1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: And we're back with another School Stories presented by three M, 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we're 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: catching up with former Viking Stephen Weatherly. 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 2: Welcome back to school Story is presented by three M. 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: Tonight's guest was a Viking for four and a half 6 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: seasons and wrapped up his career in twenty twenty one. 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: Besides his playing the field, and we also remember him 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: from his fun segments on Vikings dot com called the 9 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: Weatherly Report, please enjoy tonight's conversation with old number ninety 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 2: one Steven Weatherloand I'm absolutely thrilled to have Stephen Weatherlely 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: join us on School Stories this week. A man who 12 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: there aren't there aren't many people whose personality are as 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: big as they are, and a guy that has so 14 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: you know, we talked to Robert Smith a week ago, 15 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: and Robert Smith, you know, he's got a lot of stuff, 16 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: and didn't you still you know, he has all this 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 2: stuff on the side or whatever, that's nothing compared to 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: this guy, Stephen Weatherly. And with everything that this guy 19 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: brings to the table, and he's about so much more 20 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: than just football. It's absolutely fascinating. But Steven, thank you 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 2: for being on. 22 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 3: How you doing, Hey, I'm doing really good. Rest of 23 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 3: the recharge. How you guys throwing doing well? 24 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: We're good. The sun's out, it's no you know, it's 25 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 2: October and the sun so we're not going to get 26 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 2: greedy or anything with this, so we're just enjoying it. 27 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 3: I know I'll never forget the first snows when I 28 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 3: was up there playing well. 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: Steven, you were selected by the Vikings in the seventh 30 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: round of the twenty sixteen draft. You kind of go 31 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: back and down memory lane. What was that process like 32 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: for you? And who from the Vikings contacted you know, 33 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: they had interest in you, and what was that? What 34 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: was that like for you? Give this? 35 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 3: No, that was wild. I had no idea. My agent 36 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 3: was kind of saying a handful of other teams at 37 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: the time. I think the Panthers were one of them. 38 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 3: I know I did really well in an interview on 39 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: process and they brought me out, spoke to the coach, 40 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 3: and our philosophies lined up a lot. But I did 41 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 3: meet with Dre and Coach Raw at the combine. I 42 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 3: wasn't one of those like brought into a private room 43 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: kind of grill you with questions. I had to go 44 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 3: to the train station and that's me. You walk up 45 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: the team, you have to sell yourself, and so I 46 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 3: was pitching myself to all thirty two teams and then 47 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 3: I think that's what they kind of realized, that, like, oh, 48 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 3: this guy can keep up mentally with what we have, 49 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 3: what we can ask from him. So on the day 50 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 3: of the Vikings called me. 51 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: Drake called me Andre Patter said, you're referring to. 52 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, Andre Patterson. Okay, yeah, So how you're doing. I said, 53 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 3: I'm pretty good. It's like around the sixth round, you 54 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 3: said there any teams calling about you? And I lied 55 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: and I was like, yeah, they're all calling. He's like, okay, okay, okay, 56 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 3: let me talk to him. Let me talk to him. 57 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 3: And then I didn't hear anything for a while. They 58 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 3: picked someone else, I think Beaver's Kiddrow Brothers went Mobile 59 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 3: went the third. We were just moving on down and 60 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 3: my head coach texted me saying congrats, and I was 61 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 3: really confused, and then I got the call from the organization. 62 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,359 Speaker 2: So a lot of mixed a lot of mixed emotions. 63 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 2: I assume, Oh, it was. 64 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 3: Crazy because I was trying to figure out this. My 65 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: agent was telling me just to hang in there. My 66 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 3: family was all prepared for like this big thing. It 67 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 3: was kind of just whittling down and I got that 68 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: call and it all just boosted everything right back to 69 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 3: the top again. We cut cake and it was it 70 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 3: was crazy. It was a true roller coaster on on 71 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: Draft Day Day three for me, right, And that's that's 72 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 3: always loved it by the seventh rounders. 73 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I was a seventh rounder as well, and 74 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: that's you know, that's really just the beginning because you 75 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: show up and it's not easy. It's just not easy 76 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: for a seventh round pick to make a team. At 77 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: least it was back, you know, back when you were playing. 