1 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, Whenever Mike Zimmer has made the playoffs, his defense 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: has been a top five, top ten defense. So if 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: we're talking top two or number one overall ring defense, 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: I think that's a recipe for success. Here the knock 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: and it's a gas. Knowing what you've been through and 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: having an appreciation is just such a sweetener when the 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: moment failing comes. What is up? Vikings fans? Welcome to 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: episode number one oh six of the Minnesota Vikings podcast, 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: and we have a full house today. It's Vikings dot 10 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: COM's Gave Henderson, Tatum Everett, team reporter Eric Smith, and 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: of course producer Jay Nelson. The practices are in full 12 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: swing at the TCO Performance Center as we have the 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: Denver Broncos in town. One day of joint practices on 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: Wednesday and they will continue on Thursday as well. So 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: with that I bring in Gabe Henderson. What are your 16 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: overall takeaways of having the Broncos in town and out 17 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: on the field. Dude, it's been amazing. Literally the first 18 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: play of practice on Wednesday, there was there was a 19 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: huge I won't say fight, but it was. It got 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: a little chippy, and we expect that from the jump, 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: but I wasn't expecting on the first play of pump 22 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: return that we would get that. But other than that, man, 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,119 Speaker 1: it's just been good battles. A lot to take away 24 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: just from the offensive line and defensive line one on once. 25 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: It's been solid work. I think that's all you can 26 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: really ask for at this point of course, the guys 27 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: aren't tackling right now, but all you can ask right now. 28 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: And it's like, Hey, the things that we've put on 29 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: film against ourselves, how does that match up against another team? 30 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: And I think that that was shown on Wednesday and 31 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: we'll see more again today. Yeah, I've seen some of 32 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: the videos on Twitter and seeing a Patrick Certain, the 33 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: first round draft pick cornerback for the Denver Broncos, going 34 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: up against Vikings wide receivers. That's that's probably the matchup 35 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: that's been really fun for me to watch. But Eric, 36 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: you've been tweeting all week through practices and obviously yesterday, 37 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: So tell us what your favorite matchup so far has 38 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: been between the Broncos and the Vikings, and let me 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: think there's a lot to watch. I watched the defense 40 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: the Viking defense on Wednesday, and I was really looking 41 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: forward to seeing Daniel Hunter against Garrett Bowl, but then 42 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: Danio did not dressed in full pad, so my hopes 43 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: and dreams were squashed on that one. Really, it's always 44 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: fun to watch Eric Hendricks, and you know, he's always 45 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: moving around. You know, we call him the energizer Bunny, 46 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: and he was at it again on Wednesday. He was 47 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: moving around. He'd had a couple of pbuth and passing drills, 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: and he obviously, like Cape said, there's no live tackling, 49 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: so it's tough to kind of gauge the run game. 50 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: But he was in there and make him plays, So 51 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: I'd probably say Kendricks kind of against the defense. You know, 52 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: he missed the last month of the season last year, 53 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: so he looks healthy. He looks ready to go, and 54 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: we hope he's back to his all pro all pro form. 55 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: I was able to watch the offense on Wednesday, Eric 56 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: and I kind of split it up. I think Tag 57 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: teamed it. But anyway, um, I thought that there was 58 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: a lot of energy from Adam Feelin. I think he 59 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: was really pumped up to be out there. I saw. 60 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: I mean, he caught every pass through on his way, 61 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: which I know is not surprising, but he was also 62 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: giving a little chippy out there too, as you like 63 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: to say, Gabe, he got at he was trash talking, 64 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: he was pointing, I mean just right up until the 65 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: point where it wasn't going to cause anything, you know. 66 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: But um, but I thought I also thought Chad Beebe 67 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: looked great out there. Um. I was really happy or 68 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: I was most excited to watch Bradley, Chubb and Von 69 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: Miller against the Vikings offensive line. And I think that 70 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: that type of a challenge here in training camp it 71 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: will make them better because there were, um, you know, 72 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: a couple of times kirkhist on the pocket and obviously 73 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: no tackling, so they they reached him, touched as jersey whatnot. 74 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: But um, but yeah, I think after after that kind 75 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: of today, I hope to see just a little bit 76 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: more energy and um and I can't wait for Saturday 77 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: because obviously I think these teams were ready to go. Yeah, 78 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: I'm glad you brought up von Miller versus our offensive 79 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: line so of Corso yesterday, Broncos team reporter Sydney Jones, 80 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: I came up to Eric at the practice and said, 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 1: Von Miller said, Brian O'Neill's the best right tackle in 82 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: the game, and I had the opportunity to watch every 83 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: single rep that they did one on ones against each other, 84 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 1: and von Miller did not win one rep against Brian O'Neill. 85 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: So seeing that matchup all day yesterday, I was like, Okay, 86 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: we got our right tackle for the future on our hands. 87 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I love hearing that game, and I think my favorite 88 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: matchup for von Miller was him and the Vikings fans. 89 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: I seem to get along really well. He had them 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: doing the skull chan. He was enjoying it. Obviously, it's 91 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: a it's a friendly atmosphere between the two teams when 92 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: you have former assistant general manager George Peyton leading the 93 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: way as the general manager in Denver. But you'd love 94 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: to see von Miller enjoying the Vikings fans and everybody 95 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 1: just enjoying themselves going against opponents for the first time. 96 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: But Tatum, I'm gonna go to you with this one 97 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: because you've had a chance to talk to these players 98 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: after practice, and I believe it was Wednesday when you 99 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: got Tyler Conklin to kind of open up about his 100 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: role this year. When were overall takeaways from that conversation. 