The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Vikings' Adam Thielen calls Bill Belichick a "cheater" & being punched by Pacman Jones

Episode Date: October 25, 2022

Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen talks to Mike Silver about how the Vikings got to their current 5-1 record, and then look back at the many coaches who told Thielen he was not cut out for college and professional football, his atypical path to the NFL, a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals where Adam "Pacman" Jones punched him in the face, and the moment in the 2018 Playoffs when legendary coach Bill Belichick told him to shut the !@#$ up. He also discusses the trade between the Vikings and Buffalo Bills which saw Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson swap teams, Kirk Cousins' pregame speeches, and trying to figure out which player on the Vikings was dating Lizzo. #volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliford show on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast, And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. All right.

Open mic is fired up for this guest. It is impossible not to root for Adam Phelan if you know his story and how improbable it is that he is playing in the NFL, let alone tearing it up a decade in. So I was already a fan. But then in 2018, a legendary coach told him, well, we'll get into it to the podcast. But he got sworn at during a game by a legendary coach. And from that point on to be, he was just a living legend.

Adam, how are you, man? I'm great. Thanks for having me. Right on. Well, I will get to that celebrated moment because it's one of my all-time favorites. But, yeah, I mean, you are part of a Vikings team that's really started out well at 5 and 1. No Kevin O'Connell for a while. It's really cool what you guys have going.

We always hear the words culture change pretty much any time there's a coaching change. What is it really meant in terms of Kevin and Quasi, Dofa, Mensa coming in and how you guys have experienced it? Yeah, I think just leadership. I think it's not, it's a collaborative leadership. It's not just one guy being a good leader.

It's multiple people. from the top, you know, being really good leaders. And, you know, I think there's different ways you can lead. But I feel like when you really get a bunch of good leaders that collaborate together, they kind of know their weaknesses, they know their strengths, and kind of feed off one another. It's just a combination that isn't going to necessarily make you win games, but it's going to set you up to handle adversity.

And I feel like in this league, that's more important than probably X's and O's. just being able to handle adversity because at any point in the season, you're going to hit some tough patches. And I mean, every game, throughout a game, you're going to have some rough patches. So being able to handle adversity and to be able to lean on one another and to really look up to your leadership has really been the biggest notice or noticeable thing that I've seen these first six weeks. Yeah, and I know, you know, it's a grind, what you guys do.

It's not always, you know, we see the touchdowns and all that. But you guys, you know, it's a long, long. process and you guys are together a lot. Having an offensive-minded head coach or a head coach with an offensive background, first of all, is that different from your perspective? It is for sure. It's the first time my career having an offensive-minded head coach. I think, I think, though, even though he is definitely offensive-minded, and, you know, he's calling our plays and he's in a lot of our, most of our offensive meetings, obviously. But I think he does a great job of being the head coach, you know, not just being the offensive coordinator. I think he does a great job of understanding

that this is a team game. And then we need every single aspect of this team, special teams, defense, offense to really play together, complementing football. And I think he just does a great job of kind of picking up everybody. There's no point in fingers. It's just, it's just, hey, what do we need to do this week to win? And it might look different each week and you find a way. But I think he does a great job of of being the head, like head coach, not just offensive head coach. So, you know, your story has been well documented. You were, you know, you got a, I guess we can call it a scholarship offer out of high school. And, you know, we're not ticketed for NFL stardom.

You obviously had to overcome a lot and have just an incredible self-belief. Do you remember a couple of moments where, you know, you were either told flat out, like, dude, you are dreaming. You are not, you're not going to play on that level or where you were just completely, you know, counted out that you kind of access. Oh, yeah, every step of the way for me, which has kind of put a little bit of fuel to, in my fire, you know, it's something that's always kind of added that, you know, as people say, a chip on your shoulder, you know, I think that's, you know, kind of just stacks on

every step of the way. You know, I remember coming into college and I tell the story, pretty much every time I talk to a group, but, you know, I, I remember coming into the recruiting trips and going to Mancato, and I was, it was like a walk-on visit, Mancato. This is before the coaching staff got fired and they had new coaches, but I sat down with the offense coordinator, and he kind of sat my mom and I down and said, you know,