78 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 2: But you did have Andre Patterson And I actually Dre 79 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: was coaching here when I when I when I was 80 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: still playing back in two thousand and What was it 81 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: like playing for him? Because he's I think when you 82 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 2: and you look back at the at the coaches that've 83 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 2: been through here, he's he's almost legendary. So what was 84 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: it like being a seventh round pick showing up and 85 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: then having someone like Andre Patterson be your mentor? 86 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 3: It was really a blessing. It was really easy too, 87 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 3: because you really play for him if you meet him like, 88 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 3: he has a passion and he knows how to bring 89 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 3: the passion out of others, which was always a great 90 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: thing to be a part of. I was really blessed 91 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 3: to have one of those coaches as my first coach, 92 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: and like you said, he was like a legendary coach. 93 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: How passionate were you about, you know, the game at 94 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: that point and pursuing as long a career as you 95 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: could possibly have in the NFL when you know that 96 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: there's just a you know, a short time that you 97 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: can actually make your mark, especially someone trying to prove 98 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: himself and knowing that you've had, as Pete mentioned, kind 99 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: of a renaissance man that you had this you know, 100 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: very strong background and other interests that you have that 101 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: you were going to pursue after football. 102 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 3: No, it was It was tough because you have to 103 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 3: dedicate everything to being a football player. While you're being 104 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 3: a football player, you can't lase fair, you can't just 105 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 3: dip your toe in. But yeah, I did have like 106 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 3: my passion is laid elsewhere, but it was my ability 107 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 3: to show up and fight and grind was something that 108 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 3: was that kept me in it because I know I 109 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 3: had goals to like take care of my loved ones 110 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 3: and represent like Southwest Atlanta to the best of my ability. Yeah, no, 111 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: it was. It was really tough because I got cut 112 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 3: my first year and CJ just had its hundreds game, 113 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 3: I believe. Yes, we were both on the peace squad 114 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 3: together and we both got called up the same week. 115 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 3: It was Thanksgiving week. He just had one hundred. Grand 116 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 3: was so happy for him. But yeah, no, so it 117 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 3: was tough. And then from that point then I made 118 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: it as a core teamer the following year, and then 119 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 3: I think the next year I made it, I was 120 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: a rotational guy, and then it wasn't until twenty to 121 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 3: twenty eight I went somewhere as a starter. 122 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: We're joined by Steven Weatherline and Stephen That twenty seventeen 123 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 2: year when you made it and you came one of 124 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: the core teamers, that was quite the season. What do 125 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: you remember about that year and then specifically about the 126 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: Minneapolis Miracle, one of the greatest games this town has 127 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: ever seen. 128 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 3: That year was really big on complimentary football. It was 129 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 3: the first time I heard about it as a player, 130 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: and it was something that was really dope because you 131 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 3: weren't really celebrated as a core teamer. You were just there. 132 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 3: But that year they made it a big deal to 133 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 3: be like everyone is important. So everyone took pride in 134 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 3: everything that they did, which offense and defensive starters always 135 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 3: do and all the second backup guys always do because 136 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 3: they want to be starters. But it's the rest of 137 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 3: the team, the other half of the team. How do 138 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 3: you keep them motivated throughout those dog days of like 139 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 3: the end of the season and celebrating offense, defense and 140 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 3: special teams. We had that and that took us like 141 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 3: really far, and that Minneapolis miracle was crazy because I 142 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 3: was sitting as a core teamer. You always said the 143 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 3: opposite of whatever team is out there. So you sit 144 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,039 Speaker 3: on the offensive bench while the offense is out there 145 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 3: because the defense is doing their breakdown. And so I'm 146 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 3: sitting next to the other court teamers and we're watching 147 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 3: because when you're a practice squad guy, or mainly practice squad, 148 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 3: you're watching the guy that you've been going against all 149 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: week because he's telling you everything from his notes, like Yo, 150 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 3: this guy's a cross chopper, this guy's a bull rusher. 