Green Light with Chris Long - Frank Ragnow! Blake Cashman! Lions & Dan Campbell's Training Camps! Vikings & J.J McCarthy's Leadership!

Episode Date: July 19, 2024

Beau Week on Green Light is completed with fellow Minnesotans Frank Ragnow and Blake Cashman! Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow joins Beau to talk about the Lions outlook this season, Dan Campbell training camps, playing for Hank Fraley, Minnesota and fishing. Then Blake Cashman talks about joining the Vikings in free agency, DeMeco Ryans resurrecting his career, JJ McCarthy & Minnesota football. Enjoy the Minnesota boys FEASTIN'. (00:00) - Intro (7:10) - Frank Ragnow on the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell, fishing and the outdoors, playing in the SEC and toughest matchups vs Grady Jarrett and Kenny Clark (33:42) - Blake Cashman on joining the Vikings, Kevin O'Connell and J.J. McCarthy, being ejected from his final Minnesota football game and playing with Harrison Smith Want your Green Light Merch so you can look exactly like Chris and the fellas? Hit the website below and get kitted! https://stores.kotisdesign.com/yotehouse/products Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪[phone]‬ Send any Talent Search submissions to: [e-mail] Include any video of your talents, takes and bits as well as a little bit about yourself. Love hearing from the Green Light fans. Also, check out our paddling partners at Appomattox River Company to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. https://paddleva.com/ Green Light Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/user/951jyryv2nu6l4iqz9p81him9?si=17c560d10ff04a9b Spotify Layup Line: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1olmCMKGMEyWwOKaT1Aah3?si=675d445ddb824c42 Green Light Tube YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxWFAA-wuB7osdiAJyLOcw Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's definitely something like what you talk about, like the mental aspect of it, kind of the chess game within the game is something that I've, it's a different part of the game that I've really fallen in love with. It's almost like you feel like you're battling the defensive coordinator sometimes. Like we're playing like the Vikings and I see Harrison Smith on the line of scrimmage and I guess right and he's actually the deep safety. Like it's like, let's go, you know. Then meanwhile, I got to block a freak show like you as I'm trying to do that. So there's a lot going on. Welcome to the Green Light podcast. Thanks for jumping in again.

You know what time it is because Bose told you about a thousand times. It is another Minnesota show. Today we have two Minnesota born and bred football players. Frank Ragnall for the Detroit Lions and Blake Cashman recently signed to the Minnesota Vikings. The hometown kid. Both of them are on today. Frank talks about the Lions, Dan Campbell, having Hank Frang Fisland. Rayleigh as his offensive line coach playing in the SEC and the culture shock that hit him

heading down south for college football. And then Blake Cashman talks about joining the Vikings, how he was a Green Bay Packers fan growing up in Minnesota, playing for Kevin O'Connell, watching JJ McCarthy and his excitement to play with Harrison Smith. A great episode. Thank you all for jumping in. Make sure to check it out on YouTube as well and have a blast and a half. Welcome back. What a buttery week. The Butter King, Bo Allen, that is me, your boy. I'm taking over Greenlight Pod while Chris is in Montana. I'm up in my beautiful home state of Minnesota.

I'm at Divine Fox Studios in North Loop, Minneapolis. We're running the pod with a little bit of a Minnesota slant today. So we've got some great guests for you guys with Minnesota Roots. First up is Frank Ragnow Center for the Detroit Lions. He grew up in Minnesota, like Victoria, Minnesota. He's a really, really good football player and a great dude. dude, truly just a Minnesota guy. So that was a great interview.

And then after that, Blake Cashman, who's another local Minnesota guy, fun fact about Blake, grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, played in his home state for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, and then kind of traveled around the league a little bit and signed in free agency recently with the Vikings. So two great interviews for you guys, going to talk a lot about Minnesota. I fucking love Minnesota. It's a great state. And I think those are two great guys and two great interviews.

Two great Minnesotans, three with you on the show today. And Frank is a guy that if you scroll through his Instagram, it looks exactly like Dr. Fax's Instagram. If Dr. Fax's fish that he catches were about three feet longer. If Fax actually caught fish not on a chilling reel. Yes, exactly. On an actual fishing rod. But Frank went to Arkansas.

I want to read you this quote that came out today. Sam Pittman is the head coach at Arkansas. Sam Pittman on Arkansas's 2024 focus. 2024 is a fresh start. Our focus is to embrace the hog. Embrace the hog. Hey, Bo, you just got to embrace the hog out there.

I embrace the hog every night, cat, what? Man, every night, yeah. You really, and that's why Sam Pittman loves your dedication. That's not necessarily a fresh start for me, though, because I've been doing that for years. See, I wish we could have asked Frank, you know, how he exudes. embracement of the hog how he just shows and works out of it you know who i bet really embraces their

hog is dan campbell oh yeah i bet he just grabs that inner hog he grabs that inner hog he's got that hog in him he's got that that that's a he's got that hog in him that's the new that's white boar summer's out he's got that hog in him is in embrace it are you guys embracing the hog up there in minnesota yeah actually i really am i want to give a quick podcast shout out to A real true blue hog. That's my dad. Matt Allen, he is retiring this week. Unbelievable.

He actually, yeah, shout out. Dad, you fucking did it, man. Congratulations. It's really funny because he's been asking me kind of like advice on retirement. I'm like, I don't know what to tell you. Like, do not do what I've been doing. He's like, well, you know, I just want to play a lot of pickleball. Like he plays pickleball.

He plays golf. You know, he's going to spend a lot of time up at our cat. So he's worked for a number of years. He's worked his ass off. And dad, you know, proud of you. You've instilled upon me an unbelievable work ethic. And I hope you really enjoy retirement. I can't wait to play some more pickleball with you.

Do, are you going to show him any video games he should get into playing? I should, honestly. I'm going to get him, uh, I've been playing a lot of steam deck, which is like a portable gaming device that you can use for your PC, your Steam library. I've been playing a lot this summer. Maybe I'll get my dad a steam deck for retirement. We'll see. I think that would be very nice of you, Bo.

I would not be surprised. You should do that. That would be a great gift. Gather some dust. For the people, what was your father's profession? What did you do? Yeah. So my dad, it's really funny.

He worked for a number of years in the cosmetic industry. So he was a senior vice president of sales for Revlon. That's why I have such unbelievable luscious hair. It's because he gives me all of their products. I was telling Cowboy, when I was in high school, my dad would get all the product samples. and bring them back. Then, you know, me and my brother would have like friends, girls over and they would just

pick through the, you know, the Revlon samples. And really won me a lot of points with, you know, the high school girls of Minnetonka. It takes the whole family working in unison to try to get your boy laid. Dude, your dad is just one hell of a wingman. Yeah. He's embracing that hog. But shout out to dad. I hope you see this.

I hope you enjoy these interviews. And dude, there's a lot of great athletes from Minnesota. People sleep on Minnesota. People sleep on the, you know, the vibrant culture and the athletics in Minnesota. People forget that Prince, one of the truly one of the biggest legends of all time in the entertainment industry is from Minnesota. It's just got a lot of great interesting characters. So enjoy these interviews. We will be back on Tuesday with a little Montana check-in from your host, Chris Long.

So enjoy this little football here. Make sure you check it out on YouTube also. There's some great reactions that you won't see on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. So make sure you pop over to YouTube to check that out. But thanks to Bo for knocking it out this week. Thanks for Macon for knocking it out last week. And we will see you on Tuesday with old Chris Long. Green LightPod, Minnesota Takeover.

