1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Hey, Vikings fans, Ben Lever here. I'm so excited to 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: be a new Lifetime member, and so are my kids. 3 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: They love the tennis, the pickaball, the basketball, and of 4 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 1: course the yummy cafe. Check them out at Lifetime dot 5 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: life to find a club nearest you. 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 2: Welcome to Skulls Stories, presented by three M, the official 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we're joined by 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: Vikings legend Larry Dean. 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 3: Thanks again for tuning in to another episode of Skulls Stories. 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 3: Tonight's special guest has an incredible professional football journey that 11 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 3: started with the Minnesota Vikings in twenty eleven. He's spent 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 3: the last eight years in the CFL and recently announced 13 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 3: that he's staying in green and white with the Saskatchewan 14 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 3: Roughriders as their new player personnel coordinator. Please enjoy tonight's 15 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 3: conversation with linebacker Larry Dean. Well, Larry, welcome to the show. 16 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 3: It's great to hear from you again. Give the fans 17 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 3: a quick update on how you're doing. What are you 18 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 3: doing these days? 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 4: Hey? Yeah, first four most thanks for having me on. Man, 20 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 4: it's been a while, but happy to be here. Happy 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 4: to be on today and uh, yeah, so I'm currently 22 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 4: a player person that have coordinated with the Saskatchewan rough 23 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 4: Riders up here in Canada for the CFL. I've spent 24 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 4: the last eight years playing in the Canadian Football League 25 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 4: and recently retired in March and just jumped straight into it, 26 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 4: into the front office side of things, and uh, yeah, 27 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 4: that's what I've been doing. 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 5: Wow, So Larry you, we'll go. 29 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: We'll go all the way back to your time in college, 30 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 2: being at Valdosta State. I actually played with a guy 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 2: from Valdosta State named already Omer. I don't know if 32 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: you if you've ever heard that name before or not. 33 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,199 Speaker 2: He was a linebacker from way back when. 34 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, I've heard of the name for sure. 35 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 5: Yeah. 36 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: I figured I figured out that you're in personnel. All 37 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: all these names start start coming back. But Valdosta State, 38 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: what was what was it like for you in college? 39 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: You stay close to home, you're born. I believe in Tifton, 40 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: Georgia if I'm not mistaken, and then uh, the Lost 41 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 2: of State not too far away. 42 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 5: What in your decision to go there? 43 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 4: Well? Yeah, actually, yeah, you're correct, I'm from Tipton, Georgia. Uh, 44 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 4: in Valdosta State is like thirty minutes from there. But 45 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 4: initially that wasn't my plan. It wasn't my plan to 46 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 4: go in the team Valdosta State. You know, obviously you 47 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 4: want to go to a bigger school and you know, 48 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 4: have those type of connections. But uh, you know, coming 49 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 4: out of high school, I had some interests from a 50 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 4: couple of big schools. It didn't work out with it, 51 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 4: whatever it may be. You know that the recruiting process 52 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 4: and higher everything go. Some things are just so political 53 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 4: at times, you know, and Grace played the factor. You know, 54 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 4: I wasn't privy to understanding the significance of how important 55 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 4: that was at the time, being from a small town, 56 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 4: you know, and not being the norm just to see 57 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 4: people go off to college, or the first of my 58 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 4: family to go to a college. You know, that kind 59 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 4: of set the standard of how important it was to 60 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 4: us when I'm not the oldest, but you know, we 61 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 4: understood that to sell the ultimate goal you would have 62 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 4: to attend college. And you know, I kind of was 63 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 4: a late bloomer as far as understanding with the test 64 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 4: scores and things like that, with the GPA and the 65 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 4: relevance of it all, and it scared schools off, they 66 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 4: pulled away, but Valdosta State they stayed true. Obviously right 67 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 4: in their backyard. They could come to all my games. 68 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 4: So they had been watching me from a younger and 69 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 4: they just stayed on me and stay committed to me. 70 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 4: And and all the other schools pulled away, they were 71 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 4: still there. So ultimately I made the decision to go 72 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 4: there and ended up being a great decision. 73 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: Well from you from a football standpoint, thinking we're talking 74 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 3: to Larry Dean, you have some amazing, amazing teams, win 75 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 3: a national title in two thousand and seven, made the playoffs. 