1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: We're back with another School Stories presented by three M, 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we're 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: catching up with former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson. 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 2: Welcome back to School Stories presented by three M. Tonight's 5 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: guest had a seventeen year NFL career, which started as 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: a ninth round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings back 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety four. He was an integral member of 8 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: the Vikings throughout the decade in the nineties and went 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 2: on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nowadays, 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 2: he's the proud football father of a couple young men 11 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 2: at Texas A and M University playing some football, and 12 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: without further ado, please enjoy Tonight's conversation with old number fourteen, 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 2: Brad Johnson. 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: Brad Johnson's always great to catch up with you and 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: your storied career here in Minnesota and elsewhere. Winning a 16 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: Super Bowl at Tampa Bay and certainly the news of 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: the week here in Minnesota surrounds Kirk Cousins and his 18 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: achilles injury, which was really sad to see for obvious reasons. 19 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: As a quarterback, you probably had a feel a lot 20 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: of sympathy and empathy for watching what Kirk went through 21 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: and is now going to go have to go through 22 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 1: to get himself back and getting back to his career. 23 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, I'm a big fan of Kirk Cousins. 24 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 3: I've watched him since he was at Michigan State and 25 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 3: my brother in law, the head coach was Georgia was 26 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 3: Mark Rick and they played in a numbler triple overtime game. 27 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 3: I'm like, who is that quarterback for Michigan State? And 28 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 3: so he goes, you know, late round draft pick to 29 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 3: Washington and you're like, calla, that guy is the better quarterback, 30 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: you know, and you kind of keep up with his 31 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 3: career and you hear him say you like that, and 32 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 3: next thing you know, he's in Minnesota and he's throwing 33 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 3: thirty five touchdowns a year for the last four or 34 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 3: five years. And then you watch him and you know, 35 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,119 Speaker 3: it was really great the documentary with Netflix on him 36 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: on the quarterback and you kind of got to see 37 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 3: who he is, how he operate and all the above, 38 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 3: and you really kind of become a fan of him. 39 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 3: And I think the really the country, the football world's 40 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 3: kind of endured to him now and now you kind 41 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 3: of realize, gall this guy is a really really good quarterback, 42 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 3: and you hate for somebody to go through injury and 43 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 3: it's unfortunate and it's kind of what you sign up for, 44 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,920 Speaker 3: as you well know Pete and all the above. But 45 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 3: you know, if anybody can come back from it, it's 46 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: going to be him and with his determination stuff. So 47 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 3: I'm a big fan of Kirk Cousins. 48 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, Brad, Well, what would we have learned about you 49 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: if they had done the Netflix Quarterback series back and 50 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: let's say, oh, I don't know, ninety five ninety six. 51 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, yeah, I mean it's the same thing. 52 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 2: I mean, well, you guys, you guys share a lot 53 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: of similarities as far as just being a late run, 54 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 2: late round picks and then having to ye to bide 55 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 2: your time. You were never anointed the starter, you know 56 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: what I mean. You had to go out there and 57 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: prove it first before before, So that's a different mentality. 58 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: It's a different attitude. 59 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 3: It is, And I've talked about a long time. My 60 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 3: dad told me a long time ago, it's better to 61 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: be prepared and not have an opportunity than to have 62 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 3: an opportunity and not be prepared. So you already different 63 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 3: moments of your life. I know, if I would have 64 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 3: played as a rookie, I probably would have had a 65 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 3: one year career and you know, shove thems, know you 66 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 3: know what I mean, So it would been It was 67 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: just it was interesting, and so my time Denny Green 68 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 3: and Jeff Timon and all the people they were they 69 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 3: were patient with me in Minnesota and gave me time. 70 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 3: But I was ready. I was with Rich Cannon and 71 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,839 Speaker 3: Jim McMahon and Warn Moon. But then my time came. 72 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 3: I was ready. Ninth round draft pick. And then same 73 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 3: thing with Kirk Cousins. You know, went through broken foot, 74 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 3: broke an ankle, three knee surgeries, the next surgery and 75 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 3: all the above, and somewhere along the line was able 76 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: to have a seventeen year career and win a Super 77 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 3: Bowl and all the above. But it's it's hard, it's 78 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: fun and looking back when you look back at it, like, 79 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 3: I can't believe I went through all that. 80 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Warren Moon was the guy here when you 81 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: first started, and uh, you know you got a transition. 