We got a couple Minnesota boys here. Bo Allen, the Butter King. I'm joined by Frank Reg now. Minnesota's finest, Frank, thanks for coming on, man. No problem. Thanks for having me, man. Of course, yeah. So you told me that you are actually in our lovely home state of Minnesota at the moment. Soaking up, soaking up the lovely Minnesota summers as long as I can until I head back to a beautiful training camp. Yeah, man, it's the calm before the storm right now. When do you guys report like next week?

Tuesday, yeah. Ooh, so you got a little bit of the Sunday scaries? Oh, my gosh. No, I know you're excited and you've been working your ass off. all off season and you're ready to go. But dude, I've been retired now for a couple of years. And if someone even says the C word around me, I get a little goosebumps. Oh, it's crazy.

I was at Penae Stool's wedding this past weekend and we were, you know, we were all just kind of chatting about it. And it's crazy how everyone's just like. Yeah. Well, like, it'll, you have that moment of time where, you know, you get that time off after vet camp and then, you know, you have like the Fourth of July and you're like, oh, I'm free. Like, I have some time before camp.

Obviously, like, you keep training and you stay up the day with everything. And then the fourth hits and you have a good time. And then after that, you look at the calendar, you're like, fuck. Yeah. Two weeks. Here we go. Here we go. Yeah.

So I want to know what you've been getting up to. I follow you on Instagram and your outdoor page and everything like that. And you've been, looks like you've been fishing a lot, man. Yeah, that's kind of the, that's kind of the memo for me. Lots of fishing. We have a family cabin, actually, just north of, uh, international falls in Canada. that you can only get to by boat or plane and no phone service no electricity all this all the good stuff so i spent a few weekends up there and then a week up there and really kind of grind to get

my fix away from the world yeah that's your grizzly man right yeah yeah that's where he'd become grizzly man that's it that's where it was born yeah i don't want to like docks your secret hidden cabin location but i don't know if it's up near like lake of woods but i've been up there fishing a couple times and it's it's beautiful man it's first of all the fishing is incredible you feel like you don't have to you're like I'm not even trying that hard sometimes to catch some of the walleye and like the smallmouth bass and stuff like that but like yeah it looks like you caught a big musky as well I never caught one yeah they're freaking sick literally they call them the fish of 10,000 cast in right you have to literally cast 10,000 times but when you hook up it's like

the most rewarding feeling ever and I caught a big one so that was pretty sweet is that like the premier catch that you had this summer is that I went out to um there's a place on lakes Superior, it's called Standard Rock. They call it the loneliest place in the world. It's like 44 miles offshore. And it's a lighthouse with a bunch of reefs. And at Reeves or reefs? Whoa.

Reef. Let's go Reef. We're really smart on this podcast, bro. Anyway, there's a bunch of reefs and like you can only get there like 10 days out of the year because of the wind and everything. So we got out there one day and I caught a pretty big lake trout. That's pretty. Oh, cool.

Yeah, that's awesome, man. I'll have to check that out. Well, it sounds like you've been enjoying your, you know, the calm before the storm before camp here. I'm sorry, but we got to talk camp a little bit. I'm not going to lie, man. I'm a huge fan of like the Lions, the way your organization is run.

I was actually in Detroit for the NFL draft, you know, back here in the spring, which was really cool. I like Detroit, man. I think it's a cool city. It's got a lot of flavor to it. But I've always been curious with Dan Campbell being like a, you know, kind of the guy that he is, the energy that he brings, the intensity,

and being a former player, just kind of wondering how that translates into, you know, like practice, especially fall camp, because he's got to be a guy that understands what camp is. And looking from the outside, it seems to me like he probably appreciates, you know, the grind and physicality of camp.

Yeah, he's like a good balance, man. He's like, he's from the Bill Parcell's tree. So I guess that means people, like, they work, they go. And he definitely has that. And he knows. and it communicates that to us. Like, here's the deal.

I'm going to do what I think is best for the team, and that's going to involve, like, we go. We have some days that we call them red line days where they're pretty juicy, but also he'll listen to us. He'll listen to us and he'll talk to us and kind of feel it out, and he'll understand where the team is and evaluate,

but he's pretty cool how he really evaluates camp and makes a plan that he thinks going to be best fit for us, having days that are going to be old school, bang, and real physical days, and then days we'll let off and will be more mental. So it's a good balance. Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, that's kind of how I feel like it needs to be. As a nose guard, obviously, I mean, we played against each other. You know that. But you kind of need those days where we do live goal line and live short yardage and, you know, bull rushing in pads and stuff like that because it gets you ready for the season, but it's kind of a double-edged store because you have too many of those days. You feel like

you're kind of chopped up. For sure. Your highest headed into the season. So it's a fine line to walk. But I know Hank Fraily is your O-line coach. He's a guy that played in the NFL as well. Is that Chris Long, who's, you know, Greenlight Podcasts with Chris Lange. Chris played with Hank in, I think it was St. Louis.

St. Louis, yeah. Yeah, and he's a big fan. But is he a guy that understands kind of everything that goes into camp as well, or is he just going to, you know, buy guys? No, he's the man. He's probably been the biggest blessing of my career. far. I've had him my whole career, which most O'Lyman don't have that luxury. And he's not only an O'Lyman that played, but he's a center that played. And it's been so cool for him to be able to

kind of, it's just such, it's such a democracy, if you will, like with everything's an open exchange and we're able to discuss how I see things, how he sees things, how what's best fit for the room going forward. And he's just been a blessing. a huge blessing for me. And I think this whole room, and I think he's a lot of the reason why we've had some success in the past few years. Yeah, definitely. And I think it's interesting to me. I have a lot of respect for centers, you know, because I lined up across from you guys forever. But it seems like it's one of the most cerebral positions, you know, on the, on the offensive line, because you guys are, you know, you're kind of communicating with the rest of the group.

You have the ability to line up over the ball and try to see blitzes, call out different slide protections. You have a unique relationship with a quarterback. where he's got his hand up your ass every play. Have you seen the center position kind of evolve over your time? Because you're entering year seven, right? Has that position evolved for you over time? That's definitely something like what you talk about, like the mental aspect of it, kind of the chess game within the game,

is something that I've, it's a different part of the game that I've really fallen in love with. It's almost like you feel like you're battling the defensive coordinator sometimes. Like playing like the Vikings and I see Harrison Smith on the line of scrimmage. and I guess right, and he's actually the deep safety. Like, it's like, let's go, you know. Then meanwhile, I got to block a freak show like you as I'm trying to do that. So there's a lot going on. So it's a fun but very rewarding position.

Yeah, and it's funny you mentioned the game within the game because my experience in the NFL is like first year when you're a rookie, you're just trying to keep your head above water. You're just trying to figure out what you have to do to make the team, to earn playing time. and then kind of as you progress in your career, for me at least, it's like you kind of expand a little bit. Okay, this is how teams are going to attack us when we're in this defense. This is how this offensive system is run.

