SKOL, SKOL, SKOL, Eric Kendricks is bringing his intensity to the Lights Out Podcast with Shawne Merriman. Kendricks talks up his Vikings D and how Terrence Newman's knowledge helped him become a better player. Eric let's Vikings fans know that this year the D will be on another level with the acquisition of Patrick Peterson and others.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Are you ready for this? Sean Merriman A one of
hand effect. Boom boom boom, out go the light. This
is Lights Out with Sean Merriman. What's up, guys. We're
back again with another Lights Out podcast and meet Sean
Merriman and we're going with the LBS to day the linebackers.
(00:21):
To me, it's I know, everybody talked about the most
important position on the fields quarterback. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I
get I get that part, um, but it's it's something
about a linebacker, especially a linebacker that UH is all
over the field and sets the tone, um, the energy,
the anchor of the defense. And we got that today
with Eric kendricks Man. He's UM just a hell of
(00:43):
a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. And you know, I
would ask him about a bunch of things because they
got some new faces in the locker room, obviously Patrick
Peterson and UM, you know a bunch of new faces
in the locker room. But for him, you know, he's
a guy that's a vet and he's known UM and
he's been the leader and the anchor for that defense
for some time. So how do you split time with
the guy like Patrick Peterson who was walking into the
(01:04):
locker room with the name and the reputation, and um,
let's find out if he's to go to night and
let's find out what he thinks Patrick Peterson. And this
upcoming season, I'm probably getting to some NASCAR too, because
I've seen him at the Fontana races uh this past season.
So uh, Eric kendricks Man, let's get into it. Yo.
(01:25):
When would you would you get back for the k
you just got back? I got back Friday. What would
you go again? I went to UH, I went to
South of France, and then I went to Barcelona. If
anybody asked me, what was my favorite place to go
to the country in the in the world, South of France,
you went to like it went like Monico Santrone. Oh. Man.
(01:47):
So the first time I went out there, I went
to UH. It was a Grand Prix, right, they had
the Grand Prix out there, and then they had at
the end of the week they had the World Music Awards.
So I don't know, I don't think they still I
don't I don't know if they're still doing that, and
not especially because of COVID. But man, when I tell
you that, I was like at some of these parties
they had the Jimmy's the Club. Jimmy's out there, they
(02:08):
had um the billion the Billionaire Club. And so I'm
out there and I looked at my left and it's
like Tom Cruise. I looked at my right and I'm
like for real, and I'm you know, I'm coming from
I'm need from East coach Man, Like, I'm not. I'm
not using this type of ship, you know, I'm not.
You know, I mean like Brad Pitt's over in the
corner when Angela and Joe Lee Paris is DJ, I say,
(02:29):
what what then? Is what's going on in my life? Yeah?
Like how how am I in this? In this in
this space right now? But but but you know, it's crazy, man,
Like they all of them, they knew who I was.
It's the weirdest and I just was coming off the
rookie the year and all the other stuff too. But
they were all like, you know, football fans. Yeah, I
(02:50):
find that, you know a lot of a lot of
people you know watch football. For us, it's just kind
of like, you know, we feel like we're kind of
small fish sometimes. But the random, most random people you
know are fans. So when we were at the NASCAR track,
which with that what Fontana? Yeah, I got my NASCAR
my Jeff Gordon all right now see that that's why
I'm gonna ask you about that. So it's when we're
(03:11):
talking about other sports or fans who ever know who
you know, know, football players, did you was you tripping out?
How many NASCAR fans and people knew who you were?
Because I've seen people coming up to you left and
right when we were there. Yeah, definitely, Um, I think that,
you know, especially especially in l A. You know, obviously
Minnesota is different. I feel like I'm in Minnesota like
fans approached me often, but when I'm in l A. Uh,
(03:32):
it's not really that way. You know. I can kind
of go about my business, to kind of go go
into the radar and do my thing. But at sporting events,
you know, I definitely noticed that, you know, fans would
you know, whether I didn't think it was gonna happen
at the NASCAR event, but it wasn't like that. You know,
if I'm at a basketball game, you know, maybe you
know some people will will know, or hockey game, you know,
but NASCAR, I didn't really expect that that. That's what
(03:54):
to That's what got me into the sports. The two
thousand and eight they had been to come out to
be the Grand Marshal at the racing Fontana up and
I went up there and I was about to wave
the flag and they announced my name on the on
the endcom and the in the place when it's forty
thifty thousand people out there, place went crazy. I was shocked.
I was like, I went in the shop, bro I
almost dropped the Dann flag when I was when I
(04:16):
almost dropped the Dann flag. And so I didn't know
that NASCAR like the like the correlation between the two fans,
with football fans and NASCAR, it was kind of crazy. No,
it's cool, Man's it's it's sports in general. You know,
it brings people together. What got you into it? Man?
Because I knew we talked about you. You know, obviously
you had the love of cars and all that, But
what what got you into like NASCAR and watching that? Honestly,
(04:40):
Like I used to watch the growing up. My buddy Joey,
he was a big Bobby LOBARTI fan. You know, Tony Stewart, um,
you know those guys. Uh, But I was always a
Jeff Gordon fan, you know, growing up, had all the
had all the little cars and stuff. Um, but you
know I had hot wheels. I had the hot wheel tracks.