76 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: During your tenure, were you thinking about at what point 77 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 3: did the pro football cross your mind? Because getting even 78 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 3: noticed or you know, at a small school like that 79 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 3: was not as sophisticated, maybe as scouting as they have today. 80 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 3: But what were your thoughts about potentially making it to 81 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: the NFL. 82 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 4: You called me crazy, but it was always a lifelong 83 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 4: dream of mine. I always had that ambition to play 84 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 4: professional football. I remember, like you know, at the end 85 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 4: of high school where you signed your your peers yearbooks. 86 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 4: I was writing in there your books, checking me in 87 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 4: the NFL in the two years. Things like that, just 88 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 4: positive affirmations putting it out y'all. When your teachers ask 89 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 4: what you want to be, it was always a professional 90 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 4: football player. And then when you go to a powerhouse 91 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 4: like Valdosta State, you understand that it's doable. You're gonna 92 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 4: have to work, but it's doable. And uh, you know, 93 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 4: I had teammates who were going Muric'e Leggett. He was 94 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 4: he was drafted and went to the Kansas City Chiefs, 95 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 4: you know, and I've seen that and this somebody that 96 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 4: I played with, worked out with, trained with. It was 97 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 4: an upperclassman, but they took me under their wings. You know, 98 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 4: they saw my ambitioning saw how seriously I was dedicated 99 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 4: to the game, So you know, seeing him go, uh 100 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 4: and just seeing other people have a chance. They may 101 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 4: they may not have stuck, but they had an opportunity. 102 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 4: You know, That's all we could ask for in this 103 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 4: day and age and at that time, just being an 104 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 4: eager kid. And we had a couple of transferred guys 105 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 4: who would come from the big programs to Ohio States 106 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 4: of the world, the Florida Gators of the world, and 107 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 4: you know, you're working with these guys and you know, 108 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 4: you just like it ain't nothing you know, like it 109 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 4: just put it better in my back that this is obtainable, 110 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 4: you know, and just having those relationships with those guys 111 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 4: and them not get keeping the information and letting me 112 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 4: know like, nah, you are good enough, you know. And 113 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 4: then my senior campaign, I had a heck of a year. 114 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 4: We had a record that stood for I'm not sure 115 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 4: how long, but a long time. Jesse Tuble he was 116 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 4: an all time tackling leader there at Valdosta State. Yeah, 117 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 4: he played for the Atlanta Stalks for a very long time. 118 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 4: So his name is like gold when you mentioned it 119 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 4: down there and coming up with my senior year, you know, 120 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 4: the sid at the time, he kind of brought it 121 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 4: up to me. He was like, you know, if you 122 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 4: go at this pace right here, you could potentially break 123 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 4: this record. And I had never thought about it, and 124 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 4: uh like maybe maybe my six or seventh game, I 125 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 4: broke the record, so that that that garnished me, you know, 126 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 4: gave me some notoriety and uh, people were you know, 127 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 4: it was buzzing. And then I ended up breaking the 128 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 4: breaking for the Ghost South Conference, which in the Division 129 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 4: two we refer to. At that time, we were referring 130 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 4: to the Ghost South conference as the D two the 131 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 4: sec of football of B two football, so you know 132 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 4: it came with a lot of prestige at that time. 133 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 2: And Larry, what I love about what you're saying is, 134 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: you know, you know, seeing as if it's so you know, 135 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: wanting an opportunity, taking advantage of of of everything you 136 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: possibly can. You you backed that up because you came 137 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 2: into the NFL as an undrafted free agent and it's 138 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: you know, I was a seventh round pick, so yeah, drafted. 139 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: But once you get here, there aren't a lot of spots, right, 140 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: and you took it advantage of that opportunity. All you 141 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 2: needed to do is get your foot in the door. 142 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: And it's so much easier said than done. But when 143 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: you showed up here in Minnesota, number one, you had 144 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: quite the linebacker room and you know, guys like Greenway 145 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: and Ben Lieber, you know you had there was a 146 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 2: lot of competition. But what you say is exactly what 147 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: you mean. And I want to tip my cap to 148 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: you because it making it as an underrafted free agent. 