1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: When you step into Lifetime, you won't just see the difference, 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: you'll feel it. Experience it for yourself. Visit Lifetime dot 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Life for a complimentary guest pass, or stop by a 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: club Lifetime the Healthy Way of Life partner for the 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings. Statistics matter and if your team is excellent 6 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: on defense or excellent on offense, these are the guys 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: that get the chance to go sit down in front 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: of the powers that be that are doing the interview process. 9 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: They get a chance to show a type of program 10 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: they'll bring, and I think it comes down to fit 11 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: and comfort. You know, if the front office feels comfortable 12 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: with a guy, I think that's the direction that they'll go. 13 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: This is the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, Episode one twenty nine. 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: I'm Tantam Everett here inside tco's radio room with Gabe 15 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: Henderson and Jay Nelson. Had an extra someone special in 16 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: here today, but you already know him. Vikings team reporter 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: Eric Smith. Eric, how is it your off season so far? 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: It did the off Susan, I didn't know that. I 19 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: feel more bathy now than I did, you know a 20 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: week twelve and during the grind of the Fusan, Yeah, 21 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 1: I know. We haven't really taken much of a break, 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: have a game. Yeah, what is a break? Is that 23 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: a thing? Yeah? I'm right with Eric. I feel if 24 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: those like work is picked up and we've i mean, 25 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: this thing just keeps rolling. This time goes on, so 26 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: you just take the punches and roll with them. Normally, 27 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: you kind of try to take this time of the 28 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: year to shut it down maybe for a week or two, 29 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: and just kind of recoup and watch the playoffs and 30 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: just see what happens if you're not in it, and 31 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: just kind of breathe for a second before you start 32 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: looking at the typical offseason stuff. But whenever you have 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: a massive change like this, that's when things are just like, yeah, 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: we're not stopping. The train just keeps rolling. So everyone 35 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: just keep keep moving the way we have been and 36 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: we'll just have to kind of wait and see what's 37 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: going to happen here. Well, that train keeps on rolling. 38 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: As the Vikings off season shaping out to be an 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: exciting one is the organization's current searching for their next 40 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: general manager and head coach, something that hasn't been done 41 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: in sixteen and eight years, respectively. If you haven't been 42 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: following the Vikings on Twitter online, then you haven't been 43 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,239 Speaker 1: getting the most up to date info on on who 44 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: the Vikings are interviewing for their openings, and so Eric, 45 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: I know that you guys and the on the writing 46 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: team and things like that. I've been all over this, 47 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: and so we were just going to go over the 48 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: candidates real fast. Maybe one thing about each one that 49 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: sticks out to you sounds good? Yeah, yeah, I guess 50 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: we'll start on the GM side. Yeah about that, Yeah, 51 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: And I guess we'll go in chronological order too. Why not? 52 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: Why not? Do you want to start with the first 53 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: and everyew monti Astin fort who's the Titans director of 54 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: player personnel. He was obviously the first one to interview, 55 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: and that was back on January sixteenth. I think a 56 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: lot of excitement just to get the process started, for sure. 57 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people were waiting for that. 58 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: One thing about Monty is he the Minnesota native, so 59 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: go figure, he's from here. He played football at the 60 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: University of Minnesota Morith where he was a quarterback, so 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: he got that quarterback background. And a local guy too. 62 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: Someone else in this room I think has Minnesota Morris ties. Yeah, 63 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: I have a little bit of a tie here with Monte. 64 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: Monte and I came in together as freshman back in 65 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety six at the University of Minnesota Morris as 66 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: a freshman together, he was a quarterback, I was a lineman, 67 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: and Monty was a Laverne cardinal. And I just remember 68 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: when Monty came in. He's kind of a quiet guy, 69 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: but you could definitely tell he was very, very smart, 70 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: and he had some really really gifted athletics to him, 71 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: and he was somebody that I went to school with 72 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: and had some background with. And I've actually kind of 73 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: kept eyes on him a little bit from AFAR because 74 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: it kind of makes you do a little self evaluation, 75 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:46,839 Speaker 1: going what are you doing with your life when you're 76 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: you've got a former teammate of yours. But it's kind 77 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: of fun for the other people that I still keep 78 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: in contact with from that team, and we just kind 79 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: of passed back and forth when we'd see Monty's name 80 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: pop up, and he had a tie here with the Vikings. 81 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: He was here for a training camp as an intern 82 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: with Luther Hippies group, and and so I've kind of 83 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: kept tabs on kind of from Afar what Monty has 84 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: been doing and I think the name. The first time 85 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: I really saw his name pop up was probably about 86 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: five or six years ago when the Houston Texans were 87 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: doing a GM search at that time and his name 88 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: popped up, and he was in his kind of mid 89 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: to late thirties getting a GM interview, and we all 90 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: just went looked at ourselves and just went, oh, boy, 91 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: this is pretty cool just to see what's happening. So 92 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: it's been fun to see Monty's name pop up and um, yeah, 93 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: we'll see what ends up happening with him, but it's 94 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: just kind of fun to see somebody that you you 95 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: ended up you know, playing alongside for a little bit, 96 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: pop up and have some success. Yeah. Nice season, Minnesota 97 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: blood in the race for sure. The next one is 98 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: John Spytech, the Buccaneers vice president of player personnel. Yeah. 99 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: I think the big thing with him is you just 100 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: have to look at how successful Tampa Bay has been, 101 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, especially obviously winning the Super Bowl last year, 102 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: and they have a very strong rock or throughout, so 103 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: you know, everyone had the different role in the organization 104 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: and the scouting or drafting or free agency or player perthonnel. 105 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: So he obviously done some good things in Tampa Bay, 106 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: you know enough to warrant an interview here in Minnesota. 