I had r C cars. I would go out on
the weekends and and build and race our C cars
and break them in and build them again with my
(05:01):
older brother Chad. So um. You know, ever since a kid,
I've always wanted a lot of cars. I've always been
into cars. Um. This past offseason, i started, you know,
working on cars myself. So it's it's always been I've
always had a love for cars, no doubt. So have
you have you got into any of the nascars yet,
like physically got into them yet? No, I haven't. The
closest I've been to the NASCAR was at that event
(05:22):
and we were in the garages and stuff like that.
That was like right before lockdown. Um, but uh yeah,
that was the closest I've been to like getting in one.
It's they're huge NASCAR fans in Minnesota though, like like Mai,
no doubt there's the Minnesota fan base, but just there's
a loyal there's a loyal fan base. They know they
know about every type of score, every every every team
(05:43):
type thing. That's dude, That's why I wanted to ask
you about that because, don't get me wrong, like when
I played for the Charges, we had great fans, but
mostly because we were winning. Were whipping everybody ass, right,
So when it's not hard to come to the game.
We got Ladany and Tom was in the Philip Rivers
and Tonio Gates and you're looking around it's Lorenzo O'Neill.
You know, we got eleven Pro bowlers on the team,
(06:06):
so obviously a lot of people will come to the
come to the game. When I got to Buffalo, I said, okay,
we were like oh and six, oh and seven when
I got there. When they when I got released and
waved and I went to Buffalo and the fans were
like it was thirteen degrees outside and there were no
shirts going crazy. Yeah, I've never I've never liked until
this past year when we had COVID. I've never liked
(06:27):
played in the Minnesota game where it wasn't like sold out,
was it. It wasn't rowdy like the fan base there
is crazy and and and uh, you know, like you said,
you know we've had some up and down years for sure,
but the fans have always said, you know, you had
your fair with the fans who kind of go you
know who, you know, hate on you one time and
love you the next. But for the most part, it's
loyal it's loyalty and when you see him in public,
(06:48):
it's all it's all love and and it's it's been
it's been solid. Man. It's a great fan base. That
that's so when I when I used to walk in
the streets in Buffalo, it was different when I played
for the Charges. People would you know in San Diego,
when I come up to l A, they will try
to get pictures and sneaking. I might be at at
lunch or some with on a day and maybe I
might be in the corner with the camera trying to
take pictures. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
(07:11):
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart
Radio app search f s R to listen live in Buffalo, Pepe.
They were tapping me up. They just love It's just
it's just some people will really be like, hey, Kendricks,
I love you, man, Keep doing your thing. You know
(07:32):
we're behind you. Take care. I don't want to like
they don't want nothing from me. It's just it's just
they want to just show me that love, and I
love that the most interaction that's end up well, that's
why I end up resigning the Buffalo to be honest, man,
because that that fan base was something that I never
really got a chance to experience. Like that's a whole
different type of love out there that that they have,
and you it makes you kind of a way. You
(07:54):
start to feel. I mean, obviously, you know the sport,
we're all getting paid and stuff like that, but it's
start to make you feel conducted for them because they
they're really like rooting for you because they when they
were born, they put on a Minnesota Vikings beanie and
you know, like they grew up that's what that's what
they were doing. No, Yeah, it runs deep and it
goes for like all the sports teams to not just
(08:14):
like it doesn't stop in Minnesota, like you know, they
they're loyal to the city. So so how how was that, man?
Because you talked about y'all having you know, the up
and down years, and obviously y'all had like some few
heartbreaks and stuff like that happened, and then too obviously
when when my boys step on my turp out there,
Stefon Digs was there? Um, how was that? Man? Like? Who?
(08:37):
Because you guys got some vets out there, right and
obviously you're you're one of them. Who's the who's the
vocal guy for you guys? Man Like when everything was
kind of hitting a fan and wasn't going right, who
was the who's the vocal guy? At least on the defense? Anyway? Um,
you know, we've I've been around so many guys who
were just leaders, not just natural leaders. You know. I
feel like, um, they do a good job of bringing
(08:57):
those kind of guys in, you know, ever since Griffin,
you know, Lin Vau, Joseph Harrison Smith. Um, I remember
Terence Newman. You know when I got the first got
to the league. He was one of my locker mats,
like two lockers over. And the knowledge that he shared
with me, just as far as like watching film and
just like how he carried himself was huge. You know. Um,
just being around guys like that, Um, it's it's just
(09:18):
you could you can learn so much from him. But
also you know, you gotta you gotta start you know,
as I'm I'm at my seventh year now this, you know,
you gotta start fighting your own way as well. You know,
you gotta you know, different things make you tick than
than you know the next player. So you gotta start
knowing your own role within within the things and and
and doing what you know that you do. Well. You
know it's crazy, but that you mentioned Newman because well,
(09:38):
how many how many years you played with fifteen sixteen
something like something crazy, thirty thirty four, I don't know. Hey,
let me let me tell you a story about Newman. Okay,
it was I think it was my second year in
the league, and we were we were there for offseason
workouts and everyone we were in the basketball gym. It
was like after the workout, we were all went to
the gym where we were just playing against each other
(09:59):
and everyone starts dunking, like everyone starts, you know, one
person dunce and that's what okay, Now we're like having
a dunk contest. This man, Terence Newman, I don't even
know how, Like he's older than everybody. Obviously, this man
was either doing like a three sixty windmill or something crazy,
and he missed it the first time. But everybody was
just like whoa, whoa, whoa whoa, like like like calm down,
(10:21):
like we get it, we get it. You got it,
like you got it, bro, like yo. But see but
see that's the thing though, Like that's so I always
trying to figure out like those guys that stay in
the league that long, like the Charles Woodson's of the world,
Like like these dudes who stay around thirteen, fourteen, fifteen
plus years. Right, And you say your lacker was next
to him. Do you remember like any conversation that you had,
(10:43):
because I remember talking to Donnielle was you know, Donnielle
was playing like sixteen seventeen years and I'm like, you know,
how how do you at this position? Especially? I mean,
you can do it that while I received you cornerback
or something like that, but to be playing that long
as a linebacker, the physicality at all position is different.
