1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: When you step into Lifetime, you won't just see the difference, 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: You'll feel it. Experience it for yourself. Visit Lifetime dot 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Life for a complimentary guest pass, or stop by a 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: club Lifetime the Healthy Way of Life partner for the 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings. You know, accountability would be the number one 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: word I would kind of define with that, and if 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: he made a mistake, he would own it. He was 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: always the most prepared you could tell you about the 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: work end the time in as a head go Jen 10 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: is you know really the dcat for me? Feelman, I've 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: been I was with my entire career and is a 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,200 Speaker 1: massively important figure in my life. I immediately think about 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: those guys and just reached out them via text and 14 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: just thank them for everything. Called him, I loved him 15 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: and wished him nothing but the best. You're listening to 16 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings Podcast and this is episode one hundred 17 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: and twenty eight. I'm Tanta Meverett inside TCO Studios or 18 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: radio room. I've got Gabe Henderson and producer Jay Nelson 19 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: alongside me today and we have a lot to discuss. 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: After an eventful week at Twin Cities ORTHOPEDICX Performance Center, 21 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: plus we have a very special guest on the podcast today, 22 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway. But before we get to 23 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: our interview with Chad, the Vikings finished the season eight 24 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: and nine with no postseason birth. As a result, ownership 25 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: made the tough decision on Monday to part ways with 26 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: both general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer. 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: Vikings owner Mark Wealth spoke on Monday, said letting them 28 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: go was hard after Spielman had been with the organization 29 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: for sixteen years and Zimmer for eight, but that is 30 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: what had to be done, according to Wealth, to take 31 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: this franchise to the next level. So, Gabe, Jay, I'm 32 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 1: going to give you the floor right here, and I'll 33 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: start with you, Gabe in your eyes, why do you 34 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: think ownership made this decision? First and foremost, it's always 35 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: funny when people say Gabe and Jay, because I have 36 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: one older brother and his name is Jay. Oh wow. 37 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: I had no idea. So when I say Jay, I 38 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: was just like, it's talking about my brothers. Calling in later, 39 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: you didn't know that's I'm going You've been Yeah, yes, 40 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: you're a big brother tv in. But um to your 41 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: point of ownership making this decision. Um, I do believe 42 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: it was a tough decision, but I remember to talking 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: to Mark Wilf earlier this week, and the organization just 44 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: needed to go in a new way. And I wouldn't 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: say overstaying you're welcome is the case. But having a 46 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: job or head coaching job in the NFL for eight years, um, 47 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: things can get old, and things can go one way 48 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: and then go the other way. You kind of it's 49 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: kind of like leaving milk out out for a while. 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: You can, but at the same time, sometimes that milk 51 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: will spoil. The expiration date the expiration date, and sometimes 52 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: the expert date. Expiration date is longer on certain certain cartons. 53 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: In the other end, Uh, this was a long expiration 54 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: date for Mike Zimmer. He served his time. He put 55 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: a lot of milk in the bowls of cereal and 56 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people ate that bowl and was able 57 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: to get full in the process, but still the milk 58 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: went sour after a while, and that to mention that 59 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer didn't feed a lot of people. But still 60 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: in the same breath, it was one of those things 61 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: where you say, okay, Mike, like we appreciate what you did. 62 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: He laid a foundation and there were expilment on the 63 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: other end. He's been in part of this process since 64 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: two thousand and six, and that for me personally, was 65 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: the biggest surprise. I think a lot of people were 66 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: surprised by that move, but I think Mark Wolfe he 67 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: looks at it as Okay, well, we're not fully rebuild him, 68 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: but we want to get the right leaders here in 69 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: place to continue to build this, build the foundation moving forward. 70 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: I did love when he talked about the rebuild and 71 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: how they envisioned this team is still a contender. You 72 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: think of the fourteen one score games this season and 73 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: you think maybe the decisions would be differently if the 74 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: game outcomes had just swung a few more in the 75 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: right direction. But you know, it was interesting with it 76 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: being my first season here and kind of looking into 77 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: the career of Mike Zimmer, I didn't really realize heading 78 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: into this job that he really, if you want to 79 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: include this past season, had only been to the playoffs 80 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: three of eight seasons, and I think when you look 81 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: at the actual numbers itself, that to me speaks volumes 82 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: because I think as an organization and ownership, you want 83 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: better results than that. As a fan base. As an organization, 84 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: as you know anyone working within this organization, the goal 85 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,479 Speaker 1: every season should be to be in postseason contention. And 86 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: I think the fact that the last four seasons you've 87 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: only been in the playoffs at once, and you know 88 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: we made the run the way we did and lost 89 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: in San Francisco in the divisional round, I think, ultimately 90 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: that's on my end what I think it comes down 91 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: to why ownership made this decision. Coaches come in, there's 92 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: there's a pop of excitement, there's a pop of promise 93 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: and hope for what their intentions are and what people 94 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: feel this should be. And I think the first half 95 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: of Zimmer's career here there was a ton of promise 96 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: and hope. There was playoff appearances, kind of the ups 97 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: and downs, winning division crowns at Green Bay, things like that, 98 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: rallying together and feeling like there's a clear vision of 99 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: what we're going to be for the future. I think 100 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: given the way that the last half of his career 101 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: as a head coach here has gone, I think the 102 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: ownership kind of potentially looked at this and just said, listen, 103 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: if we're going to do one, let's just get a 104 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: fresh start across the board, because Rick has had his 105 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: chance over the last sixteen years to help mold this 106 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: football team where they needed to be. If the head 107 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: coach was working with the players and talent that have 108 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: been here, if they looked at it and said, if 109 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna get one brand new perspective, then let's do 110 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: it both positions in order to see what we can 111 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: get for the future. Because they looked at the results 112 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: and said, it's just not good enough at this point. 