149 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 5: In this league is not an easy thing to do. 150 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: So tell us about when you first showed up here, right, 151 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: it's a from no matter where you are division one 152 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: sec division. What doesn't matter. You get here. 153 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 5: It's a big jump in talent, is it not? At 154 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 5: this level? 155 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, for sure, And I appreciate that. But you know, 156 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 4: I right up on you, and I know you were 157 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 4: drafted in the seventh round, so you know, they thought 158 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 4: kindly enough of you to pick you that you had 159 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 4: your name, so that was that's nothing to be slagged about. 160 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 4: But yeah, here's you know during that year, that's the 161 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 4: Christian Ponder year. So it was part of the draft. 162 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 4: And then it was a lockout. Okay, so you know, 163 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 4: I'm kind of pushing like maybe I get drafted, maybe not, 164 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 4: and then it comes becomes a lockouts and now it's like, okay, 165 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 4: the real world setting. Then you know you kind of 166 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 4: start having these thoughts, you know, like all right, well 167 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 4: my planing A, you know, my plan B wasn't in 168 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 4: planing a work. And now it's a lockout. It's out 169 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 4: of your control. You know, we always you know, control 170 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 4: the controllables. Okay, so stass forward. The lockout lifts. They 171 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,839 Speaker 4: finished the draft. I don't get my name call. It's 172 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 4: me and my father were sitting there. I don't hear 173 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 4: my name called. I don't get a phone call or anything. 174 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 4: And leading up I had a couple of workouts, so 175 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 4: you know, it's always that you're kind of flirting with it, 176 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 4: so it's bad, but uh yeah, so nothing and then 177 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 4: my agents call, we get the call, okay, going to Minnesota. 178 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 4: And then at that same day my university call, Vosa 179 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 4: Stay called and it was like, because I was in 180 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 4: the July mester class, I was like one credit from graduating, 181 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 4: like I was taking the right thing, but I was 182 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 4: midway through it, or like a third of the way 183 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 4: through it. They like, you're graduating the day. So I 184 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 4: got the call to be a Minnesota Viking, and I 185 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,359 Speaker 4: graduated the same day. I have my own private ceremony 186 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,679 Speaker 4: in the in the team's office, and then I go 187 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 4: straight to the airport, the airport by the Minnesota and 188 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 4: then you know, that night whatever. The next morning, I 189 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 4: go into the linebacker room and it's Mike Singletary standing 190 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 4: there with two playbooks, one for me, one for off 191 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 4: like you can't make this up, Like yeah, so we didn't. 192 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 4: We didn't have OTA's, we didn't have Ricky Camp, we 193 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 4: didn't have any of that stuff. It's like in a 194 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 4: couple of days, you're gonna be with the big dogs. 195 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 4: And you know what I mean. Coach Singletary, we had 196 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 4: a conversation and he just explained it to me, like 197 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 4: I know a lot of people paying on your back, 198 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 4: congratulating you like you made it. Whatever. He was like, 199 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 4: now that it really just begins, you know, and me not, 200 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 4: I wasn't privy to that information. I didn't have a 201 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 4: bunch of people like I knew a couple of people 202 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 4: that made it, but they didn't tell me this part 203 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 4: about it, Like once you make it, that's you got 204 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 4: to fight to get here. You got to fight to 205 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 4: stay here. It's an everyday thing. It's a business, right, 206 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 4: So you know, now I'm seeing it like, okay, I'm 207 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 4: in the thick of it, and we only keep fixed 208 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 4: seven linebackers, you know what I'm saying. So it's like, 209 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 4: this guy's already take this guy's already paid, perennial All Star. 210 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 4: He's an All star. You know, he's a backup. But 211 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 4: he played sports phases, he does this on special teams. 212 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 4: It's like, so what you're going to do. And this 213 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 4: guy that we just brought in, he was drafted, So 214 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 4: it's like, you know, it's a wake up call, you know. 215 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,599 Speaker 4: And it's like you say, Okay, the opportunity deserves you 216 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 4: in the building now. So it ain't nothing that nobody 217 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 4: could say. Now you got to go out and I 218 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 4: prove you got to take somebody's spot. 219 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 5: Larry. 