Did you get a chance to talk to um, talk
to Newman about any of the stuff and how he
(11:03):
was able to stay in the league that long? Oh, definitely, Um.
I would say that he was just so smart as
corner you know, UM, any any position where you have,
you know, you use your intellect more, you know, especially
you start transitioning into your knowledge of the game. You know,
your film study that the things you've seen and then
applying those to the actual games. And just like, let's
say he gets beat on the route, but he knows
(11:25):
where that receiver is gonna go, and just having just
the balls to like undercut it and just meet him
at the at the at the apex of the route
like most people would just start start taking the receiver.
And but he was just like, manu it, I know
exactly where he's going. I'm just gonna meet him there.
And just to see that on film was was just
mind blowing. But he trusted himself, he trusted his ability,
(11:46):
and you know he did it at a high lovel
for so many years. Who who who y'all got? Everybody
got clicks right on the defense like sometimes linebackers go
hang with the linebackers or you know, dbs gonna hang
with the dbs. Who Who's like if you had to
have made three or four guy you around on that
on that defense most of the time. Man, Because we
we met meet Sean Phillips and Stephen Cooper were like
the three students. We always were together. You are you
(12:08):
around bar like that? Like Anthony, Yeah, I'm around a
B for sure. You know we went we bet to
go back from college, and probably Harrison Smith, you know
for sure. Um, you know I have other buddies you
know who aren't on the squad right now, that we
were all kind of close, but I would say those
three the most for sure. Y'all. Are y'all constantly competing
because that was those my boys. I love the death.
But we were constantly, man just competing, like all the time.
(12:30):
We if I remember one time I went in and
Sean Phillips had a sack. The guy was going down,
the quarterbacks going the guy who were playing the quarterbacks
going down. I got my hand in there, right, and
so they didn't give me my half a sack. And
so the next day, like on Monday, I'm calling the league.
I had my agent to call the league office, and
I was pushing for the half of sack and I
(12:52):
and they gave it to me. I'm talking about sp
was so sick and he was so piste off. Did
we split that sack? That was I think I was
three yea, my third year and I had twelve and
a half sacks. I got that half of sack because
I put it in. Do y'all ever have that kind
of competition going on? Because I always find that most
most teams, most teams that have that kind of competition
where you're always trying to compete against each other, ends
(13:15):
up being the best teams on and off the field. Now,
you know, I want to say, you know, we all
kind of play different positions. I don't really rush the
pastor like that. So like you know, as far as
getting sacks and arguing and things like that, but as
far as the standard that we we hold it to
each other to on the field, like there's been times
where it gets heated, you know what I mean, it
gets you know, we we demand a lot of each
(13:35):
other and and when something's not going right or when
something's not being communicated or something like that, like we'll
let each other know right there on the field. And
no matter how it's communicated, you know, it's not it's
not really like it's not suercoded in a sense, you
know what I mean. It's just like this is what's happening,
Like pick your ship up, like let's go. You know,
maybe you're dinged up and come on, we need you
like a like suck it up, come on, like that happen.
(13:58):
It happens a lot, and uh, it's it's good being
around a bunch of guys who are so competitive and
and have such a high standard because it only elevates
things like you you know, if I'm like, let's say,
i'm i'm I'm I'm playing the game and I'm doing
my assignment. But you know, Anthony or Harry, you know
they're playing next level. You know they're they're they're they're
they're killing stuff that you know, they're they're they're they're balling.
(14:20):
It makes me, you know, Okay, you know, I'm not
doing anything crazy, and I'm not stop trying to do
anything like I'm not trying to do anything extra, but
at the same time, like I need a step, I
need to I need to elevate to where they're at.
So it's it's it's definitely infectious. I would say that's
a good word. Infectious, No, for sure. And and it shows, man,
because oh you know what they always noticed with you.
