1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: You may end up watching four hundred players writing four 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: hundred reports. Do you just love the process and know 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,079 Speaker 1: that those boxes needed to check, then you kind of 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: have a sense of piece about what happens at the 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: end of it. When you're going to invest that much money, 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: that much time than a player, you just want to 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: be sure about who you're bringing into your building. So 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 1: you just want to be sure about you checked every 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: box along the way to make sure you're making the 10 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: most sound decisions. Well, after we had podcasts after podcast 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: last week, this is now episode one forty five. We 12 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: thank you so much for tuning into all that draft coverage. 13 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: That tiring week is finally over. Game. I think they're 14 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: podcasted out, they are put They're back again thinking about 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: what this new Vikings regime is going to do with 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: these players that we got in this past weekend. I 17 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: think it was great to kind of sit back and 18 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: not make quick judgments on things. You know, we saw 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: the picks, did a little research, got a chance to 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: listen to the podcast where you guys broke everything down 21 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: from Louis scene all the way to Nick News, and 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: so I think, yeah, it was good to kind of 23 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: get all different perspectives on it and to understand the 24 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: why behind the picks. As I know you'd like to say, 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: it's always good talking to these guys and understanding what 26 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: they're going to add as far as value to this 27 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: team when they actually put on their their jerseys and 28 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,479 Speaker 1: their shoulder pads and helmets. But this is the time 29 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: that we get to be able to hear these guys 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: as people and to understand who they are as people, 31 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: and which is why we both of us have the 32 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: opportunity to talk to some of these guys that are 33 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: in the interviews on vikings dot com right now, but 34 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: to talk to some of these guys just to hear, Okay, 35 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: what's really got you to this point? And every story 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: is different, so just being able to talk to these guys, 37 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: they're young, they're still they still want to talk to us, 38 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: So that's that's that's the number one thing point though, 39 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: like a lot of these interviews, like they can talk 40 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: about their play, but you've watched the film, you read 41 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: their draft profiles. But the man behind the helmet, or 42 00:01:58,200 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: the man under the helmet, as they would say, is 43 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: what these one on ones are really for. And as 44 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: you mentioned, they are dropping some where are dropping some 45 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: more of them this week with some of the later 46 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: round guys. And I keep saying this, and I can't 47 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: say it enough, but I just feel walking away from 48 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: every conversation that I've had with these draft picks, whether 49 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: it's those guys drafted on the first night the last night, 50 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: as well as these free agents, very grounded individuals. They 51 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: all seem very intelligent. They seem like humble guys, Like 52 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: I'm really excited about this group of new faces. Yeah, 53 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: and then I think a guy that stands out to me. 54 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: It's probably Ty Chandler, a guy that comes from a 55 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: background where his mother was his grandmother and grandfather worked 56 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: at a dairy farm and they own cows, and they 57 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: own cows in Mississippi, and then they kind of, you know, 58 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: made some money, moved to Nashville and then kind of 59 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: figured out, Okay, well this football thing may work out. 60 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 1: And ultimately he got to Tennessee, had some years there, 61 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: played really good football there, and then went to my 62 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: Tar Hills at a University of North Carolina and had 63 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: a breakout season. So hearing stories like that of you know, 64 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: the person of like, you know, that perseverance of being 65 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: on that dairy farm and understanding that, hey, if I 66 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: can make it from here, I can make it anywhere. 67 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: These are the type of guys that Quacy and Kevin 68 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: wants to have on this team. And I think ultimately 69 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: that makes this locker room better because you already have 70 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: good locker room. You already have good guys in the 71 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: locker room already that have their own story, but understand 72 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: that you know, this is a team thing. So your 73 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: background in my background may not be the same, but 74 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: we're working towards a common goal and I think Quacy 75 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: and Kevin are all on board or that of bringing 76 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: all those personalities, all those perspectives all in one locker 77 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: room to ultimately make this team that we call the 78 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings as good as possible. It's gonna be great. 79 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: I mean, next week is rookie Minicamp. We'll get all 80 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: those new guys and here's well as the undrafted free agents, 81 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: and we'll get our first glances at what they're gonna be, like, 82 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: how they interact see them in the hallways. They get 83 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: to walk around here and get a feel for it 84 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: before the veterans come in. It's funny because you know, 85 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: you blink and you're like, what off season, you got 86 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: the draft, you roll in the Rookiemmuny camp, you roll 87 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: right into OTAs you get a little bit of a 88 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: break that a training camp and or on mandatory mini 89 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: camps mission in there. I mean, we're off and running now. 90 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: Once we started, it just feels like it doesn't stop. 91 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: And I think, just just like you said, you know, 92 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: it's just like you snap and it's like, oh, shoot, 93 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: we're already here. And I remember I saw Justin Jefferson 94 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: the elevator earlier this week and basically I was like, yo, 95 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: you know what's up? And he was like, Bro, can 96 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: you believe it's been three years? And I was like, 97 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: don't tell me that, because it feels like JJ was 98 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: just getting drafted. So to your point of like when 99 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: you snap, three years have gone by, when you know, 100 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: next time we snap, these guys are gonna be rookies. 101 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: They're gonna be We're gonna be like week eight or 102 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: week nine, and we're gonna be figuring out Okay, well, 103 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: this guy was a good pick. This guy he probably 104 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: got another another year of development to get to that point. 