December 18, 2025 • 45 mins
Dan Barreiro is back and opens the show discussing a term he had not heard: fraud tourism, which is evidently big in the state of Minnesota. Dan outlines the latest fraud case we're learning about today before Sean Salisbury makes his weekly appearance to talk Vikings and NFL.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Miss you're apparently Minnesota's tourist industry has never been better.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Leader fan Fan Radio Network, what do you mean? And
k f A and.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Dot Com two minutes twelve seconds past the hour three
o'clock Central Standard time, we welcome you back to a
winter wonderland here on a lovely Thursday afternoon in the
Twin Cities that we affectionately referred to as Minneapolis and
Saint Paul Guards he produces the show. My name is
Dan Barrero, the occasional host of the program as well,
(00:43):
and we are delighted that you are along for today's
I gotta believe it's going to be a joy ride
between now and I'm assuming six.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Are we out even earlier than six? We're out at six.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
We should be out at five because we have wild
hockey at six o'clock tonight, so we'll do Vikings programming later.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It sounds like that's annoying. I know, did you try
to did you register a complaint? Not really, I'm trying
to pick my spots. Yeah, that's probably I'm trying to
pick my spots. We're still out of six.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's okay, Yeah, yeah, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
A bratchew on Brian Kafean text line is open at
six four six eighty six. Lunani will be with us
today because he had some traveling issues earlier in the week,
so he will be here, not here, but he'll be
via telephone.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I believe at four two today. Doctor Dan's inbox will
be opened.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
At probably five thirty email guardsyjgatcatbin dot com and at
three point thirty we do expect to visit bottom of
this hour with Thursday regular Sean Salisbury. I know it's
been bugging you for a while because you have great
pride in your home state, the state of Minnesota. Of course,
how is the tourism industry doing? How are we getting
(01:48):
our fair share of tours? We know we don't have
palm trees, we know it's not particularly tropical here, but
we still like to think that there are many inviting
specs to the great state of Minnesota that might attract
the average tourist, perhaps especially someone who embraces winter right,
(02:09):
embraces cross country skiing, for example.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Right, so this time of year, you say, well, you
got all kinds of options for.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
You, ice fishing all of America, the whole bit. What
turns out we are doing better than expected on a
number of fronts, and are you aware of the number
one reason apparently our tourism is booming. The only thing
I can come up with is that if you come
here you can steal millions of dollars from us.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Is that it You've nailed it. You nailed it one
hundred percent. A term I'd not heard ever used before
was used today. Let me see if I can give
you the direct quote from our guy assistant US Attorney
Joe Thompson back in the news. Another presser today, another day,
(02:59):
another fraud announcement.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I'll just read it to you direct quote.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Minnesota has become a magnet for frauds, so much so
that we have developed a fraud tourism industry, people coming
to our state purely to exploit.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And defraud its programs.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
This is a deeply unsettling reality that all Minnesotas should understand.
Fraud tourists are now regularly traveling to Minnesota after, according
to prosecutors, a friend told them state programs were quote
a good opportunity to make money.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
That's incredible, it's astonishing.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
This comes along with new indictments today in the ever
widening Minnesota fraud scandal. I don't know how I'm getting
any wider than it is, but I guess it does
keep getting wider, this time involving two Philadelphia based men
who have been accused of traveling to Minneapolis after a
friend said, hey, there's.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
There's there's nobody's watching.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Go west, young man. You don't have to go all
the way west, like to California. Stop in the Midwest,
the upper Midwest. It's like the fraud rush instead of
the gold rush.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Exactly. Yeah, we have a fraud rush here.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There are two individuals accused of siphoning millions. Only millions,
No big deal because I mean, we're only interesting, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The new battle is was it really billions? How many
billions is it? We're fine, it doesn't matter. Take what
you want and we'll worry about the numbers later. They're
accused of siphoning millions millions according to this so this
is an account via the cbsnews dot Com from federally
funded programs administered by Minnesota officials who are meant to
(04:41):
help people with disabilities and those suffering from addiction. Court
filings alleged the men submitted up to three point five
million dollars in fake and inflated bills for Medicaid reimbursements
after they set up a company intended to provide housing
and other services to individuals who qualified for the program.
(05:01):
They allegedly fleeced the housing program in Minnesota despite living
on the other side of the country and having zero connection,
no network or connection to Minnesota or its communities. Prosecutor
said Thursday, that's today. They are investigating roughly eighteen billion
(05:23):
dollars spent on social programs in Minnesota since twenty eighteen.
CBS News asked how much they believe was fraud, and
they said they've seen more red flags than legitimate providers.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I think elsewhere the number.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And again he hasn't laid it out, he hasn't proven
it that it could be half of that could be fraud. Now,
does that mean it's all nailed down yet? No, not
so much. But I got to tell you, I mean
it's well, here's the eightp story, same press conference, about
half or more of the roughly eighteen billion dollars in
(05:56):
claims paid out by Medicaid to Minnesota run programs may
have been fraudulent, and at least fourteen programs were likely exploited.
First US Attorney or Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson said
said He said the scale of fraud here outpaces out
of other states and puts services at risk for people
who really need them. While typically while prosecutors typically see
(06:17):
fraud manifest as providers over billing, Thompson said during a
news conference today that companies have been created to provide
zero services.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So again, none of it's good.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
If you're if you're overcharging, or you're at you're getting,
you're taking a little extra off the top of the till.
That's not good. That's illegal. But in our case it's
no wonder. We have a fraud tourist rush. As you say,
there's no program at all. The whole thing is fraudulent,
(06:50):
The whole thing is made up. We have become this
should not matter whether you are a shark or a jet.
We have become a national disgrace on this issue. Let's
just be honest about it. The governor can try to
change the subject all he wants. His lickspittles can do
(07:13):
the same if they want.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
But that's the truth of it. In a sense, their.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Worst nightmare have been two people, Andy Luger and Joe Thompson. Now,
maybe this would have these investigations would have taken off anyway,
I don't know, but they have taken off and they're
not stopping. And I said this at least once before
in the air. Let's put together again. We're talking about
(07:42):
feeding our future, which was about what feeding children who
needed to eat during the pandemic in the pandemic. Correct,
we're talking about kids with autism. Money that's supposed to
go to kids with autism not getting to those children.
Talking about housing the elderly and people with disabilities, the
(08:05):
money did not get to them. So I'll say again,
this may be red meat for as I said, the sharks,
the Republicans, but if you're a jet, if you're a lefty,
you should be even more outraged because in your heart,
(08:28):
what you pride yourself on about this state is its generosity,
its willingness to try to use the government to help individuals, Right,
That's the whole point of it. And I applaud your
interest in that. I don't think that's anything that any
(08:48):
Democrat should have to apologize for. But if the money
is going out and programs are being created that don't
I shouldn't say programs haven't been created where none of
the money is getting the place that's supposed to get to.
You should be the most outraged of all, and yet.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
It's too it's political dynamite. I gotta be careful here,
I gotta this isn't you know? Then I'm giving up.
We've talked about it for years on this show. Can't
give sustenance to the enemy because the Republicans are having
a field day with it. Guess what, just like the
Democrats would have a field day with it, Just like
the Democrats rightly are having a field day with what's
(09:34):
going on in the White House with Donald J.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Trump. You can play the game of well.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's just the other side seizing upon it, but be
careful using that characterization unless you're going to be consistent
with it, because we can we can say it's all politicized.
But the fact of the matter is, I would argue statewide,
these issues should transcend whether you are a sharker a jet,
just like the is shoes in Washington involving Donald J.
(10:01):
Trump should transcend whether you are a shark or a jet.
And there's another aspect of the story. I want to
get to after the break. That's bugging me as well.
I mean, what's the longest we've gone without a Joe
Thompson or Andy Luger presser some of them should, Yeah,
like we should get the original timeline. I feel like
(10:25):
we're lucky if we go three months without another big announcement.
And again, you can say he's throwing out these numbers recklessly,
but he's doing the work. To this point, I haven't
seen any reason to doubt that when he says half
of the eighteen billion might be fraud, that it might.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Not be exactly that.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Or let's say it's five billion. What number do we
stop worrying about, Well, let's be precise with the exact number,
and more concerned about the degree of what we're dealing
with here, that the intensity with which these stories keep coming.
And if you happen, by the way, to be one
(11:09):
of the fraud Tauris Torris, welcome, great to have you.
We would rather well, actually they won't be listening because
apparently they don't even they're able to pull this off
and steal us money without every setting foot in the state.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
There's the iHeartRadio app. It's freeze us. There absolutely unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Let's pause.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I'll give you the other element of this story where
they I think the Dems better be damned careful they
don't get too high and mighty back with that, and
then Salisbury at three Shawn Salisbury in about to fifteen
(11:58):
minutes ten or fifteen or so, Mike in Saint Louis
Park Guardsy is relieved. He is relieved that we are
finally waking up to the massive fraud going on around here.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Finally noticed, finally noticed. I wonder when you were going
to get around doing it.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
January twenty twenty two, I think, was when the FBI
rated a number of the feeding our future meal locations.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Have we stopped talking about it since then on the show?
Speaker 4 (12:26):
No?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Have we stopped having Andy Luger and Joe Thompson at
least once on this show when we can no. So,
I'm glad you finally noticed, Mike, that we have been
noticing it literally for the last thirty six months.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
A Republican candidate for governor is in the meat grinder
on this story. Your gal Representative Kristin Robbins, a Republican
out of Maple Grove. She is facing according to the
Start to You that she withheld allegations from the state
that known fraudsters were receiving reimbursements from Minnesota's aforementioned medicaid program.