I don't think that your son is cut out for Division II football. He probably should go play basketball somewhere. And, you know, and then, you know, going into the, even to the NFL part of my journey. I remember coaches saying, hey, maybe like arena ball or Canadian football. I could see that, but, you know, I don't know if you should even try for the NFL. So there's always kind of been that, but again, you know, that kind of just adds field of my fire. And then even looking in the NFL, you know, people had me kind of pegged to be just a special

team's guy, just a guy that's going to go out there and try hard and, you know, do. his job on special teams and just be a special teamers for his career. But again, those things are, I think, are the reason why I'm where I'm at. No doubt. So I did a book with Kurt Warner coming off of the Miracle 99th season. You'll see behind me, that's an American underdog signed helmet. 21 years later, it turned into a movie. And, you know, so I'm a sucker for all the underdog stories always and his was his was certainly right up there um you know it did you kind of draw on inspiration from any any either him or anyone's uh story where they were just kind of counted out and told there's no way yeah definitely i mean those are all um you know things that you look

up to, you know, all the motivational things you see. You kind of just compile those things and you look up to those people for for handling that adversity, for sticking it out, for believing in themselves. You know, one thing I've always kind of felt like I've always kind of, I've never been like a big motivation guy. It's more so just just living in the moment. And, you know, even when I look back to my college days, like I never thought about playing in the NFL or writing down like I'm going to be in the NFL someday.

I just focused on each day. Like I wanted to win the day. Like I truly wanted to win the day. And whether that be in the wait room, whether that it be on the basketball court and pick up basketball, like I just wanted to go out there and be the best I could that day. And I feel like when you just continue to do that over and over and over, it adds up.

And when you're not focused on the future, you're not looking into the future. Like obviously you have that in the back of your head, in the back of your mind. But just kind of just focusing on one day at a time. and letting that all kind of just play out. Coming out of Minnesota State Mancato, you had to go to one of those regional combines.

And I laughed because I was at NFL network for a long time. And the reporters always had a joke about who drew the regional combine assignment. Because, you know, it's kind of like the season's over. And, you know, no one wants to travel as much. And, you know, some people are high profile. And then, ah, you've got the regional combine. So that's from a reporter's perspective. From a player's perspective, you know,

you're just trying to make a name for yourself. What do you remember about that, first of all? Well, I can totally get where you guys were coming from because you show up there and it's very underwhelming. You know, I feel like I look back to that day. And I don't remember, well, it was a long time ago. But I do remember coming in there and being like, what am I doing? This was a waste of money and time.

Yeah, because you paid, right? You had to pay your own way there. Yeah, you paid to go there. It was in Chicago. so you had to get, you know, find a way to get there. Luckily, I had a good friend who said, hey, I'll drive you there, make a little weekend out of it. So three of us jumped in a vehicle and drove to Chicago,

stayed in the hotel and did the combine. But, yeah, it definitely, you show up, and there's guys that maybe have never played football before. I remember they sent a quarterback home, like, after him throwing, like, five balls. Or, like, just leave because he couldn't throw the football. So you're kind of thinking. And like, oh boy, what am I doing? But at the end of the day, it was an opportunity to put numbers out there.

You know, I had no other opportunity. There wasn't scouts coming to Mancato to get numbers to get times and things like that. And I never had ran a 40 before that in my life. So it was an opportunity. And thankfully, I did it and got invited to the Super Regional, which was much better. You know, there was actually guys there that got drafted, that were big college players that just missed out on the, you know, the real NFL. Valcombon. That's crazy. So, and then in May, you ended up going to a Vikings rookie

minicap, you know, try one of many people just trying to land a spot. I did a little recon on this because I know Bill Busgrave very well covered him as a player and he was the Vikings offensive coordinator at the time. I joked to him that he had discovered you and he texted it back more like he discovered us. What was that little rookie minicap like? Yeah, I mean, honestly, I was honestly at that time looking back at it, I've obviously understand it. But I was a little, a little, you know, frustrated, honestly, that I didn't get an

