker 1: when everything is changing around you, from fans not being 547 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: in the stands and the home field advantage that the 548 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 1: Vikings didn't have this year, obviously being three and five 549 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: at home this year, that was something that the Vikings 550 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: front office did not plan for. This will be another 551 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: big thing that they did not plan for. Jay, So, 552 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 1: kind of what's your overall takeaway from just hearing that bite? 553 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: I mean, you cut these bites, and I think you 554 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: did a really good job of cutting three bites that 555 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: pretty much summarize what an NFL front office is going 556 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: through at this point in the off season. Of the 557 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: thirty two teams in the league, does anyone want to 558 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: take a guess as to how many of them have 559 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: five million dollars or less in cap space of a 560 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: twenty five I'd say I'm gonna say, like eighteen fifteen, 561 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: you both lost on the prices, right rules, Well, I said, 562 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: plan for the worst, hope for the best. I mean, 563 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: here's the thing you've got. There's the double digit cap 564 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: space above starts with the Cardinals, goes to the Bucks, Niners, Texans, 565 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: a bunch of teams that way. But the ones that 566 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: are on the writing on that bubble in the middle, 567 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,840 Speaker 1: you've got the Seahawks with three and a half million, 568 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: the Titans with one point six, The Giants have four 569 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty six thousand dollars, the Bears of two 570 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: hundred thirty three thousand dollars, and then the Bills are 571 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: a million in the hole. We're at five million in 572 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:40,479 Speaker 1: the hole, and then Raiders, Lions, Packers, Steelers, Falcons, Chiefs, Rams, Eagles, Saints, 573 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: all of those teams are all under the salary cap 574 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: right now like that are there, They're underwater in the 575 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: salary cap. So half the league right now is looking 576 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: at what we're looking at, and we're writing on that bubble, 577 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: how would you like to be the Saints right now 578 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,240 Speaker 1: that are currently sixty five million over the cap. You 579 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:01,720 Speaker 1: just you look a bunch of these teams and trying 580 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: to figure out, like how are they going to function? 581 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: So as as hard as it is for us looking 582 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 1: at this saying we're five million in the whole currently, 583 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: there are ways to massage that and go to some 584 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 1: veterans and see if they're willing to take some restructures 585 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: and add some years on the back end of their 586 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: contracts and all this kind of stuff, Or there's other 587 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 1: rumors about who might get caught, Like, there's a whole 588 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:24,520 Speaker 1: lot of stuff that can happen here on the spiking side. 589 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: But what this really means is that half the league 590 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,480 Speaker 1: right now is dealing with what we're exactly talking about, 591 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: and I think where we are, Yeah, it's unfortunate that 592 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: you currently are having to tap dance like this, But 593 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: at the same point, we've never been a team that's 594 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: gone out and made huge free agent splash moves, at 595 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: least recently, so this isn't something new. This is something 596 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: that for the last year they've been trying to figure 597 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: out ways to make this happen. And yeah, sometimes the 598 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:53,000 Speaker 1: process is a lot tougher than others. But I got 599 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: a feeling coming up here and at least the next 600 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: six weeks between now and the draft, I think there's 601 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: going to be a lot of tough decisions. There's going 602 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: to be some additions, and hopefully for our sake, we'll 603 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: see some of these position gaps that we've been talking 604 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: about now for at least the last month month and 605 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: a half that need to be helped filled. That we'll 606 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: be able to go out and find some some players 607 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: that are willing to take some of those contracts at 608 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: least even if they're just on the short term, and 609 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: help us out for the upcoming twenty twenty one season 610 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: and then hopefully and after twenty one season is done, 611 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: salary capital increase and will be able to have a 612 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: little bit more relief. But yeah, this year is going 613 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: to be one of those things like you finally looked 614 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: at the credit card and said, man, we've got to 615 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: do some belt tightening here at home. This is kind 616 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: of the way it looks like it's going to be 617 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: this year. So it'll be really interesting to see kind 618 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: of the magic wand that they wave over this whole 619 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: thing in order to make it work for us. Well, 620 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: pretty much what you're saying, Jays, most of the other 621 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: teams in the NFL are way more screwed than we are. 622 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: All I'm saying is half the teams, at least half 623 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: the teams are tap dance and if not worse. And 624 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 1: I'm more than anything I have faith the fact that 625 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: how many times over the last decade have we sat 626 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 1: there and said, how are they making this happen? You know, 627 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: what did they do to sign this big name player 628 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: with this big contract, Like, how are they doing this? 629 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,680 Speaker 1: And that is what you hear from the local media, 630 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:15,239 Speaker 1: from from national people. I have friends of mine who 631 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 1: I get text from every time we make a signing, 632 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: going how are we affording these people? And my honest 633 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: answer is I, you know, I just send them back. 634 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: Like the Shia la Bouf Sainet Live thing. We're just 635 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: as magic and it's you know, it's magic to us 636 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: because we're not in the middle of it. But for 637 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,720 Speaker 1: people like Robert Zinski and his staff, you know, this 638 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 1: is their job and that is why they are They 639 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 1: are as good as they are is because they eat, sleep, 640 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 1: and breathe this stuff. And this isn't just a pay 641 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:41,280 Speaker 1: attention for six weeks kind of a thing for them. 642 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: It is a three hundred and sixty five day a 643 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 1: year job that they work on. So it's always always 644 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: great to see the professionals do what they do. And 645 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: now it's time for us to sit back and kind 646 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: of watch the magic happen. It's really funny, Jay, because 647 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: when you see Robert Zinski here around the TCO Performance 648 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 1: Center and he's just smiling and he says, Hey, how's 649 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: it going, Chris, Or how's it going, Jay? Hey, how's 650 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: it going, Gabe? It seems like he doesn't have much 651 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: stress on his mind at all, and for that to 652 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: be the case, and he's dealing with looking at what 653 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: the salary gap is going to be in twenty twenty 654 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: five with COVID going on right now. I don't know 655 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: how he does it, but I am very it's it's unbelievable. 