(14:40):
To me, I think you the best cover linebacker. And
I mean in the in the league, man, I mean,
I think you can run with anybody down the scene backfield. Man.
Every time you look up and if the ball bounce
up you there, you always round the ball and to
me that that just shows, you know, and I don't
know how vocal you are with the guys obviously, you know,
like I got got got a lot of guys watching.
But for me, that just shows what kind of defense
(15:02):
y'all have, man, and y'all got a lot of changes
this year coming up to right. Definitely defense out of
the ball. Have you have you got a chance to
to meet everybody or because when they walk in the
locker room, they already know what you've done, they know
your body of work. But have you got a chance
to meet all all the new faces and people to
come on? Yeah, definitely. You know we were there for
a few weeks in the spring, but you know, like
you said, we have a lot of new faces. And
(15:22):
I was just talking to Digs about this the other
day and we're working we're working out. You know, it's
kind of you know, you get you get familiar with
a lot of people around you in the locker room,
and you know, people know what you're capable of and
they know what you do. But one thing that I'm
I'm excited about this year is you know, I'm with
the I'm with a bunch of new faces who haven't
really seen how I operate. They haven't really seen me
in game and game mode, and they haven't really you know,
(15:42):
they don't really know, you know, I got that killing me,
you know. So it's like I'm anxious to show them
what I got in me, like improve it on the
day to day. And UM, I think that's exciting, you know.
I think it's exciting that I get to go out
and I got to show Patrick Peter said, what kind
of player I am? You know what I mean? Um,
I think it's exciting, you know that I get this
opportunity yet again, have you have you got to um
(16:03):
chance to talk to Patrick yet? Yeah? You know, we
chopped it up in the locker room. He's you know,
he's go yeah, No, but I know gotistone. I know
Gotist thrown around like very lightly nowadays. No, man, But
you're right, though, You're right because you know so many
people on the goat everybody. But he he is, he
is that, you know, he's one of the guys may
have been around and been doing it for a long
period of time. Has he um, because I know sometimes
(16:25):
where you've already made a name for yourself on another team.
And he walked in the locker room man and kind
of you know, share some light with with with with
the younger cast. Is in there or is he you know,
kind of just meeting everybody and nobody. You guys haven't
had a crazy team, uh settings just yet. Yeah, I
think he's taking more of a humble approach. But you
can tell about his work, I think, you know, and
what he's kind of done, um thus far. You know
(16:47):
that he you know what he's kind of about. So
you know, I'm like I said, I'm excited to see
you know, It's it's different on on Sunday night. It's
always different. It's always different when the lights come on. Uh.
You know, you could you can have all the preseason
games in the world. You know, you can do this
and that, and you can have all these great practice reps,
but you know, it only counts when it's live bullets.
So you know, I'm excited. That's dold Man. And so
(17:09):
so what else? What else you got going anything coming up?
Charity events, you know, any businesses you've got coming up?
And you've been kind of putting your time into, um, yeah,
a little bit, a little bit here and there. I'm
I'm I'm my business. I've been starting my own business.
You know, I got my own little l LLC and stuff. Um,
stay tuned on that. You know, I'm not really gonna
you know, I'm I'm I'm still kind of keeping under
wraps until I get it more developed. But um yeah,
(17:31):
you know, just just learning. I got a few paintings
that I've been doing. Um, I was just about to
ask you about that. Man. That's when you've got something
crazy going on back there. I can't see exactly what
it is. Oh yeah, that's mine right there, but I'm
that's on my wall. Uh but uh, yeah, I've been
working on a few I've worked on, Like I have
like three that I've been working on this offseason, and
I've kind of been having fun with um not it's
(17:53):
it's for me. I have fun with it, but I
do end up, like you know, trying to sell them
for charity at some point. So um, yeah, you know
the gonna keep doing my thing, dope, Broy. I appreciate.
I can't wait to watch it this year. Man, y'all
got a squad and then um those new faces man
jump when they asked early you know what I'm saying, like,
make sure I believe honestly, Like the way the way
I operate. I don't really feel like I have to do.
(18:14):
You know, I'm so high strong when I'm not on
the field that it's not it's just yeah, you have
to get with it and get lost, like you know.
That's what's up. Hey, do I appreciate you coming on man, No,
you got stuff to do, man, and good looking out.
I'll reach out over Texas something soon, all right, take
care of thanks. Guys listening into another lights Out podcast
and me saw Marian and I had no idea that
(18:38):
Kendricks was that much into cars. I know I've seen
them at the NASCAR event, but you never know how
much guys into cars and NASCAR and things like that
until they do. You get a chance to talk to
him about them, right, Because you see these guys on Sunday,
you obviously know they spent a lot of time in
the practice field and getting prepared for the season. But
you know, sometimes I just like to find out what
the guy's hobbies. What do you like to do? And
(18:59):
the see he has that fascination and that interest and
and and not only cars, but NASCAR was was awesome, man.
So I appreciate you guys listening in to another lights
Out podcast with me Seawan Merriman. Keep leaving those great reviews,
keep liking and reposting it. Man, those those reposts on
social media, I get a chance to see it, and
a few are listening to the podcast. So you see
(19:21):
anything going on, repost, tag me on social media at
Seawan Merriman, and uh, We'll keep going, man, We'll keep
coming up with some great ones. See you next week.