107 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: And I think to add to that, his time in 108 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: Denver's a national scout. I think it was twenty thirteen 109 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: to twenty fifteen. He had two Super Bowl appearances during 110 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 1: that time and won a Super Bowl. So he asked 111 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: valuable super Bowl experience with two teams, and I mean 112 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: that's something that you look at when when going into 113 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: the interview process, or a little bit of leverage from 114 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: from his perspective. Think about the people that he's worked with, 115 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: John Elway, Gary Kubiak, Andy Reid, John Harbow. These are 116 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: names that are just synonymous with successful football teams, and 117 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: I think that's something that definitely stands out about spy Tech. 118 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: The next one is Quessi Adopho Menza, the Brown's vice 119 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: president of football operations, who may have one of the 120 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: most interesting backgrounds of all the candidates involved. Yeah, he 121 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 1: graduated from Printon, which probably more than we all can say. 122 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: Definitely more. Yeah, Hey, I went to Arithon to state 123 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: that's the printin of the southwest Minnesota. Morris likes to 124 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: claim they're kind of the Harvard or Princeton of the 125 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: Upper Midwest LS. He was always the number one party 126 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: school in the country. So I would be Arizona State 127 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: temper or zonis a tough place to beat, but Princeton 128 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: is a tough place to beat all turn Princeton is 129 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: a tough place to talk about when you're talking about academics, 130 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: Ivy League school or Yeah. He also graduated with his 131 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: master's degree in economics from Stanford, So let's just all 132 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: say he's got us all beat in terms of education 133 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: and intelligence. He's only been in the NFL in twenty thirteen, 134 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: which is probably one of the shorter NFL careers of 135 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,160 Speaker 1: all these candidates we're talking about. He had with San 136 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: Francisco from twenty thirteen to twenty nineteen and then joined 137 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: Cleveland in twenty twenty, and he's been in his current 138 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: role for the last two years. I think analytics they 139 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: are a big thing with him. And you know, so 140 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: if that's the flavor per se that the Viking who want, 141 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: you know that a route they could go there. Um, 142 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: all these all these candidates have something different and unique 143 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: that they bring to the table. And so you know, 144 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: I've gotten some email from fans and some tweets about 145 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: you know, what's the process, what's going on. I think 146 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: we just have to have a little bit of patient 147 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: right now. Like I know, we all want to get 148 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: to the end result and get to find out who's 149 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: going to be the next GM and the next head coach, 150 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: but you know, you have to kind of trust the 151 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: process a little bit too personally. That's kind of the 152 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: thing that's actually exciting about this is the fact that 153 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: you do have such a diverse group of people with 154 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: all these different backgrounds. It kind of shows to me 155 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: that not only is the front office looking at the 156 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: football side, but they're looking at kind of the landscape 157 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: of what sports is doing across all these different leagues too, 158 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: where you are seeing, whether it's baseball or NBA especially 159 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: kind of a more of an analytics approach to some 160 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: list stuff. And I just feel like if we're at 161 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: a point where we're making this giant culture shift here 162 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: for the team, I'm glad that they're they're looking at 163 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: all avenues to potentially find their next leadership. Yeah, and 164 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: I think you know, just with Quessey, my college roommate, 165 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: is any player personnel department for the Cleveland Browns, which 166 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: Quessei works for the Cleveland Browns as the Football Operate 167 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: Vice President of Football Operations, and everyone in that department 168 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: is very high on him. They think he will have 169 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: a GM job, whether that's here somewhere else, but just 170 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 1: his background, his approach to the game, it is very 171 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: different from your typical GM, and with the NFL trying 172 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: to be more analytics driven, I think this is a 173 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: guy that is going to head that wherever he lands. Yes, 174 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: there are a lot of diverse candidates with very diverse backgrounds, 175 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: including this next one on the list, Katherine Rachie, who 176 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: made history as the first woman to interview for an 177 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: NFL GM position. It's good to see the diversity, you know, 178 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: and the different scope of candidate. And that's something that 179 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: Mark wilf Stead right away, right after the news came 180 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: down that Mike Thimmer and Rick Billman would not be back, 181 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: you know, he was asked about the pool of candidate 182 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: and he said, it's going to be wide, it's going 183 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: to be diverse, it's going to be interesting. And certainly 184 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: Katherine ra included in that and had a strong football 185 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: background herself. She's currently with the Philadelphia Eagles. They're vice 186 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: president of player Personnel and she's obviously believed to be 187 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: the highest ranking female personnel staffer in the NFL. Though 188 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: obviously a very strong background with her, she actually had 189 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: a little bit of a tie up north in Canada. 190 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 1: She got her start in her professional football career in 191 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: the CFL, the Canadian Football League, with Montreal, and she's 192 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: from Quebec, Canada. So I honestly love it. I love 193 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: the different candidates, the different diversity. Why not talk to 194 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: with many different people as you can and see what 195 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: kind of I said that tour earlier, but see what 196 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: flavor kind of fit what you're looking for. Yeah, And 197 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,599 Speaker 1: I think the thing is with Catherine Anne Questi is 198 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: when you look at their job titles, you see football 199 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 1: operations right, and you look at them and say, okay, 200 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: well why is that night not player personnel or a 201 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: scouting assistant. Well, the football operations person on every team 202 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,959 Speaker 1: knows everything about everything, Like these are the people that 203 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: does all the planning. They're in the scouting meetings, they're 204 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: coaching meetings, they do literally everything. So in my opinion, 205 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: just from you know, my five years of working for 206 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 1: a team, the football operations person like Chad Lundane and 207 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 1: Paul Martin who worked for the Vikings now like they 208 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: know everything about everything and that's that's very knowledgeable information 209 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: when selling yourself to a to an owner basically saying 210 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: why are you the person for this job? And if 211 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: you can give a general landscape of everything that's going 212 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,199 Speaker 1: on or a general manager. Um, I think that helps 213 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 1: when trying to sell yourself to whoever's hiring and talking 214 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: about just being knowledgeable on multiple subject Katherine Rage also 215 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: had their law degree and to have the matter degree 216 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 1: and tax so that's not something a lot of your taxes. 