220 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 3: One one other quick Valdosta State note. When you were here, 221 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 3: your team played Minsesota State Man Kid in the playoffs 222 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 3: and little Birdie told me, Adam, feeling went to the game. 223 00:10:58,679 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 5: Is that true? 224 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 4: What was that? Ex Yeah, it correct, we did. We 225 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 4: went to the game. Everybody was kind of putting for 226 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 4: a man Cato the stuff like that. Yeah, you know, 227 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 4: you know how I go. But uh, I had to 228 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 4: stay true to my blazes, man, and they didn't let 229 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 4: me down. They didn't let me down. So we got 230 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 4: the win. 231 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 5: So you got the win right now, Adam? 232 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 4: Yes? Sure. 233 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 3: Stick around for more school stories presented by three M 234 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 3: from the field to the roof and everywhere in between. 235 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 3: Three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, 236 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 3: is here. Visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to 237 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 3: learn more. We'll be back with more from Larry Dean, 238 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 3: but first Unreal is back with their limited edition Vikings 239 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 3: Drop head to nurl dot com for more details. 240 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: Ready to have your spirits lifted and the laugh out 241 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: loud comedy Ghosts is for You. Ghosts is all new 242 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: every Thursday night at seven thirty Central over on CBS. 243 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 2: Welcome back to tonight's edition of Skull Stories, present. 244 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 5: By three M. Let's get back into our conversation with 245 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 5: Larry Deep. Larry you go. 246 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: You know when you look at your career as a 247 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: Special Teams player, you know, getting twenty six tackles one season, 248 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 2: I mean, those numbers, the game's changed quite a bit 249 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: as far as Special Teams go. I mean, think about that, 250 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 2: that those numbers that you have. You know, I look 251 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: at guys like Chris Walsh and and Harold Morrow and 252 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: Mo Williams and me, and you know, we were a 253 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: core of a team Special Teams unit for a long time. 254 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 2: Those numbers probably are never going to be touched again, 255 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 2: are they. 256 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 257 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,719 Speaker 4: I mean I understand it because of the health, the 258 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 4: health side of things, and obviously we have more time 259 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 4: on our side, and we have the history and the 260 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 4: research behind it, and so they're backing it with these numbers. 261 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 4: But at the same time, you know they're they're doing 262 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 4: the way with some of the spots because it's like, okay, 263 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 4: we could be successible here because it's not really returning 264 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 4: about that much or kind of phasing it out. But 265 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 4: at the same time, that's how guys like myself else 266 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 4: and you know the guys that you're name and then 267 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 4: I could name a dozen guys. That's how we made 268 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 4: our living. We were the fourth phase guys on the 269 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 4: back end of the roster. So you know, at the 270 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 4: end of the day, if it was between me and 271 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 4: these other guys, like, yeah, I get it. He may 272 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 4: play linebacker before him as a backup, but he's a 273 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 4: fourth phase guy on special teams and he's important to me. 274 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 4: That's out the coach Prifer Man, that was my guy. 275 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 4: He's still on the table for me multiple times. I know, 276 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 4: you know, without him even having to say that, you 277 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 4: could read the room though. Yeah, we was living a 278 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 4: different day and age, and you know you have to 279 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 4: get with the times. But you still see guys returning 280 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,599 Speaker 4: kicks and you know, taking it all the way to 281 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 4: the house. So you can't just do away with it 282 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 4: because you do need those guys that's going to go 283 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 4: out and make that tackling try to find a little 284 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 4: nuances to make that the best part of the game. Yeah. 285 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: I was going to ask you, Larry, other aspects of 286 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 3: the CFL Canadian Football League that you wish the NFL 287 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 3: would adopt. I mean you talk about returney kicks and 288 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,319 Speaker 3: other things, the three downs? What do you love about 289 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 3: the Canadian Football League? Get in maybe the NFL could 290 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 3: learn from. 291 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 4: I think that it goes both ways. Older gentleman once 292 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 4: tell me, like, where you gain something, you lose something. 