(13:10):
She had said yesterday that it defended in the sprawling
Feeding our Future scheme has received tens of millions more
in state payments through companies purportedly offering medicaid services. She
had said during a hearing of the House Fraud Committee
she chairs it that she had shared the information with
the US Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota, but
not the Minnesota Department of Human Services or Attorney General's office.
(13:34):
So you can imagine what the Dems are doing with this.
The Jets think we got it, We got away to
change the subject. How dare she not pass along that
information if indeed she has it to the proper.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Authorities.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
The governor in a statement today, I expect political attacks
in an election year. What is unacceptable is actively withholding
information about fraud and blocking investigations in order to advance
a political agenda. If there is fraud, it needs to
be investigated immediately. We hit the laugh track any of them.
If there is fraud, it needs to be investigated immediately,
not sat on, redirected, or used for political theater. I'm
(14:17):
not here to necessarily defend everything that Representative Robbins has
done in this case, but I got to tell you,
if the state agencies that the Dems are demanding get
this information are the ones to be trusted on what
(14:40):
basis would they be trusted? The only office that has
actually done the job here and opened the door to
this doors, multiple doors to these levels of fraud are
the US Attorney State of Minnesota. And is she using
(15:02):
this for political theater? I guess she probably is. That
Democrats would be doing the exact same thing if the
situation was reversed. Don't think for a minute otherwise. But
let's leave again that aside for a second, because I'm
reading the story and I'm going, okay, it should I
be outraged with what this representative has done. And I'll say, again,
(15:22):
what evidence has been presented, especially during the early stages
of this thing, that anybody on the state level should
be trusted.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
With the information.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Half the time they were too busy, too frightened about
being called racists to do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So I'm not sure I would go to them first.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Now, it may well be that the danger not going
to them is that a couple of these agencies can
more directly shut the till or shut the faucet on
the money that's that's apparently being.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Stolen in this.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Case, I get that, But if I closer got to
the to the Dems on this one, be careful how
much of.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
A bully pulpit you get on in this case.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
When the state agencies have dropped the ball consistently, they
may finally be figuring it out because they had no
choice at this point. They've been so embarrassed so often,
they have no choice but to finally try to plant
their feet and to offer some resistance to this thing.
But with that track record, I'm not sure that's the
(16:35):
first play any of the agencies in the state level.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The places I would want to go in any including
an Attorney.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
General's office, I'd much rather go to the US attorney
because they've been the ones who've done the work.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
In this case.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
We've had too many examples, we've even had examples of
an allegations of when people have tried to push back,
they've gotten in trouble, they've been threatened.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
So be you're gonna get on your high horse.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
About where she passes along, the who she passes this
information along to godspeed.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Good luck. But most of us aren't idiots out here.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
If it's if you think you're gonna be able to
change the subject this way, maybe you change it for
about three hours, but in fact it's not gonna last
much longer than that, when chances are there's gonna be
another US Attorney press conference involving Joe Thompson to say,
I think we just found another half a billion. Not sure,
(17:37):
but it looks like another half billion's been found on
another program that was supposed to go to people in
vulnerable situations, the needy, and it hasn't gotten there. And
yet all the Dems want to do is change the subject.
In this case, this is political theater. What are we
doing here? Let me, I'm asking you this question directly.
(18:02):
I didn't even know if you know the answer to it,
and you don't have to have we heard a single Democrat.
There's a lot of discussion, rightly so about the Trump
todyes where they're afraid, they're afraid, they won't, they won't.
They they're afraid of his shadow. They will refuse no
matter what he does to hammer them. But even if
(18:22):
if you're a Democrat in this state and you don't
want to say that the responsibility is eighty eight percent
on the governor, don't you have an obligation to say
this is embarrassing stuff for the state, no matter who
you want to blame. Has a single Democrat done that
in more than a single sentence. I'm just asking have
(18:45):
there been any Democrats who've been willing to hold a
press conference to say, I gotta tell you. I know
we were supposed to hold the line on this, but
I'm embarrassed that in this state, where we pride ourselves
in our generosity, it has been a we have allowed
to be exploited over and over again. And so I
can't get up here with a straight face and say
(19:06):
how wonderful we are trying to help people when those
people who we were supposed to help didn't get the money.
I'll wait, I'll wait. Text me if you know that
there might be one. I doubt it. Brat Shawn Brian
Caffe and text line Seawan Salisbury is scheduled to come
up next day time. Let's return to the safety of
(19:40):
the toy Department. Shawn Salisbury is kind enough to join us,
as he does pretty much every Thursday. Shawn, Welcome back
to the program. I gotta get your reaction to some
commentary from a guy you know very very well, Chris Carter.
So Carter, I don't know if heard about this. It
(20:01):
was early in the week. I think it was Monday.
He was on a national show. This was after the
Viking's most recent success and the the QBS. You know
JJ McCarthy's beautiful fake on that fourth and one and
then bootleg where he dances into the end zone and
CC who's been out with us a couple times and
(20:22):
has largely been I think pretty fair to McCarthy that,
you know, he's called it how he sees him, that's
how Chris does. But saying you got to play this
out a little bit, you got to give it time,
et cetera. I don't know if he was just cranky
that day, but he said he made it sound like
he didn't like the persona that JJ seems to be projecting,
(20:45):
the you know, the nine stuff, the other personality, and
that we've kind of like lowered our standards when it's
considered a good day for a Vikings quarterback when they
throw for one hundred and fifty yards. Now is that
Chris being Chris or do you share any of that
or what do you think or do were you even
(21:06):
aware of it?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Well, I this is the first I mean I saw clips,
but I didn't I didn't watch or see It's the
first time hearing the depth of it. Let's put it
that way. And you know, I thought we follow each
other on social media.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
I'm a you know, my affinity for Chris and he's
a very good friend.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
I the one thing coming from my vantage point is
having been a teammate of his. The thing I loved
most about him, other than the fact that he was
the hell of a player and a good friend.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Is he was a truth teller.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I mean, Chris was a truth stuff you did or
did not want to hear, which is a good thing.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
Whether you're the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
He was mindful of situations on the field, but also
when you're a high achiever like he is and really
think about your best in any sport, whether it's when
Puck was playing, and maybe a different approach. I'm using
him as an example in Minnesota or anybody anywhere.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
These high achievers and sports they are.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
And that's why a lot of them don't coach Dan,
That's true, how many people I had coach?
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Why wouldn't I want Chris Carter coaching the receivers?
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I mean, he's real, He's going to tell him what
they don't want to hear, which a lot of times
is what they damn well need to hear. Is because
saying I don't know if Chris would ever want to do,
or somebody's offered or not, but I would call him
up and say, want to come coach, because I know
what I'd get out of him, having sat in meetings
and sat in the steam room.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
And walk talk to him for years about it. But
would you have to those guys?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Sometimes they don't because people can't live up to their expectations.
And Chris is right, I mean, listen, my thing about
a player. I'm not an over celebrator anyway, whatever, that's
just not me. And well, Chris had good spikes and
got into it. And Chris had but Chris was also
on his way to a Hall of Fame career. And
I can remember sitting with him when he came over
(22:56):
from Philadelphia. He wasn't sure when he was going to
get my lineup. Well, I said, dude, hang on, you
can get the light up. You could be fined because
we were running scout team. And you know, three weeks
later he's in the light up or whatever it was.
It leads to Hall of Fame career and he was great.
So that's what drives a lot of those guys there.
When I say in securities, they're not knowing drives them
because they that fear of failure. And Chris was like
(23:20):
that in was a practice, his ass off all that.
So I think what happens is everybody has their way
of getting them going. I'm with them in a sense.
Now people say, oh, that's old head talk. I don't
mean it like this. If a guy has certain things
or certain music or certain thing or an opposite person,
we've talked about this Dan, which drives him.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Go for it.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
As long as it two things, it doesn't get in
the way of the rest of the team in performance,
and as long long as it does few years. I'll
tell you a quick story. You remember the game we
were playing the Redskins.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
In the playoffs with the year rippings. Today, they might
have went on to the I'm not sure if they
won the Super Bowl that year. Now we were at home.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
We came out the first drive and I ran rent
run past sixty counter ex post. Chris caught the ball
about the foil, a deep ball over the middle safety
and got inside the five.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Play or two later we ran it in this.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Court and I pumped and a little bit of over
celebration right, and I can remember we started the sidelines.
Jack del Rio came off the bench. Defensive captain came
out the bench and met me there. Now I'll never forget.
He grabbed me by the jersey as one of my
best friends in the world, and he said, sALS, this
is a long game, stay locked in.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
I'll never forget it.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
And because he knew it, wasn't liked me that it
was gonna And you know what we did, I very
below average, was misthrows and we started the first series
and the rest of it physically wore us out. I
wasn't any good. We got beat and we should we.
I like to think we were better. We're talented along
quarterback didn't play well enough. Well, I'll never forget that
(24:57):
and those things because I got out of what I
wanted to do. So as long as JJ stanin what
he wants to do, just not a distraction find But
Chris is right about one thing now, where as wrong
as it, Jay were not wrong. But where I'd adjust
it is from what I saw the first six or
seven you know, games to the way, then the injury,
and then the last two weeks. I've seen improvement. That's
not feeding that improvement, So look at it from it.
