December 26, 2024 • 31 mins
Welcome to episode 301 of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by Pepsi - Made for Vikings watching! Tatum Everett sits down with Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips on the show. Harrison talks about trying to fulfill goals set in the offseason, the importance of staying focused as individual leaders, the lessons learned week 16 at Seattle, and the big matchup this weekend versus the Green Bay Packers. Plus, Tatum and Pete Bercich look back at key moments from the victory at Seattle, lessons learned throughout 2024, and how the results versus Green Bay will help shape the team's playoff destiny. All of this and more is in episode 301 of the Minnesota Vikings Podcast presented by Pepsi - Made for Vikings watching!
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome into your thirteen into Minnesota Vikings podcast. I'm your
host Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network, and the
Vikes got it out an incredible road victory in.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Seattle on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
It was the first time Minnesota won in the Emerald
City since two thousand and six, but more importantly, it
was their eighth straight w which means the Vikings are
in control of their destiny. I'll explain what that means
in just a second, but first let me break down
the show. In the second half of MVP, we're going
to be joined by captain and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. However,
(00:36):
first we get the distinct pleasure of talking to Vikings
radio analyst Pete Versage.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And Pete, you were in the booth on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
What was it like with the loud crowd, all the
elements and how the game unfolded.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I've been doing this, this is my eighteenth season and
never won a game there as an analyst, or I
mean maybe some preseason or some other things, but that city,
it's a.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Very tough place to win.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
The Vikings went out there on a short week after
a Monday night game, and you know, took care of
business against a good physical team. I think Gino Smith,
you know, he made some unbelievable throws, so I think
the key with that was just getting getting some pressure
on him. It was one of those games where you're
you know, we know, no style points, just get out
of there with a win. Yeah, it's at you know,
(01:22):
one of those games on the schedule. And I'll tell
you what, it's amazing how this team, when they need it,
they get it, and they.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Get it out of their quarterback, they get it out of.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Their receivers, they get it out of their defense, and
so it's just it's just been an absolutely fun season
and I'm glad it's going to continue and be an
unbelievable one this Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, it truly has.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Obviously you're alluding to the fact that the Packers will
play in the regular season finale at US Bank Stadium
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We'll get to that in just a bit.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
But I can't help but think about how you mentioned
that this team always seems to just like gut it out.
Their resiliency factor is super high, and I feel like
it's almost a reflection of the way that coach Kevin
O'Connell leads his team from or through the off season,
through training camp, through the season itself, and you know
(02:11):
a lot of a lot of people are finally talking
about him as a Coach of the Year candidate. How
do you think he's been doing and do you think
that's something that you know is a possibility?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
How else do you judge someone other than by the results?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And Andy Reid has better results so far this year?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Right, that's it.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, I think he absolutely needs to be in this conversation.
We sat down with Jasper Brinkley recently and he quoted
coach O'Connell about how he was saying how he'd say,
progress is a process, meaning it's not something you can
measure every single day or every single minute. It's something
that occurs over time. It's a state of mind. And
you know you've heard him say, you know we need
(02:49):
your best one, you know, at your best when when
it's needed. Those kinds of things, they're not just lip service, right,
that's an attitude, it's a it's a way with which
this team goes about its business. And it's fantastic to
see that happen on the field. I mean, they were
leading the entire game. You know, after the first score
and you know, I think it was only three or
(03:11):
four minutes left to go, all of a sudden, we're
down by you know, you're down by a field goal.
So that's an absolute perfect time to panic if you
were a team that was just on the negative side.
And it's like Detroit right years ago. Detroit's going to Detroit,
so they might be ahead on Thanksgiving Day by a
field goal with five minutes left to go, and when
(03:32):
something goes wrong, the player, you know, the players, the coaches,
the fans, everybody goes up here we go again. Whereas
other teams like Kansas City, when you're down late in
the game, people go all right, well they're going to
find a way. And it's a subtle thing, but I
you know, looking back to my experience in ninety eight,
you know, all my actually my whole tenure here with Denny,
we never went into a game number one thinking we
(03:54):
were going to steamroll somebody. Nor did but we at
the same time never went in thinking that we didn't
have a chance. And having that in the back of
your mind, the progress is a process and be your
best when it's needed, because you can look up at
the scoreboard and say, you know, now, this is it.
This is what he's been talking about. This is what
we've heard for the last yeah, twenty some weeks. Right,
So it doesn't shock you, it doesn't hit you with that.
(04:17):
It's like, Okay, here we go. This is what I do.
And I mean, let's not even get into the free
agent quarterback that's playing at an unbelievable level right now
and all the other things that are going on. Yes,
you asked me what time it was. I told you
how to make a watch. Yes, I think Kevin O'Connell
should be in the station Per Coach.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Of the Year.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Well yeah, I mean he's the first Vikings coach in
franchise history to have multiple seasons with thirteen wins. You know,
he's one of only two coaches in the history of
the league with multiple thirteen win seasons and their first
three as NFL head coaches, alongside George Seaffert and Matt Lafleur.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I mean, the resume speaks for itself.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And you mentioned coach O'Connell talking about Sam Darnold mentioned
in his press or this week that he sees Donald
as someone who is lights out as a decision maker,
How have you observed or what?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
What is what? Why do you think he says something
like that.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Well, because I think it's the nature of this offense
right in the in the flexibility that's built into the
passing game. It's easier said than done, right, And that's
another reason why I think this our passing game especially
will have times where it slows down and then we
make adjustments and and uh, you know that's that starts
and stops with the quarterback and Donald and so he's
(05:33):
been I think he's been executing. He's been executing the
system brilliantly. And that's exactly what Kevin O'Connell identified with him.
Knew he had that ability, and now he's bringing not
bringing it out. So yeah, I think with Donald, the
decisions he's been making when under duress, whether it's just
to go down and take the sack, get rid of
(05:54):
the football. We saw a lot of mistakes earlier this season,
balls that should have been intercepted when he's scrambling, you know,
under duress and just try to make a throw, make
something happen you Lately, he's been doing a much much
better job with that and understands that. Yeah, we may
have the punt here, but we're going to get another opportunity.
We're going to have another couple series and then you know,
ultimately when it's the series, he adjusts his play accordingly.
(06:18):
So he's just making really really good decisions. Yeah, he's
out there.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
It just kind of feels like when you turn the
heat up on this team and even Sam Darnold, they
respond even more.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, right, and that and that goes back to what
they've been told, be at your best when it's needed.
And they've shown that, right, So it's built into their
DNA now that if you're in Minnesota Viking, when things
are you know, when you when we need you, you know,
you got to come up with a big play when
we need you. You have to execute your job flawlessly.
And they've gone out and actually done that, and that's
(06:50):
kind of the that's kind of the magic, right. I Mean,
as a coach, you can say whatever you want. As
a manager of people, you can tell your you know,
your employees whatever, you you could tell them whatever every
single day. It doesn't mean that they're going to believe
it and accept it. That's kind of the magic, and
that's really what Kevin O'Connell's done with this group.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I don't know if you heard his postgame press conference,
but when asked about what's going on with the and
how the season can end, you either win out and
clinch the NFC North title and the number one seed,
or a loss to the Packers on Sunday and Alliance
win on Monday against the forty nine ers would mean
that Week eighteen is meaningless. So it is such a
(07:32):
large crater between the two, yet the room for error
is so small. So when you as a former coach
and a former player, you know, I know that you're
not supposed to think about the next game. You know
you're thinking about going one to zero every single week.