293 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 4: When you lose something, you gain something. So it goes 294 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 4: both ways. It's things that I think that both leagues could, 295 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 4: you know, learn from each other. But that's what makes 296 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 4: them both distinctively great in their own sense, you know. 297 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 4: And I'm just happy to say that I've been a 298 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 4: part of both of them. 299 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 5: Right. 300 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 3: Fans love it up there, though I know they're passionate 301 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 3: as they are here about their football. 302 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 4: Man very and I'm in Providence, Sasketchwan the rough Riders. Man, 303 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 4: it's second to none in the CFA, like they love 304 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 4: it here. They absolutely love it here. And man, it's 305 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 4: a great crowd. It's a great time. Yeah. 306 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, Larry, you so your story goes right. 307 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 2: You're with the Vikings, and then you spend some time 308 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 2: with the Bills and the Buccaneers, and then you move 309 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: it yourself up to Canada, played with Hamilton Edmonton and 310 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: your NFL stats impressive as they are. You played about 311 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 2: one hundred and five games, five hundred and seventy t 312 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 2: tackles in the CFL, eleven sacks, seven interceptions, eight forced fumbles, 313 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 2: two times CFL East All Star, two times CFL West 314 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: All I mean, the success that you had in the 315 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: Canadian League, how much did the NFL prepare for it? 316 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: Or was the CFL just a better fit? But the 317 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: way the games played up there, for who you were, it. 318 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 4: Was a little bit of both. The NFL did prepare 319 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 4: me for it. Like obviously when I came to the CFL, 320 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 4: I was the ultimate professional. I knew how to take 321 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 4: care of my body from watching other older guys and 322 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 4: putting me on different things to do. You know, Like 323 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 4: you said, I had a great linebacker when I had 324 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 4: Chad Greenway, I had to E. J. Henderson, I had 325 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 4: even Aaron Henderson, you know, Jack vill Brinkley, you know 326 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 4: Tyron mccam, people like that who I watched, you know, 327 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 4: And so when I came in was considered that rookie. 328 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 4: I was a twenty eight year old rookie, but it 329 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 4: was also like a second coming of my career. It 330 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 4: was like, all right, no matter what. Sometimes, you know, 331 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 4: being an undrafted guy or in the NFL, you kind 332 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 4: of could, you know, dumb yourself down a little bit 333 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 4: and just be happy to be in the building and 334 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 4: not really let your talent come all the way to 335 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 4: the forefront because you're you know, behind a certain guy 336 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 4: or a position, or you know, you're looking at the 337 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 4: charter and you just don't want to make a mistake. 338 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 4: As to where I came to the CFL, and it 339 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 4: was just like, however, it go like the worst thing 340 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 4: has already have not been released. You know. That's the 341 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: ultimate fear as a player. It's like, I'm not trying 342 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 4: to be released. I'm not sure, you know, like because 343 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 4: it's the expector it's the unknown, Like okay, well what 344 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 4: I'm gonna do. But when I came to the CFL, 345 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 4: it was like I already don't been released, so they're 346 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 4: gonna have to love me for me. I'm going to 347 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 4: show them I play absolutely free. And it was just 348 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 4: like yeah, and the fields wider and it's longer. So 349 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 4: it's like I tell people, like, if you could run, 350 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 4: it's going to show, and if you can't, then it's 351 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 4: going to show. So obviously, like you know, me being 352 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 4: an underside backer in the NFL, like translating to the CFL, 353 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 4: it was awesome because I could run sideline and the sideline, 354 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 4: I could get down the pipe. I could, you know, 355 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 4: show all those attributes and positives that I had. 356 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 3: Well, Larry, your your passion for the game is unquestioned. 357 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 3: I mean you've gone from the from the field of 358 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 3: the front office, player personnel coordinator and the Rough Rough 359 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 3: Riders football operations. Do you have an aspiration someday being 360 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 3: a GM. I mean, it's interesting road you've taken. When 361 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 3: did that kind of click that you always wanted to 362 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 3: do this? When you were done playing. 