It sounds like that's kind of what you're referring to, which I feel like every vet that really pours their love and attention into the game kind of gets to that point. So it's cool to hear. My question for you, though, is there a center or like maybe not a center, an offensive lineman or a guy? Because, you know how it is. You have so many guys that help you along. or that you try to emulate your game after. Is there a center that you really watch

and try to steal a lot of tricks and tips from or someone that helped you I was on the same roster or anything like that? There's a bunch of dudes that have been around the league that have been, it's been fun to see and watch. One guy that was kind of similar in my size and stature, and I like the way it was Brandon Linder

with the Jaguars. He retired, but he was a great guy to watch. I like the physicality that Ryan Jensen played with watching Jason Kelsey. Yeah, geez. He's watching Jason Kelsey pole. Like, he's basically like a fullback out there, just incredible. And then there's a dude on the Saints, Eric McCoy, that I think he plays pretty dang good ball.

So those are a lot of those guys like to. I try to watch as much as I can because all these guys are doing it their own unique way. And it's cool to pick up some things you can see from them. Yeah, that's exactly. I mean, I'll never forget, man. You got to find a player that you can kind of, you know, like I think Eric McCoy is a great kind of stature, similar place. style is what you do. But I'll never forget it.

When I was in Tampa Bay of 2018 by D-Ly coach, he was Brenton Buckner. He pulled up tape of Aaron Doblin. He's like, Oh, why aren't you doing this? I'm like, what the fuck?

Like, I can't do this. Like, what are you talking about? So you got to kind of find guys that you can emulate your game after. You know what I mean? It's like, dude,

I can't do. Yeah, like people are like, oh, you should be watching Kelsey. I'm like, how tall is Jason Kelsey? Kelsey's like 6-2-5, 6.3.

Yeah. This guy's like 6-2-2-90, pulling 90% of time. I'm a different cat. I hate to break it to everybody. No, I saw a clip of you in space, though, pulling it. You are good, man. I think it was, yeah.

Got to sell yourself short here. Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it. Hey, you got to come on the pod so I can gas you up before camp, you know? I can get your mind right. I need that. I need all the confidence I can get it. I know how that goes.

So I want to talk, obviously, I'm a nose guy. I want to talk about the other side of the ball. I did kind of a film study, film breakdown. We called butter breakdowns. doing for the YouTube side of Chris's podcast. But I did a butter breakdown on Aline McNeil. I think he's really developed into a pretty complete player, man. He seems like a great guy.

So I was wondering if you're looking forward to going against him in camp, what kind of player he is and how you've watched him progress over the last couple years. He's really talented, really, really, really talented. And just a great, like since day one, he's been just a humble, like just a pro. And it's been so cool to see him involved. Like last year, he, He cut a bunch of body fat and really kind of leaned up. And you saw he was very dynamic.

And he's just hungrier and hungrier. And I think he's going to get better and better. He's adding more and more little pass rush moves to his toolbox or whatever. And it's been cool to see. But the guy works. And he can be that three technique. He's a pass rush threat. But he can also be that nose.

He kind of plugs things up ever and early down. So he's a very special player. He moves well for a big boy, too, on a lot of the stuff. Dunds and dude, he's a big time baseball player, like a free. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. I didn't know that. You should look up clip.

He, like, was really good. Sick. Yeah, I'm going to check that out. We'll do a butter breakdown baseball edition. Check out. He's a freak show athlete. And he's a rapper. Like, he's just a dude kind of everything he does.

Good. He seems like a great guy for the locker room, too. Yeah. Just interesting cat. And then you guys added DJ Reader as well, kind of coming off an injury. We don't really need to talk about that too much, but I think that'll be a valuable addition for the defensive line for you guys. Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing him.

He's been a guy of respect in this league for a while, and he just does it the right way. And everything I've heard about him as a person, too, has been phenomenal. So I'm excited to have him on the team. And then, yeah, the fact that he's just a really, really good football player. You put those two on the interior. It's going to be pretty cool. Yeah, and I'm sure you played against him when he was with the Bengals or whatever.

I haven't played him. I haven't played him. Oh, really? Yeah, so. That's wild. Yeah, I know. I'm interested to see. I think you'll see your fair share of him.

Is there a defensive tackle? Because I'm trying to think when I was in, so when I was in Philly, you know, we obviously played the Cowboys twice a year and got to go against, you know, Travis Frederick, who I went to Wisconsin with and Zach Martin. And it was always like, well, fuck, they're going to run duo, 30-town with Zeke. You know, I got to strap my helmet up extra tight this week. But is there a noseguard or a defensive lineman, especially in the NFC North that you have a of respect for and you you kind of know like it's on every week when you play him.

Kenny Clark, I think he's still underrated. He's a really good player and it's been fun battling him throughout the years. And I think we both have a mutual respect, but I know I got to bring my A game every time we go against him. He's a good player, man. And he can do it all. Speaking of guys that are underrated, I always love to ask this question when you get vets on, but is there a guy that you played with that you're like, this guy is so good.

You know, maybe, you know, things never really bounce his way or he didn't get as much playing time as he deserved, but you're like, this is a guy who's an unbelievable pro and an unbelievable athlete, and he never really got the love. So I like to want to try to give, you know, get those guys some love. I played with a guard. He had a bunch of back issues and just kind of never really, he played, but he never really got to flourish with Joe Dahl, like one of the most fluid, smooth, moving guys. And so every time he was healthy, he was such a good player, but he was, he was won. And then a guy who I think gets love, but not nearly as much love. I'm going out, Grady Jared.

I don't think, I think Grady Jared is so good. He's so good. And I feel like he still doesn't get nearly as much love. Yeah. He's a really good football player. You know how it is for D. Lyman, where you watch the first, you know,

millisecond of a play to see your get-off and your first step. And his first step, I swear, is like four yards long. He's just. Oh, good. He's really talented. I'm happy that you mention him, man, because I've always had, like, I was, you know,

I was with Tampa and watching him for the Falcons forever. He's a good player. Yeah. All right. I want to talk about some coaches quick. We actually have some crossover in our college football experience from the coaching standpoint. That's when you were in Arkansas, you have Brett Bielma, who was my head coach at Wisconsin.

And I'll never forget one time I think I was back in the Chanahassen lifetime. And I was working out. I see you in the squad rack. I'm like, what the fuck? Who is this dude squatting? Then we ended up working out together. And you were doing Ben Herbert's offseason strength program. Yeah.

I remember that. Were you in the league yet? Or were you training for the league? And I was training for college. I think like, man, this seems like a lifetime ago. But I'm pretty sure I was, it was right before the draft. And I was just back home, you know, kind of just chilling, like training, getting ready to hopefully get drafted. Yeah.

I think you were getting ready to return. Because it was probably like late April or May or whatever. And you were getting ready like that quick. I think that was my senior year at high school. I think I was getting ready to go to school because I was drilling you about them. Yeah. And you were over there in the Chanhassen Lifetime Corner. He's not to say this, everybody. He was squat like 700 just casually.

All these Instagram models are doing curls over there. This guy's squats. And that's all I got these days, bro. That's all I got. But I wanted to ask you because obviously I love her, but he is so funny. I mean, he's an intense guy. Like he kind of looks at you and, you know. There's through your soul.

Yeah, he's like looking through your soul and just analyzing your entire body. But I want to see if you saw the clip. of his presser when he went to LA. It just how perfect that was. Dude, when that went kind of viral, like our college group chat, which is everybody was so pumped. Like, it's just like the world can see her. Like, everybody starts to see her.