How do you manage that type of pressure or those
(07:53):
implications as you prepare to face two teams in the
next two weeks with eleven plus wins each.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Well, I mean, I think as a player, if you
stop back and actually looked at the entire situation and
really what's at stake so to speak, and we as
fans we can do that all the time, you'll go crazy.
You have to look at the season and look at
everything in bite sized type pieces, meaning control what you
can control. So as a player, I can't control what
(08:25):
the Lions do. I can't control what the forty nine
ers do. I can't control what the Packers do. I
can only be responsible for my job and what I do.
So I am going to focus one hundred percent on that,
do it to the absolute best of my ability, and
if things don't go our way, then at least I
can accept it and live with it. There'll be no regrets, right,
(08:46):
I mean, I coached high school football. The head coach
and I talked to them about players in the playoffs.
It's like, well, you know, no tiers after the game,
no regrets after the game. The only way you can
accept the loss is by leaving everything that you physically
have out there.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
And that's it. Wherever you are.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
If I'm in a meeting on Thursday, I am one
hundred percent in this meeting. I'm getting every ounce of
everything I could possibly get out of my coach, taking
care of my body to the best of my ability.
That way, on game day, I'm as best prepared as
I can be. And if you look at it that way,
you can you can manage it, and you can deal
with it, and you just go day to day to day,
(09:25):
Like anybody who's going through hard times. Sometimes in life,
you can't look a month out, six months out, a
year out. You've got to go minute to minute. Right
when you're in training camp, you're literally just I got
to get through this drill. I got to get through
this drill. And if I keep getting through the drills,
eventually this day is going to be over. So you
just narrow your focus, shorten your timeline, control what you
(09:46):
can control. And that's really the kind of the magic
to the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I appreciate that, Pete, because I almost feel like me
myself needed to hear that so that I could get
into the next couple of weeks without totally losing my mind.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And I'm not even.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Playing, especially this time of year. I'm just thinking, oh
my god, I got all this to do and the kids.
And I mean that's especially too when you have when
you have little ones, right when you have when you
have infants running around here and they're up all night
crying and you're thinking, my god, I just have to
make it through this night and rinse and repeat, and
the next thing you know, you're out. You know you're
out of the tunnel. It's a valuable lesson, and I
(10:22):
think controlling what you can control and looking at life especially,
it's a necessary skill if you're going to be a player,
because you can't sit there and go, you know, wow,
we could be you know, getting a weekend off and
playing for home field advantage and or we could you
be on the road for the first playoff game. Now,
the one thing you want to make sure is that
(10:43):
they understand the opportunity that's in front of them, because
very rarely does this happen. This does not happen every year.
It might happen once a career. There are a lot
of really good football players that never played in a
playoff game.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
It's like that balance of trying to show them the
opportunities ahead but not being that's your.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Focus absolutely every year.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, when we get to the playoff time, Denny, I
remember Danny Green would do this, Mike Tics would do this.
He'd always ask the room, He's like, raise your hand
if he'd never played in the playoff game. And there
were always three or four guys who were new to
the team or whatever that had had long careers and
they raised their hand and you're thinking, my god, that
guy's never played in the playoff game.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Holy you know.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
My point is, so you don't take it for granted
that this especially the young guys, especially the rookies. If
you're a player this year and this is your second season,
if you're oving pace, you're like, we win thirteen, fourteen,
fifteen games every year, right, It's like, no, no, you don't.
This is understand that this is unique.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Hard to sell that though, when koc has been able
to do that to the last three, they'll pete.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Just kid, it is.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
But I'm sure a lot of those players think about
that playoff game for sure, the one that they had
home field advantage for and it didn't happen for them,
So that's always on the front of their minds.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I'm sure, no question.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
That's again, that's the balance as a head coach. So
it's not. My point is it's complicated. It's not easy. Yeah,
and you have to convince a group of men that
have been through this to believe in which that's not
easy to do. So for coach O'Connell to be able
to manage all of this and get the results he has,
then yeah, okay, Coach of the Year. I totally think
(12:20):
that he should be in that conversation for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, the season is not over.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Up next, as we have been talking about the Green
Bay Packers in that regular season finale at us Bank Stadium.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
It is a.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Three twenty five kick with Fox's a team of broadcasters.
Kevin Berkhart and Tom Brady will be on the call.
I know it's going to be a big one. Aaron Andrews,
Tom Ornaldi on the sidelines. It's going to be a
huge game. The Vikings are looking to sweep the series
against the Packers for the first time since twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And we just.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Watched the Packers on Monday Night football, so they're getting
a short week, but we watched them completely demolish the
New Orleans Saints, shutting them out, and obviously the Viking
and have already faced the Packers already this season. They
beat them at Lambeau and thirty one to twenty nine.
But if you remember correctly, Pete, they were up early
on the Packers, like twenty eight zero at halftime or
(13:10):
something like that, and they came surging back in.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
The second half.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So I don't know how this is one's going to go,
but I do think this is going to be a
clash for the ages in this old standing rivalry.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
No, absolutely, it is the Packers very very good football team.
You know, we said it before. If if the Vikings
win the next two games, they deserve a bye, right,
they deserve to win the division and be the number
one seed. Probably one of the deepest defensive line groups
that you're going to run up to. I mean their
starters are all very very good, but all eleven guys
(13:41):
that they put out there in their front, they're all
very very good. Yeah, a very very good offense. This
is this is a very good football team who's quietly
won double digit wins. I mean, we're going to play
two teams in the next couple of weeks. They have
twenty three wins at this moment. Yeah, the NFC North
has been has been crazy this year, So who knows
(14:05):
what's going to happen, right, and certain usually want two
teams that are this good play together, play against each other.
You know, there's there's going to be uh, it's going
to come down to mistakes. It's going to come down
to the little things, and it's going to be like
a playoff game. This will be a playoff atmosphere, you know,
end of December and a perfect experience I think for
(14:26):
for everybody involved. And I like our matchup, I really do.
And we'll see, uh, we'll see what happens on Sunday,
Yes we will.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
And if anything, these next two games will make sure
that this team is battle tested and ready to go
when the playoffs hit. Wherever they play, whomever they play,
whatever week they play, this Vikings team will definitely be
tested because they play two of the best teams. I mean,
I say two of the four best teams if you
include the Vikings in that four team conversation in the NFC.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
They just so happen to be in the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
We're so lucky, but we are lucky to be able
to watch some really amazing football. You'll be able to
hear Pete Bursage on the call of that game on
Kfan and that kickoff again, just reminding all the fans
out there, it has been pushed up to three twenty five.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Pete.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thank you so much for joining us, and I hope
you have a well when this airs, it will already
have a merry Christmas, So I hope you had a
merry Christmas.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
And I hope you get. I hope you get everything
that you that you've asked for.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Thank you so much. I'd like to think I was
nicest here.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Yeah, Jerry still oud.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, we'll find out Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Yes, very well, all right, Pete, We'll see you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yes, take care still to come.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
On the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, we talked to Captain Harrison
Phillips about the mindset of this team as they head
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Speaker 2 (16:37):
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Scold Welcome back into the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. I'm Tatum
Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network. If you're just tuning in,
the Minnesota Vikings are thirteen and two and control their destiny.
