1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: Hey, Vikings fans have been over here. I'm so excited 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: to be a new Lifetime member, and so are my kids. 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: They love the tennis, the pickaball, the basketball, and of 4 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: course the yummy cafe. Check them out at Lifetime dot 5 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: life to find a club nearest you. 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 2: Welcome to School Stories, presented by three M, official science 7 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight we're joined by Viking 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 2: legend Robert Griffith. 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 3: Thanks again for tuning into another episode of School Stories. 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 3: Tonight's guest had a thirteen year NFL career, including an 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 3: eight year run with your Minnesota Vikings. Please enjoy tonight's 12 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 3: conversation with legendary safety Robert Griffith. 13 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 2: Hey, Robert, welcome to the show. It's great to catch 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: up with you. Always is. Once in a while I 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: run into you one of the Vikings Legends events. You 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: have the fans a quick update and what you're doing, 17 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: how you doing, where are you living? And hou's life. 18 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 4: That's good Man got married last year to a beautiful lady. 19 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 4: I'm in southern California, still working up getting my licensing 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 4: business off the ground, and just really enjoying the last 21 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 4: bit of my family with all the new additions. My 22 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 4: mom and dad are getting a little older, so just 23 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 4: trying to really spend a lot of quality time with 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 4: everybody in And also I went back to school. I 25 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 4: don't know had a bucket list. I went back and 26 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 4: got my MBA. I finished that in twenty twenty three 27 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 4: from Fordham. I went to the Bronx to do that. 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 4: So doing a little work with them and just kind 29 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 4: of feeding all the things that feed me, like my 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 4: foundation and education and you know, just trying to live 31 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 4: every day the right way. 32 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 3: So Griff, tell us a little bit more about the 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 3: foundation and what is it, where can we find it, 34 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 3: and you know, to get anybody out there listening that 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 3: wants to help out. 36 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 4: Yeah. So my foundation I started when I was a 37 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 4: player nineteen ninety seven Frickly for the mission to give 38 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 4: out high school scholarships, I mean college scholarships to high 39 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 4: school seniors. And thus far we put thirty six kids 40 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 4: through school on our own efforts, you know, fundraising, golf tournament, 41 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 4: you name it right. Yeah, it's been a labor of love. 42 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 4: I had to put it down after two thousand and eight. 43 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 4: All my sponsors dried up and I actually had a 44 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 4: bunch of kids in school that had to take care 45 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 4: of and it's been a true labor of love that 46 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 4: everything that I do as far as nonprofit, I asked 47 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 4: that people donate to that right. So all my charity work, 48 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 4: I would say, is always for that benefit to put 49 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 4: kids through school. Because, as you guys know, I walked 50 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 4: on in San Diego State. There was not a prayer 51 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 4: in the world that was going to tell me I 52 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 4: would be able to pay for school and be able 53 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 4: to go to practice. And so my third semester, when 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 4: I earned that scholarship with a broken arm, you know, 55 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 4: out of nowhere, I felt the compelling need that if 56 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 4: ever I had a chance, I would give another young 57 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 4: adult the opportunity to feel the way I did when 58 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 4: I got that scholarship. And so that's my mission is, 59 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 4: you know, it's a lifelong mission. You know. My other 60 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 4: goal is to the reason why I started my licensing 61 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 4: company is to not hustle on the nonprofit side and 62 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 4: just to direct a certain portion of my funds to 63 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 4: my scholarship program. So that's really what my life's worked about. 64 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 2: Interesting, well, you mentioned you ended up at San Diego State. 65 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: You were born in Maryland, but you played your high 66 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: school ball in California. What were the family travels like? 67 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: How did you end up in California with the family. 