363 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 4: The game, I didn't know what I wanted to do, 364 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 4: but I knew that I wanted to be a run 365 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 4: the game. I know a lot of people, like you know, 366 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 4: play a while and then it's like at the end, 367 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 4: it's like they don't know what they want to do 368 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 4: in their next transition and it's kind of like a 369 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 4: dark space for them. But I've had the opportunities to 370 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 4: join programs. I was a part of the cfl PA 371 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,679 Speaker 4: for eight years and then we have like a mentorship 372 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 4: program that we offer where you could job shadow GMS. 373 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 4: And like I say, all of this is because in 374 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 4: the NFL, like I know that they had programs, but 375 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 4: I was just too younger, too immature to really understand 376 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 4: the opportunity. So when I came over here everything that 377 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 4: they was offering, I was like, yo, sign up, just 378 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 4: because I knew, like this is important. So yeah, it 379 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,359 Speaker 4: was definitely something that seeing my interest and I always 380 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 4: want to be around the game of football. But yeah, 381 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 4: to answer your question, ultimately, to be in that GM 382 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 4: spot or to have that opportunity is an interest of mine. 383 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 4: Is something that could potentially, you know, happening, and it's 384 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 4: a goal of mine. But you know, just everything's gonna work. 385 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 4: This course, you have to pay a dudes, just like 386 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 4: anything else. And you know, being in this side, being 387 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 4: on this side of things, I'm learning and just being 388 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,920 Speaker 4: a sponged And I have a great group of gentlemen 389 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 4: that's leading me. And you know, with our GM general 390 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 4: manager being Jeremy Oday and one of our assistants GMS 391 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 4: be and Kyle Carson and our other assistant Dan Paul Jones. Like, 392 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 4: these guys have a wealth of knowledge and you know 393 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 4: they're sharing it with me and giving me insight and 394 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 4: helping me through the process. Jeremy, being the ex player, 395 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 4: also kind of was in the same situation, jumped straight 396 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: from playing to the football outside of things, so he 397 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 4: kind of understands it more. But yeah, I've been I've 398 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 4: been fortunate and blessing, surrounded by great people. 399 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: And Larry, you got a chance to spend some time 400 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 2: here in training camp, getting to see the new facilities 401 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 2: and hopefully getting a chance to meet KOs Dolfoments or 402 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 2: GM Ryan Grigson, those kinds of guys. Uh, what was 403 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 2: that experience like? And what did you What did you 404 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 2: think of the new building up here? I mean it's 405 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: it's it's a little different than Winter Park. 406 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 5: Is it not? 407 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,479 Speaker 4: Oh man, Yeah, first and foremost, it was just like 408 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 4: a full circle moment, like, Okay, for that to be 409 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 4: my first stop coming out of college to be a 410 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 4: professional in Minnesota, and then for it to be my 411 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 4: first stop being on the football outside of things to 412 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 4: be back in Minnesota. They were just like wow. But yeah, man, 413 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 4: the facility is state of the art. Like that's not 414 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 4: you know, the only way like taking to none bring 415 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 4: back a lot of men, brought back a lot of 416 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,440 Speaker 4: memories and you know a lot of happy moments in time, 417 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 4: you know. So it was good. It was great energy 418 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 4: out there. 419 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 2: Man and Larry, I think about the last question. You've 420 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 2: seen this game from every angle. Now you've made the 421 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: transition to being in the front office. Your ride to 422 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 2: the NFL, your ride to your peaks is a lot 423 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 2: different than let's say, a highly touted Gatorade prep sec 424 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 2: you know, type of a football player drafted in the 425 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: first round, right, a completely different ride, but you made it. 426 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 2: What advice do you have for, you know, someone you 427 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 2: go back in time to. You mentioned high school and 428 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,479 Speaker 2: then maybe not prioritizing the grades, but you didn't have 429 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 2: a mentor there or someone to sit down and tell 430 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 2: you what you know, what's going on. What advice do 431 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 2: you have for someone who's maybe in high school now 432 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 2: that wants to do exactly what you did and has 433 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 2: that dream of playing in the NFL. 434 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 4: Don't waste no opportunity the little thing, through all the 435 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 4: little things and ask questions. There's no dumb questions. Ask questions. 