105 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: But this is this is the time of the year 106 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: that we want to be in. We thought we were 107 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: going to have a slow off season, so the off 108 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: seasons actually felt like the regular season. And the fact 109 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: that the regular season is coming up, I would expect 110 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: Kings fans are excited um and and ready for these 111 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: sleepless nights to pay off eventually. I think we all are. 112 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: There's a lot cooking around here. There really is, and 113 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: it's not just rookimmunity camp. We just had the exciting 114 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: news earlier this week that the Vikings were playing in London, 115 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: fancy London Town week four against the New Orleans Saints, 116 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: and this is this is like a really good opportunity 117 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: for the Vikings because we lately we've had the Saints number. 118 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: But still I would I wouldn't say the Vikings don't 119 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: want to go back to the I guess it's a 120 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: Caesar Superdome at this point because the last time we 121 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: were there it was on Christmas a couple of years 122 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: ago and Alvin Kamara put a five touchdown. So the 123 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: fact that it's at a neutral site, there's international fans, 124 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: which will more more or less be Vikings fans because 125 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: we travel really well. We got to get fan base 126 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: out there also base in the UK. This is going 127 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: to be a really good time, a really good way 128 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: for the Vikings to continue to spread. You know, their 129 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: arms and their wings are internationally across the world. Yea. 130 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: For those fans who might be wondering why, you know, 131 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: we're headed back to London. This will be the second 132 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: time we went twenty thirteen, twenty seventeen two and oh 133 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: in England and the UK. So that's always you know, 134 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: working in our favor. Um. One of those things is 135 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: because in this off season, the Vikings bid on two 136 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: international marketing locale, so we now have the rights to 137 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: market the Vikings in the UK and Canada. And so 138 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: I know that's kind of like the layman's terms of 139 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: what is going on as far as that goes. But 140 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: this really really helps the Minnesota Vikings brand go global. 141 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: And I even spoke to the lad his name is 142 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: Adam Lowther he announced our fifth round pick. Yeah, he 143 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: had to say Asasia tomowo, Tomawo. I think I'm saying 144 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: it right. So how did he say? Did he say 145 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: it right? Honest to god? I have Adams what's app 146 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: number because I've interviewed him in a Vegas. I was 147 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: trying to like connect with him, and I almost I 148 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: didn't want a weird him out, but I almost messaged 149 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: him and said, you just nailed it. Because I talked 150 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: to him, was like, what happens if you get some 151 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: name that you may have like a more difficult time pronouncing. 152 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: You know, millions of people are watching all Vikings Nation, 153 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: Like that's got to be stressful. And he was just 154 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 1: so excited. He was a little nervous about the name, 155 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: but he nailed says He's name. And I was like, wait, 156 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: I like literally said to my television, go out of 157 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: the thing is I'm happy for him. I'm happy that 158 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: he nailed the name. But just being peer back in 159 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: Minnesota when you guys were in Vegas, we were Scott 160 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: Hagley and I, who's in charge of this get the Vikings, 161 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: to get the Vikings to London. He's been in London 162 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: a couple of times to make sure the transition this 163 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: move does really good work for the Vikings. But we 164 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: were talking, we were like, Okay, all right, we got 165 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: this twenty one year old that is flying from London 166 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: to Vegas on a Thursday and he doesn't have to 167 00:07:56,400 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: announce to pick until Friday or Satturday. Yeah, so I 168 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: was like, what are the chances that this guy doesn't 169 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: make it on stage? Oh No, Once you meet Adam 170 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: you know that he's a great guy, great guy. His 171 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: little brother went with him, who's under twenty one, so 172 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: you know they have they had to kind of be 173 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: tame and they're fun, which Adam Stay doesn't drink, so 174 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: you know he was. He was having a good time, 175 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: good nice quality fun out the NFL draft streams. He I 176 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: I mean, he had to be in the inner circle 177 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: every day like he was there for one thing and 178 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: one thing only to be a devout Vikings fan. And 179 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: he's a great kid. You can actually the interview is 180 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: on YouTube if you want to check him out. He's 181 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: really interesting. Um I know one thousand percent that he 182 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: will be at the London game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 183 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: to Tottenham Hotspur is the new stadium there and they've 184 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: made it to actually hold NFL games like it's a 185 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: soccer stadium, but it's built for an NFL venue also. 186 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: So that was an argument in my household this week 187 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 1: when I hadn't really looked up the details of the 188 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: stadium and my fiancee was like it's it's in Wembley. 189 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, it's the Tottenham Stadium. He's like, that's 190 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: Wembley and I was like, no, no, no, no, it's not. 191 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: And I felt so much like because he's a huge 192 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: Liverpool fan, I felt so smart. I was like, excuse me, 193 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: it's not, thank you very much. Yeah, so you were right. 194 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: So you were right. Yes, I mean, Wembley would be cool. 195 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: Wembley would be cool because of the history. But look, 196 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: I think that this is such a great opportunity. You know, 197 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: it doesn't take a home game away from the schedule. 198 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: We will still have nine home games, seven away and 199 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: one neutral site. And as you said, the rivalry with 200 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: the Saints has grown so much over the last decade. 