217 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: It just has tax Yeah, so wow, if we need 218 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: our taxes done that one yeah, April's coming up, and 219 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: to practice law. So once again, just a very diverse 220 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: background for a lot of these candidates. We have three 221 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: more to get to, as the Vikings did in interviews. 222 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: Someone here where Well, we should update you guys that 223 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 1: we are taping this Thursday at two o'clock ish, so 224 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: if anything updates after that, we apologize for London. We'll 225 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 1: update you guys with another podcasts as soon as we can. 226 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: But so we have three more names to get to 227 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: to round out this list. Brandon Brown, the Eagles director 228 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: of player personnel, so someone obviously that works pretty closely 229 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: alongside Rachie. Yeah. Brown is another person who doesn't have 230 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: an extensive NFL background, but has certainly been around the 231 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: game of football. He was actually an intern with the 232 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: Jets back in twenty twelve and with with Boston College 233 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: for a couple of years before joining the NFL with 234 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: the Colts in twenty fifteen. Another Kennett, you know, like 235 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: we've talked about all of them, with a very interesting 236 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: and diverse background. He has a Bachelor than Business Administration 237 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: from Fordham and he's also gotten a doctorate from the 238 00:11:54,080 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: Barry University's Law school, so law, taxes, you know, numbers, data, 239 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 1: it's all over the place. And I think that that's 240 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: a very strong pool of candidates that we've talked about 241 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: and a very get a good idea from from what 242 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: the Wealth and the Viking leadership team is doing and 243 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: just getting a wide breadth of candidate and t and 244 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: who fits. Um. Yeah, I agree with you on that. 245 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: It's always I mean, we've heard them say the past 246 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: couple of weeks it is going to be a long, 247 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 1: methodical and comprehensive process, and clearly the actions are starting 248 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: to show based off of what they said in that 249 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: press conference, and we're starting to see that with these candidates. 250 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: You got so like Tatum, like you said before, you 251 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: got so many different candidates with so many different diverse backgrounds, 252 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: and I think that helps everyone. I mean even the 253 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: people that that aren't hired. Now you got people who 254 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 1: are in that the meeting rooms that conducted the meetings 255 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: that have a different perspective about how to look at 256 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 1: managing the team or how to look at doing their 257 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: jobs in their respective way. So this is this is 258 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: not only helping the Minnesota Vikings, it's also helping um 259 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: these people in the in the interview process. Also, it's 260 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: such a big decision because you've had leadership here for 261 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 1: so long that if you're trying to make change, this 262 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: is the type of time that you're looking in the 263 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 1: mirror and you're saying, where do I want this organization 264 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: to go? If you really think about it. The fact 265 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: that the Wolves took over this team and then brought 266 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: in kind of the leadership group used to have kind 267 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: of the triangle of power at the time when it 268 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: first started, and then as we moved on and started 269 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: moving through our coaching decisions and coaching process. You know, 270 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: a guy like Rick Spielman became so crucial in running 271 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: the football business side of it. So I just I 272 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: feel like the fact that after essentially sixteen going on 273 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: seventeen years of ownership here for the Wolves and just 274 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: looking at what they had from before and kind of 275 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: what this decision means, and one thing that we know, 276 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: at least internally, they definitely like to do their due 277 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: diligence and feel like they've made the best decision possible, 278 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: especially when it comes to business and for them, if 279 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: they are willing to move on from a coach and 280 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: a GM that they had such a ties to, I 281 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: feel like they're going to do everything they can to 282 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,959 Speaker 1: really try and get this one, you know, as right 283 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: as possible. Another person that they're looking at is Ryan Poles, 284 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: who's the chief executive director of player Personnel. I know 285 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: he's made it through a couple of rounds with other teams, 286 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: somebody who's high on the list of some teams. What's 287 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: his background? Like Eric, he's actually been with one team 288 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 1: his entire career, and that's not something a lot of 289 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: us or you know, a lot of other candidates can say. 290 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: He's been with Kansas City since two thousand and nine. 291 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: He began as the player personnel assistant and it has 292 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: worked his way up to Tatum said now the executive 293 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: director of player personnel. Certainly, the Chiefs have had a 294 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: pretty strong rofter themselves, much like Tampa Bay and Spytech 295 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: really for the last ten years. Obviously, the drafting of 296 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes was an instrumental part of that organization, and 297 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: you wonder how much input he had in that as well. 298 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: But you know, he is the former offensive lineman. He 299 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: played offensive line at Boston College. He's from New York, 300 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: so as we all know, offensive line is an annual 301 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: talking point here in Minnesota. So if Poles is hired, 302 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: and you know, if he makes into the next round 303 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: of interviews, I'm sure his insight on the old line 304 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: will come into play. One thing about him too, is 305 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: he was a finalist for the Panther's job job last season, 306 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: So like I'd feel like even though he is, you know, 307 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: like a lot of these people younger, he's only thirty 308 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: six years old, the fact that he has been with 309 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: the Chiefs who have a track record of finding the 310 