September 26, 2024 • 45 mins
Welcome back to the Vikings Tailgate presented by Ticketmaster - The official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings. It's 'border battle' week and we've got an awesome guest to breakdown the insanity of the Packers season. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone from The Office) joins Cy Amundson to dig into his NFC North preseason predictions, rooting for his close friend Aaron Rodgers, the memorable losses to the Seahawks in the playoffs, and how he and John Krasinski used to play Madden on the set of The Office. All of this and more is on today's episode of The Vikings Tailgate presented by Ticketmaster - The official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings.
Also, be sure to preorder Brian's new book The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin from HarperCollins Publishers now. A new Christmas classic for all ages and the ultimate holiday gift for every fan of The Office: Spend “The Night Before Christmas” at Dunder Mifflin in this hilarious and timeless illustrated retelling of the beloved poem, featuring a visit from Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Kevin Malone (author Brian Baumgartner). On Sale: November 5, 2024. Click here to purchase: mnvkn.gs/4eEXRn7
Brian's previously released books can also be found here:
Seriously Good Chili Cookbook - seriouslygoodchili.com
Seriously Good Barbecue Cookbook - seriouslygoodbarbecue.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 (00:00):
Hey, Vikings fans, Benlever here, I'm so excited to be
a new Lifetime member, and so are my kids. They
love the tennis, the pickaball the basketball, and of course
the yummy cafe. Check them out at Lifetime dot life
to find a club nearest you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
As the official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings and
the NFL, Ticketmasters got the best way to take it
to the house when it comes to being there live.
They're the safest and most convenient marketplace to score fully
verified Vikings tickets. So get those touchdown celebrations ready and
score your tickets today at ticketmaster dot com slash Vikings.
(00:35):
Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Vikings Tailgate,
brought to you by Ticketmaster, the official ticket marketplace of
the Minnesota Vikings. This is an awesome one, everybody. We're
three and oh the Packers are two in one and
we have an incredible guest to talk border battle. You
know him from his role as Kevin on the Office.
(00:55):
He also hosts a wildly popular podcast called Off the Beat.
It is diehard Packer fan Brian Baumgartner. He's had some
really cool experiences working with the Packers. He's been a
lifelong fan close friend of Aaron Rodgers. We got into
all the game stuff, even talked a little bit about
he and John Krasinski playing Madden at lunch during tapings
(01:19):
of the Office. I think you're really gonna like it,
and hey, do me a favor. He's got a new book.
It's called The Night Before Christmas at dunder Mifflin. I
love The Office, so I will be buying this for
family members who also love The Office. It comes out
on November fifth, but you can pre order it right now.
He also has two great cookbooks, The Seriously Good Barbecue
Cookbook and the Seriously Good Chili Cookbook. So go get
(01:43):
that Night Before Christmas book. Enjoy the episode, and have
a good weekend. Everybody, Rocket Rocket, I mean all right,
everybody joining us to discuss Packer week. Brian Baumgartner from
(02:07):
Office Fame. I was trying to decide there are a
lot of athletes that are Packer fans, but there aren't
necessarily a ton of celebrities synonymous with the Green Bay Packers.
I think it's you and Lil Wayne. I think your
neck and neck with Lil Wayne.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
I think that's the first time anyone's used me and
Lil Wayne in the same sentence. But I'll take it.
How are you doing now? Where are you? Are you
in the Twin Cities?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We are in Minneapolis? Yep, We're we are.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We are lived there. Are you aware of this that
I lived there? No? Which part uptown Minneapolis, Okay, for
a number of years twenty sixth in Colfax. Then, uh,
I bought my first house there really, in Golden Valley.
I was there.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
This right now, if the people are listening to it
on the radio, is literally booming out of Golden Okay.
Now were you were you born in Wisconsin and then
came to Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
No, not at all. I have connections to Minnesota. I
have no real connections to the state of Wisconsin. I
am originally from the South. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. But
I was I was based in Minneapolis when I was
a lifetime ago, a career ago, when I was doing
theater around the country. I was based in Minneapolis for
(03:27):
a while. Really really hated the weather.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah you and everybody I thought you when you started
saying really really, it was going one of two directions. Yeah,
really really liked the people or really really hated the snow.
There's only two.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Well there's that's the that's that was the classic misdirection
that I was trying to do there. Yeah, I stayed
much longer than I thought. I thought I was just
going to be there for a year, and ended up
I was there almost. I mean, I was based there.
I was working kind of around the country, but I
was based there for about seven years, and and I did.
I did enjoy the people, and it was a great
(04:05):
place for me, very supportive of the arts and uh,
at least at the time the theaters that I was
working on there in other places. But yeah, I mean
I was from the South. I couldn't you know. And
what you guys, if you're driving around now, what what
it's Uh, it's well it's still September, I guess technically,
so you're fine right now?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Early winter you're is it? That's what I can't do this.
I can't do this for like I'm I don't like fall.
Everybody's like the leaves. It's just slow death towards freezing.
I have no interest in it. September is early winter,
Christmas is midwinter. June is end of winter.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Wow. Going to June. And actually I did a show
one time there and it did snow in June. That
is true. You can look that up. It happened.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I absolutely believe that.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
And here's the thing that I realized again once I left,
to all of you people that are that are still
living there, life doesn't have to be that hard. It
doesn't like getting dressed to go get your mail. I'm
in my boxer shorts here. Man, if I got to
go outside and get the paper or the mail. No
(05:15):
one gets a paper anymore, let's be honest. But anyway, yeah,
you don't have to put on layers.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I remember when I first moved to Los Angeles. I'd
never lived anywhere other. I'd been to some other place,
but I've never lived anywhere other. And I moved in January.
I went out to LA and I was there, and
I came back the following year in the winter time.
And it is one of those things. You know, you
quit drinking soda and then three years later you have
one and you're like, oh, I didn't realize this was
(05:42):
poison my whole life. That's what the Minnesotans take such
pride and their ability to live through winter. But there
is that vibe where you're like I gotta tell you, man,
it's not a sign of weakness to like to be
a warm boy. It's really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, that's true. You guys must be feeling pretty
warm in your hearts. Though right now, I was.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Just gonna say you like we are where are we based?
We are based literally on Cloud nine right now? I
think there is But you have to be two. This
is a you like I I thought originally.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Don't compare us, don't don't no, don't compare us. You
can't compare us. You're there were expectations. Now have things
gone well for the Green Bay Packers so far? Given
the circumstances, you're trying to tell me you shouldn't be
on Cloud nine with two Malik Willis wins like you
(06:36):
guys should be throwing parades.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Matt Lahouer is so good it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Matt Lafleur is very good. I mean that's that. The
game plans for the last two games have been outstanding.
Willis has played better than anyone could have expected. But see,
I'm more curious about you guys because now I had
a couple of takes about this year, and because there
(07:00):
was a third team in the North that people were discussing.
As you all know. I'm sure you know the song, right,
the Bears still suck. The Bears still suck, and the
Bears still suck. And I proclaimed it publicly before the year.
I did not see an enormous turnaround for the Bears
(07:21):
this season. I was very right there. But I will
admit I thought you guys were going to be terrible too.
I really did. And not because you don't have players,
and not because you don't have excellent coaches. I just
thought it was going to take a year or so.
And I mean, I feel like that's what everybody expected.
Sam has been playing well, out of his mind, out
(07:44):
of his mind. Hopefully he's fine. I mean the reports
he looks fine. The report was weird.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's a weird stressed about it.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I found the report weird. You're just going to stress
you out. I don't remember a report quite like that before.
Like we're going in to test it and the results
were he's fine, He's gonna play this week. I don't know.
It just seemed bizarre, like like like that there's not
even gonna be a questionable next to his name, Yet
(08:13):
he went in and got an MRI. This just seems
weird to me. No, is it my wrong? I'm not.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I didn't even the interesting thing, because you're right, you
can't compare us. You can't compare us as fan bases.
And uh, I think I'm not gonna just throw darts.
I'm gonna take some here. I think you guys are
the epitome of football privilege. You, I mean, the trophy
is named after you. Your dad owns the bank. You
(08:39):
guys are the king. Like you crash your car and
you get home and mom already has a new Maserati
in the drive. You've done it quarterback after quarterback after quarterback.
Viking fans are damages, you know how. I've said this
on the show already once this year, but it's my
most fascinating insight. Cleveland Brown fans they are like, it's
never gonna work, but they believe it. Viking fans are like,
(09:02):
it's never gonna work, and then you give them a
sliver of hope and we're like, but what if it works?
And then they torture themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Is that? Like, now, I'm not being disparaging again. I
lived there and stayed there for a long time. Isn't
that the people of Minnesota, though, like I feel like
you have just defined the people like it's fine, it's fine,
like the weather is fine, like we've got great springs.
I don't know, like there is a little bit of that.