(25:21):
From it, like if I'm sitting in the room trying
to keep his self esteem high but also humble enough
to low, Dude, you're not anywhere near where you need
to be. And I would even throw in We've had
guys like Brad Johnson and Dante Culpepper and Warren mood
As you would roll through here, we've had Franchtrois. We
have pretty good ones. And in a joking way where
he's like, oh I get the history now, coach, But
the other side is right.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
It was a it was a good game.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
He missed Jefferson on a couple great ball fake to
get in the end zone, made a couple of good throws.
What was at the touchdown to Naylor right to play
the neighbors. So he did some good things and it's growing.
I think part of what Chris, from what you described it.
Knowing Chris is there's almost a method to his madness
of I'm sending a message. I know JJ's going to
see this and to say, listen, man, you're doing better,
(26:07):
but don't get caught up in all the nonsense.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
One hundred and fifty yards ain't getting you anywhere.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
If the other team happens to play their game and
the Cowboys, well, did what the Cowboys do. Give you
three good games and then disappear, and they're going to
disappear themselves right out of January. So it was I
get what he's saying, Chris, listen, if you're thin skinned
or faint of heart. And I mean this affectionately because
I love him. I needed Chris Carter. But if you're
(26:34):
thin skin a faint of heart, whether you're a player
and he's in the media, whether he's a player on
your team and you can't and Chris Carter's on your team,
You've got two choices.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Now. You can either when I say, fight back respectfully,
but he wants you to do that. That's what he
always did. If he can take it, that's his approach.
But if you go and wilt in the corner and
fight back and do that that's.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Also the wrong guy, because Chris is great with that
up to know, oh there's your weakness, I'm going to
I'm going to hit it until you realize that you.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Need to fix that and make it better.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
So it's a motivational speech that also lets you know
you're nowhere near where you need to be if this
team's going to be back to when Chris was there
and they were winning fifteen games, right, Dane. So that's
the way I approach it. Not hearing the tone and
tenor and maybe he had one.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Of those nations.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Maybe he was frustrated we're winning games, guys were over celebrating.
You know, we're not going to celebrate a first down
run when you're down three touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
They weren't.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
But in that case, you know, the guy who catches
a five yard hitching points to first down and you're
down forty to ten, that team, I think Chris is
just trying to guard against an ad perspective to you're
not going to the playoffs, you haven't played a full season,
you're a second year guy who's basically playing his rookie season.
You got a chance. There's an approach and as a
Hall of Famer. I'll always trust a Hall of Famers approach.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
That's I think that's a really good analysis of probably
what is working behind the scenes and Carter's mind. For
the record, in fairness, we should mention against Dallas, JJ
threw for two fifty.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
It was the week so he may have been referring
to the.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
One It was two fifteen. He was like fifteen to
twenty four or something.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Last week's exactly right, right, fifteen for twenty four, and
then he went for the Green Bay loss was only
eighty seven.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
The week before that was one fifty.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
So look at the improvement. That's my point. That's what
I'm looking for, knowing we're not going to the playoffs
and I got a young quarterback we're trying to turn
into a big time player.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
So specifically, what did you see you believe that was
better decisive?
Speaker 4 (28:35):
Not on all of them, and I'm not even just
talking about the pass game. It felt like command, a
little more command, you know, going in as we talked
about that, the Cowboys pretty high powered offensively when they're
going now, Pickens disappeared and this team is so well.
I've been trying to figure out the Cowboys since Ekman
had one year retired. Now you do now do that?
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Man? I mean, we're talking what mid nineties did, right,
so figure them out.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
So but going in, we know that they're capable of
hanging forty and give it up forty two. We know
they're capable of going and playing a bad team and
score and ten, and we're capable of knowing what they
showed against the Vikings. What I saw with McCarthy is
and for the first time, I haven't watched him. I
haven't watched the game a second time, if that makes sense,
(29:21):
just one time. And from the live I felt he
was a little more in control, or at least my
perception the optics felt like he was more in control.
I don't care about the numbers as long as he's
not turning over putting me in by. I felt like
he's starting to understand what you're trying to get accomplished
in the play action game. How quickly the ball's got
to come out, how fast the game is. Regardless of
(29:43):
you played at Michigan, Ohio State or Slippery Rocket, doesn't matter.
The game's moving in college, the game's moving in the NFL.
I thought that I thought he there were signs of
he's coming in. He's being a veteran quarterback who're starting
to understand getting the ball to the right people in
the right time matters, and that he's not the same
(30:06):
feel he had at Michigan because he had been there
in command. But I felt like it was a step
closer to saying, Okay, I'm an NFL quarterback. I'm starting
to understand what Kevin's trying to do with the defense.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
Is trying to do what.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
I'm not capable of doing right now, could play within myself.
It felt to me like he felt like the goal
was to win, not to prove to the world that
he can do a bunch of other stuff. At least
at times, they're still improving. You can't miss open receivers
when a home runs there. I would like them early
on because great players. Anthony Carter was like, this, need
the ball early somehow, some way regularly.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
I would like them to find Look at what the
Rams do with Puka.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
It doesn't matter what coverage is, They're going to find
a way to deploy him.
Speaker 5 (30:46):
And Kevin knows this. Hell he's been with McVeigh no.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Somehow, some way, even when you double him, I got
to motion him put him in the slot, not just outside,
stick him in the backfield, and motion him out of
the backfield. I've got to do all I can to
get I don't care if it's a toss sweep. Jefferson
has to get the ball early, often and regularly without.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Being stupid and throwing it when there's three guys.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
But then you keep him into it, which he's not
over there chattering which receivers and I mean that they
like to do that, and that's okay because they want.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
The ball and you've got a better chance to win
when he gets the ball.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
And I know he missed him a couple of times,
and there's some things he'd like to have back. But
the step in the right direction, especially going in when
you know you feel like you have to score a
bunch of points against the Cowboys because they are capable
of scoring there and they've proven it, so there's no
doubt there. So I just saw steps in the direction
of not pretty Dan. I saw steps in the direction
(31:39):
of being a quarterback. If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Does How do you know how important the rest of
the way is it to find a way to connect
with Justin Jefferson, Because I mean, on the one hand,
it's like, well, you know, the most important thing is
he made enough of the right throws. They won the
game on road. The Dallas desperately wanted the victory. They
(32:02):
did have something to play for, and so you can't.
You got to go where you gotta go. On the
other hand, you got so much invested in this receiver
and he's so important.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Is that crucial? Is that?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
No, you worry about that in the off season, getting
into next season or not any not worth worrying about
it all.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Oh, you worry about it for it's and it's not
just worry about it for your team's success. And I've
never sat down with Jefferson, but knowing good receivers, they're
always open. We joke about Chris was always open, Randy's
always open, and Jerry was always open.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Truth is, most of the time they are. You just
got a no way to.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Get it to is you don't want those One thing
I also know about receivers when they go on like
podcasts and talk says this is a minor thing. But
if somebody asks him a question, that gets under their
skin because they play emotional. Jefferson does all the good ones.
Do you know that they're from Puka right on the steet.
They played with this inner grind in a motion and
(33:01):
that when they're not getting theirs not getting there is
this isn't just money not getting there.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
This isn't just a victory.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
They want twelve for a buck sixty, they want nine.
If you win and they go two for thirty, well
they're happy with the win. A lot of them they
walk out of there. It's the bittersweet feel like, yeah,
we want. It's like that guy who gets a Super
Bowl ring but was hurt all year. You're like, yeah,
I'm on the team, but damn, why am I gonna?
I got buddies that that's happened. Super Bowl ring they wanted,
(33:28):
but he got hurt in Game one, didn't play, won't
wear the ring. He's glad for the team did it,
but he feels like he didn't contribute, but he did.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
He's practicing. Just was unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
Receivers gained a game feel like this that man we want,
but I got my And on the other hand a
lot of times and like I said, this is just
how a lot of them are built. Is that if
you lose and they go twelve for one, sixty and
two touchdowns, they'll be the happiest guy at dinner when
the game's open. Not happy they lost, but knowing I
(33:59):
could do anything else. Man, So we got thrown to me,
I got mine right. And the truth is, and trying
to defend receivers of this now, you don't want them
throwing their hands in the air and embarrassing your teammates
and standing you up in public and being a distraction
of the postgame press conference. But the truth the matter
is when they do get theirs, like last week, Phuka
gets damn near two hundred yards receiving and then two
(34:21):
touchdowns and is going crazy. You've got a chance to
the better chance to win. So in the off season
I want Jefferson not to olch player empowerment and I
need to brown nose him, But as a franchise I
want him going into the off season feeling good to
where a couple of those receivers buddies at a reunion
or when they go do something he does say yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:40):
Man, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I'm you lucky you Burrows throwing you the ball, or
you're lucky that you've got Josh Allen right, Because what
it does is then it gets back to the quarterback.
I know this is minor, but it does matter.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
Dad.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
You want those guys to no matter where they are,
wherever do they are in the United States and they're
traveling the off season, they can't wait to get back
to OTAs to be with you.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
It is important. It's also important to build on who
they are.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Listen the Vikings, they're not going anywhere this year, but
for their future forward.
Speaker 5 (35:10):
If they want to maximize what Kevin O'Connor wants to.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
Do, like what mcvay's doing or anybody else, it's high powered. Regularly,
they want the quarterback to beat his best and continue
to expand his game running and throughing.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
But Jefferson has to be a huge part of that.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
If he's not, you're not going to get the maximum
out of the Vikings because he's such a good player.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
So what they do with Pooker.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Or certain receivers on teams, what we did with Chris,
we just found ways to deploy them to get him,
to get him in either mismatches or knowing that he
was going to be to the double team because he
knew how to sit down and zone and run away.
And they were physical and precise in dynamic in the
route running.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
So it is it's not.