If they win out, they'll claim the NFC North Division
title in the NFC number one seed. That has a
(17:02):
lot to do with the Vikings winning their last eight
straight games, including a victory on Sunday in Seattle. A
big part of this season has been defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.
He's a captain on this year's team, and they got
to talk to him about how the team is approaching
the next two weeks.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Here's a thirteen wins at this season.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
You still have two games to go, and you were
here the last time y'all had thirteen wins. What is
different about this time around?
Speaker 7 (17:29):
Shoot, that's a great question. I would say that these
thirteen wins came in a different way than our thirteen
wins two years ago, almost in a more promising way.
And because this season, for some reason, a lot of
the outside media and fans and stuff maybe didn't have
that high.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Of expectations for us.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
You know, I think there are some people that predicted
we'd win four games or something like that.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
You have actually doubled what the predictor said that you
would have as your wintal.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
You've doubled it with the thirteenth win.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
Awesome. So there's some truths what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
And yeah, you know, even though in the building we
genuinely believe in training camp that this was a roster
that could accomplish something great, we genuinely believe that.
Speaker 6 (18:09):
I believe that in my core.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
But as you're doing it with no expectation, it is
so fun, it is freeing, it's chilling.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Like there is no expectation for us.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
If we go three and two to start the year,
four and one, five a note like it doesn't really matter,
Like we're just winning and no one has any expectations
for us. Well, as the season's now getting closer to
an end, it's starting to get a little tighter.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I was wondering, like, how do you handle. Now people
are expecting you guys to finish out strong.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
Yeah, with some of that expectations that are you know,
surrounding us. And I think it's also like, you know,
we always believe these things, but now it's like, well,
the belief is now real. And when we you know,
thought in that swag about us of trying to win
an NFC championship or winning the North, all of a
sudden you say, well, you're ten days away from accomplishing
something like that, And so it's a little bit tighter.
(18:56):
And as a leader and captain, I'm trying to keep
us that same relax field, but also give the urgency
to players that, yeah, this thing's not going to come
back again.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Next year's team won't be this team.
Speaker 7 (19:06):
The collection of people who are having career years in
certain years, and the puzzle pieces that have come together
for this exact moment.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
I mean, it's not gonna it's not gonna be replicat.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
So yeah, just having a great time but also feeling
the urgency and trying to accomplish what we can.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, it's all about balancing going want to know every week, however,
knowing you can't miss that opportunity and you've been in
those situations before.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
How do you or what do you tell, especially like
guys that are on your line.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
You've got a bunch of first year players that are
in your position. Room, how what's something that you an
example you show them to say, you know, this is
this is what's out there for us.
Speaker 7 (19:43):
Yeah, I think I always try to remind our group that, like, hey,
this week is the most important game of the season.
Why because it's the next one, And like I know,
it can get old saying that it's eighteen weeks into
an NFL season, but again, just to keep reminding the group.
And we've had, you know, a player up, player down,
a new player up, a new player down, with some
injuries and ir and concussion and all this stuff, and so.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
It's still really exciting.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
And you know, even just last week, having Levi having
a step in and play some actual defensive snaps, getting
with him before the game, going over the call sheet
one play at a time, having him or site back
to me what his jobs are, those things just to
create this sense of urgency. You know, a lot of
experts probably thought we were going to go to Seattle
and win. I don't think they thought it was going
to be that difficult. But you know, these young players
(20:28):
can't just assume that, oh yeah, like thirteen wins is
so easy, like that's just what happens in the NFL.
Speaker 6 (20:32):
That's not the case. Yeah, I think that's an example.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
How important do you take your mentorship of those young
guys in your room.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
It's fun.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
I think it kind of happens naturally, Like I don't
ever really wake up and say, hey, I have to
go lead these guys today or tomorrow or however it
shakes out. We have a pretty good room altogether, like
balance with old guys and young guys, and it's always
really organic and fluid. And the guys just hearing you know,
me and Bowler Artillery having a conversation with MD or Pat.
(21:02):
They're just soaking all that in and they've been I
would say these three guys are probably the best that
I've been around. Always have notes in their hands, always
paying attention at walkthrough, like they're focused. They're beating me
into the building some days, they're staying later in the
building than me some days, like they're doing.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
It the right way.
Speaker 7 (21:17):
But you know, being elected as a captain for my
first time in my NFL career. I've still been trying
to navigate through those waters of what are those like
real responsibilities where maybe I do have to step outside
of my comfort zone and lead a little bit more
because everyone leads in different ways. A Harrison Smith is
a completely different type of leader than a Josh Mattellus,
and then there's everybody in between, and so I'm trying
to figure out what your style is.
Speaker 6 (21:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Now.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
It's funny you mentioned that because Kevin O'Connell has talked
about he doesn't need to tell you what to say
in the locker room, how does that develop throughout a season?
Not having to tell the leaders I want you to
convey this message to the group.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
I think that that's from Kevin just being consistent, like
from the first time I got into this building and
even you know are and again in this last OTAs
he kind of has a certain messaging that all of
us pick up on, and it's normally something that's kind
of directed and we form the identity of the team
and find the ways that we win and we understand that.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
And then again like CJ.
Speaker 7 (22:13):
Ham might tell his running backs something different than I
might tell my defensive line that's something different than JG
tails the outside linebackers, but it's individually specific to their
roles in how we get this whole well oiled machine
to work. And so you know, I'm always talking about
rush yards and run averages and keeping down one hundred
yard rushers and all those things ultimately to then earn
the right for those edge guys to go out there
(22:34):
and pasturage and get these dbs, making the quarterbacks absorbed
risks so we can keep leading the league in turnovers
and some of these great things that we've put together
this season.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
What would you.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Say was his messaging this OTAs that has made the
difference this year.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It's this room, right, It's whoever is in this room.
That's all we have.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Nobody cared about who was in that room four months ago,
and now everybody cares about who's in that room. But
nothing between us has ever changed. We've had a one
no mindset since before we even had the schedule dropped
that our goal was to be one to know every
single week, and I think that you know, that's probably
some of the most consistent messaging is that every person
was brought here for a specific reason, Like you everyone
(23:14):
when Kevin's looking out into the omni you know, night
before the game team meeting room. Every face he sees
is there for a specific reason, and he encourages us
to know that everything that we have inside of us
is enough.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Coach of the Year has been floated around a lot lately.
Why do you think he deserves it?
Speaker 7 (23:31):
You know, I am not in thirty one other locker rooms,
and I don't want to bad mouth any other coach
out there.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
I think there's fantastic ones.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
But it seems like a no brain decision to me
that Ko should be the Coach of the Year this season.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I thought he was up.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
He should have probably wanted a couple of seasons ago
as well. But I'm sure similar people who vote on
that voted us to not win more than six games
this season, And so they're kind of speaking out of
both sides of their mouth if they're saying that he's
not coached the year, but they were supposed.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
To have six wins, So the math isn't math.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
The math isn't math. And as they would.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Say, what are the qualities that he has that he
displays on a regular basis that would make him Coach
of the Year.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
Passion, chronically competitive competitor, like fighter instinct emotion I would say,
like a controlled emotion that can even go to like
a controlled rage.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
And I don't know, He's just someone that like if you.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
You know, met him at a on the side of
the road or a bus stop, at a subway station or
something that he you know, you'd.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Be like, oh, this, this is like this is a
good dude.