(09:30):
And by the way, when I said don't compare us,
I was really talking about this year in terms of
the expectation. I mean, I feel like.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I'm taking it way more serious than that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I will, well, well, I feel like you. I feel
like it's a great position to be in, by the way,
and I think that the packers were there last year
where this like, oh, there's gonna be a year of transition, right,
Like there's gonna be a year of of of down
of not rebuild per se, but like slight rebuild or
(10:01):
reload even and you know, it felt like the wheels
just came off the wagon for you guys. And you know, look,
it's going well so far. I mean, I don't want
people mad at me, but I didn't believe it until
week three.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Let it rip. Here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I didn't believe it until week three because they like
if you talk, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
There's people in this state who won't believe it until
week nine. You know how good they'll have you like
people are going to be mad at me. They're half
the Viking fans are like preach Brian preach.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So so I didn't believe it after week two either,
But I mean, look, you guys, not only did you
play really you looked great in all facets. Flores has
got you guys playing so strong you're off. It's I mean,
it's terrifying to me in a way. I'll be honest
with you, And now I'm trying to flip it to
(10:52):
make you guys like, to make us the underdog.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, you're trying. That's what I understand. I've been gas
lit before. I know what it feels like to be
pumped up before disappointment. Don't do this to me. Here's
what I think it is. But I think you're gonna
recognize this a little bit because you guys do. Despite
what our fan base likes to purport, your organizational structure
is strong. I think it has its weak points, like
(11:15):
when you need an owner to come in and go
get me that guy so I can win a super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
But it's strong, and I think what's happening. I think
what people missed with the Minnesota Vikings. And here's the deal, man.
I went into this season the same as you. I thought,
if we have three of these young guys pop up,
if Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner and Ivan Pace are studs,
and then you have all that cap room, this like
(11:41):
you're on the path rookie quarterback. Here we go. It's
you're walking into a really really cool situation. Yeah, I think,
And so we still might be in that mode. Who
knows what happens. It's only three games. But what I
think a lot of people missed was the health of
the organization. And this is not just me being a homer.
I think, like you've been an NFL fan for a
(12:02):
really long time. So you remember the name Eddie de Bartelow. Yes,
So back before the salary cap Eddie de Bartolo, and
back before some trouble, Eddie de Bartelow was the premier
owner in the league. Every player got their own room,
The food was all great. Robert Kraft learned how to
run an organization. It was all treating players well. And
(12:25):
the Vikings every year, when you see those ends of
the year grades for cafeteria and hell step, they're a
A A A. They didn't hit the top of all
that stuff. And so I think when you have an
ownership group that is intent on winning, which isn't always
the case in pro sports, and you have an infrastructure
(12:45):
that is getting grades like that, you've just you've built
this universe where if you are intentional in your actions
and people perform anything as possible. So I think what
people were overlooking is, yes, they lost Kirk, but with
some of that money, they got these players and they
have the right coaches and the right support that it's
almost an incubator for surprising people. Again, I don't know
(13:08):
where it'll go, but that's what I feel like is happening.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I mean, what you're saying makes a ton of sense.
And you see that happen across the league, and you
see teams where it feels like it's there and exists,
and then you see teams that you think, how can
they not get this thing right? Like what you're talking about, Like,
how can they not just like see that this is
an important step? And you know, look, I I I
(13:35):
am not being a homer either. I mean, if love
is back, you guys should lose this week. I mean
you should lose this week because because now everyone's telling
you how good you are. I mean, this is the NFL, man,
It just happens, and it doesn't matter. Culture helps. Culture helps,
for sure, But like you, you are primed to take
(13:57):
a beating. I'm just telling you, this.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Is that confidence.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
No, it's not confident, and no, it's not gonna call
it confidence.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I'm gonna call it confidence.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
No, and I'm gonna and I'm gonna argue that with
you because it's really not. I think that again. Look,
if there's one thing that I know is true, you
can say that it's good, you can say that it's bad.
Uh As from a fan perspective, and I know from
some players perspective, it's incredibly frustrating. The Packers are the
(14:30):
most conservative team in the league when it comes to injuries,
and that this is why it has been shocking to me.
I mean it, what it feels like to me is
Jordan Love feels one hundred percent and no one will
believe it because otherwise, like the fact that they were
(14:52):
still farting around week one, I was like, what are
you talking about? Like they're saying what were they saying
four to six weeks? I'm like, it's six weeks, Like
they just won't let them come back. I mean, this
is true forever. It's like, let's not again. Is it good?
Is it bad? I don't know. It's very frustrating that, like,
we're not going to leverage long term success for this
(15:14):
short term thing. And I do think that the fact
that they've won these two games, they probably feel like
they've stolen too.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yeah, that's you're playing with some serious house money.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah. And so it's like, all right, do we do
do we trot it out one more time? Let's get
him one hundred percent healthy and and and let's wait
and if we lose, uh, we're still two and two.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Like I don't know, But doesn't it now feel like
it because that was my thought as well? But doesn't
it now feel like this interesting intersection of moments Like
had the Vikings been one and two coming in and
you guys were two and one, you go, yeah, trot
them out. But all of a sudden, you have this
upstart team that nobody expected, Packers who've overcome the Lions.
You know, they had a tough loss to Tampa Bay's like,
(15:58):
there's just this moment that I know, I think you're right.
I don't think we're gonna see him because of everything
we've seen historically. But I think it gets a lot
harder now that you're like, no, these teams both kind
of matter right now, and this game not only in
the win loss column. It has a little bit of
springboard ability to it. That's how it feels. I want
(16:18):
him to play. That's here's the thing, especially now that, especially
now that you've said that thing about how we're gonna
get throttled if he does. Brian Flores is doing this.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Say throttled, you're gonna Did I say throttle?
Speaker 2 (16:31):
I don't know, but I'm happy to put words in
your mouth. I think just a big banner like you
just there's just a picture of you outside the locker
room this weekend wearing that hat that says you're about
to get throttled.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You're about to walk by and.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Put their hand on it like it's Rudy's number as
they go by it.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, well see, I don't think they need that if
Love is playing, because I I mean, this is where
I do think we're similar. Like you guys have got
to feel great right now and the Packers running out
of the tunnel being two and one and Love coming
back to play whatever happens, they have to feel great
(17:11):
pre game like, they've got to feel like and now
he's back, and now we're gonna do what we do,
which is kick your ass.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Do you feel I feel like not to God?
Speaker 3 (17:23):
The Bear suck? Can we talk about the Bears suck?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
And I'm ready? Can I tell you something else?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
God?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I'm ready to hate the Lions. H oh yeah, so
drilled into us to not hate the Lions for so long.
And I have friends who are Lions fans and they're
all so likable. And Dan Campbell is like this weird, muscly,
cowardly lion looking thing that you can't help but love.
And I but I'm trying to help me find something
to connect to to hate. I can't. I haven't been
(17:51):
able to figure it. It's easy for me to dislike
the Bears. That's if I listen to one more guy,
one more five foot ten guy that looked like he
played baseball in college. Tell me about how purple is
a bad color for a unit like Chicago's easy to hate.
You're a gray city. I don't want to spend any
time everybody thinks you're amazing. You're not. It's loud and
(18:11):
gray and you can't even swim in the lake most
of the time.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I'm gonna go with you there. I mean, I mean,
I'm gonna let sorry, I'm gonna let you speak for that.
I'm not you're interested in the city of Chicago hating me.
I but the Bears suck and there's no there's really
no two ways about it. And it does give me well,
It's sort of like you know, if you fall, if
(18:37):
you meeting the Vikings fall this year, it does bring
greater pleasure because you did, you did have hope at
one point in time. And that's the thing is that
I kept asking the Bears fans like you, you're you're
hopeful now right, and just the horrible to build them up. Yeah,
you think you have a chance here now? And look,
(19:01):
I am involved in this big uh.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
We have teams, you know, like a fantasy draft. I
hate fantasy, by the way. It makes me absolutely crazy
because I want to I want to root for the teams.
And yes, I just like.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Too many teams to be good at fantasy.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah. There there was like a rule for me which
was like, oh, you know, I'm not gonna mention names
specifically but like anyone who was like drafting for us,
we had like a war room and they wanted to
draft in one. I'm like you guys, no, anyway, they
picked something bears related that was not good for us.
And I have just been railing them all all year
(19:42):
so far, and so it will give me joy if
and when you guys fail, and if you don't, you
know what, you'll be a good story because the people
involved in your organization, I don't I don't hate them.
There's there's there's only uh Kevin and uh Flores. I
used one first name and one second name. It's fine
(20:04):
in Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Thomas, Who the hell is that? Who's Thomas? Doesn't matter?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Just keep going. Yeah, there's nothing, there's nothing to hate.
There's nothing, there's something to hate.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I will tell you it's hard to hate the Green
Bay Packers organization because it would just take forever to
learn who all the owners are.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
So your point about that is very astute from a
from an outsider, because that is an internal frustration at times,
you know, I think, particularly the last decade.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
They're in the end of the Aaron Rodgers run.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
And they're the organization is so strong, and it's what
you love about them, if you love football and the
small town and the environment and the fans and and
you know all of that stuff. But yeah, it would
be nice sometime to be like, oh, you know what
we need Christian McCaffrey and just just going and paying
(20:59):
for that one piece, which then you you just like
everyone knows, like, uh oh, now now we're in trouble.
Now we're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
The moment the Niners got mccaff for, everybody went, if
he's healthy, we have a multi year problem on our hands. Yes,
you're uh, you're a big Madden guy, right.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I mean I used to be. Yeah, I don't really.