Speaker 4 (35:49):
Oh, I got to get him the ball at the
sacrifice of the team. But I can tell you this,
If you can find a way to get it to
him and deploy him so he can get the ball somehow,
it makes everybody else better because it makes number two
and number three have more open looks because you know
who you got to take one of the vikings, and
in truth, you take him away, you think you've got
a pretty good chance to win if you're a defense,
(36:12):
and which means that's a compliment to the vikings and
how you distribute the ball elsewhere, because not every game
is going to be like that. But Jefferson is capable
of taking over every game. I got to get him
involved regularly and early.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
So how much of this you mentioned the rams McVeigh
and and and Puka, So how much of this is
his system is slightly different from from the guy who
you know who worked with him koc or how much
of it is?
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Well, in l A you.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Got veterans quarterback named Stafford, and here you got a
guy still trying to figure you know, figure out you
know where he fits in.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Well, the biggest part of that.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
You know, the the verbage is going to be pretty similar,
if not exactly the same, with a few of Kevin's
touches throughout his career on it right, you know, whether
it's something he did when he was when he was
playing or that, you're going to get a lot of
similarities because they're cut from the same, you know, sist
type of system. They could probably finish each other's sentences
like that whole group from Zach Tay, you know that
(37:14):
whole group, the Shanahan McVeigh group. It's more the Cats
that were doing it. Number nine that plays for the
Rams right now, all those years we saw him in
the division. Dam he's playing better football than he's ever played.
And that is saying something because he's had a five
thousand yard season. He's been a gun slinger. He kept Detroit.
He is playing at such a high quarterback level a
(37:37):
level and his arm could still he could throw it
with anybody at his age. There's very few people that
can fit it in the windows like Stafford Can. I'm
telling you right now, you can give me Josh Allen,
you can give me my homes.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
You can give me.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
There's from point A to point B and he's getting
it there as good and as fast and as urgent
as anybody.
Speaker 5 (37:56):
And you want to talk about confidence.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
Every time Stafford comes and gets under center, I think
he's going to make some kind of great play. And
it doesn't hurt that their run games pretty physical. McVeigh
knows exactly what his strengths are. You got good players,
and even whether Devonte's hurting and the other guy goes
against fifteen catches, I mean, so there's a confidence and
a familiarity and a comfort zone. They're just better. They've
(38:19):
got more weapons and they're a better offense. Now that
mean Jefferson takes a back Sea ka Puka, No, you
got that. The big difference is who plays quarterback. You've
got a young guy still trying to learn that. If
he has a career like Stafford has to this point,
we'll walk off and say it was a great draft
pick by the by the Vikings. And if he has
a career like Stafford's having now and forward, then will
say damn this kind of Hall of famer. So there
(38:40):
it is. That's the difference in McVeigh knows, no matter
what he calls normally, something good will happen. And if
it's not good, it won't be bad. And if it
is bad, the Stafford can overcome it, and so can
he in the offense. Right now with Minnesota, it's well,
I don't know if we can overcome it. He's still
trying to learn, and we can't drop back and throw
it for it five times like the Rams can. You
(39:03):
can make the Rams one dimensional right now, Dan, and
they can still beat you.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
We got a hell of a game tonight that I
can't wait to see.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
That's gonna be fine, Sam, it is.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
And then on the other side with with you want
to get to that point with the Vikings right now
if you do make them one full dimension and they
got to drop back forty five times, Warren Moon could
do it, but I'm not sure that McCarthy's ready for
that yet.
Speaker 5 (39:25):
Stafford is. And that's the difference in the two right now.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
You know, the.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
NFC North going into the season was viewed, I think
as a division that was going to be very deep,
at least three teams deep. Now, as it turns out,
the one of the three teams happens to be the
Bears rather than the Vikings have already been mathematically eliminated.
But as they stand, especially with the injury to Michael Parsons.
(39:49):
I'm not sure I view any of the NFC North
teams as ones. I bet a lot of money on
making a deep playoff run. Am I under selling anybody?
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Or what do you say? See in the division?
Speaker 5 (40:00):
Now?
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Now I'm with you the trust factor the Parsons saying,
sent me back because I think he's such a wrecord
that you can play a defensive game and find a
way to win. Because Jordan loves good enough to play
in one of those right where he doesn't feel like
he has to that they don't need to score thirty five.
That's a big change, and that's why you mortgaged a
lot to go get him. I am with you on
that one. Detroit. It's so weird. One week, I think, Man,
(40:24):
there you go. Then the next week I'm like two
finesse yes. Then we think what a great offensive line.
Then the next week it's like where was golf throwing that?
Then the next week it's like, Dan, you can't go
for it twenty seven times fourth out.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
To get out.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
So it's the fluctuation of they are. If you were
watching them on one of those heart monitors, Dan, you
know you could be up down if you try to
follow it. There's no flat line where it's like conciding's like,
I don't know what I don't know what I'm getting
from Detroit now. If they're playing their best, beware because
they can score from the parking lot.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
But it's not anybody that's exactly.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
My So they get into a fistfight where you're getting
gut punched.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
Not not you know, not hoping you land a big
blow to knock somebody out with a lucky punch.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
Agreed, So that take that.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
Then we obviously know about the vikings in truth, the
grind and again grit it sounds so cheesy. The Bear's
defense is getting better, their offensive line is becoming one
of the better.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
I mean, they're really doing a great job. And you
know what's said.
Speaker 4 (41:24):
I didn't know as much as I watched Caleb going
into last week's game. He's the all time best in
the first thousand throws and not throwing it to the
other team, which is if you'd ask that going in
most people, what are you talking about this rookie he's
on He's gonna have three different coordinators and he's got
Ben Johnson who takes chances and he doesn't play on schedule.
Speaker 5 (41:44):
He's off schedule, throwing side on him, and you're like.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
But yet he talk about a guy who's getting better
and a feel and betting to wonder Ben Johnson wanted
to wait for this gig even though he's got a
long way to go and he's getting better and patient
and not having to play hero ball. And then when
he has to dan that throw he made going to
his right in the back of the end zone last week,
they can't win Vabe, Yes, stupid good. It was like,
(42:08):
let me see that again, isn't that good? So I'm
not so sure right now, depending on where it is,
because the guy is so dynamic and they are getting better,
they're running it pretty depth wise. They've got it and
getting roamed back will be good for them. I'm not
sure that this team right now can't beat idiot them
and their record shows that they can.
Speaker 5 (42:28):
But I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (42:30):
Do I believe an NFC North team as I watch
right now is playing in the NFC Championship Game.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
Maybe if they were to get three in that they'll
have it just by a process of statistically eliminating maybe,
But do what I bet right now? To be in there. No,
I take Seattle, I take the Rams.
Speaker 4 (42:49):
There's a few other hell right now, even though they're
they're reeling Philadelphia's moxie.
Speaker 5 (42:54):
I may even take them even though their quarterback in
their places that hasn't been great.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
So I don't trust, but I am intrigued by it
because all three of them give me something. Yet all
three of them have a weakness that makes you say,
that's a first, that's a first weekend out.
Speaker 5 (43:10):
So we'll see.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
But deep but not spectacular at the top, even though
the record for like A Chicago says pretty good.
Speaker 5 (43:17):
Man, it's pretty spectacular.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
But maybe if we were having this conversation a year
from now in Chicago was doing this, we might feel.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Different because it would be one more year of trust
from a rookie.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
N true, that's a big part of it as well.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
By the way, Guardgie and I had a pre show
meeting and we've decided you should get the week off
next Thursday. We think next Thursday you should get the
We you worked hard, we're gonna give you Christmas Day.
I mean we'll be here, of course working because we
never stop working, but we're gonna give you Christmas Day
off how how you know how magnanimous.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Are I mean, you guys are unbelievable that you give me.
You give me that leeway, and you know what it
sounds like. It sounds like the voluntary mandatory that I'm
gonna get punished for that being on ay.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Sooner or later, we'll probably find a way to use it.
Somebody will.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
There'll be a listener who will use it against you,
because I know they're out there.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
So as I got Tostia yeah on.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
Your Twitter handle for your show and on yours, there
will be somebody who says, well, Sean, you're lazy, and
it'll be serious. I'm like, well, I really it's I mean,
I'm on here because I love them, But can I
wake up and hand my kid a few gifts and
deal with my dogs and animals and have some fun?
Speaker 5 (44:26):
But yeah, oh it's coming. We'll have some fun.
Speaker 4 (44:28):
So yes, I'm going to be lazy next week. I
appreciate you giving me Christmas off, brother, but merry Christmas.
Do a great city, you and guards here the best,
and you know it. I consider it an honor and
I'm serious. I don't take lightly coming on and sharing
football and fun laughs with you guys each week.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
So thank you, well, you know how much we appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (44:46):
Man.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Have a great holiday and we'll we'll talk maybe in
a couple of weeks.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Thank you, Happy holidays, Marry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Thanks shown Sean Salisbury. Top of the Hour break is approaching.