Are you ready for this? Sean Merriman A one of
hand effect. Boom boom boom, out go the light. This
is Lights Out with Sean Merriman. What's up, guys. We're
back again with another Lights Out podcast and meet Sean
Merriman and we're going with the LBS to day the linebackers.
(00:21):
To me, it's I know, everybody talked about the most
important position on the fields quarterback. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I
get I get that part, um, but it's it's something
about a linebacker, especially a linebacker that UH is all
over the field and sets the tone, um, the energy,
the anchor of the defense. And we got that today
with Eric kendricks Man. He's UM just a hell of
(00:43):
a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. And you know, I
would ask him about a bunch of things because they
got some new faces in the locker room, obviously Patrick
Peterson and UM, you know a bunch of new faces
in the locker room. But for him, you know, he's
a guy that's a vet and he's known UM and
he's been the leader and the anchor for that defense
for some time. So how do you split time with
the guy like Patrick Peterson who was walking into the
(01:04):
locker room with the name and the reputation, and um,
let's find out if he's to go to night and
let's find out what he thinks Patrick Peterson. And this
upcoming season, I'm probably getting to some NASCAR too, because
I've seen him at the Fontana races uh this past season.
So uh, Eric kendricks Man, let's get into it. Yo.
(01:25):
When would you would you get back for the k
you just got back? I got back Friday. What would
you go again? I went to UH, I went to
South of France, and then I went to Barcelona. If
anybody asked me, what was my favorite place to go
to the country in the in the world, South of France,
you went to like it went like Monico Santrone. Oh. Man.
(01:47):
So the first time I went out there, I went
to UH. It was a Grand Prix, right, they had
the Grand Prix out there, and then they had at
the end of the week they had the World Music Awards.
So I don't know, I don't think they still I
don't I don't know if they're still doing that, and
not especially because of COVID. But man, when I tell
you that, I was like at some of these parties
they had the Jimmy's the Club. Jimmy's out there, they
(02:08):
had um the billion the Billionaire Club. And so I'm
out there and I looked at my left and it's
like Tom Cruise. I looked at my right and I'm
like for real, and I'm you know, I'm coming from
I'm need from East coach Man, Like, I'm not. I'm
not using this type of ship, you know, I'm not.
You know, I mean like Brad Pitt's over in the
corner when Angela and Joe Lee Paris is DJ, I say,
(02:29):
what what then? Is what's going on in my life? Yeah?
Like how how am I in this? In this in
this space right now? But but but you know, it's crazy, man,
Like they all of them, they knew who I was.
It's the weirdest and I just was coming off the
rookie the year and all the other stuff too. But
they were all like, you know, football fans. Yeah, I
(02:50):
find that, you know a lot of a lot of
people you know watch football. For us, it's just kind
of like, you know, we feel like we're kind of
small fish sometimes. But the random, most random people you
know are fans. So when we were at the NASCAR track,
which with that what Fontana? Yeah, I got my NASCAR
my Jeff Gordon all right now see that that's why
I'm gonna ask you about that. So it's when we're
(03:11):
talking about other sports or fans who ever know who
you know, know, football players, did you was you tripping out?
How many NASCAR fans and people knew who you were?
Because I've seen people coming up to you left and
right when we were there. Yeah, definitely, Um, I think that,
you know, especially especially in l A. You know, obviously
Minnesota is different. I feel like I'm in Minnesota like
fans approached me often, but when I'm in l A. Uh,
(03:32):
it's not really that way. You know. I can kind
of go about my business, to kind of go go
into the radar and do my thing. But at sporting events,
you know, I definitely noticed that, you know, fans would
you know, whether I didn't think it was gonna happen
at the NASCAR event, but it wasn't like that. You know,
if I'm at a basketball game, you know, maybe you
know some people will will know, or hockey game, you know,
but NASCAR, I didn't really expect that that. That's what
(03:54):
to That's what got me into the sports. The two
thousand and eight they had been to come out to
be the Grand Marshal at the racing Fontana up and
I went up there and I was about to wave
the flag and they announced my name on the on
the endcom and the in the place when it's forty
thifty thousand people out there, place went crazy. I was shocked.
I was like, I went in the shop, bro I
almost dropped the Dann flag when I was when I
(04:16):
almost dropped the Dann flag. And so I didn't know
that NASCAR like the like the correlation between the two fans,
with football fans and NASCAR, it was kind of crazy. No,
it's cool, Man's it's it's sports in general. You know,
it brings people together. What got you into it? Man?
Because I knew we talked about you. You know, obviously
you had the love of cars and all that, But
what what got you into like NASCAR and watching that? Honestly,
(04:40):
Like I used to watch the growing up. My buddy Joey,
he was a big Bobby LOBARTI fan. You know, Tony Stewart, um,
you know those guys. Uh, But I was always a
Jeff Gordon fan, you know, growing up, had all the
had all the little cars and stuff. Um, but you
know I had hot wheels. I had the hot wheel tracks.