151 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 3: I need you to do this. I need to do that. 152 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: I need you to do it, just like this guy. 153 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 3: And so We're playing the Saints and I'm watching Rashad 154 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: Hill go out there, and I've been like helping them 155 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 3: sharpen his ax all week. So I'm like, hey, just 156 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 3: look for this cross chopper, look for this bull rush. 157 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 3: And he sat on it and it gave him just 158 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 3: enough time and Digs caught it and went down the 159 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 3: line and scored. I ran right out there to the 160 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 3: offensive line. I was like, y'all did it, We did it. 161 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 3: I just really celebrated with the O line at first 162 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 3: because it was a tough battle. It was a tough battle. 163 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: Of course. Drew Brees was the opposing quarterback that day. 164 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: Of all the quarterbacks you faced in your career, would 165 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: you put him near the top of the list as 166 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: far as cerebral and the understanding of the game and 167 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: how it made it difficult for anyone in your position 168 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: to try to get him off his game. 169 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely one of the best, because you always he's 170 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 3: a very rhythom guy and you want to affect him. 171 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: You always say, we'll get your hands up. He's a 172 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 3: shorter quarterback, but that's just not the answer. So yeah, 173 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: he's definitely someone that you have to put a lot 174 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 3: of emphasis on. 175 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 2: Think about the offensive lineman that you won against every day. 176 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: What was that group? Like, you know, I mean we 177 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: had a pretty good offensive line that year. 178 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 3: That was very much I think where I got to 179 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 3: grind my own acts and like form it because that 180 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 3: was also a take no bs group. They came out 181 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 3: ready and coach really knew how to put him together. 182 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 3: Plus Berano, but no, they were really good, and they 183 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 3: were really good at like helping me as where I 184 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 3: stood as a peace squad guy, like help them get better. 185 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 3: And it was in that that I learned how to 186 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 3: think better as a football player, which is always something 187 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: I took like a lot of respect for and always 188 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 3: as very appreciative of as the old lineman that I 189 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 3: got to interact with on the teams that I was 190 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 3: with very like knowledgeable and love like helping like young 191 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 3: defensive linemen try to get better and think about the 192 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 3: game in a different way. And those guys really did 193 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: that for me, and I appreciate that because I was 194 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 3: trying to learn how to be like the ex just 195 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: like b Rob, and that was tough trying to like 196 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 3: navigate a line try to get through. I only got 197 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 3: back there like twice on the exposition. But now it 198 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 3: was crazy again. 199 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: We're talking to Steven Weatherley and we're talking about your 200 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: NFL career. But let's just back up a little bit 201 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: and go back to your high school. High school days, 202 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: because you were involved in so much other than football. 203 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously you did track, but robotics, I mean, 204 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: so many outside interests. What fueled your outside interest? Was 205 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: it your family? Mom in particular, who I believe had 206 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: degrees from MIT and Harvard. Pretty hard not to be 207 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: influenced by that. 208 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, no, grandmother, right, Yeah, it was my grandmother 209 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 3: was my grandmother. We had a certificate from Harvard and 210 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 3: a certificate from MIT and community enrichment, and that's kind 211 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 3: of where like my passion for giving back to communities 212 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 3: and human capital development, community enrichment came from. And that's 213 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 3: where the foundation came from, trying to help these kids 214 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 3: be the best versions of themselves in the future, whatever 215 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: that is. And my mom was a general contractor, so 216 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 3: she built houses, and so that's where me being on 217 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 3: the job site and watching her create day after day 218 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 3: after day for her was houses. For me, it was machines, 219 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,559 Speaker 3: and so then that's how it became like interest in robotics. 