113 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: Like anywhere, whenever you have success early, it's hard for 114 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 1: fans to wane back from that. So the fact that 115 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: we made the playoffs in twenty fifteen, granted we didn't 116 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: win that playoff game, the bar was already set high 117 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: of like, okay, well this guy he missed the playoffs 118 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: his first season, and Mike zimmer okay, twenty fifteen, Oh, 119 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: we actually can do it. We didn't make it in 120 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, but twenty seventeen we go on that long run. 121 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 1: So the expectation started to rise. And that's not to 122 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: say that Mike zimmerdon then live up to the expectations, 123 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: but once you have two seasons in a role where 124 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: you kind of don't live up to those expectations. I 125 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: think that that plays into the fact of, all right, well, 126 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: we may have to look in a different direction. Yeah, 127 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 1: you are the third winning as coach of franchise history, 128 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: but we got to continue to have that sustained success. 129 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: And we appreciate you getting this there because we've tasted 130 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: the success, so now we want more of it. And 131 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: I think at this point, if you look at both 132 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: Zimmer and Spielman, if you would have asked them at 133 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: the beginning of the season, what's your goals and what 134 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: are your expectations, it'd be to win and be in 135 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: the playoffs and be a postseason contender. And I think 136 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: as as frustrating as this season was with the roller 137 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: coaster with a lack of results the way you wanted, 138 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: in the fact that you ended at eight to nine, 139 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: I think that must have been part of the decision, 140 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: just to say, you know, things have not worked out 141 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: the way we've expected and what ownership's expectations are being 142 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: championship contenders. They've said that from the moment that they 143 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: walked in the door. Yeah, And I think that along 144 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: with the fact that neither you know, the benchmarks were 145 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 1: not hit for the season. That had to be part 146 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: of the reason they were willing to part with people 147 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: that have contributed this organization in many ways besides football 148 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: for the last you know, almost over a decade at 149 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: this point with Rick, and you think about what was 150 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: on the line in the last three games. Yes, you 151 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to maybe save a couple of jobs, 152 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: to maybe make it to the postseason and not make 153 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: this season an eight and nine no playoff team. I mean, 154 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: they had it was right there for the taking, and 155 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: you saw the type of team efforts that came off. 156 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: And I know, these guys play really hard, and they 157 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: try hard, and they and they try to put themselves 158 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: in those positions. But those last two games were just 159 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: so tough, or three games rather, were just so tough 160 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: to just sit back and know what was out there 161 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: for the taking, and it wasn't taken advantage of. And 162 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: it was a little bit of bad luck too, especially 163 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: at that Green Bay Packers game and then a few 164 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: games earlier in the year where we had a few 165 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: players down. But every team in the league's dealing with 166 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: the same stuff. Legua Zeolo with the same stuff, and 167 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: I know ownership they talked about what Mark Wolfe talked 168 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: about that earlier this week. Is they have provided the 169 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: ample resources for these head coaches and for Rick Spilming, 170 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: and they're going to continue to do so. And I 171 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 1: think it showed this year with all these guys that 172 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: signed one year contracts from P two to well just 173 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: in general, all the free agents that we brought in. 174 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: So I do believe they're going to be very gracious 175 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: when providing resources, in which he said earlier this week, 176 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Mark Wolfe, So it's just a fact of when we 177 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: provide these resources, we need you guys to hold them 178 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: to your end of the deal and provide us wins 179 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: if you go through and look at what the expectations are. 180 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: I think from ownership is the fact that we should 181 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: be a successful team and we should be able to 182 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: compete six of our nine losses or the playoff teams. 183 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: And I think if you expect to be in that 184 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: echelon of teams that can compete that way, you can't 185 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:53,560 Speaker 1: have that kind of a record when it comes to 186 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: playing at that caliber. I just it's extremely difficult, given 187 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: relationships that my self and other people in this organization 188 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: have had with both of these people over the years, 189 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: to see them go. But if ownership is as strong 190 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: as they are to say these are expectations, then I 191 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: think fans should be somewhat excited given what the goals are, 192 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: that they're willing to make a drastic change like this 193 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: in order to try to achieve their goals. Yeah. I 194 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 1: think the last thing it was that stood out to 195 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: me about Mark Wolfe's interview is that he said they're 196 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: looking for strong leaders, communicatings or communicators and collaborators who 197 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: are aligned with building a positive, winning culture. So you 198 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: look at that and you say, Okay, well, these guys 199 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: have a vision of who they want and I think 200 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: they'll take as much time as necessary to do so. Yeah. 201 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: I think that was a three words that we heard 202 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: not only from Mark wolf but in the exit interviews 203 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: from Adam Feeling, Eric Kendricks, Brian O'Neill, everyone talking about 204 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,960 Speaker 1: needing more collaborative environment, a leader who's strong in their convictions, 205 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: and in a lot of ways, it sounded like the 206 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: players also as upset as they are about not having 207 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: the consistency and the continuity of the head coach and 208 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: GM they sounded like, you know, this is part of 209 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: the league. They're willing to deal with this, and they 210 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: hope that strong leadership, collaboration and communicators exactly, I think 211 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: is what they're hoping and looking for. I wanted to 212 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: point this out as one final point as to why 213 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: I kind of think things developed the way they did 214 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: this week is going back to when Mike Zimmer was hired. 