68 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, so my dad was a twenty one year Navy 69 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 4: and he was stationed in DC, and my sister and 70 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 4: I were born there, and he retired in nineteen seventy six, 71 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 4: and so we moved out to California because he had 72 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 4: some really really good friends and a couple of job offers, 73 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 4: and so we went all the way across the country 74 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 4: after my dad got out of the service. And so 75 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 4: that's why I was born in San Diego and that's 76 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 4: why I was raised there. He ended up coming to 77 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 4: San Diego and taking another governmental job, and so that's 78 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 4: why the change my dad was in the military. 79 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 3: Tell us about your'd say, high school football, get us 80 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 3: through that, and then really how you ended up at 81 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 3: San Diego State, because how you walked into that, you know, 82 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 3: into that campus, and how you left as a football 83 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 3: player definitely definitely changed. 84 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 4: You know. I like to think a lot of people, man, 85 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 4: when I think about just the transformation from went to 86 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 4: high school at Mount McGill in Spring Valley. Shout out 87 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 4: to the Matadors. They actually won the championship this year, 88 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 4: so I want to give them some love. So when 89 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 4: I left there, you know, I graduated high school Pete. 90 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 4: I was five seven, one hundred and fifty three pounds. 91 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 4: I was an All conference cornerback. I had eleven interceptions 92 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 4: that year my senior year, and I got nothing but 93 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 4: d two scholarship offers Itsaca University, Kyle Lutheran, Sonoma State, 94 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 4: you name it right. And at the time, it was 95 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 4: a big push for all of the San Diego's best 96 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 4: players to stay at home. So Patrick Rowe, wide receiver 97 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 4: was one of the first guys that started it off 98 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 4: when he stayed the year before I came out. Everybody 99 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 4: in San Diego decided to play for the home town team. 100 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 4: So a lot of guys that I played against in 101 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 4: high school and done very well against, got scholarship and 102 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 4: so you can see I was burning in my seat, 103 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 4: mad that I had played well against a lot of 104 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 4: guys and didn't get an offer. Also, so the stubbornness 105 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 4: in me decided to walk on. They had my degree 106 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 4: of choice, which was an engineering degree guys don't have, 107 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 4: and great engineering school, so I decided to walk on. 108 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 4: And that's when I was just out to prove myself, 109 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 4: and I think that was a chip on my shoulder 110 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 4: that really kind of carried me through my NFL career. 111 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 4: And so when I got to Santago State, I walked 112 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 4: on my first year and I was crazy. I grew 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 4: three inches and twenty two pounds in like eighteen months. 114 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 4: And then freshman year I broke my arm and that 115 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 4: so I wasn't on scholarship, right, So, if I can 116 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 4: back up, I was waking up. So my freshman year, 117 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 4: I was waking up at four point thirty. I was 118 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 4: working at Macon Distributing, which was a liquor distributor. So 119 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 4: I was a guy just carrying beer in the store, 120 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 4: restaurant and yeah, supermarkets and stuff. Thirty to call it 121 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 4: eight thirty. I did that. Then I went to class, 122 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 4: then I went to practice, and then repeat, repeat, repeat, 123 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 4: So first semester, second semester, third semester, and I broke 124 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 4: my arm my third semester. 125 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 3: In football, or did you break a carrying beer? 126 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 4: And football? I was about to make the team. I 127 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 4: was backing up the starter and we were thirteen fourteen 128 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 4: days from our first game, and I'm running down on 129 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 4: kickoff because we had live special teams back then, and 130 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 4: I go down make a tackle and I throw the 131 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 4: guy to the ground and I break my form, both 132 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 4: phones and my form, and no scholarship. You know, obviously 133 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 4: no money. Couldn't work the job because I couldn't use 134 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 4: my arm. So I was out fall semester, rolls around 135 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 4: and my mom she, I don't know how she made 136 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 4: it happen. I kind of find out. She told some 137 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 4: jewelry and some other stuff. But my mom paid for school. 