Speaker 7 (24:33):
And I feel like if he told me, hey, there's
a good coffee shop down the road on the right,
that's probably damn good coffee shop. Like he's just he's just,
you know, an honest abe type character. And when he speaks,
he commands a room. And then I think he's like
one of the best play designers that's ever lived.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
So that helps win football games too.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
I want to take you back to Seattle.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
THEO Jackson has the game ceiling interception and we get
another amazing celebration and I look up at the TV
in front in center. Is you holding your own against
the rest of the guys in the camp Rock celebration?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
How did that come about? Because I didn't see you
in the practice video.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
Yeah, you know, I just I haven't memorized, you know,
It's one of my favorite dances that I just really
hit at home by myself. And I don't believe you no,
you know we you know, we're public figures so much.
That will just let you guys come up with your
own possibilities on how I was able to dance at
(25:30):
my core.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
But you know, I am.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Invested in a company that the Jonas brothers are invested
in as well. And last training camp, they came and
performed at the State Fair and I was able to
take some guys backstage and meet all of them.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And did you hear from them at all?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
After?
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Yeah, Kevin messaged me and I saw Nick and Joe
both commented on it.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
I mean, just it was it was cool. I'm glad.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You know, the connections that you guys are making between
football and pop culture have been very very well received
throughout this What has that been like as a unit
for you guys, Like how much do you guys talk
about it and notice that this is happening.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Yeah, I mean I'm not really a swag guy, Like
that's just I feel like anti swag is my swag,
But it's infectious the way that those guys like I think,
if you ask Cam like he's like, my goal is
to be as extra as possible. Like that's that's what
he wants. I want to be extra in every way.
And I think he's doing that really well. And yeah,
it's bringing more recognition to him. It's bringing more recognization
(26:27):
to this organization, to our defense what they're accomplishing. So
although it's not necessarily the way that I would do
it or get, you know, I wouldn't on my own
say let's plan at a choreographed dance and you go
do these things, it's working. And you know, it is
fun the night before games to say, like, hey, what
are we going to do if we get turnover?
Speaker 6 (26:44):
We're speaking things into existence.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
That's a good point.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I guess I never really thought of it that way,
speaking it into existence. Seems like it's working really well
for you guys.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That's cool.
Speaker 7 (26:52):
I think most games we have like three celebrations ready,
so like we're hopeful that we're we'll get three turnovers.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
There really that well, Chris's time is really important to
your foundation. Here are some playmakers. You recently had your
event at Shields. What was it like this time around?
Speaker 7 (27:08):
This was the biggest one we've had, I mean over
three hundred people were there. We provided food this time
for the first times with some help from the Vikings
and raising canes and you know Shields being a fantastic
sponsor and thankful for them for all all that they've
done for our organization. Unreal played a part. Every playmaker
received a Vikings Unreal hoodie.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
I heard her dress up as Sanna.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
I did dress up as Sarah.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
It wasn't my only time being Santa this week, but yeah,
it was. It was incredible and to see the smiling
faces and you know, we always encourage my playmakers. Although
this is a shopping spree for them, we want to
give back to other organizations. In the back of my
car still is like eight or nine boxes filled with toys, treats, leashes,
all these things for animal shelters for dogs, and we'll
(27:53):
be dropping them off at some local nonprofits here. But
my playmakers will go through with these gift cards and
they might spend seventy percent and thirty percent on these
animals or vice versa or whatever. But it's just super
cool to see them wanting to give back around the
holiday season.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I also had a rumor that no one were name
tags that you know, them by now know them so
well by now.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
Yeah, I think we had eight or nine new faces,
which I then wanted to introduce myself too and tell
them about what being a playmaker is. And but yeah,
this is I can't promise this is correct. But I
think we've held like twenty two events in the three
years I've been here about eight ish of years what
we're doing, and so I'm seeing these guys more than
(28:33):
I see some extended family. So yeah, I know, I
know a lot of our playmakers send them stuff on
birthdays and it's awesome, man.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Well, a great holiday gift for this Vikings organization, these
Vikings fans would be a win on Sunday. It is
your final regular season game at us Being Stadium against
the Packers and team Vikings haven't swept in a season
since twenty seventeen.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
Wow, there's a lot on the.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Line here here soon. How do you prepare for Sunday's game?
Speaker 7 (29:01):
Well, like I told you, this is the most important
game of the year.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You did say that because it's the next one.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
And yeah, you throw in the element of Christmas and
a different schedule that we've had any other week. You know,
I think some of my messaging to the younger players
in my room and on this rosters. I still find
your routine, find a way to you know, I know
it's Christmas, but if if you lift on Wednesdays, figure
out a way to get your body going on a Wednesday.
You know, if Wednesdays is when I break down pass
rush stuff and look at the offensive line and they're pressure.
(29:28):
So I've got to find time on Christmas to get
that done as well, because there's some sacrifice has to
go in if you want to accomplish the great feats,
and this would obviously be a great feat for us
this season. And yeah, I hope that we can have
everyone can have a merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
Extend four days later.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
What would have win on Sunday and then the chance
to play for the division title?
Speaker 5 (29:47):
The number one seed in the NFC mean to you.
Speaker 6 (29:49):
Guys, Wow, I think it means a ton, you know.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I think the mindset would be obviously we want to
be the one seed, but even if we were an
eight seed or seven seed, we would have enough belief
in what we've built so far and what we have
in this locker room that will go beat anyone. If
that's what we have to do to get there. You know,
there's a lot of ramifications that come with a one seed.
I think selfishly, the number one thing that I would
want is that our fans would be.
Speaker 6 (30:13):
Able to host playoff games.
Speaker 7 (30:15):
Because I meet people, my playmakers, the families, fans, friends
and fans that I've met here.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
It means a lot to come and it's really.
Speaker 7 (30:22):
Difficult to come and play into one I think the
best stadium in the entire National Football League. So I
want to win the number one seed so that we
can host home playoff games in the road. Could kind
of go through our place, because our fans deserve that.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Thank you, thank you so much to Harrison Phillips for
that conversation. We will have a sit down interview with
him on Vikings dot com and the Vikings app that
you'll definitely want to tune into as well. We hope
that you had a wonderful holiday week and that you're
gearing up for a big Sunday afternoon showdown between the
Vikings and the Packers. Don't forget that's been moved up
(30:57):
to three twenty five and the game will on Fox.
A lot is on the line, but we're gonna need
you guys to be super loud at US Bank Stadium
for the final regular season game. Thanks for listening to
this edition of MVP the Minnesota Vikings Podcast.