220 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 3: Then I got to be on the robotics team, captain 221 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 3: of the robotics team, and went to the World Championships 222 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: my senior year, and that was like a crazy experience 223 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: go to Saint Louis and see teams from all around 224 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 3: the world and kids my age with this bigger, burning, 225 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 3: deeper desire for this thing. And then that I had 226 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 3: it just made me want to go do that even more. 227 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 3: But yeah, I know, that was like a great time. 228 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 3: And it was also in like the chess club, so 229 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 3: I was deep in it. 230 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: My goodness. 231 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: You know a lot of things that help people back 232 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: our fears, right, they have a fear of of failure. 233 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 2: That's a huge thing for a lot of folks. You 234 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 2: were never afraid to put yourself out there to try 235 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 2: something new and that that trying something new is a 236 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: big deal. But you were you were okay with doing 237 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 2: it in public on film. Uh you know, where did 238 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 2: you Where did you get that and where did that 239 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 2: come from? 240 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: And what I. 241 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 2: Mean for those kids out there that are listening or 242 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 2: even adults that are listening, it's like, what do you 243 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: tell them when to get them over the edge to 244 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 2: go ahead and do something that they just love to do. 245 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. So I for a very long time, I wasn't 246 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 3: that guy who would put himself out there and try 247 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 3: things and not be afraid of failure. And that helped 248 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 3: me back in a lot of aspects. And it wasn't 249 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 3: until someone pushed me to get out my comfort zone 250 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 3: and I started living that life that I started to 251 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 3: truly like enjoy it and have more fun and not 252 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 3: care so much what other people thought because it was 253 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 3: really just my interpretation of it. So then I decided 254 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 3: from that point on just to go out there and 255 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 3: be the change I wish to see and encourage people 256 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 3: to come and do things with me and challenge me 257 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 3: to do things. And I'm gonnachallenge you to do things too. 258 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 3: There's a whole bunch of different factors too. You could 259 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 3: be afraid, you could feel like people are judging you. You 260 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 3: can tell you're the only one. So I try to 261 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 3: go against all of that. So I try to encourage people. 262 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 3: So we're going in groups. Let's all go do escape rooms, 263 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 3: let's all go glass blowing, let's all go do pottery, 264 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 3: let's all go do rug making. I've been making a 265 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: lot of rugs recently, fantastic. So anything new, anything that's 266 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 3: out there, out of the box, let's go try it. 267 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 3: Who cares? You don't know if you like it until 268 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 3: you try it, and then we can talk about it later. 269 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 3: Over to you. 270 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 2: Stick around for more Skull Stories presented by three M, 271 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 2: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. We'll be 272 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 2: right back with more from Stephen Weathererley right after this. 273 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: And welcome back to tonight's edition of school Stories presented 274 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: by three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. 275 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: From the field to the roof and everywhere in between. THREEM, 276 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, is here. 277 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: Visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to learn earn more. 278 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: Now let's get back into our conversation with former Viking 279 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: Stephen Weatherley. Among the things you did with the Weatherly 280 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: report here in the Twin Cities, you try those new things. 281 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, you worked at the State Fair. Did 282 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 1: you Is it true that you worked at Sweet Martha's 283 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: cookie stand, which was the longest lines every single minute 284 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: of the State Fair. What was that like? 285 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 3: Oh Man? The moment you brought up Weatherly Report. I 286 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,559 Speaker 3: think we did like six seven episodes. Yeah, first thing 287 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 3: I thought about was Sweet Martha's even though it was 288 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 3: like a fourth episode, because that was the craziest experience 289 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: in what way because it's mainly it's it's mainly high schoolers, 290 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 3: but it's a it's a well oiled machine. I'm not 291 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 3: like a fair person. Priorly being in Minnesota and I 292 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 3: had never been before that, and I've only known of 293 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 3: Sweet Martha from people talking about it. So that was 294 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 3: my first experience being was the inside of it filming it. 295 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 3: Then I went back the next year and I was 296 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 3: in the line the long way. It's a well oiled 297 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 3: machine in there, and they are flying through it and 298 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: they are servicing as quick as they can. But on 299 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 3: the outside, that's just how much people love it and 300 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 3: how long the line is, and it's mainly high schoolers. Yeah, 301 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 3: and so she's like very efficient in like the way 302 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 3: her system and her company is set up. But being 303 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 3: a part of that for just one day was hectic. 