Thursday is usually not a day we associate with Luigi,
but his schedule is.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Kind of fun. Monkey this week. Lots of hockey to
discuss with Louie that is coming up next
Miss you're apparently Minnesota's tourist industry has never been better.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Leader fan Fan Radio Network, what do you mean? And
k f A and.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Dot Com two minutes twelve seconds past the hour three
o'clock Central Standard time, we welcome you back to a
winter wonderland here on a lovely Thursday afternoon in the
Twin Cities that we affectionately referred to as Minneapolis and
Saint Paul Guards he produces the show. My name is
Dan Barrero, the occasional host of the program as well,
(00:43):
and we are delighted that you are along for today's
I gotta believe it's going to be a joy ride
between now and I'm assuming six.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Are we out even earlier than six? We're out at six.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
We should be out at five because we have wild
hockey at six o'clock tonight, so we'll do Vikings programming later.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It sounds like that's annoying. I know, did you try
to did you register a complaint? Not really, I'm trying
to pick my spots. Yeah, that's probably I'm trying to
pick my spots. We're still out of six.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's okay, Yeah, yeah, that's okay.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
A bratchew on Brian Kafean text line is open at
six four six eighty six. Lunani will be with us
today because he had some traveling issues earlier in the week,
so he will be here, not here, but he'll be
via telephone.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
I believe at four two today. Doctor Dan's inbox will
be opened.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
At probably five thirty email guardsyjgatcatbin dot com and at
three point thirty we do expect to visit bottom of
this hour with Thursday regular Sean Salisbury. I know it's
been bugging you for a while because you have great
pride in your home state, the state of Minnesota. Of course,
how is the tourism industry doing? How are we getting
(01:48):
our fair share of tours? We know we don't have
palm trees, we know it's not particularly tropical here, but
we still like to think that there are many inviting
specs to the great state of Minnesota that might attract
the average tourist, perhaps especially someone who embraces winter right,
(02:09):
embraces cross country skiing, for example.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Right, so this time of year, you say, well, you
got all kinds of options for.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
You, ice fishing all of America, the whole bit. What
turns out we are doing better than expected on a
number of fronts, and are you aware of the number
one reason apparently our tourism is booming. The only thing
I can come up with is that if you come
here you can steal millions of dollars from us.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Is that it You've nailed it. You nailed it one
hundred percent. A term I'd not heard ever used before
was used today. Let me see if I can give
you the direct quote from our guy assistant US Attorney
Joe Thompson back in the news. Another presser today, another day,
(02:59):
another fraud announcement.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I'll just read it to you direct quote.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Minnesota has become a magnet for frauds, so much so
that we have developed a fraud tourism industry, people coming
to our state purely to exploit.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And defraud its programs.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
This is a deeply unsettling reality that all Minnesotas should understand.
Fraud tourists are now regularly traveling to Minnesota after, according
to prosecutors, a friend told them state programs were quote
a good opportunity to make money.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
That's incredible, it's astonishing.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
This comes along with new indictments today in the ever
widening Minnesota fraud scandal. I don't know how I'm getting
any wider than it is, but I guess it does
keep getting wider, this time involving two Philadelphia based men
who have been accused of traveling to Minneapolis after a
friend said, hey, there's.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
There's there's nobody's watching.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Go west, young man. You don't have to go all
the way west, like to California. Stop in the Midwest,
the upper Midwest. It's like the fraud rush instead of
the gold rush.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Exactly. Yeah, we have a fraud rush here.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
There are two individuals accused of siphoning millions. Only millions,
No big deal because I mean, we're only interesting, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The new battle is was it really billions? How many
billions is it? We're fine, it doesn't matter. Take what
you want and we'll worry about the numbers later. They're
accused of siphoning millions millions according to this so this
is an account via the cbsnews dot Com from federally
funded programs administered by Minnesota officials who are meant to
(04:41):
help people with disabilities and those suffering from addiction. Court
filings alleged the men submitted up to three point five
million dollars in fake and inflated bills for Medicaid reimbursements
after they set up a company intended to provide housing
and other services to individuals who qualified for the program.
(05:01):
They allegedly fleeced the housing program in Minnesota despite living
on the other side of the country and having zero connection,
no network or connection to Minnesota or its communities. Prosecutor
said Thursday, that's today. They are investigating roughly eighteen billion
(05:23):
dollars spent on social programs in Minnesota since twenty eighteen.
CBS News asked how much they believe was fraud, and
they said they've seen more red flags than legitimate providers.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I think elsewhere the number.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
And again he hasn't laid it out, he hasn't proven
it that it could be half of that could be fraud. Now,
does that mean it's all nailed down yet? No, not
so much. But I got to tell you, I mean
it's well, here's the eightp story, same press conference, about
half or more of the roughly eighteen billion dollars in
(05:56):
claims paid out by Medicaid to Minnesota run programs may
have been fraudulent, and at least fourteen programs were likely exploited.
First US Attorney or Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson said
said He said the scale of fraud here outpaces out
of other states and puts services at risk for people
who really need them. While typically while prosecutors typically see
(06:17):
fraud manifest as providers over billing, Thompson said during a
news conference today that companies have been created to provide
zero services.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
So again, none of it's good.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
If you're if you're overcharging, or you're at you're getting,
you're taking a little extra off the top of the till.
That's not good. That's illegal. But in our case it's
no wonder. We have a fraud tourist rush. As you say,
there's no program at all. The whole thing is fraudulent,
(06:50):
The whole thing is made up. We have become this
should not matter whether you are a shark or a jet.
We have become a national disgrace on this issue. Let's
just be honest about it. The governor can try to
change the subject all he wants. His lickspittles can do
(07:13):
the same if they want.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
But that's the truth of it. In a sense, their.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Worst nightmare have been two people, Andy Luger and Joe Thompson. Now,
maybe this would have these investigations would have taken off anyway,
I don't know, but they have taken off and they're
not stopping. And I said this at least once before
in the air. Let's put together again. We're talking about
(07:42):
feeding our future, which was about what feeding children who
needed to eat during the pandemic in the pandemic. Correct,
we're talking about kids with autism. Money that's supposed to
go to kids with autism not getting to those children.
Talking about housing the elderly and people with disabilities, the
(08:05):
money did not get to them. So I'll say again,
this may be red meat for as I said, the sharks,
the Republicans, but if you're a jet, if you're a lefty,
you should be even more outraged because in your heart,
(08:28):
what you pride yourself on about this state is its generosity,
its willingness to try to use the government to help individuals, Right,
That's the whole point of it. And I applaud your
interest in that. I don't think that's anything that any
(08:48):
Democrat should have to apologize for. But if the money
is going out and programs are being created that don't
I shouldn't say programs haven't been created where none of
the money is getting the place that's supposed to get to.
You should be the most outraged of all, and yet.
Speaker 5 (09:12):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
It's too it's political dynamite. I gotta be careful here,
I gotta this isn't you know? Then I'm giving up.
We've talked about it for years on this show. Can't
give sustenance to the enemy because the Republicans are having
a field day with it. Guess what, just like the
Democrats would have a field day with it, Just like
the Democrats rightly are having a field day with what's
(09:34):
going on in the White House with Donald J.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Trump. You can play the game of well.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
It's just the other side seizing upon it, but be
careful using that characterization unless you're going to be consistent
with it, because we can we can say it's all politicized.
But the fact of the matter is, I would argue statewide,
these issues should transcend whether you are a sharker a jet,
just like the is shoes in Washington involving Donald J.
(10:01):
Trump should transcend whether you are a shark or a jet.
And there's another aspect of the story. I want to
get to after the break. That's bugging me as well.
I mean, what's the longest we've gone without a Joe
Thompson or Andy Luger presser some of them should, Yeah,
like we should get the original timeline. I feel like
(10:25):
we're lucky if we go three months without another big announcement.
And again, you can say he's throwing out these numbers recklessly,
but he's doing the work. To this point, I haven't
seen any reason to doubt that when he says half
of the eighteen billion might be fraud, that it might.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Not be exactly that.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Or let's say it's five billion. What number do we
stop worrying about, Well, let's be precise with the exact number,
and more concerned about the degree of what we're dealing
with here, that the intensity with which these stories keep coming.
And if you happen, by the way, to be one
(11:09):
of the fraud Tauris Torris, welcome, great to have you.
We would rather well, actually they won't be listening because
apparently they don't even they're able to pull this off
and steal us money without every setting foot in the state.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
There's the iHeartRadio app. It's freeze us. There absolutely unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Let's pause.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I'll give you the other element of this story where
they I think the Dems better be damned careful they
don't get too high and mighty back with that, and
then Salisbury at three Shawn Salisbury in about to fifteen
(11:58):
minutes ten or fifteen or so, Mike in Saint Louis
Park Guardsy is relieved. He is relieved that we are
finally waking up to the massive fraud going on around here.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Finally noticed, finally noticed. I wonder when you were going
to get around doing it.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
January twenty twenty two, I think, was when the FBI
rated a number of the feeding our future meal locations.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Have we stopped talking about it since then on the show?
Speaker 4 (12:26):
No?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Have we stopped having Andy Luger and Joe Thompson at
least once on this show when we can no. So,
I'm glad you finally noticed, Mike, that we have been
noticing it literally for the last thirty six months.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
A Republican candidate for governor is in the meat grinder
on this story. Your gal Representative Kristin Robbins, a Republican
out of Maple Grove. She is facing according to the
Start to You that she withheld allegations from the state
that known fraudsters were receiving reimbursements from Minnesota's aforementioned medicaid program.
(13:10):
She had said yesterday that it defended in the sprawling
Feeding our Future scheme has received tens of millions more
in state payments through companies purportedly offering medicaid services. She
had said during a hearing of the House Fraud Committee
she chairs it that she had shared the information with
the US Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota, but
not the Minnesota Department of Human Services or Attorney General's office.
(13:34):
So you can imagine what the Dems are doing with this.
The Jets think we got it, We got away to
change the subject. How dare she not pass along that
information if indeed she has it to the proper.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Authorities.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
The governor in a statement today, I expect political attacks
in an election year. What is unacceptable is actively withholding
information about fraud and blocking investigations in order to advance
a political agenda. If there is fraud, it needs to
be investigated immediately. We hit the laugh track any of them.