215 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: He was hired to bring in to revamp this defense, 216 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: to make it that strong Vikings defense that you know 217 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: the franchise has been known for for so long, and 218 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: you hit twenty seventeen, where their first in total defense 219 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: and their tops in the league in several categories. You 220 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: think of twenty twenty one, it is statistically the worst 221 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: season that Mike Zimmer's defense has had while in Minnesota, 222 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: and the decline of the defense doesn't really help the 223 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,440 Speaker 1: offense as well. I mean, Kirk Cousins commit comes in 224 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen after the run, they want him continue that. 225 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: But while they had that strong defense, they thought they 226 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: needed a quarterbacks. They bring the quarterback in and the 227 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: defense is declined since then. So it's kind of been 228 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: just a recipe for where we are right now, eight 229 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: nine and no playoffs. It's a bad mix in just 230 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: that the offensive side when you would have your three 231 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: and outs, puts the defense in a bad position to 232 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: run at that point, and vice versa. If offensively things 233 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: aren't necessarily clicking the way they need to and you 234 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: need the defense just to make a stop. I mean, 235 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: how many games, at the end of a game or 236 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,600 Speaker 1: at the end of a half, we're looking at the 237 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: defense just to make a stop and to stop them 238 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: from putting points on the board. And given all the 239 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: one score games that we lost, I just think it 240 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: was a bad formula all season long, between the defensive 241 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: drop and the offense unable to sustain drives in the 242 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: way that they needed. I just think it was not 243 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 1: beneficial on either sides for both of those groups. Yeah, 244 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: I think that you hit it right on that ghost 245 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: hand in hand, like, yeah, you look at some of 246 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: the defense the stats and say, well, they didn't stop 247 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: the run or they didn't do this. Well, you have 248 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: two drives where a team has seventy rushing yards and 249 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: they ended up with one hundred and twenty. Maybe those 250 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: two drives where they give up seventy rushing yards the 251 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: offense went three and out. So there's so many things 252 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 1: as far as momentum that we weren't able to take 253 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: advantage of this year. Only two games stand out to 254 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: me this year that we were actually able to control 255 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: the momentum the first half of the Steller's game and 256 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,680 Speaker 1: then the second half of this Bears game this past week. 257 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: And you look at that and say, well, if you 258 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: put those two games together, you got a complete season, 259 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: but you got a Super Bowl winners the case. But 260 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: still like that's that's one of those things where you 261 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: just say, well, we want a coach or a GM 262 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,760 Speaker 1: or somebody that that's in leadership to come in and 263 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: it's an expert in helping sustain some of that momentum. 264 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: That's what in my opinion, I feel like that's when 265 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: coaching comes in. When you make a big play and 266 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: then you strategize something to continue to build on that momentum. 267 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: And we weren't able to do that. Yeah, we did 268 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: have a lot of lash blaze. You look at the 269 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: sack totals or our third down totals on defense say like, 270 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 1: man like, we were really good, but still those momentum 271 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: driven moments where you look at the coaches and say, okay, 272 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: this is where you guys stepped in maybe add some 273 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: extra boost here or blitz Here's that's where you say. Okay, 274 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: I see what Mark Wolf and those guys were saying, 275 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: and obviously Mark Will felt as strongly enough to your point, 276 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: Gabe to go ahead and make the call on moving 277 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: forward without Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer and not many 278 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: people have the unique perspective in this situation, as our 279 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: podcast guests this week, former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, who 280 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 1: spent his entire eleven year career here in Minnesota. The 281 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: Vikings drafted him in the first round of the twenty 282 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 1: sixteen draft when Spielman was the newly promoted director of 283 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: player Personnel. Plus he spent his final three seasons as 284 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: a Viking with head coach Mike Zimmer. So we are 285 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: so excited to hear from him. Here is Chad Greenway. 286 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: Vikings fans, you know him and you love him. It's 287 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: Vikings legendary linebacker Chad Greenway. Chad, happy birthday is in order. 288 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: Thanks for being here on your special day. Yeah, thanks 289 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: for having me. I figured, I figured, why not if 290 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: nothing else going on? The kids are at school, it's 291 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,600 Speaker 1: sunny out, it's almost forty degrees, you might as well 292 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: jump on the podcast. So it is great up vodka 293 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: in the giftback tonight. Oh, it's always in the bag. Yeah, 294 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: So I as I coach you guys off air, obviously, 295 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: I'm coaching my girls team tonight, my daughter's team, and 296 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: then after that I have a board meeting after host. 297 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: But it's virtual. So what happens off screen in a 298 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: virtual meeting happens off screen, and there may be some 299 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: cock jilks. I'm a fan. I've got my great duck 300 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: sitting on my bar cart right now. So looks rather 301 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: nice there, very nice. Well, it's funny though. You mentioned 302 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: you're mentioning sunny and forty and every I tweeted out 303 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: the other day about it's hitting thirty and people are saying, oh, 304 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: so warm today. I'm like, this is this isn't warm? 305 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: I have to know, are you a short sky when 306 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: it hits forty? Oh honey, you're so new to this? 307 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: When when when it goes negative ten on? Yeah, with 308 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: the wind at negative twenty five and you just get 309 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: that thirty at thirty feels like you're feeling today. Thirty 310 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: feels like fifty, right, thirty feels like fifty feels amazing 311 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: outside you could throw a little hoodie on. You might 312 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: have a light jacket on top of that. But for 313 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: the most part, you are living the dream. You get 314 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 1: to actually enjoy the outdoors instead of the negative ten 315 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: and you can't that I am, um. You know, I 316 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: grew up in South Dakota. I'm very used to the cold, 317 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: extreme cold, extreme wind. So you know, this is just 318 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: part of it. Um. You know, I don't know why 319 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: I live here. I love we love it here. We 320 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 1: love the school, we loves raising the families. There's so 321 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: many There's so much more to life than the weather, um, 322 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: And it's all about finding ways to enjoy it and uh, 323 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: you know, and live your best life in it. And 324 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: about ten degrees chat, I think you'll start to see 325 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: people popping the tops down on their convertibles and driving 326 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: their Harley's out. Yeah, there's no doubt about it. Yeah. 327 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: I didn't know if it was thirty seven or seventy 328 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 1: three today. And then I looked at the car washers 329 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: on my drive to work and I was like, why 330 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: is every single car washing Minnesota flour right now? That's 331 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: a great as a great indication of where people the 332 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: car wash line the cars are coming out of the garage, 333 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: out of hibernation in order to try to try to 334 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: wake up this gracious you guys are killing me. I 335 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: will never be a shorts person in forty degrees, just never, 336 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: never make shorts and tall Thanksgiving and then whenever it's 337 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: reasonable to come out of hibernation. So I'll think about it. 338 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: We're not too far off. I'll think about it. We'll see. 339 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: I do like the sun being out today, that's for sure. 340 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: It's nice to see the sun out after such a 341 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: tumultuous week over here in the Minnesota Vikings. You know, Chad, 342 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm sure you know the news by now that Rick 343 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: Spielman and Mike Zimmer have been relieved of their duties 344 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: here as head coach and GM. And I know that 345 