I had r C cars. I would go out on
the weekends and and build and race our C cars
and break them in and build them again with my
(05:01):
older brother Chad. So um. You know, ever since a kid,
I've always wanted a lot of cars. I've always been
into cars. Um. This past offseason, i started, you know,
working on cars myself. So it's it's always been I've
always had a love for cars, no doubt. So have
you have you got into any of the nascars yet,
like physically got into them yet? No, I haven't. The
closest I've been to the NASCAR was at that event
(05:22):
and we were in the garages and stuff like that.
That was like right before lockdown. Um, but uh yeah,
that was the closest I've been to like getting in one.
It's they're huge NASCAR fans in Minnesota though, like like Mai,
no doubt there's the Minnesota fan base, but just there's
a loyal there's a loyal fan base. They know they
know about every type of score, every every every team
(05:43):
type thing. That's dude, That's why I wanted to ask
you about that because, don't get me wrong, like when
I played for the Charges, we had great fans, but
mostly because we were winning. Were whipping everybody ass, right,
So when it's not hard to come to the game.
We got Ladany and Tom was in the Philip Rivers
and Tonio Gates and you're looking around it's Lorenzo O'Neill.
You know, we got eleven Pro bowlers on the team,
(06:06):
so obviously a lot of people will come to the
come to the game. When I got to Buffalo, I said, okay,
we were like oh and six, oh and seven when
I got there. When they when I got released and
waved and I went to Buffalo and the fans were
like it was thirteen degrees outside and there were no
shirts going crazy. Yeah, I've never I've never liked until
this past year when we had COVID. I've never liked
(06:27):
played in the Minnesota game where it wasn't like sold out,
was it. It wasn't rowdy like the fan base there
is crazy and and and uh, you know, like you said,
you know we've had some up and down years for sure,
but the fans have always said, you know, you had
your fair with the fans who kind of go you
know who, you know, hate on you one time and
love you the next. But for the most part, it's
loyal it's loyalty and when you see him in public,
(06:48):
it's all it's all love and and it's it's been
it's been solid. Man. It's a great fan base. That
that's so when I when I used to walk in
the streets in Buffalo, it was different when I played
for the Charges. People would you know in San Diego,
when I come up to l A, they will try
to get pictures and sneaking. I might be at at
lunch or some with on a day and maybe I
might be in the corner with the camera trying to
take pictures. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
(07:11):
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart
Radio app search f s R to listen live in Buffalo, Pepe.
They were tapping me up. They just love It's just
it's just some people will really be like, hey, Kendricks,
I love you, man, Keep doing your thing. You know
(07:32):
we're behind you. Take care. I don't want to like
they don't want nothing from me. It's just it's just
they want to just show me that love, and I
love that the most interaction that's end up well, that's
why I end up resigning the Buffalo to be honest, man,
because that that fan base was something that I never
really got a chance to experience. Like that's a whole
different type of love out there that that they have,
and you it makes you kind of a way. You
(07:54):
start to feel. I mean, obviously, you know the sport,
we're all getting paid and stuff like that, but it's
start to make you feel conducted for them because they
they're really like rooting for you because they when they
were born, they put on a Minnesota Vikings beanie and
you know, like they grew up that's what that's what
they were doing. No, Yeah, it runs deep and it
goes for like all the sports teams to not just
(08:14):
like it doesn't stop in Minnesota, like you know, they
they're loyal to the city. So so how how was that, man?
Because you talked about y'all having you know, the up
and down years, and obviously y'all had like some few
heartbreaks and stuff like that happened, and then too obviously
when when my boys step on my turp out there,
Stefon Digs was there? Um, how was that? Man? Like? Who?
(08:37):
Because you guys got some vets out there, right and
obviously you're you're one of them. Who's the who's the
vocal guy for you guys? Man Like when everything was
kind of hitting a fan and wasn't going right, who
was the who's the vocal guy? At least on the defense? Anyway? Um,
you know, we've I've been around so many guys who
were just leaders, not just natural leaders. You know. I
feel like, um, they do a good job of bringing
(08:57):
those kind of guys in, you know, ever since Griffin,
you know, Lin Vau, Joseph Harrison Smith. Um, I remember
Terence Newman. You know when I got the first got
to the league. He was one of my locker mats,
like two lockers over. And the knowledge that he shared
with me, just as far as like watching film and
just like how he carried himself was huge. You know. Um,
just being around guys like that, Um, it's it's just
(09:18):
you could you can learn so much from him. But
also you know, you gotta you gotta start you know,
as I'm I'm at my seventh year now this, you know,
you gotta start fighting your own way as well. You know,
you gotta you know, different things make you tick than
than you know the next player. So you gotta start
knowing your own role within within the things and and
and doing what you know that you do. Well. You
know it's crazy, but that you mentioned Newman because well,
(09:38):
how many how many years you played with fifteen sixteen
something like something crazy, thirty thirty four, I don't know. Hey,
let me let me tell you a story about Newman. Okay,
it was I think it was my second year in
the league, and we were we were there for offseason
workouts and everyone we were in the basketball gym. It
was like after the workout, we were all went to
the gym where we were just playing against each other
(09:59):
and everyone starts dunking, like everyone starts, you know, one
person dunce and that's what okay, Now we're like having
a dunk contest. This man, Terence Newman, I don't even
know how, Like he's older than everybody. Obviously, this man
was either doing like a three sixty windmill or something crazy,
and he missed it the first time. But everybody was
just like whoa, whoa, whoa whoa, like like like calm down,
(10:21):
like we get it, we get it. You got it,
like you got it, bro, like yo. But see but
see that's the thing though, Like that's so I always
trying to figure out like those guys that stay in
the league that long, like the Charles Woodson's of the world,
Like like these dudes who stay around thirteen, fourteen, fifteen
plus years. Right, And you say your lacker was next
to him. Do you remember like any conversation that you had,
(10:43):
because I remember talking to Donnielle was you know, Donnielle
was playing like sixteen seventeen years and I'm like, you know,
how how do you at this position? Especially? I mean,
you can do it that while I received you cornerback
or something like that, but to be playing that long
as a linebacker, the physicality at all position is different.