656 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:20,680 Speaker 1: He's he's the duck of the Minnesota Vikings or everything 657 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,360 Speaker 1: looks calm above the water, but underneath, everything's moving as 658 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: fast as possible. So it's just like that's that's got 659 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: to be how they operate and how they function. But again, 660 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: it's it's always interesting just to watch the process playout. 661 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,480 Speaker 1: And I think that that is the biggest thing for 662 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: this year is be patient and watch the process playout, 663 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: almost like if you look at the stock market nowadays. Jake, 664 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: that's another topic that we won't get on this podcast. 665 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: But um, Gabe, you had an opportunity to sit down 666 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman after his press conference 667 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, But why don't you give us a little 668 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: preview of what you guys spoke about. It was pretty 669 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: much talking about how what do you how do you 670 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 1: balance free agency and the draft like understanding that the 671 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 1: salary cap isn't going to be the way the way 672 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: we wanted to be. And he gave some unique perspectives. 673 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: I mean, we talked about the decision about releasing Kyle 674 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: Rudolph and you can tell it was I mean, it 675 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: was all business right, but at the same time, Rick 676 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:16,799 Speaker 1: didn't want to make that decision. He's like, you know, 677 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 1: like I stay up at night knowing that I have 678 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 1: to make this decision as a GM, but you know, 679 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 1: this is what you have to do in this business. 680 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 1: So it was really cool here in this perspective. And 681 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: then we talked a little bit about his brother being 682 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,359 Speaker 1: in the front office for the Detroit Lions. I mean, 683 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 1: Rick is this is his tenth year as the GM. Well, 684 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,880 Speaker 1: tenth off season, this is a tenth off season at 685 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 1: the gym for the Minnesota Vikings, but his first offseason 686 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,200 Speaker 1: with his brother being in the same division as him. 687 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 1: So I was like, hey, like, have you guys blocked 688 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: each other's numbers yet? Like, how does that work out? 689 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: So he has some unique perspective and it was it 690 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 1: was really cool to talk to him. I mean, he's 691 00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 1: literally right after the interview, it was like, hey, I'm 692 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 1: hopping on a plane because I have to be in 693 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:59,360 Speaker 1: a pro day and like less than X amount of hours. 694 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:01,239 Speaker 1: So it was it was unique to be able to 695 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: get his respective and Bikings fans to be on the 696 00:35:03,719 --> 00:35:07,000 Speaker 1: lookout for it. Yeah. Absolutely, Gabe has been crushing the 697 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,839 Speaker 1: interviews this offseason. With all the coaching changes going on 698 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:15,600 Speaker 1: and obviously everything that's going on around the TCO Performance 699 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:17,959 Speaker 1: Center props the Gabe on that stuff. It's been really 700 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:22,160 Speaker 1: awesome to watch. And with that we go from discussing 701 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:25,360 Speaker 1: one gave interview to a big time interview that Gabe 702 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: got this week. It's former Viking safety Hussein Abdullah, and 703 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 1: I think this kind of wraps up our Black History 704 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 1: Month content. I know it's March third, March fourth at 705 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: this point, but let's kind of wrap this up with 706 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: an awesome interview with Gabe and Husain Abdullah. Hussain Abdullah, 707 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:50,280 Speaker 1: former Viking safety in seven year NFL retired event, joins 708 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:52,920 Speaker 1: me today for a one on one virtually here inside 709 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,880 Speaker 1: the TCO studios and who's saying thanks for joining it 710 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 1: for starters, I don't want to put any age on you, 711 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:01,799 Speaker 1: but as I feel like thirteen years have