201 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: Even more than that, really a lot of hate between 202 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: both teams, which always is fun to see manifest itself 203 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: through the game. It's the game itself. And so yeah, 204 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm I'm jazzed for this. I think it's 205 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: going to be so fun and it's neat to get 206 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: the Vikings out there, interested to see how that works 207 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: out with the buy. Yeah, because usually Viking, what teams 208 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: that have I guess a game in London, they always 209 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,319 Speaker 1: get the bye week. Yeah, and whenever you like you said, 210 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: whenever you have an international game, you usually get a 211 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: bye week. But since it's so early in the year, 212 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: the Vikings are trying to work it around that they 213 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: don't have a bye weeak. Not sure where they are 214 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: in that process, but there's going to be a really 215 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: good chance for the Vikings to make their presence known 216 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: in London. They did in twenty thirteen at Wimbley Stadium. 217 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: Twenty seventeen they won at Twickenham Stadium in London. So 218 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: now this is the third stadium that they play in London. 219 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: So hopefully that the Vikings can go three for three. 220 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: And I know Vikings fans are going to be looking 221 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: forward to the Vikings doing so. And the fact that 222 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: you know more details will be coming out soon. You 223 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: can just go to Vikings dot com at Vikings dot 224 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: com slash London to learn more about that. The fact 225 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: that those tickets will becoming available soon. I can inspect 226 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 1: that a huge car pool of Vikings fans to make 227 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: the trip overseas one thousand percent. I mean, people really 228 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: haven't traveled that much in the last couple of years, 229 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: and so this is such a great opportunity to go 230 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: out and see the country, to see something new, to 231 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: have a new experience. And Vikings fans, if I know 232 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: anything over the last year or so that I've been following, 233 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: it's that they love their experiences. They travel well, like 234 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: you said, so I'm pumped to see it. I can't 235 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: wait to see the rest of the schedule release that 236 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: will be coming out next week. May twelve is when 237 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: the NFL lets the teams. Well really, we find out 238 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: almost just before that happens, and they'll be released on 239 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: May twelve, so we will know the entire Viking schedule 240 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: May twelve, have your ticket Master apps Vikings apps ready 241 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: to go because tickets will be on sale for those games. 242 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: It'll be interesting to see if we start, you know, 243 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: two away games. Last year, we didn't have a home 244 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: opener until the end of September, so it'll be interesting 245 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: to see how things start out. Play the Yeah, do 246 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: we play the Bears the last week of the season 247 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: like we have for six years? Yeah? Do we play 248 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: the I guess the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football. Again, 249 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: there's there's a lot of themes that could have happened, 250 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: and there's I think that that is that makes this 251 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: thing much more exciting because there's so many unknowns and 252 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: schedule released day is like Christmas. Yes, because it's like, oh, 253 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: we can do this, we can do that. So you 254 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 1: can start planning your whole entire fallout. You can look 255 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: at it. I'll be like, hey, because because a lot 256 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: of that for me too. And you know, I'm like, oh, well, 257 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: what weekend? Can my parents come up here to this game? Well? Wee? Can? 258 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: Can I get friends to come up to this game? 259 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: And so it kind of becomes fun. You get to 260 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: start seeing the fall as like you know, the future 261 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: and seeing what happens, and you know, I'm actually very 262 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: interested to see the effect that having a new coaching 263 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: staff has on the amount of primetime games? How many? 264 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 1: How many? How does that compare to where they normally are? 265 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: You know, because you've got our veteran quarterback coming back, 266 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: this brand new head coach. You want to see what 267 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 1: they do. Could that mean more primetime? I will If 268 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: I had to bet money, I would say the Vikings 269 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: would get a primetime game here because this is us 270 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: Bank is one of the best experiences and experiencing that 271 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: at night, like I don't think there. There's many greater 272 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: experiences in the NFL. Last year Halloween, we played the 273 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys twenty nineteen, when we played Washington here Thursday 274 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: night football, even when we played the Stillers here last year, um, 275 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: Thursday night football. Like this is an experience that the 276 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: NFL wants and I will be surprised to have nine 277 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: home games. And that's not to have a primetime game here, 278 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 1: but we will see. There will be a lot of opportunities. 279 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: And with Kevin O'Connell his history of playing Washington, um, 280 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: well we're working in Washington, that may be a primetime 281 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: game down there in Washington exactly. That's a road game. 282 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: Oh okay, see, okay, but the ones here could be 283 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, Cardinals, Colts, the Patriots, the Jet Cowboys, is 284 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: the Jets or the Giants and Giants I know we 285 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: go there on we go to MetLife once it says 286 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: that Jets and Giants are home. Wow, I know, so 287 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: that might be going on. There's a lot going on. 288 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: No real clear ties right now as far as like 289 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:04,959 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes you make those connections like if we 290 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: were playing the Rams at home, Kevin Vershan, like that 291 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: would be a primetime game, but none of these are real. Like, 292 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised with the Cowboys again, honestly, it 293 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: was such a good matchup last time. Like I said, 294 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised. Um, I'm just thinking of what 295 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: makes it more viewable, not yeah, no, no, I'm not 296 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: thinking about Yeah the Cowboys. Yeah, that's yeah. You got 297 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: a point. You got a point. So I could definitely 298 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: see that game being being won. And the fact that 299 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: the fashion of how that game ended last year was 300 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: the walk off essentially, Um, I could. It's gonna be 301 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: some fun football. It's gonna be a fun fall um. 302 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: And it's just so crazy that everything starts next week. 303 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: It is crazy. Didn't Kevin O'Connell play for Bill Belichick? 