I mean I'm an adult now, so I don't play
a lot. But no, John Krasinski and I we played
every single day at lunch when when we were working
at the office, literally every day.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Yeah, those get pretty intense.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, they would get pretty intense. He's from Boston, he
would tell he would probably the Patriots was his go
to team. Weirdly mine that like he couldn't beat. And
then if we both played those teams, it was just
a problem. The Chargers because Antonio Gates and the seam
was just like an unstoppable play bojackech Mobile. I just
(22:02):
Gates like I would scream out as it was going
like Gates play and unless he had like everybody in
the middle, he would just cut run up the middle
and catch one over his shoulder. That was fun. But
usually what we did was and I didn't know this
was a thing until fairly recently. I was telling somebody
is we would take our finger on the toggle button
(22:24):
and it was like you're playing like a slot machine,
and we would just and it would like with all
the all the teams, and we'd stop and that's who
you had to play that day. Oh it's a randomized Yeah,
well yeah, just you know, just you know, instead of
like going scrolling through like you're basically like super speed
scrolling through where you couldn't see it, and then you
would just stop. And again this is a number of
years ago. It would be like, you know, one of
(22:46):
us would get the Jags and the other would get
the Patriots and be like, all right, well that's not fair,
yeah exactly. Yeah, just like children, it.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Had to be nice for you. And I'm not trying
to bag on the Packers fan base, because I genuinely
I've said this on the show before. I don't take
joy in other fan bases being miserable. That's not a
fun thing for me. Oh I I, well that's you
get to be that person. Yeah, but I will tell
you that it has to be odd because it's hard
to find a more privileged fan base than the Packers
(23:16):
unless you get the modern Patriots. So you, I mean
you're playing, you and John are playing and he's a
Patriots fan at a time when that's the one person
that to you is like you're the underdog, he's the man,
You're the overlooked team. He gets everything. That's like that
had to have been a unique environment.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I guess that's true. It's you know there there have
been sporadic and I know I can't speak to you.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
This is the thing where you tell me that you
had to start the Magic Man for like eleven years
and that was hard in between having the trophy named
after your coach and winning a few more? Did you
have a for the eighties hard Bryan?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
You know what's funny is I think did you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Have a hard time? While bart Starr was just barely
in his fifties right before Brett Favre turned twenty two,
what year.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Was Morton Anderson. Wait, no, was he why with the
Falcons at that time? What year was the Falcons Vikings?
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Ninety eight?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Yeah, that's when I was there. That's when I was there.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
So I you were from Minnesota during ninety eight.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Yeah, rooting for the Falcons because I'm from Atlanta. Yeah,
so it was like it was just like double agony
for you guys.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
We have these iconic moments of like loss and pain.
The blairwash field goal right after the Minnesota a miracle. God,
I hate the grin on your face so much.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Yeah, No, that was awf No, that was awful.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
That was you said that, like the way you watch
like your enemy spill pie on their lap?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Who was that? Who was that? Against the Sea?
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (24:52):
The Seahawks, your whole familys is gonna hate me? Who
do I hate worse than the Vikings? Because I don't
hate the Vikings. I pity the Viking. Just see your
Seahawks and the and the Niners of course like I
so of course I'm rooting against the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
The amount, And I think that's the thing that drives
Viking fans the craziest is it's like that we're not
thinking about you We're in the playoffs against the Niners,
and you're like, kick their ass. Vikings, you're in the
playoffs against the Niners, are like drowned them, drowned them
in front of their kids. Like it's the fact that
you just can look past it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Oh, you would root for the Niners over the Packers.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
One million percent. And let me tell you something, I
think this rivalry missed them. Like the best thing that
could have ever happened for it was that FARV team,
the Vikings FARV team winning a Super Bowl. Now, you
guys would have hated that, but it would have just
created this unique moment in this rivalry's history. And now
(25:53):
we would finally have a title and it would be
with your icon. I mean, Rogers became who he became.
But you're right, I think a lot. You know, you
guys are on your path and we're over here on
our path kind of looking at your path. I think
we missed an awesome moment with that.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
I don't disagree with you on that, I know. I look,
I love storylines that would have been that would have
been epic, That would have been epic.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I've got two questions. One is where I was going
is and you said the Seahawks one, which I remember
that playoff game. But what's what's your moment where we
go ninety eight?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Ah, what is.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Your moment that?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Oh that Seahawks game.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It's the Seahawks game with the on side kick and
the disaster at the end. So that's that's your tough moment.
And then oh for sure, I mean that was that
more so than the far overtime one. I'll make you
like feel better because you can hate me for this.
I had tickets, it was in Seattle, was going to
(26:50):
go and decided, hmmm, I'll wait for the super Bowl.
Oh my god, that makes me want to drive you
down with my car. And Jay, what's the record for
least likable things said on the.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Show that Now? I said that to be intentionally like you.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
No, I just thought I maybe and maybe I just
went for the parade. I don't even know where you
go to the super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You have to hear it. You have to hear it.
Was actually because I thought the Seattle was favored then,
and so what I thought was, well, so I'm being now,
I'm being honest. Okay, I said that to be funny.
I thought they might lose and if they lose, me
going there to Seattle will be just miserable. So if
(27:44):
they win, I'll go to the super Bowl. Like so
that that in truth was it, But it comes across
it's like, no, I didn't go because I was going
to go the next week, which is a narrative I
sort of enjoy as well. But the truth was no,
and that that's the work. That's the worst.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
So we're also we've been talking about a lot of parallels.
I think the other question kind of fits in here
is we're both on this same path of we had
an established quarterback like you guys had, interestingly, as polarizing
as he can be and as off putting as his
smirks are. Before Patrick Mahomes came in, I think there
(28:23):
was an argument to be made that while Brady was
winning all the Super Bowls, Aaron Rodgers the most talented
guy to ever throw a football. I like, I thought
he had you know, Dan Marino's arms and you know
Steve Young's legs. I just thought he was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Yes, well, I don't disagree with you on that, and
I and I will tell you that my you know,
before we go too much further, that a huge part
of my fandom of the Packers is he and I
are very good friends.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Well, then I will say even meaner stuff and see
if I can get you to quit the show. You know,
I think he's immensely special. Right and then, but he's
been there for a long time and that situation was
waning and a change was coming the Vikings. The reason
I set up who he was is because I don't
want to pretend like he and Kirk Cousins are the
(29:16):
same or have been the same caliber of player.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
But right, but I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yes, Kirk held down the spot. He was a very
very and he was the identity of the team. And
now it's kind of interesting to think about who these
two teams were a few years ago and now they're
meeting in this moment where they both have these coaches
who went lover old quarterback. No hard feelings, but I'm
ready to do my thing with a guy that and like,
(29:43):
I think that's what you're seeing with Matt Lafleur. I
think you're seeing a system that fits the guy that
he wants to throw the ball. I think you're seeing
that with Kevin O'Connell. So it's really, really interesting, you're
such close friends with Rogers, Like, how do you celebrate that?
Are you? Were you bummed to see? Are you happy
that it's kind of this year working out on both ends?
(30:04):
Like how do you process that connect?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
No, I want to ask you a question first and
then I'll answer the question. Is Sam Darnold your guy?
Or is JJ your guy?
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So it depends who you ask. But if you're asking me,
I am a believer and Brian I could not have
less education or more ability to parse my way through
an answer about something like this. But that's not going
to stop me. Im a huge believer in what I
(30:33):
call the NFL's QB math equation. Okay, there's this stat
out there that over the last twenty twenty five years
since the inception of the salary cap, our listeners are like,
we've heard it before. They're turning me off because they're
so bored with me talking about this. But there's two
quarterbacks who won a Super Bowl while earning more than
twelve percent of the team's salary cap. It was Tom
(30:54):
Brady one year and it was Patrick Mahomes last year.
Everybody else has been below that, And when you look
at a lot of great quarterbacks, they often win. Aaron
Rodgers is on his rookie deal, Russell Wilson is on
his rookie deal. Ben Roethlisberger wins on his rookie deal,
and then he wins on a decent next deal. And
so you have rookies, journeymen, and then Tom Brady who
(31:14):
took cheap deals to That's just how the NFL has existed.
I'm not saying it is going to exist that way forever,
but uniquely, the quarterback position has become so high paid.
I only ever think there are three, four or five
like to me. To give up that percentage of your
salary cap, you need to be Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning,
(31:39):
Tom Brady, like you have to be a first ballad
Hall of Famer. And so I don't know what Sam
Darnold is going to be, But when we switched and
I heard how much we were paying him, and I
know the weapons that we are going to get with him,
I got really, really really excited. And so that is
how I kind of answered, I don't know what McCarthy
(32:00):
is going to be, but these fans that are racing
to have somebody be a superstar, what I say is
if things work out for this team. We should have
three or four years of low priced quarterback play with
the best coaches, two of the best coordinators, one's ahead
coach wins a decordinator in charges like and seventy five
million dollars in cap space. That's how you win a
(32:23):
Super Bowl. So I love Darnold right now and I
just don't want to pay a ton anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Yeah that's fair. Well, look, I will forever root for Aaron,
and I mean, what what a story it could be.
I will say this, I'm a little I'm on a
little bit of a high from last week because I
felt like if you watch that game and look, as
(32:53):
someone said, well the Patriots, this is the this is
what we thought was going to happen before the year started.