If there is fraud, it needs to be investigated immediately,
not sat on, redirected, or used for political theater. I'm
(14:17):
not here to necessarily defend everything that Representative Robbins has
done in this case, but I got to tell you,
if the state agencies that the Dems are demanding get
this information are the ones to be trusted on what
(14:40):
basis would they be trusted? The only office that has
actually done the job here and opened the door to
this doors, multiple doors to these levels of fraud are
the US Attorney State of Minnesota. And is she using
(15:02):
this for political theater? I guess she probably is. That
Democrats would be doing the exact same thing if the
situation was reversed. Don't think for a minute otherwise. But
let's leave again that aside for a second, because I'm
reading the story and I'm going, okay, it should I
be outraged with what this representative has done. And I'll say, again,
(15:22):
what evidence has been presented, especially during the early stages
of this thing, that anybody on the state level should
be trusted.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
With the information.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Half the time they were too busy, too frightened about
being called racists to do anything about it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So I'm not sure I would go to them first.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Now, it may well be that the danger not going
to them is that a couple of these agencies can
more directly shut the till or shut the faucet on
the money that's that's apparently being.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Stolen in this.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Case, I get that, But if I closer got to
the to the Dems on this one, be careful how
much of.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
A bully pulpit you get on in this case.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
When the state agencies have dropped the ball consistently, they
may finally be figuring it out because they had no
choice at this point. They've been so embarrassed so often,
they have no choice but to finally try to plant
their feet and to offer some resistance to this thing.
But with that track record, I'm not sure that's the
(16:35):
first play any of the agencies in the state level.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
The places I would want to go in any including
an Attorney.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
General's office, I'd much rather go to the US attorney
because they've been the ones who've done the work.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
In this case.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
We've had too many examples, we've even had examples of
an allegations of when people have tried to push back,
they've gotten in trouble, they've been threatened.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
So be you're gonna get on your high horse.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
About where she passes along, the who she passes this
information along to godspeed.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
Good luck. But most of us aren't idiots out here.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
If it's if you think you're gonna be able to
change the subject this way, maybe you change it for
about three hours, but in fact it's not gonna last
much longer than that, when chances are there's gonna be
another US Attorney press conference involving Joe Thompson to say,
I think we just found another half a billion. Not sure,
(17:37):
but it looks like another half billion's been found on
another program that was supposed to go to people in
vulnerable situations, the needy, and it hasn't gotten there. And
yet all the Dems want to do is change the subject.
In this case, this is political theater. What are we
doing here? Let me, I'm asking you this question directly.
(18:02):
I didn't even know if you know the answer to it,
and you don't have to have we heard a single Democrat.
There's a lot of discussion, rightly so about the Trump
todyes where they're afraid, they're afraid, they won't, they won't.
They they're afraid of his shadow. They will refuse no
matter what he does to hammer them. But even if
(18:22):
if you're a Democrat in this state and you don't
want to say that the responsibility is eighty eight percent
on the governor, don't you have an obligation to say
this is embarrassing stuff for the state, no matter who
you want to blame. Has a single Democrat done that
in more than a single sentence. I'm just asking have
(18:45):
there been any Democrats who've been willing to hold a
press conference to say, I gotta tell you. I know
we were supposed to hold the line on this, but
I'm embarrassed that in this state, where we pride ourselves
in our generosity, it has been a we have allowed
to be exploited over and over again. And so I
can't get up here with a straight face and say
(19:06):
how wonderful we are trying to help people when those
people who we were supposed to help didn't get the money.
I'll wait, I'll wait. Text me if you know that
there might be one. I doubt it. Brat Shawn Brian
Caffe and text line Seawan Salisbury is scheduled to come
up next day time. Let's return to the safety of
(19:40):
the toy Department. Shawn Salisbury is kind enough to join us,
as he does pretty much every Thursday. Shawn, Welcome back
to the program. I gotta get your reaction to some
commentary from a guy you know very very well, Chris Carter.
So Carter, I don't know if heard about this. It
(20:01):
was early in the week. I think it was Monday.
He was on a national show. This was after the
Viking's most recent success and the the QBS. You know
JJ McCarthy's beautiful fake on that fourth and one and
then bootleg where he dances into the end zone and
CC who's been out with us a couple times and
(20:22):
has largely been I think pretty fair to McCarthy that,
you know, he's called it how he sees him, that's
how Chris does. But saying you got to play this
out a little bit, you got to give it time,
et cetera. I don't know if he was just cranky
that day, but he said he made it sound like
he didn't like the persona that JJ seems to be projecting,
(20:45):
the you know, the nine stuff, the other personality, and
that we've kind of like lowered our standards when it's
considered a good day for a Vikings quarterback when they
throw for one hundred and fifty yards. Now is that
Chris being Chris or do you share any of that
or what do you think or do were you even
(21:06):
aware of it?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Well, I this is the first I mean I saw clips,
but I didn't I didn't watch or see It's the
first time hearing the depth of it. Let's put it
that way. And you know, I thought we follow each
other on social media.
Speaker 5 (21:17):
I'm a you know, my affinity for Chris and he's
a very good friend.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
I the one thing coming from my vantage point is
having been a teammate of his. The thing I loved
most about him, other than the fact that he was
the hell of a player and a good friend.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Is he was a truth teller.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I mean, Chris was a truth stuff you did or
did not want to hear, which is a good thing.
Speaker 5 (21:42):
Whether you're the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
He was mindful of situations on the field, but also
when you're a high achiever like he is and really
think about your best in any sport, whether it's when
Puck was playing, and maybe a different approach. I'm using
him as an example in Minnesota or anybody anywhere.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
These high achievers and sports they are.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
And that's why a lot of them don't coach Dan,
That's true, how many people I had coach?
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Why wouldn't I want Chris Carter coaching the receivers?
Speaker 4 (22:14):
I mean, he's real, He's going to tell him what
they don't want to hear, which a lot of times
is what they damn well need to hear. Is because
saying I don't know if Chris would ever want to do,
or somebody's offered or not, but I would call him
up and say, want to come coach, because I know
what I'd get out of him, having sat in meetings
and sat in the steam room.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
And walk talk to him for years about it. But
would you have to those guys?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
Sometimes they don't because people can't live up to their expectations.
And Chris is right, I mean, listen, my thing about
a player. I'm not an over celebrator anyway, whatever, that's
just not me. And well, Chris had good spikes and
got into it. And Chris had but Chris was also
on his way to a Hall of Fame career. And
I can remember sitting with him when he came over
(22:56):
from Philadelphia. He wasn't sure when he was going to
get my lineup. Well, I said, dude, hang on, you
can get the light up. You could be fined because
we were running scout team. And you know, three weeks
later he's in the light up or whatever it was.
It leads to Hall of Fame career and he was great.
So that's what drives a lot of those guys there.
When I say in securities, they're not knowing drives them
because they that fear of failure. And Chris was like
(23:20):
that in was a practice, his ass off all that.
So I think what happens is everybody has their way
of getting them going. I'm with them in a sense.
Now people say, oh, that's old head talk. I don't
mean it like this. If a guy has certain things
or certain music or certain thing or an opposite person,
we've talked about this Dan, which drives him.
Speaker 5 (23:40):
Go for it.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
As long as it two things, it doesn't get in
the way of the rest of the team in performance,
and as long long as it does few years. I'll
tell you a quick story. You remember the game we
were playing the Redskins.
Speaker 5 (23:52):
In the playoffs with the year rippings. Today, they might
have went on to the I'm not sure if they
won the Super Bowl that year. Now we were at home.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
We came out the first drive and I ran rent
run past sixty counter ex post. Chris caught the ball
about the foil, a deep ball over the middle safety
and got inside the five.
Speaker 5 (24:12):
Play or two later we ran it in this.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Court and I pumped and a little bit of over
celebration right, and I can remember we started the sidelines.
Jack del Rio came off the bench. Defensive captain came
out the bench and met me there. Now I'll never forget.
He grabbed me by the jersey as one of my
best friends in the world, and he said, sALS, this
is a long game, stay locked in.
Speaker 5 (24:36):
I'll never forget it.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
And because he knew it, wasn't liked me that it
was gonna And you know what we did, I very
below average, was misthrows and we started the first series
and the rest of it physically wore us out. I
wasn't any good. We got beat and we should we.
I like to think we were better. We're talented along
quarterback didn't play well enough. Well, I'll never forget that
(24:57):
and those things because I got out of what I
wanted to do. So as long as JJ stanin what
he wants to do, just not a distraction find But
Chris is right about one thing now, where as wrong
as it, Jay were not wrong. But where I'd adjust
it is from what I saw the first six or
seven you know, games to the way, then the injury,
and then the last two weeks. I've seen improvement. That's
not feeding that improvement, So look at it from it.
(25:21):
From it, like if I'm sitting in the room trying
to keep his self esteem high but also humble enough
to low, Dude, you're not anywhere near where you need
to be. And I would even throw in We've had
guys like Brad Johnson and Dante Culpepper and Warren mood
As you would roll through here, we've had Franchtrois. We
have pretty good ones. And in a joking way where
he's like, oh I get the history now, coach, But
the other side is right.
Speaker 5 (25:42):
It was a it was a good game.
Speaker 4 (25:43):
He missed Jefferson on a couple great ball fake to
get in the end zone, made a couple of good throws.
What was at the touchdown to Naylor right to play
the neighbors. So he did some good things and it's growing.
I think part of what Chris, from what you described it.