passed by 712 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:04,320 Speaker 1: since you were signing your undrafted free agent contract with 713 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 1: the Vikings. Wow, number one, thank you for having me. 714 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:12,560 Speaker 1: And this is exciting to just be able to have 715 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:17,239 Speaker 1: this conversation and be back with the Vikings. And it 716 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:19,800 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like thirteen years and then it does in 717 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:23,320 Speaker 1: a weird way. Well, two thousand and eight you signed 718 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: your undrafted fridge and contract with the Vikings. We spent 719 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: four years with the Vikings. Your first year you led 720 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 1: the special teams in tackles with twenty four tackles. Fast 721 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:33,319 Speaker 1: forward to your last year of the Vikings. You were 722 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,480 Speaker 1: to start in free safety. Business happens in between, right, 723 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 1: we see the jerseys in the back the Vikings Chiefs. 724 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: You signed with the Chiefs. You take a break in 725 00:36:41,719 --> 00:36:45,279 Speaker 1: between the Vikings and the Chiefs to go to the 726 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: Hodge Buy Choice. Fast forward to now when you when 727 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: you look back, would you take a break again like 728 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: that in the prime of your career? And why absolutely, 729 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 1: given the the circumstances. You know, part of that grind 730 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 1: was my first two years on the Vikings was special teams, 731 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 1: right teamer and whatever the team needed. Had a lot 732 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:14,399 Speaker 1: of fun on special teams. And then the next two 733 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: years as a starter was more demanding right now, going 734 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:22,840 Speaker 1: again playing and unfortunately I got hit with the concussion 735 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 1: bug right going there and making some tackles part of 736 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:30,240 Speaker 1: the game, and I was just in a space where 737 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,360 Speaker 1: where it was just a lot of uncertainty. There's unknown 738 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,919 Speaker 1: in regards to concussions at that time, and then even 739 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 1: how do you treat it? What are the medical procedures. 740 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: It's kind of like barely formed, if you will. And 741 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:46,880 Speaker 1: so for me being a Muscliman and holding going to 742 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 1: my Islamics strongly, I needed some guidance and so it 743 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:54,399 Speaker 1: was something that I always wanted to do as a kid. 744 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 1: It was just the perfect storm, if you will, for 745 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 1: me to Hodge and go to Mecca and really go 746 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 1: on that spiritual life purpose journey in twenty twelve. And 747 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: how did that, you know, that life purpose journey of 748 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: going to the Hodge and the Mecca help you after 749 00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: Kansas City Chiefs, It really it really grounded me. I 750 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 1: think coming out of Washington State, small small college even 751 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: though we're in the PAC twelve now, but still small 752 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:27,239 Speaker 1: college Pullman, Washington and coming into the NFL, there's just 753 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 1: a lot more, a lot more media, a lot more attention, 754 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 1: a lot more a demand to perform, and so, you know, 755 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 1: some years it was just kind of stressful just trying 756 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: to figure everything out and just how do I fit 757 00:38:38,239 --> 00:38:42,319 Speaker 1: in the grand scheme of everything. And so after going 758 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:46,240 Speaker 1: to Hodge and then coming back to the NFL, everything 759 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 1: was just a little bit more relaxed. So like, hey, 760 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:53,280 Speaker 1: go out there, focus playing it's a game. There's bigger 761 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 1: things in life than just a football game. There's more 762 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 1: purpose to life, and so kind of use the NFL 763 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:03,920 Speaker 1: for what it is. It's a it's a great opportunity, 764 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,880 Speaker 1: it's a lifelong dream, but it's also a vehicle to 765 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 1: be able to inspire more, to do more to UM. 766 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,440 Speaker 1: You know, it's sports, right, sports. The magic of sports 767 00:39:14,520 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: is we have an opportunity to m speak about different 768 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 1: that we care about UM and just to promote overall goodness. 