101 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: I know the tight end position is one of the 102 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: biggest storylines for the Vikings right now, not having Kyle 103 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: Rudolph and looking to Er Smith Jr. And your boy 104 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: Tyler Conklin there. Yeah, without Rudy, I think it leaves 105 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: a big void for both guys, both IRV and Tyler 106 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: Conklin to step up. I think their play complements each 107 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: other and I'm I mean, they've been standouts for me 108 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: during camp and listening to Kirk Cousins this week at 109 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: the podium, he spoke about how despite these two guys 110 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: being as young as they are or you know, going 111 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: into their third fourth seasons, they act like veterans. They 112 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: feel it's feel like it feels like they've been here 113 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: for ten years. And so when someone like Kirk, who's 114 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: played the game for as long as he has, says that, 115 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: to me, that speaks volumes. And yeah, that's kind of 116 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: was my takeaway yesterday was listening to Kirk and Tyler 117 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: was really you know, I told him, because he didn't 118 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: really he had won listening to the press conference, so 119 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: I kind of pointed that out to him and he 120 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: was like, I mean that means a lot to me, 121 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 1: but it's it's about the room, you know. I think 122 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: a great team player, always puts it back on the 123 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: room or the group as a whole, and never just 124 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: kind of takes the spotlight for himself. And so I 125 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: think that's just the kind of relationship he has with 126 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: the rest of the tight end room. All right, Well, 127 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: those are some of the initial takeaways from the first 128 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: few days of practice here with the Denver Broncos. Obviously, 129 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: the first preseason game at us Bank Stadium takes place 130 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: on Saturday at three pm. I cannot wait. I'm so 131 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: excited for that. But first we got to get through 132 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: this episode of the Minnesota Vikings podcast where we have 133 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,679 Speaker 1: Craig Peters joined. Later on in the show, the Vikings 134 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: senior editor had the chance to go to Kenton, Ohio 135 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: for Steve Hutchinson's Hall of Fame enshrinement, so he brings 136 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,239 Speaker 1: all his takeaways from last weekend in Ohio, and of course, 137 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: the first Vikings depth chart of the season was released. 138 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: That's a big time storyline here for Vikings dot com because, 139 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: as Eric Smith and I know, it is the number 140 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: one viewed article by you the Vikings fans, every single season. 141 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: I don't know why. I guess it's just the hype. 142 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: The anticipation. Everybody excited for the season to see where 143 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: the players land. So why don't we get right into 144 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: that with Eric who put together the article on Vikings 145 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: dot com. What are you what are your takeaways from 146 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: that depth chart? I know you did the article, you 147 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: put it together. You have to have some takeaways with 148 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: what we put out there for the first Vikings depth chart. Yeah, Chris, well, 149 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: you're right. The first takeaway that it just explodes on 150 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: Vikings dot com and the article views are just insane. Honestly, 151 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: I was kind of we have an app to kind 152 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: of track, you know, how articles perform on the site, 153 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: and you know that that article just shoots up every 154 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: year and obviously right after we posted it. But as 155 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: far as takeaways from the actual depth chart, there weren't 156 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: a ton of surprises to me. There were a few 157 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: positions that I was interested in to see kind of 158 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: who got the starting nod and those are obviously with 159 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: the position battles we've been watching. Oli Udo got the 160 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: nod at right guards, so he's listed as a starter. 161 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: And again, this is the unofficial depth chart, so you 162 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:29,920 Speaker 1: have to take it with a little bit of a 163 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: grain assault It's not necessarily the Week one starting lineup 164 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: for September twelfth against Cincinnati. But it's kind of worth 165 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: things stand right now. So Olie had to start at 166 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: right guard, and I'd probably agree with that he probably 167 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: has the edge a little bit over Dakota Dojer even 168 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: though those two were battling for the starting right guard spot. 169 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: The rest of the offensive line was pretty set. You know, 170 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: the skill position players are set. You know, we talked 171 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: about Conklin and Nerve they're the tight ends, and Jefferson 172 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: and Fieland and Kirk and Cook. It's pretty it pretty 173 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: sat offense and defense. The two I wanted to look 174 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: at were who had the edge at linebacker three and 175 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: that was actually Nick Vigil And I guess it's not 176 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: a total surprise given Mike Zimmer's comment from a few 177 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: days ago where he said, you know, Nick is doing well, 178 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: but the rest of the linebackers have to pick it up. 179 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: And so that wasn't a huge surprise that that Vigil 180 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: had to start there or at least had the top 181 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: spot on the depth chart. And then the third one 182 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: was who was the starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson, And 183 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: they gave it to Bashad Breland and I have to 184 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: agree with that too, because while him and Dancler I've 185 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: kind of rotated a bit with the with the ones, 186 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: it mostly been Brelan, and he has more veteran experience 187 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: than Dancler. I mean, Brilin started I think over a 188 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: hundred total games in the NFL. We know Danceler just 189 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: had one one season last year, so it's it's okay 190 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: that that Cam is not listed as the starter on 191 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: the depth chart. I think he's still going to play 192 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: a big role, but it just shows the almost like 193 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: the complete opposite of a year ago, where last year 194 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: the Vikings were relying on a bunch of young, inexperienced corners, 195 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: and then the two starting corners this year are Peterson 196 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: and Brelan, who I think have over two hundred and 197 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: fifty game the NFL experience. Yeah, you can't coach experience, 198 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: and that's I think that's the point that Eric hit Danceler. 199 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: He will see a lot of playing time this year. 200 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: I'm not concerned about that. It's just the fact of 201 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: what package will that be in is out of dying personnel, 202 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: it's out of nickel personnel. You can't keep a talent 203 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: like Cameron dancel On the bench too long. But I 204 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: think this is a good year for him because he 205 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: has the opportunity to learn from a couple of veteran guys. 206 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: I think once he starts to mature a little bit more, 207 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 1: he'll use this knowledge and experience from this year, or 208 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: I guess just this training cap alone to propel himself 209 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: to being that perennial Pro Bowl player that he says 210 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: he wants to be one day. So it's been fun 211 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: to see how that cornerback position has been shaken up, 212 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: so are well. I think that's by design too. I mean, Eric, 213 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: you talked about it looking so different from last season, 214 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 1: and that's exactly what the front office wanted to do, 215 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: bring in the experience, bringing the veterans to try and 216 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 1: shore up the problems that the defense had last season. 