Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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(00:21):
com slash code. It was a fun and a wild ride.
The Vikings end the twenty twenty four season with fourteen wins,
exceeding outside expectations with more than double the amount of
victories than many thought. Welcome into the Minnesota Vikings podcast.
I'm your host, Tatum Everett. I am now joined by
(00:43):
Paul meetzas Lambert from Kafans The Power Trip Morning Show. Paul,
we had a few good shows, a good run of
shows before this season ended, and then you had a
beautiful baby boy. Congratulations, Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
The only bad part about my son Louis is he
has not seen a Vikings win. But on a good note,
he has not seen a Packers win either, and that
is his mom's team. So he's zero for four. In
our favorite teams games. But there's always next season and
he will bring us luck starting in Week one in
about eight months.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yes, yes he will.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And you grew up a lifelong Vikings fan, he will
obviously have that in his future.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Would you say this team overachieved?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
I mean, I think at one hundred percent overachieved. And
you and I have talked about this a lot. We've
talked about this a lot on the Power Trip. When
the schedule came out. I made a bet with Chris Hockey,
who is one of the co hosts on the show,
and I said they'll win one game in the first five.
They won all five, right, Yeah, they doubled their over
under for the year, the Vikings over under to start
(01:48):
with six and a half. They doubled that, right, got
even one more win after that, so they went over
seven and a half wins over that, right, which is amazing. Yes,
they completely overachieved, but I don't I think they would
say that in the building. And that isn't just you know,
football cliche and sports talk. But they didn't think this
was a rebuild. And that has been the whole thing
(02:09):
since Quacy and Ko took over, was this isn't a rebuild.
The competitive rebuild word was thrown around in two out
of the three years they proved that they won thirteen
and then they won fourteen. And that is why Ko
has gotten that massive contract extension, which he one hundred
percent deserves. Quacy will get one in the future as
we record this on Thursday. But you know, it's one
(02:30):
of those things where, yes, they overachieved, but I don't
think the team thinks they did.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Yeah, I agree, I mean I think they there's a
long history of them throughout the season saying we knew
this was going to be something special from the jump
from training camp OTAs and you just want to see
how that plays out. And I'm sure it felt really
awesome to see, like, Okay, so we put in all
this work, we had all this faith in our guys,
and then we get out to a five and zero
(02:57):
run to start the season and had to be very
confident inducing which then breeds more confidence and momentum, and
then you see.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
The amazing ride that they took us on this year.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
You mentioned the Kevin O'Connell contract extension if you haven't seen,
he signed a multi year contract extension that'll keep him
in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. When you heard the
news where you like, Okay, yeah, I knew this was coming.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Yeah, I mean it had to right, like, this was
something that had to be done. He won thirteen games,
he won fourteen games, you know, and what he did
with Sam Darnold in that team and the way that
they moved and everything worked out for them. Yeah, he
had to get a contract. I've said it on the air.
He's one of the best coaches Minnesota sports I've ever had.
He will be here for a while. He one hundred
(03:44):
percent deserves it.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Is it just an it factor for you for him?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Is it the play calling?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
What is your favorite aspect about Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think it's the confidence. I think it's the confidence
that he thinks and every game that they go into
they have chance to win. And I know the Detroit
game didn't work out the way we wanted it to,
but the game plan that they put together was a
ten out of ten and that was something that you
can look at and go, all right, they knew what
they were doing. They set people up perfectly. This is
a great they're gonna this is a great team that's
(04:15):
gonna have a great run. They've been set up to
have a ton of cap space this offseason. This is
all set up to be perfect, and you need him
at the helm of it.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, he is also up for an award.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I mean, he did.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Receive the Coach of the Year NFC Coach of the
Year award from the Committee of one oh one. I
wasn't really familiar with the one on one Awards, but
they are the nation's longest running awards program dedicated exclusively
to the NFL, and the award winners.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Are actually selected.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
By nationwide balloting of one hundred and one sports writers
and broadcasters who covered.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
The NFL throughout the season. Kevin got the NFC.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
Coach of the Year and Andy Reid received the AFC
Coach of the Year, And obviously, moving forward, the NFL
honors will be held on You were a sixth in
New Orleans ahead.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Of the Super Bowl and he's up for a Coach
of the Year. Do you think he's a serious contender?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He one hundred percent should because like I said, and
I go back to it, Yeah, and everybody who asked
me is do you think he is deserving? Of course
he is. This was a team and this is my opinion.