304 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: He did, and he played for the Jets. Also, that's true. Okay, 305 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: so Jets and Patriots could be there as well, watching 306 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: Kyler and Kirk. That would be pretty darn cool Kyler 307 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: and Kirk. So Matt Ryan's going to make his trip 308 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: up here too with the Colts. Now that's exciting too. Yeah, 309 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: this is an exciting year. I'm just happy that the 310 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: Vikings only have five AFC teams, just seeing how crazy 311 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: the AFC was this past offseason. I'm just like, okay, 312 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: having five, Yeah, we do play the Jets and the Dolphins, 313 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: who basically reloaded. I'm excited to see us play some 314 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: of those NFC especially the NFC East. I think the 315 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: NFC East could be a down year for that for 316 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: that division. I mean it's been down the past couple 317 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: of years, even though they had two teams make the playoffs, 318 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: but still like nine and seven in that division is 319 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: pretty much the winner every single year. So we'll see. 320 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: They are the four teams with the least I'm going 321 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: to say this completely wrong with the lowest strength of schedule. 322 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: The four teams the lowest strength of schedules so at 323 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: the bottom and Minnesota's at twenty. So the schedule favors 324 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: the Vikings for the most part in this one. And 325 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: then it could be the fact that they played the 326 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: NFC East that helps. That helps a ton. And then 327 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: when you play the NFC East and I think we 328 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: play the NFC AFC East also East is you know 329 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: they have their their struggles also. But well we'll see. 330 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: Like I said, we we said this last year, right, 331 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 1: Vikings should be doing this, should be doing that. But 332 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: two and when coming in here to play the Seahawks 333 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: and that didn't turn out that well. So yeah, and 334 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: then one of those teams went to the super Bowl. 335 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: So anything, anything can change, anything can happen. And the 336 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: fact that this Vikings team now is everyone is here, 337 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: everyone is working out, everyone is participating in practice, and 338 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: then you got the rookies coming in next week, it's 339 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: it's it's about to be trialed by error for a 340 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: lot of these young guys. And I think that errors 341 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: was going to make those guys stay here for a 342 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: long time. And those guys that were just drafted over 343 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: the weekend were carefully picked, scouted, they were just completely analyzed. 344 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: And obviously there's a method to the madness behind drafting 345 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 1: rookies that you know, you're you're basing off film and 346 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 1: interviews in combine and all the information out there. And 347 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: I thought Quacy presented this really in a really neat 348 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: way that you know, to him, he sees things by numbers. 349 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: Two coaches they see things on film, two scouts they 350 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: see things by like the tangible. So like you kind 351 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: of have all these perspectives that have to come into 352 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: one and so I think that's why We are really 353 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 1: excited to have this particular guest on the podcast this 354 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: week because you know, he was quite the busy man 355 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: this past weekend. Yeah, and he's a guy that that's 356 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: worked his way up through the ranks, starting as an 357 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: intern in Cleveland and then working his way up there 358 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: and then getting a job here with the Minnesota Vikings. 359 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:48,919 Speaker 1: Chisholm o'para Vikings National Scout as the guest today, and 360 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: I'm just excited just to hear his perspective, because he 361 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 1: has if you talk to him, like I've talked to 362 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: him a few times over drinks, and like he's very 363 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: very witty, and he's very detail old and very organizing. 364 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: You can just tell that just from just from conversing 365 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: with them. And these scouts, I mean, they get paid 366 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: to take notes, and they get paid to put those 367 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: notes in the database, and then if there are the 368 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: notes equal up to the value, that's when Quasi actually 369 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: takes a look. So really great opportunity to talk to 370 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 1: such a great guy who who knows what he's doing. 371 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: All Right, we got Minnesota Vikings National Scout chisholm Opar 372 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:30,120 Speaker 1: here sitting beside me in the TCO studios Radio Suite, Chisholm, 373 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: this has been a journey for you. The super Bowl 374 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: is over. For the scouts, the picks are in, But 375 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: a lot of people don't understand that there there is 376 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: a process behind getting all these guys in, doing all 377 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: this homework and actually letting these fans see who these 378 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: people are first as people and then as players. Like 379 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: that process of leading up until Draft night. When does 380 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: that start for the scouting process? I mean, realistically, it's 381 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: it's exciting because the draft is what it is, but 382 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: when you peel it back, there's so much work that 383 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,719 Speaker 1: goes into, you know, getting to that point. And for us, 384 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: it almost starts a year in advance, you know, like 385 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: when we leave after the previous draft, we're already on 386 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: the spring scouting we call it where we're looking at 387 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 1: guys and prospects who are going to be coming out 388 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: for next year's draft, just to get a feel for 389 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: what the draft class looks like, to get a feel 390 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: for what our false schedule is going to look like, 391 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: and just to get an early jump on kind of 392 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: what we're going to be looking at going into the 393 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: next year. Man, that just seems like a never ending process. 394 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: And this is something that you have to love to do, Okay, absolutely. 