304 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 3: I assume that's what like offensive huddles are like, because 305 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 3: everyone was just streaming everything and it all meant something. 306 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 3: On defense, I'm just thinking about just going forward and messing. 307 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 2: Stuff up, just getting in the way, causing, causing havoc 308 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: right all the time. 309 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 3: Yeah, Oh, I love it, especially when they try to 310 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 3: do like a gaps game play and like you beat 311 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,679 Speaker 3: the pullers just because you ran upfield too far and 312 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 3: you just pop up in a running back face. 313 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 2: That's what keeps you going. Now, when you went to Carolina, 314 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 2: you were brought in, So you show up in Minnesota 315 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 2: as a seventh round draft pick, it's one of those 316 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 2: situations where they're like, yeah, we like you, you know, 317 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,239 Speaker 2: good luck making the team. But you go to Carolina, 318 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,199 Speaker 2: you know you were a featured part of that defense. 319 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 2: They brought you in for a purpose. Talk about the 320 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 2: difference in that and showing up at a professional franchise 321 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 2: as a counting on member of the defense. 322 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 3: That's very much something where and this is a learning 323 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 3: lesson I needed to learn along the way, is to 324 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 3: just be yourself. You don't need to be what others 325 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 3: need you to be, because being you got you to 326 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 3: where you are, So don't try to be what other 327 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: people's expectations are. And if you understood that, then like 328 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 3: you've been in that moment and if not, when you 329 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 3: get to that moment, you will just be yourself. Because 330 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: it was me being me, playing my solid football which 331 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 3: earned me that contract. And then I got there and 332 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 3: I let other people's expectations get to me, and I 333 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 3: tried to go out and reach those and fight for those, 334 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 3: but it wasn't me and it was in that that 335 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 3: I failed, and I was like, Damn, I didn't stay 336 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 3: true to myself. And it wasn't until I said, f 337 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 3: other peoples, I don't even because it wasn't until I said, 338 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 3: I forget other people's stuff and I started just playing 339 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 3: me it towards the end, then the production started to come, 340 00:14:55,760 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 3: and then came the second opportunity in Minnesota, and then 341 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 3: that translated over to Denver, which was some of my 342 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 3: best balls standing up. But yeah, I failed and showing 343 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 3: up in the way that the organization needed me to. 344 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 3: And all I had to do was just show up 345 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 3: and be the Stephen Weatherley that they saw the previous 346 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: year with the Vikings and just continue to take those 347 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 3: steps forward and not be the saving grace of a 348 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 3: franchise's defense, just be a part of a defense, just 349 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 3: like I was taught under Zim was do your one 350 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 3: eleven not be Superman? 351 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, some wise Man once said pain and injuries are 352 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: in the contract. The injuries that you did incur, like 353 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: a lot of players do, get to the point where 354 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: it's just diminishing returns that I don't want to be 355 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: that guy that just kind of hangs on And you know, 356 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: I do have a lot of other interests, But how 357 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: much of that derail your mindset about continuing your NFL career? 