Welcome into your thirteen into Minnesota Vikings podcast. I'm your
host Tatum Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network, and the
Vikes got it out an incredible road victory in.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Seattle on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
It was the first time Minnesota won in the Emerald
City since two thousand and six, but more importantly, it
was their eighth straight w which means the Vikings are
in control of their destiny. I'll explain what that means
in just a second, but first let me break down
the show. In the second half of MVP, we're going
to be joined by captain and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. However,
(00:36):
first we get the distinct pleasure of talking to Vikings
radio analyst Pete Versage.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
And Pete, you were in the booth on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
What was it like with the loud crowd, all the
elements and how the game unfolded.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I've been doing this, this is my eighteenth season and
never won a game there as an analyst, or I
mean maybe some preseason or some other things, but that city,
it's a.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Very tough place to win.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
The Vikings went out there on a short week after
a Monday night game, and you know, took care of
business against a good physical team. I think Gino Smith,
you know, he made some unbelievable throws, so I think
the key with that was just getting getting some pressure
on him. It was one of those games where you're
you know, we know, no style points, just get out
of there with a win. Yeah, it's at you know,
(01:22):
one of those games on the schedule. And I'll tell
you what, it's amazing how this team, when they need it,
they get it, and they.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Get it out of their quarterback, they get it out of.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Their receivers, they get it out of their defense, and
so it's just it's just been an absolutely fun season
and I'm glad it's going to continue and be an
unbelievable one this Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, it truly has.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Obviously you're alluding to the fact that the Packers will
play in the regular season finale at US Bank Stadium
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
We'll get to that in just a bit.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
But I can't help but think about how you mentioned
that this team always seems to just like gut it out.
Their resiliency factor is super high, and I feel like
it's almost a reflection of the way that coach Kevin
O'Connell leads his team from or through the off season,
through training camp, through the season itself, and you know
(02:11):
a lot of a lot of people are finally talking
about him as a Coach of the Year candidate. How
do you think he's been doing and do you think
that's something that you know is a possibility?
Speaker 4 (02:21):
How else do you judge someone other than by the results?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
And Andy Reid has better results so far this year?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
Right, that's it.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, I think he absolutely needs to be in this conversation.
We sat down with Jasper Brinkley recently and he quoted
coach O'Connell about how he was saying how he'd say,
progress is a process, meaning it's not something you can
measure every single day or every single minute. It's something
that occurs over time. It's a state of mind. And
you know you've heard him say, you know we need
(02:49):
your best one, you know, at your best when when
it's needed. Those kinds of things, they're not just lip service, right,
that's an attitude, it's a it's a way with which
this team goes about its business. And it's fantastic to
see that happen on the field. I mean, they were
leading the entire game. You know, after the first score
and you know, I think it was only three or
(03:11):
four minutes left to go, all of a sudden, we're
down by you know, you're down by a field goal.
So that's an absolute perfect time to panic if you
were a team that was just on the negative side.
And it's like Detroit right years ago. Detroit's going to Detroit,
so they might be ahead on Thanksgiving Day by a
field goal with five minutes left to go, and when
(03:32):
something goes wrong, the player, you know, the players, the coaches,
the fans, everybody goes up here we go again. Whereas
other teams like Kansas City, when you're down late in
the game, people go all right, well they're going to
find a way. And it's a subtle thing, but I
you know, looking back to my experience in ninety eight,
you know, all my actually my whole tenure here with Denny,
we never went into a game number one thinking we
(03:54):
were going to steamroll somebody. Nor did but we at
the same time never went in thinking that we didn't
have a chance. And having that in the back of
your mind, the progress is a process and be your
best when it's needed, because you can look up at
the scoreboard and say, you know, now, this is it.
This is what he's been talking about. This is what
we've heard for the last yeah, twenty some weeks. Right,
So it doesn't shock you, it doesn't hit you with that.
(04:17):
It's like, Okay, here we go. This is what I do.
And I mean, let's not even get into the free
agent quarterback that's playing at an unbelievable level right now
and all the other things that are going on. Yes,
you asked me what time it was. I told you
how to make a watch. Yes, I think Kevin O'Connell
should be in the station Per Coach.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Of the Year.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Well yeah, I mean he's the first Vikings coach in
franchise history to have multiple seasons with thirteen wins. You know,
he's one of only two coaches in the history of
the league with multiple thirteen win seasons and their first
three as NFL head coaches, alongside George Seaffert and Matt Lafleur.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I mean, the resume speaks for itself.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And you mentioned coach O'Connell talking about Sam Darnold mentioned
in his press or this week that he sees Donald
as someone who is lights out as a decision maker,
How have you observed or what?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
What is what? Why do you think he says something
like that.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Well, because I think it's the nature of this offense
right in the in the flexibility that's built into the
passing game. It's easier said than done, right, And that's
another reason why I think this our passing game especially
will have times where it slows down and then we
make adjustments and and uh, you know that's that starts
and stops with the quarterback and Donald and so he's
(05:33):
been I think he's been executing. He's been executing the
system brilliantly. And that's exactly what Kevin O'Connell identified with him.
Knew he had that ability, and now he's bringing not
bringing it out. So yeah, I think with Donald, the
decisions he's been making when under duress, whether it's just
to go down and take the sack, get rid of
(05:54):
the football. We saw a lot of mistakes earlier this season,
balls that should have been intercepted when he's scrambling, you know,
under duress and just try to make a throw, make
something happen you Lately, he's been doing a much much
better job with that and understands that. Yeah, we may
have the punt here, but we're going to get another opportunity.
We're going to have another couple series and then you know,
ultimately when it's the series, he adjusts his play accordingly.
(06:18):
So he's just making really really good decisions. Yeah, he's
out there.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
It just kind of feels like when you turn the
heat up on this team and even Sam Darnold, they
respond even more.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, right, and that and that goes back to what
they've been told, be at your best when it's needed.
And they've shown that, right, So it's built into their
DNA now that if you're in Minnesota Viking, when things
are you know, when you when we need you, you know,
you got to come up with a big play when
we need you. You have to execute your job flawlessly.
And they've gone out and actually done that, and that's
(06:50):
kind of the that's kind of the magic, right. I Mean,
as a coach, you can say whatever you want. As
a manager of people, you can tell your you know,
your employees whatever, you you could tell them whatever every
single day. It doesn't mean that they're going to believe
it and accept it. That's kind of the magic, and
that's really what Kevin O'Connell's done with this group.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, it's funny.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I don't know if you heard his postgame press conference,
but when asked about what's going on with the and
how the season can end, you either win out and
clinch the NFC North title and the number one seed,
or a loss to the Packers on Sunday and Alliance
win on Monday against the forty nine ers would mean
that Week eighteen is meaningless. So it is such a
(07:32):
large crater between the two, yet the room for error
is so small. So when you as a former coach
and a former player, you know, I know that you're
not supposed to think about the next game. You know
you're thinking about going one to zero every single week.
How do you manage that type of pressure or those
(07:53):
implications as you prepare to face two teams in the
next two weeks with eleven plus wins each.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Well, I mean, I think as a player, if you
stop back and actually looked at the entire situation and
really what's at stake so to speak, and we as
fans we can do that all the time, you'll go crazy.
You have to look at the season and look at
everything in bite sized type pieces, meaning control what you
can control. So as a player, I can't control what
(08:25):
the Lions do. I can't control what the forty nine
ers do. I can't control what the Packers do. I
can only be responsible for my job and what I do.
So I am going to focus one hundred percent on that,
do it to the absolute best of my ability, and
if things don't go our way, then at least I
can accept it and live with it. There'll be no regrets, right,
(08:46):
I mean, I coached high school football. The head coach
and I talked to them about players in the playoffs.