82 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: I mean again, you were the two and twenty seventh 83 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: pick or something like that in the ninth round. So 84 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: what was that like working with Warren and then eventually 85 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: just taking over here with the Vikings. 86 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 3: It was really unique to be with Warren at that time. 87 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 3: I had a poster of him in my room at 88 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 3: one time, and uh, you know, the next thing and 89 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 3: I remember him we were we played against him when 90 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: he was in Houston. They came up to the Metrodome 91 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: and I was like, I got there. It was a 92 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 3: beautiful ball, you know. And the next thing, you know, 93 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 3: he came here is in they came to Minnesota, was 94 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 3: in my third year, and I really got to just 95 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: I don't I don't believe in a mentorship. I do 96 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 3: believe in a working relationship. And he rubbed off on 97 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: me in so many different ways, just how to deal 98 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 3: with the media, how to deal with Prima Donna receivers, 99 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: how to deal with winning, how to deal with losing, 100 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 3: how to deal with touchdowns, interceptions like how do you 101 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 3: become a pro planning a musician? You know? And so 102 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 3: it worked out. We had a great relationship. I actually 103 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 3: saw Warren. I've seen Warren three times this year at 104 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 3: different events, and just do a great relationship with him. 105 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 3: But you know, it's kind of weird when I got 106 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 3: my job. He was hurt, and I was in my 107 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 3: last year of my contracts. I was in the lead. 108 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 3: It just kind of worked the time he has to 109 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: work for you, and so the way it ended with 110 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 3: me and him our relationship in Minnesota's players, and I 111 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: kind of passed that on when I in later in 112 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 3: my career, how I cheated younger players and kind of 113 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 3: try to pass on the torch like he did with me. 114 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: I remember Warren Moon and the one thing he told me. 115 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: He gave me a little ricky advice. He said, never 116 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 2: get too high, never get too low, just kind of 117 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: stay somewhere in between, just stay right in that middle. 118 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: Do you remember anything specifically, because it sounds like he 119 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 2: just unloaded a ton of info on you. I'm curious 120 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: about the Prima Dynama's receiver bit. I'm dying to hear about. 121 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 3: Some details that. 122 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: A room full of them. 123 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: That's life, though, I mean, dealing with relationships and people 124 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: and I want this and you want that, but we 125 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 3: all want to accomplish it together, you know so, But 126 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 3: I think that's that's you know, give and take in 127 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 3: any relationship. But a unique story I remember with Warren. 128 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: I remember we were playing the Saints, and he was 129 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 3: just having it was just a rough day. I think 130 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 3: we were losing like ten to seven or something like that. 131 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 3: It was just a terrible day. But we got we 132 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 3: got the ball down to about the eight yard line. 133 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 3: It's third and eight, and we had to have a 134 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 3: touchdown pass. We call a time out, and so on 135 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 3: the sidelines, Uh, Brian Billick and Dinny Green, They're like, 136 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 3: what is it gonna be? Man? His own is gonna 137 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: be all out blitzed. What's gonna happen here? What? What 138 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 3: do we need to do? And I remember Warren he 139 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 3: turned to our equipment guy, Dennis Ryan, and he said Dennis, 140 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 3: and Dennis kind of the panic, what do you need? 141 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 3: What you need? He says, I need I need two things. 142 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 3: I need Uh, I need some lip gloss kind of 143 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 3: things for his lips. And he said, I need a 144 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 3: nail file. He always he's always found his nail. He 145 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 3: always kind of put his fingernail into the ball and 146 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 3: he kind of you can hear the it was like 147 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 3: it would be a click sound like when he would 148 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 3: throw it or release the ball. 149 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: That's crazy. 