358 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: My fem surgery, Yeah, the knee injury, and I know 359 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: you had finger surgery, had a lot of stuff going on. 360 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was all the finger was fine and the 361 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 3: shoulder was fine. But then when I got my knee, 362 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 3: it was my seventh knee operation since college on my 363 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 3: left and then we've all just were like I was 364 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 3: choosing the option of like removing what was bad, but 365 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 3: I got to the point where like, now I needed that, 366 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 3: and I just got caught up in a practice pile 367 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 3: and not even a pile, practice play like the first 368 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 3: day of training camp in Cleveland, and it just really 369 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 3: didn't feel right, and they looked at it and it 370 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 3: was just like, yeah, you're gonna need a knee replacement, 371 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 3: and so I elected for the steamer surgery to reset 372 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 3: my leg. That was tough. I really missed like the 373 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 3: locker room, the conversations, the guys. I got to be 374 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 3: next to some really interesting people and learn a lot, 375 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 3: and not just about football, but about life, how to 376 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 3: go through stuff and come out on the other end 377 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 3: like a much better version of yourself. I missed those 378 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: moments more than anything. But it was also a doube 379 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 3: to play in front of life yea, and the thousands 380 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 3: of people as well. I'm not gonna lie, but yeah, 381 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 3: having other interest help with the transition a lot. 382 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 2: You're gonna get your opportunity to get in front of 383 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 2: a lot of people again as you come out to 384 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 2: US Bank Stadium for the game Monday night versus San Francisco, 385 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 2: what are you looking forward to? I mean, even from 386 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 2: a football staypoint with this matchup, but with this game, 387 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 2: and then from a bigger standpoint just being back in 388 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 2: Minnesota and being in front of the crowd. 389 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 3: Again from the game, good heart nos dominant football, A 390 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 3: nice brand of bullyball is what I like. I love 391 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 3: the run game. I love to stop the run, and 392 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: so I want to see a lot of that and 393 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: just being back in Minnesota is great. It's a really 394 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 3: good formative years in Minnesota. Just to be back in 395 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 3: being some of the old neighborhoods I used to live 396 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 3: in and see some old friends is going to be amazing. 397 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 3: And yeah, no, I did a lot of work with 398 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 3: my foundations in Minnesota, and I want to continue to 399 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 3: keep doing work even though I don't live there, because 400 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 3: it is very much a second. 401 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: Home, your foundation, which is so important to you. It 402 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: has a lot to do with reading skills and literacy. 403 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 3: Is that correct? Yeah? No, we did the resources, skills 404 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 3: and opportunities to help them better tackle adulthood. And so 405 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 3: we do that in four ways. Firstus the reading program 406 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 3: for elementary school kids. The second is a STEM academy 407 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 3: where we give out free STEM courses through id Tech 408 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 3: for middle school kids. Third is for the art kids. 409 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 3: As an art kid and I don't want kids to 410 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 3: be told like, hey, don't be an artist because you 411 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 3: can't make money, Go be a lawyer, doctor or whatever engineer. 412 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 3: I want to teach those kids how they can make 413 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 3: a portfolio, make a career out of being artists, or 414 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 3: fuse art with whatever they other have an interest in 415 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 3: to build off of that. You don't have to close 416 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 3: it off, and we give those kids free art classes 417 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 3: and I also connect them with art mentors. And then 418 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 3: the last pillar is a community giveaway where I try 419 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 3: to empower people that are already doing good. And so 420 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 3: we sponsored the Inner City Ducks, which is led by 421 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 3: Austin dw it Up in North Minneapolis, has now a 422 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 3: basketball and football team that's still going for the youth. 423 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 3: And then I also fulfilled teachers Amazon wishless nationwise. So 424 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 3: if you know a dope teacher that's like a K 425 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 3: through ninth grade teacher, you submit them to the foundation. 426 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 3: We call the school make sure they're like good teachers, 427 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 3: and then we max out the Amazon wish list and 428 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,120 Speaker 3: we thank you note because they positively impacted the students 429 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 3: learning experience. And that meant the most to me as 430 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 3: a kid, because I remember the bad teachers that says 431 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 3: some not nice stuff about me, but I loved, loved 432 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 3: Miss Searles, my favorite teacher in the fifth grade. 433 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 1: You'll never forget that, do you know? 434 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 3: You never forget exactly. And so I want the unsung 435 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 3: heroes to be on song anymore. So we do that 436 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 3: with like the fourth pillar. So I want to keep 437 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 3: doing that and like all throughout the US, but especially 438 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: in Minnesota because y'all help me so much so. 439 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: In terms of getting kind of that kind of reception. 