It's like, well, you know, no tiers after the game,
no regrets after the game. The only way you can
accept the loss is by leaving everything that you physically
have out there.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
And that's it. Wherever you are.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
If I'm in a meeting on Thursday, I am one
hundred percent in this meeting. I'm getting every ounce of
everything I could possibly get out of my coach, taking
care of my body to the best of my ability.
That way, on game day, I'm as best prepared as
I can be. And if you look at it that way,
you can you can manage it, and you can deal
with it, and you just go day to day to day,
(09:25):
Like anybody who's going through hard times. Sometimes in life,
you can't look a month out, six months out, a
year out. You've got to go minute to minute. Right
when you're in training camp, you're literally just I got
to get through this drill. I got to get through
this drill. And if I keep getting through the drills,
eventually this day is going to be over. So you
just narrow your focus, shorten your timeline, control what you
(09:46):
can control. And that's really the kind of the magic
to the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
I appreciate that, Pete, because I almost feel like me
myself needed to hear that so that I could get
into the next couple of weeks without totally losing my mind.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And I'm not even.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Playing, especially this time of year. I'm just thinking, oh
my god, I got all this to do and the kids.
And I mean that's especially too when you have when
you have little ones, right when you have when you
have infants running around here and they're up all night
crying and you're thinking, my god, I just have to
make it through this night and rinse and repeat, and
the next thing you know, you're out. You know you're
out of the tunnel. It's a valuable lesson, and I
(10:22):
think controlling what you can control and looking at life especially,
it's a necessary skill if you're going to be a player,
because you can't sit there and go, you know, wow,
we could be you know, getting a weekend off and
playing for home field advantage and or we could you
be on the road for the first playoff game. Now,
the one thing you want to make sure is that
(10:43):
they understand the opportunity that's in front of them, because
very rarely does this happen. This does not happen every year.
It might happen once a career. There are a lot
of really good football players that never played in a
playoff game.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
It's like that balance of trying to show them the
opportunities ahead but not being that's your.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Focus absolutely every year.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
Well, when we get to the playoff time, Denny, I
remember Danny Green would do this, Mike Tics would do this.
He'd always ask the room, He's like, raise your hand
if he'd never played in the playoff game. And there
were always three or four guys who were new to
the team or whatever that had had long careers and
they raised their hand and you're thinking, my god, that
guy's never played in the playoff game.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Holy you know.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
My point is, so you don't take it for granted
that this especially the young guys, especially the rookies. If
you're a player this year and this is your second season,
if you're oving pace, you're like, we win thirteen, fourteen,
fifteen games every year, right, It's like, no, no, you don't.
This is understand that this is unique.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Hard to sell that though, when koc has been able
to do that to the last three, they'll pete.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Just kid, it is.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
But I'm sure a lot of those players think about
that playoff game for sure, the one that they had
home field advantage for and it didn't happen for them,
So that's always on the front of their minds.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I'm sure, no question.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
That's again, that's the balance as a head coach. So
it's not. My point is it's complicated. It's not easy. Yeah,
and you have to convince a group of men that
have been through this to believe in which that's not
easy to do. So for coach O'Connell to be able
to manage all of this and get the results he has,
then yeah, okay, Coach of the Year. I totally think
(12:20):
that he should be in that conversation for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Well, the season is not over.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Up next, as we have been talking about the Green
Bay Packers in that regular season finale at us Bank Stadium.
Speaker 6 (12:29):
It is a.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Three twenty five kick with Fox's a team of broadcasters.
Kevin Berkhart and Tom Brady will be on the call.
I know it's going to be a big one. Aaron Andrews,
Tom Ornaldi on the sidelines. It's going to be a
huge game. The Vikings are looking to sweep the series
against the Packers for the first time since twenty seventeen.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And we just.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Watched the Packers on Monday Night football, so they're getting
a short week, but we watched them completely demolish the
New Orleans Saints, shutting them out, and obviously the Viking
and have already faced the Packers already this season. They
beat them at Lambeau and thirty one to twenty nine.
But if you remember correctly, Pete, they were up early
on the Packers, like twenty eight zero at halftime or
(13:10):
something like that, and they came surging back in.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
The second half.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
So I don't know how this is one's going to go,
but I do think this is going to be a
clash for the ages in this old standing rivalry.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
No, absolutely, it is the Packers very very good football team.
You know, we said it before. If if the Vikings
win the next two games, they deserve a bye, right,
they deserve to win the division and be the number
one seed. Probably one of the deepest defensive line groups
that you're going to run up to. I mean their
starters are all very very good, but all eleven guys
(13:41):
that they put out there in their front, they're all
very very good. Yeah, a very very good offense. This
is this is a very good football team who's quietly
won double digit wins. I mean, we're going to play
two teams in the next couple of weeks. They have
twenty three wins at this moment. Yeah, the NFC North
has been has been crazy this year, So who knows
(14:05):
what's going to happen, right, and certain usually want two
teams that are this good play together, play against each other.
You know, there's there's going to be uh, it's going
to come down to mistakes. It's going to come down
to the little things, and it's going to be like
a playoff game. This will be a playoff atmosphere, you know,
end of December and a perfect experience I think for
(14:26):
for everybody involved. And I like our matchup, I really do.
And we'll see, uh, we'll see what happens on Sunday,
Yes we will.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
And if anything, these next two games will make sure
that this team is battle tested and ready to go
when the playoffs hit. Wherever they play, whomever they play,
whatever week they play, this Vikings team will definitely be
tested because they play two of the best teams. I mean,
I say two of the four best teams if you
include the Vikings in that four team conversation in the NFC.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
They just so happen to be in the NFC North.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
We're so lucky, but we are lucky to be able
to watch some really amazing football. You'll be able to
hear Pete Bursage on the call of that game on
Kfan and that kickoff again, just reminding all the fans
out there, it has been pushed up to three twenty five.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Pete.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Thank you so much for joining us, and I hope
you have a well when this airs, it will already
have a merry Christmas, So I hope you had a
merry Christmas.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
And I hope you get. I hope you get everything
that you that you've asked for.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Thank you so much. I'd like to think I was
nicest here.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
Yeah, Jerry still oud.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
Yeah, we'll find out Wednesday.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Yes, very well, all right, Pete, We'll see you on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yes, take care still to come.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
On the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, we talked to Captain Harrison
Phillips about the mindset of this team as they head
into the final two games of the regular season. Say
hello to Fallacy Smooth Skin at pure Lux Medspa, the
preferred medspov the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders, specializing in elite laser
hair removal, body contouring, botox cosmetic filter and age defying
(16:00):
skincare treatments such as Diamond Glow and Skinpen for collagen
induction therapy. Visit mypure Lux dot com backslash Vikings for
exclusive offers to Vikings fans. Splond Montage is the Twin
Cities premier salon and spa destination and proud official hair
(16:21):
sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders, with three convenient locations
an Eat, Dinah, Woodberry and Chan Hassen. There is a
Spalan close to you. Visit online at spalon dot com.
This holiday season, make every gift a winner with tailgate Spices.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
From tailgaters to diehard fans.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Everyone loves the taste of victory. Order it Tailgatespices dot Com. Today,
Scold Welcome back into the Minnesota Vikings Podcast. I'm Tatum
Everett from the Vikings Entertainment Network. If you're just tuning in,
the Minnesota Vikings are thirteen and two and control their destiny.