But the Patriots were playing well. I mean, the Patriots
were playing inspired and together on defense. Aaron looked like
three years ago, like or yeah, three years ago, three
(33:15):
four years ago. I mean, you know, in terms of
the calendar, and that was really exciting to see. I
hope the best, wish the best for him. I also
incidentally wish the best for Kirk. I mean, you know,
he's in a really interesting situation. Down there too. I mean,
to your point about the money, I don't know how
(33:37):
that all works itself out. But they have the guys
that they have in those other positions are young and
seemingly talented, and I would love for him, for him
and and for the Falcons to to have a little
run this year as well.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Yeah, it's really interesting, just like they are too. I
think the Rogers injury last year dampened it a little bit.
And I'm with you. I don't think people whatever they're
over under was before the season. It was something stupid
like eight and a half games. I was like, you
want the best long shot in the league, it's the
New York jets a based on his talent, but also
based on the you know, Rocky Mountain National Park sized
(34:21):
chip that he's able to carry on his shoulder.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
But he doesn't make it a secret that he likes
to play and prove people wrong. No, and now you
have a situation where yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
So, the two things that I don't want to see
is Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl and the Packers
in the Super Bowl. And yet my brain goes, I
just I watched how you guys handled the Farv thing,
and I want to watch that. I want to watch
what would happen It almost be, it would almost be.
I'm not gonna do the metaphor because I don't want
(34:55):
to get that cut from the episode, but I think
it'd be really interesting to watch. And I'm with you.
I think the Kirk thing is to anytime a quarterback
walks into a place, the same thing when we thought
Russell Wilson was gonna play in Pittsburgh. It's when a
quarterback walks in and everybody is looking at it a
(35:16):
certain it's just very obvious these guys are in a
I can prove it or I cannot prove it, and
we all get to watch it year. And I'm with you. Storylines, man,
that is a lot. If all of a sudden they're
in the AFC Championship and you guys are in the
NFC Championship, that's there's gonna be a lot of people
crossing their fingers for that to happen.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's fascinating. And again, I the Packers' schedule is really difficult.
If you as a as a Viking, span do you
root against the Jets this year?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
It's literally what I've been dealing with I've been trying
to decide what's funnier. Is it funnier for Aaron Rodgers
to win a Super Bowl? Will you guys suck? Or
is it funnier for you guys to win and Aaron
Rodgers suck? And I don't know. I've really spent time
on that, and I don't have an understanding of what's
funnier interesting.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
I think the Bills are.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
They're going to be very difficult. I don't think anyone
saw that coming. They are going to be very difficult.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Correct, and obviously the chiefs will you know. I mean, look,
they haven't started off like Gangbusters and they're three to zero,
so but I mean, look, the Jets have that roster
that if he is playing well, their schedule is such
that well, they don't have a hard schedule. The Packers
(36:36):
have a heart schedule, by the way, the Jets is
not as challenging. I mean they have the schedule makers. Well,
they wanted Aaron Rodgers on national television and games that
were happening only at once, so this has made things
complicated for the Jets. But it's really fun. Here's what
(36:58):
I think you can argue as Vikings fans, as whatever,
you can hate him, how much more fun is the
NFL when he's in it and playing well? I mean,
that was my thought the other night.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Undeniable, Like you have to appreciate even if you're getting
your heart ripped out by him as you're watching, as
I'm sure so many those Patriot fans were.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Yeah, it's just really fun.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It's so funny for it to be such a different
sort of fun from like, because I think you couldn't
find a person in the league when Brett Farv was
in his prime who wasn't like, God, I just really
like to have that energy on my team. Here's the thing.
If you want to watch mediocre football in hopes that
your team wins a bunch, great, good for you. Enjoy it.
(37:49):
I'm someone that like like, I'm not. I'm a massive
appreciator of Lebron switching sports here, but I also really
liked to root again him, and if a team got
to the finals and there was no Lebron on the
other side, it became a little blase. So having these
elite players that you can appreciate and then being able
(38:11):
to attach some stakes even if you don't like him,
even if I don't enjoy Aaron Rodgers, and for example,
I want to, I don't know, burn my TV when
that part of Pat McAfee comes on, uh I just
as an example. It's still but that's still an energy,
and that's still an emotion that you like. I turned
on that Thursday night game, going what's gonna happen? And
(38:32):
so I think you're right, it's better, it's better with
him in the league.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Well, look, I and I think I think it was Nike.
Wasn't it Nike with the the Lebron and Kobe puppets?
Was it that Nike back in the day, all built
under the assumption that the two of them would meet
in the finals, and then it like never happened because
you know, and and look, there's a lot of great
(38:58):
Spurs fans out there, but like everybody wanted to see
that thing, right, I mean.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
It's like when you see those maps of who everybody's
rooting for and the whole country is one color except
for like half of one state.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
Right exactly. That That is what I mean. Here's here's
something that I think we can both get behind.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Though, Okay, i'd like to I'd like to end on
something some togetherness.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I called this at the beginning of the year. If this,
if this could happen. But the fact that Justin Fields
is three and zero with the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Oh, isn't that good? Isn't it just delicious?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
It's just it's so good because that all of those
all of those fans have to be thinking, did we
did we mess up again? Now I'm not saying they did,
but I'm just I was saying one must have inner
doubts like did we did we make.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Advice for our mutual fan base. This here's what I
would tell you, because I think you and I both
know that the if you're playing the odds game, the
odds that Caleb Williams figures it out and is a
terror for other teams is higher than it is not, right, Like,
I anticipate that dude figuring it out. So I think
our fan bases should be reveling in this moment where
(40:24):
Justin Fields is three and azo. Eat this up like
it's oatmeal covered in brown sugar. This is a nice moment.
And I'm with you, just the doubt. That's like before
they go on their message board to type something mean,
they're like, ah, we couldn't. There's no way, right, there's
no way that that it's this. There's no way.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah, but I will say this. You know you were
talking before about being organizationally strong. I mean, this is
like the most obvious thing whatever in the world. But
if you're drafted in the top five, you're going to
a team and in some ways, Caleb because of the
(41:08):
draft or the trade the year before, like Chicago wasn't
that bad, like they weren't the Panthers or whatever. It's
so hard, though, to go to a bad team that
is organizationally weak and win. And the fact that Feels
is doing this I think speaks and I'm just really
giving an unsolicited shout out to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
That's our guy. Unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
I mean, the fact that he goes there and they're
not playing cupcakes and that they're just doing He's doing
what he needs to do to win and looking a
little better every week. I'm not smart enough to know
there are people much smarter than me, and no quarterback
play much better than me to be able to make
that sort of a call that you're talking about, Like
(41:56):
I'm sure Caleb is ceiling as much higher or whatever.
But to see him go and have that success there, Well,
it doesn't speak great for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
It's a nice time. It's a nice time for all
us non Bagas fans. Hey, we really appreciate you doing this, Brian.
Give me a last thing I'm going to ask from you.
Give me a prediction for the game Sunday.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
I mean, it's really tough to quote an old fan
favorite for you Vikings R E L A X. Whatever
happens for whichever team loses. I think everybody's going to
be just fine, at least after this game. I think
if Love plays, I mean, it's just one of those
(42:40):
classic cases that I think the more tape you have
on willis the harder it's going to be to be
able to execute the kind of game plan that they
have the last couple of weeks. Though it was an
impressive win by them this week. But I think if
Love plays the Packers cover did you want to do?
(43:00):
I need to give you a.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
I think I want I mean I would have taken that,
but now that you've offered a score, yeah, I'd like
to hear you. Let's put it right next to that
little poster of whatever. That phrase that I can't remember
you said that I thought was so funny earlyer.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
Though, I think they I think they.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
You think they're gonna win by You think they're gonna
win by three or more. Okay, well, i'm gonna go.
I'm gonna throw a score out there. I'm gonna go.
I'm gonna say Halfley's defense is good, Flores's defense is good.
I'm gonna say Packers fourteen. I'm gonna go Vikings one
hundred and twenty eight, somewhere in that range somewhere?
Speaker 3 (43:36):
Is this Is this your call every week?
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Is this my call every week? Really, it's my call
every week. I refuse. I refuse to make serious predictions.
I believe way too much in superstition. I have an
ongoing vis Oh dude, Brian, I am. I am a disaster.
I will y Oh yeah, I like.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Is that your lucky hat this year?
Speaker 2 (43:58):
No, this is the that he's listening right now, that
Mike Hearris made me wear because they used the video
and he had something not nice to say about my hair.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
So okay, but that's a Viking ship, right, It.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Is a Viking ship. It's actually a cool hat. It's
the kind of it's a it's a minimalist logo.
Speaker 3 (44:15):
Yeah, I do think it's a cool hat.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
Yeah, no, I I I'm full on lunatic man. I'm not.
It's I'll probably watch a game standing in the same
place I watch it last week. The sort of stuff
that when I do get eventually divorced will probably be
mentioned in the papers. That's the sort of sports superstition
I have, and I'm working on it. You're the best
(44:39):
to thank you.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
At least you know that you can impact the players
on the field from wherever you are and whatever you're doing.
At least you know that.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Thank you. And I think we we are gonna have
the collective We as a team are going to have
a good season, right, good luck. Thanks again to Brian
Baumgartner for joining the show. Hey in a reminder of
check out the Vikings Tailgate podcast or the Vikings podcast Network,
anywhere you download stuff, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, any of
(45:11):
your favorite social media channels. Check it out and hey,
well you're there, Give us a like and subscribe. Also,
huge shout out to Ticketmaster, the official ticket marketplace of
the Minnesota Vikings, for helping make this show happen. We
will see you all again next week. Join Pa at
the Coon Rapids Buffalo Wild Wings this Friday from nine
to noon for Friday Football Feast presented by Coors Light.