217 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: And I think one thing, one more thing to add 218 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: is I know we're focused on training camp and the 219 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one season right now, but you have to 220 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: keep in the back of your mind that both Peterson 221 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: and Breland and McKinney Alexander are all on one year deals, 222 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: so it's a kind of a short term look for 223 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 1: that group right now. Dan Flers, I think one of 224 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: the one of the few cornerbacks who's on the who's 225 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: under contract pass this season. Though he may not start, 226 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: he may not, you know, have that that title, but 227 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: I've gaped that he's going to play a lot. Yeah, 228 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: and we know for sure he's going to be here 229 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 1: next year, so he's an important part of the of 230 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: the secondary going forward. Last takeaway for me, I like 231 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 1: seeing kJ Osborne in that second spot at wide receiver 232 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: one behind Justin Jefferson. He was placed ahead of Dede Westbrook, 233 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: the veteran who has not been able to get on 234 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: the field yet, so that makes sense. And what about 235 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 1: Jake Browning being given the backup number two quarterback spot. 236 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: Obviously he's been out there the most out of the 237 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: quarterback room with all the COVID issues that the Vikings 238 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: have had at that position. So good to see Browning 239 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: get rewarded for what he's done with his reps at 240 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: Vikings training camp. On the defensive side of the ball, 241 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: my one takeaway is how deep the defensive line is 242 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: and looking at the I think just the interior and 243 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: then also obviously the pass rushers. Gabe compare that to 244 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: last year man, I mean, it's you have Sheldon Richardson 245 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,719 Speaker 1: at the two spot. I mean the guys had a 246 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: few All pros in his career, and he's behind a 247 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: Dalvin Tomlinson. Yeah, you're only as good as your backups, 248 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: they say, right, and the oar backups is a guy 249 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: who can get you six or seven sacks a year. 250 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: That that's saying a lot about your your defense overall. 251 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: I mean last year we had what twenty three, well, 252 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: twenty three and a half sacks overall. Add to New 253 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: one hundred that mix, and now you're a top fifteen 254 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: pass rushing team. Neil Hunter has what twenty nine sacks 255 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen combined, So now you 256 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,839 Speaker 1: have this elite pass rush. Not to mention, you got 257 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: Michael Pearce and Dalvin Thomlinson in the middle, so you're 258 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: you're not running the ball on us like you were 259 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: last year. I think this is a top ten defense. 260 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: Of course, McKenzie Alexander on MVP last week said this 261 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: is a top two defense. So a guy like that's, 262 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, that's a that's a hot take. But for 263 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: a guy like that saying this this early on in 264 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: the season or preseason, for example, I'm excited. How can 265 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: you not be excited? Right? I don't know how much 266 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: of a hot take that is. I mean, there was 267 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: a article on The Athletic last week. I think the 268 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: guys name is Shell Kapatia. He's a pretty respected NFL writer. 269 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: He said going into the twenty twenty one and the 270 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: Vikings are going to have the number one defense in 271 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: the league. So there's a lot of hype around this defense. 272 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: And we know the Viking poured a ton of resources 273 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: into this unit, this off thee than way more so 274 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: in the offense obviously, and they put a revamp it after, 275 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: you know, a pretty embarrassing season last year, and it's 276 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmers ready to go. You know, he had his 277 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 1: guy then, that he had the talent, he had a 278 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: mix of veterans and young guy. Then the time to go. Yeah. 279 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: Whenever Mike Zimmer has made the playoffs, his defense has 280 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: been a top five, top ten defense. So if we're 281 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: talking top two or number one overall ring defense with 282 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: what we had the fourth best offense last year as 283 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: far as total yards, well, total offense, I think that's 284 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: a recipe for success. I agree. So there's our takeaways 285 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: from the depth chart our takeaways from the first few 286 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: days of joint practices. Now, let's go back in time 287 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: and talk about the career of Steve Hutchinson, which was 288 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: honored this past weekend in Canton, Ohio the Pro Football 289 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Such a great experience for Vikings 290 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: fans to see one of the all time offensive linemen 291 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: for this team be honored for such a such a 292 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: great consistent career, a career that he was one of 293 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: the best offensive lineman on the twenty nine team when 294 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: Brett Farve took that team to the NFC Championship game 295 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: and was a big part of Vikings history. Just one 296 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: of the best players to ever wear the purple and gold. 297 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: So I'll throw it to Eric, what are your overall 298 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: takeaways of Steve Hutchinson as a Minnesota Viking man. I 299 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: just kind of picture, you know, hutch played left guard, 300 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: and I just think him just mauling people in the 301 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: run game. I mean, for a long time the Vikings 302 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: had probably the league's best rushing attack with when Adrian 303 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: Peterson was here. And Adrians certainly has the talent, you know, 304 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: probably a Hall of Fame talent alone, but you have 305 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: to have blockers up front and having Hutt paved the way. 306 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: Just everything worked in think and just made for a 307 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 1: dynamic running game. Offensive lineman don't get a ton of credit, 308 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: you know, they kind of do their job and go 309 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: home for the day. But it was just that the 310 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: Hutchinson just just kind of mauled people and just moved 311 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: him out of the way. And the Vikings put together 312 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: a really nice tribute from former teammates and coaches for 313 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: hutch and Adrian was on there and he talked about 314 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: his two hundred and ninety six yard game against the 315 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: Chargers and he was like, at halftime, I only had 316 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: forty or fifty yards and hutch you were the ones 317 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: saying keep going, keep going. And Adrian obviously rushed for 318 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: over two hundred yards in the second half and most 319 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: of them were to the left side, right behind hutch 320 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: Just an iconic player, a great guy, and Vikings history, 321 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: and we're all happy for him to be in trined 322 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 1: in Kenton. Will you talk about that video from his 323 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: former teammates, the names they say for themselves, Randy Moss, 324 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: Tom Brady from the University of Michigan. The list goes 325 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: on and on. Let's take a listen to that tribute 326 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: to Steve Hutchinson. Steve Hutchison, Man, the time is over. 327 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: I remember a few years ago, Man, Man, you sitting 328 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: down on a dead dinner banquet and just saying, Man Moss, 329 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: when I put the Hall of Fame Jack in on, 330 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: it will be complete. Well, mister Hutchinson, as the old teammate, congratulations, 331 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: we are now on teammates for life. Well deserve great career. Congratulations, 332 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: big fellow hutch what's up. Congratulations on the Pro Football 333 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. We've known each other man going back 334 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: twenty five years, and so proud of you all that 335 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: you accomplished in life on and off the field. You're 336 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,240 Speaker 1: a great example to all of us pro athletes about 337 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: how to do things the right way. So glad to 338 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: see you're going to be in shrine this weekend. I'll 339 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: be there in person and look forward to seeing you best. 340 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: Always take care. Just what he brought to us in 341 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 1: some rare circumstances, him coming from Seattle to us and 342 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: then he lent to the Minnesota Vikings, and you know, 343 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: you're such a big part of our success there and 344 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: that championship run in two thousand and nine am. Hey, 345 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: what's up, Hutch. I just wanted to take a moment 346 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: to say agelations, to let you know that I'm honored 347 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 1: and I'm proud that you're in the position that you're 348 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: in right now. You gave this lead twelve years of 349 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: playing at a high level, and I was blessed to 350 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,679 Speaker 1: be a part of that for five years in Minnesota. 351 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: You were you were durable, you were accountable, you were physical, 352 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: you were techniques sound. You one of those guys they 353 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: did it the right way every time you stepped on 354 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: that field, and your presence was felt. When I lined 355 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: up behind you, I knew when I ran to the 356 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:44,239 Speaker 1: left side, I had no worries, you know. And you 357 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: know that's just a testament to why you're in the 358 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 1: position as you are now getting ready to put on 359 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 1: that yellow jacket. Man, I'm so pumped up for you. Man, 360 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: you deserve it. Tremendous amount of respect for Steve and 361 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: what he and how he played the game and what 362 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: he stood for his family. And I really emulated kind 363 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: of what he what he did with his family and 364 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 1: how he interacted and a just a great dude. Um 365 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,199 Speaker 1: Rougher on the edges and Um I always respected the 366 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: way he approached the game and just tremendous, tremendous player. Congratulations, Steve. 367 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: I'm very proud of of your induction, and uh, I 368 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: know how important you were to our team and for 369 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: many years and such a leader and such a great guy. Again, 370 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: congratulations Steve. It's incredible just to be here, to see 371 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: someone so deservingly go into the Hall of Fame, and 372 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: not only was he a great player, but he's even 373 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: a better human being. And to see him been honored 374 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: for his career both in Seattle and here in Minnesota. Uh, 375 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: it's I feel honored just to be here. You know, 376 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 1: he looks incredible. He looks better now than he did 377 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: when he was playing. And it's been it's been you know, 378 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: ten years, I think since he was last in the NFL, 379 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: and UM, just really thrilled for him and Landing and 380 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 1: the kids. It's amazing to be here and see Luke 381 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: and Lily and you know, the last time we saw 382 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: them in person, they were they were little kids, and 383 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: now they're you know, I think Lily's getting ready to 384 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 1: go off to college here soon, and Luke's you know, 385 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 1: rapidly catching his dad in size and it's it's incredible. 386 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: It makes me feel a little bit old. Hey congrats Steve, 387 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: I mean, well deserved on what you accomplish. Um looking 388 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: forward to getting the watching you go getting shrine and 389 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: the many years down in the road coming back to 390 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: the Hall getting to know you even better. So yeah, 391 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: like I said, we'll congratulations. I think every good team 392 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: is built on on their big men. And uh, he 393 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: was just such a consistent and unbelievable player for so 394 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: long and he just helped bolster a great offensive line 395 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: that that that had so much success and in such 396 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: a such a heart league, and uh, you know because 397 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: of him, he just brought this whole different level of 398 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: tenacity and in consistency that that everyone looked up to 399 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: and uh, you know just tried to try to match 400 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 1: and a lot of us failed in doing that. But 401 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: you know, um, he was just a tremendous leader, a 402 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 1: guy that was a nobs guy and that was just 403 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 1: an embottiment of of what you know, the Minnesota Vikings 404 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: are and he just he just provided tremendous leadership and 405 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: that's why he's here and you know, going to be 406 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: inducted the whole family. You know, I never forget my 407 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: rookie year against San Diego going into the locker room 408 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: at halftime, we had forty three yards Russian and I 409 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: remember looking at you guys and looking at you and 410 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: you were just like you wasn't phazed because you knew 411 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: those opportunities that had presented stuff. And I remember too, 412 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: a lot of them came on the left side, and 413 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 1: our schooled to play up because I wasn't. I wasn't 414 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: paying patients, being patient, and not once that you get upset, 415 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: you just told him to keep on pounding, keep on pounding. 416 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 1: We came out the second half and rush for two 417 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: hundred and feet three yards and one hundred and sixty one. 418 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: One hundred and sixty one of those yards came from 419 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,280 Speaker 1: your side. You're talking about a guy that dominated the 420 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: game at a high level for a long time, Hutch. 