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: diamonds and the rough let alone knocking it out of 311 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: the park with a guy like you know Mahomes, and 312 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: the fact that he was on the shortlist for Carolina 313 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: last year too. It just feels like this guy is 314 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: somebody that is definitely an up and comer like we're 315 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: seeing for the rest of the people on this list 316 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: for sure. Well up next is the name that was 317 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: released today. The Vikings interviewed Elliott wolf the Patriots senior 318 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: consultant whose dad was the GM of the Packers for 319 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: a long time. He spent plenty of years up there 320 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: in Green Bay before spending time with the Browns, and 321 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: now he's with the Patriots. If one knows the NFC 322 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: North and the Viking, they did probably Elliott Wolf. Tatum 323 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: fed he with with Green Bay for a long time. 324 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: He got his start in the NFL back in two 325 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: thousand and four with Green Bay, worked with him until 326 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen before going to Cleveland. He was the fifth 327 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: in general manager for two years for the Browns. He 328 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: and he now with New England, so he's had a 329 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: lot of sixth wherever he's been. Obously, his name is 330 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: very well known across the NFL, but he had not 331 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: held a general manager position, whether it's here or somewhere else. 332 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: He's been considered numerous times, been on a bunch of interviews. 333 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: I know he was the assistant general manager for the 334 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: Browns for two years, but that those weren't the glory 335 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: the glory days for the Browns, So I mean, he's 336 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: definitely I agree, which he's definitely a line for one 337 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: of those jobs. Just the fact of when you look 338 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: at his experience to say, Okay, well, at what point 339 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: do you say this guy is the guy, this is 340 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: who we want with his experience, I think, I mean, 341 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: he his resume speaks for itself and personally, this is 342 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: just like a personal aside. But Wolf had a degree 343 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: in English from the University of Miami, so that is 344 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,239 Speaker 1: kind of hit home in my area. I'd love to 345 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: chat with him about that. So one thing that I 346 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: also think is kind of interesting to keep in mind 347 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: is if you think about one of the things that 348 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,199 Speaker 1: we all kind of looked at a little bit on 349 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: Stefanski on why it felt like he was able to 350 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: survive and do what he did, being the fact that Elliott, 351 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: you know, grew up in football, growing up in that 352 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: world and seeing it from basically being a child through 353 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: adulthood and now getting to the point where he's understanding 354 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: being an assistant general manager at Cleveland, all the years 355 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: at the Packers, and now what he's doing as a 356 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: front office consultant for the Patriots. There's a level there 357 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: where they understand what this business is, not just from 358 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 1: coming out of college and jumping in to figure it out, 359 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,160 Speaker 1: like he's seen it his entire life. And I think 360 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: there is something interesting there too, just to know the 361 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: level of kind of decorum and just the way you 362 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: handle yourself when it comes to this business. I think 363 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: that's actually an interesting little nugget here for Elliott to 364 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 1: keep in mind, is just he's been in this his 365 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:06,679 Speaker 1: entire life. Yeah, that's a great point. Yeah, we've been 366 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: talking about people who are phenomens and making these long 367 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: are these fast me York rises, whereas this is a 368 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: guy who's definitely it's in his blood and it's something 369 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: if you think about what they did during that time 370 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: when he was growing up. I mean, he saw the 371 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: biggest of the big playing in Green Bay, being around 372 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: it and understanding kind of what kind of the power 373 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: dynamic was there in Green Bay, given the fact that 374 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 1: they don't necessarily have just the straight owner and how 375 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: all that worked there in Green Bay. I think it 376 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: would actually be a really interesting insight into trying to 377 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: figure out, at least on our end, of what to 378 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: emulate and what to kind of take advantage of. And finally, 379 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: as we are podcasting, the Vikings tweeted out the latest 380 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: general manager candidate to be interviewed, and there's a Blend Cook, 381 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: who is the Browns Vice president of player personnel. Right. 382 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,120 Speaker 1: So Cook is number eight on the list of energy 383 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 1: candidate and it's interesting because he's a second one from 384 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: the Browns. And there's also been two Philadelphia as well, 385 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 1: with Rachie and Brandon Brown. So half of these interviews 386 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: have been with either Philly or Cleveland, and they have 387 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: usually been known in the past couple of years for 388 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: having a pretty strong front office. With Cook, he's currently 389 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: the vice president a player personnel for the Browns, has 390 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: been there since twenty sixteen and a couple of different roles. 391 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: He also knows the NFC North well, though he was 392 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: with Green Bay from twenty twelve to twenty fifteen. Of 393 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: the pro scout. He also had a diverse background. He 394 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 1: had a bachelor's degree in marketing and management from the 395 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 1: University of Miami, which is also where Elliot Wolf went 396 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 1: and also a master's degree in sports administration. So once 397 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: again very diverse. It seems like all eight of these 398 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: candidates have a different degree, you know, or a different 399 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 1: background or have worked in different things. So we'll see 400 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: if there's any more GM interview to come. You know, 401 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: these are the eight that have been announced so far. 402 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: It just determined what the next process and you know, 403 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 1: if they're widowed down at all. I think the the 404 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: interesting thing about Glenn Cook is that his track record 405 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: has proven that he he loves the draft and he 406 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: attacks it in the draft. As far as player personnel wise, 407 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 1: of course that's his role. But when when you got 408 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: a track record of having drafted Miles Garrett, Grant, del Pig, 409 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: Dredgick Wills just three names, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Nick Chubb, 410 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: I think that that has proven that this is a 411 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: guy that that understands the draft and he's brought in 412 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: some good free agents in the past. I know this 413 