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 1: you have long relationships with Spielman as well as Zimmer 346 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: playing under them. What was your initial reaction of the 347 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: news when you heard about their departures. Yeah, I mean, 348 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: you know, the initial news is I guess I'm nut shocked. Obviously, 349 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: you've been the NFL for a long time and around 350 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: the business, and yeah that you're ever shocked by decision 351 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: from and the organization. You start to do the mass 352 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: and you realize that, you know, Zam has been here 353 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 1: for eight and Spielman's been here for what's sixteen yea, 354 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: And you realize that in respect, the will giving them 355 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: enough time to really implement their plan, get the right 356 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: people around them, the personnel, the coaching staff, everything in 357 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: place to be successful, and if the will feel like 358 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:21,639 Speaker 1: it's time to move on as owners, you know, you 359 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 1: feel like, okay, we gave this the best shot. You 360 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 1: kind of respect that decision. It wasn't like a you know, 361 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: maybe like the Dolphins, where it's a two or three 362 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: year dealing done and you don't get really a chance 363 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: to really see what that coaches all about him the 364 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: long term. So I respect that, but the initial reactions 365 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: obviously just you know, it sucks. I mean, there's no 366 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: other way around it. If we love you know, I 367 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: loved him, love I love him. When he came in. 368 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: I played for him for three years. M Spielman. I've 369 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: been I was with my entire career and is essentially 370 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: a massively important figure in my life, just because he 371 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: has been so good to my family and my career 372 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: and everything that we stand for, and he's been a 373 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: massive part of that. So I immediately think about those 374 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: guys and just reached out to be a text and 375 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: just thank them for everything, told him I loved him 376 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: and wish him nothing but the best. And um, you know, 377 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: the next part you feel is is all the all 378 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 1: the waves from that massive splash continue to affect others. 379 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: Right There's there's assistant coaches and gas and guys that 380 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: don't have massive buyouts that now have to find new 381 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: jobs and new teams and new opportunities and you have, 382 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, in some cases wives and girlfriends and kids 383 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: and school decisions and all sorts of just stuff, right, 384 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: just life stuff to hit you right away, you know. 385 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: And and it's tough, and um, you know, they know 386 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: what they're getting into. And a lot of people will 387 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: will claim that everybody's making all this money that it 388 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: becomes easier, Um, but not everybody is. You know. It's 389 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: a it's a massive, massive thing and somebody's life to 390 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: lose a job like this, especially in such a public arena. Um, 391 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: So I just wish those guys nothing but the best. 392 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,439 Speaker 1: They're incredible people, incredible coaches and leaders, you know, and 393 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: you don't you don't stand as long as they have 394 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: in the NFL without being that. So I wish them 395 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: nothing but the best. Yeah, that's one thing that I 396 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: would say a lot of fans forget, or a lot 397 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: of people involved with this outside of the building forget, 398 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 1: is that these these guys are Humanum where there's the coaches, 399 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: g am front office, all these guys, like you said, 400 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: a families and and more importantly, this is what they 401 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: love to do. This is how they make a living 402 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: for their family also. So just with that said, I 403 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: remember talking to to Zimmer earlier before the season started 404 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,479 Speaker 1: and I asked him. I was like, well, I told him. 405 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: I was like, Zim, I heard you got a little 406 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: bit softer ever since you got two grandkids. And the 407 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: first thing you said it was like yeah, I am, 408 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 1: but still not to my players. So as a former 409 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: Zimmer player, how would you describe Do you have a 410 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: story about you guys this time together or maybe even 411 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: Rick Spielman. Yeah, I describe him as accountable, you know. 412 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: Accountability would be the number one word I would kind 413 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: of define with that, and he led that way with 414 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: his with his own approach. I mean, if he made 415 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: a mistake, he would own it, you know, if he 416 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: if he made a bad call, he would own it, 417 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: and he would own it in front of everybody. He 418 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: was always the most prepared. You could tell he put 419 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: the work in the time in US as a head 420 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: coach and as a you know, really is a DC 421 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: for me. You know, I came in, I had played, 422 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: I'd played for eight years of the organization under one defense. 423 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: Zimmer comes in and kind of implement this wholesale change 424 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 1: and mentality and approach, and I kind of had to 425 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: reinvent myself in year nine into a different type of 426 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 1: player and really take new coaching and news type of coaching. 427 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: You know. Adam Adam became my linebacker coach who was 428 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: a few years younger than me. Um So, you know, 429 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: really had to navigate some things when they came in. 430 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: And it was interesting because at that same time, I 431 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: got asked take a pay cut that same year, and 432 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: um so it was a lot going on in my head, 433 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: you know, as a leader and a team captain and 434 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: all these things. And the new coach comes in and 435 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: the GM aster a pay cut, you have all these 436 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: kind of negatives, and it remotivated me and re engaged 437 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: me into my career and I decided to stay and 438 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: finish a Viking, and that all worked out, and I 439 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: learned to respect Zim's approach, and you know, to the 440 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: point where I think his approach not only can can 441 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: win in this league, but is the necessary way to 442 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: handle things and people and these kids come out of 443 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: college now, is on true accountability and um and he 444 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: did in a couple of ways. I mean the one 445 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: that the best example is my first training camp UM 446 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,879 Speaker 1: with him. We're on a man Cato and you know, 447 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: if you weren't familiar, you guys probably be familiar with 448 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: me and kay to layout, but just you know, three 449 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 1: grass fields right side by side by side. There's a 450 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: stadium kind of on the end. So he's standing by 451 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: the stadium and I won the far grass field. You're 452 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,680 Speaker 1: talking like two and a half three fields away, and 453 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: we're going through defensive walkthrough. Is the morning walked through 454 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 1: like ten am. And we're out there going through the 455 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: stuff we had installed the night before in that morning, 456 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: and all we hear is just them like with this 457 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: little little limp walking across the field, you know, and 458 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: just screaming like nobody knew he was. It was too 459 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: far away even understand. And like we we go through 460 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,640 Speaker 1: a couple more plays, and he finally gets over there 461 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: and he set up he wanted to play, set up 462 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: that he was yelling at and I was playing. I 463 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,360 Speaker 1: was playing. I was on the field that time. And 464 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: it turns out he was screaming at me. And what 465 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: he laid out was like my alignment was like six 466 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: inches off, like too far to the inside. And again, 467 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: I'm thirty years old, I've in my ninth year. You know, 468 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: at that point, I have like nine hundred career tackles 469 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: or more like, you know, I knew what I was doing, 470 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,680 Speaker 1: but he had to make a point, and it was right. 