opportunity to go somewhere just signed, you know, like there's 90 guys on a roster spot. I felt like I put together numbers that stood up with anybody. and then, you know, I just felt like I had the tangibles with, you know, my ability to catch the football and, and, and I had film. I had numbers in college. So I just felt like, like, like, again, I was getting overlooked and added some field of the fire. But then, yeah, you know, going to that camp, you know, it was obviously an opportunity. I was super excited. My hometown team to be able to just go out there and play football again. You know, I never know if I, at that point, I didn't know if I had taken my last snap of football in my, in my hometown team to be able to be able to just go out there and play football again. You know, you know, I never know. I never know if I never, I never, at that point, I never, I life. So to get another opportunity to just go out and play football, I joke around. I look back at that moment and I'm more nervous right now thinking about that moment than I was in the moment. I just was out there playing football. I felt like a kid in, you know, elementary school, just going on in the backyard and playing football again. So what a great moment. And then I was able to have a little success in a short, short time and was able to stay around a little longer. That's awesome. And, you know,

And for people who don't know, it was a year of the practice squad. It was special teams. You know, this was, even when you made the team, it took a while before you finally, you know, got a chance to really to shine as a receiver. Weren't there some joint workouts against the Bengals where like Packbad Jones and Drake Kirkpatrick didn't want to line up against you? Oh, yeah. That was a 100% true story.

I would get up in line and, and they would kind of look, around in the huddle and be like, no, I'm not going against him, someone else. And, you know, that was another, you know, you talk about adding a chip on your show. They're stacking it on top of each other. That was another one of those moments. I'll never forget, North Turner came out to me before that practice. And he kind of said, like, hey, this is your make or break. Like, you go out there and prove that you belong in this league. And this is kind of your last opportunity to show that you can play in this league. And I'll never forget that moment. It definitely pushed my butt a little bit. and was able to have a good week of practice

and probably some of the hardest circumstances I've ever been around. It was blessed hot and humid, and it was just insane practice, physical. I'll never forget those practices with them, but made it through and was able to perform and played well in that game, that preseason game, and really gave me an opportunity to play receiver moving forward.

So to clarify, they weren't saying they didn't want to go against you because you were going to embarrass them. They were like, this guy's not on my level. Right. It was a waste of time for them. And then I ended up actually getting punched in the face. Later in that joint practice by Pac-Man, he actually ripped my helmet off.

I was going to block him and I was blocking him. And he didn't like that. And he ripped my helmet off and I got in his face. And then he ended up punching me in the face. And to create a little scuffle, which every joint practice I feel like, there's something like that, but kind of a wild week for me. That's amazing. So did you and Pac-Man ever like chop it up and work it out, or does that just remain kind of a, you know, just...

Yeah, that was so long ago. He probably has no idea who I am or what I, you know, he probably doesn't even remember that that was me. So someday I'll connect with them and we'll laugh about it. I love it. All right. Well, since we're talking about confrontation, So by December of 2018, you're already tearing up the league and, you know, one of the best receivers in the league. You're playing the Patriots late in the season. It's a tense game. And if I remember right, Belichick, it's what he's trying to pull his challenge flag out of his sock. And you were kind of talking to the ref.

And Belichick told you STFU, essentially. Take me through that moment. Yeah, you know, a little heated moment. It was a tense game, like you said, and we weren't performing where it very well, and it was a big game for us, and it was a little frustrated. You know, the old Belichick defense, they're doubling you, they're getting hands on you, and they're frustrating you. So they definitely did their job, and they got to me a little bit.

But, yeah, I remember there was, we got the first down. It was like a fourth and one maybe or a third and inches maybe. and we got the first down. They gave us the first down. And so they could see the replay. We were going right back on the ball. You could see a guy look to the sideline and then kind of shake his head and then go down and fake like he was injured. So I saw that whole thing happen and then they end up challenging it.