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: is like right now, this is all reactionary because it's 414 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: happening as we speak, but I think that is the 415 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: reason why he's in the running and then having a 416 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: guy under him the past few years in Quessey, a 417 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: dopeful mensa that is really analytics, analytics driven. I think 418 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: that is something that he's probably going to have on 419 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: his plate. Also is like, hey, this is you know, 420 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: I'm a guy that that really pushes the analytics of 421 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: the game. Also, so another diverse candidate, a very wide 422 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: pool of candidates, as we've been saying, I think that's 423 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: kind of the theme. Seems like the Wealths are definitely 424 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: doing their due diligence, getting to know each and everyone 425 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: and as they said in their pressor, taking their time, 426 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: not making any rush or rash decisions. But they had 427 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: a lot of decisions ahead. And that also includes the 428 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: head coaching position, which while they're interviewing GM candidates, they're 429 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: also interviewing potential head coaches. And three names have come 430 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: up so far. Nathaniel Hackett, Packers offensive coordinator, Dan Quinn 431 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:29,959 Speaker 1: the Cowboys defensive coordinator, and Kellen Moore, the Cowboys offensive coordinator. 432 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: So Eric I kind of wanted to pitch this question 433 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: to you and say, you know, what kind of a 434 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: coach given this kind of wide range of three candidates, 435 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: they're all very different, what do you think the Wolves 436 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: are looking for? They're probably looking at everything. You know. 437 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: I know it's a very popular opinion out there from 438 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: fans who say, Okay, the Viking just had Mike Thimmer, 439 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: who with an older coach, a defensive minded coach, that 440 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: means they have to completely turn it around and go 441 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: with a young, offensive mind. I don't necessarily, While I 442 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: see that point and I understand that point, I don't 443 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: necessarily think that that has to be the play here. 444 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: I think the Wilf's want a leader. They want someone 445 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 1: who's going to lead the team, lead the organization. That 446 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: is I think priority number one for them. Parity number 447 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: two is probably being able to work well with others. 448 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,640 Speaker 1: And how many times did we hear Mark Will say 449 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: the word collaboration in his press conference last week when 450 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: he was talking about letting Rick Bielman and Mike them 451 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: or go someone who's got to work well with others 452 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: and be okay with maybe delegating some responsibilities, obviously still 453 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: taking on the role of the head coach. Those are 454 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: probably the two main factors and two main criteria in 455 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: my mind. And again, the Vikings are going to interview 456 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,199 Speaker 1: more than just three candidates for a head coach. You know, 457 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:51,479 Speaker 1: Mark Will said the GM would come first. That's why 458 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:54,920 Speaker 1: it's an eight to three ratio right there. But again, 459 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: be patient and just let the process kind of play out. 460 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 1: That's the thing too, I think for the fans just 461 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: to understand, like, well, you know what happens if all 462 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: these other teams are looking for head coaches or gms 463 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,360 Speaker 1: as well, and why are we interviewing head coaches when 464 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: typically you would go GM then head coach. Honestly, I 465 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: just feel like they're saying, we need to make sure 466 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,160 Speaker 1: on our end that we work with as many people 467 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: as possible or at least understand where they're coming from, 468 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: so that when we do hire a GM and we're 469 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: talking to potential candidates about what's your style, what are 470 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: you working with, we as an organization also have some 471 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: understanding of some people that are out there and that 472 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: are available. And I think when you look at this 473 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: as well, you know they're trying to find windows of 474 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: opportunity to talk to people when they're not held back 475 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: by the league due to still being a part of 476 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: the playoffs. So if you look at the Titans, the Bucks, 477 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,679 Speaker 1: the Chiefs, the Packers, the Cowboys, here, a lot of 478 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: it has to do with the fact that if they 479 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: were not playing last weekend, there was a window to 480 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: be able to talk to people. So I just feel 481 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: like for fans, like, understand, yeah, we're going through the GM, 482 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 1: but if they're going to get an opportunity to talk 483 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: to somebody's head coaching candidates, they're going to take it 484 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: when they can get it. Yeah. I think it's like 485 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: both sides for the spectrum for fans out there, right, 486 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: because there's one side of the spectrum that says, oh, 487 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: we got another person that's coming in there. Oh my gosh, 488 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 1: like we're just giving anybody and everybody interviews. But there's 489 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: an other perspective other side of the spectrum, people are saying, well, 490 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: why havn't they talk to this guy? We're having they 491 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,239 Speaker 1: talk to that guy. And that's due to because of 492 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: these wildcard and NFL rules and divisional rules where you 493 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: only can interview her up to two days before the 494 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: actual game day for a team that are still clerely 495 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, and then two after January thirty. If 496 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: you can't interview anyone that is playing in the Super 497 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: Bowl until after the Super Bowl after January thirty. So 498 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: there are a lot of rules in place and still 499 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 1: on the first side of the spectrum that I was 500 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: talking about. I mean, if we only had three candidates 501 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: coming in here and we made a coaching hire or 502 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 1: a gam hire after three candidates, everybody would be mad 503 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: because it's like, is this process is really methodical and 504 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 1: comprehensive if you just made an impulse decision. So similar 505 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: to what Eric said, you just gotta stay patient and 506 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: trust the process because this is whiles it can be 507 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: stressful for many people, it is also a fun process. 