This is a team that nobody thought would The people
who are paid and put on this earth to make
over under said they'd win six and a half games.
They won fourteen with a quarterback. A lot of people
(05:30):
thought was just going to be there until JJ McCarthy
got up and running. That's not how it worked. JJ
McCarthy got hurt, and here we are. They dominated and
they won fourteen games. You can't just win fourteen games
out of luck in the NFL. You can win fourteen
games in the NBA just because you know, somebody takes
a night off. That's not a thing in the NFL.
(05:50):
And they did that. He one hundred percent deserves to
be Coach of the Year. And the comeback is as
people say, well, Dan Campbell got his team to you
know where they went. Yeah, but that is a loaded roster.
If you put koc on that staff and in Detroit
they would win, they'd probably still be playing. And that
isn't a shot at Dan Campbell. It's just the whole
mentality of it's the it's the Bill Belichick bit. I'll
(06:13):
take your players and win with your players, and I'll
take my players and beat your players. It's that I
don't know if that's right. That's more of like sounded
like Yogi Bara may have said it, but that's what
I mean. It's like, he's a great coach and it's
awesome that we're going to have him for a while.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
It's so interesting because I think there's always a debate
around what constitutes Coach of the Year. Is it taking
a roster that really had no expectations in turning it
into a fantastic run, or is it someone like Andy Reid,
who I mean, the Chiefs are just a machine at
this point, and I think he's actually only received Coach.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Of the Year once.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
I think you're correct.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yeah, So it's it's just an interesting way. I'm sure
it'll be. It'll be really fun to watch it play out.
I do think people tend to lean, I think historic
in the voting towards a coach who had the odds
stacked against him and what he was able to coach through.
So I think that kind of makes him a front
runner if you have.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yeah, he'll win it. I think he'll win it, and
it'll be great when he wins it, because they deserve
and he deserves all of the things that he's got
and this, Uh, there's a very bright future for this organization.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I love that positivity means us because I do think, like,
you know, after the way the season ended, there may
be you know, some bad tastes in the mouth. And
I think Kevin O'Connell admitted as such in his post
his postseason press conferences. Whether it's the one after the
Rams game, or it's the one you know, the following Wednesday,
and it's it's I want I want people to keep
(07:45):
in mind, like before that this season was awesome. Like
you were seven and one at home, you gave you know,
and the season before they'd only won two home games.
I mean just the atmosphere of US Bank Stadium, the
amount of like fun the players were having, the locker
room was having, you know, you could see it in
the postgame speeches from Kevin O'Connell. I just thought that
(08:08):
this season was just one of the most fun seasons
to watch, to be a part of, to be around.
And I wish fans I would kind of remember that
a little.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Bit more, you know. Uh yeah, I mean maybe maybe
I'm wrong.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
No, I don't think you're wrong. I think that when
you when you go back and look at this season
and you and you know this is a plug for
a different podcast, But I listened to the Gleaman and
the Geek podcast, which is John Bonus and Aaron Gleaman,
and it's about the twins, and they talk all the
time about how like people in sports need to start
realizing that this isn't just about one season, right, Like
(08:43):
this season was great, but this isn't the last season.
I know this sounds dumb, but like, this isn't the
last season They're going to play Vikings football. This was
a huge step in the right direction. This has all
been the plan. They want to get cheaper, not cheaper,
but they want to get They want to get more
money so they can spend money with a roster that
doesn't cost a lot of money, if that makes sense.
(09:04):
So they're going to spend big in a free agency.
They have very few draft picks, but that'll change in
some compensatory picks. And the other great thing about it
is the last season people were so excited for the
draft and how we had to get a quarterback, and
this is the year we're going to get a quarterback.