138 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 4: And I went out there that spring camp with a brace, 139 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 4: you know, like a little calf on arm, and I 140 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 4: went out and earned a scholarship. I was angry, really 141 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 4: on my last little bit of had an opportunity. He 142 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 4: had to give me that scholarship. You guys, it was 143 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 4: that much work that I was putting in. And so 144 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 4: that next fall I ended up playing special teams, backing 145 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 4: up the starter and earning my way into the starting position. 146 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 4: So became a team captain in that year, the next 147 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 4: year and my senior year. But you got to remember, 148 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 4: I played this monster back right, so it was really 149 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 4: a utility back right. So I developed all these skills 150 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 4: covering tight ends, you know, hitting bigger men, et cetera. 151 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 4: So when it was time to go to the NFL, 152 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 4: I was a true tweener with a small body, right, 153 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 4: and they knew I couldn't play linebacker, and they never 154 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 4: really saw that I can play corner or have the 155 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 4: speed to play corner, and so so you know how 156 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 4: it works. When you can't be labeled, the NFL can 157 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 4: forget about you. And so that's that's really what happened 158 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 4: to me. And so I didn't have an agent at 159 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 4: the time when I came out. I ended up hiring 160 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 4: Marshall Fox agent Rocky Austino, and he called it a 161 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 4: month and a half, two months before the draft, I'm 162 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 4: working out getting ready. He says, I got an end 163 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 4: for you with the Giant, worst case scenario going to 164 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 4: go free agent there, and something in me told me 165 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 4: to call the Giant. Probably about a month before the 166 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 4: draft that year in nineteen ninety three, I called him up. 167 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 4: I said, hey, you guys got a Robert Griffs on 168 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 4: your board anywhere? And I remember him saying, you know, sorry, son, 169 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 4: we don't well, we think you're a great player, you know, 170 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 4: good luck, et cetera. And so I knew that what 171 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 4: was being told to me was live, et cetera. So 172 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,319 Speaker 4: I ended up not having so fired, Rocky ended up 173 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 4: not having an agent, and I ended up calling my 174 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 4: AAU basketball coach, Bill McCullough. He's the HR director at Meta, 175 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 4: I believe now, and he called a couple of his 176 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 4: agent friends and made a few connections and got me 177 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 4: up to Canada. So, now you got to remember nineteen 178 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 4: ninety three had the five American Canadian football teams at 179 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 4: the time. We had one in Sacramento, one in Vegas, 180 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 4: one in Baltimore, I think, one in New Orleans they're 181 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 4: somewhere in the South, and one in Florida. And so 182 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 4: he had an inn in Sacramento. Tom Bass was the 183 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 4: GM or the coordinator there, and he had seen me 184 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 4: play in college and so they brought me up there 185 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 4: for LOUXI. 186 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, let me ask you griff again. We're talking to 187 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 2: Robert Griffith, longtime safety at the Vikings. You mentioned the 188 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: chip on your shoulder. You weren't drafted, So did how 189 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 2: did you end up in the CFL before you and 190 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 2: before eventually signing with the Vikings. 191 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, so said Bill McCullough. He he had an opportunity 192 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 4: to get me to the Sacramento Canadian football team at 193 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 4: the time, and so I went up there and they 194 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 4: wanted to see if I can play, you know, learn 195 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 4: the rules and so club people on the field, you know, 196 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 4: down downhill motion, et cetera. So I'm practicing with them 197 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 4: for a few weeks, a couple of weeks and I'm 198 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 4: about to go into my first game and I remembered 199 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 4: the coach calling me up before I go I'm going 200 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 4: into into the game. He says, hey, Griff, we have 201 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 4: been trying to get a hold of you. We actually 202 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 4: traded you this last night to Saskatchewan and uh, you 203 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,719 Speaker 4: know league rules, you know you can't play for us, 204 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 4: but you you know, you're their rights, et cetera, et cetera. 205 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,680 Speaker 4: And so I didn't have an agent, remember, so I 206 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 4: called Bill mccullor. I'm like, man, what's you know, what's 207 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 4: going on? Man? And Gatchewan was it was cold out there. 208 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 4: It was like it was October, was like thirteen fourteen degrees. 