If they win out, they'll claim the NFC North Division
title in the NFC number one seed. That has a
(17:02):
lot to do with the Vikings winning their last eight
straight games, including a victory on Sunday in Seattle. A
big part of this season has been defensive tackle Harrison Phillips.
He's a captain on this year's team, and they got
to talk to him about how the team is approaching
the next two weeks.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Here's a thirteen wins at this season.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
You still have two games to go, and you were
here the last time y'all had thirteen wins. What is
different about this time around?
Speaker 7 (17:29):
Shoot, that's a great question. I would say that these
thirteen wins came in a different way than our thirteen
wins two years ago, almost in a more promising way.
And because this season, for some reason, a lot of
the outside media and fans and stuff maybe didn't have
that high.
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Of expectations for us.
Speaker 7 (17:48):
You know, I think there are some people that predicted
we'd win four games or something like that.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
You have actually doubled what the predictor said that you
would have as your wintal.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
You've doubled it with the thirteenth win.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
Awesome. So there's some truths what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
And yeah, you know, even though in the building we
genuinely believe in training camp that this was a roster
that could accomplish something great, we genuinely believe that.
Speaker 6 (18:09):
I believe that in my core.
Speaker 7 (18:11):
But as you're doing it with no expectation, it is
so fun, it is freeing, it's chilling.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Like there is no expectation for us.
Speaker 7 (18:17):
If we go three and two to start the year,
four and one, five a note like it doesn't really matter,
Like we're just winning and no one has any expectations
for us. Well, as the season's now getting closer to
an end, it's starting to get a little tighter.
Speaker 1 (18:30):
I was wondering, like, how do you handle. Now people
are expecting you guys to finish out strong.
Speaker 7 (18:35):
Yeah, with some of that expectations that are you know,
surrounding us. And I think it's also like, you know,
we always believe these things, but now it's like, well,
the belief is now real. And when we you know,
thought in that swag about us of trying to win
an NFC championship or winning the North, all of a
sudden you say, well, you're ten days away from accomplishing
something like that, And so it's a little bit tighter.
(18:56):
And as a leader and captain, I'm trying to keep
us that same relax field, but also give the urgency
to players that, yeah, this thing's not going to come
back again.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Next year's team won't be this team.
Speaker 7 (19:06):
The collection of people who are having career years in
certain years, and the puzzle pieces that have come together
for this exact moment.
Speaker 6 (19:13):
I mean, it's not gonna it's not gonna be replicat.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
So yeah, just having a great time but also feeling
the urgency and trying to accomplish what we can.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Yeah, it's all about balancing going want to know every week, however,
knowing you can't miss that opportunity and you've been in
those situations before.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
How do you or what do you tell, especially like
guys that are on your line.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
You've got a bunch of first year players that are
in your position. Room, how what's something that you an
example you show them to say, you know, this is
this is what's out there for us.
Speaker 7 (19:43):
Yeah, I think I always try to remind our group that, like, hey,
this week is the most important game of the season.
Why because it's the next one, And like I know,
it can get old saying that it's eighteen weeks into
an NFL season, but again, just to keep reminding the group.
And we've had, you know, a player up, player down,
a new player up, a new player down, with some
injuries and ir and concussion and all this stuff, and so.
Speaker 6 (20:05):
It's still really exciting.
Speaker 7 (20:07):
And you know, even just last week, having Levi having
a step in and play some actual defensive snaps, getting
with him before the game, going over the call sheet
one play at a time, having him or site back
to me what his jobs are, those things just to
create this sense of urgency. You know, a lot of
experts probably thought we were going to go to Seattle
and win. I don't think they thought it was going
to be that difficult. But you know, these young players
(20:28):
can't just assume that, oh yeah, like thirteen wins is
so easy, like that's just what happens in the NFL.
Speaker 6 (20:32):
That's not the case. Yeah, I think that's an example.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
How important do you take your mentorship of those young
guys in your room.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
It's fun.
Speaker 7 (20:40):
I think it kind of happens naturally, Like I don't
ever really wake up and say, hey, I have to
go lead these guys today or tomorrow or however it
shakes out. We have a pretty good room altogether, like
balance with old guys and young guys, and it's always
really organic and fluid. And the guys just hearing you know,
me and Bowler Artillery having a conversation with MD or Pat.
(21:02):
They're just soaking all that in and they've been I
would say these three guys are probably the best that
I've been around. Always have notes in their hands, always
paying attention at walkthrough, like they're focused. They're beating me
into the building some days, they're staying later in the
building than me some days, like they're doing.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
It the right way.
Speaker 7 (21:17):
But you know, being elected as a captain for my
first time in my NFL career. I've still been trying
to navigate through those waters of what are those like
real responsibilities where maybe I do have to step outside
of my comfort zone and lead a little bit more
because everyone leads in different ways. A Harrison Smith is
a completely different type of leader than a Josh Mattellus,
and then there's everybody in between, and so I'm trying
to figure out what your style is.
Speaker 6 (21:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Now.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
It's funny you mentioned that because Kevin O'Connell has talked
about he doesn't need to tell you what to say
in the locker room, how does that develop throughout a season?
Not having to tell the leaders I want you to
convey this message to the group.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
I think that that's from Kevin just being consistent, like
from the first time I got into this building and
even you know are and again in this last OTAs
he kind of has a certain messaging that all of
us pick up on, and it's normally something that's kind
of directed and we form the identity of the team
and find the ways that we win and we understand that.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
And then again like CJ.
Speaker 7 (22:13):
Ham might tell his running backs something different than I
might tell my defensive line that's something different than JG
tails the outside linebackers, but it's individually specific to their
roles in how we get this whole well oiled machine
to work. And so you know, I'm always talking about
rush yards and run averages and keeping down one hundred
yard rushers and all those things ultimately to then earn
the right for those edge guys to go out there
(22:34):
and pasturage and get these dbs, making the quarterbacks absorbed
risks so we can keep leading the league in turnovers
and some of these great things that we've put together
this season.
Speaker 5 (22:42):
What would you.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Say was his messaging this OTAs that has made the
difference this year.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
It's this room, right, It's whoever is in this room.
That's all we have.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Nobody cared about who was in that room four months ago,
and now everybody cares about who's in that room. But
nothing between us has ever changed. We've had a one
no mindset since before we even had the schedule dropped
that our goal was to be one to know every
single week, and I think that you know, that's probably
some of the most consistent messaging is that every person
was brought here for a specific reason, Like you everyone
(23:14):
when Kevin's looking out into the omni you know, night
before the game team meeting room. Every face he sees
is there for a specific reason, and he encourages us
to know that everything that we have inside of us
is enough.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Coach of the Year has been floated around a lot lately.
Why do you think he deserves it?
Speaker 7 (23:31):
You know, I am not in thirty one other locker rooms,
and I don't want to bad mouth any other coach
out there.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
I think there's fantastic ones.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
But it seems like a no brain decision to me
that Ko should be the Coach of the Year this season.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I thought he was up.
Speaker 7 (23:45):
He should have probably wanted a couple of seasons ago
as well. But I'm sure similar people who vote on
that voted us to not win more than six games
this season, And so they're kind of speaking out of
both sides of their mouth if they're saying that he's
not coached the year, but they were supposed.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
To have six wins, So the math isn't math.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
The math isn't math. And as they would.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Say, what are the qualities that he has that he
displays on a regular basis that would make him Coach
of the Year.