150 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 3: And when he asked for those two things, I'm like, Okay, 151 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 3: we're in good hands now. So I didn't worry about 152 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,559 Speaker 3: all out blizz or Cover three or Cover two, whatever 153 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 3: it was. I was like, it's gonna be successful. And 154 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 3: he actually threw a corner pass the Cadrischmael the quh 155 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 3: in the on the left hand side for a touchdown 156 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 3: the game winner, and that was Warren. Just Steve was calm. 157 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 3: You know at all times. 158 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: You mentioned Dennis Ryan. A lot of fans may not 159 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: be aware of just how much he meant of this franchise. 160 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: Longtime equipment manager, just did everything. You just mentioned what 161 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: he what extra stuff he did. But what are your 162 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: other memories and just to kind of let folks know 163 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: how much Dennis Ryan meant to the players and everyone 164 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: around him. Because he retired after last year. 165 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 3: Yep, he was unheard of. He just he was behind 166 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 3: the scenes at all times. If you needed something in locker, 167 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: there was a sweatshirt in there. If you needed handwarmers, 168 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 3: the handwarmers who were already in the locker he had. 169 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 3: He wore a big old fanny pack just like a 170 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: suitcase as a fanny pack. After practice. There was hot 171 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 3: talker or chicken both in there. There was whatever you 172 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 3: needed it was just done and you just asked him. 173 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 3: Was like it was always right there for you. He 174 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: cared about you. And I like, even when I was 175 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: in coaching my kids in high school and stuff, I'd 176 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 3: send the footballs that we use in high school, I'd 177 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 3: send like ten footballs up there, tell them and they 178 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 3: would still work them in like you did, like the 179 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 3: pro footballs. You know, like he cared about people. He 180 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 3: cared about the Minnesota Bikings. He was there forever the 181 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 3: nickname was He's the best in the business, and he really, 182 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 3: he really was in respect by all the players and 183 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: just thankful that he was our equipment manager. He's the 184 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 3: best of the business. 185 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: I remember coming down to Tallahassee to do a story. 186 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: I mean before I think the ninety eight season, you 187 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: were working really hard rehabbing, and he gave us some 188 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: really great insight into what that was like down in 189 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: year old college stomping grounds. And then you end up 190 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: throwing the first touchdown pass that Randy Moss caught for 191 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: his future Hall of Fame career, and then he got 192 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: hurt the next week in Saint Louis, and man, it 193 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: must have been what a roller coaster year in nineteen 194 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: ninety eight, and we're talking about what's going on with 195 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins right now. But you know kind of experienced 196 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: it in a different way. 197 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, in nineteen ninety seven. That December, we played against 198 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 3: Green May Packers. I woke up with a with a 199 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 3: creek in my neck and I couldn't move. I could 200 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 3: not move. I told Randall cunn of him, I said, 201 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 3: get ready. He's like, get ready for what I said. 202 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 3: I don't think I can play. That day, I spent 203 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 3: five hours getting the sage. I was taking flex thro 204 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 3: I was just like and somehow I got to where 205 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 3: I could play the game. But then as the game 206 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:55,679 Speaker 3: was going on, I had a high ankle sprain. I 207 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 3: missed some throws. I'm like, I remember sitting in a 208 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 3: huddle we called a screen pass from I don't know 209 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 3: if I can throw the screen something's wrong, and so 210 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 3: it slipped out of my hands and all the bluff. 211 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 3: And after the game, I remember Monday night football like 212 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 3: it was you got twenty cameras in your face, trying 213 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 3: to explain like I don't feel good, like something's wrong, 214 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 3: you know, And next day you realize you only have 215 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 3: eight percent of your hand strength in your right hand 216 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 3: compared to you left. I couldn't palm a you know, 217 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 3: a football. I couldn't hold up a pencil everything. So 218 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 3: that whole year I worked my tail off, got strength 219 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: back of my hand, was able to throw Randy Moss's 220 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 3: first touchdown pass, ended up throwing Chris Carter's hundreds touchdown 221 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 3: pass at the end the season. But that year, you know, 222 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 3: I broke my ankle on the second game of season 223 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: and it came back about game nine. Randall got hurt 224 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: and then I broke my thumb in that game. So 225 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: I was really the whole year, And to be honest 226 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: with you, it's kind of a blessing in the skies 227 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: because I don't think with my hand that year, I 228 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 3: could have played the whole year and to be able 229 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 3: to throw the deep deep balls and Randy Moss at 230 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 3: that time, I probably didn't have the arm with the 231 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: surgery that I went through, It's probably a blessing in 232 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 3: skis and Randall went on to win the Envy. I 233 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 3: was a fifteen in one year, as everybody knows, and 234 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 3: I still felt like, yeah, I was good enough to 235 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 3: play and could have felt like I could have done 236 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 3: a lot of similar things. But you know, I probably 237 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 3: needed that year to kind of recover looking back at it, 238 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 3: and then I was able to move on. So you 239 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 3: got to find the positives out of it. That's the 240 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 3: way I looked at it. 241 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: Stick around for more School Stories presented by three M, 242 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 2: the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. We'll be 243 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 2: back after this with more from Brad Johnson. Right after this, 244 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 2: heading to a game at us Bank Stadium this season, 245 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 2: we'll try the new Vikings inspired beer from Hot Valley Brewing, 246 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 2: crafted for the fans who bleed. Purple Hop Hola Hazy 247 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: Ipa is the game day rog for all Valhalla. 248 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back to tonight's edition of School Stories presented by 249 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. 250 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: From the field to the roof and everywhere in between. 251 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: Three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, 252 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: is here visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to 253 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 1: learn more. Let's get back into our conversation with Vikings 254 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: legend Brad Johnson. 255 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 2: Pete Bersich, and Mark Rosen. Here with Brad Johnson form 256 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: in Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Brad, you had an offensive line. 257 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 2: I think kind of for the ages between Todd Steucy, 258 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: Dave Dixon, Jeff Christy, rand McDaniel and I don't know 259 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 2: Corey Stringer if you were with Cory for a little 260 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 2: bit too as well, what were those five clowns like? 261 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: I mean what I mean? You know you mentioned the injuries, 262 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: but you had to feel pretty good playing behind what 263 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: I think is one of the better offensive lines that 264 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 2: this team has seen. 265 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 3: I mean we actually did on if we did a 266 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 3: McDonald's commercial together. Oh, I don't remember that had that 267 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 3: chief and McDonald's. I think the quarter pounds were like 268 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 3: fifty five cents of that time, so we did dig 269 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 3: McDonald's commercial. So yeah, I mean, you don't realize the 270 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: greatness tap you look back, you said, god, he those 271 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 3: were you know, five Pro Bowl players, to be honest 272 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 3: with you, and they sustained for so long. They were 273 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 3: great guys, hard workers that cared about the game, and 274 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 3: there was so much success that took place that you 275 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 3: know a lot of times, you know the receivers Chris 276 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 3: Carter or Randy Moss or Jakried they got a lot 277 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 3: of the credit and Robert Smith got a lot of 278 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 3: the credit later, you know, Randall Cunningham was MVP and 279 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 3: Warren lou was there and he was Hall of Famer. 280 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 3: Later on, I'm like, well, you know, the backbone of 281 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 3: that offense really was the offensive line. When you really 282 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 3: look at those guys were together, and we could be 283 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 3: able to run the ball, able to throw the ball. 284 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 3: Looking back as you know, special group. 285 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: Well, you eventually struck gold with the Tampa Bay Bucks 286 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: in the two thousand and two three season, winning the 287 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, beating the Raiders forty eight twenty one under 288 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: Chucky Old John Gruden. Was it and everything you expected 289 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: it to be because you know, it's the ultimate goal 290 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: in a team The ultimate team game is to get 291 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: that ring. And you look back on your years and 292 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: look back on your career, how much does that just 293 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: sort of stand out head and shoulders above everything else. 294 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a cherry on top. When people ask me 295 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 3: about my career, I really talked about how much I 296 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 3: enjoyed the grind and the grit that it took to 297 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 3: have seventeen year career, like you know that looking back 298 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,080 Speaker 3: at that's that's a special. But then to win the 299 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: ultimate game, the super Bowl, like in my career, like 300 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 3: I never won a state championship, never won a national championship, 301 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 3: Like you said, did I ever win the last game 302 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 3: of the year, the last game of the year that 303 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 3: means you won it all? And so in nineteen eighty seven, 304 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: I was trying to choose if I was gonna play 305 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 3: football or basketball. And I remember the great Phil Samms 306 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 3: was playing for the New York Giants and he beat 307 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 3: the great John l Way with the Denver Broncos, and 308 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 3: that the end of the game, confetie's fall on those faces. 