209 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 4: I remember, they were just an ok team at the time, 210 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 4: and so I decided that it was more important for 211 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 4: me to finish my degree, my engineering degree. So I 212 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 4: ended up flying back home and taking the rest of 213 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 4: nineteen ninety three that fall to finish my engineering degree. 214 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,719 Speaker 4: So I went back to school fall ninety three, all 215 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 4: the way into the spring ninety three. I'm about to graduate. 216 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 4: But what I did do is I started running with 217 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 4: Olympians San Diego State. So we had a big Olympic 218 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 4: contention there because we have the Olympic training center there. 219 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 4: And so I connected with Ron Sheffield, who was currently 220 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 4: is was currently the Olympic sprinting coach at the time, 221 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 4: and I started working out of Olympians at my speed together, 222 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 4: working out in the gym, et cetera, et cetera. And 223 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 4: I did that all the way from October to April, 224 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 4: and I get a call from Gary's owner. My name 225 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 4: was on the grease board, my number was on the 226 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 4: grease board in the weight room at San Diego State, 227 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 4: and Gary Zowoner calls me up and say, hey, Griff, 228 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 4: Gary z owner man remember me? And I said remember 229 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 4: you well. Gary had he was at the University of Nevada, 230 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 4: excuse me, University of New Mexico. And he was the 231 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 4: only offer that I got from a D one school 232 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 4: that they ended up not giving me. So I was 233 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 4: the only trip that I took to a d one school. 234 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 4: I went to New Mexico and he showed me around. 235 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 4: He wanted to sign me, and then they didn't stick around. 236 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 3: For more from Robert Griffith right here on school Stories 237 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 3: presented by three M. From the field to the roof 238 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 3: and everywhere in between. Three M, the official science partner 239 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 3: of the Minnesota Vikings is Here is it vikis dot 240 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: com slash school Science. 241 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 2: To learn more, Unreal is back with their limited edition 242 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: Vikings Drop head to you n r L dot com 243 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 2: for more details and welcome back to tonight's edition of 244 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 2: school Stories presented by three M. Let's get back into 245 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 2: our conversation with Vikings legend Robert Griffith. Hey, I want 246 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 2: to ask you about your relationship with with Dennis Green, 247 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 2: who is your head coach here in Minnesota and in Arizona. 248 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: What do you remember most about playing for Dennis and 249 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 2: why did you enjoy playing for him so much? 250 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 4: Dennis, Denny Green and I were I guess you can 251 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 4: call it kindred spirits, homemates or whatever. We just we 252 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 4: just vibed on the same frequency. And uh, I didn't 253 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 4: really realize that until after I started stopped playing and start, 254 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 4: you know, worked with him with the UFL and whatnot. 255 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 4: But he knew that he just measured the you know, 256 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 4: the man, right, he measured my heart and you know 257 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 4: I had the skills to do it. But my relationship 258 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 4: with Denny was a lot deeper than I believe that 259 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 4: a lot of people can recognize. So I consider him 260 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 4: one of my best friends. Before he passed away, I 261 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 4: worked with him in the USL. I was essentially his 262 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 4: facto assistant GM. I mean I did everything for the 263 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 4: us I was a GM, I was a personnel director 264 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 4: and the secondary coach, right my coached safety for him 265 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 4: for a couple of years, and you know, we spent hours, months, 266 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 4: days on the phone. I don't think anybody knows Denny 267 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 4: better than I do, other than his wife. And I 268 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 4: cherished those moments. But so that's my relationship with Dennian. 269 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 4: So you know it kind of carried. It carried all 270 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 4: the way into Arizona, right. You know. So when we 271 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 4: both left Minnesota in two thousand and one, after that season, 272 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 4: I went to Cleveland for three years, and you know 273 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 4: my contract was up. Jenny just Denny called me up 274 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 4: and said, hey man, you can still play man like 275 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 4: some play for me. And it was an immediate yet 276 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 4: and it was immediate yet. 277 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 3: So Griff I was gonna say, I was out there 278 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 3: in two thousand and six as a coach during training camp, 279 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 3: and oh, that's right, I think I I I think 280 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 