(45:35):
Enjoy food and drink specials and a chance to win
Viking tickets and more. Visit vikings dot com slash bww
for full schedule and details
Hey, Vikings fans, Benlever here, I'm so excited to be
a new Lifetime member, and so are my kids. They
love the tennis, the pickaball the basketball, and of course
the yummy cafe. Check them out at Lifetime dot life
to find a club nearest you.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
As the official ticket marketplace of the Minnesota Vikings and
the NFL, Ticketmasters got the best way to take it
to the house when it comes to being there live.
They're the safest and most convenient marketplace to score fully
verified Vikings tickets. So get those touchdown celebrations ready and
score your tickets today at ticketmaster dot com slash Vikings.
(00:35):
Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Vikings Tailgate,
brought to you by Ticketmaster, the official ticket marketplace of
the Minnesota Vikings. This is an awesome one, everybody. We're
three and oh the Packers are two in one and
we have an incredible guest to talk border battle. You
know him from his role as Kevin on the Office.
(00:55):
He also hosts a wildly popular podcast called Off the Beat.
It is diehard Packer fan Brian Baumgartner. He's had some
really cool experiences working with the Packers. He's been a
lifelong fan close friend of Aaron Rodgers. We got into
all the game stuff, even talked a little bit about
he and John Krasinski playing Madden at lunch during tapings
(01:19):
of the Office. I think you're really gonna like it,
and hey, do me a favor. He's got a new book.
It's called The Night Before Christmas at dunder Mifflin. I
love The Office, so I will be buying this for
family members who also love The Office. It comes out
on November fifth, but you can pre order it right now.
He also has two great cookbooks, The Seriously Good Barbecue
Cookbook and the Seriously Good Chili Cookbook. So go get
(01:43):
that Night Before Christmas book. Enjoy the episode, and have
a good weekend. Everybody, Rocket Rocket, I mean all right,
everybody joining us to discuss Packer week. Brian Baumgartner from
(02:07):
Office Fame. I was trying to decide there are a
lot of athletes that are Packer fans, but there aren't
necessarily a ton of celebrities synonymous with the Green Bay Packers.
I think it's you and Lil Wayne. I think your
neck and neck with Lil Wayne.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
I think that's the first time anyone's used me and
Lil Wayne in the same sentence. But I'll take it.
How are you doing now? Where are you? Are you
in the Twin Cities?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We are in Minneapolis? Yep, We're we are.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
We are lived there. Are you aware of this that
I lived there? No? Which part uptown Minneapolis, Okay, for
a number of years twenty sixth in Colfax. Then, uh,
I bought my first house there really, in Golden Valley.
I was there.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
This right now, if the people are listening to it
on the radio, is literally booming out of Golden Okay.
Now were you were you born in Wisconsin and then
came to Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
No, not at all. I have connections to Minnesota. I
have no real connections to the state of Wisconsin. I
am originally from the South. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. But
I was I was based in Minneapolis when I was
a lifetime ago, a career ago, when I was doing
theater around the country. I was based in Minneapolis for
(03:27):
a while. Really really hated the weather.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Yeah you and everybody I thought you when you started
saying really really, it was going one of two directions. Yeah,
really really liked the people or really really hated the snow.
There's only two.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Well there's that's the that's that was the classic misdirection
that I was trying to do there. Yeah, I stayed
much longer than I thought. I thought I was just
going to be there for a year, and ended up
I was there almost. I mean, I was based there.
I was working kind of around the country, but I
was based there for about seven years, and and I did.
I did enjoy the people, and it was a great
(04:05):
place for me, very supportive of the arts and uh,
at least at the time the theaters that I was
working on there in other places. But yeah, I mean
I was from the South. I couldn't you know. And
what you guys, if you're driving around now, what what
it's Uh, it's well it's still September, I guess technically,
so you're fine right now?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Early winter you're is it? That's what I can't do this.
I can't do this for like I'm I don't like fall.
Everybody's like the leaves. It's just slow death towards freezing.
I have no interest in it. September is early winter,
Christmas is midwinter. June is end of winter.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Wow. Going to June. And actually I did a show
one time there and it did snow in June. That
is true. You can look that up. It happened.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
I absolutely believe that.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
And here's the thing that I realized again once I left,
to all of you people that are that are still
living there, life doesn't have to be that hard. It
doesn't like getting dressed to go get your mail. I'm
in my boxer shorts here. Man, if I got to
go outside and get the paper or the mail. No
(05:15):
one gets a paper anymore, let's be honest. But anyway, yeah,
you don't have to put on layers.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I remember when I first moved to Los Angeles. I'd
never lived anywhere other. I'd been to some other place,
but I've never lived anywhere other. And I moved in January.
I went out to LA and I was there, and
I came back the following year in the winter time.
And it is one of those things. You know, you
quit drinking soda and then three years later you have
one and you're like, oh, I didn't realize this was
(05:42):
poison my whole life. That's what the Minnesotans take such
pride and their ability to live through winter. But there
is that vibe where you're like I gotta tell you, man,
it's not a sign of weakness to like to be
a warm boy. It's really nice.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, that's true. You guys must be feeling pretty
warm in your hearts. Though right now, I was.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Just gonna say you like we are where are we based?
We are based literally on Cloud nine right now? I
think there is But you have to be two. This
is a you like I I thought originally.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Don't compare us, don't don't no, don't compare us. You
can't compare us. You're there were expectations. Now have things
gone well for the Green Bay Packers so far? Given
the circumstances, you're trying to tell me you shouldn't be
on Cloud nine with two Malik Willis wins like you
(06:36):
guys should be throwing parades.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Matt Lahouer is so good it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Matt Lafleur is very good. I mean that's that. The
game plans for the last two games have been outstanding.
Willis has played better than anyone could have expected. But see,
I'm more curious about you guys because now I had
a couple of takes about this year, and because there
(07:00):
was a third team in the North that people were discussing.
As you all know. I'm sure you know the song, right,
the Bears still suck. The Bears still suck, and the
Bears still suck. And I proclaimed it publicly before the year.
I did not see an enormous turnaround for the Bears
(07:21):
this season. I was very right there. But I will
admit I thought you guys were going to be terrible too.
I really did. And not because you don't have players,
and not because you don't have excellent coaches. I just
thought it was going to take a year or so.
And I mean, I feel like that's what everybody expected.
Sam has been playing well, out of his mind, out
(07:44):
of his mind. Hopefully he's fine. I mean the reports
he looks fine. The report was weird.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's a weird stressed about it.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
I found the report weird. You're just going to stress
you out. I don't remember a report quite like that before.
Like we're going in to test it and the results
were he's fine, He's gonna play this week. I don't know.
It just seemed bizarre, like like like that there's not
even gonna be a questionable next to his name, Yet
(08:13):
he went in and got an MRI. This just seems
weird to me. No, is it my wrong? I'm not.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
I didn't even the interesting thing, because you're right, you
can't compare us. You can't compare us as fan bases.
And uh, I think I'm not gonna just throw darts.
I'm gonna take some here. I think you guys are
the epitome of football privilege. You, I mean, the trophy
is named after you. Your dad owns the bank. You
(08:39):
guys are the king. Like you crash your car and
you get home and mom already has a new Maserati
in the drive. You've done it quarterback after quarterback after quarterback.
Viking fans are damages, you know how. I've said this
on the show already once this year, but it's my
most fascinating insight. Cleveland Brown fans they are like, it's
never gonna work, but they believe it. Viking fans are like,
(09:02):
it's never gonna work, and then you give them a
sliver of hope and we're like, but what if it works?
And then they torture themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Is that? Like, now, I'm not being disparaging again. I
lived there and stayed there for a long time. Isn't
that the people of Minnesota, though, like I feel like
you have just defined the people like it's fine, it's fine,
like the weather is fine, like we've got great springs.
I don't know, like there is a little bit of that.
(09:30):
And by the way, when I said don't compare us,
I was really talking about this year in terms of
the expectation. I mean, I feel like.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I'm taking it way more serious than that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
I will, well, well, I feel like you. I feel
like it's a great position to be in, by the way,
and I think that the packers were there last year
where this like, oh, there's gonna be a year of transition, right,
Like there's gonna be a year of of of down
of not rebuild per se, but like slight rebuild or
(10:01):
reload even and you know, it felt like the wheels
just came off the wagon for you guys. And you know, look,
it's going well so far. I mean, I don't want
people mad at me, but I didn't believe it until
week three.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Let it rip. Here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I didn't believe it until week three because they like
if you talk, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
There's people in this state who won't believe it until
week nine. You know how good they'll have you like
people are going to be mad at me. They're half
the Viking fans are like preach Brian preach.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So so I didn't believe it after week two either,
But I mean, look, you guys, not only did you
play really you looked great in all facets. Flores has
got you guys playing so strong you're off. It's I mean,
it's terrifying to me in a way. I'll be honest
with you, And now I'm trying to flip it to
(10:52):
make you guys like, to make us the underdog.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, you're trying. That's what I understand. I've been gas
lit before. I know what it feels like to be
pumped up before disappointment. Don't do this to me. Here's
what I think it is. But I think you're gonna
recognize this a little bit because you guys do. Despite
what our fan base likes to purport, your organizational structure
is strong. I think it has its weak points, like
(11:15):
when you need an owner to come in and go
get me that guy so I can win a super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
But it's strong, and I think what's happening. I think
what people missed with the Minnesota Vikings. And here's the deal, man.