309 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 3: I'm going to Disney World. And I was like, okay, 310 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 3: we all started paying that we're going to Disney World 311 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 3: having a clue. And then sixteen years later, you know, 312 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 3: Tampa Bay, we win it, and the confetti's falling on 313 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,319 Speaker 3: my faith and I'm holding my two year old son 314 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 3: Max at the time of arms and Nicki's seven a 315 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 3: half months president with other son Jake, And you know 316 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 3: what I'm saying, I'm going to Disney World. You know, 317 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 3: it's very surreal. And for quarterbacks, I think there's only 318 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 3: thirty five guys that have ever won it. Thirty one 319 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 3: of us are living still. It's probably the most unique 320 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 3: group that you could ever be a part of. There's 321 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 3: forty six or seven presidents, and there's a bunch of 322 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 3: Kentucky dew winners, much Master winners, and much of the 323 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 3: it's probably the most the smallest unique group of guys 324 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 3: that have ever won it. 325 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: Well, there are more of you than there are Mark Rosens, 326 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: let's put it that way. 327 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, no doubt. 328 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: You know you bring up your sons Jake and Max. 329 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 2: In this day, I mean, there's so many people have 330 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: kids that are in sports, high school sports, and and 331 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: and they're just looking for advice. They just want to know. Uh, you, 332 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 2: being on the inside, haven't been through it as a 333 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: player obviously now as a parent, and both your sons 334 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 2: are a Texas A and m if I'm not mistaken, 335 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 2: But what's that experience like and what advice do you 336 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 2: have for parents of young athletes? 337 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 3: Wow, you can write a books on them. 338 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. 339 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 3: You want kids to blaze their own trail. If whatever 340 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: sport they want to do, whatever activity they want to do, 341 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 3: whatever passion they have, you need to let them go 342 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 3: forward and hopefully provide every opportunity for them to whatever 343 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 3: that is. And along the way, there's gonna be adversity, 344 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 3: there's gonna be ups and downs. There's gonna be all 345 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 3: the above. And as a parent, you've kind of become 346 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 3: a psychologist and you enjoy the great moments and here 347 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 3: comes a tough moment, and you know, for us, you know, 348 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 3: it's like you got two kids that are playing at 349 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,920 Speaker 3: cause levels. It's incredible, and you know, one might have 350 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: had a good game, one might have a bad game, 351 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 3: Like which one are we going to have a We're 352 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: gonna get through this night, you know so, But they 353 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 3: you won't have to love what they do, and uh, 354 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 3: it's pretty it's pretty awesome to watch them kind of 355 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 3: budze their own trail. And they actually got to throw 356 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 3: a couple of touchdowns each other, which doesn't really happen 357 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 3: that much at this level. Oh cool, it's really unique. 358 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, we might see you in the booth one you know, 359 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 2: in the NFL. You know, seeing both of them play. 360 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 2: You'll have a jersey split in half, and one of 361 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 2: them will be Dayton Taylor Swift. What do you think 362 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 2: of that? Yeah, adds of that happening. 