3: what I because wal she was out there with me 281 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 3: and and uh we had a couple other guys too. 282 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 3: But I just remember Denny. He was just different. I 283 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 3: think the the death of Corey Stringer affected him in 284 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 3: a way. 285 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 2: You know. 286 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: I I obviously didn't see him that whole, that whole 287 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 3: period of time because my career ended in two thousand, 288 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: but that had that that really did affect him, did 289 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 3: it not. 290 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 4: He was never the same. And you know I went 291 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 4: to Orlando Thomas's, you know, Denny and I together, and 292 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 4: that was that was another another pivotal moment. I would say, 293 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 4: that just just makes you who you are. Man. You know, life, 294 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 4: life's really precious, and you know we're all running out 295 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 4: here to do our thing, but you know, we gotta 296 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 4: we got to remember the people that were, you know, 297 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 4: doing it with and really honor and cherish them, you know, 298 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 4: while we're sharing our time together. That's really what it 299 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 4: comes down to. 300 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 2: And from a football standpoint, Robert, during your time here, 301 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: you had the practice, You got the practice against some 302 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: of the greatest receivers in the game, obviously Randy Moss 303 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 2: and Chris Carter. How did you approach those daily battles 304 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 2: and how did it make you a better player facing 305 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 2: those guys in practice every day. 306 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 4: I'll tell you this, Man, Without Chris Carter, I don't 307 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 4: I'm not the player that I am, period, hands down, 308 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 4: Lockstock Barrel. I had to cover Chris and the slot 309 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 4: at practice, and man, when I got nothing against these players. 310 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 4: But when I got in the slot against Donny Morden 311 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 4: or any of these other guys, I just did it. Man, 312 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 4: I just I had the confidence and I just did it, 313 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 4: you know. And when I say that, I won't say 314 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 4: it was easy. But I wasn't worried about being in 315 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 4: the slot with none of them guys. When I went 316 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 4: out to play nickel my first seven years or whatever 317 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 4: in the league, even when I was playing safey, I 318 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 4: was starting to safety, I'll still they bring Tyrone in 319 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 4: the game, I would still go down there and play 320 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 4: nickel because I had the confidence dealing with Chris every day. 321 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 4: Now with Randy, obviously, I didn't have to deal with 322 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 4: him as much because he was outside of the time, 323 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 4: but we knew that the excellence that we were seeing 324 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 4: was it made us all Sharper you know iron Sharper's iron, right. 325 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 4: It was just one of those traby you know, troubot 326 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 4: fire at practice and when you get put in these 327 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 4: uncomfortable situations, they're not uncomfortable in the game. 328 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: And I remember training camp in ninety eight because I 329 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 3: know Randy was not around for mini camp or anything. Well, 330 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: he was around, but he had an ankle injury. And 331 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 3: then it only took a couple of days down in 332 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 3: Mankato before I think you guys, the defensive backs at 333 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 3: our defensive backs realized very quickly how good he was 334 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 3: gonna be. 335 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 4: Oh man, it wasn't even close. My first look at Randy, 336 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 4: I was like, who is this basketball guard in here? 337 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 4: Six four basketball player? Who is this guy? And the 338 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 4: first thing I thought is, oh man, he's gonna get hurt. Man. 339 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 4: I was like, this guy is gonna get hurt. I 340 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 4: just didn't see the strength that he had in that body. 341 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 4: I just I just felt like he's a flyer, but 342 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 4: he's gonna get hur And what you don't realize is 343 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 4: how strong Randy really is. He's got that wiry frank 344 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 4: man and it was it was just really a pleasure. 