Knowing Chris is there's almost a method to his madness
of I'm sending a message. I know JJ's going to
see this and to say, listen, man, you're doing better,
(26:07):
but don't get caught up in all the nonsense.
Speaker 5 (26:09):
One hundred and fifty yards ain't getting you anywhere.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
If the other team happens to play their game and
the Cowboys, well, did what the Cowboys do. Give you
three good games and then disappear, and they're going to
disappear themselves right out of January. So it was I
get what he's saying, Chris, listen, if you're thin skinned
or faint of heart. And I mean this affectionately because
I love him. I needed Chris Carter. But if you're
(26:34):
thin skin a faint of heart, whether you're a player
and he's in the media, whether he's a player on
your team and you can't and Chris Carter's on your team,
You've got two choices.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Now. You can either when I say, fight back respectfully,
but he wants you to do that. That's what he
always did. If he can take it, that's his approach.
But if you go and wilt in the corner and
fight back and do that that's.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Also the wrong guy, because Chris is great with that
up to know, oh there's your weakness, I'm going to
I'm going to hit it until you realize that you.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Need to fix that and make it better.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
So it's a motivational speech that also lets you know
you're nowhere near where you need to be if this
team's going to be back to when Chris was there
and they were winning fifteen games, right, Dane. So that's
the way I approach it. Not hearing the tone and
tenor and maybe he had one.
Speaker 5 (27:20):
Of those nations.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Maybe he was frustrated we're winning games, guys were over celebrating.
You know, we're not going to celebrate a first down
run when you're down three touchdowns.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
They weren't.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
But in that case, you know, the guy who catches
a five yard hitching points to first down and you're
down forty to ten, that team, I think Chris is
just trying to guard against an ad perspective to you're
not going to the playoffs, you haven't played a full season,
you're a second year guy who's basically playing his rookie season.
You got a chance. There's an approach and as a
Hall of Famer. I'll always trust a Hall of Famers approach.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
That's I think that's a really good analysis of probably
what is working behind the scenes and Carter's mind. For
the record, in fairness, we should mention against Dallas, JJ
threw for two fifty.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
It was the week so he may have been referring
to the.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
One It was two fifteen. He was like fifteen to
twenty four or something.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Last week's exactly right, right, fifteen for twenty four, and
then he went for the Green Bay loss was only
eighty seven.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
The week before that was one fifty.
Speaker 4 (28:20):
So look at the improvement. That's my point. That's what
I'm looking for, knowing we're not going to the playoffs
and I got a young quarterback we're trying to turn
into a big time player.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
So specifically, what did you see you believe that was
better decisive?
Speaker 4 (28:35):
Not on all of them, and I'm not even just
talking about the pass game. It felt like command, a
little more command, you know, going in as we talked
about that, the Cowboys pretty high powered offensively when they're
going now, Pickens disappeared and this team is so well.
I've been trying to figure out the Cowboys since Ekman
had one year retired. Now you do now do that?
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Man? I mean, we're talking what mid nineties did, right,
so figure them out.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
So but going in, we know that they're capable of
hanging forty and give it up forty two. We know
they're capable of going and playing a bad team and
score and ten, and we're capable of knowing what they
showed against the Vikings. What I saw with McCarthy is
and for the first time, I haven't watched him. I
haven't watched the game a second time, if that makes sense,
(29:21):
just one time. And from the live I felt he
was a little more in control, or at least my
perception the optics felt like he was more in control.
I don't care about the numbers as long as he's
not turning over putting me in by. I felt like
he's starting to understand what you're trying to get accomplished
in the play action game. How quickly the ball's got
to come out, how fast the game is. Regardless of
(29:43):
you played at Michigan, Ohio State or Slippery Rocket, doesn't matter.
The game's moving in college, the game's moving in the NFL.
I thought that I thought he there were signs of
he's coming in. He's being a veteran quarterback who're starting
to understand getting the ball to the right people in
the right time matters, and that he's not the same
(30:06):
feel he had at Michigan because he had been there
in command. But I felt like it was a step
closer to saying, Okay, I'm an NFL quarterback. I'm starting
to understand what Kevin's trying to do with the defense.
Speaker 5 (30:16):
Is trying to do what.
Speaker 4 (30:17):
I'm not capable of doing right now, could play within myself.
It felt to me like he felt like the goal
was to win, not to prove to the world that
he can do a bunch of other stuff. At least
at times, they're still improving. You can't miss open receivers
when a home runs there. I would like them early
on because great players. Anthony Carter was like, this, need
the ball early somehow, some way regularly.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
I would like them to find Look at what the
Rams do with Puka.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
It doesn't matter what coverage is, They're going to find
a way to deploy him.
Speaker 5 (30:46):
And Kevin knows this. Hell he's been with McVeigh no.
Speaker 4 (30:49):
Somehow, some way, even when you double him, I got
to motion him put him in the slot, not just outside,
stick him in the backfield, and motion him out of
the backfield. I've got to do all I can to
get I don't care if it's a toss sweep. Jefferson
has to get the ball early, often and regularly without.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Being stupid and throwing it when there's three guys.
Speaker 4 (31:09):
But then you keep him into it, which he's not
over there chattering which receivers and I mean that they
like to do that, and that's okay because they want.
Speaker 5 (31:16):
The ball and you've got a better chance to win
when he gets the ball.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
And I know he missed him a couple of times,
and there's some things he'd like to have back. But
the step in the right direction, especially going in when
you know you feel like you have to score a
bunch of points against the Cowboys because they are capable
of scoring there and they've proven it, so there's no
doubt there. So I just saw steps in the direction
of not pretty Dan. I saw steps in the direction
(31:39):
of being a quarterback. If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Does How do you know how important the rest of
the way is it to find a way to connect
with Justin Jefferson, Because I mean, on the one hand,
it's like, well, you know, the most important thing is
he made enough of the right throws. They won the
game on road. The Dallas desperately wanted the victory. They
(32:02):
did have something to play for, and so you can't.
You got to go where you gotta go. On the
other hand, you got so much invested in this receiver
and he's so important.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
Is that crucial? Is that?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
No, you worry about that in the off season, getting
into next season or not any not worth worrying about
it all.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Oh, you worry about it for it's and it's not
just worry about it for your team's success. And I've
never sat down with Jefferson, but knowing good receivers, they're
always open. We joke about Chris was always open, Randy's
always open, and Jerry was always open.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Truth is, most of the time they are. You just
got a no way to.
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Get it to is you don't want those One thing
I also know about receivers when they go on like
podcasts and talk says this is a minor thing. But
if somebody asks him a question, that gets under their
skin because they play emotional. Jefferson does all the good ones.
Do you know that they're from Puka right on the steet.
They played with this inner grind in a motion and
(33:01):
that when they're not getting theirs not getting there is
this isn't just money not getting there.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
This isn't just a victory.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
They want twelve for a buck sixty, they want nine.
If you win and they go two for thirty, well
they're happy with the win. A lot of them they
walk out of there. It's the bittersweet feel like, yeah,
we want. It's like that guy who gets a Super
Bowl ring but was hurt all year. You're like, yeah,
I'm on the team, but damn, why am I gonna?
I got buddies that that's happened. Super Bowl ring they wanted,
(33:28):
but he got hurt in Game one, didn't play, won't
wear the ring. He's glad for the team did it,
but he feels like he didn't contribute, but he did.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
He's practicing. Just was unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
Receivers gained a game feel like this that man we want,
but I got my And on the other hand a
lot of times and like I said, this is just
how a lot of them are built. Is that if
you lose and they go twelve for one, sixty and
two touchdowns, they'll be the happiest guy at dinner when
the game's open. Not happy they lost, but knowing I
(33:59):
could do anything else. Man, So we got thrown to me,
I got mine right. And the truth is, and trying
to defend receivers of this now, you don't want them
throwing their hands in the air and embarrassing your teammates
and standing you up in public and being a distraction
of the postgame press conference. But the truth the matter
is when they do get theirs, like last week, Phuka
gets damn near two hundred yards receiving and then two
(34:21):
touchdowns and is going crazy. You've got a chance to
the better chance to win. So in the off season
I want Jefferson not to olch player empowerment and I
need to brown nose him, But as a franchise I
want him going into the off season feeling good to
where a couple of those receivers buddies at a reunion
or when they go do something he does say yeah.
Speaker 5 (34:40):
Man, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
I'm you lucky you Burrows throwing you the ball, or
you're lucky that you've got Josh Allen right, Because what
it does is then it gets back to the quarterback.
I know this is minor, but it does matter.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
Dad.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
You want those guys to no matter where they are,
wherever do they are in the United States and they're
traveling the off season, they can't wait to get back
to OTAs to be with you.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
It is important. It's also important to build on who
they are.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
Listen the Vikings, they're not going anywhere this year, but
for their future forward.
Speaker 5 (35:10):
If they want to maximize what Kevin O'Connor wants to.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
Do, like what mcvay's doing or anybody else, it's high powered. Regularly,
they want the quarterback to beat his best and continue
to expand his game running and throughing.
Speaker 5 (35:23):
But Jefferson has to be a huge part of that.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
If he's not, you're not going to get the maximum
out of the Vikings because he's such a good player.
Speaker 5 (35:31):
So what they do with Pooker.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
Or certain receivers on teams, what we did with Chris,
we just found ways to deploy them to get him,
to get him in either mismatches or knowing that he
was going to be to the double team because he
knew how to sit down and zone and run away.
And they were physical and precise in dynamic in the
route running.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
So it is it's not.