421 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: That was you, man, and it was just an honor 422 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: to play with you, and it was it was it 423 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: was a no brainer that you would be um, you know, 424 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: having this success and you know getting ready to you know, 425 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: say your speech here here soon, you know, So I 426 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 1: just take my hat off to you again and know 427 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 1: that was an honor to play with your brother. Love 428 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: you and God bless you. Well. You heard it there, 429 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: Randy Moss, Tom Brady, The names go on and on, Gabe. 430 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: When you see that many players, substantial Hall of Fame 431 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: players talking about Steve Hutchinson, what does that mean for 432 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: him in his career? That means his career is respected. 433 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: That means he's put the work in to get where 434 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: he needs to be to have I guess, to have 435 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: future Hall of famers and former Hall of famers giving 436 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: praise to a guy like Steve Hutchinson at this point 437 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: in his life. I think that says a lot about 438 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: his career. Eric had a lot of things on the 439 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: head as far as who he was as a person, 440 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: who he was as a player, and just seeing the 441 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: respect and appreciation around the league. I don't think you 442 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 1: can ask for any much more credit than that. I 443 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: think that's like the stamp on his Hall of Fame 444 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: just career. When you get a guy like I mean, 445 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: Randy Moss, ap Tom Brady, I mean you named a 446 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: few of those guys like you don't get those guys 447 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: to say. Those guys don't really say much, so when 448 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: they do, you know, it's the stamp of approval. When 449 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: those guys talk, people listen, So that's definitely as good 450 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: as it can get for a guy who plays probably 451 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: one of the positions that you never hear about. For 452 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: him to get all that recognition from Hall of Fame 453 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: players and some of the best players ever, that's as 454 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 1: good as it gets. But Gabe and I had a 455 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,360 Speaker 1: chance to talk with senior editor of Vikings dot Com 456 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: Craig Peters, who covered the entire weekend in Canton, Ohio. 457 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: Let's take a listen to that conversation with Craiger's. All right, 458 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 1: so we bring in the first guest of today's show, 459 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: and it's Vikings dot Com senior editor Craig Peters joins 460 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: the show and we bring him in right outside the 461 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: TCO Performance Center. You can't see it because we're just 462 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:23,720 Speaker 1: doing audio here, but Craig is working around the tier 463 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 1: system at the TCO Performance Center. What's going on? Craiger's Hey, 464 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,160 Speaker 1: of course, so good to see you, buddy. Good good 465 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,680 Speaker 1: to speak. Way, They're good to join the podcast, and uh, 466 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: it is nice to be back in Minnesota after a 467 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,040 Speaker 1: fantastic trip to Canton, Ohio, the cradle of professional football. 468 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,399 Speaker 1: You know me, I'm a big history football history geek. 469 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: So I mean that's going there is just always incredible. 470 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: Came back this week. You know, we got a big 471 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: week with preseason kicking off, joint practices, a lot of 472 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: excitement in the air, So that's that's super great too. 473 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 1: Briefly spoke to a couple of Broncos employees and they 474 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: just come back from Kenton too, and it's you know, 475 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 1: so they're in like an even bigger whirlwin of things 476 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: with being here for a few days. So but it's great, 477 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: great to be back and great to join you other day. Yeah, 478 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,119 Speaker 1: the reason I had you on the show is because 479 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: you just got back from Kenton, Ohio. As you said 480 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: and mentioned, you were covering Steve Hutchinson's Pro Football Hall 481 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: of Fame enshrinement. So I guess my first question is 482 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: what is your favorite moment from your weekend in Kenton, 483 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 1: Ohio with Steve Hutchinson. I think it was just seeing 484 00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: the way that NFL and football people really can reconnect 485 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: after after so long and it's like they pick up 486 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: right where they left off, you know, like hutch was 487 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: able to play for five seasons in Seattle, six here 488 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: in Minnesota, and then actually one in Tennessee. I was 489 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: actually with the Titans in that final season down there, 490 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: so uh, you know, got to know him a little 491 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: bit down there, and it was was great. You know. 492 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: We we fly in on Thursday the Inn and we 493 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 1: rushed right to his hotel, knock out a couple interviews, 494 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: and then you almost don't see him again the rest 495 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: of the weekend up close because of so many obligations. 496 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: But um, the people that traveled from near far, you know, 497 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: as as close as like Kevin Stefanski, the head coach 498 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: of the Brown stopped by Hutch's party on Friday night, 499 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: and then like people from the West Coast, and you know, 500 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: Hutches doing some work for Seattle in the personnel department now, 501 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: so a lot of their scouts were there, and his 502 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: college teammates were there, you know, like some of some 503 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: of the members of the ninety seven Michigan title team 504 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: on Jake Long, who had been here for a little 505 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 1: bit too, he was on a Michigan man and head 506 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 1: coach Lloyd Carr even came out, and then the Manning 507 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 1: family was there. So it's really neat to see, um 508 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: the way that goes. And like one thing that I 509 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: did observe is the night of Hutch's party. Was this 510 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: just hours earlier they had gotten their gold jackets, you know, 511 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: So so hutch is wearing the most coveted sports jacket 512 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: in professional football, right and other people who had received 513 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,479 Speaker 1: their gold jackets at the same ceremony did not wear them. 514 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: And I don't know if it was deliberate or not, 515 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: but I think it kind of was as a nod 516 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: to like, hey, you should be the only one wearing 517 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,000 Speaker 1: this one at this event. You know. So Peyton Manning 518 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: was wearing like the jacket that he was wearing before 519 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 1: he had his placed on, you know, and Charles Woodson 520 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 1: was there, and so it was just really neat to 521 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: see those connections cross team and regions and at a 522 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: time when everyone's just really so excited try to return 523 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: to normalcy. Yeah. One of the highlights that that I 524 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 1: just saw from AFAR from Steve Hutchinson's speech was he says, 525 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: as far as I'm concerned, there's not a better place 526 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: on Earth than Canton, Ohio today. Just the energy there 527 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: in Canton that day. I surround and Steve Hutchinson, Kate, 528 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: could you expound on that a little bit? Yeah, absolutely, 529 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,640 Speaker 1: so so the Saturday Saturday in Canton is a special day, 530 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: and this year everyone got a Sunday in Canton two 531 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 1: with the twenty one class, but the twenty twenty class, 532 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 1: of which Steve is a member, finally got their recognition 533 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 1: after a year long postponement, and they have the parade 534 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:27,120 Speaker 1: that morning, so the community can really celebrate the role 535 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: that Canton has had in professional football when when it 536 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: started in nineteen twenty with a meeting on September seventeenth, 537 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: and they put together somehow a fourteen team league. Not 538 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: not every team even played like a full season that year, 539 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 1: but they had it going. And then hutch was able 540 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: to swing by a Viking social gathering that day around 541 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: lunchtime and speak with with Ziggi Wilf, our owner chairman. 