345 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 4: Looking back on it, I would have soaked it up 346 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 4: even more, but I think I got a good look 347 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 4: at Randy and what he was going to be that 348 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 4: first year. 349 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 2: For sure, Robert, you were always a health conscious, even 350 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 2: kind of before it was in vogue. I remember even 351 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: doing interviews with you during in the locker room, you 352 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 2: always had some sort of special drink that you would 353 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 2: make and mix up. So why was that important? I 354 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 2: continued throughout kind of your life and made it your 355 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 2: kind of one of your goals to have that health 356 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 2: issue being number one. 357 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 4: It was priority number one. It was just like the 358 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 4: tenements of just how I live my life right, I'm 359 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 4: going to be in the best shape of my life 360 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 4: and I'm going to take care of myself the best 361 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 4: way I know possible. And to do that, it was, 362 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 4: you know, training obviously, but nutrition was number one because 363 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 4: I always had to keep my weight up right. You know, 364 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 4: I'm eighty five pound guy. If I'm not lifting weights 365 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 4: and I'm not so if I wanted to be one 366 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 4: ninety five, you know, one ninety two one night. Whatever 367 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 4: it was. I had to really take a daily approach 368 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 4: to it. But those shakes and all that stuff, I'm 369 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 4: still I've never stopped, man, I'm still doing the same thing. 370 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 4: It makes me feel great. So on the nutrition side, 371 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 4: it was always that way. I was always looking for 372 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 4: legal ways to be able to fuel my body, keep 373 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 4: my weight. Where was that? And just you know, the 374 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 4: overall house. So I don't know if you remember Pete, 375 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 4: but I you know, I always had a chiropractor. You 376 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 4: know my guys still use them. 377 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, so you were You were ahead of 378 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: your time with all that, that's for sure. 379 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. I had JJ Hevlin. He's still here in San Diego. 380 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 4: I had him. He would fly out for playoff games 381 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 4: or just guys. And I have my acupuncturists. Yeah, my acupunctress, 382 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 4: Matt Callison, one of the best in the world. So 383 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 4: I remember I flew him out to a couple playoff games. 384 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 4: He did acupuncture on twenty five guys before the game. 385 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 4: Everybody's so great. We went out and killed him. So 386 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 4: those are the kind of things that I was always 387 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 4: just seeking to feel as good as I can, to 388 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 4: play as best as I can. 389 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 3: Hey, Rob, we're looking at the game nowadays. What are 390 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 3: your what are your thoughts on it? Because it has 391 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 3: definitely changed. The defensive back position is definitely changed. As 392 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 3: far as the physicality, it's so athletic. 393 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 4: Now. 394 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 3: Do you enjoy the game the way it stands right now? 395 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 3: Or do you kind of long for the good old days? 396 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 4: I prefer the good old days. But I understand why, 397 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,360 Speaker 4: and the only reason why. I say, it's just a better, 398 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 4: better brand of football, right yeah. And I'm and I'm 399 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 4: saying that matter of factly because you know, inadvertent head 400 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,640 Speaker 4: to head touches that I see every week. It's kind 401 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 4: of hard to call penalties on things when guys are 402 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 4: just going hard like that. But the main the quality 403 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 4: of the game to me is I feel I'm watching college. 404 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 4: I mean, I hate to say it, but there is 405 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 4: no RPO in our game right there, that that word 406 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 4: isn't even out there, man, Like, the game has changed 407 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 4: so much it is college now to me when I'm 408 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 4: watching it. The offenses feel like college because I see 409 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 4: the quarterbacks. I mean, come on, Lamar's got eight hundred 410 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 4: yards this year. There's absolutely no way that get happens 411 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 4: in our game. Right, And so what I'm saying is 412 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 4: I like it. I like the versatilities of the offense 413 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 4: and how they're creating space, and the talent and skill 414 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 4: level of these receivers and running backs are ridiculous now. 415 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 4: But the game has changed to where I do like 416 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 4: a little bit more of a standard. I like the 417 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 4: ability of the quarterback position, but the RPO to me 418 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 4: is watered it down for me. 419 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 2: Hey, Robert, back in November, you you attended a Vikings 420 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 2: watch party in Birmingham, England. What was that like? Did 421 00:20:57,119 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 2: you consider you know, kind of what were your favorite 422 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: moments about it? It's like that, but you kind of 423 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 2: a new ambassador because it's this catching on or the 424 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 2: Vikings obviously have played their a number of times. 