471 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: He was right. But the point is that you have 472 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: to be exact in this business, and six inches matters, 473 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: and um and your alignment matters, and all these details matter, 474 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: and you have to study and know and understand. And 475 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: if you don't know, if if you don't know, everybody's 476 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: positioned right knowing your own, but also and everybody else's 477 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: that you can't hold each other accountable in that way. 478 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: And then you go on to watch tape as a 479 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: team or a defensive unit, and you would be held 480 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: accountable on the video, on the video, and and I 481 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: just all those things lead together and his points were 482 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: all active because this business no different than this team 483 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: this year or every every year, is everything's so tight 484 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: and the margin of error is so slim that you 485 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: have to be exact and you have to be perfect, 486 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,120 Speaker 1: and you're never gonna be perfect. You have to try. 487 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: But he also just you know, he led that way 488 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: by with his with how he handled his own business too. 489 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: I mean, he'd be so hard on himself for missing 490 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 1: something or not seeing something, and um, you know, in 491 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: my estimation, he always put it on himself when he 492 00:22:55,240 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: needed to. Chad. You mentioned that Zimmer's approach is a 493 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: winnable approach. So what do you think happened the last 494 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: couple of seasons where it just felt like the team 495 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:12,239 Speaker 1: wasn't achieving to what their expectations were. I'm not there right, 496 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: having been around the team in two years because of 497 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: COVID and other reasons, and you don't really know and 498 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: understand less you're there right. So it's hard for us 499 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,719 Speaker 1: to really say, even for you guys in the building, 500 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: to really to really pinpoint it right. You can you 501 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 1: can point to personnel or guys not making plays, or 502 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: coaches not getting guys ready, or coaches having wrong and 503 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,679 Speaker 1: there's all sorts of things you can kind of point to. UM. 504 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: I always thought that Zim's approached on being defensive first 505 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: and calling the plays as a head coach maybe held back, 506 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 1: held himself back from being the type of head coach 507 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: he could have been rather than D you know, just 508 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: like a DC mentality. Um. But the point is that 509 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: that was his baby, right, and that's what he wanted. 510 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: That's where he really really cared about. So and he's 511 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: an excellent DC. But I think it's always a combination 512 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: of things in the NFL. You can never just point 513 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: to one thing. Players have to play. We know that 514 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: defense can win, right and but but it comes down 515 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: to every NFL season comes down to games that you 516 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,280 Speaker 1: win or lose by five points or less. And we've 517 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: just been losing too many games at the end right opportunities, 518 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: you know, kirks and the offense drives you down, and 519 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 1: you get chance for a kick, you miss kirk and 520 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: offense drives you down. You fumble the ball, you loose, 521 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 1: you lose the ball, you loose. You know, there's so 522 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: many things. You know, you score too early, defense can't hold, 523 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: they score, you loose. There's just so many ways to 524 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: lose in this business. It's insane and all these players 525 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 1: you're playing are so good, so it's hard to pinpoint 526 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: you answer your question directly, but it's always a combo 527 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: of things. And I think that the games you point 528 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: to that are an indictment on the coaching staff would 529 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: be an away game at Detroit that you lose that 530 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: you have to win, not just not necessarily being prepared. 531 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: And I always thought this year, and not to be negative, 532 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:47,959 Speaker 1: but I felt like this year we played more not 533 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: to lose than to win, and that approach just comes 534 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:53,680 Speaker 1: back to by you in this league. Yeah, you didn't 535 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: make a good point though, with defenses being so reactionary, 536 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: how you hear Eric Kendricks just just pretty much anybody 537 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: in the defense is side of the ball saying the 538 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: defense is always a half a step behind because you're 539 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: always reacting to what offense is doing. They kind of 540 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:08,479 Speaker 1: got the heads the heads up, or they end they 541 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: know what they're going to do before you know what 542 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: they're going to do. So you kind of look at 543 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: that in the same approach when it comes to this 544 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: new GM and coaching higher like the ownership knows what 545 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: they're going to do. We have to react to that. 546 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 1: So when you were a player and you had to 547 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: react to I guess what ownership's thought process on bringing 548 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: in a new coach. What was the thought process for you? 549 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: And what should the thought process? What do you think 550 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: the thought process is for some of these players that 551 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: are about to go through it. You look at it 552 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: both decisions. Right. With Spielman coming in, it was interesting 553 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,480 Speaker 1: because in OH six I actually got drafted by fran 554 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: Foley who was hired. He brought it to Steve Hutchinston 555 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: van Leeber had my draft class, and then he literally 556 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,119 Speaker 1: gets let go, like the Tuesday after the draft. They 557 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:50,959 Speaker 1: found the discrepancy in his resume, they let him go. 558 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 1: Rip comes in under the kind of the triangle of 559 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: power and becomes sort of the pseudogm and decision makers. 