363 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: I don't know about Taylor Swift, but everything else would 364 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 3: be pretty cool. 365 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: Hey Brad again, we're looking at Brad Johnson. I'm fascinated 366 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: and transfixed with your video basketball trick shots that you 367 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: put on the internet. Yeah, my goodness, you created quite 368 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: a following, and how much fun is that? 369 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 3: It started when the pandemic hit. My kids are on 370 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 3: they were on TikTok and we were trying to make 371 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 3: a dance video and I couldn't dance with them, and 372 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 3: you know, I was like, Okay, I'll be the camera holder, 373 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 3: you know. So, but then you start looking at it, 374 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 3: You're like, god, lay, there's a lot of really counted 375 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 3: people doing stuff. I said, well, I can throw a 376 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 3: football and I can shoot a basketball. So I started 377 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: making these videos trying to make three, four or five 378 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 3: shots in a row. They were like, how hard could 379 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 3: I make it? To be honest with you, like trick 380 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 3: shots not just one, but just trying to make it 381 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 3: had to be in sequence so that stuff like people 382 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 3: ask you, like how long does it take? And I said, well, 383 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 3: sometimes it's first time, first take. Sometimes it's a lifetime 384 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 3: of practice, you know, really, and then sometimes it takes 385 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 3: what it takes with how long it takes them to 386 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 3: make it. So but when you see me celebrate at 387 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 3: the end of those things, just it's true jubilation because 388 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 3: it was pretty difficult to be honest with you, so. 389 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 2: We got to get you on dude perfect. You got 390 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 2: two kids in Texas. 391 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, they've become their machine, you know. I mean for me, 392 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 3: it's it's me a ball and a try podcam. Uh. 393 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 3: You know. 394 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 2: One of the things obviously this weekend when the Vikings 395 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,360 Speaker 2: take the field, we're gonna have a new quarterback. Could 396 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 2: be a rookie, could be somebody else. We just don't 397 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 2: we don't know yet. What advice would you have for 398 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 2: someone making their first start in the NFL as a quarterback? 399 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 3: Don't mess it up. 400 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 2: Got to get out of the way, man. 401 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 3: You know what, You're gonna be nervous, you're gonna be excited. 402 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 3: Everyone knows that your first start, all odds are on you. 403 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,239 Speaker 3: But at the end of the day, you're that's what 404 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 3: you've done your whole life, and you've got to have 405 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 3: your first you know what I mean, first start, first completion, 406 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,680 Speaker 3: first everything, and you get until you go through it, 407 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 3: you don't know, but you're prepared. You got to believe 408 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 3: in the players around you. And I always say, just 409 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 3: make the routine plays routine, and the big plays will happen, 410 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: so it'll be fun to see him get us first start. 411 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,280 Speaker 1: Well, you've got a great family. I have nothing but 412 00:17:57,320 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: fond memories of working with you on Sports Sunday, and 413 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: your wonderful mother and of course getting at Nikki and 414 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: your kids were pretty small back then. But Minnesota, I 415 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:07,479 Speaker 1: know what, in a lot of sense, is always going 416 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: to be kind of home away from home for you. 417 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 3: It is. I mean I spent I spent nine years 418 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 3: of my life up there. I mean I spent really 419 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 3: like eleven months in Gauge Hall. 420 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: Yeah exactly. 421 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 3: I mean yeah, people in Minnesota they accepted me and 422 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 3: I nine years of my life there, great friendships, relationships 423 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 3: still to this day, and so I just, you know, 424 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 3: thankful for all that time up there, you know what 425 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 3: I mean. So big biking fans, but a big Minnesota 426 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 3: fan too. Well. 427 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: The good news is is Gauge Hall no longer exists. 428 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: They imploded it. The bad news is there's already snow 429 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 2: on the ground up here. So I'm sure you missed 430 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 2: that too. 431 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, I do miss that. 432 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 2: You got to buy a car. It's like, now you 433 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 2: got to get a four wheel drive, dude. 434 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, they Brad Johns so again, it's been great catching 435 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: up with you today. Thanks for sharing your school stories 436 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: with us. And take care of you and your and 437 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: your family and appreciate the time today now. 438 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 3: I appreciate Mark, Thank you, Pete, you guys, I appreciate 439 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 3: everything'll do. Thank you. 440 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: Well again. A big thank you to Brad for joining 441 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: the show tonight. One of the great guys in the 442 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: business that have had a chance to work with over 443 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: the years. And all right, Pete, we all know what 444 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 1: happened on Sunday with the Kirk cousins unfortunate injury in 445 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 1: Green Bay. It's a big shame for so many reasons. 