508 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 1: And the fact that a lot of people, fans including us, 509 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 1: are allowed to be able to witness it firsthand, I 510 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: think that's a cool experience. Also, back in the day, 511 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,400 Speaker 1: there was no social media to be able to say, 512 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 1: all right, well Glenn Cook is in for an interview, 513 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: or Manti Assenford, we just concluded an interview with them. 514 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,479 Speaker 1: So I think there's a perspective that fans should have 515 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: in some appreciation while being patient throughout the process. That's 516 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: when TV crews were sitting out your practice facility with 517 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 1: their cameras making sure they could like get video of 518 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 1: I remember when I was in Nashville, there were stories 519 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: about manning watch to see if he would walk in 520 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,119 Speaker 1: the building to go in interview to see if it's 521 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: a place he wants to land for free agency. I 522 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: mean Rogers watched this year exactly, so social media has 523 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: changed a lot, but that you know, as long as 524 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 1: we don't have TV's cameras parked outside. But it is, 525 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: you know, back to your point though, it's a it's 526 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: a good one because you think about it's the chicken 527 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: or the egg, like what do you want to do first? 528 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: And if you are focusing so much on the general manager, 529 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: are there good maybe both? Are there other like candidates 530 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: coaching candidates who because of limited schedules, are only going 531 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: to talk or talking to other teams. If you really 532 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:26,159 Speaker 1: want someone and you're trying to get the GM done first, 533 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: you might as well just get the other one done. 534 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: At least you're starting the legwork there. So if you 535 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: hire a GM, then you can kind of have them 536 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 1: involved in the next steps of the process, but you 537 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: already got that process going. Yeah, Tatum, I think you 538 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,919 Speaker 1: make a great point and that the GM, you know, 539 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: I believe in Mark will believe that the GM is 540 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: going to be hired first, and that's probably the right 541 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: move given you know what position and all the responsibilities 542 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: that come with that title. But you got to do 543 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: both at the same time. You got to be looking 544 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: at head coaching candidate too. You can't focus all your 545 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 1: egg than one basket right on the GM and then 546 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: all of a sudden start from scratch on square one 547 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: for a head coach and it's late January early February 548 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 1: and you've done no work on that. That would be 549 00:27:09,680 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: a mistake and that is not what the Vikings are doing. 550 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: So I think the way that they're going about it 551 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 1: kind of doing both of the same time while obviously 552 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: putting an empatheys on the GM. Obviously with the number 553 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:23,720 Speaker 1: of candidates they are compared to the head coach, I 554 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 1: think the way that the Vikings and the Will family 555 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: are doing it is the correct way. I definitely agree 556 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: with you on our Eric. I mean, I've been a 557 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,800 Speaker 1: part of this process from two perspectives, being in Washington 558 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: where they hired the head coach first and then Ron 559 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 1: Rivera was the head coach and that he made GM decisions, 560 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: and then they eventually hired a GM which ultimately took 561 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,479 Speaker 1: over the draft. So the fact that the Vikings and 562 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: the Wolves are actually going GM first and going head coach. Second. 563 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: I think that's an interesting perspective also, and you can 564 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: never really have an opinion until, like the actions are proven. 565 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: But the Wolves are confident in their decision and think 566 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: that confidence going forward has to energize Vikings fans as 567 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: we wait in anticipation for the big decisions to be revealed. 568 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:09,560 Speaker 1: We are going to have a special guest here on 569 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings podcast. We're excited to be joined by 570 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 1: former Vikings player and head coach Mike Tys. All. Right, now, 571 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: we are joined by Mike Tice, former Vikings head coach 572 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: and Mike first and foremost on social media. We're talking 573 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: off camera. Tatum brought it up, you were at the 574 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: Hula Bold in Orlando. Usually that is in Hawaii, but 575 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 1: you were there this year in Orlando. How was that 576 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: and what was the purpose of that? Well game, how 577 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: are you doing this? It's a college all star game 578 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:40,479 Speaker 1: that has been over in Hawaii for its entire tenure, 579 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: I mean a long time. I want to say forty years, 580 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: maybe maybe longer. And I think with COVID and the 581 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: team's not wanting to send the scouts on the way, 582 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: I think it was hard for them to recruit good players, 583 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: good college seniors or good college players out of eligible. 584 00:28:57,600 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: So they moved to Orlando. They did a nice job. 585 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,239 Speaker 1: I was called by Brian Billi because I think the 586 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 1: fans are aware of who he is, and Brian Billick 587 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: asked me to come out of retirement for a week 588 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: and coach the old line and Wade Phillips was a 589 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:12,560 Speaker 1: defensive coordinator on our team and on the other team 590 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: they had Mike Smith and the Jay Hayes and Jonathan 591 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: Hayes and we had a blast. It was great being 592 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: around all those old guys. I think we told a 593 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: lot of stories and maybe some were made up. Well, coach, 594 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:29,479 Speaker 1: I know that the coaching hiring process has evolved, just 595 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: like the games evolved over the years when you went 596 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: through You know, can you explain or give the fans 597 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,120 Speaker 1: an inside perspective about what that's like when you have 598 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: these conversations and meetings with owners and front office employees, 599 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: like like what the Vikings are doing right now? Well, certainly, 600 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: I don't think I can compare how I became the 601 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: head coach, So what some of these kids are gone 602 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 1: through or some of these guys are going through. My 603 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: situation was unique in the fact that Danny Green and 604 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: the owner parted ways. The ownership group was looking for 605 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: a splash guy. I think when they figured out the 606 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: splash guy costs a lot of money, they turned to me, 607 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: who was already on the staff, and whether I was 608 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 1: smart to do it and not smart to do it, 609 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: I took I took the job, so I didn't at 610 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:17,920 Speaker 1: that point we did not have a general manager in 611 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: our in our building, so it was a little bit different. 612 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: With the way the kids are going through the process. Now, 613 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: agents get involved heavily. There are a handful of agents 614 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: in the league that just do relationship or have a 615 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,600 Speaker 1: relationship with coaches, and they don't even deal with players. 