And that was when he was talking to the ref. He was challenging it. He was actually picking up this challenge flag. And I kind of lost it a little bit, lost my cool. And I was talking to the ref and then, you know, saying how that's kind of BS, that's cheating. and then he came over and told me to, you know, shut up with some choice words. And I kind of just went at him and said, you're a cheater. And it was a little bit of a confrontation.

But again, you know, the heat of the moment. And probably shouldn't have done that. But yeah, definitely a good story. Were you just, were you like hanging out with your wife that night and just going, oh, I just got into it with one of the greatest. coaches of all time. Yeah, I think it's one of those things, again, like when I'm in the, on the field and when I'm playing, you know, I'm still, you know, obviously playing, I'm not really thinking about it being the NFL or playing against these legendary people, guys that have

won multiple Super Bowls. You know, it just feels like a football game to me. So I'm not really thinking about any of that. I'm just out there playing and letting it fly. And I have, I'm an emotional football player, an emotional person. So I just kind of let it, let, I let my full colors show. And, and I've had a that back as I've gotten older and I've learned and I made a vow to my wife. I won't throw my helmet again and I haven't done that in a few years. So trying to keep that going. But yeah, let my emotions get the best to me that day. I guarantee there were a lot of people in the NFL community though who are like, thank you, dude. Anyway. So imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's

unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions. my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Somebody, please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, Hope I'm a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary.

Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrat, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Well, you teamed with another very emotional guy, Stefan Diggs. You guys were probably the best tandem in football when you were together.

And I know I know he got to the point where he was very frustrated with the, you know, the offensive approach at that time. And, you know, and I agreed with him. I thought, you know, I would love to see the Vikings be more aggressive, you know, knowing what little I know. how was that for you going through that? I mean, was he kind of speaking for both of you, or was he just more,

was he just kind of in a different place with things when he started to voice that? No, yeah, he definitely was, he was the one willing to voice his opinion. And, but yeah, I mean, I totally got where he's come from. We had hours and hours and hours of conversation. You know, he's such a good person. And, you know, obviously,

got a bad rap from that a little bit. But, and I know he's in a great place now and feeling very good. And I know he's a leader and a captain over there in Buffalo. And that's the type of person to you is here, too. You know, it's just, you know, us as competitor as an athlete, it's like we want to have opportunity. We want the ball on our hands to go show what we can do. And we've all seen what he can do when he gets the ball in his hands

and when he gets targets and opportunities. So, you know, it's one of those things where we're trying to, just win games as a team. But at the same time, like, it is our livelihood. And we have to go out there and we have to have opportunity to show what we can do. And I totally get it. But it'll be good to see him here in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to see him and hopefully get a jersey swap because I'd love to put his jersey up on the wall. Obviously, got a ton of respect for him. And we had such a great relationship and spent so much time together. So it would be good to see him. That's awesome. You know, normally if a team like the Vikings let a guy like that out of the building, I'd crush them.

But then I saw Justin Jefferson and I was like, I feel like it helped, you know, it helped the bills, but the Vikings are going to be just fine. Do you, how early on did you look at Jefferson and just go, oh, I think he might be pretty good? Yeah, I mean, it's kind of fun to look back on, honestly. I remember the night we drafted them and just watching the draft and as soon as we drafted them, you know, they show the highlights from college. And I remember watching those highlights and be like, all right, this guy is, this guy is really good. And at that point, I had known a little bit about them, you know, watching their run into the national championship game and just watching them through the playoff, college playoffs,

and being like, man, those guys over there, those receivers are doing some crazy things. and they really help them win football games. And then it was the COVID year, so we didn't have OTAs. And so I had him come up, invited some guys up in the summer just to kind of work out together and be around each other a little bit that summer. And I just remember the first kind of workout session we had throwing the football around the field and just some of the his ability to catch the football away from his body was something I hadn't really seen before.