395 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: I mean it's a grind, and I think you can 396 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: lead guys out quickly. A lot of people want to 397 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 1: work in the NFL because of the glamour and kind 398 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: of notoriety attached to it. But there's a level of 399 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: commitment that you have to You have to have to 400 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: spend that much sound away from your family to spend 401 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,959 Speaker 1: them that much time just watching football. I mean, if 402 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: you do anything for as much as we do it, 403 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: at some point, you're going to burn out a little bit. 404 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: So being able to hit that point but also pushed 405 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: through it because you have a deeper passion for it 406 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: is something that you know kind of separates guys. I 407 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: think that's the interesting part. I Mean we were talking 408 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: off camera off Mike a little bit before you So 409 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: you started in Baltimore and then you spent fourteen years 410 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: in Cleveland, and then after those fourteen years, this is 411 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: your fourth year here. Yes, sir, So that's a lot 412 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 1: of time on the road. And I mean fans when 413 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:23,479 Speaker 1: they I feel like a lot of fans when they 414 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,800 Speaker 1: hear about scouts, it's like, okay, well, it's kind of 415 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: like a college coach you go recruit, you stay with 416 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: your family for four or five days, and then you 417 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: go see the player, go watch a game, and you 418 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: come back home. Like you guys are on the road 419 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 1: almost twenty four seven, right right. There's a lot of 420 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: people that you meet on the road that when you 421 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 1: tell them that you work in scouting, they say, oh, 422 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: that's cool. You just travel anor and watch football games, 423 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,959 Speaker 1: and like, that's probably the least of what we do. 424 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: I mean, there's so much When you're going to invest 425 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: that much money, that much time, that many resources in 426 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: the player, you just want to be sure about who 427 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: you're bringing into your building. So whether it's from a 428 00:20:57,560 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: football standpoint when he does on the field, what kind 429 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: of teammate he is, you know what kind of background 430 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 1: he comes from, to just anything that's going to push 431 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: you to making those those sound decisions on who you 432 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: add to your locker room, because you know that could 433 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: be the difference between a free agent that's making your 434 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: team or you know, a first round pick to bust 435 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: out for your team. So you just want to be 436 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: sure about you You've checked every box along the way 437 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: to make sure you're making the most sound decision. So 438 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: I keep saying this is the super Bowl because the 439 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: draft we can for scouts and everyone in the front office, 440 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: this is like when you guys get I guess when 441 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: Crazy calls it the one day of fame and understanding 442 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: that when that one day of fame is over, you 443 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,239 Speaker 1: get all the guys in. Maybe I'm saying one day 444 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: of fame too much. When that one day is over, 445 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: when you get all the guys in on our weekend 446 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,199 Speaker 1: is over, you get all the guys in. Where do 447 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: you start next? Like, where do you start in the 448 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: next process, because twenty twenty three is right around the corner, right, 449 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 1: I think it's like to me, at least, it starts 450 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: with a deep breath, you know, just to kind of exhale. 451 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,639 Speaker 1: There's a lot of it's almost like until the draft happens, 452 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: there's almost this pressure where there's more film you could 453 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: be watching. Is there another phone call I could make? 454 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: Is there another practice I could attend? So it's the 455 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: first time in almost here hundred and sixty five days 456 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: where you can wake up in the morning and know that, 457 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: like me, watching more college tape is not going to 458 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: move the needle. We've already haze in the bar and 459 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: we've got who we've got, and hopefully you feel like 460 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: you did a good job on the process, which we do. 461 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: You know, I like it a lot to like a 462 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: final exam where you know you're you don't know the 463 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,679 Speaker 1: answers to the test, but you're prepping, you're prepping, you're prepping, 464 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: and once you take it, if you do a good job, 465 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: there's a sense of relief that comes from, you know, 466 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: just being able to put your pencil down, close your 467 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 1: book and then get ready for the next test. So 468 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: for us, that happens. You know, you take that deep breath, 469 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: you recharge a little bit, but realistically, you know, before 470 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 1: you go, you know, before the summer hits around June, 471 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: you're already looking at players and prospects heading in the 472 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: next year. That's I feel like that's a ten month test, yeah, 473 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,160 Speaker 1: or Timmy, I mean you're studying your exam for ten 474 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: months and then you get three days take it and 475 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: you only get one chance of doing it, and then 476 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,919 Speaker 1: understanding that is that is that more pressure or is 477 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,719 Speaker 1: that like okay, like I did all my research now 478 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 1: it is what it is at this point, I think 479 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: it's I think it's the latter. I think it's kind 480 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: of if you prepare and go about things the right way, 481 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: then you kind of have a sense of piece about 482 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: you know, what happened. I think the humbling part of 483 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: the scout is that we get those manuals and those hey, 484 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: here are the prospects for next year, and you may 485 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 1: end up watching four hundred players, writing four hundred reports, 486 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:34,360 Speaker 1: you know, typing up all those notes on those players, 487 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 1: and then you may draft two or three guys from 488 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: your area. So it's like the returns on your work 489 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: aren't great, but it's almost like if you just love 490 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: the process and know that those boxes needed to be checked, 491 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: then you kind of have a sense of piece about 492 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: what happens at the end of it. Four hundred players, Yeah, 493 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: that's like only two hundred and fifty six get drafted, 494 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:57,800 Speaker 1: and then there's what fifteen around fifteen free undrafted free agents. Right, 495 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: so you pretty much have an internal database of just players, Right? 496 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 1: What is that? Like? Just four hundred Like I can't 497 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: even like fathom four hundred names that somebody said, okay, 498 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: name this player and you got a background, you got 499 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: a story, you got this, and boom boom boom, Like right, 500 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: how do you how do you get your your mindset 501 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: to be able to I guess withhold all of that. Well, 502 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 1: it's one it's it's kind of an elimination business. So 503 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: you kind of have to watch them even though the 504 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: chances that they are going to make it to the 505 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: NFL are relatively small, and even small that they're going 506 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: to end up being a Minnesota Viking. You just want 507 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 1: to make sure that you know that player at man Cato, 508 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: that player at Stony Brook is not going to be 509 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: the one guy that turns into the freeze in the 510 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: late round pick that makes it. So it's a little 511 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: bit of an elimination business. But even like you know, 512 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: Quacy talks about analytics as being data you know, to me, 513 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: like building up your database or players that you know, 514 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: building up your databases of backgrounds, or player profiles that 515 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: have been successful, that have not been successful, even the 516 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: guys who don't make it. It's good information because you know, 517 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: you know, when you look at it the next player 518 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: you can kind of relate it to you know, stories 519 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: and anecdotes and game tape that you've seen in the past. 520 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: You've probably seen in almost your twenty years of being 521 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: a scout, You've seen so many coordinators and coaches come 522 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: and go. I mean, it's just a part of the business. 