I went into this season the same as you. I thought,
if we have three of these young guys pop up,
if Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner and Ivan Pace are studs,
and then you have all that cap room, this like
(11:41):
you're on the path rookie quarterback. Here we go. It's
you're walking into a really really cool situation. Yeah, I think,
And so we still might be in that mode. Who
knows what happens. It's only three games. But what I
think a lot of people missed was the health of
the organization. And this is not just me being a homer.
I think, like you've been an NFL fan for a
(12:02):
really long time. So you remember the name Eddie de Bartelow. Yes,
So back before the salary cap Eddie de Bartolo, and
back before some trouble, Eddie de Bartelow was the premier
owner in the league. Every player got their own room,
The food was all great. Robert Kraft learned how to
run an organization. It was all treating players well. And
(12:25):
the Vikings every year, when you see those ends of
the year grades for cafeteria and hell step, they're a
A A A. They didn't hit the top of all
that stuff. And so I think when you have an
ownership group that is intent on winning, which isn't always
the case in pro sports, and you have an infrastructure
(12:45):
that is getting grades like that, you've just you've built
this universe where if you are intentional in your actions
and people perform anything as possible. So I think what
people were overlooking is, yes, they lost Kirk, but with
some of that money, they got these players and they
have the right coaches and the right support that it's
almost an incubator for surprising people. Again, I don't know
(13:08):
where it'll go, but that's what I feel like is happening.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I mean, what you're saying makes a ton of sense.
And you see that happen across the league, and you
see teams where it feels like it's there and exists,
and then you see teams that you think, how can
they not get this thing right? Like what you're talking about, Like,
how can they not just like see that this is
an important step? And you know, look, I I I
(13:35):
am not being a homer either. I mean, if love
is back, you guys should lose this week. I mean
you should lose this week because because now everyone's telling
you how good you are. I mean, this is the NFL, man,
It just happens, and it doesn't matter. Culture helps. Culture helps,
for sure, But like you, you are primed to take
(13:57):
a beating. I'm just telling you, this.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Is that confidence.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
No, it's not confident, and no, it's not gonna call
it confidence.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I'm gonna call it confidence.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
No, and I'm gonna and I'm gonna argue that with
you because it's really not. I think that again. Look,
if there's one thing that I know is true, you
can say that it's good, you can say that it's bad.
Uh As from a fan perspective, and I know from
some players perspective, it's incredibly frustrating. The Packers are the
(14:30):
most conservative team in the league when it comes to injuries,
and that this is why it has been shocking to me.
I mean it, what it feels like to me is
Jordan Love feels one hundred percent and no one will
believe it because otherwise, like the fact that they were
(14:52):
still farting around week one, I was like, what are
you talking about? Like they're saying what were they saying
four to six weeks? I'm like, it's six weeks, Like
they just won't let them come back. I mean, this
is true forever. It's like, let's not again. Is it good?
Is it bad? I don't know. It's very frustrating that, like,
we're not going to leverage long term success for this
(15:14):
short term thing. And I do think that the fact
that they've won these two games, they probably feel like
they've stolen too.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yeah, that's you're playing with some serious house money.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yeah. And so it's like, all right, do we do
do we trot it out one more time? Let's get
him one hundred percent healthy and and and let's wait
and if we lose, uh, we're still two and two.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Like I don't know, But doesn't it now feel like
it because that was my thought as well? But doesn't
it now feel like this interesting intersection of moments Like
had the Vikings been one and two coming in and
you guys were two and one, you go, yeah, trot
them out. But all of a sudden, you have this
upstart team that nobody expected, Packers who've overcome the Lions.
You know, they had a tough loss to Tampa Bay's like,
(15:58):
there's just this moment that I know, I think you're right.
I don't think we're gonna see him because of everything
we've seen historically. But I think it gets a lot
harder now that you're like, no, these teams both kind
of matter right now, and this game not only in
the win loss column. It has a little bit of
springboard ability to it. That's how it feels. I want
(16:18):
him to play. That's here's the thing, especially now that, especially
now that you've said that thing about how we're gonna
get throttled if he does. Brian Flores is doing this.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Say throttled, you're gonna Did I say throttle?
Speaker 2 (16:31):
I don't know, but I'm happy to put words in
your mouth. I think just a big banner like you
just there's just a picture of you outside the locker
room this weekend wearing that hat that says you're about
to get throttled.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
You're about to walk by and.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Put their hand on it like it's Rudy's number as
they go by it.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Yeah, well see, I don't think they need that if
Love is playing, because I I mean, this is where
I do think we're similar. Like you guys have got
to feel great right now and the Packers running out
of the tunnel being two and one and Love coming
back to play whatever happens, they have to feel great
(17:11):
pre game like, they've got to feel like and now
he's back, and now we're gonna do what we do,
which is kick your ass.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Do you feel I feel like not to God?
Speaker 3 (17:23):
The Bear suck? Can we talk about the Bears suck?
Speaker 2 (17:26):
And I'm ready? Can I tell you something else?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
God?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I'm ready to hate the Lions. H oh yeah, so
drilled into us to not hate the Lions for so long.
And I have friends who are Lions fans and they're
all so likable. And Dan Campbell is like this weird, muscly,
cowardly lion looking thing that you can't help but love.
And I but I'm trying to help me find something
to connect to to hate. I can't. I haven't been
(17:51):
able to figure it. It's easy for me to dislike
the Bears. That's if I listen to one more guy,
one more five foot ten guy that looked like he
played baseball in college. Tell me about how purple is
a bad color for a unit like Chicago's easy to hate.
You're a gray city. I don't want to spend any
time everybody thinks you're amazing. You're not. It's loud and
(18:11):
gray and you can't even swim in the lake most
of the time.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I'm gonna go with you there. I mean, I mean,
I'm gonna let sorry, I'm gonna let you speak for that.
I'm not you're interested in the city of Chicago hating me.
I but the Bears suck and there's no there's really
no two ways about it. And it does give me well,
It's sort of like you know, if you fall, if
(18:37):
you meeting the Vikings fall this year, it does bring
greater pleasure because you did, you did have hope at
one point in time. And that's the thing is that
I kept asking the Bears fans like you, you're you're
hopeful now right, and just the horrible to build them up. Yeah,
you think you have a chance here now? And look,
(19:01):
I am involved in this big uh.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
We have teams, you know, like a fantasy draft. I
hate fantasy, by the way. It makes me absolutely crazy
because I want to I want to root for the teams.
And yes, I just like.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Too many teams to be good at fantasy.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Yeah. There there was like a rule for me which
was like, oh, you know, I'm not gonna mention names
specifically but like anyone who was like drafting for us,
we had like a war room and they wanted to
draft in one. I'm like you guys, no, anyway, they
picked something bears related that was not good for us.
And I have just been railing them all all year
(19:42):
so far, and so it will give me joy if
and when you guys fail, and if you don't, you
know what, you'll be a good story because the people
involved in your organization, I don't I don't hate them.
There's there's there's only uh Kevin and uh Flores. I
used one first name and one second name. It's fine
(20:04):
in Hollywood.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Thomas, Who the hell is that? Who's Thomas? Doesn't matter?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Just keep going. Yeah, there's nothing, there's nothing to hate.
There's nothing, there's something to hate.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I will tell you it's hard to hate the Green
Bay Packers organization because it would just take forever to
learn who all the owners are.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
So your point about that is very astute from a
from an outsider, because that is an internal frustration at times,
you know, I think, particularly the last decade.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
They're in the end of the Aaron Rodgers run.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
And they're the organization is so strong, and it's what
you love about them, if you love football and the
small town and the environment and the fans and and
you know all of that stuff. But yeah, it would
be nice sometime to be like, oh, you know what
we need Christian McCaffrey and just just going and paying
(20:59):
for that one piece, which then you you just like
everyone knows, like, uh oh, now now we're in trouble.
Now we're in trouble.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
The moment the Niners got mccaff for, everybody went, if
he's healthy, we have a multi year problem on our hands. Yes,
you're uh, you're a big Madden guy, right.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I mean I used to be. Yeah, I don't really.