542 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: And you know, earlier in the day mister wilf had 543 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: celebrated a ribbon cutting for a founder's exhibited side the 544 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: Pro Football Hall of Fame. So we're able to attend 545 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: that and cover that, and we'll have some content on 546 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: that in the near future. But then as Hutchinson was leaving, 547 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: the man is still working is crap because he was 548 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: leaving to go practice with the telepropter. He had never 549 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: done that before, and you know he wanted to nail it. 550 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: It's the biggest speech offensive. Linemen are notorious for not 551 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 1: liking public speaking, you know so, but like, um, when 552 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: when that moment is extended to you. I shouldn't say 553 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 1: extended to you, because you've earned every bit of that, 554 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: but like when all of the things that they talked 555 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: about that made him a great player, intensity, work, ethic, preparation, delivery, finishing, Like, 556 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: I think all of those elements that made him so 557 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: great as a player and a person were included in 558 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: that speech. I loved the speech. You know, you can 559 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: say bias or whatever, but I just thought it just 560 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: delivered on so much. It delivered so much authenticity, And 561 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: I think that that is one of his biggest attributes, authenticity, 562 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: And that's why teammates came back from from nearly two 563 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,640 Speaker 1: decades and why more recent Viking teammates were so happy 564 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 1: to come to Canton and celebrate hutch My natural next 565 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: question is what's your favorite bite from Hutchinson's speech. Do 566 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: you have like a couple of words that just stuck 567 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: out in your head and you remember, that's my favorite 568 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: moment from that speech. Yeah, I just think it it's 569 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: so much about how much he and his wife have 570 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: been together on this journey since the eighth grade. I mean, 571 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: you go back to eighth grade and you think about, 572 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, having this partnership, relationship, marriage, you raise two children, 573 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 1: and like through the test of time, you know, things 574 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: that stand the test of time. Is just really incredible 575 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 1: to me. And you can see, like when he started 576 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: to describe his family and then I will say, when 577 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 1: he went choked out talking about the days his kids 578 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 1: were born, because a lot of people say, oh, that's 579 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: the best day of my life. But then like it 580 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: became clear so quickly that so many days that he 581 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,200 Speaker 1: spent with his children since then have been so enjoyable 582 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: for him. I mean, Steve Utchinson, seven time Pro bowler, 583 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: five time first team All Pro, two times second team 584 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: All Pro. Craig, what do you think. I mean, you 585 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: had the opportunity to work with him one year while 586 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: you're in Tennessee. But overall, overall, looking at his entire career, 587 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 1: what do you think his best attribute was. I think 588 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: that I even wrote that in the coverage of the 589 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: speech that night, is just the intensity that he brought 590 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: because random McDaniel, fellow Hall of Fame guard, fellow Vikings legend. 591 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: Just that, I mean, he perks up when he talks 592 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: away that about the way that he saw Steve Hutchinson 593 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: finishing blocks, you know, so that intensity is just always 594 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: there and it had to be because when he started 595 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,960 Speaker 1: in Seattle, his first three years, he was practicing against 596 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: John Randall, another gold jacket. So he also widely credits 597 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: those years and he's he's kind of described the way 598 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 1: that like, eventually he got to a point of going 599 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: against John that he was starting to hold his own 600 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: and his offense, his teammates on the offensive line. His 601 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 1: presenter was center Robbie Tobeck, and then his flank was 602 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: Walter Jones, another Hall of Famer, And that was actually 603 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 1: the first time that Steve had ever been to Canton 604 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 1: was for Walter joneses in shrime and weekend, so and 605 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: then that was his next trip obviously since was this 606 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 1: past weekend. But yeah, just the intensity and then the technique, 607 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 1: I mean, you have to have such great techno nique 608 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: to not get a single penalty for an entire NFL season, 609 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, crazy about that. You think about the life 610 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: of an old line and people know you if things 611 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 1: went wrong, you're right and the right exactly to live 612 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: under the radar most of the time. I mean, you know, 613 00:33:18,760 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: the people that selected all pros and the Pro Bowls, 614 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: might you know notice how just how great you are. 615 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: But it's it's just incredible to think about not a 616 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: single penalty for two separate seasons. And that's just this 617 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: this commitment of technique and uh, always doing it the 618 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: right way. You know, like if you get slightly disadvantaged 619 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: in a play and you try to take a shortcut, 620 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:45,560 Speaker 1: you know that's that's when you might get ahold penalty 621 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,320 Speaker 1: or whatever. You know, so you like you just take 622 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: the easy route. Um, but you know, the fact that 623 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 1: he didn't do that, uh is pretty pretty impressive and 624 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 1: I think quite evident. Last one for me, I just 625 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 1: noticed in your interview with Hutch before the ceremony he 626 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 1: was kind of emphasizing the fact that it means so 627 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:08,720 Speaker 1: much more that he hadn't been in the first few times. 