769 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:25,880 Speaker 1: So it helped me a lot in just calming down, 770 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: if you will, and I mean if you rewind back 771 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: to when you were with the Vikings, UM you were practicing, 772 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:34,640 Speaker 1: you were it was a month of Ramadan while you 773 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:39,040 Speaker 1: were going through training camp, and that the mental, I 774 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:41,640 Speaker 1: mean physical toll that takes while trying to keep your 775 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:45,000 Speaker 1: body up to part with being a professional athlete like 776 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:48,120 Speaker 1: that that had to be something that that that shouldn't 777 00:39:48,120 --> 00:39:51,880 Speaker 1: go under like unnoticed. Right, it's miraculous quite frankly, Like 778 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: me today, as you said, I'm saying, do you want 779 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:55,800 Speaker 1: to go do you know, go do two of days 780 00:39:55,920 --> 00:40:00,040 Speaker 1: or three of days? Um without food or drink? I 781 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,440 Speaker 1: would be like, nah's I mean you're in the top 782 00:40:03,680 --> 00:40:06,840 Speaker 1: you know, one percent of the athlete to attempt to 783 00:40:07,080 --> 00:40:11,920 Speaker 1: play football, and so it's very demanding and you know, 784 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:15,640 Speaker 1: there's there's no there's no you know, uh, special situations 785 00:40:15,719 --> 00:40:18,160 Speaker 1: or handouts or anything like that. It's like it's time 786 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:23,000 Speaker 1: to perform. And so um, we built a schedule and 787 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: it really was just more of a spiritual grind even 788 00:40:25,719 --> 00:40:28,959 Speaker 1: though it's physically taxing. Again there's there was nothing short 789 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: of a miracle just being in that spiritual state. Um, 790 00:40:32,200 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: to be able to still perform being in that spiritual state, 791 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:37,880 Speaker 1: how did you you know, stay locked in on you know, 792 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:41,520 Speaker 1: being a professional athlete also because the spiritual part is 793 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 1: the most important aspect of the reason why you do 794 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,759 Speaker 1: what you do. But you still got to be able 795 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:49,879 Speaker 1: to provide while playing football. Um. Yeah, it's uh it's 796 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:54,080 Speaker 1: being smart, um, knowing when to when to step on 797 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:58,160 Speaker 1: the gas and when to go all out and knowing when, um, 798 00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:00,759 Speaker 1: knowing when to just play your position and not try 799 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 1: to do too much. If you go back and look 800 00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: at any of those clips where I'm fast and wasn't 801 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 1: too much celebrating, wasn't too much expending any extra energy. 802 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 1: It was just really being smart because I know that, 803 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:18,799 Speaker 1: you know, I have my duty to God first, and 804 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:20,719 Speaker 1: then I have my duty to my kids into the 805 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: Vikings organization, and so I have to make sure that, um, 806 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:27,319 Speaker 1: that I'm doing my part. Now. I mean, we see 807 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:31,279 Speaker 1: the NFL being more progressive and you know, understanding the 808 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:34,239 Speaker 1: players wise. I mean, we've come a long race since 809 00:41:34,239 --> 00:41:36,279 Speaker 1: one thousand and eight, right, Yeah, No, you got to 810 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: give credits where credited to due. The NFL has done 811 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 1: an amazing job in terms of leaps and bounds from 812 00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: me coming in two thousand and eight and my brother 813 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:48,359 Speaker 1: coming in in two thousand and five to where we're 814 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:52,920 Speaker 1: at today. Is there still more left desired for active 815 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:57,080 Speaker 1: players retire players? Absolutely, but give credit where credit is 816 00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:00,560 Speaker 1: due that um, like you said, understand the why the 817 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:03,480 Speaker 1: NFL is moving in the right direction. And understanding that 818 00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:08,799 Speaker 1: why we were talking off camera how important sports is 819 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: in bringing this world together. How important is listening? Though? 