It's flip. Now we think we have our quarterback and
JJ McCarthy, and now we get to attack free agency,
(09:27):
which is like forty five days from today, not six months,
not seven months, It's forty five days from today, and
that is something to be excited about.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Yeah, I'm very excited to see what happens.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's a different set of circumstances this season than I
think we've seen with the amount of cap space, the
uncertainty at several positions. There are several free agents that
we're going to be keeping tabs on at vikings dot
com with our free.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Agency tracker and things like that.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
But I want to go back to the season itself
and what was there a was there a moment or
a person a quality trait of this team that surprised
you the most this season, like your biggest surprise besides
the wins memory.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
I mean, my favorite moment was the was when they
beat San Francisco and that ninety nine yard pass was
awesome because that was like the moment where we were like,
I think we got something in Sam Darnold because I
mean I could have beat the Giants playing quarterback in
the NFL and I have small hands.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Right, I don't know, I can't confer, no.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
I do I have tiny hands, but you go when
you play San Francisco, a team that I mean, they
fell apart. They were six and eleven, but a team
that a lot of people thought would win the super Bowl,
and at that moment they were still the favorite to
win the super Bowl, and you beat them. That was
probably my favorite moment. I mean, the London moment was
awesome with the interception by Gilmour, that was great. I
(10:56):
just I think a lot of it was great. It
was a super fun year.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
I just remember that first game and seeing Andrew Van
Ginkle make the pick sicks, and I was.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
How much fun is this guy?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Like?
Speaker 3 (11:06):
It was just like that for me was a big surprise.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I didn't really know what to expect from a lot
of the free agents, and you trade it, you know,
you get rid of names that you make tough decisions
and you and there are guys around here that have
been staples in what this team has built, especially defensively.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
And to see just the trio that I love.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
I loved watching how much Twitter engaged in like the
photo of like Grenard, Cashman and Van Ginkle at the
press conference set just looking like three young bucks ready
to get out there.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
And then you see.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
You know, those were three anchors on two Pro bowlers
on this team. I think that was kind of the
biggest surprise for me this season was just how well
the defense came together, how fast they they did despite
all of the uncertainty and new names on the team.
Looking forward a little bit, who are you most excited
(12:00):
to see next season?
Speaker 2 (12:02):
I mean the answer has to be jj McCarthy because
I think he's gonna be very good. I think they
have found something in him and it's gonna be sweet
because he was the hand picked quarterback by this organization
and they're gonna go forward with him. And the little
blip we saw of him in the preseason against I
think it was the Raiders that he was great, So
(12:24):
I think it's I think we're gonna see him play
very well and I can't wait for that first game
in eight months from now, But more importantly, that first
preseason in training camp, which I know it's January twenty third,
is gonna be here so quickly. And I know that's
weird to say, but the off season just flies because
of how well, you know, we got the Super Bowl,
(12:45):
then we got the Combine, then we got free agency,
then we got the draft, then we got the schedule released,
and they take about a month off and then they're
right back at oh.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Yeah, don't got to tell me.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah yeah, I love that question.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
They're like, oh, what are you doing with your offseason?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
And I'm like, you're kidding sometimes, right, Like I joke
around because I'm like, oh, I travel so much and
during the season, you know, with going to the away games,
but I'm traveling like almost every month this offseason to
do these events and to be a.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Part of that, which I don't take for granted. I
feel very, very lucky to do that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
But the NFL does a wonderful job of making our job.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
I like it because I don't want to be employed
anywhere else. I want to stay in football. I mean,
let me be real. I'm really excited about the JJ
McCarthy thing and what you're talking about right now. I'm
wondering what you think fans will be like as far
as the patience, Like you clearly have confidence in him already,
(13:46):
and I think we all do because of what we saw,
you know, but getting out there and getting into a
game is different. He has had a chance to learn
with some of the best. I mean, he was pointing
stuff out in meetings to Sam Darnold. He was a
part of I mean, he's here all the time. He's
you know, being a student of the game. You know,
it's it's funny. I actually hosted an event for It
(14:09):
was Delta Sky Miles members who bought an experience and
to watch someone interview a player, and I interviewed JJ
McCarthy and uh, it was so interesting to hear him
talk about how he has become a better student of
the game, which which is what you expect him to be,
but that when I asked him how he thinks his
(14:31):
football knowledge has grown, like if you had to quantify it,
his eyes just like grew two sizes bigger. And he
was like, oh, like double what.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
I knew coming in here.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Yeah, And I think that's just so promising because it's
almost like you're creating this foundation that you can then
move forward and be successful putting it out there, like
you've been given literally all the tools. And I'm not
saying the you know, injury aside, I'm not saying it
was a good thing any stretch of the imagination, because
obviously we would have loved to have him out there
(15:04):
and seeing things. But this could have been something where
you know, these college kids they play. He played the
longest season in college football because he won the national championship.