616 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: And so these agents have relationships with the teams, with 617 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: the general managers, and possibly sometimes with ownership. And of 618 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: course statistics matter, and if your team is excellent on 619 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: defense or excellent on offense and leading the league in 620 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: some certain categories, these are the guys that get to 621 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: get the shake. These are the guys that get the 622 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: chance to go sit down in front of the powers 623 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: that be the doing the interview process. They get a 624 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: chance to show what they can do, what they'll bring, 625 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,040 Speaker 1: what type of program, they'll bring, you know, from scheduling 626 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: all the way to what type of personnel they're looking for, 627 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: And I think it comes down to fit and comfort. 628 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: You know, if the front office feels comfortable with a guy, 629 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: I think that's the direction that they'll go. I feel 630 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: like that's the it factor in my opinion, because you 631 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: definitely have to have the smarts, the strategy, but then again, 632 00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you got to have 633 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: that comfort level and make people people feel comfortable to 634 00:31:30,480 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 1: follow you as a leader, and clearly you had that 635 00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: being a former player here and then going from from 636 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: player to coach, an interim coach and head coach like 637 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: you when you look at you know that comfort level. 638 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 1: Why do you think that the landscape has changed as 639 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: far as going from a defensive guy to an offensive 640 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: guy back to a defensive guy in the way that 641 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: the coaching carousel has gone today. Well, I think one 642 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: of the things, at least if they're intelligent enough, the 643 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: front office people look at is what type of player 644 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: do we have? Where are our players? This is the 645 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: NFL is a player driven league. You don't win. Really 646 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: not to put down coaches, because I coach for twenty 647 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: one years You don't win with coaching at the end 648 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: of the day, you win with great players. And if 649 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: you have those great players and you can stay organized 650 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: in what you're doing and consistent with your message and 651 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: the things you're doing with the players, now you have 652 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: a chance to have a great team. I either Andy Reids. 653 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 1: They have great talent, but Andy Reid doesn't screw it up, 654 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: and so that's very very important. That comes obviously with experience. 655 00:32:32,040 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: So I think it's I think a lot of it 656 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: is gauged by where are our best players? And I 657 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: think that's the way that teams are going to lean. 658 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: I mean, your offensive minded guy, you came in as 659 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 1: a tight ends coach, play tight end in the NFL, 660 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,320 Speaker 1: finish your career here with the Vikings as a tight end. 661 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: And now being that Mike z Emer is a former 662 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: defensive head coach, what do you think next gen stats 663 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 1: or stats are in analytics affect coaching now when it 664 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: comes to game planning and scheming. Absolutely, I really do. 665 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: And I don't want to say I'm one hundred percent 666 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: in on it. You know, the game has been around 667 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: a long time, a lot longer than me and a 668 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: lot longer than next gen stats, and I think really 669 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: a couple of things come down to it more than 670 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: next gen stats and said create turnovers and don't turn 671 00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: the football over, you know, convert on third down and 672 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: be great in the red zone. I mean, you talk 673 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: about those things. If you start studying the teams, I'm 674 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,120 Speaker 1: going to bet that hiding up. And I haven't done 675 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 1: this study because I don't need to, but I would 676 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: get a lot of the teams that have left a 677 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 1: lead the league or hiring the league in those categories. 678 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: Turnover differential to me is a key. Well, I think 679 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: a guy that that's been really good in the red zone, 680 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: really being really good on third down and his play 681 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: for the Vikings is tight end Tyler Conklin. He's a 682 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 1: free agent this year. You've being a former tight end, 683 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: you've studied tight ends, a tight ends coach here for 684 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings. How would you address that situation with him? Well, 685 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: hell yeah, bring him back. He's a good player, he's 686 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: a very very good prospect. Absolutely, he'd be on my 687 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: list to bring back. Before we let you go, Mike, 688 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 1: I'd like to get your favorites for the Super Bowl 689 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 1: this year. Who do you see playing in the Big game. Well, 690 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 1: that's a loaded question, of course. On the AFC, I'm 691 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 1: gonna go with the Tennessee Titans. And then and I 692 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,600 Speaker 1: really think Green Bay is the best team in football 693 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:20,919 Speaker 1: right now, and I'm anxious to see how they patch 694 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:23,800 Speaker 1: pair up against the forty nine ers this week. But 695 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 1: my pick would be one sentimental and ones hopefully I 696 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:29,799 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about. I would say Green Bay 697 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 1: in the type I think. You know, you just picked 698 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,839 Speaker 1: two teams that are old school, one team that likes 699 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: to run the ball, and then another team that I mean, 700 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: one of the most historical franchises in the history of 701 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: the league. I mean that that pretty much explains that 702 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,240 Speaker 1: you just still love a good, just old school ground 703 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 1: and pound type game. Oh absolutely, you know you want 704 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,480 Speaker 1: to me. I look for those tough teams, and the 705 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: teams that can run that football are generally tough teams. 706 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,320 Speaker 1: And that team I know you're talking about, the Titans, 707 00:34:57,719 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 1: take after their head coach, and he's a tough, old 708 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:02,759 Speaker 1: player and he's done a great job. I mean, I 709 00:35:02,880 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: personally would love to see a micro Raybell Matt lafloora matchup. 710 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: Myself being used living in Nashville, I'm all for it. 711 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 1: I'm here for the popcorn. They couldn't be more different. Yeah, 712 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: that would be fun with it? Yeah? Well, well, I 713 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:18,879 Speaker 1: mean the ultimate goal is to get the Vikings back 714 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl, or at least get them to 715 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:22,759 Speaker 1: that point where they can actually play in this rouper 716 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: ball in the head coach GM Higher it is going 717 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: to happen at some time soon. But just from a 718 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: personnel standpoint, how do the Vikings get back to that 719 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:34,880 Speaker 1: point of contending in the NFC North. Well, you know, 720 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 1: I don't look at all the tapes. I watch all 721 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 1: the games. I'm a big Vikings fan. I think everybody 722 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 1: knows that. But I don't get to watch all the tapes, 723 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: so I can't really evaluate the players. But from what 724 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: I've seen, there's some areas that need improvement. Starting with 725 00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 1: the offensive line. I'd like to see them protect the 726 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: quarterback a little bit better. Obviously they can run the football, 727 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:54,760 Speaker 1: but when teams have to throw the ball, and everybody 728 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 1: knows you can throw the ball, can you protect the quarterback. 