425 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 4: Yeah, look, I loved I loved be an ambassador. And 426 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 4: the UK fans are just as rabid as you can 427 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 4: imagine in Minneapolis, so they have a UK Vikings group. 428 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 4: It's kind of aching of the VWO a little bit. 429 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 4: I don't think they're as hardcore, but there are significant 430 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 4: Vikings Purple fans there man. So when I went there, 431 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 4: I had a It was a showing that was set 432 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 4: up and great turnout. The fans knew all the chance, 433 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 4: they knew the hate, you know, Green Bay chances. It 434 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 4: was just incredible. Yeah, I was. I was surprised. All 435 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 4: the cheese jokes and whatnot that you know, come with 436 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 4: true Vikings fans. 437 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 2: Robert, We've got to kind of wrappings up here. We 438 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 2: really appreciate your time is great catching up with you. 439 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 2: Take care of you and your family. Congratulations on the marriage, 440 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 2: and then thanks for coming on the show and sharing 441 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,880 Speaker 2: your skull stories with a lout and the fans. Take 442 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 2: care of my friend. 443 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 4: Definitely thanks for having me. Guys. 444 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 2: Well, thanks again to Robert Griffith for joining the show today. 445 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: It's it's always fun catching up with him when we 446 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 2: get the chance. He had with such a big impact 447 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 2: on the Vikings, especially during the nineteen ninety eight season. Well, Pete, 448 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 2: I don't know where to start. We know that the 449 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 2: final score was one sided, thirty one to nine at 450 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 2: Ford Field in the regular season finale. The Vikings had 451 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 2: about ten opportunities. I think the cash in and the 452 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 2: red zone. It was like that invisible fence that you 453 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 2: have when you have a dog that you couldn't cross 454 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,679 Speaker 2: the goal line. And yeah, a lot of fingers to 455 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 2: point at different directions, but you know, it was a 456 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: close game until the Lions offenses took over in the 457 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 2: fourth quarter but missed opportunities. Yeah, Sam Darnold was off. 458 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 2: There's just a lot to try to assume. 459 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 3: There's a lot to digest, and you definitely do not 460 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 3: want to have to swallow a pill this size the 461 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 3: week before you go into a playoff game, right, and 462 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 3: there was there's just so much at stake, and I 463 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 3: mean just thinking about it before kickoff, and this is 464 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 3: this is me is a radio guy. It's not necessarily 465 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,240 Speaker 3: what the players are thinking, but just how much was 466 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 3: at stake. You're talking about home field throughout the playoffs 467 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,159 Speaker 3: versus having to go on the road. Yeah, it was 468 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 3: with so much on the line, it was. It was 469 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 3: yet a little disappointing. And the thing about the offense 470 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 3: and how it looked, there's there's more than just a 471 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 3: quarterback being off. There's no question that there were the 472 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 3: throws weren't there, the timing wasn't there. But you know, 473 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 3: mistakes up front. You know, even when we knew we 474 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:35,160 Speaker 3: were going to get man to man coverage, we weren't 475 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 3: able to capitalize on it. We gave up a lot 476 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 3: of pressure, even at times when uh, you know, we 477 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 3: would they'd rush for We had five linemen and we 478 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 3: had a tight end, Chip and a running back all 479 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 3: in the mix and still giving up pressure. So very, 480 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 3: very frustrating because we all, I think we all know 481 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 3: by this point who the Lions are, what they're about. 482 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:55,280 Speaker 3: They're very aggressive. 483 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 2: They blitz. 484 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter who they put out there, whether it's 485 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 3: Kendo Wilder or or or anybody else. That's their m O. 486 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 3: And then to see the effort the defense make, because 487 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 3: I think the defense for three quarters of that game 488 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 3: played very very well. You're plus two in the take cave, 489 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 3: almost plus three Van Ginkle comes down with that interception. 