523 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: People get promotions elsewhere, people get jobs else and this 524 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: is the business of it. Does does that change affect 525 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: how you scout a player, absolutely, because you know, every 526 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: coach kind of comes in with their own set of 527 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: parameters on what it takes to be a good player. 528 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: I think you know, height, weight, speed is you know, 529 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 1: there's some things that are kind of immutable, like that's 530 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 1: what it's going to be. Big players play, fast players play. 531 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,840 Speaker 1: But when it gets down the scheme, that can be 532 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: the difference, you know, from deciphering whether players a good 533 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: player or a player is a good player that fits 534 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: for you, you know, so to me, you know, having 535 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: Kevin and his crew come in and you know, I've 536 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: been through when I was in Cleveland, we had a 537 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: lot of turnover there. And being in those meetings where 538 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: the new staff comes in and kind of explains what 539 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,360 Speaker 1: their ideal player is, the traits that they like, how 540 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 1: they want their schemes to work. It's huge for scouts 541 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: because it helps you kind of recalibrate in your mind 542 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: a little bit what you're looking for on the road, 543 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,239 Speaker 1: what's draft night, like in that room. Of course, like 544 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 1: internal people without saying too much, like we kind of 545 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: have an outside perspective of what the draft room looks like, 546 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: just from like coming in every now and then or 547 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: somebody brings a camera in Nate Vaughn. But is there 548 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: is there tension? Is there? Pressure? Is there? Like, Oh, 549 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 1: let's do this thing? Like like what is like how 550 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: do you get your mind set up for for draft night? 551 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: Draft knight? To me, to be honest, is like if 552 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 1: you've ever played a night game in college or in 553 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 1: high school where there's this nervous energy, but you just 554 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: kind of have to wait. You know, you almost wish 555 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 1: you could just wake up and start drafting at ten 556 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: o'clock in the morning, just just so you can know 557 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: what's going to happen, but you kind of have to. 558 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: You know, you can't put your pads on. You're in 559 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: the locker room taking a nap. You know, you're trying 560 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,919 Speaker 1: to be on the treadmills, trying to find ways to 561 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: get that nervous energy out of you, making sure that 562 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,639 Speaker 1: you know every all your preparation is in line and 563 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 1: you're ready for the you know, for the tests. So 564 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: there's a part of me where it's a lot. It's 565 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: just kind of a low, mellow, nervous energy that's kind 566 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: of in the building. And you walk around and you 567 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: see your your co workers and they kind of have 568 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: this looking. You know, that game they're looking at that game. 569 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,239 Speaker 1: They look in their eye that that people get so um, 570 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: it's that's what it is. You know, you can listen 571 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: to music you cannot in the past, we've gone out 572 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 1: and play golf. It's kind of like a stress reliever. 573 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: But then when it gets when you see people walking 574 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 1: around in their suits and you know, guys who are 575 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,600 Speaker 1: used to wearing team gear and jumpsuits all day, you 576 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: start seeing them in some ties and and pointy shoes, 577 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 1: and you know that it's it's it's time to go. 578 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: So that's the lead up. But in the draft room 579 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 1: there's kind of a kind of etiquette or decorum that 580 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:51,959 Speaker 1: you want to keep because you know that you know, 581 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 1: as as tense as it is for you, it's it's 582 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: even more tense for the head coach, for the general managers, 583 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: So you don't you kind of want to add to 584 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: the vibe. I have been kind of keep things loose 585 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: if you can, but not show too much emotion and 586 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:06,239 Speaker 1: just be ready to adjust to whatever happens. But it's 587 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: kind of different because usually, like when you play a 588 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:10,919 Speaker 1: game like you, for me, when I play, when I 589 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: play receiver, like I had to get tackled for me 590 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: to like get that nervous energy out like I had, 591 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 1: or like a basketball player, you get that first three 592 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: and like, okay, like game starts to slow down. When 593 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: does that slow down for you? Because outside looking in, 594 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: it looks like the later we go in the draft picks, 595 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: the more your homework and the more your research and 596 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: all the data that you did comes out right. Well, 597 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: I played receiver two, and I agree with you that 598 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: to me, the first hit is almost like imagine that 599 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: we spend a year scouting these guys and there's a 600 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: handful of players, I mean not even a handful. There's 601 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: maybe a hundred players that you're like, man, this good. 602 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: This guy would be really good in the Minnesota Bay, 603 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: New Jersey. When the first guy gets taken, you think 604 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: they're all going to fall to you, whether you're picking 605 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: at twelve or you're picking at twenty nine, and you're like, 606 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: there's a chance that that guy is going to get 607 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: to us. So when the first player that you really 608 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: want gets taken off the board. It's that's kind of 609 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: the wake up call that you're like, okay, like it's 610 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: not going to be perfect. Well, you know, we have 611 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: our plan. Other there's thirty one other teams that have 612 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: their plan too, so we just have to be ready 613 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: to do us best for us. Yeah, that's funny because 614 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: Quacy always says, like, your draft, i mean, the Vikings 615 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: draft bold looks different than everybody else's, Like how you 616 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: value a person, it's different from what another team would. 