And it was such a, like, how he mentioned he's the same guy every single day. Like, ain't that true? We always talk about the crazy kind of, because, you know, college, I feel like the weightlifting program, the strength program in college is such a big deal. you almost the rules have changed a little bit but when i was there you spent more time with the weight room staff than your coaches and so you really get to know these guys and he would have us do crazy competitions like lateral plate holds bo versus frank if you think frank is going to win get on frank side if bow is going to win get on bow side yeah and then whoever lost that team would have to run extra

like just like crazy mental warfare like i remember one time we had a kid who showed up late so we will he wheeled out the recliner from the players lounge had that kid sit on the recliner while we did in 150 updowns and he was yeah he was handing the kid gatorade yes dude i've told that story before thank you i've told that to chris before we if you had a guy late in your position group it's like let's say i'm late i was never late one time in college never once because of shit like this he would make you like if i was late he would get the recliner you sit down he makes you comfy and then you got a guy on the stairmaster with a plate, like holding a plate or holding a dowel above their head.

And we had, we had, our campus is super hilly at Arkansas. So we had one time a kid was still sleeping in the dorms. And the dorms in the top of the hill, the weight room's at the bottom of the hill. You had to pick a partner and you had to carry your partner up. And we all went and we knocked on the door of the, get out of bed. Fuck you. Yeah. It's crazy.

That's the warfare. Exactly. No, I love her. I'm very interested to hear from kind of how that offseason is going. I think, you know, I wish Herb nothing but love and success. But now talking about Arkansas, what was it like playing in the SEC, man? Because obviously, you know, you grew up in Minnesota and I kind of had a little bit, you know, I'm always kind of curious to see what it's like to go from a, you know, a town.

Like, because you grew up in Chanhast in Minnesota, right? Victoria, yeah, right next to Chin. Victoria. Yeah. So then going to, you know, the SEC in Arkansas, like, was that a little bit of culture shock for you? Oh, gosh. Oh, yeah. Blocking those kids from Redwood and Northfield.

You never gave up a sack in college. Yeah. I did my prep on this. Come on now. That's a lot of luck. That's a lot of luck. It was quite the shell shock my freshman year. I'm not going to lie.

There's some freak shows down there in the SEC. But that's kind of the reason why I wanted to go down there. I knew that especially the defensive line talent down there is just there was just so many good players. It was hard to beat in my relationship with Coach Pittman. He was the offense line coach. He's the head coach at the now. and then Bilema was just, it was hard to beat, say no to that. Yeah.

You enjoyed your experience at college? Like, is there a favorite stadium that you love in the SEC? Because I never really got to play in any of those. Yeah, they're all so cool and so loud. I think one moment that really sticks with me is we played Tennessee. I think it was either my sophomore or junior year, and they took the opening kickoff. It was the loudest moment of my life.

Like all those hillbillies down there singing Rocky Tuff. like it was crazy, man. Yeah. Yeah, I want to try to get to an SEC game. I still have never been, so. I recommend. I highly recommend. Well, you know, Alabama's coming to play in Camp Randall actually in September.

Is that finally this year? Yeah. I feel like that's been on the schedule forever. That'll be cool. Yeah, a long time coming. Hopefully the, you know, the Badgers will show them what Big Ten football is all about. The Badgers kind of struggled last year, didn't they? Fickle, yeah.

So we got a new, it's interesting because, you know. It's weird because it's the spread. right yeah exactly we've had such a commitment to running the ball and you know kind of developing big offensive linemen from wisconsin and minnesota and stuff like that and now we're kind of transitioning into what i feel like is like the nil era of flashy college football and it's a little different than how we've run our program so yeah hey i'm a homer though for for the badgers so i think bucky's going to have a great year but i don't even like i don't even know which teams are in the big ten i found how washington joined the big ten yeah

This week. It kind of sucks, but it is where it is. What's going on? So I want to talk real quick about going back to Detroit because I've randomly spent a lot of time in Detroit. Like I said, I was there for the draft. But I want to ask about the playoff atmosphere in Detroit because it seemed, you know, you guys played Tampa. I used to play for the Bucs. I'd beat a Vea on the podcast actually earlier this week.

There was a huge, you know, big friend of mine, literal big friend of mine. Good player. Yeah. Big boy. Holy cow. Yeah, he's a load. He said the atmosphere was amazing, though, in Detroit. So what was that game like?

That was, it's crazy because I feel like that game was absurd, but the Rams game before it was even more absurd. Like it was, the Rams game was, like there was a buzz. Like, people say there was a buzz. There was a buzz in the building like hours before kickoff. And it just was crazy. And then you got the Jared Gough chance and Stanford coming back. It was just there was so much energy.

And it felt like that whole game was like a rock concert. It was nuts. And then you follow up, that game, too, was intense. It was a good game, like a good battle. Two, like, incredible. I mean, that was my first time in the playoffs. So two just incredible home playoff games to start off. Like, it was really, really cool.

Yeah, and I feel like the people of Detroit have just been dying for a playoff. playoff game. Yeah. Yeah. And they're, they're, they're great. Like, to see how they showed up and how they've, I mean, they've stuck with us through. I mean, I've had some tough years with Detroit. And for them to stick through and now to see them be rewarded, it's been pretty special. Yeah, I feel like that really is kind of, you know, you kind of take a look around before a game like that. You're like, let's go. Like, we got here. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, here we are. Yeah. It's a very special thing. So, listen, man, I mean, it's been great talking with you. I want to ask you a little bit about just, you know, I'm trying to do a Minnesota pod. So, Blake Cashman is another Minnesota local guy. He's going to come on later.

Yep. So I'm going to ask him a bunch of questions. But I want to ask you just some very specific questions about Minnesota. Because, dude, I love Minnesota and I feel like people don't get it. So slept on. So slept on, right? They're like, oh, like, dude, I'll tell people from Minnesota and it'll be like, May or June. They'll be like, oh, how cold is up there? I'm like, fucking 70 degrees. All right. Like, what are you talking about? And everybody who moves here, they don't leave. Exactly. I'm moving back, actually.

I'm building the house in Minnesota. So we can work out at the Chanhaston Lifetime. No, that's been taken over. That's been taken over by influencers. You don't like that. Hey, I'm an influencer now, Frank. Oh, my bet. I'm the butter cake.

Yeah, I'm fucking with you. But I was wondering if you could, on the podcast earlier this week, one of my co-hosts or whatever was kind of shit in Minnesota. So I gave him a Minnesota sales pitch where I was talking about all the great things Minnesota has to offer. I was wondering if you would be willing to give a kind of a little bit of a sales pitch on the great state of Minnesota. Not that we want people here that don't want to be here, but just if you could extol the virtues of our great state. Lake life. Yeah. Nobody understands it.

It's different. It's different than any. You have such an appreciation for lake life because of the winners. And the lake life is so beautiful. It is, I mean, I'm biased. That's kind of all I do. But it is whether you're into fishing like me or wakeboarding, anything, like there's so many restaurants on the lake. It is just, that's Minnesota to me.