You know, he's not, he's not an overly big guy. but his range on the football field is much bigger than he looks. And you could see that from day one. So just his ability, his body control, you know, his movement ability, everything is so easy and smooth. So I kind of figure there was an opportunity for him to have a big career. And then when you see what kind of person he is, you're around him every single day.

And you see how he treats his teammates and his coaches. And even as he had a ton of success. a game after game and year after year, he's the same guy. Every single day he walks in the building. He's got a smile on his face. He's a great teammate. He's a great leader. He's super fun to be around.

So I couldn't ask for a better partner to be out there and playing together with. That's awesome. So you brought up the pandemic. So early on in the pandemic, my daughter, who had graduated from college, was stuck in my house. So we started a podcast. I just exploited her labor, basically. and one of our early guests on Pass It Down was Kyle Rudolph, your then teammate. And my daughter got right in with him and was like, who's Lizzo's man on the Minnesota Vikings?

And he had a long answer. Like there have been a lot of detective work inside the locker room on it and all that. So I got to ask you, do we know at this point who Lizzo's Minnesota Vikings boyfriend is referenced in truth hurts? Kyle was 100% real with that. We had a whole long investigation. I think it was the linebacker group that kind of led the investigation. And they had some serious leads and they had all these different theories of who it was. And I think they came down to it was Eric Wilson, but he completely denies it and definitely says it was not him.

So the verdict is still out there. But that was who they thought it was. and no, no, I don't think anyone will ever find out, but I think it could have been him. I mean, there must have been some unlikely suspects. You probably were okay being married, but like, I'm sure there were a couple unlikely suspects who got investigated. Let's just say there were some great theories out there, and it was kind of fun. It was good team bonding, kind of going around the locker room and doing that investigation. I think Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr, they were kind of leading the investigation.

So that was pretty good. So was Zim ever ruled out as a candidate? That's a good point. I don't even know if we went down that road, but he definitely could have been a candidate. It would have been one of the all-time great NFL stories. Did anyone, by the way, did anyone do a good Zim impersonation? That's a good question.

I don't know anybody off the top of my head that had a good Zim impersonation. but I'm sure we could pull one together and find somebody. Yeah, I mean, toward the end, you guys were probably like, you know, not worth a risk and getting him. If he found out, it would just get him, you know, more grumpy. But definitely a character's. Okay, so we'll go from clowning Zim to Kirk. When I watch Kirk's pregame speeches, I mean, listen,

I'm not a high-level athlete and, you know, I don't know what it's like to come. compete at the highest level. But I feel like when I see Kirk's pregame speeches on video, I'm like, that doesn't seem like it would fire me up. It just seems like a little out there. Do you guys ever clown him for his motivational talks? No, we don't. He does a great job. You know, he's a guy that puts a lot into this game. You know, he takes it very personally that that he, you know, he knows he's making a lot of money and he knows that he's expected to win games in this league

because of just the nature of the business, right? When you're a quarterback that's a high paid guy, like that's just the culture of this league, right? The fans, they expect you to win games. And he takes that very seriously. I wish fans had an inside look of what it's like to be Kirk Cousins because it is pretty impressive the way that he handles his business, even when people are all over him, you know, week in and week out.

But I think when he does those speeches, it's coming from the heart. Like we get to see him every single day and we get to see how much he puts into it, how much it means to him and how much he wants it. So when you kind of hear the speech, like I can understand where you're coming from. But from us, you know, we see him every single day. So we see that it's coming from a place of guys like, I'm pulling everything I got to this. Like, just come with me. You know, let me lead.

Let me go, you know, put all this work in to help you guys and just come with. me, let's go. And when you see that, like, his, the, you know, the, you know, the why behind it, I think it's, it's pretty cool. That's cool. Yeah. So it's interesting. So Kirk came in, in the wake of that 2017 season, which included the Minnesota miracle and a trip to the NFC championship game. And immediately it was like, Kirk, if you don't get him at the Super Bowl, you're a failure. So the standard was already, you know, kind of impossibly high for him. And yet, here we are in 2022, and I feel like, okay, right now you'd be the number, I think the one and two seed or maybe the giants, but like, I'm looking at an Eagles, Vikings, like, possible

playoff collision. And, you know, you guys, it's early, but you guys look pretty good. Have you thought about how good you guys could be and does this feel at all like 2017 yet? You know, I think every year's so different. You just, you just handle every single year. You know, new teammates, new staff, new schemes. You're just trying to find a way, right? And again, every year is so different. You know, it is awesome to have that experience to look back and say, hey, like we started the year this way and we ended this.