820 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:16,359 Speaker 1: How are you going to understand someone if you're you're 821 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:20,440 Speaker 1: just assuming you know what they need? You know, people 822 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 1: come from all different walks of life, all different sorts 823 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:30,040 Speaker 1: of experiences, People have different purposes in terms of what 824 00:42:30,239 --> 00:42:33,160 Speaker 1: keeps them going. Right, you see a lot of players 825 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 1: who are you know, they made it to the grand stage, 826 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:40,399 Speaker 1: but they still need help. And so to be able 827 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:44,320 Speaker 1: to just listen, that can begin the understanding process, which 828 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:47,120 Speaker 1: begin the healing clish which now you have all of 829 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:50,560 Speaker 1: these amazing human beings can go out there and affect 830 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:53,800 Speaker 1: society in a positive way. And with all that said, 831 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 1: with the NFL taking steps of you know, being more proactive, 832 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:00,359 Speaker 1: what can they what can the NFL can to you 833 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,799 Speaker 1: to do in europinion that can continue that process. One 834 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,319 Speaker 1: of the things I think is really there's a lot 835 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:10,120 Speaker 1: of wealth in m in retired players, and like we 836 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:13,399 Speaker 1: still have guys you know living amongst us who played 837 00:43:13,440 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 1: in the sixties, right, I mean we have a wealth 838 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:20,160 Speaker 1: of knowledge to where not only to be able to 839 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:25,080 Speaker 1: groom the next generation of players, but and then to 840 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:28,480 Speaker 1: go out in their communities, whether it's their former universities, 841 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:32,960 Speaker 1: former high schools, just local organizations like we have we 842 00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:36,400 Speaker 1: have leaders, you know, we have we have leaders who 843 00:43:36,920 --> 00:43:40,560 Speaker 1: need to understand how to shift their skill sets right, 844 00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:44,280 Speaker 1: accountability and showing up on time for practice, same things 845 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:47,160 Speaker 1: as being accountability in the in the boardroom, right as 846 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:49,960 Speaker 1: an executive or whatever it may be. And so just 847 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:55,319 Speaker 1: helping guys transition and to redefine that purpose to make 848 00:43:55,360 --> 00:44:00,440 Speaker 1: sure their identity is intact. I think the NFL really 849 00:44:00,520 --> 00:44:04,959 Speaker 1: deep diving and really working with those um former players. Man, 850 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:07,319 Speaker 1: I think we can do some great things for sure. 851 00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:09,719 Speaker 1: I think the next question Vikings fans will want to 852 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:12,080 Speaker 1: know how can we support you? Is there anything that 853 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:14,440 Speaker 1: you have going on that that you want to raise 854 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:17,640 Speaker 1: awareness about? For me, I'm always looking to be purposeful 855 00:44:17,719 --> 00:44:22,440 Speaker 1: and joining in at just different organizations where wherever I 856 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 1: can jump in. God will coming up in the fall 857 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:29,279 Speaker 1: and be an adjunct professor for the first time. That's 858 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 1: not all the way fully official yet, so, but God willing, 859 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:37,680 Speaker 1: I'm going to be teaching diversity and inclusion in sports 860 00:44:38,239 --> 00:44:41,239 Speaker 1: at a major university. And then since I live out 861 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:45,279 Speaker 1: here in Dallas now looking to get involved more with 862 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:50,440 Speaker 1: the with the Cowboys organization and just just tying former 863 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:54,000 Speaker 1: players with active players and going to affect communities in 864 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:57,640 Speaker 1: a positive way. I think it's just it's just a necessity. 