490 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 3: So defensively, I thought they did a you know, you know, 491 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: a really really good job for for a lot of 492 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:27,439 Speaker 3: that football game. So it's frustrating to kind of waste 493 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:33,479 Speaker 3: that effort, you know, offensively, And but that's you got them, 494 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 3: you know, that's what that's what the NFL is all about. 495 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 3: You think this is going to make those changes and 496 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 3: fix them. 497 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 2: Kevin O'Connell's toughest job is to kind of get these 498 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 2: guys refocused understanding the playoffs are just beginning right now, 499 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: whether you play at home or away. You're playing in 500 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 2: the Los Angeles against the Rams team you lost to 501 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 2: in a primetime game four days after they lost the 502 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 2: Lions earlier this season. They're aware of what they're about. 503 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: With Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Kua wide receiver. Do 504 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:58,439 Speaker 2: you know what they're about? 505 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, And here's the if you got the right if 506 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 3: you have the right men in the room, showing up 507 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 3: like that on primetime in the biggest, let's face the 508 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,880 Speaker 3: biggest regular season game since nineteen ninety three, right when 509 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 3: the Giants and the Dallas Cowboys played, they yeah, there 510 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,919 Speaker 3: they should be chopping at the bit to get this 511 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 3: thing fixed and to figure this thing out before you 512 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 3: head out and play again on national TV on the 513 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 3: road Monday night where it could happen again. Right, So 514 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 3: the motivate I mean, there's there shouldn't have to be 515 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:41,159 Speaker 3: motivational speeches right now. There shouldn't have to be, you know, 516 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 3: awareness of the situation. Maybe some talk about what playoff 517 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 3: football is all about, because it is a whole other 518 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 3: level to regular season. The game plan gets bigger's there's 519 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 3: so much more to the game when you when you. 520 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 3: You know, it's like that jump you take from the 521 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 3: preseason of the regular season, there's another jump once you 522 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 3: get into the postseason because everything, everything's riding on it. 523 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 3: And so I don't think again, it's necessary that these 524 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 3: guys should all be wanting to do what needs to 525 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 3: be done to fix this thing and to get her straight, 526 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 3: and then to get out and get that bad taste 527 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,479 Speaker 3: out of your mouth, get back on the field, and 528 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 3: what you know, nothing would change or redirect the scorn 529 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 3: of the national media, of the fans or whatever when 530 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 3: you show up like that. Then going out and just 531 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 3: you know, beating a beating a Los Angeles Rams team soundly, 532 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 3: I think that would answer a lot of questions. And 533 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 3: I mean, there is a possibility if Green Bay goes 534 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 3: ahead and beats Philly, you might have a game at home. 535 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 3: So there's a lot of things that either playing in 536 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 3: Tampa Bay or there's a lot of things that can 537 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 3: happen here that that would bode well for the Vikings. 538 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 3: And so they get to just go out and take 539 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 3: care of business and we'll see if they can do 540 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 3: it well. 541 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 2: As we said, the playoffs are finally here. You got 542 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 2: to keep moving forward. This is the opportunity they've been 543 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 2: waiting for all season, with your Vikings heading out the 544 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 2: Sofi Stadium to take on the Rams on Monday Night Football. 545 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: It's a seven pm kickoff locally, and the TV coverage 546 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:13,919 Speaker 2: will be all over on ABC and ESPN, so be 547 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 2: sure to check your local listings for details. You could, 548 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 2: of course, also catch Paul Allen, ben Lieber and Pete 549 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 2: Persage with the call right here all across the Vikings 550 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,959 Speaker 2: radio network. The Vikings Football Sunday pregame show starts at 551 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: five pm on Kfan, so be sure to tune in 552 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 2: with host Mike Mussman and the rest of the crew 553 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 2: leading up to kickoff. And thank you fans for tuning 554 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,359 Speaker 2: into another edition of Skull Stories presented by three M 555 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 2: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. We will 556 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 2: continue to do school Stories throughout the Vikings playoff run. 557 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 2: So how about getting a win and we'll see you 558 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 2: all again next week