560 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: So you have that whole play right where now you 561 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: have guys with a new GM coming in that maybe 562 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,959 Speaker 1: that GM just surely doesn't like doesn't like him as 563 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: the players and like his style is like his play now, 564 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: so you you're maybe future as a Viking could be 565 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 1: up in up up in the air end, you don't know. 566 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: And then you have the coaching piece, right, So now 567 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: those two need to align. And obviously you're hiring GM first, 568 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: and then the GM is gonna be processed part of 569 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: the process behind the coach. So if you're a game 570 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: and style of play isn't getting them align with the 571 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,320 Speaker 1: new staff right, it's it's probably a real problem for you. 572 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: And there's probably guys in the roster right now they're thinking, 573 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 1: I cannot wait to get a new coach in here 574 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,880 Speaker 1: because maybe it'll maybe it'll amplify my ability to play 575 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: under this new new team. So my thought was always this, 576 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: It's like I got to bring my best every day, 577 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: no matter what. It's the league, I mean, every practice game, 578 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 1: somebody can take your somebody can take your snaps, somebodyn 579 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 1: take your job, and there try to pay somebody to 580 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: do it cheaper, right, And you have to have that 581 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: approach every day. So my biggest thing was always be 582 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,199 Speaker 1: around the building. You know, off seasons, I rarely left 583 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: for a couple of vacations here or there. I was 584 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: always around. I always worked out there. I wanted people 585 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: to see me. I wanted to I wanted to have 586 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: conversations with the coach. I want to have conversation with 587 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: my position coaching GM, we get to know them, understand them. 588 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,719 Speaker 1: And in my contract negotiations with Rick and Rob, it 589 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: was it was about what else do I bring to 590 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: this team besides just my ability to play. You have 591 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: to be good football players the NFL, but what else 592 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: do you bring? Community support, leadership, captain mentality. I mean 593 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: you can talk to you can talk to the team, 594 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 1: you can talk to the coaches, you can you can 595 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,120 Speaker 1: go to events and be in the community. And it's 596 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: just there's so many ways to lead and be an 597 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: example in pro football than just being a good football player. 598 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: So um, I think if take all those things into 599 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: account when you look at who's coming in, and I 600 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 1: would research as a player, like what are these gms 601 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: and coaches standford, Where have they been where they had 602 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: success and try to mirror, you know, what they're asking 603 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 1: me to do. Interesting as you say for a player 604 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:45,239 Speaker 1: to be available, because it's usually coaches saying that they 605 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: should be available. So that's that's interesting. You say that 606 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: when a new coach comes more players should try to 607 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 1: make themselves more available. Oh my god, I thought it 608 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 1: was just obvious. I mean it, you know, I blew 609 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 1: my l out No. Six, So I lost my first year, 610 00:27:58,000 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: So coming back in No. Seven, like I knew, as 611 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 1: an opportunity to be a starter. I want to make 612 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: sure everybody understood that I was in it to win 613 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: it and being a part of this organization. And and 614 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 1: you do that by saying, yeah, I'm gonna go. I'm 615 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: gonna go to you know, Saint John's my favorite vacation 616 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,239 Speaker 1: spot for two weeks after the season, and but then 617 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be back and I'm gonna I'm gonna work 618 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 1: out anyways. I might as well workout a facility where 619 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: people care about my success, right and no, my body 620 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: needs and no knows my ailments and my my issues. 621 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: And yeah, the weather is not as great as southern California. 622 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 1: But at the same time, it's about building your career 623 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 1: and building it the right way and you know, elongating 624 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:34,159 Speaker 1: your career in a lot of cases as well. So 625 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 1: I found this to be very valuable. No, that's my experience. 626 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: That's great insight. I think that's that's much appreciated. It 627 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: really didn't think about that before, but it's a great point. Um. 628 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: I know that there are six head coaching jobs open chat. 629 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: There's Vikings, Bears, Jaguars, Broncos, Giants, and Dolphins. Then you 630 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: have three general manager positions Vikings, Bears, and Giants. So 631 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: where do you think this Vikings vacancy ranks in the league? 632 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: Is far? Are as most appealing job out there? Yeah, 633 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: I've been thinking about that questions I've been asked to 634 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: a couple of times already. I think it's a hard 635 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: question to answer because you don't know what they're looking for. 636 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: Right is does that you know, look at Anthony Barr 637 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: for example? Right, is Anthony Barr gonna be a part 638 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: of our team moving forward? I assure as that cope is. 639 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 1: But if he's not, with the salary catpechers and others, 640 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: things like the defense may look a lot different with 641 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,160 Speaker 1: the different personnel that's not going to be available to it. 642 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: So I think you look at the Viking's job and say, wow, 643 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: we got a lot of ability here. Right. You look 644 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: at our roster, a lot of big names that have 645 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,400 Speaker 1: a lot of ability. There's some years left in those legs. Right, 646 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: you got candidates, you got Bar, you got Harry m 647 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: you have a lot of great defensers, you have some 648 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: young defenders. Dancer played really well at the end of 649 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: the year as a young corner. So you have some 650 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: really nice pieces. Um, you know, obviously a lot of 651 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: a lot of holes. You got to you gotta be 652 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: able to rush the pastor a heck of a lot 653 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:49,719 Speaker 1: better than we have been u the last few seasons. 654 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:51,280 Speaker 1: So you look at the defense and say, okay, there's 655 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: some there's some pieces there. And then offensively, obviously have 656 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: one of the best young receivers in the league in 657 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 1: the history of the league. Yet you have Steeling who's aging, 658 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,719 Speaker 1: but good Thorne had a nice season. O line has 659 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: got a lot of nice pieces, but has them building 660 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: to do. Get one of the best running backs of 661 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,719 Speaker 1: football and a quarterback that can do that can make 662 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 1: every throw and it's smart. So offensively, I like the pieces. 663 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: I think it's a job that people are gonna want 664 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 1: and are gonna want to seek out. The question you 665 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: have to ask yourself is because we are one of 666 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 1: the teams that fired both, will we get access to 667 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: hire the other coaches? Because how many coaches are gonna 668 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: be gone while wilst are doing it, while we are 669 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: still doing a GM search. I think it's an interesting, 670 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: you know, just a timing topic really to me, Like 671 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: I love Flores, I think what he's done in Miami 672 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 1: and his background is obvious that he's one of the 673 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: if not the best candidates out there. But are you 674 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: gonna get him? Is he gonna be around in ten 675 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: days when we finally get the GM hired and get 676 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 1: around to do a coaching search. Is that GM get 677 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 1: out aligned with the same mentality the ownership has on 678 00:30:50,360 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: how we move forward? Right? So it's just a lot 679 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 1: of questions to be answers. So I think it's the 680 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: roster that that looks really, really good, and I think 681 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,520 Speaker 1: it's the job that people would love. You just name 682 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: a few people, a few things that can possibly affect 683 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 1: this GM and coaching hire. But as far as just personally, 684 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: what type of leadership I'm not even saying names, but 685 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: just