865 00:44:57,680 --> 00:45:00,920 Speaker 1: And so however I can be a benefit, I'd like 866 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:04,279 Speaker 1: your benefit. So whatever Viking fans would like to send 867 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,600 Speaker 1: my way, if there are some synergies that we can collaborate, 868 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:10,799 Speaker 1: I'd love to do so. Whosain Abdulah? I appreciate it, man, 869 00:45:10,880 --> 00:45:12,960 Speaker 1: that's a lot going forward, all right, thank you, I 870 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:17,279 Speaker 1: appreciate you all. Awesome forgive to catch up with Hussain Abdulah. 871 00:45:17,280 --> 00:45:20,080 Speaker 1: I think it's just a crazy journey that he went 872 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:23,120 Speaker 1: on being an undrafted free agent in two thousand and 873 00:45:23,160 --> 00:45:25,920 Speaker 1: eight for the Vikings as you heard, and then obviously 874 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:29,799 Speaker 1: having a few years career with the Vikings at the 875 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 1: safety position, and then what he was able to do 876 00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:36,359 Speaker 1: with the Kansas City Chiefs, and obviously going through kind 877 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:38,480 Speaker 1: of the things off the field, which is always what 878 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:41,160 Speaker 1: stands out to me in some of these interviews. A 879 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:44,839 Speaker 1: really good job with that. Gabe. Definitely a cool guy 880 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,520 Speaker 1: to catch up with, to say the least, amazing opportunity 881 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:50,960 Speaker 1: to talk to him. I think the NFL is trying 882 00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 1: to understand and listen to the players wise now, so 883 00:45:54,120 --> 00:45:56,680 Speaker 1: it's great to be able to talk to another young 884 00:45:56,760 --> 00:46:00,600 Speaker 1: guy about the shift in the NFL and why listening 885 00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:03,359 Speaker 1: and why understanding the why is important no matter the race, 886 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,480 Speaker 1: no matter the religion, no matter the sport. I mean, 887 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:10,720 Speaker 1: listening and hearing and having a conversation is what's important 888 00:46:10,719 --> 00:46:12,399 Speaker 1: to bringing this world together. So it was a great 889 00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:15,200 Speaker 1: time talking to him and using the sports platform to 890 00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:17,960 Speaker 1: be able to do so. I can keep going back 891 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:20,799 Speaker 1: to that Warren Moon conversation that you had. That one 892 00:46:20,920 --> 00:46:23,919 Speaker 1: really resonated with me because he was a big time 893 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:27,000 Speaker 1: favorite of my dad's at the quarterback position. So that 894 00:46:27,080 --> 00:46:29,959 Speaker 1: was really cool that you had that conversation as well. 895 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:33,440 Speaker 1: Really good stuff. I think that's about that. That has 896 00:46:33,480 --> 00:46:36,040 Speaker 1: to do it. For this episode of the Minnesota Vikings podcast, 897 00:46:36,080 --> 00:46:39,879 Speaker 1: we covered the departure of Kyle Rudolph, We talked about 898 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:42,840 Speaker 1: the big press conference for Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, 899 00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:46,160 Speaker 1: and Gabe caught up with Hussein Abdullah, which was really 900 00:46:46,200 --> 00:46:50,040 Speaker 1: awesome to hear. So, guys, do you have any final 901 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:53,440 Speaker 1: thoughts before we get out of here. I'll start with you, Jay. 902 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:56,080 Speaker 1: One of the biggest things I think fans should be 903 00:46:56,120 --> 00:46:58,759 Speaker 1: paying attention to right now, and there's some buzz that 904 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,360 Speaker 1: I was coming from a check out Lindsay Young's Getting 905 00:47:01,360 --> 00:47:04,719 Speaker 1: Open series that she's been pushing. This week's guests are 906 00:47:05,040 --> 00:47:09,920 Speaker 1: linebacker Eric Hendricks and his fiance Ali Cortnell talking about 907 00:47:09,960 --> 00:47:13,359 Speaker 1: their journeys working with mental health as well. So do 908 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:15,920 Speaker 1: everything you can to just pay attention because for the 909 00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:19,640 Speaker 1: next six to eight weeks or so, Lindsay's going to 910 00:47:19,719 --> 00:47:22,520 Speaker 1: have a series of interviews that she's got and the 911 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:24,560 Speaker 1: stuff that's been coming out in the interviews she's been 912 00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:27,279 Speaker 1: doing have been awesome. It's been also great to see 913 00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:31,279 Speaker 1: the reaction that people have had towards this series, and 914 00:47:31,560 --> 00:47:34,400 Speaker 1: hopefully people are willing to take a second and listen 915 00:47:34,440 --> 00:47:38,439 Speaker 1: and just support not only these people that are talking 916 00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:40,920 Speaker 1: about but think about it for themselves too and how 917 00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:43,279 Speaker 1: it can potentially affect them or the loved ones that 918 00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:47,680 Speaker 1: they are with. So yeah, check it out, whether it's 919 00:47:48,320 --> 00:47:50,400 Speaker 1: on the long form piece that she's working on, or 920 00:47:50,480 --> 00:47:53,360 Speaker 1: check out the MVP Mike Missle likes podcast feeds and 921 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:57,400 Speaker 1: all of your audio feeds. We should have those posted 922 00:47:57,480 --> 00:48:00,799 Speaker 1: for you. On a weekly basis, and it's a great 923 00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:04,600 Speaker 1: work by Lindsay, so good job to everybody who's involved. Yeah, 924 00:48:04,640 --> 00:48:06,560 Speaker 1: I know. We were able to post a few of 925 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:09,600 Speaker 1: those interviews so far with Eric Kendricks and Jalen Holmes. 