Yeah, but I mean, there's lake life even in the winter, you know? Oh, yeah. Snowmobile on the lakes. My parents go cross country skiing on the lakes and then ice fishing. Like people don't understand ice fishing either. We're not sitting here ice fishing outside over a hole. It's miserable. like towns like little towns some of the lakes up north they've got bars on the lake

i was telling this to uh one of my friends who's just getting into fishing his doc his name is dr fax he comes on green light a lot but uh ice fishing is it's just an excuse to drink beer and when we're in high school like you know like i said we keep you pretty loose on this pod the the uh the dnr is what's in charge of whatever's going on the lakes you know not the local cops so if you're an underage kid it's not a bad place to go with your buddies you know what i mean life life hack yeah exactly life hack that's the dnr jurisdiction yeah and like if you can get one of those those uh shanneys like those those houses they're literally like a man cave like they're pimped out like you got a fireplace a tv yeah whole kitchen and then by the way you're sitting there fishing like that ain't a bad gig

that's not bad at all man it's a good little life it's a good way to kind of get out of the house of the winter you know no doubt well frank i don't want to take up too much your time i know you got to get in the playbook and get your body right for camp coming up next week really just want to say thanks a lot for coming on man we'd love to have you back at some point we're trying to get your coach on too i think he's come on at some point but oh dc he's a fucking legend man we sent him a care package actually for camp you know how like your agency you'll send you camp care packages so we sent him one it was just like a bunch of coffee and dip figured it lasted him like a week.

Yeah, if that. Exactly. But yeah, thanks a ton for coming on, man. Really looking forward to watch a player, an unbelievable player. And it's been fun to follow your career, man. Appreciate you, man. Thanks for having me. Hey, y'all.

Green Light has official merch like this hat right here, like the one on my head, does Dad Hat. Love this hat. I'm not even a Dad Hat guy, but this thing fits great. This hat right here fits great. We've got hoodies. We've got teeth. By the way, this hoodie's like super comfy.

I mean, it's like soft, plush. It's not the type of hoodie that's going to get stiff with one wash. And the shirts, too, because I'm a big comfort guy. Okay, you got like this white shirt here. You got the shirt with the logo, the Abbey Road looking logo, with Dr. Fax smoking presumably a blunt, Kyle carrying Cowboy Reed, make and driveling a bad. basketball, which I've never seen him actually do, and me carrying a football.

And then you've got the black shirt here, too, with the logo. So stickers, hit the link in the description in the video, below the video, actually, and make sure to tag us on social media showing off your green light merch. It's quality, quality threads here, okay? Wouldn't do it any other way. So you're back in Minnesota. You're living with mom and dad, or what? I was at my mom's place for a couple months when I first got back.

It actually kind of worked out because they kind of become snowbirds. So they got a place in Florida. And so I had a house in Eden Prairie all to myself during OTAs. And then, you know, while I was there, I was looking at the houses that were available. And I ended up getting a place pretty close to the Vikings facility. So there's been a little bit of adjustment being on the west side of the city, is now being more like southeast. But I'm loving it so far.

Yeah, man, you've really come full circle. So obviously you went from Eden Prairie. You went to Minnesota, and then you were out in New York City with the Jets down to Houston, and now you're back in Minnesota. What's it feel like, man, to just kind of fucking – people say Minnesota is the stickiest state. People move away and then they always come back. It's kind of what I'm doing. But you're doing that in a professional capacity, man.

What's that like? It's been great so far. I mean, the Vikings was kind of a surprise. I knew they were always interested, but I never thought they were going to get to, like, you know, the opportunity and the money. that I was looking for and, you know, leading up to, like, the day I could, you know, talk to the team, agree to terms, all that, and for agency, they just got super aggressive. And, you know, obviously, you know, talk can be cheap, especially, I mean, as you know,

in the NFL world, but, you know, it felt really good kind of having my first opportunity to get my meat potatoes, but also, you know, the coaches, seeing, you know, the value that I saw myself. but coming back, you know, it's a dream come true. Now, I was on a podcast, was it last week or two weeks ago, podcast out of here called 10,000 takes, but I leaked the news that I grew up a Packers fan. So, you know, a lot of people that know me,

they were like blown away, like what is going on here. But it's a full circle moment, like you said. And I think it's a perfect story for the hometown kid, right? especially when you add the fact that I played college ball here. You know, I remember being drafted by the Jets. And, you know, towards the end of my time in New York, my agent was like, you know, is there any teams that, you know, before your career is over, like you want to play for? And I said, like, Minnesota, because, you know, it's, you know, hometown kids,

you get that almost extra excitement sport. But then on top of that, I feel like there's a lot of, you know, opportunities off the field you can take advantage of and, you know, just be involved in the community. and the businesses here in the Twin Cities. Yeah, I mean, it makes it a lot more rewarding. So I actually grew up a Packers fan as well. My mom's family was from Wisconsin,

and I fucking love Brett Farv. And then my dad was like a huge Vikings fan. So I kind of shared that with you. But do you remember the Randy Moss moon against the... Oh, yeah. I remember watching that game. That pissed me off. I was one of those fans.

I was just like... I probably shouldn't say it, but I'm going to say it. I, in high school, I, this is how mad I got one time. The Green Bay lost, I think, in the NFC championship game, and I punched the wall at my dad's house and actually, like, fractured my hand. That's how mad I would get. I mean, I was like, bad, die hard. Yeah.

Yeah. Crazy. But, you know, I'm sure you kind of went through the same experience. Like, once you start preparing for the NFL, you start, you know, seeing it as a business, you know, I feel like that. the fandom of whatever team you enjoy growing up, you kind of, you lose that. And no matter if I were to ever play for the Green Bay or would have never played for the Vikings, like, I don't think I would have ever gone back to being that, you know,

crazy diehard fan. Yeah, people always ask me, like, who do you cheer for? It's hard, man, because it's like you play for all these teams. You peek behind the curtain. It's not quite the same. So I always say, like, I just cheer for, you know, I mean, I won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. So it's kind of, you know, I'm a little bit of an Eagles home. But you really just cheer for all your buddies that are still playing.

and you watch them and see, you know, kind of like root for the teams that they're on and you wish them success. But that's the thing that was like, I grew up a Packers fan. And I think the, you know, obviously like you don't want to gas up your NFC North rival too much, but Lambo Field is truly one of those iconic places to play. Have you had the opportunity to play there yet? I've only played a preseason game there. But obviously I went to games, made the trip for me, I have a screen bay as a kid growing up. And I mean, it's so historic. You know, obviously it's almost like that a college football town. So they're crazy about their team.

And I'm excited to go there and dominate Green Bay. There you. Dude, I've never played at U.S. Bank Stadium. Right. I've been to games, obviously, there. You know, when the Giants traveled to Minnesota, was it two years ago, first round, the visual or the wild card round, the playoff? you know one of my boys I grew up with went to high school with he plays with the Giants so

went to the game you know kind of support him and man obviously it's a playoff game but still the atmosphere in U.S. Bank Stadium is great and you know I think i think Minnesota's sports fans are some of the best around yeah me you coming from philly or being in philly you can definitely argue that philly fans are definitely up there as well but like you know living in Minnesota, you always just hear about, like, the sorrows of losing and being so good, but always coming short, but still fans are crazy about their team. And every year, they're, you know, just as excited as the previous year. Yeah, no, I mean, we saw it. I mean, obviously, you're going to experience it as a Viking, but we saw it with the Timberwolves recently, too, how, I mean, I was back here in

Minneapolis during their playoff run and the people were fucking hype, man, as they should have been like, bring you ass. You know what I mean? It was rowdy in there. I went to a few of the games myself. But I love that, you know, because I used to be a season ticket older, me and my dad and brother would go to the games. And, you know, it's great to see that just excitement for a team that, you know, let's go all spade and spade. Like the Timberos have not been very good over the last whatever decade, if not

longer since the darnet days. So to see that was special. Yeah. No, and I'm sure you're excited to kind of experience that, too. And I'll tell you, I played at the U.S. Bank just one time. I mean, it was for the Super Bowl, and that was a little different, but everyone I've ever talked to that has, you know, played away games at that stadium. It's really, it is unbelievable, man. The way it's probably my favorite, like, I'm a fan of outdoor football.