leadership in general. Do you hope to get out 686 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,560 Speaker 1: of this new hire? I am after kind of seeing 687 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: how Zim went about his business and again loving Zim 688 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: went through Leslie Fraser's staff, went through Children's staff. What 689 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: I think too many coaches get cut up and is 690 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 1: what got them there? Right? If I'm the OC at 691 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: named the place and I got hired as the head 692 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: coach because I was a good OC, does not mean 693 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,640 Speaker 1: that you need to be the OC. Just because you're 694 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: an elite DC does not meeting be coming. You need 695 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 1: to be the head coach. You need to be able 696 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: to handle all things head coach related and you need 697 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,040 Speaker 1: to be get focused on that. And I love more 698 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: of the CEO approach from a head coach and trusting 699 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: who I hire as the O C and d C. 700 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: And you see a lot of these guys that get 701 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:57,959 Speaker 1: hired in this right or wrong. You know, I'm sure 702 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: there's some sort of historical view on that. I'm a 703 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,120 Speaker 1: complete idiot and my point is dumb, But the reality 704 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 1: is that I just think from from a from a 705 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: team from a team standpoint, the team is better when 706 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: you have a CEO at the top beating both sides, 707 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: and you have an OC and DC that trust, are 708 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 1: trust in their positions that they can make the Blake 709 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:19,000 Speaker 1: calls in game, and the head coach is the head coach. UM. 710 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: So I think from a leadership style standpoint, that's what 711 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: I would like to see UM and see where that 712 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: takes us. It sounds like you're you're lobbying for a 713 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: guy like Mike Tomlin. He was here your first year, 714 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,600 Speaker 1: right and then he was a defensive coordinator. Then I 715 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: guess he's been a distills. I had a coach since them, right, Yeah. 716 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 1: So so Tomlin, you know, he comes from a Tampa 717 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: two system, comes up here for a year. You know, 718 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: you sit in the interview room with Tomlin, You're like, 719 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: you're going to hire it. Like I've never in any 720 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 1: fat of the world met a guy that can motivate 721 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: somebody better than Mike Tomlin. Just incredible. So I was 722 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: with him in Fred Puggish's basement. Fred Puckis is my 723 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: linebacker coach um the day he flew out to go 724 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: interview for that Steeler's job, and I can promise you 725 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: he had no idea that he was gonna get hires. 726 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 1: He did not think in a million years to Sunday 727 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 1: that he wasn't get that job. And sure enough he's 728 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:12,520 Speaker 1: got it and still has it and deserves it. Is 729 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,719 Speaker 1: one of the best coaches and probably history. But you 730 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 1: think about it, he comes from a system that gave 731 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: the opportunities in Tampa too. He comes up to Minnesota 732 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: to intlement that system. He goes to Pittsburgh and doesn't 733 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: run that system. He goes there and is just the 734 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: head coach and so you think about that. So he 735 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 1: got it. He only got his opportunity because of the 736 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: system that kind of gave it to him, right, Derek 737 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 1: Brooks the whole Tampa defense, and then and then he 738 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 1: gets the opportunity to be a head coach and says, well, 739 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: the DC there, I can't what was the DC's name. 740 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: He's there forever Lebo Lebo was there, and he's like, well, 741 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: I'm not smarter than this guy. Like, let let him 742 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 1: do his thing. I'll be the head coach. And a 743 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 1: way they go and they win for years. So I 744 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,560 Speaker 1: do like that mentality. So what does a new head 745 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 1: coaching hire? What kind of challenges do they find? And 746 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: not only connecting with the younger players on a roster, 747 00:33:57,480 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 1: but also veteran players that I've around for a while 748 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:02,800 Speaker 1: that kind of know what the mo is to work 749 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Yeah, And I think it's it's actually 750 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: probably even a hard question for me to answer, because 751 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:08,279 Speaker 1: you know, the kids come out of college or just 752 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:10,879 Speaker 1: they're different mentality than when I when I came out 753 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:12,399 Speaker 1: with and and the guys that were on the team 754 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 1: when I came in were even older school mentality than 755 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: I had. Right, So it's it's you know, I come 756 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:18,319 Speaker 1: from the world of you know, as a farm kids 757 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: like you get you show up, you bust your ass 758 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,279 Speaker 1: as hard as you can, and you you grind and 759 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: you know the best put your best portport every day. 760 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:26,720 Speaker 1: And and I don't know that that's necessarily the mentality 761 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: or maybe it's just overhyped that the kids are changing 762 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:33,279 Speaker 1: coming out of college. But one thing I do is, 763 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:35,879 Speaker 1: if I get hired as the head coach, right, I 764 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,040 Speaker 1: need to hire people around me that can handle a 765 00:34:38,040 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 1: lot of those a lot of those situations, because they're 766 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,760 Speaker 1: gonna be more hands on than I am. Right, So 767 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,880 Speaker 1: the people around me have to be able to handle 768 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,839 Speaker 1: that situation. Um. But at the same time, you have 769 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: to be able to you know, a lot of a 770 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:53,839 Speaker 1: lot of times gets gets knocked for having too much 771 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 1: of an old school mentality, right, And that may be 772 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 1: that may or may not be true. Um, But I 773 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: look at what's what Afference has done down in Iowa City, 774 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 1: and he's had to change with the times in a 775 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 1: lot of cases right where he's had to become progressive 776 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:08,720 Speaker 1: in his mindset because he knows that if he stays 777 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: grounded in nineteen eighty eight, like he's going to get 778 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,040 Speaker 1: taken out of a job. He's not. He's not progressive enough. 779 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: So I do think you need to find even if 780 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,760 Speaker 1: it's a coach that's older and has an older school mentality, 781 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: you have to have somebody who's willing to budge off 782 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 1: of that and be a little bit more flexible and 783 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: learn to understand how kids are just different now than 784 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,800 Speaker 1: you work thirty years ago. So my takeaway from that is, 785 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:30,520 Speaker 1: are you going to put your hat in the ring 786 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: on this one? According to Twitter, you know you're a 787 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 1: very popular choice. Well obvious would be the best choice 788 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 1: to read a job obviously, I don't know. I don't 789 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 1: think the girls team will let you will let you 790 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: take this one. I am a pretty darn successful girls 791 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,000 Speaker 1: basketball coach and I actually do love it. It's funny 792 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: because I've honestly never even had I've never dreamt of 793 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: coaching football. I've never thought about coaching football. I was 794 00:35:55,719 --> 00:35:58,720 Speaker 1: a basketball player first that was just really good at football. 