Speaker 7 (24:11):
Passion, chronically competitive competitor, like fighter instinct emotion I would say,
like a controlled emotion that can even go to like
a controlled rage.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
And I don't know, He's just someone that like if you.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
You know, met him at a on the side of
the road or a bus stop, at a subway station or
something that he you know, you'd.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Be like, oh, this, this is like this is a
good dude.
Speaker 7 (24:33):
And I feel like if he told me, hey, there's
a good coffee shop down the road on the right,
that's probably damn good coffee shop. Like he's just he's just,
you know, an honest abe type character. And when he speaks,
he commands a room. And then I think he's like
one of the best play designers that's ever lived.
Speaker 6 (24:48):
So that helps win football games too.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
I want to take you back to Seattle.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
THEO Jackson has the game ceiling interception and we get
another amazing celebration and I look up at the TV
in front in center. Is you holding your own against
the rest of the guys in the camp Rock celebration?
Speaker 5 (25:06):
How did that come about? Because I didn't see you
in the practice video.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
Yeah, you know, I just I haven't memorized, you know,
It's one of my favorite dances that I just really
hit at home by myself. And I don't believe you no,
you know we you know, we're public figures so much.
That will just let you guys come up with your
own possibilities on how I was able to dance at
(25:30):
my core.
Speaker 6 (25:31):
But you know, I am.
Speaker 7 (25:32):
Invested in a company that the Jonas brothers are invested
in as well. And last training camp, they came and
performed at the State Fair and I was able to
take some guys backstage and meet all of them.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And did you hear from them at all?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
After?
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Yeah, Kevin messaged me and I saw Nick and Joe
both commented on it.
Speaker 6 (25:51):
I mean, just it was it was cool. I'm glad.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You know, the connections that you guys are making between
football and pop culture have been very very well received
throughout this What has that been like as a unit
for you guys, Like how much do you guys talk
about it and notice that this is happening.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Yeah, I mean I'm not really a swag guy, Like
that's just I feel like anti swag is my swag,
But it's infectious the way that those guys like I think,
if you ask Cam like he's like, my goal is
to be as extra as possible. Like that's that's what
he wants. I want to be extra in every way.
And I think he's doing that really well. And yeah,
it's bringing more recognition to him. It's bringing more recognization
(26:27):
to this organization, to our defense what they're accomplishing. So
although it's not necessarily the way that I would do
it or get, you know, I wouldn't on my own
say let's plan at a choreographed dance and you go
do these things, it's working. And you know, it is
fun the night before games to say, like, hey, what
are we going to do if we get turnover?
Speaker 6 (26:44):
We're speaking things into existence.
Speaker 5 (26:46):
That's a good point.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
I guess I never really thought of it that way,
speaking it into existence. Seems like it's working really well
for you guys.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That's cool.
Speaker 7 (26:52):
I think most games we have like three celebrations ready,
so like we're hopeful that we're we'll get three turnovers.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
There really that well, Chris's time is really important to
your foundation. Here are some playmakers. You recently had your
event at Shields. What was it like this time around?
Speaker 7 (27:08):
This was the biggest one we've had, I mean over
three hundred people were there. We provided food this time
for the first times with some help from the Vikings
and raising canes and you know Shields being a fantastic
sponsor and thankful for them for all all that they've
done for our organization. Unreal played a part. Every playmaker
received a Vikings Unreal hoodie.
Speaker 5 (27:27):
I heard her dress up as Sanna.
Speaker 6 (27:28):
I did dress up as Sarah.
Speaker 7 (27:30):
It wasn't my only time being Santa this week, but yeah,
it was. It was incredible and to see the smiling
faces and you know, we always encourage my playmakers. Although
this is a shopping spree for them, we want to
give back to other organizations. In the back of my
car still is like eight or nine boxes filled with toys, treats, leashes,
all these things for animal shelters for dogs, and we'll
(27:53):
be dropping them off at some local nonprofits here. But
my playmakers will go through with these gift cards and
they might spend seventy percent and thirty percent on these
animals or vice versa or whatever. But it's just super
cool to see them wanting to give back around the
holiday season.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I also had a rumor that no one were name
tags that you know, them by now know them so
well by now.
Speaker 7 (28:12):
Yeah, I think we had eight or nine new faces,
which I then wanted to introduce myself too and tell
them about what being a playmaker is. And but yeah,
this is I can't promise this is correct. But I
think we've held like twenty two events in the three
years I've been here about eight ish of years what
we're doing, and so I'm seeing these guys more than
(28:33):
I see some extended family. So yeah, I know, I
know a lot of our playmakers send them stuff on
birthdays and it's awesome, man.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Well, a great holiday gift for this Vikings organization, these
Vikings fans would be a win on Sunday. It is
your final regular season game at us Being Stadium against
the Packers and team Vikings haven't swept in a season
since twenty seventeen.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
Wow, there's a lot on the.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Line here here soon. How do you prepare for Sunday's game?
Speaker 7 (29:01):
Well, like I told you, this is the most important
game of the year.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
You did say that because it's the next one.
Speaker 7 (29:06):
And yeah, you throw in the element of Christmas and
a different schedule that we've had any other week. You know,
I think some of my messaging to the younger players
in my room and on this rosters. I still find
your routine, find a way to you know, I know
it's Christmas, but if if you lift on Wednesdays, figure
out a way to get your body going on a Wednesday.
You know, if Wednesdays is when I break down pass
rush stuff and look at the offensive line and they're pressure.
(29:28):
So I've got to find time on Christmas to get
that done as well, because there's some sacrifice has to
go in if you want to accomplish the great feats,
and this would obviously be a great feat for us
this season. And yeah, I hope that we can have
everyone can have a merry Christmas.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
Extend four days later.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
What would have win on Sunday and then the chance
to play for the division title?
Speaker 5 (29:47):
The number one seed in the NFC mean to you.
Speaker 6 (29:49):
Guys, Wow, I think it means a ton, you know.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I think the mindset would be obviously we want to
be the one seed, but even if we were an
eight seed or seven seed, we would have enough belief
in what we've built so far and what we have
in this locker room that will go beat anyone. If
that's what we have to do to get there. You know,
there's a lot of ramifications that come with a one seed.
I think selfishly, the number one thing that I would
want is that our fans would be.
Speaker 6 (30:13):
Able to host playoff games.
Speaker 7 (30:15):
Because I meet people, my playmakers, the families, fans, friends
and fans that I've met here.
Speaker 6 (30:20):
It means a lot to come and it's really.
Speaker 7 (30:22):
Difficult to come and play into one I think the
best stadium in the entire National Football League. So I
want to win the number one seed so that we
can host home playoff games in the road. Could kind
of go through our place, because our fans deserve that.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
Thank you, thank you so much to Harrison Phillips for
that conversation. We will have a sit down interview with
him on Vikings dot com and the Vikings app that
you'll definitely want to tune into as well. We hope
that you had a wonderful holiday week and that you're
gearing up for a big Sunday afternoon showdown between the
Vikings and the Packers. Don't forget that's been moved up
(30:57):
to three twenty five and the game will on Fox.
A lot is on the line, but we're gonna need
you guys to be super loud at US Bank Stadium
for the final regular season game. Thanks for listening to
this edition of MVP the Minnesota Vikings Podcast.
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