926 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:13,080 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for those to be posted on this very 927 00:48:13,120 --> 00:48:16,239 Speaker 1: podcast channel. And of course Lindsay will be joining us 928 00:48:16,360 --> 00:48:19,600 Speaker 1: next week on the Minnesota Vikings podcast to kind of 929 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:22,839 Speaker 1: discuss what it's been like going through this and how 930 00:48:22,960 --> 00:48:25,319 Speaker 1: she got the idea to to even do this kind 931 00:48:25,320 --> 00:48:29,280 Speaker 1: of stuff. It's really really important and what better people 932 00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:32,000 Speaker 1: to discuss this kind of stuff with than the big 933 00:48:32,080 --> 00:48:34,840 Speaker 1: Burley football players who who are out on the field 934 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:38,279 Speaker 1: playing every day, they go through exactly what we are 935 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:41,760 Speaker 1: all going through, especially when you're going through a pandemic 936 00:48:41,840 --> 00:48:44,080 Speaker 1: that kind of adds to to just about every part 937 00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:46,600 Speaker 1: of the mental health issues that are going on in 938 00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:50,640 Speaker 1: society today. So really, really good job by Lindsay being 939 00:48:50,680 --> 00:48:54,040 Speaker 1: open and ready to kind of do this kind of work. 940 00:48:54,080 --> 00:48:58,000 Speaker 1: It's really awesome stuff. From that, let's go to Gabe, 941 00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:00,000 Speaker 1: do you have any final thoughts? I had to talk 942 00:49:00,120 --> 00:49:03,279 Speaker 1: football now after half I threw your right into it. 943 00:49:03,560 --> 00:49:12,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know how from that's tough to follow. Um, 944 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:15,520 Speaker 1: those are really really good points. Um, but lighten it 945 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:18,960 Speaker 1: up for us game, right, I guess if we can 946 00:49:19,080 --> 00:49:21,640 Speaker 1: shift a little bit back to the football side. Um, 947 00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:24,680 Speaker 1: it is less than two weeks until free agency. So 948 00:49:24,719 --> 00:49:26,680 Speaker 1: of course, all I know you say, you're a big 949 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:30,200 Speaker 1: free agent guy. Offseason guy, I understand like trying to 950 00:49:30,280 --> 00:49:32,759 Speaker 1: learn the news and nuances that go with all of that. 951 00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:37,720 Speaker 1: So there is exciting times coming up for for Vikings nations. 952 00:49:37,719 --> 00:49:39,960 Speaker 1: So guys should stay tuned the Vikings dot Com and 953 00:49:40,520 --> 00:49:44,680 Speaker 1: of course, so Ja myself, lindsay Eric, we're gonna have 954 00:49:44,760 --> 00:49:47,160 Speaker 1: fun giving you guys content, that's for sure. I mean, 955 00:49:47,239 --> 00:49:49,719 Speaker 1: the free agency time, like Gabe said, is always one 956 00:49:49,719 --> 00:49:52,440 Speaker 1: of my favorite times of the year. Um. Normally it's 957 00:49:52,480 --> 00:49:54,560 Speaker 1: been a time for the Vikings to make big time 958 00:49:54,560 --> 00:49:58,360 Speaker 1: acquisitions and um bring back guys like Kyle Rudolph and 959 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:01,560 Speaker 1: Anthony Barr. And it might be a little bit different 960 00:50:01,600 --> 00:50:03,799 Speaker 1: this year, just with everything that we talked about in 961 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:07,080 Speaker 1: the show. But stay tuned Vikings dot com. The Vikings 962 00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:11,000 Speaker 1: Free Agent Tracker is coming back. It'll be on the 963 00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:13,239 Speaker 1: website in a few days to kind of show you 964 00:50:13,239 --> 00:50:16,400 Speaker 1: guys who's going to be here and there, who's signing 965 00:50:16,400 --> 00:50:19,040 Speaker 1: with other teams, who the Vikings have resigned, who's a 966 00:50:19,120 --> 00:50:23,080 Speaker 1: restricted free agent and unrestricted free agent, the franchise tag. 967 00:50:23,160 --> 00:50:25,879 Speaker 1: Just about everything is covered on there by the whole 968 00:50:25,960 --> 00:50:28,880 Speaker 1: crew here at the Vikings Entertainment Network. Make sure you 969 00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:31,680 Speaker 1: stay tuned to all of our platforms YouTube, connect to 970 00:50:31,719 --> 00:50:35,439 Speaker 1: TV social media platforms for all the news coming up here. 971 00:50:35,680 --> 00:50:38,960 Speaker 1: It's always a fun time. And yeah, like I said, 972 00:50:39,360 --> 00:50:42,640 Speaker 1: Lindsay will be joining us next week on episode number 973 00:50:42,680 --> 00:50:46,800 Speaker 1: eighty three of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. I'm really excited 974 00:50:46,840 --> 00:50:50,520 Speaker 1: for that to talk through just a really important topic 975 00:50:50,560 --> 00:50:54,760 Speaker 1: as we discussed before. So until then, enjoy your weekend 976 00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:56,439 Speaker 1: and we will see you next week.