440 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 1: I must give you a lot of satisfaction to see 441 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: the kids respond the same way that you had that 442 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 1: opportunity when you were that age. 443 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 3: Absolutely and that and that's all it takes. It's just 444 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 3: that little jolt, and that moment can last a couple 445 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 3: of years. It can push them through like God forbid, 446 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 3: like a negative experience or something like that. Just those little, 447 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 3: those little instances, those little moments, I think is so powerful. 448 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 3: And if I could be a part of generating a 449 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 3: handful of those for a handful of kids, then it's 450 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 3: worth it. 451 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: Well, welcome back to the Twin Cities and US Bank 452 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: Stadium for the forty nine ers game, and Steven Weatherley. 453 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 1: It has been great catching up with you today. Thank 454 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: you so much for sharing your skull stories with us. 455 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: And take carry yourself man. 456 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 3: Yeah y'all too. 457 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: Again, a big thank you to Steven for joining the 458 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,120 Speaker 1: show tonight. All right, Pete Bursich, let's do a quick 459 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: look ahead to the big Monday night tilt versus those 460 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: forty nine ers quarterback Rock Purty finally lost the first 461 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: regular season game of his career last week in Cleveland. 462 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: The obvious keys to their trouble started with San Francisco 463 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: lost both Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey to the injury. 464 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: At this point, of course, we're not sure if they'll 465 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: be back on Monday night. But what are the keys 466 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 1: of slowing down the high flying Niners offense with or well, 467 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: of course, with those guys, it's a whole different story. 468 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 2: No, it really is. And they're a well coordinated offense. 469 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 2: And Christian McCaffrey, when you watch him on film, you 470 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 2: realize and you actually see how talented that he really 471 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,679 Speaker 2: is and how much offense he creates because of his 472 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 2: vision and his ability to cut. And if you look 473 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 2: at the way this offense is put together, they grab 474 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 2: these talented guys and they put them in positions to 475 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: do what they do best. Right, the run game looks 476 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 2: like the passing game. Party is. He reads defenses really 477 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 2: well and he has one of the quickest releases that 478 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 2: you're going to see. What did change, But the Cleveland 479 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 2: game was accuracy. Granted it was outside and in the rain. 480 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 2: He wasn't as accurate as he normally is. That led 481 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 2: to I think a couple of mistakes one interception for sure, 482 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: and Cleveland needed all of that to overcome this stout defense. 483 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 1: Right, that's my next point. If you can put your 484 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: offensive coordinator hat on and you talk about the Niners 485 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: and that menacing defense they have, I mean, they're top 486 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: ten in pretty much every category. And Fred Warner, I mean, 487 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: you know Nick Bosa. You think about the names they 488 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: have and the relentless nature of how they play, how 489 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: would you try to attack the forty nine ers defensive puzzle. 490 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: It's like eating an elephant right, one bite at a time, right, 491 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 2: one play at a time, and you can maybe get 492 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: some matchups on the outside, and when those are available, 493 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 2: take advantage of them. The defensive line, they jet, they 494 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 2: get upfield when that ball is snap there going north 495 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 2: and south, So you can take advantage of that team's 496 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 2: try to do it with screens, you know, in play 497 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 2: actions and some of those things, but you have to 498 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 2: establish that first. If you just go out there and 499 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 2: run a play action, they're going to sniff it out right. 500 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 2: They're not biting on the run until you hurt them 501 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 2: with the run, and you have to change their look 502 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: and change their rhythm, so you have to be very creative. 503 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: And the Niners are favorite for obvious reasons. And we've 504 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: said before. It's Monday Night showdown on ESPN seven point 505 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: fifteen Central time kickoff. You can also, of course catch 506 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,400 Speaker 1: the game right here all across the Vikings radio network, 507 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: so be sure to check your local listings for details. Pete, 508 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: of course, always a pleasure having you on the show, 509 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 1: and thank you fans for tuning into another edition of 510 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: Skull Stories presented by three M, the official science partner 511 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: of the Minnesota Vikings. We'll see you again next week.