617 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: So it's it's very I mean, it's kind of subjective, 618 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: but at the same time you have to be objective 619 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: and trust that process of like, okay, I did a 620 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: thorough scouting report, so that's that's really that's really like 621 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: very introspective to hear. Yeah, I mean it's tough because 622 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: like the way I think of it is that anything 623 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: like there will be times when we're in the draft 624 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 1: room together and we start watching a player that we 625 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: had maybe in the sixth round, and then we keep 626 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: watching them. We keep watching them and we're like, you 627 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: know what, there, maybe this guy may be more of 628 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,239 Speaker 1: a fourth or third round guy. And as excited as 629 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: you get in the room to be like, hold on 630 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 1: a second, we may able to be able to get 631 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: this guy. I always try and keep perspective that there's 632 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,160 Speaker 1: probably somebody else in some other scout room watching the 633 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: same exact film, having the same exact ideas that we have. 634 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: So as much as you think that you have to 635 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,000 Speaker 1: keep that level of humility, as much as you think 636 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: you have good ideas and you have a good plan, 637 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 1: that there may be somebody else who's thinking the same 638 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,239 Speaker 1: exact thing, and then just be ready to attack with 639 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: that mentality. A couple more questions do you have? I know, 640 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,840 Speaker 1: this is a team everything is a team sport, everything, 641 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: I mean every aspect of what the Minnesota Vikings do 642 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: his team, But do you have a player that you've 643 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,400 Speaker 1: scouted that you can say, like, Okay, I'm proud of 644 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: like the homework that I dealed on him, because that's 645 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: just how he turned out, whatever his career may have been. Yeah. Absolutely, 646 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: there's a player by the name of Darius Jennings. He 647 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: played a receiver at the University of Virginia, and he's 648 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: a guy who I know. He went to the same 649 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: high school as I went to. He played quarterback at 650 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:49,920 Speaker 1: Gilman was a standout quarterback in high school and then 651 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 1: went to Virginia and was a very productive wide receiver 652 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: for them, and when free agency rolled around, you know, 653 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: we had him as as a priority free agent. I 654 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: had been in contact with him as the process unfolded 655 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: because he had been through the process a handful of 656 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: years before him. He didn't have any you know, I 657 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: thought he was going to get a free agent contract, 658 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 1: he didn't have any options. After the draft, he called 659 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: me and it was actually between us in Cleveland and 660 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: the New York Giants. And I had watched his entire 661 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: career because I knew the kid, I knew what he 662 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: was made of. So we found a way to offer him, 663 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: not even a free agent deal, just a tryout on 664 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: a tryout basis. And he went from tryouts to making 665 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,680 Speaker 1: the team to being our starting kick returner to playing 666 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:37,720 Speaker 1: six or seven years in the NFL and he's and 667 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: he recently I think he retired. But that was a 668 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: guy to me that like it was a guy who 669 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: I had a connection with, you know, And it was 670 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:48,160 Speaker 1: also a guy that like he to see the process 671 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: of underdog to six year, seven year vet and it 672 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: just to play a small part in that. Like that 673 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: to me was huge any Viking because the first person 674 00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 1: I could think I was like the Neil Hunter, a 675 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 1: guy that not a lot of people knew about, but 676 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: he gets here and I mean, look at how his 677 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: career unfolded, right, I mean yeah, like this isn't a 678 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: exactly a rax Richest story, but I was a big 679 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson fan. I think it was my first year 680 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: with the Vikings when I was scouting the Southwest there 681 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: and just being around him, you know, listening to his story, 682 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: watching him play. I remember when I was in Cleveland, 683 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: there was a guy named Joe Hayden, and Joe Hayden 684 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: kind of had this energy about him where he just 685 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: loved football and he was you know, we talked about 686 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 1: energy vampires and energy multipliers, like he was an energy multiplier. 687 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: Like when he came in the building, he just brought 688 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: he had a smile on his face. His teammates loved 689 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,640 Speaker 1: being around him. He played football for the right reasons 690 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 1: and that was a huge part of his success. So 691 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:48,120 Speaker 1: when I saw Justin observe him in practice, kind of 692 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 1: heard his background. Joe Hayden's from a football family, Justin's 693 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,719 Speaker 1: from a football family. They kind of reminded me of 694 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: each other. And you know, he like, to me, Justin 695 00:32:57,040 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 1: Joe is a kind of guy that if he gets 696 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: a bows deal, he's gonna buy headphones for the entire defense, 697 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: you know. And I think I don't want to put 698 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 1: any pressure on Justin, but Justin strikes me as that 699 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: kind of guy that he just loves the game. He 700 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: loves his teammates, he loves being a part of that fabric. 