Then a few weeks later, you've got Combine and you're
training and training and training until draft, and then after draft,
you immediately go to rookie mini camp, then OTAs, then
(15:25):
mandatory mini camp, and then you go to training camp
after that month off like the like, if you're him,
you haven't stopped playing football, like literally that much football
for a year, you know. So I think this was
probably a good break for him mentally physically. Hopefully you
(15:45):
know that that will reflect in how he's grown intellectually
in the game.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
I couldn't agree more. I think that it's going to
pay benefits and I can't wait to see it start.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, I just I hope people are patient, you know,
I do. I think we have to consider like he
didn't get in the game, and that we've seen quarterbacks
sit before and it works. I don't know the plan
going forward. I don't even know if this front office
truly knows the plan with free agency and all that
kind of stuff going to be you know, revealing itself
(16:19):
over the next few months.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
But I just want people to be patient, that's all.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Yeah, it'll be great, it'll be worth it.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Yeah, you already told me your favorite moment.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
What would be your biggest area of need.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
You know, we're not gonna talk about quarterback right now,
because obviously that's a that's a given as far as
we know, just with the question mark at that position.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
But anywhere else on this team that you'd like to
see really get beefed up this offseason.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Well, I think it's the offensive line, and I don't.
I don't. I think it's the guard position. It could
be both, it could be one. I think that is
an area of need. And obviously, with the three corners
that they have that we're all on one year deals,
that is also a mass area of need. Is the
corners and then the interior offensive line.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, yeah, no, I agree with you. I think it.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
It became a little bit more suspect towards the end
of the season that you just needed a little bit
of extra time. Sam needed a little bit of extra time.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
One hundred percent, And that's something we can address in
the off season going forward, which makes the off season excellent.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Oh, I know, I every time I get to this
point of the year, Paul, I'm just like I get
like that like tinge of anxiety, like not bad anxiety,
like good anxiety of like oh my gosh, like what's
gonna happen, Like, oh my god, who's going to be
here's who's gonna walk in the building. And it's like
a weird, like exciting thing for me because I don't
have to make any of the big decisions.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I just get to see what happens.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Yeah, that's the best part. You just wait on Twitter
and all that. That's what makes it so fun. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yeah, So what do you do in this off season? Like,
are you still watching games right now?
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, I'll watch all the games. I'll watch. Uh even
going back like twenty plus years. A friend of mine,
we used to before kids and you know, life change.
We would get together and watch the combine. We would
sit around and just watch it. Yeah, I'll watch that.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I'll keep up to date on all the things that
are happening. I'll be on Vikings dot com and looking
at all the things you guys do. That's about it.
I mean football never stops. That's beauty of it. It
takes as you know, it takes a week off after
the Super Bowl. Then the combine happens. Like I said, everybody,
football takes a month off, and it's about June fifteenth
to the week after the fourth and then it's right
(18:31):
back at it.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
It's funny.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I used to work in local TV, like local sports TV,
and I had a boss who had worked at you know,
CNN Sports at ESPN, you know, and he was older,
like he was probably my father's age, but he had
been around and he kind of settled into this role
as a sports director in this tiny TV market and
best learning experience of my life. But I remember, I'll
(18:53):
never forget a lot of the things that he told me.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
But one of the things that he said was.
Speaker 1 (18:56):
When you're stacking your local sports show, we're in South
Louisiana and like East Texas, so just keep that in
mind regionally, that's that's the sport, you know. I mean,
we didn't have hockey to take precedent or anything like that.
But he said, anything NFL leads, anything football leads. He's like,
I don't care if there's some like crazy, you know,
(19:19):
basketball game that affected the local teams. He says, no
people care the most soft football, and that will lead
your show every single day all year round. I was like, dang,
But I mean he has a great point, because I
have a feeling there will be a lot of eyes
on this weekend's games that you have, the divisional game,
the NFC Championship between the Eagles and Commanders, the AFC
(19:41):
Championship between the Chiefs and the Bills. Paul, I can't
make predictions. I mean I probably could, actually, because this
is not the Vikings, but I'm not gonna so I'll
hand it off to you. Also, I'll tell you who
I would want to see. I won't predict it, but
who do you think will be winners of those games?