628 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: Now he's in. What do you think that that meant 629 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 1: to him to miss it a few times and then 630 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 1: get recognized obviously not the most glamorous position on the 631 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 1: offensive line, but now he's finally in he gets the 632 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 1: knock on the door from the head of the Pro 633 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: Football Hall of Fame, which is one of my favorite 634 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:29,919 Speaker 1: moments on Twitter. But what do you think it meant 635 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: to him to miss it the first few times and 636 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: now he's enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yeah, 637 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: there's a fantastic video Steve's wife, Landon took of that 638 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,560 Speaker 1: moment when they're they're waiting in the Miami hotel to 639 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 1: find out if it's going to be a knock or 640 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 1: a phone call, And David Baker told me how he 641 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: had had to deliver that phone call to Hutchinson a 642 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 1: couple of times, and that video just captures the family's 643 00:34:57,000 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 1: knowledge of just how much that moment means, how bad 644 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: everyone in the room wanted it so authentically and just like, 645 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 1: you know, you see this this big burly guy lumbering 646 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: around pacing, you know, and then you hear the knock 647 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: and it's a gasp and there are years you know, 648 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 1: and you can tell like and this is I mean, 649 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: one thing is is Steve is like one of the 650 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 1: earliest guards to ever go in in eligibility. It was 651 00:35:25,080 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: his third year of eligibility in which he went in 652 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,280 Speaker 1: and there's only a handful of like only played guards 653 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 1: ever that have gone in faster. So even so, he 654 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:40,880 Speaker 1: maybe wasn't as long as Alan Fanica twenty twenty one 655 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:43,960 Speaker 1: and Trenny that also played guard and did it so well, 656 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: but you can tell that he appreciates where he came 657 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:55,839 Speaker 1: from every step of the journey, every block, every weightlifted, 658 00:35:56,080 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: every speech from a coach, every grinding through being banged up, 659 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: everything that he could put into becoming one of the 660 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,800 Speaker 1: best to ever play the position. And the fact that 661 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: is recognized by a guy who didn't really go out 662 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 1: of his way to whole praise on himself as he 663 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:24,920 Speaker 1: was doing all of these things. Once it's finally officially 664 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:28,640 Speaker 1: recognized and he can sign his name with h owl 665 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: after it wherever he wants to. Now, if he wants 666 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:34,600 Speaker 1: to do that that way, he's got that opportunity the 667 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:37,800 Speaker 1: rest of his life. So I think that knowing what 668 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: you've been through and having an appreciation is just such 669 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: a sweetener when the moment failing comes. Yeah, especially being 670 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 1: the first offense, well the second offensive I guess offensive 671 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:55,759 Speaker 1: lineman draft in two thousand and one and draft he 672 00:36:55,960 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 1: is the only offensive lineman in the two thousand and 673 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:00,200 Speaker 1: one draft class to actually be in the Hall of 674 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: Fame right now. So I think that that pretty much 675 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:06,280 Speaker 1: speaks to his career in its entirety. And a quote 676 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: that stands out to me, it's a press conference that 677 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 1: he said he said, success isn't always comfortable or easy. 678 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,800 Speaker 1: It requires sacrifice, and especially from a guy being drafted 679 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 1: in the first round, you just think it comes easy, 680 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 1: right because oh my gosh, you got everything going for you. 681 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 1: But for a guy like Steve Hutchinson where he said 682 00:37:24,120 --> 00:37:26,759 Speaker 1: where it doesn't come easy. What do you think that 683 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:30,520 Speaker 1: provides the offensive lineing now on this Minnesota Vikings roster 684 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: that want to be Hall of famers. Yeah, And I 685 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 1: think that's that's a great goal to have, and I 686 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 1: think there's a realization. I mean, he set it out 687 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 1: and he laid that out there, and his presenter even 688 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: talked about right when he got there that he said, 689 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:47,040 Speaker 1: I want to be the best. I want to make 690 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: it to the Hall of Fame. Whatever you do in life, 691 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: if you're an offensive lineman, now, if you're doing whatever, 692 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: if you're not playing football, if you're if you're just 693 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: trying to be the best, you can be and maximize 694 00:37:56,600 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 1: whatever your goals are if you remember why you have 695 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: those goals, and you persevere and you you go through everything, 696 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:10,759 Speaker 1: any challenges and problem solve and remain focused on the 697 00:38:11,520 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 1: final destination. I think that that can that can be 698 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 1: a message for all of us, um And so I 699 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,759 Speaker 1: think I think that you're you're spot on with with 700 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:24,040 Speaker 1: it isn't always easy, you know, and and people assume 701 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 1: for a first round pick it it never was hard, right. 702 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:32,880 Speaker 1: So uh and while the strength and the athleticism and 703 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:35,840 Speaker 1: all of those, I would say God given traits and 704 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 1: abilities that are maybe enhanced through hard work, Um, we're 705 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:43,640 Speaker 1: already there. I mean at one time he was like 706 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:47,560 Speaker 1: being considered to play defensive tackle at Michigan, you know, so, 707 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:50,560 Speaker 1: and then you switch and then you become one of 708 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,879 Speaker 1: the best guards ever in the NFL. So it's it's 709 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:56,160 Speaker 1: just such a reminder to all of us when I 710 00:38:56,239 --> 00:39:00,399 Speaker 1: have a rough day that success isn't supposed to easy. 711 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,160 Speaker 1: I think, I think that there are things we can 712 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:05,960 Speaker 1: do that that set us up for success. And I 713 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:08,879 Speaker 1: think that um Steve was able to do so many 714 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 1: of those things and stay committed and m and work 715 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:15,920 Speaker 1: his rear off you know. Well, there you have it 716 00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 1: from Craig Peters Vikings dot com, giving me the chills 717 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:22,239 Speaker 1: and making me want to be better in my everyday life, 718 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 1: that's for sure. So my motivational speaker. I love it. 719 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: I love it. Craigers, Thank you so much for joining us, 720 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,760 Speaker 1: and thank you for bringing us all of your insight 721 00:39:32,280 --> 00:39:35,560 Speaker 1: from your trip with Steve Hutchinson at the Pro Football 722 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame this past week. Well, thanks so much 723 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,719 Speaker 1: for having me. It's it's an incredible honor to have 724 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:43,960 Speaker 1: been able to cover that and just look forward to 725 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,480 Speaker 1: a couple more Vikings and Tramats down the road to 726 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:51,800 Speaker 1: keep hutch company. All right, Well, thanks to Craig Peters 727 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:54,800 Speaker 1: for joining the show. You always get motivated when you 728 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: talk to Craig, that's for sure. I think gave and 729 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,480 Speaker 1: I had the chills after hearing Craig's little motivational speech there, 730 00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:05,080 Speaker 1: which you'll love to hear. But oh, so many things 731 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 1: going on with the Minnesota Vikings, from Hall of Fame 732 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: enshrinements to Vikings training camp with the Denver Broncos. I 733 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 1: guess we'll wrap it up with some final takeaways and 734 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:17,360 Speaker 1: I'll go to you, Tatum. What are you most looking 735 00:40:17,480 --> 00:40:21,480 Speaker 1: forward to and the Vikings first preseason game coming up 736 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:24,800 Speaker 1: at US Bank Stadium on Saturday. I'm just so excited 737 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: to see this team come together as a whole, honestly. 