I mean I'm an adult now, so I don't play
a lot. But no, John Krasinski and I we played
every single day at lunch when when we were working
at the office, literally every day.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Yeah, those get pretty intense.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, they would get pretty intense. He's from Boston, he
would tell he would probably the Patriots was his go
to team. Weirdly mine that like he couldn't beat. And
then if we both played those teams, it was just
a problem. The Chargers because Antonio Gates and the seam
was just like an unstoppable play bojackech Mobile. I just
(22:02):
Gates like I would scream out as it was going
like Gates play and unless he had like everybody in
the middle, he would just cut run up the middle
and catch one over his shoulder. That was fun. But
usually what we did was and I didn't know this
was a thing until fairly recently. I was telling somebody
is we would take our finger on the toggle button
(22:24):
and it was like you're playing like a slot machine,
and we would just and it would like with all
the all the teams, and we'd stop and that's who
you had to play that day. Oh it's a randomized Yeah,
well yeah, just you know, just you know, instead of
like going scrolling through like you're basically like super speed
scrolling through where you couldn't see it, and then you
would just stop. And again this is a number of
years ago. It would be like, you know, one of
(22:46):
us would get the Jags and the other would get
the Patriots and be like, all right, well that's not fair,
yeah exactly. Yeah, just like children, it.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Had to be nice for you. And I'm not trying
to bag on the Packers fan base, because I genuinely
I've said this on the show before. I don't take
joy in other fan bases being miserable. That's not a
fun thing for me. Oh I I, well that's you
get to be that person. Yeah, but I will tell
you that it has to be odd because it's hard
to find a more privileged fan base than the Packers
(23:16):
unless you get the modern Patriots. So you, I mean
you're playing, you and John are playing and he's a
Patriots fan at a time when that's the one person
that to you is like you're the underdog, he's the man,
You're the overlooked team. He gets everything. That's like that
had to have been a unique environment.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
I guess that's true. It's you know there there have
been sporadic and I know I can't speak to you.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
This is the thing where you tell me that you
had to start the Magic Man for like eleven years
and that was hard in between having the trophy named
after your coach and winning a few more? Did you
have a for the eighties hard Bryan?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
You know what's funny is I think did you.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Have a hard time? While bart Starr was just barely
in his fifties right before Brett Favre turned twenty two,
what year.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Was Morton Anderson. Wait, no, was he why with the
Falcons at that time? What year was the Falcons Vikings?
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Ninety eight?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Yeah, that's when I was there. That's when I was there.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
So I you were from Minnesota during ninety eight.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Yeah, rooting for the Falcons because I'm from Atlanta. Yeah,
so it was like it was just like double agony
for you guys.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
We have these iconic moments of like loss and pain.
The blairwash field goal right after the Minnesota a miracle. God,
I hate the grin on your face so much.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Yeah, No, that was awf No, that was awful.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
That was you said that, like the way you watch
like your enemy spill pie on their lap?
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Who was that? Who was that? Against the Sea?
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (24:52):
The Seahawks, your whole familys is gonna hate me? Who
do I hate worse than the Vikings? Because I don't
hate the Vikings. I pity the Viking. Just see your
Seahawks and the and the Niners of course like I
so of course I'm rooting against the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
The amount, And I think that's the thing that drives
Viking fans the craziest is it's like that we're not
thinking about you We're in the playoffs against the Niners,
and you're like, kick their ass. Vikings, you're in the
playoffs against the Niners, are like drowned them, drowned them
in front of their kids. Like it's the fact that
you just can look past it.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
Oh, you would root for the Niners over the Packers.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
One million percent. And let me tell you something, I
think this rivalry missed them. Like the best thing that
could have ever happened for it was that FARV team,
the Vikings FARV team winning a Super Bowl. Now, you
guys would have hated that, but it would have just
created this unique moment in this rivalry's history. And now
(25:53):
we would finally have a title and it would be
with your icon. I mean, Rogers became who he became.
But you're right, I think a lot. You know, you
guys are on your path and we're over here on
our path kind of looking at your path. I think
we missed an awesome moment with that.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
I don't disagree with you on that, I know. I look,
I love storylines that would have been that would have
been epic, That would have been epic.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I've got two questions. One is where I was going
is and you said the Seahawks one, which I remember
that playoff game. But what's what's your moment where we
go ninety eight?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Ah, what is.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Your moment that?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Oh that Seahawks game.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It's the Seahawks game with the on side kick and
the disaster at the end. So that's that's your tough moment.
And then oh for sure, I mean that was that
more so than the far overtime one. I'll make you
like feel better because you can hate me for this.
I had tickets, it was in Seattle, was going to
(26:50):
go and decided, hmmm, I'll wait for the super Bowl.
Oh my god, that makes me want to drive you
down with my car. And Jay, what's the record for
least likable things said on the.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Show that Now? I said that to be intentionally like you.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
No, I just thought I maybe and maybe I just
went for the parade. I don't even know where you
go to the super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
You have to hear it. You have to hear it.
Was actually because I thought the Seattle was favored then,
and so what I thought was, well, so I'm being now,
I'm being honest. Okay, I said that to be funny.
I thought they might lose and if they lose, me
going there to Seattle will be just miserable. So if
(27:44):
they win, I'll go to the super Bowl. Like so
that that in truth was it, But it comes across
it's like, no, I didn't go because I was going
to go the next week, which is a narrative I
sort of enjoy as well. But the truth was no,
and that that's the work. That's the worst.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
So we're also we've been talking about a lot of parallels.
I think the other question kind of fits in here
is we're both on this same path of we had
an established quarterback like you guys had, interestingly, as polarizing
as he can be and as off putting as his
smirks are. Before Patrick Mahomes came in, I think there
(28:23):
was an argument to be made that while Brady was
winning all the Super Bowls, Aaron Rodgers the most talented
guy to ever throw a football. I like, I thought
he had you know, Dan Marino's arms and you know
Steve Young's legs. I just thought he was phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Yes, well, I don't disagree with you on that, and
I and I will tell you that my you know,
before we go too much further, that a huge part
of my fandom of the Packers is he and I
are very good friends.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Well, then I will say even meaner stuff and see
if I can get you to quit the show. You know,
I think he's immensely special. Right and then, but he's
been there for a long time and that situation was
waning and a change was coming the Vikings. The reason
I set up who he was is because I don't
want to pretend like he and Kirk Cousins are the
(29:16):
same or have been the same caliber of player.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
But right, but I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
Yes, Kirk held down the spot. He was a very
very and he was the identity of the team. And
now it's kind of interesting to think about who these
two teams were a few years ago and now they're
meeting in this moment where they both have these coaches
who went lover old quarterback. No hard feelings, but I'm
ready to do my thing with a guy that and like,
(29:43):
I think that's what you're seeing with Matt Lafleur. I
think you're seeing a system that fits the guy that
he wants to throw the ball. I think you're seeing
that with Kevin O'Connell. So it's really, really interesting, you're
such close friends with Rogers, Like, how do you celebrate that?
Are you? Were you bummed to see? Are you happy
that it's kind of this year working out on both ends?
(30:04):
Like how do you process that connect?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
No, I want to ask you a question first and
then I'll answer the question. Is Sam Darnold your guy?
Or is JJ your guy?
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So it depends who you ask. But if you're asking me,
I am a believer and Brian I could not have
less education or more ability to parse my way through
an answer about something like this. But that's not going
to stop me. Im a huge believer in what I
(30:33):
call the NFL's QB math equation. Okay, there's this stat
out there that over the last twenty twenty five years
since the inception of the salary cap, our listeners are like,
we've heard it before. They're turning me off because they're
so bored with me talking about this. But there's two
quarterbacks who won a Super Bowl while earning more than
twelve percent of the team's salary cap. It was Tom
(30:54):
Brady one year and it was Patrick Mahomes last year.
Everybody else has been below that, And when you look
at a lot of great quarterbacks, they often win. Aaron
Rodgers is on his rookie deal, Russell Wilson is on
his rookie deal. Ben Roethlisberger wins on his rookie deal,
and then he wins on a decent next deal. And
so you have rookies, journeymen, and then Tom Brady who
(31:14):
took cheap deals to That's just how the NFL has existed.
I'm not saying it is going to exist that way forever,
but uniquely, the quarterback position has become so high paid.
I only ever think there are three, four or five
like to me. To give up that percentage of your
salary cap, you need to be Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning,
(31:39):
Tom Brady, like you have to be a first ballad
Hall of Famer. And so I don't know what Sam
Darnold is going to be, But when we switched and
I heard how much we were paying him, and I
know the weapons that we are going to get with him,
I got really, really really excited. And so that is
how I kind of answered, I don't know what McCarthy
(32:00):
is going to be, but these fans that are racing
to have somebody be a superstar, what I say is
if things work out for this team. We should have
three or four years of low priced quarterback play with
the best coaches, two of the best coordinators, one's ahead
coach wins a decordinator in charges like and seventy five
million dollars in cap space. That's how you win a
(32:23):
Super Bowl. So I love Darnold right now and I
just don't want to pay a ton anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
Yeah that's fair. Well, look, I will forever root for Aaron,
and I mean, what what a story it could be.
I will say this, I'm a little I'm on a
little bit of a high from last week because I
felt like if you watch that game and look, as
(32:53):
someone said, well the Patriots, this is the this is
what we thought was going to happen before the year started.
But the Patriots were playing well. I mean, the Patriots
were playing inspired and together on defense. Aaron looked like
three years ago, like or yeah, three years ago, three
(33:15):
four years ago. I mean, you know, in terms of
the calendar, and that was really exciting to see. I
hope the best, wish the best for him. I also
incidentally wish the best for Kirk. I mean, you know,
he's in a really interesting situation. Down there too. I mean,
to your point about the money, I don't know how
(33:37):
that all works itself out. But they have the guys
that they have in those other positions are young and
seemingly talented, and I would love for him, for him
and and for the Falcons to to have a little
run this year as well.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Yeah, it's really interesting, just like they are too. I
think the Rogers injury last year dampened it a little bit.