Speaker 4 (35:49):
Oh, I got to get him the ball at the
sacrifice of the team. But I can tell you this,
If you can find a way to get it to
him and deploy him so he can get the ball somehow,
it makes everybody else better because it makes number two
and number three have more open looks because you know
who you got to take one of the vikings, and
in truth, you take him away, you think you've got
a pretty good chance to win if you're a defense,
(36:12):
and which means that's a compliment to the vikings and
how you distribute the ball elsewhere, because not every game
is going to be like that. But Jefferson is capable
of taking over every game. I got to get him
involved regularly and early.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
So how much of this you mentioned the rams McVeigh
and and and Puka, So how much of this is
his system is slightly different from from the guy who
you know who worked with him koc or how much
of it is?
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Well, in l A you.
Speaker 1 (36:44):
Got veterans quarterback named Stafford, and here you got a
guy still trying to figure you know, figure out you
know where he fits in.
Speaker 5 (36:51):
Well, the biggest part of that.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
You know, the the verbage is going to be pretty similar,
if not exactly the same, with a few of Kevin's
touches throughout his career on it right, you know, whether
it's something he did when he was when he was
playing or that, you're going to get a lot of
similarities because they're cut from the same, you know, sist
type of system. They could probably finish each other's sentences
like that whole group from Zach Tay, you know that
(37:14):
whole group, the Shanahan McVeigh group. It's more the Cats
that were doing it. Number nine that plays for the
Rams right now, all those years we saw him in
the division. Dam he's playing better football than he's ever played.
And that is saying something because he's had a five
thousand yard season. He's been a gun slinger. He kept Detroit.
He is playing at such a high quarterback level a
(37:37):
level and his arm could still he could throw it
with anybody at his age. There's very few people that
can fit it in the windows like Stafford Can. I'm
telling you right now, you can give me Josh Allen,
you can give me my homes.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
You can give me.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
There's from point A to point B and he's getting
it there as good and as fast and as urgent
as anybody.
Speaker 5 (37:56):
And you want to talk about confidence.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
Every time Stafford comes and gets under center, I think
he's going to make some kind of great play. And
it doesn't hurt that their run games pretty physical. McVeigh
knows exactly what his strengths are. You got good players,
and even whether Devonte's hurting and the other guy goes
against fifteen catches, I mean, so there's a confidence and
a familiarity and a comfort zone. They're just better. They've
(38:19):
got more weapons and they're a better offense. Now that
mean Jefferson takes a back Sea ka Puka, No, you
got that. The big difference is who plays quarterback. You've
got a young guy still trying to learn that. If
he has a career like Stafford has to this point,
we'll walk off and say it was a great draft
pick by the by the Vikings. And if he has
a career like Stafford's having now and forward, then will
say damn this kind of Hall of famer. So there
(38:40):
it is. That's the difference in McVeigh knows, no matter
what he calls normally, something good will happen. And if
it's not good, it won't be bad. And if it
is bad, the Stafford can overcome it, and so can
he in the offense. Right now with Minnesota, it's well,
I don't know if we can overcome it. He's still
trying to learn, and we can't drop back and throw
it for it five times like the Rams can. You
(39:03):
can make the Rams one dimensional right now, Dan, and
they can still beat you.
Speaker 5 (39:06):
We got a hell of a game tonight that I
can't wait to see.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
That's gonna be fine, Sam, it is.
Speaker 4 (39:11):
And then on the other side with with you want
to get to that point with the Vikings right now
if you do make them one full dimension and they
got to drop back forty five times, Warren Moon could
do it, but I'm not sure that McCarthy's ready for
that yet.
Speaker 5 (39:25):
Stafford is. And that's the difference in the two right now.
Speaker 2 (39:28):
You know, the.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
NFC North going into the season was viewed, I think
as a division that was going to be very deep,
at least three teams deep. Now, as it turns out,
the one of the three teams happens to be the
Bears rather than the Vikings have already been mathematically eliminated.
But as they stand, especially with the injury to Michael Parsons.
(39:49):
I'm not sure I view any of the NFC North
teams as ones. I bet a lot of money on
making a deep playoff run. Am I under selling anybody?
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Or what do you say? See in the division?
Speaker 5 (40:00):
Now?
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Now I'm with you the trust factor the Parsons saying,
sent me back because I think he's such a wrecord
that you can play a defensive game and find a
way to win. Because Jordan loves good enough to play
in one of those right where he doesn't feel like
he has to that they don't need to score thirty five.
That's a big change, and that's why you mortgaged a
lot to go get him. I am with you on
that one. Detroit. It's so weird. One week, I think, Man,
(40:24):
there you go. Then the next week I'm like two
finesse yes. Then we think what a great offensive line.
Then the next week it's like where was golf throwing that?
Then the next week it's like, Dan, you can't go
for it twenty seven times fourth out.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
To get out.
Speaker 4 (40:39):
So it's the fluctuation of they are. If you were
watching them on one of those heart monitors, Dan, you
know you could be up down if you try to
follow it. There's no flat line where it's like conciding's like,
I don't know what I don't know what I'm getting
from Detroit now. If they're playing their best, beware because
they can score from the parking lot.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
But it's not anybody that's exactly.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
My So they get into a fistfight where you're getting
gut punched.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
Not not you know, not hoping you land a big
blow to knock somebody out with a lucky punch.
Speaker 5 (41:08):
Agreed, So that take that.
Speaker 4 (41:09):
Then we obviously know about the vikings in truth, the
grind and again grit it sounds so cheesy. The Bear's
defense is getting better, their offensive line is becoming one
of the better.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
I mean, they're really doing a great job. And you
know what's said.
Speaker 4 (41:24):
I didn't know as much as I watched Caleb going
into last week's game. He's the all time best in
the first thousand throws and not throwing it to the
other team, which is if you'd ask that going in
most people, what are you talking about this rookie he's
on He's gonna have three different coordinators and he's got
Ben Johnson who takes chances and he doesn't play on schedule.
Speaker 5 (41:44):
He's off schedule, throwing side on him, and you're like.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
But yet he talk about a guy who's getting better
and a feel and betting to wonder Ben Johnson wanted
to wait for this gig even though he's got a
long way to go and he's getting better and patient
and not having to play hero ball. And then when
he has to dan that throw he made going to
his right in the back of the end zone last week,
they can't win Vabe, Yes, stupid good. It was like,
(42:08):
let me see that again, isn't that good? So I'm
not so sure right now, depending on where it is,
because the guy is so dynamic and they are getting better,
they're running it pretty depth wise. They've got it and
getting roamed back will be good for them. I'm not
sure that this team right now can't beat idiot them
and their record shows that they can.
Speaker 5 (42:28):
But I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (42:30):
Do I believe an NFC North team as I watch
right now is playing in the NFC Championship Game.
Speaker 5 (42:36):
Maybe if they were to get three in that they'll
have it just by a process of statistically eliminating maybe,
But do what I bet right now? To be in there. No,
I take Seattle, I take the Rams.
Speaker 4 (42:49):
There's a few other hell right now, even though they're
they're reeling Philadelphia's moxie.
Speaker 5 (42:54):
I may even take them even though their quarterback in
their places that hasn't been great.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
So I don't trust, but I am intrigued by it
because all three of them give me something. Yet all
three of them have a weakness that makes you say,
that's a first, that's a first weekend out.
Speaker 5 (43:10):
So we'll see.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
But deep but not spectacular at the top, even though
the record for like A Chicago says pretty good.
Speaker 5 (43:17):
Man, it's pretty spectacular.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
But maybe if we were having this conversation a year
from now in Chicago was doing this, we might feel.
Speaker 5 (43:24):
Different because it would be one more year of trust
from a rookie.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
N true, that's a big part of it as well.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
By the way, Guardgie and I had a pre show
meeting and we've decided you should get the week off
next Thursday. We think next Thursday you should get the
We you worked hard, we're gonna give you Christmas Day.
I mean we'll be here, of course working because we
never stop working, but we're gonna give you Christmas Day
off how how you know how magnanimous.
Speaker 4 (43:50):
Are I mean, you guys are unbelievable that you give me.
You give me that leeway, and you know what it
sounds like. It sounds like the voluntary mandatory that I'm
gonna get punished for that being on ay.
Speaker 2 (44:01):
Sooner or later, we'll probably find a way to use it.
Somebody will.
Speaker 1 (44:04):
There'll be a listener who will use it against you,
because I know they're out there.
Speaker 2 (44:09):
So as I got Tostia yeah on.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
Your Twitter handle for your show and on yours, there
will be somebody who says, well, Sean, you're lazy, and
it'll be serious. I'm like, well, I really it's I mean,
I'm on here because I love them, But can I
wake up and hand my kid a few gifts and
deal with my dogs and animals and have some fun?
Speaker 5 (44:26):
But yeah, oh it's coming. We'll have some fun.
Speaker 4 (44:28):
So yes, I'm going to be lazy next week. I
appreciate you giving me Christmas off, brother, but merry Christmas.
Do a great city, you and guards here the best,
and you know it. I consider it an honor and
I'm serious. I don't take lightly coming on and sharing
football and fun laughs with you guys each week.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
So thank you, well, you know how much we appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (44:46):
Man.
Speaker 2 (44:47):
Have a great holiday and we'll we'll talk maybe in
a couple of weeks.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Thank you, Happy holidays, Marry Christmas.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
Thanks shown Sean Salisbury. Top of the Hour break is approaching.
Thursday is usually not a day we associate with Luigi,
but his schedule is.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Kind of fun. Monkey this week. Lots of hockey to
discuss with Louie that is coming up next
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