446 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: He was playing some maybe the best football of his 447 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 1: career in the offense had really been clicking during the 448 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: month of October. But that's the thing about the NFL. 449 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,119 Speaker 1: It waits for no one. As Kevin O'Connell said, no 450 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 1: one's going to feel sorry for us. The team now 451 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: has to shift their focus to the game down in 452 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: Atlanta on Sunday, where the Falcons are three and one 453 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: at home this season. That being said, their defense just 454 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: gave up four touchdowns to Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis 455 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: last week down in Nashville. So how do you see 456 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: us being able to attack this Falcons defense? If Jared 457 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: Hall does get the start to they how much do 458 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: they have to simplify things or you know, just where's 459 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: this offense going to be? 460 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: The question is, and the hard part is, is just 461 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 2: how good this defense is if you look at him 462 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 2: from a numerical standpoint, isn't a six ranked defense that 463 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: we're going up against. The r part that's interesting too 464 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 2: is they're tied for third best on third down, So 465 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 2: third down right, that's going to be an issue for 466 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 2: whomever's in there. But their defense, we saw, especially against Tennessee, 467 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 2: the dbs expect the ball to be thrown at a 468 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 2: specific time because they get pressure on the quarterback and 469 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 2: when it's not, they get caught flat footed, which explains 470 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 2: all the DeAndre Hopkins and so a lot of some 471 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 2: of the big plays that Tennessee was able to produce. 472 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 2: Now for us, that's tough because you're gonna have a 473 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 2: young quarterback, right and the short passes in a short 474 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,680 Speaker 2: passing game is going to be difficult. But there will 475 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,199 Speaker 2: be I think some explosive opportunities there. It's just a 476 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 2: matter of whether or not we can get it done. 477 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: Pete Burchletchreh spent a lot of times in defensive huddles, 478 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: both as a player as a coach, and this unit 479 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: right now for the Vikings has gotten stingy and STINGI 480 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: or as the season has gone along. They've kept for 481 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: their last five opponents to seventeen points or less, and 482 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: there seems to be a bonding experience going on. And 483 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: maybe they are going to rally around Kirk Cousins injury 484 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: as well, knowing there's even be more pressure on them 485 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: to kind of hold down the opponents because the Bikings 486 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: may have trouble scoring a lot of points. So if 487 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: you look at what Brian Flores is doing in his staff, 488 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: are you seeing them clicking at the highest level that 489 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: they can be at. Because Harrison Phillips is playing awfully, 490 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: They're all doing their thing right. 491 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 2: Now across the board. I think everybody's playing better than 492 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,440 Speaker 2: they were a year ago. I think the other key 493 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 2: thing too, is listening to the player interviews after the game. 494 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 2: To a man, they all said, we've got to do more, 495 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,560 Speaker 2: we have to play better. And so you look back 496 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 2: at the first three four weeks of the season in 497 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 2: the adversity that we had had to overcome or try 498 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 2: to overcome at those times. And it started in the 499 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 2: Chicago game, right, we have a turnover, the defense gets 500 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 2: the ball right back, and then it happens again against 501 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 2: San Francisco, and then you know, get a couple turnovers 502 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 2: against Green Bay. It's like they've taken that next step 503 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 2: where it's like, it's not about what happens to us, 504 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 2: is how we react to it, so hopefully, and they 505 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 2: set it to the man. Everybody's going to have to 506 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 2: pick up their game, right Who's Kirk Cousins. Everybody has 507 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 2: to pick up some of the slack. I have a 508 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 2: lot of confidence in that group. Now we're gonna need them. 509 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 2: They're gonna have to be dynamic and outstanding the rest 510 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 2: of this. 511 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: They sure have been a lot of fun to watch, 512 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: and I think everyone will be watching to see how 513 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 1: the Vikings handle the adversity this week down at the 514 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 1: Mercedes Benz Stadium. A reminder again, it's a noon kickoff 515 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: locally in KMSP Fox nine. You can also, of course 516 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: catch the game right here all across the Vikings radio network, 517 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: so be sure to check local listings for details. Pete 518 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: always a pleasure for having you on the show, and 519 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: thank you fans for tuning into another edition of Skull 520 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,679 Speaker 1: Stories presented by three M, the official science partner of 521 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings. We'll see you all again next week.