And I'm with you. I don't think people whatever they're
over under was before the season. It was something stupid
like eight and a half games. I was like, you
want the best long shot in the league, it's the
New York jets a based on his talent, but also
based on the you know, Rocky Mountain National Park sized
(34:21):
chip that he's able to carry on his shoulder.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
But he doesn't make it a secret that he likes
to play and prove people wrong. No, and now you
have a situation where yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
So, the two things that I don't want to see
is Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl and the Packers
in the Super Bowl. And yet my brain goes, I
just I watched how you guys handled the Farv thing,
and I want to watch that. I want to watch
what would happen It almost be, it would almost be.
I'm not gonna do the metaphor because I don't want
(34:55):
to get that cut from the episode, but I think
it'd be really interesting to watch. And I'm with you.
I think the Kirk thing is to anytime a quarterback
walks into a place, the same thing when we thought
Russell Wilson was gonna play in Pittsburgh. It's when a
quarterback walks in and everybody is looking at it a
(35:16):
certain it's just very obvious these guys are in a
I can prove it or I cannot prove it, and
we all get to watch it year. And I'm with you. Storylines, man,
that is a lot. If all of a sudden they're
in the AFC Championship and you guys are in the
NFC Championship, that's there's gonna be a lot of people
crossing their fingers for that to happen.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's fascinating. And again, I the Packers' schedule is really difficult.
If you as a as a Viking, span do you
root against the Jets this year?
Speaker 2 (35:46):
It's literally what I've been dealing with I've been trying
to decide what's funnier. Is it funnier for Aaron Rodgers
to win a Super Bowl? Will you guys suck? Or
is it funnier for you guys to win and Aaron
Rodgers suck? And I don't know. I've really spent time
on that, and I don't have an understanding of what's
funnier interesting.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
I think the Bills are.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
They're going to be very difficult. I don't think anyone
saw that coming. They are going to be very difficult.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Correct, and obviously the chiefs will you know. I mean, look,
they haven't started off like Gangbusters and they're three to zero,
so but I mean, look, the Jets have that roster
that if he is playing well, their schedule is such
that well, they don't have a hard schedule. The Packers
(36:36):
have a heart schedule, by the way, the Jets is
not as challenging. I mean they have the schedule makers. Well,
they wanted Aaron Rodgers on national television and games that
were happening only at once, so this has made things
complicated for the Jets. But it's really fun. Here's what
(36:58):
I think you can argue as Vikings fans, as whatever,
you can hate him, how much more fun is the
NFL when he's in it and playing well? I mean,
that was my thought the other night.
Speaker 4 (37:12):
Undeniable, Like you have to appreciate even if you're getting
your heart ripped out by him as you're watching, as
I'm sure so many those Patriot fans were.
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Yeah, it's just really fun.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It's so funny for it to be such a different
sort of fun from like, because I think you couldn't
find a person in the league when Brett Farv was
in his prime who wasn't like, God, I just really
like to have that energy on my team. Here's the thing.
If you want to watch mediocre football in hopes that
your team wins a bunch, great, good for you. Enjoy it.
(37:49):
I'm someone that like like, I'm not. I'm a massive
appreciator of Lebron switching sports here, but I also really
liked to root again him, and if a team got
to the finals and there was no Lebron on the
other side, it became a little blase. So having these
elite players that you can appreciate and then being able
(38:11):
to attach some stakes even if you don't like him,
even if I don't enjoy Aaron Rodgers, and for example,
I want to, I don't know, burn my TV when
that part of Pat McAfee comes on, uh I just
as an example. It's still but that's still an energy,
and that's still an emotion that you like. I turned
on that Thursday night game, going what's gonna happen? And
(38:32):
so I think you're right, it's better, it's better with
him in the league.
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Well, look, I and I think I think it was Nike.
Wasn't it Nike with the the Lebron and Kobe puppets?
Was it that Nike back in the day, all built
under the assumption that the two of them would meet
in the finals, and then it like never happened because
you know, and and look, there's a lot of great
(38:58):
Spurs fans out there, but like everybody wanted to see
that thing, right, I mean.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
It's like when you see those maps of who everybody's
rooting for and the whole country is one color except
for like half of one state.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
Right exactly. That That is what I mean. Here's here's
something that I think we can both get behind.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Though, Okay, i'd like to I'd like to end on
something some togetherness.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I called this at the beginning of the year. If this,
if this could happen. But the fact that Justin Fields
is three and zero with the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
Oh, isn't that good? Isn't it just delicious?
Speaker 3 (39:40):
It's just it's so good because that all of those
all of those fans have to be thinking, did we
did we mess up again? Now I'm not saying they did,
but I'm just I was saying one must have inner
doubts like did we did we make.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
Advice for our mutual fan base. This here's what I
would tell you, because I think you and I both
know that the if you're playing the odds game, the
odds that Caleb Williams figures it out and is a
terror for other teams is higher than it is not, right, Like,
I anticipate that dude figuring it out. So I think
our fan bases should be reveling in this moment where
(40:24):
Justin Fields is three and azo. Eat this up like
it's oatmeal covered in brown sugar. This is a nice moment.
And I'm with you, just the doubt. That's like before
they go on their message board to type something mean,
they're like, ah, we couldn't. There's no way, right, there's
no way that that it's this. There's no way.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Yeah, but I will say this. You know you were
talking before about being organizationally strong. I mean, this is
like the most obvious thing whatever in the world. But
if you're drafted in the top five, you're going to
a team and in some ways, Caleb because of the
(41:08):
draft or the trade the year before, like Chicago wasn't
that bad, like they weren't the Panthers or whatever. It's
so hard, though, to go to a bad team that
is organizationally weak and win. And the fact that Feels
is doing this I think speaks and I'm just really
giving an unsolicited shout out to Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
That's our guy. Unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
I mean, the fact that he goes there and they're
not playing cupcakes and that they're just doing He's doing
what he needs to do to win and looking a
little better every week. I'm not smart enough to know
there are people much smarter than me, and no quarterback
play much better than me to be able to make
that sort of a call that you're talking about, Like
(41:56):
I'm sure Caleb is ceiling as much higher or whatever.
But to see him go and have that success there, Well,
it doesn't speak great for the Bears.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
It's a nice time. It's a nice time for all
us non Bagas fans. Hey, we really appreciate you doing this, Brian.
Give me a last thing I'm going to ask from you.
Give me a prediction for the game Sunday.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
I mean, it's really tough to quote an old fan
favorite for you Vikings R E L A X. Whatever
happens for whichever team loses. I think everybody's going to
be just fine, at least after this game. I think
if Love plays, I mean, it's just one of those
(42:40):
classic cases that I think the more tape you have
on willis the harder it's going to be to be
able to execute the kind of game plan that they
have the last couple of weeks. Though it was an
impressive win by them this week. But I think if
Love plays the Packers cover did you want to do?
(43:00):
I need to give you a.
Speaker 2 (43:01):
I think I want I mean I would have taken that,
but now that you've offered a score, yeah, I'd like
to hear you. Let's put it right next to that
little poster of whatever. That phrase that I can't remember
you said that I thought was so funny earlyer.
Speaker 3 (43:12):
Though, I think they I think they.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
You think they're gonna win by You think they're gonna
win by three or more. Okay, well, i'm gonna go.
I'm gonna throw a score out there. I'm gonna go.
I'm gonna say Halfley's defense is good, Flores's defense is good.
I'm gonna say Packers fourteen. I'm gonna go Vikings one
hundred and twenty eight, somewhere in that range somewhere?
Speaker 3 (43:36):
Is this Is this your call every week?
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Is this my call every week? Really, it's my call
every week. I refuse. I refuse to make serious predictions.
I believe way too much in superstition. I have an
ongoing vis Oh dude, Brian, I am. I am a disaster.
I will y Oh yeah, I like.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Is that your lucky hat this year?
Speaker 2 (43:58):
No, this is the that he's listening right now, that
Mike Hearris made me wear because they used the video
and he had something not nice to say about my hair.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
So okay, but that's a Viking ship, right, It.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Is a Viking ship. It's actually a cool hat. It's
the kind of it's a it's a minimalist logo.
Speaker 3 (44:15):
Yeah, I do think it's a cool hat.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
Yeah, no, I I I'm full on lunatic man. I'm not.
It's I'll probably watch a game standing in the same
place I watch it last week. The sort of stuff
that when I do get eventually divorced will probably be
mentioned in the papers. That's the sort of sports superstition
I have, and I'm working on it. You're the best
(44:39):
to thank you.
Speaker 3 (44:39):
At least you know that you can impact the players
on the field from wherever you are and whatever you're doing.
At least you know that.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Thank you. And I think we we are gonna have
the collective We as a team are going to have
a good season, right, good luck. Thanks again to Brian
Baumgartner for joining the show. Hey in a reminder of
check out the Vikings Tailgate podcast or the Vikings podcast Network,
anywhere you download stuff, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, any of
(45:11):
your favorite social media channels. Check it out and hey,
well you're there, Give us a like and subscribe. Also,
huge shout out to Ticketmaster, the official ticket marketplace of
the Minnesota Vikings, for helping make this show happen. We
will see you all again next week. Join Pa at
the Coon Rapids Buffalo Wild Wings this Friday from nine
to noon for Friday Football Feast presented by Coors Light.
(45:35):
Enjoy food and drink specials and a chance to win
Viking tickets and more. Visit vikings dot com slash bww
for full schedule and details
Popular Podcasts
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!
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