701 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: So like, you know, Justin was one that's stuck out 702 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: right away. Now now look at him right Yeah, absolutely, 703 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: it's fun to watch him. Man, So you actually get 704 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: a chance to still watch Vikings games even though like 705 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 1: you're out of scouting, Like did you ever just be like, man, 706 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: I'm down with football today, Like I'm oh no, Like 707 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: to me, like it's almost like the reward for most 708 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 1: scouts is watching their game on Sunday. So you may 709 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: be sitting in a Buffalo Wild Wings, you may be sitting, 710 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, in your hotel room. But like as you 711 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: go through the college scouting week, Like what I keep 712 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: in the back of my mind is that like on Sundays, 713 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna sit at home and watch the Vikings, and 714 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 1: normally once the game comes through, you know, I'll watch 715 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 1: it on my iPad on Monday, just because you can 716 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: be consumed by the world of college scouting where you're 717 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: looking at small school guys, big school guys, but you 718 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: it helps to tether your off to what's playing in 719 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 1: the league and what's having success. So watching those games, 720 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 1: you know, I'm looking at our guys, but I'm even 721 00:34:06,120 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: looking at who we're playing against, because next week I 722 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: may be in Mississippi looking for somebody who's going to 723 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: be playing at our level. So it helps to kind 724 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: of have that that reference point. Lastly, well, all all 725 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:19,439 Speaker 1: ten guys for the Minnesota Vikings in the twenty twenty 726 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:22,919 Speaker 1: two draft class, they'll all be here next week. All 727 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: that scouting, all that homework that you did, finally gets 728 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: put on the field on Friday next next Friday, May thirteenth, Like, 729 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 1: how excited are you to see just these guys progress 730 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 1: because they all look at like Lewis and everybody's talking 731 00:34:34,719 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: about him Andrew Booth. These you know, holes that we 732 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: need to feel. But from a scouting perspective and understanding, 733 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:42,759 Speaker 1: you did all your homework to see these guys here 734 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,719 Speaker 1: what's your excitement level? Oh, it's super high. I mean 735 00:34:45,719 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 1: we call it like Christmas in May because it's you know, 736 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: you've been You get these gifts and you're like, we 737 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,439 Speaker 1: finally get to put them in the purple and gold 738 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 1: and see what they look like. You know, there's always storylines. 739 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,280 Speaker 1: I just love the storyline of you know, this rookie, 740 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 1: we think he's going to be this, but he has 741 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:05,800 Speaker 1: to overcome this obstacle. You know, how's he going to 742 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 1: do with the playbook? How's he if you put him 743 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 1: in a room with Harrison Smith? What's that going to 744 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 1: look like? If you put him in a room with 745 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: our veteran linebackers? Like how how much is that going 746 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,440 Speaker 1: to help his maturation process? So I just love all 747 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:20,160 Speaker 1: the storylines of you know, where they start and kind 748 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: of watching their arc as they go. So this is 749 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 1: to me, this is the first start of that when 750 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:26,600 Speaker 1: they get here next week. Chose him a par of 751 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: Vikings National Scout took. I feel like we took too 752 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 1: much of your time today. We appreciate it, every second 753 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,240 Speaker 1: of it. I'm sure Vikings fans will be thoroughly excited 754 00:35:35,239 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: about these new draft picks, and I guess the future 755 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:39,399 Speaker 1: draft picks for winnis to come right now. The only 756 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:42,399 Speaker 1: thing Vikings fans were thinking about is September. You're thinking 757 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: about next September. So I always got to keep that 758 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: perspective in mind. Appreciate you, Okay, appreciate your time school Viking. 759 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:55,200 Speaker 1: It's hard to believe that his Super Bowl technically is 760 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 1: over and he's about to start his new season of 761 00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:01,040 Speaker 1: player evaluations and getting ready for next year's Yeah, these 762 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,760 Speaker 1: guys don't get a break. Well, right now is their break. 763 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 1: But once these new guys get in here, it's like, 764 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: all right, well, springbowlall Spring Bawl is over for colleges, 765 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: but fall camp for all these schools are starting back 766 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: up early August, late July, so it's like, all right, 767 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 1: well here we go, let's do this thing again. So 768 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 1: you really have to love that job, especially being on 769 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:26,360 Speaker 1: the road, tracking all those hours, logging all those hours, 770 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: all those moles on your car. It's a it's a 771 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:31,239 Speaker 1: lonely man's job, if you if you really, if you 772 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 1: really ask anybody, it's a lonely man's job because you 773 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: spend so much time by yourself with your notes, away 774 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:38,719 Speaker 1: from your family that when you have the opportunity to 775 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,759 Speaker 1: present something to Quasy is like, Okay, this is this 776 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 1: is why I spent all these hours doing this. So 777 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,720 Speaker 1: it's really cool just hearing it from that perspective. Definitely, 778 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,840 Speaker 1: And kudos to Quasi for acknowledging these guys in the 779 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: press conference earlier this week. You don't see that great. 780 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: You don't see that very often. Giving them a chance 781 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 1: to speak, and I know some of them don't necessarily 782 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,239 Speaker 1: love it, but it is a chance for them to 783 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: put a face to the process that Quacy is trusting 784 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,360 Speaker 1: in and you hear different perspectives and that's all what 785 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:09,040 Speaker 1: this collaboration is about. And maybe one day these guys 786 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: are the director of player personnel or whatnot and they 787 00:37:12,080 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: do have to speak, and so it's it's it's the 788 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,440 Speaker 1: same attitude that Andrew Barry took with Quacy. You know, 789 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: he's a GM in the making. I'm going to help 790 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: him get there, and now Quacy's paying it forward by 791 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: helping these guys get opportunities to us as well. It's collaborative, podium, 792 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 1: it's collaborative, and Quacy is putting this you know, money 793 00:37:30,440 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 1: where his mouth is and his actions where his words 794 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:34,879 Speaker 1: are so are so good right now, we just got 795 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: to see those guys on the field and perform. I'm excited. 796 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 1: I'm excited for this group of guys. After speaking with them, 797 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 1: don't forget to go to Vikings dot com to check 798 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: out all of gab and I's one on ones with 799 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 1: the twenty and twenty two Vikings draft class. We will 800 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:50,680 Speaker 1: reach back out to them again when they get in 801 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:54,120 Speaker 1: the building a week from Friday actually, and so we're 802 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: excited for that schedule release next week. And then we 803 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 1: got Rookie Minicamp, then we have I mean, look, we'll 804 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: put it to you this way. There'll be plenty more 805 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: podcasts to come. We have an exciting guests plan for 806 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: the next couple of weeks. So stay tuned to the 807 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings Podcast. We appreciate you guys listening and have 808 00:38:12,880 --> 00:38:15,720 Speaker 1: a great weekend. Enjoy the weather. How about that, huh? 809 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:18,759 Speaker 1: Enjoy the weather, Minnesota. Let's go