Did you get a chance to talk to um, talk
to Newman about any of the stuff and how he
(11:03):
was able to stay in the league that long? Oh, definitely, Um.
I would say that he was just so smart as
corner you know, UM, any any position where you have,
you know, you use your intellect more, you know, especially
you start transitioning into your knowledge of the game. You know,
your film study that the things you've seen and then
applying those to the actual games. And just like, let's
say he gets beat on the route, but he knows
(11:25):
where that receiver is gonna go, and just having just
the balls to like undercut it and just meet him
at the at the at the apex of the route
like most people would just start start taking the receiver.
And but he was just like, manu it, I know
exactly where he's going. I'm just gonna meet him there.
And just to see that on film was was just
mind blowing. But he trusted himself, he trusted his ability,
(11:46):
and you know he did it at a high lovel
for so many years. Who who who y'all got? Everybody
got clicks right on the defense like sometimes linebackers go
hang with the linebackers or you know, dbs gonna hang
with the dbs. Who Who's like if you had to
have made three or four guy you around on that
on that defense most of the time. Man, Because we
we met meet Sean Phillips and Stephen Cooper were like
the three students. We always were together. You are you
(12:08):
around bar like that? Like Anthony, Yeah, I'm around a
B for sure. You know we went we bet to
go back from college, and probably Harrison Smith, you know
for sure. Um, you know I have other buddies you
know who aren't on the squad right now, that we
were all kind of close, but I would say those
three the most for sure. Y'all. Are y'all constantly competing
because that was those my boys. I love the death.
But we were constantly, man just competing, like all the time.
(12:30):
We if I remember one time I went in and
Sean Phillips had a sack. The guy was going down,
the quarterbacks going the guy who were playing the quarterbacks
going down. I got my hand in there, right, and
so they didn't give me my half a sack. And
so the next day, like on Monday, I'm calling the league.
I had my agent to call the league office, and
I was pushing for the half of sack and I
(12:52):
and they gave it to me. I'm talking about sp
was so sick and he was so piste off. Did
we split that sack? That was I think I was
three yea, my third year and I had twelve and
a half sacks. I got that half of sack because
I put it in. Do y'all ever have that kind
of competition going on? Because I always find that most
most teams, most teams that have that kind of competition
where you're always trying to compete against each other, ends
(13:15):
up being the best teams on and off the field. Now,
you know, I want to say, you know, we all
kind of play different positions. I don't really rush the
pastor like that. So like you know, as far as
getting sacks and arguing and things like that, but as
far as the standard that we we hold it to
each other to on the field, like there's been times
where it gets heated, you know what I mean, it
gets you know, we we demand a lot of each
(13:35):
other and and when something's not going right or when
something's not being communicated or something like that, like we'll
let each other know right there on the field. And
no matter how it's communicated, you know, it's not it's
not really like it's not suercoded in a sense, you
know what I mean. It's just like this is what's happening,
Like pick your ship up, like let's go. You know,
maybe you're dinged up and come on, we need you
like a like suck it up, come on, like that happen.
(13:58):
It happens a lot, and uh, it's it's good being
around a bunch of guys who are so competitive and
and have such a high standard because it only elevates
things like you you know, if I'm like, let's say,
i'm i'm I'm I'm playing the game and I'm doing
my assignment. But you know, Anthony or Harry, you know
they're playing next level. You know they're they're they're they're
they're killing stuff that you know, they're they're they're they're balling.
(14:20):
It makes me, you know, Okay, you know, I'm not
doing anything crazy, and I'm not stop trying to do
anything like I'm not trying to do anything extra, but
at the same time, like I need a step, I
need to I need to elevate to where they're at.
So it's it's it's definitely infectious. I would say that's
a good word. Infectious, No, for sure. And and it shows, man,
because oh you know what they always noticed with you.
(14:40):
To me, I think you the best cover linebacker. And
I mean in the in the league, man, I mean,
I think you can run with anybody down the scene backfield. Man.