Like, I just think that that's how it should be, but obviously you can't really do that in Minnesota. And I think it's the best indoor stadium. Like, I like it better than, you know, Dallas. And it's an awesome place to play, but I think you're going to love it. Like the Skoll chant and people, I mean, it's a fucking. unbelievable atmosphere. So you're really going to enjoy it. It's a lot better than, you know, I don't even know, like, it's a lot better in TCF Bank

Stadium, man. Definitely bigger and louder. Yeah, I got to slip in some, some gopher shit talk here. But I did want to ask you about that. What's it like, you know, like I said, I grew up in Minatonka. I went and played for the Badgers in Madison in college. But I always kind of, you know, in the back of my mind, I was recruited by the gophers.

I was always, you know, kind of in some alternate reality, I played for the gophers. I've always been curious what it's like to grow up and play a college football in your home state. How is that experience? You know, it was good. You know, I think your journey through whatever team you're on, you know, it's always to be better when you're winning. And unfortunately, like, we didn't have many great seasons when I was there. You know, our best year, I think we won nine games as my sophomore year. But, you know, it's awesome to be so close to home because, you know,

You know, you get the people that supported you and went to your games growing up. You know, they also get to come to your college games. And, you know, I love nothing more than, you know, having all my family or buddies at the home games at the time at the time. At the time, you know, we're going to crush some beers afterwards. You know, whether we win or lose, you know, we were going to have a good time. Yeah. Well, you say that you didn't have that many good years. But, I mean, 2018, Gophers won the Axe in Madison.

And that's obviously a big game. People don't really understand the rivalry between Wisconsin, Minnesota, and what that axe game means. What was it like? Because I think that was the first game the Gophers won since, like, 1994. Yeah, in Madison. Or that was the first one in 15 years, but then the first one in Madison since 1994. Oh, I didn't even know that.

Yeah. And then it's so cool because you get to chop down the goalpost. I never lost the axe blade when I was in college. So what was that experience like winning the axe at Camp Randall? But that was my first and only trophy game that I won at Minnesota, and that being my last football game, your senior year. You know, definitely, you know, that makes it more special. But I actually got ejected from that game throwing out in the second quarter. My last college football play was in the second quarter at Camp Randall.

And, you know, I was pissed. You know, I hate the targeting rule. I, you know, I slightly lowered my head, but I didn't even make contact with my head. The returner was like 5-8, 5-9. He was swatting on to catch the ball. And I was on punt, and they put me at gunner. And I just beat the guy right off the line scrimmer, and I took off. And, you know, he swore down to catch the ball.

And I just put my left shoulder pad right through his face mask. And they threw the flag. And, you know, I'm thinking they're going to overturn it in the ref before they made a call. comes up to me. He's like, sorry, man, but you're going to be out of here. There's nothing we can do. And so then I had to go to the locker room. I couldn't even watch the game. They didn't give me a TV to watch. They wouldn't let me back on the field, even in my street clothes. So I had to sit on like a chair all the way down the tunnel, but I had to stay behind this line. And there was like a security guard there, like watching me. And so I could only see about a third of the scoreboard. That's how I

to watch basically the entire second half of the game. And then as we started pulling away, I'm like, we got, you know, the game wrapped up. I think we started clearing the bench, you know, around 10, 12 seconds. And people started our sidecar run. Yeah, because we sprint over to get the ax with other sidelines. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm like, I got to be a part of that.

And security guards looking at me like doing this, putting his handle, like, you need to wait until that clock hits zero. I was like, I'm gone. I'm not missing. You had to hit him with the move, the punt gunner move. You know what I mean? stack him. I just bolted down the side.

He's telling me to stop and then whatever. I was able to get in there and, you know, cut down the one goal balls and we traveled to the other end of the field. That we had student section is. Chop that one down. So would that be my only, like, trophy game I was able to win? Like, it was definitely special. And, you know, I can't, no offense, I can't stay in Wisconsin.

So I get into that Wisconsin. The feeling is mutual, Blake. I know. I mean, we can talk all day about, you know, that Wisconsin and Minnesota rival. But we can also talk about that Minnetonka skipper at Eden Prairie Eagles rival because we always joke at Eden Prairie that Minnetonka always wishes they could be us. But we always had your guys' number. No, I know. I told that to our producers before the show.

You guys, I mean, we always would get knocked out in the section final by Eden Prairie every fucking year, man. And I look back through because I was like, I know these motherfuckers won a lot of state titles. You went four state titles in high school at Eden Prairie when you were there? Yeah, every year we won it. I think we, I want to say we won, I know we won seven in a span of, or we won six in a span of like eight years. Yeah. It's impressive.

Yeah. You can talk that shit to me once you win a Super Bowl of Minnesota. How about that? Fair enough. Fair enough. No, but you all have to make goals. You guys really did have. I actually played with a bunch of guys.

A lot of guys from Eden Prairie, I feel like went to Wisconsin. Blake Sorenson. I mean, that's an old name. I'm not sure if you're familiar with him. But I played with him at Wisconsin. Really good linebacker. And then I think he played with Ryan Conley. I missed him in college.

But he's another really good lineback for me and Prairie. So you guys have a great high school football program, man. And you're not, I don't think you're far off with that comment that you guys say around the, around the facility. Because shit, man, you guys always used to whip up, whip us. I'm not even going to lie. It was a tough match. Like playing Wisconsin every year when I was a good. go for in high school my favorite match it was always to play minnetonka yeah go skipper man yeah

high school rivalries are great man let's talk about some NFL football a little bit that's kind of where my heart lies i'm sure you too obviously since you're in the thick of it you got camp coming up here real quick but i want to talk about your time in houston because your head coach for one year demico ryan's actually played with him for two years in philadelphia who's a linebacker and you know you know how it is like when you're when you're a noseguard you kind of have a little bit a special connection with the middle lineback like the mic because they're like they you have a good mic like it helps you out so much and i'll never forget demico would be on the field as a rookie like you know how does you're a rookie you don't know shit and you're just out there trying to survive and

demico would literally tell me like hey beau power coming right at you like you're getting a double team and i just like it's my fucking guy like domico so smart and he's so chill so i was just kind of curious uh about your experience with him as a head coach because i only had him as a teammate it, you know? Well, I imagine, I mean, I know he was a student of the game when he was playing him. I imagine, I mean, I've seen clips of him ball in when he's playing days, but like, he was, he's one of the most energetic, enthusiastic coaches I've been around. And I can just only imagine what that was like in the locker room. It probably was even, you know, amplified more. But, uh, D'Amico was great. You know, he definitely made me a better player, smarter play.