And what we'll see in the super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
I think it'll be the Commanders and the Bills.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
Oh my god, that's what I want.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I think the Commanders are such a good team and
with a rookie quarterback who doesn't know any better and
is so calm under pressure, I think they can go
in too Philly, all the pressures on Philly. Yeah, and
same thing with I don't like I'm tired of the Chiefs.
I want the Bills to win. Josh Allen, I just
love watching and play football, and as we talked about
(20:25):
this morning and the power Trip, the Bills are like
the Vikings of the AFC, and I just want to
see the Bills win and make it to a super
Bowl because Josh Allen deserves to win a super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah, I just you know, I do.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I feel like Vikings fans kind of relate to Bills
fans to a certain extent, having gone to so many
Super Bowls and never being able to win. And I
think that I'm also with you, like I want to
see something new.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I always do. I just think that's exciting.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Like when the Bengals made the Super Bowl a few
years back, I was like, Wow, this is kind of cool.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
And obviously, you know, no no hiding my fandom. I'm
like literally an L.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Shue sweatshirt today, but I'm obviously rooting for the kid,
Jaden Daniels who he's so good and I will say.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
I'd be missed. I didn't say that when he played
his first game in LSU.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I was like, this is terrible idea. I don't want him,
blah blah blah. But I've obviously changed my mind.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
He's so good.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
He's so good.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
He's one of those quarterbacks that makes an immediate impact
wherever he goes.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
He was like that at LSU.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
But I do think that again, like I think that's
another case of a of a quarterback who has waited
for his turn. He you know, because because Jayden, you know,
he was in the transfer portal, No no one gave
him that shot. Same stories with like a Joe Burrow.
I mean, sometimes you kind of need to just marinate
(21:46):
a little bit longer, and if you're in college football
that long. And and uh, as he was, he comes out,
he's already had playoff experience in college and he already
comes out and he has you know, he works in
an offense, and I think the number one thing that
the Commanders have been able to do is is adapt
their offense to what he is capable of. And that
(22:07):
is that is good coaching at the end of the day.
I mean, Cliff Kingsbury can see what Jaden Daniels is
good at and builds the offense around him, much like
he did with Kyler for a long time.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Yeah, And that's that's what makes him so good, is
how quick he is up and down the field, how
well he reads a defense, and they play the way
everybody plays now and the Commander's just it's four down
football and it's more offense, it's more entertaining, and that's
what makes it so much fun.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
I know, man, these games are going to be awesome
to watch.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm very, very excited also with you though, would love
to see Manders Bills.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
I think that would be my number one choice. But
can't wait, can't wait, can't wait.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Well, we still are going to watch the Honors Super
Bowl week to see if Kevin O'Connell wins Coach of
the Year. Other than that, you know, Saus, I think
we're going to sign off for a little bit. We'll
take a little break. The Minnesota's podcast will be sporadic
throughout the off season. Whenever we've got some big news,
some previews, some conversations with network talent that is out
(23:09):
there nationally, we'll come at you with some episodes. So
be sure to like and subscribe to our channel so
you can keep up to date with our podcast. I
appreciate you, Paul for joining us today and for the
last several weeks that we had you on. Enjoy your
off season and have a really fun weekend with these games.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Yeah, thank you. You did the same. It's been super fun.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah, thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Well, just because we're signing off here on the podcast
doesn't mean that our content is ending. We still have
plenty of fun plans all off season long, so be
sure to stick with Vikings dot com and the Vikings
app as things will be coming up periodically. Most recently,
we have a beat Writer's Roundtable that's coming out where
we dissect the season as a whole, as well as
(23:54):
talk about the Kevin O'Connell contract extension alongside ESPN's Kevin Seaffert,
the Star Tributes Ben Gesling, and the athletics Alec Lewis,
and so that will be dropping really soon, and we're
gonna have some exciting highlights of all.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Of your favorite players.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
So it's gonna be an exciting time despite anything else,
So be sure to hang with us to get your
football fix. Thanks for tuning in to MVP the Minnesota
Vikings Podcast. I'm Tatum Everett. That was Paul Metzaz Lambert,
and we will talk to you guys very soon. Say
hello to Fallasy Smooth Skin at Pure Lux Medspa, the
(24:31):
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