436 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 4: I don't care what it is. If it's on your mind, 437 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 4: ask you, you know, like because that is Yeah, that 438 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 4: will settle you. That will settle you, and it will 439 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 4: help you also move forward. Like you don't know everything, 440 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 4: and for anyone thing that they do know everything, you're wrong, 441 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 4: you know, like they say, like, just ask all the 442 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 4: questions and get the information is out there now and 443 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 4: this day and age, you have no excuse. So anything 444 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 4: that you want to do, the ask questions. Try to 445 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 4: get in the rooms with the people that can answer 446 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 4: those questions. And if you're the smartest friend, find new friends. Man, 447 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 4: if you're the hardest, work to find new friends. Like 448 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 4: for real, like, challenge yourself. Don't be complacent. Don't get 449 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 4: complacent because you you are the guy in your group, 450 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 4: because you're gonna go to another group and you're not 451 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 4: gonna be the guy. So just real, challenge yourself. Continue 452 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 4: to challenge yourself. Yeah, well you. 453 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 3: Never know you on an office you're a TCO someday Larry's. 454 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 5: Uh, thanks, I'm really not any no why not? 455 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, Hey, it's been great catching up with you, Larry Dean, 456 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 3: and thank you so much for sharing your skull stories 457 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 3: with our fans today. Take care and take care of yourself. 458 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 4: Hey, sounds good. You generally have a great after. 459 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 3: Thanks again to Larry Dean for joining the show. Well, 460 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 3: it's great to hear his story and know he's doing well. Okay, 461 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 3: Pete Burst, it's the Vikings. Yeah, must win. They got 462 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 3: back on track with that twenty one to thirteen win 463 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 3: over the Colts on Sunday Night football. The Colts were 464 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 3: held without an offensive touchdown for the first time this season. 465 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 3: The defense absolutely stepped up against the team that had 466 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 3: made the quarterback change to veteran Joe Flacco on the 467 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 3: flip side. Now, the Vikings are heading down the face 468 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,400 Speaker 3: of two and six Jacksonville squad on the road this weekend, 469 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 3: who are going through their own struggles. So first of all, 470 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 3: you know, carrying this momentum through you're playing the AFC South. 471 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 3: Jacksonville's on the skids a little bit right now, but 472 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 3: you can't take anything to granted. As we've seen in 473 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 3: the NFL these days. 474 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 2: Now you can and having the opportunity to watch Green 475 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: Bay go down to Jacksonville had it not been for 476 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 2: Jacksonville fumbling the ball in their own six yard line. 477 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 2: That game may have turned out a different way. And 478 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 2: that's the thing with teams that are struggling, they still 479 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 2: have a ton of talent, and this Jacksonville team is 480 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 2: a very talented team. The Vikings just have to continue 481 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 2: what they showed against the Colts. And it's almost defensively especially, 482 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 2: it's almost kind of a bit of a Jecklin hide 483 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 2: bit where you're like, oh my god, it was Blake 484 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: Cashman that valuable to this defense. But I think in hindsight, 485 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 2: you had two games, you know, in a very short turnaround. 486 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,399 Speaker 2: You know, Dallas Turner was part of an experiment. I 487 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 2: think that did not work out. We saw him back 488 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 2: at a normal position. The defense just had a lot 489 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 2: more to it. Stuff on Gilmour, Shack Griffin, Byron Murphy, 490 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 2: Harrison Smith, right Cam buying them. Everybody in that back 491 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 2: end of the defense may a play at some point. 492 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 2: And then you know, the pass rush it was there. 493 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,959 Speaker 2: We were getting a Flacco hurrying him. You saw some 494 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 2: inaccuracy out of him. But then when we when we 495 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 2: and that's why I love this game. We won the 496 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 2: time of possession. We had him behind the eight ball. 497 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 2: They had to throw it and then we started taking 498 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: advantage of their rookie offensive lineman and you know, three sacks, 499 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 2: bang bang bang, right, So just to see the defense 500 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 2: do that to an offense and and answer in that way, 501 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 2: it was was was fantastic. 502 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 3: Conversely, it's also nice to see when you can kind 503 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 3: of exert your will offensively with the offensive line and 504 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 3: the running game. And obviously Aaron Jones did his thing, 505 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 3: and a bit of a surprise that cam Akers got 506 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,439 Speaker 3: as much look as he as he did. But they 507 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 3: obviously the coaching staff loves what he brings this team. 508 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 3: That's why they brought him. 509 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 5: Back, right. 