I don't know if you've ever seen the clip where you talk about how he was calling out powered your rookie year. One of our line batterers, Christian Harris, in the playoffs, took a pick six and took it to the end zone. And right before we took the field, D'Amico's on the iPad saying they're going to run this play again. Don't move. Jump the route. And he did it. I mean, he coached him up. Christian did exactly what he was supposed to do.

and he ended up finding the end zone. But that's his kind of coach he is. You know, he sees the game as you're supposed to, you know, especially being a player of it. And, you know, I think the Houston Texans are going to be a really good football team for a really long time. You know, they got the leadership. They obviously got the pieces in the locker room.

They even loaded up more this year. And so I got nothing but respect for everybody in that building. And, you know, I'm grateful because if I'm being honest with me, they kind of resurrected my career, me a second opportunity coming from New York. And, you know, I learned so much as being there. It was fantastic. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure he had a good experience. And I'm sure they're going to be good, but they did lose some key players in you and that it's fun because you join your teammate, Jonathan Gernard. He came to the Vikes also in free agency. Like, how'd that work out?

You guys, like, hitting each other up. Like, hey, the Vikes are kind of talking to me and my agent, too. Did you guys plan that out? Are you a package dealer? Or was it a surprise for you as well? It was a surprise for me. So it was funny because we were actually, and you know Camus, right? Yeah. So we were at- Fucking love Camus. We were at, Jay-G and I were at his wedding in Hawaii, probably, I don't know, two, three weeks before we signed with the Vikings. And, you know, we're talking obviously ball free agency.

And, you know, I really thought I was going to get something done in Houston. I always had my fingers crossed going to work out. J-G, I don't think was as optimistic about it. But I remember when I, you know, my phone's blowing up. I'm, you know, having a conversation with my agent every 20 minutes on that Monday. And, you know, I'm scrolling through Twitter looking at all the news. And I saw a day he signed. And then, you know, an hour later, then I had agreed to turn into the Vikings.

So it was a complete surprise. But, you know, my family, my mom, they all give me a hard time still of this day because the first call I made was to my girlfriend. and I said, hey, like, I just, degree of terms of Minnesota, we're going back home because she's from Lakeville. And then my second call I made was to J.G. Because I love that guy. A phenomenal player, one of the best locker room guys

have been around. And, you know, I had seen it was going to Minnesota, so I had to chop it up with him. And, you know, we're both very excited to be here and looking for it. Call the girl and the teammate before the family, man. That's great. You got your priorities, right?

Yeah, you know, it's all business. It's all business. And then you also signed Van Ginkle from Miami. He's another Badger linebacker. So a lot of good free agent additions for the Vikes. I'm sure you're excited to play with those dudes some more. I want to ask you a little bit, you had a, you know, a rookie quarterback in Houston that kind of lit the league on fire.

He seems like, I mean, you know, like he seems like an older vet player, even though he's, you know, was a rookie. Just kind of wondering if you have any wisdom for your new, you know, potential rookie quarterback and JJ McCarthy. And you see any similarities? I mean, I understand how it is. Like you just signed a free agency. You're still kind of getting your feet wet, getting to know the locker room.

And you don't really fuck with rookies, frankly, when you're not like a vet, especially a linebacker. But just wondering if you've had any interactions with him and how the experience has been with, you know, a high rookie draft pick quarterback. JJ is awesome. He, you know, obviously I was only able to kind of work with him, you know, TAs for like about a month or going against him. but he's stuck around the entire summer break.

So, you know, twice a week, he'd be throwing to guys. Adam feeling kind of orchestrated this big group. But, you know, I would take, you know, my linebacker drops and, you know, run different coverages stuff while they're throwing, which has been good. But, you know, JJ obviously had a great year in Michigan. He's got the skills to be a good quarterback in this league. But where I'm impressed is like, I mean, I don't know how it was for you. you and a rookie, but most rookies, I see it. When I was a rookie, you come in, you know,

you're just trying to take it all in. Like you said, survive each day. But to me, I was a little timid. Like, I'm like, ah, am I good enough to be here? Like, you have all these things run through your head. And JJ, you can just see how calm he is, how confident he is. And he's got a smile his face. He's going around, meeting everybody on the team, having, you know, real conversations. and like that's like the maturity and professionalism that you know a quarterback needs to have and you know he's a student of the game he's he's eager to learn eager to lead which it doesn't matter how old you are i mean the kid's 21 great young man but if you're going to be the quarterback you have to be the face and leader of the football team he understands that so i'm really excited to see um you know him continue to put his game together and you know the opportunity gets um it's i think it's he can have a special the year. Yeah, I mean, he seems like a mature guy. He's got those breathing techniques that he does before the games, fucking relax. I don't know. Maybe I need some of that shit, man. You got to talk to him in the cafeteria in the locker room and see if he'll impart on you that meditation wisdom, you know.

But no, I mean, you guys have a great squad in, in Minnesota. And I've actually really been a fan of Brian Flores' defense for a long time. A lot of really creative blitzes that I think, you know, can create like slide beaters and a good way to beat protection and, you know, get home. Is that something you're excited about as a linebacker just being in that defense and knowing that you're going to be, you know, moving around a lot? You know, you're not just, I think it's a very different defense from what you're doing in Houston. You know, that's a that's really, to me, a four-down gap penetrating, you know, D-Liamen are just fucking rolling off the ball. It looks like I haven't watched a ton of tape, but it looks like you guys played a lot of cover three and shit like that. And to me it seems like Flores a lot more exotic, you know, blitzing and stuff like that.

So is it a lot, is it a very different defense under B-Flo versus, you know, DeBico's defense in Houston? Yeah, I mean, you said it's an exotic defense. You know, it's brand new to me. Like, I've never played in a system like this. But I'm excited just because, like you said, there's a lot of moving parts. It keeps offense guessing. I mean, he's going to have six, seven, eight guys up on the line of scrimmage. And, I mean, that's the point of the defense is just to have the offense confused and create chaos.

You know, I think it's a high risk, high reward defense a little bit. But one of the first things, you know, I was told from some of the guys that, you know, played under him. You know, Josh Mattelos, who was like an ace on our team. Like, you Swiss Army Knife does it all. He was just like, hey, cash, welcome the squad, man. Be prepared to learn a new playbook every week. You don't never know what's going to be throwing away. But, you know, if you've got pieces on your defense, smart players that, you know, can make quick adjustments and learn things on the fly, like you're going to be able to, you know, play well on Sundays and the schematics will be in place.

You'll do just fine. So, you know, I see a defense where there's a lot of opportunity to make place for everyone. But, you know, you got to be on your shit because, you know, you're going to be in different spots, different alignment. learning new coverages or doing something different that you hadn't worked all year. And as long as you understand that, I think we'll be all right. But as a guy that's probably played in a new defensive system with new coaches almost every year since my freshman year of college, like I pride myself on being a smart player and being able to make those adjustments. So I'm not worried about. I'm excited and I can't wait to, you know, get this thing rolling.