And we started the way this way and we ended like this. So just kind of like helping guys understand that it doesn't matter where you're at at this point in the season. What matters is weekend and week out that you literally come and be the most prepared you can possibly be because each week is tough. It's tough to win this league. And so I think for us, it's just, it's just kind of figuring out a way to continue to get better.

We also are kind of frustrated with, with, you know, kind of how we've played, you know, because we know that we could be so much better. You know, obviously it's great to feel that way and be five and one. I bet a part of teams that, you know, started out poorly and felt the same way, right? Like, hey, like we have so much more potential than we're playing right now. So that is a positive, you know,

I think we're excited to get back to work this week. You know, having a few days off, which was much needed. But everyone's kind of backing this building today to say, like, man, let's go practice. Like, I'm ready to go get better because we know that we could play such, you know, better football all around, you know. And that's exciting when you're five at one saying that. So you grew up in Minnesota. You're a longtime Vikings fan. I'm old.

I covered the 98 championship game for Sports Illustrated. I covered the 09 championship game in New Orleans for Yahoo. Which one of those as a kid or growing up was more brutal for you? I have to say equally. I remember both of them vividly. I mean, I was a hardcore fan for both those games. Lived and died with the Vikings. I remember, again, you remember I'm an emotional person, emotional player.

I remember going to school pretty down and defeated after those games and disappointed and frustrated, but almost like I felt like I was on the team. But yeah, definitely I definitely understand. I think probably the coolest thing is I understand where the Vikings fans are coming from and how badly they want it and been able to talk to the team a few times in my career just about that, just kind of helping them understand a little bit of the background of Minnesota Vikings. And I think guys, you know, they know about, you know, some of the culture of the past, but they don't really know, you know, what the fans have been through and, and how badly and how

great of a fan base this is. You know, it's not a fan base that's going to, that's going to throw stuff at you or they're not going to count you out, things like that. They want to win, but they're also very respectful and they're going to show up whether you're undefeited or having how to win and they're going to show up and cheer you on and motivate you. So we're very blessed for that. Yeah, you know, and by the way, I left out the one in New Jersey, which was I think 41-0 and it just did not go well at all in the cold. But yeah, no, I agree. It's great fan base. And now you guys have a state-of-the-art facility. It's unbelievable. And, you know, stadiums popping and it's all there for you.

You know, you talked about that chip on your shoulder, and obviously it's gotten you very, very far. Do you still carry it? I mean, you know, you've done enough in this league that you could kind of coast a little bit. Do you carry it in every practice and every meeting? I do. I think it's one thing that's pretty cool about this league,

and I talk a lot to the young guys about it, is there's always something to prove in this league. There's always somebody saying, oh, he's too old or he did it one time or this or that. There's always somebody and multiple people probably that are finding a way to break you down and to say that, you know, he can't do this anymore, too old, you know. So there's always something that's going to motivate you and going to push you and you have to because if you don't, you're not playing 10 years in this league. You're going to, they're going to find a way to replace you with a younger, cheaper, you know,

guy that, that, you know, has maybe more potential, I guess. So they're finding ways to get rid of you, let's just say that. So that definitely puts a chip on my shoulder. You know, I want to play. I want to play a few more years. And I want to give my best foot forward and be able to help this team win games. So I take that with me every single time I step on the field with something that approved. say, hey, I'm not too old or I've never lost a step.

I'm going to go out there and have to prove it, you know, every single day. Well, you barge your way in and you are not going out easily. It's the best. And I totally appreciate your time. Thanks for joining us. Absolutely. Appreciate you. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest. S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrating. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

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