510 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 2: But that's that's kind of and that's maybe the old school, 511 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: you know part of me that that I look at 512 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 2: time of possession all the time, and that was something 513 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 2: I was harping on during the game, saying, hey, you 514 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 2: we had the ball for over around twenty minutes of 515 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 2: the first half, two thirds of the first half. Second half, 516 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 2: it was kind of more of the same. And then 517 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: what happens is you get that one score game, we 518 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 2: have the ball and you just want an extended drive. 519 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 5: Right. 520 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 2: The clock is your enemy, right, and we were able 521 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 2: to just handle the Unfortunately, one of the interceptions that 522 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 2: was thrown was during that time. But we were able 523 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 2: to hand and all that money you put in the bank, 524 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:30,680 Speaker 2: with all the runs earlier, all the time of possession, 525 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: those arm tackles go away, and then someone like cam 526 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 2: Akers comes in, who's fresh, He's able to crack off 527 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 2: eight ten yards at a clip. That puts It buries 528 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 2: the defense, it buries the other team when you can't 529 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,879 Speaker 2: stop the run. You can't stop the run. If a 530 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 2: team's throwing the football on you, you might get lucky and 531 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 2: tip a ball or sack the quarterback. 532 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:51,439 Speaker 5: Something might go. 533 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 2: When a team is running the ball down your throat 534 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 2: and you can't stop them, you can't stop them, period. 535 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 2: And we were able to do thatlast night with by 536 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 2: the way, a brand new a brand new left tackle. 537 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:03,680 Speaker 5: How about that? 538 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 2: So the whole thing was was it just it just 539 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 2: felt so good. And that's the type of win I think, 540 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 2: a good physical win that we had last night. 541 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 5: Our quarterback. 542 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,159 Speaker 2: Yet, you know, outside of the interceptions, the team played, 543 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 2: you know, you know you want to you want to 544 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 2: put played justin Jefferson one on one. Sure, fine, we'll 545 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 2: throw it over your head. I mean, it was just 546 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 2: we had answers to so many things. 547 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 5: It was. It was just a good game. It was 548 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 5: such a great game to see. 549 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 3: How important was this for t J. Hockinson to knock 550 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 3: the rust off, not so much as physically getting back 551 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,280 Speaker 3: in the game, but mentally coming off that a c 552 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 3: L and you never know how you're going to react 553 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 3: when you get back in the game situations. 554 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 2: No question about it. And he's going to be a 555 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 2: big part of the shorter passing game. We threw a 556 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 2: lot more three step type of passes. But to see 557 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 2: he and Donald be kind of on the same page 558 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 2: the way the way Hockinson settled in some zones on 559 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 2: on I know one reception in particular, it looked like 560 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 2: they had been playing together all season long. So, yeah, 561 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 2: he's either're not he's not being he's not easing back 562 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: into it. I think he looks maybe not mid season 563 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 2: form per se. But you know, you don't have any 564 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 2: worries about him over the next couple weeks, and in fact, 565 00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 2: I expect him to be a big part of this offense. 566 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 4: Well. 567 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 3: As we said, the Vikings head down to Jacksonville on Sunday. 568 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 3: It's a noon start on Fox nine here in the 569 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 3: twin cities, so be sure to check your local listings 570 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 3: for details. Of course, you can also catch Paul l 571 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 3: and Ben Leeber and the one and only Pete Ursus 572 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 3: with the call right here all across the Vikings Radio network. 573 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 3: The Vikings Football Sunday pregame show starts at ten AM 574 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 3: and KFAN, so be sure to tune in with host 575 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 3: Mike Mussman and the rest of the crew leading up 576 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 3: to kickoff. Pete It's always a pleasure, especially after a win. 577 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 3: Thanks again to Larry Dean for joining the show, and 578 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 3: thank you fans for tuning into another edition of Skull 579 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 3: Stories presented by three M, the official science partner of 580 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 3: the Minnesota Vikings. We'll see you all again next week.