729 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 1: I think that's a big key. I think that's a 730 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: question in needs to be answered. I think defensively, the secondary, 731 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: obviously we have great safety, a couple of great safeties. 732 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,759 Speaker 1: But the corners, I know we have some guys were 733 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:10,879 Speaker 1: trying to patchwork away. We have a couple of young guys, 734 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,279 Speaker 1: but we need some answers there. We need to be 735 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 1: better there, and you could always improve the defensive mind. So, 736 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, the Vikings got some holes to fill. They 737 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:21,640 Speaker 1: have some work to do. You know, I know they're 738 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: going to make a great decision on the general manager 739 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 1: the head coach. They're gonna bring in the right guy 740 00:36:25,440 --> 00:36:27,840 Speaker 1: for them. They're around at twenty four to seven. I 741 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: live in Seattle, so I'm not around at twenty four 742 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,399 Speaker 1: to seven. They know who the right fit is for them, 743 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 1: and I'm sure they're going to do a great job 744 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,839 Speaker 1: and they're going to make the right decision. Well, Mike, 745 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:38,879 Speaker 1: always a pleasure talking to you. Thank you for joining 746 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:42,240 Speaker 1: us today on the Minnesota Vikings podcast. My pleasure, guys anytime. 747 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 1: It's always great to hear from Mike Tye himself. We 748 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: appreciate him being here on the podcast as we continue 749 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: to get ready for this big decision coming up from 750 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,759 Speaker 1: the Vikings organization about who will be their next general 751 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 1: manager and head coach. So, Eric, I wanted to ask 752 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 1: you how is the best way as a fan to 753 00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:06,440 Speaker 1: keep up with everyone we're interviewing. Two areas to follow. 754 00:37:06,520 --> 00:37:09,279 Speaker 1: One is obviously on Twitter, and you can follow the 755 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,720 Speaker 1: Vikings on Twitter as soon as the interviews are confirmed 756 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: and completed, then the team has been tweeting about them. 757 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: But if you also go to Vikings dot com, there 758 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,720 Speaker 1: is a confirmation story for every candidate that has been interviewed. 759 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 1: So these eight general manager candidates, candidates who are done, 760 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:28,319 Speaker 1: there's a story for eight on all eight of them, 761 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,640 Speaker 1: which is basic general information for you to learn more 762 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:35,239 Speaker 1: about who they all are. Very cool and is there 763 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: anything else in the works right now? I know it's 764 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:39,200 Speaker 1: the offseason, but you've been pretty busy. Is there anything 765 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,879 Speaker 1: that you want to promote or get people to look at? Well, 766 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always a fan of and interested in 767 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:48,160 Speaker 1: hearing from fans of the Vikings Monday Morning mail Bag. Though, 768 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: if you're out there you have questions on the head 769 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 1: coaching search, on the general manager search, on the twenty 770 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 1: twenty one season, the draft, free agency, it doesn't matter 771 00:37:57,520 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: what it is. I will respond and I will tackle 772 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,239 Speaker 1: any and all questions. So if you go to Viking 773 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: dot com and you know click on news and mailbag. 774 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:08,280 Speaker 1: The link is then there to send me some questions, 775 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:11,800 Speaker 1: so fire away. I can take the heat. I always 776 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:15,040 Speaker 1: enjoy interacting with fans. Can you how many you have 777 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:16,959 Speaker 1: in the inbox right now? Right now? I got about 778 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,480 Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty. But Friday morning is the day 779 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:21,799 Speaker 1: I'm going to sit down and go through a mall. 780 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 1: What do you love doing most? Is the one? Is 781 00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:29,200 Speaker 1: my question in general, like the Tracker mailbag or anything else, 782 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:31,440 Speaker 1: because I feel like all three of those things are 783 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: like very intuitive. I think I'll famailbag like. I always 784 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:37,399 Speaker 1: enjoy hearing from fans, even honestly, even if you send 785 00:38:37,480 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 1: in dumb ideas, and there's been a few of those, 786 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,719 Speaker 1: you know, I don't mind. I don't mind because no names, 787 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 1: we're not calling anyone out here. I love hearing from fans. 788 00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:49,160 Speaker 1: Sometimes you guys give me great story ideas to work 789 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,759 Speaker 1: on my nice you know, I love Viking fan do 790 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: you guys always have good passion and energy And that's 791 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: certainly been evident, you know during last season and as 792 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:01,239 Speaker 1: these searchers have gone on keeping your finger on the pulse. 793 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,279 Speaker 1: That's my job, yes, exactly, Thank you so much. Eric, 794 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:07,920 Speaker 1: Sinthur being here on the Minnesota Vikings Podcasts for this episode, 795 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:12,320 Speaker 1: but as we've alluded to all podcasts long, this is 796 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: the off season, so it is time for us to 797 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: take a short break. We'll be back periodically when there's 798 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: breaking news, like if there's a hire. So be sure 799 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:25,320 Speaker 1: to also subscribe to the Minnesota Vikings podcast network so 800 00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:29,840 Speaker 1: you know when the latest episode drops. For now, Gabe Henderson, 801 00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:31,800 Speaker 1: Jay Nelson, and myself are just going to take a 802 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:34,320 Speaker 1: little R and R. If that even exists, we'll do 803 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,480 Speaker 1: what we can. What does that feel like? I don't know, 804 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:41,040 Speaker 1: it's been a while. I have no idea. Read and repeat. Oh, yeah, 805 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:42,759 Speaker 1: that's what it is. Oh is that what it is? Yeah? 806 00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:45,719 Speaker 1: Read and repeat. No, we will take a quick break 807 00:39:45,719 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 1: from the podcast, but we will see you guys very 808 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:51,319 Speaker 1: soon again. Subscribe, rate review, right, isn't that what you're 809 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: supposed to say? Might as well? Yeah, any anywhere and 810 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,840 Speaker 1: everywhere that you get your podcast, just pay attention and we'll. 811 00:39:57,200 --> 00:39:59,440 Speaker 1: As Tatum said, we will drop something as soon as 812 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,719 Speaker 1: our news breaks here, But for now, we're going to 813 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:03,839 Speaker 1: take just a tiny bit of time to ourselves. Yes, 814 00:40:03,960 --> 00:40:06,880 Speaker 1: but we appreciate you listening each and every week, and 815 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,520 Speaker 1: for now all there's left to say is skull Vikings