738 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,680 Speaker 1: Like obviously, we've talked about our matchups at camp, and 739 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,279 Speaker 1: I'll have my eyes on that too, but i want 740 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 1: to see some game action. I feel like we've waited 741 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:37,960 Speaker 1: three weeks for this, not to mention you know, OTA's 742 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,840 Speaker 1: and mini camp, and I want to see Obviously, we 743 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 1: won't see too many of the starters this, you know, 744 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:45,200 Speaker 1: in this one, So I'm excited to get to see 745 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:48,840 Speaker 1: these younger guys and experienced guys maybe get a chance 746 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 1: to go out there and improve themselves, and especially on 747 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 1: special teams. I think that's something to watch for a 748 00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:57,800 Speaker 1: lot of these young guys. And so honestly, I'm I 749 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:00,360 Speaker 1: know that's maybe the boring answer, but I'm just excited 750 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:05,320 Speaker 1: to watch football. That's never never a bad answer watching football. 751 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:07,240 Speaker 1: I think we all miss it as much as anything. 752 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:09,799 Speaker 1: There's gonna be a lot of weekends of football coming 753 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,239 Speaker 1: up consecutively here and I cannot wait. Eric. What are 754 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 1: your final thoughts? Yeah, I'm excited to see fans back 755 00:41:16,120 --> 00:41:18,239 Speaker 1: in the building. I know we all missed that last year, 756 00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 1: and just the atmosphere and the energy they create. I 757 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:25,600 Speaker 1: can't wait to see that on Saturday afternoon. In terms 758 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 1: of on the field, I'm excited to watch Jake Browning 759 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:32,120 Speaker 1: and Chris you touched on him earlier. You know, he's 760 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:35,520 Speaker 1: really shown a lot I think this training camp and 761 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:38,680 Speaker 1: a being available to be on the field, but also 762 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 1: you know he's kind of stepped up as a leader 763 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:42,759 Speaker 1: and kept the train on the tracks when the team 764 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: really needed it. And he had kind of grabbed hold 765 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 1: of that backup quarterback job right now behind Kirk Cousins. 766 00:41:48,080 --> 00:41:51,239 Speaker 1: But Canny keep doing it in the in games. You know, 767 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 1: he'd looked good in practice, you know, kind of against 768 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:56,560 Speaker 1: the same defense over and over. But let's see how 769 00:41:56,600 --> 00:42:00,120 Speaker 1: he does in front of sixty five thousand fans, you know, 770 00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:05,359 Speaker 1: against a good Denver Broncos defense on TV, like when 771 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 1: when the bright lights are going. I think he can 772 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:10,840 Speaker 1: step up to the plate and step up to the challenge. 773 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:12,840 Speaker 1: And if he does, you know, he'll really kind of 774 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 1: solidify that that backup spot. Because um, Kellen Mond is 775 00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: not expected to play on Saturday. He just a little 776 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:21,880 Speaker 1: bit too far behind. So if Browning can keep his 777 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:24,600 Speaker 1: momentum going is the backup, he should be in a 778 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:27,040 Speaker 1: good spot heading into the theethen Yay, what are you 779 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:28,920 Speaker 1: looking forward to? I think just on top of what 780 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:31,560 Speaker 1: both Tatum and Eric said, as far as like seeing 781 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 1: the Purple faithful out there, I haven't experienced it, like 782 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:37,640 Speaker 1: as I haven't experienced a home game at US Main 783 00:42:37,719 --> 00:42:39,680 Speaker 1: Stadium with fans, So I'm looking forward to that. But 784 00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 1: on top of what Eric said about Jake Browning, I'm 785 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:44,319 Speaker 1: just looking forward to seeing who is that next guy. 786 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:46,360 Speaker 1: Who is going to be that one person that emerges 787 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:49,919 Speaker 1: that we haven't talked about all offseason. Is it a Danhasina, 788 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:52,440 Speaker 1: is it a Harrison Hand or just someone that we 789 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:56,240 Speaker 1: haven't heard or talked about, Like, Who's who's gonna shine 790 00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 1: bright when the opportunity is right upon him. I mean, 791 00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:01,759 Speaker 1: we've seen all these guys practice, we've seen all these 792 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,920 Speaker 1: guys play, but some guys are just they just have 793 00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:07,000 Speaker 1: that switch. When his game time they turn it on, 794 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:09,800 Speaker 1: and we haven't been able That's the one thing we 795 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:12,040 Speaker 1: haven't been able to see all training camp, all mini camp, 796 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:14,640 Speaker 1: all OTAs. So who's going to be that guy? I'm 797 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: not sure who who's who is going to be. It's 798 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:19,919 Speaker 1: a Showdon Richardson, is it DJ Wanham, is it Patrick Jones? 799 00:43:19,960 --> 00:43:23,080 Speaker 1: The second Like, those guys haven't had their starting reps 800 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,839 Speaker 1: per se and during training camp, but they'll have an 801 00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:30,640 Speaker 1: opportunity to get to the quarterback in preseason game number one. 802 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:32,439 Speaker 1: So who's going to be that guy? I'm not sure, 803 00:43:32,760 --> 00:43:34,800 Speaker 1: but I know somebody will emerge. Well, I think we 804 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:38,000 Speaker 1: know in years past, normally the starters get one drive 805 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:40,680 Speaker 1: on offense. That's usually how it goes. In the first 806 00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:43,799 Speaker 1: preseason game. The defense, you see them, you know, play 807 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:46,160 Speaker 1: a few reps and then Mike Zimmer likes to get 808 00:43:46,239 --> 00:43:48,880 Speaker 1: them out of there and avoid any injuries. So you 809 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:51,520 Speaker 1: definitely will get a chance to see if Patrick Jones 810 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:54,360 Speaker 1: rushed the quarterback for the first time. I remember a 811 00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 1: few years ago a Fadio Dnibo really making his way 812 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:00,440 Speaker 1: in this defense, and Stephen Weatherly was another guy who 813 00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:03,600 Speaker 1: really showed off in the preseason. A lot of the 814 00:44:03,719 --> 00:44:06,960 Speaker 1: young Vikings pass rushers will have that opportunity to do 815 00:44:07,120 --> 00:44:11,440 Speaker 1: that on Saturday. So we're just all excited for football. 816 00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:15,120 Speaker 1: I can't wait. I know you guys can't wait. And Saturday, 817 00:44:15,280 --> 00:44:20,279 Speaker 1: August fourteenth, US Banks Stadium preseason Game number one at 818 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:23,719 Speaker 1: three pm Central Time. We're all excited here at the 819 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:27,360 Speaker 1: Vikings Entertainment Network. Stay tuned to all of our coverage 820 00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:30,040 Speaker 1: on all of our platforms. You guys have been doing 821 00:44:30,080 --> 00:44:33,360 Speaker 1: an outstanding job with Vikings Training Camp live from the 822 00:44:33,440 --> 00:44:36,399 Speaker 1: TCO Performance Center. That's going on just about every day 823 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:39,800 Speaker 1: leading up to the first preseason game, so stay tuned 824 00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:43,439 Speaker 1: on all of our platforms. Tatum's been getting every single 825 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: Viking player after practice out on the field, so look 826 00:44:46,640 --> 00:44:48,920 Speaker 1: forward to those interviews and look forward to all the 827 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:52,839 Speaker 1: content coming up leading up to preseason game number one. 828 00:44:53,480 --> 00:44:55,440 Speaker 1: That'll do it for the crew here on the Minnesota 829 00:44:55,520 --> 00:44:59,279 Speaker 1: Vikings Podcast, Episode one oh six. We will see you 830 00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:00,879 Speaker 1: next week two