Every time you look up and if the ball bounce
up you there, you always round the ball and to
me that that just shows, you know, and I don't
know how vocal you are with the guys obviously, you know,
like I got got got a lot of guys watching.
But for me, that just shows what kind of defense
(15:02):
y'all have, man, and y'all got a lot of changes
this year coming up to right. Definitely defense out of
the ball. Have you have you got a chance to
to meet everybody or because when they walk in the
locker room, they already know what you've done, they know
your body of work. But have you got a chance
to meet all all the new faces and people to
come on? Yeah, definitely. You know we were there for
a few weeks in the spring, but you know, like
you said, we have a lot of new faces. And
(15:22):
I was just talking to Digs about this the other
day and we're working we're working out. You know, it's
kind of you know, you get you get familiar with
a lot of people around you in the locker room,
and you know, people know what you're capable of and
they know what you do. But one thing that I'm
I'm excited about this year is you know, I'm with
the I'm with a bunch of new faces who haven't
really seen how I operate. They haven't really seen me
in game and game mode, and they haven't really you know,
(15:42):
they don't really know, you know, I got that killing me,
you know. So it's like I'm anxious to show them
what I got in me, like improve it on the
day to day. And UM, I think that's exciting, you know.
I think it's exciting that I get to go out
and I got to show Patrick Peter said, what kind
of player I am? You know what I mean? Um,
I think it's exciting, you know that I get this
opportunity yet again, have you have you got to um
(16:03):
chance to talk to Patrick yet? Yeah? You know, we
chopped it up in the locker room. He's you know,
he's go yeah, No, but I know gotistone. I know
Gotist thrown around like very lightly nowadays. No, man, But
you're right, though, You're right because you know so many
people on the goat everybody. But he he is, he
is that, you know, he's one of the guys may
have been around and been doing it for a long
period of time. Has he um, because I know sometimes
(16:25):
where you've already made a name for yourself on another team.
And he walked in the locker room man and kind
of you know, share some light with with with with
the younger cast. Is in there or is he you know,
kind of just meeting everybody and nobody. You guys haven't
had a crazy team, uh settings just yet. Yeah, I
think he's taking more of a humble approach. But you
can tell about his work, I think, you know, and
what he's kind of done, um thus far. You know
(16:47):
that he you know what he's kind of about. So
you know, I'm like I said, I'm excited to see
you know, It's it's different on on Sunday night. It's
always different. It's always different when the lights come on. Uh.
You know, you could you can have all the preseason
games in the world. You know, you can do this
and that, and you can have all these great practice reps,
but you know, it only counts when it's live bullets.
So you know, I'm excited. That's dold Man. And so
(17:09):
so what else? What else you got going anything coming up?
Charity events, you know, any businesses you've got coming up?
And you've been kind of putting your time into, um, yeah,
a little bit, a little bit here and there. I'm
I'm I'm my business. I've been starting my own business.
You know, I got my own little l LLC and stuff. Um,
stay tuned on that. You know, I'm not really gonna
you know, I'm I'm I'm still kind of keeping under
wraps until I get it more developed. But um yeah,
(17:31):
you know, just just learning. I got a few paintings
that I've been doing. Um, I was just about to
ask you about that. Man. That's when you've got something
crazy going on back there. I can't see exactly what
it is. Oh yeah, that's mine right there, but I'm
that's on my wall. Uh but uh, yeah, I've been
working on a few I've worked on, Like I have
like three that I've been working on this offseason, and
I've kind of been having fun with um not it's
(17:53):
it's for me. I have fun with it, but I
do end up, like you know, trying to sell them
for charity at some point. So um, yeah, you know
the gonna keep doing my thing, dope, Broy. I appreciate.
I can't wait to watch it this year. Man, y'all
got a squad and then um those new faces man
jump when they asked early you know what I'm saying, like,
make sure I believe honestly, Like the way the way
I operate. I don't really feel like I have to do.
(18:14):
You know, I'm so high strong when I'm not on
the field that it's not it's just yeah, you have
to get with it and get lost, like you know.
That's what's up. Hey, do I appreciate you coming on man, No,
you got stuff to do, man, and good looking out.
I'll reach out over Texas something soon, all right, take
care of thanks. Guys listening into another lights Out podcast
and me saw Marian and I had no idea that
(18:38):
Kendricks was that much into cars. I know I've seen
them at the NASCAR event, but you never know how
much guys into cars and NASCAR and things like that
until they do. You get a chance to talk to
him about them, right, Because you see these guys on Sunday,
you obviously know they spent a lot of time in
the practice field and getting prepared for the season. But
you know, sometimes I just like to find out what
the guy's hobbies. What do you like to do? And
(18:59):
the see he has that fascination and that interest and
and and not only cars, but NASCAR was was awesome, man.
So I appreciate you guys listening in to another lights
Out podcast with me Seawan Merriman. Keep leaving those great reviews,
keep liking and reposting it. Man, those those reposts on
social media, I get a chance to see it, and
a few are listening to the podcast. So you see
(19:21):
anything going on, repost, tag me on social media at
Seawan Merriman, and uh, We'll keep going, man, We'll keep
coming up with some great ones. See you next week.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!