795 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 1: So now I get to do what I love and 796 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: get to coach my kids, and I do love it. 797 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:05,319 Speaker 1: And you know, I retired when Madden was nine. Um, 798 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: she's fourteen now and coming in JR own as a 799 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: as a basketball player herself, and you know the timing 800 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: of my career, and what I appreciate the NFL for 801 00:36:13,080 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 1: more than anything is allowing me to spend time with 802 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 1: my kids and raising my kids when it matters the most. 803 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:20,880 Speaker 1: And so I'm enjoying the heck out of that. You're 804 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 1: striking me as a guy that runs one three one 805 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,640 Speaker 1: press and your daughter's youth leak that calls one through 806 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 1: one on any half court zone, because that means you 807 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 1: can't coach half That means you can't coach man to 808 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: man defense. So I love it. I love to press 809 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: and run up and down. Um. I think basketball is 810 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: more fun when when it's played at the high tempo. 811 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 1: So we we will mix it an honest in full 812 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 1: court zone and full court man to man. I got 813 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 1: a couple of zone man combos. Um. You know you 814 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: come from a background like mine with football and you 815 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 1: can get real creative and zone defense. Um. But I 816 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 1: love the excellosa hoops. Um. And I think what I 817 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 1: love more than anything is and especially I've never coached boys, 818 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,840 Speaker 1: but what I love about girls is they really care 819 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 1: about getting better and they care about the coaching and 820 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:06,879 Speaker 1: they really want to take it to heart and get 821 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,800 Speaker 1: and improve. And I've seen I've coached two separate groups 822 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:12,359 Speaker 1: now my eighth grade daughter's group up until last year 823 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: and then now my fifth grade daughter's group, and it's 824 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 1: just so fun to give a kid a task and 825 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 1: improve on something, to see him see him take that 826 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 1: and get success, and then it gained confidence and independence 827 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 1: from that. It's just it's just awesome. So I'm having 828 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:27,839 Speaker 1: a lot of fun doing that, that's for sure. And uh, 829 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 1: you know, mostly just also a taxi cab for the 830 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 1: kids driving around from event to event and so but 831 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:34,879 Speaker 1: it's a lot of fun. Yeah, No, she's and she's 832 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:37,160 Speaker 1: very good. You guys, if you ever, you know, want 833 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: to catch a game, I was sure it would be 834 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,560 Speaker 1: a good one to catch because Madden is a very 835 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:44,359 Speaker 1: talented athlete, that's for sure. I've seen some highlights on 836 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:48,719 Speaker 1: Twitter before I think, yes, yes, yeah, she's good. She 837 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,279 Speaker 1: plays varsity in Minnesota, which is allowed. You can middle 838 00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: seventies kids can play varsity hoops there, says their second 839 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:56,480 Speaker 1: year of varsity. You've got a nice team at Province Academy. 840 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,440 Speaker 1: We're having a lot of fun chasing her around. So 841 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: m Yeah, it's fun because all my girls are crazy 842 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:07,799 Speaker 1: into sports, um, soccer, hoops, track, and so they keep 843 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 1: us busy, very very busy. Well, thank you so much 844 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:13,200 Speaker 1: for taking the time, especially on your birthday, Chad, for 845 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:16,200 Speaker 1: joining us here on the Minnesota Vikings podcast. Chad Greenway, 846 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:19,200 Speaker 1: thank you once more. Happy birthday, Happy birthday. Thanks Jed. 847 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 1: Like I said in the lead in before the interview, 848 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:26,919 Speaker 1: such a unique perspective for someone who has been with 849 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 1: Rick Spielman and understands Mike Zimmer more than many who can, 850 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,919 Speaker 1: you know, be a guest on this podcast. Really, Yeah, 851 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:37,200 Speaker 1: he knows this organization almost better than anybody who's been 852 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 1: through the highs of the highs and the lows of 853 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:42,640 Speaker 1: the lows and understanding both of those guys, and Rick 854 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:45,040 Speaker 1: Spielman and Mike Zimmer what they meant to this franchise 855 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:47,480 Speaker 1: and organization. He's a guy that can talk about that, 856 00:38:47,560 --> 00:38:49,719 Speaker 1: and it was interesting to hear what he had to 857 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:52,800 Speaker 1: say about what he hopes in a new coach or 858 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:56,799 Speaker 1: a new GM and how that correlates to what Mike 859 00:38:56,840 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 1: Tomlin is We're not sure what ownerships. That's a great story. 860 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: That really was a lot of insight and I wasn't 861 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 1: expecting that one at all. I just knew Mike Tomlin 862 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,399 Speaker 1: was here his first year, but I didn't know like 863 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:11,320 Speaker 1: the in his basement, So that that that's that's interesting 864 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:13,759 Speaker 1: because Mike Tomlin, he only had one year as a 865 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:16,239 Speaker 1: coordinator previous then he was I think a dbast coach 866 00:39:16,239 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 1: in Tampa Bay won a Super Bowl there like you, 867 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:20,800 Speaker 1: he said, with Derek Brooks in that Tampa two defense, 868 00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 1: and that kind of established him when he got here 869 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 1: and then boom, he got that job. And clearly it 870 00:39:25,080 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: is because he just knows how to ace interviews and motivator. Motivator. 871 00:39:29,120 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 1: Good thing we beat the Pitsburg Stellers this year. We 872 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:33,879 Speaker 1: can hepfily talk about Mike Tomlin right now, but more 873 00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: importantly chat but he's in the playoffs, So I'm sorry. 874 00:39:39,840 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 1: Chad Greenway, great guy like him. All of us are 875 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:44,759 Speaker 1: just waiting to see what this next move is going 876 00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 1: to be. We'll continue to put out more episodes this 877 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:49,839 Speaker 1: offseason and be sure to be on the lookout this 878 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:53,840 Speaker 1: week for more Vikings Entertainment Network content, whether it's online 879 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:56,640 Speaker 1: or on the app. Just because the team is not 880 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,120 Speaker 1: in season right now doesn't mean we will not have 881 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:03,080 Speaker 1: more kind for you interviews insights into what is going 882 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:07,000 Speaker 1: on behind the scenes here at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance 883 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 1: Center during this time of change. Gabe, I know you 884 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 1: have an exciting interview coming out soon. Yeah. I've had 885 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,000 Speaker 1: the opportunity to sit down with Vikings owner team president 886 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,719 Speaker 1: Mark Wolfen talk about just some of those decisions and 887 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 1: just his thought process on what the future could look like. 888 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 1: I tried to curtail it more so to like what 889 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:28,839 Speaker 1: the media we're not talking about. Yea, the Vikings can 890 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:32,680 Speaker 1: have exclusive and that will be coming out most likely 891 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:34,520 Speaker 1: today or tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that. 892 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 1: That will be a really good interview. He was very 893 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:40,600 Speaker 1: energetic and very positive as far as the steps moving 894 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: forward post Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, Well, that's what 895 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,040 Speaker 1: we like to hear. Plus, we'll have expert interviews with 896 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:49,440 Speaker 1: ESPN's Courtney Cronin and Kevin Seaffert, as well as NFL 897 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:53,400 Speaker 1: Networks Tom Pellasero coming out within the week. So be 898 00:40:53,560 --> 00:40:56,480 Speaker 1: sure to tune in YouTube, Vikings dot com or the 899 00:40:56,520 --> 00:41:00,279 Speaker 1: app to get the latest Vikings Entertainment Network content. Thank 900 00:41:00,320 --> 00:41:02,759 Speaker 1: you so much for listening to the podcast. Right now. 901 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 1: We will hopefully have another episode for you very very soon. 902 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:10,240 Speaker 1: Alongside producer Jay Nelson and Gabe Henderson, I'm Tatum Everett 903 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:11,800 Speaker 1: and for now, skul Vikings