Yeah, I mean, it sounds a lot like the, I was with Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay. and he did a lot of the same, like, exotic blitzes. We come in on a, you know, on a Wednesday, and it's like, holy shit, we haven't even dusted off this bliss since camp or OTAs. But we had a lot of smart players like Levante David is a vet linebacker that really kind of got everyone lined up. It seems like in Minnesota you got guys like Harrison Smith who've been doing it forever, you know, and I'm sure it's Harrison Smith's probably a great guy for you to learn from and a pro that you can kind of emulate, you know, and I'm sure he's one of those guys that's

getting everyone lined up, right? Oh, absolutely. I mean, the way I see it is, you know, he's a future hallfamer, a guy that, you know, it's really like it's kind of his defense. He's without question the smartest guy out there. And you got to take advantage of that. When you got a guy playing behind you like that, like you talk about your rookie year, you know, D'Amico's calling out plays. Like Harrison does the same thing. He's calling out rope combinations just based off alignment. So like everyone's just got to be dialed in and be talking because he's. know, a guy like that seen a lot of ball. He's made a lot of plays. And, you know, if he's going, we're all going to go. Yeah. I wanted to ask you quick, you got another teammate or another former teammate joining you in Minnesota, Sam Darnold. Were you boys with him in New York? Is it nice to see that familiar face as well? Man, I love Orange County. He's a great dude. That's why I call him. A little Caliboy, boy, but Sam is awesome. A great, great teammate, great person, great player. I truth felt that like in New York, you know, he, he did not have a great situation.

I mean, call out is we, our offensive line was struggling. We didn't have the weapons, you know, it was dysfunctional a little bit. But, I mean, that guy battles and he goes to war. I mean, I think my rookie year, he, like, cracked a rib or something. And they're trying to hold him out. And he was like, at that, I'm going back in. I'm finishing this game. And, like, I can't imagine playing with.

that kind of injury as a quarterback. It's all the torque and turning. And then you take shots, you know, you never know how you're going to get hit in the pot. Exactly. So, you know, he's a leader, a guy that I respect a lot. And, you know, with him and JJ, it's about my pick.

I don't know how that's going to shake out, but I think, I think, you know, it'll be a great competition. And, you know, I've always said, like, for people that don't know Sam's game well, like, he's got everything you need. You just, he's got put to, together and I think this is a perfect situation for him as well. Yeah. Well, that's exciting, man.

I want to ask you quick about Kevin O'Connell. I saw him kind of watch a little bit of receiver on Netflix and he was blown up in the locker room after the Vikings lost to the Eagles last season. Obviously, you weren't on the team there. Just wondering what your experience has been like with him so far. I know, you know, you've only been there for OTAs, but how's he been compared to, you know, DeMiko in Houston? You know, I would say like both, enthusiastic coaches, guys that are, you know, player-friendly, have a great established cultures. They have a plan for how they want their team to be ran and they want to be player-led. K-O, he's a G, man.

I mean, I remember the first time meeting him when I flew up from Houston to sign here in Minnesota, I'm like, this guy's cool as hell. Like, one of my favorite things with coaches is when they can just sit back, turn the He's the nose off and just talk man to man, hang out. Yeah. He'll be a G. He's a dude and I'm really excited to play for him. I think he has a great offensive mind.

You know, he's going to have our team ready to go each week. Smart, man. He got to gas up the head coach going into camp. You definitely do. That's a vet move right there. But he is. I mean, like, how his interactions with everybody on the team. It's like he's almost like he's another player in the locker room.

Right. And he was a player too, just like D'Amico, you know, and I feel like those coaches, the guys that played, don't get me wrong. Like, you always have respect for your head coach or any coach that you have. But the guys that played, you just feel like they kind of get it a little bit more, you know, and they know how to command a room and they understand what it's like for you, like during camp or during fucking week 15 when you're just like, Jesus. You know, I always felt that too. You know, you feel like you can kind of get along. You have that mutual respect for those coaches. Absolutely.

I think he's a good one, man. So I want to ask you real quick, like I said, we got some Minnesota boys doing a Minnesota pod. I think probably one of the biggest bummers about being in camp in Minnesota in August is that you fucking miss the Minnesota State Fair. That's one thing. I went to the Minnesota State Fair last year, drank one of those old THC shelters that they got up here, and I ate 15,000 calories, man.

Were you big Minnesota State Fair guy growing up? Or what's, you were too busy with camp? No, I love the Minnesota State Fair. And then even like in college, we go as a team. Oh, sweet. Yeah, we go as a team. It would be kind of like a camp. Like we used to call it a pool day.

You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly. So I didn't go for like, I want to say like five years. But then I remember last year, I actually got to go for like a day because after we had a little, we had like a three day break after preseason. And I flew up to help my girlfriend move some of her stuff down. But then we had a day. We're like, let's go to the state fair.

So I'm hoping that we get a few days here at the end of pre-see where I can go. Because the state fair, and I think it's been the number one state fair in the country for a long time. Amazing, man. People sleep on Minnesota. They don't get it. There's a lot of good food up here, man. I'm in North Loop right now. Like, I've, dude, all I've been doing is fucking going out to these fancy old dinners eating.

and, you know, hitting up. A lot of great. Lazzes late night, you know. I'm going to Porzana's here soon because I haven't had that yet. That's great. I was there on Friday, man. Check out. It was good.

Good food, man. Really good food. And then go to a floor room right underneath. Yeah. A little cocktail spot. Like you mentioned your girl. It's kind of a little steakies and almost, isn't it? Yeah.

Yeah. It's sweet. And then, dude, I fucking love the food in Minnesota. I was telling one of the co-host guy would come on. like he was kind of shitting on Minnesota. So I had to do a Minnesota like travel destination location. Talk about Minnesota. I just end up talking about all the great food there is here for like 15 minutes.

It's a good spot, man. It's great. People just don't know anything about Minnesota from like around the Midwest, you know. They have no clue. Amen. Well, shit, man. Hey, thanks a lot for coming on, man. Minnesota athletes, we've got to look out for each other.

I'll be up in Minnesota a lot. I'd love to hang. We can recreate the Vikings boat party scandal on Minnetonka. I'm a Lake Minnetonka regular, so we can get out there. You'll appreciate this story. I was trying to tell someone, but they didn't get it. But Maynard's is the hot spot on Lake Minnetonka. Everyone kind of rolls up in their boats.

I'm sure you've been there. But when I got drafted, like, I was a seventh round pick. I got drafted by the Eagles. You know, I had a draft party in my family. I was a little tense because I didn't think I was going to get drafted. Got drafted. My whole family, we went over to Maynards. We got kicked out of Maynard's.

I was so butt hurt about it. because, like, we ordered a bunch of shots or whatever. I was celebrating, man. So I was the wrong pick. I made it. They kicked out me and my dad and, like, our whole family and my dad, like, we didn't do shit. We just ordered too many drinks. And they're like, if you take these two shots, like, you got to go.

And the most annoying part is there was some dude that went to high school at Minnetonka. Anyway, so got kicked out of Maynards, went over to Haskell's, which is a dive bar right around the corner, an Excelsior, dirty age. We got kicked out of there, too. We kind of deserved that one. I'll be honest with you. But I was so fucking butt hurt about getting booted for Mayerds on. draft night that I never went back or like 10 years.

I was like actively boycotting it. I love Vayner, but they still have some of the most strict rules. I mean, like, you, if you're there trying to have a good time and you order shots past like 10 p.m. they look at you like, yeah. Who are you? You're out of your mind. I'm like, I'm trying to get a shot at 10 p.m. at night. Is it really that crazy?

Summer in Minnesota, man. Come on. I know. But so I went back to Maynors for the first time last year after retired and. I've been back a couple times this summer. So we'll have to get one in, man. Definitely. Vikings boat party straight to Maynards.

It would be great. It would be. Well, shit, Blake, appreciate you coming on, man. I hope you have a great time in camp and really looking forward to watching you this season, man. Appreciate you. Thank you. Really appreciate you guys having me.