DAILY CLIPS FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019 - Amazon S3

DAILY CLIPS

  FRIDAY,
MAY 31, 2019

LOCAL NEWS: Friday, May 31, 2019
                                                       Pioneer Press

Despite uncertain future, Laquon Treadwell wants to ‘be a Viking my whole career’
By Chris Tomasson
https://www.twincities.com/2019/05/30/laquon-treadwells-future-uncertain-but-wants-to-be-a-viking-my-whole-career/

                                                       Viking Update

Smith Jr., Conklin step up in Rudolph’s absence
By Tim Yotter
https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Irv-Smith-Jr-Tyler-Conklin-emerging-for-Minnesota-Vikings-132429629/

                                                         Skor North

Takeaways from Week 2 of Vikings OTAs
By Matthew Coller
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/05/takeaways-from-week-2-of-vikings-otas/

NATIONAL NEWS: Friday, May 31, 2019

                                                            ESPN

No plays off: Vikings top pick's journey from catcher to NFL center
By Courtney Cronin
http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/28497/no-plays-off-garrett-bradburys-journey-to-vikings-came-via-
baseball

MULTIMEDIA LINKS: Friday, May 31, 2019

Kendricks on OTAs: It's Been A Little Chippy ... I Love It
By Vikings Entertainment Network
https://www.vikings.com/video/kendricks-on-otas-it-s-been-a-little-chippy-i-love-it

Push For Perfection
By Fox 9
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=5e342ab8-bd8e-41e6-a381-c4aedb90246b

Vikings Players Trying to Expand Their Role in 2019
By Fox 9
http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=99d5c283-2ebf-43c4-b047-51c7af12ed0d

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Friday, May 31, 2019

Back from Injury, Hercules Mata’afa Steps in at 3-Tech
By Eric Smith
https://www.vikings.com/news/back-from-injury-hercules-mata-afa-steps-in-at-3-tech

Randy Moss and Deion Sanders Make an Awesome 2-on-2 Challenge While Gone Fishing
By Chris Corso

https://www.vikings.com/news/randy-moss-and-deion-sanders-make-an-awesome-2-on-2-challenge-while-gone-fishing

Lunchbreak: How Bradbury’s Baseball Background Could Help in NFL
By Eric Smith
https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-how-bradbury-s-baseball-background-could-help-in-nfl

Immersive Experience with FDNY Gives Harrison Smith Unique Perspective
By Lindsey Young
https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-harrison-smith-denis-leary-fdny-unique-perspective

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 5/31/19
Despite uncertain future, Laquon Treadwell wants to ‘be a Viking
my whole career’

By Chris Tomasson

Despite three shaky seasons, followed by the Vikings declining to pick up his contract option for 2020, Laquon
Treadwell hasn’t deviated from goals he set three years ago.

The 23-year-old wide receiver was taken with the No. 23 pick in the 2016 draft out of Mississippi. He expected big
things.

“I always dreamed about staying with one team, going to the hall of fame and putting my mark on one team and
building and being a guy who the fans can relate to,” Treadwell said this week during organized team activities.

Treadwell has just 56 catches for 517 yards in his first three seasons. Still, he said his goals haven’t changed no
“matter what the circumstances look like or what it looks like on the outside.”

Treadwell, in line to become a free agent next March, insists he “would love to be a Viking my whole career.”
Minnesota, in a move earlier this month that was expected, did not pick up his 2020 contract option for $10.62 million.

Treadwell said he received the news first from his agent, Kennard McGuire. He then got a call from general manager
Rick Spielman, and the two made “small talk.”

“It’s a business,” Treadwell said. “I look forward to the opportunity this year. Doing more. Adding more to the team.”

Could he use his option not being picked up as motivation?

“I have enough motivation,” he said. “If you want to add that on, you can. But I have enough motivation. I haven’t had
the best of my years here, and I just look forward to making something of this year and adding to this team and
helping us win a Super Bowl.”

Treadwell hopes to claim the No. 3 receiver job behind Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, but that will be a challenge.
Jordan Taylor, signed as a free agent last month, has been in that role primarily during spring drills.

Second-year receiver Chad Beebe also could move ahead of Treadwell, who has been practicing with the second
team.

It remains to be seen how Treadwell will fit into Minnesota’s new attack under offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski
and assistant head coach/offensive adviser Gary Kubiak.

In the final three games last season, when Stefanski was interim coordinator, Treadwell was inactive for the first one
and caught one pass for seven yards in the next two. He finished the season with 35 receptions for 302 yards.

“We as coaches are giving (the players) a few things each day to work on,” Stefanski said. “Laquon is no different
than any one of our players. There are certain things we point out on tape and we say, ‘X, Y or Z needs to get better.’
”

Stefanski didn’t offer specifics on what Treadwell must improve, and neither did the receiver. With the Vikings, simply
getting open has been a challenge for Treadwell.

Heading into this season, he said he’s in a better state mentally.

“The first couple of years I was trying to get my life figured out, trying to find balance in life, and I think I’ve found
that,” Treadwell said. “And I’m going to continue to pursue that.”

Treadwell said he endured a “lot of outside factors that kind of took a little distraction on me and a toll on me.” He
didn’t offer specifics but said he’s working to “continue to bring good people around me.”

While Treadwell might not factor in the Vikings’ long-term future, they wouldn’t gain much financially by releasing him
before the 2019 season. He is on the books next season for a base salary of $1.8 million, with $1.15 million of it
guaranteed. If he was let go, Minnesota would save just $654,770 against the salary cap and would incur $2.5 million
of dead money.

“I think it’s all about just continuing to put together good days of practice because right now that’s all you can do,”
quarterback Kirk Cousins said of Treadwell.

PUBLICATION: Viking Update DATE: 5/31/19
Smith Jr., Conklin step up in Rudolph’s absence

By Tim Yotter

Kyle Rudolph was in his home state of Ohio on Wednesday accepting recognition as the Minnesota Vikings’
representative as the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community work. His absence, along with David Morgan
relegated to observer status as he recovers from injury, gave an opportunity to younger tight ends for extended
snaps and more work with the first-team offense.

Second-round draft pick Irv Smith Jr. and second-year tight end Tyler Conklin took advantage on Wednesday.

“Irv is doing a nice job. Like all of our young guys, he has a long way to go and that is why he is working really hard
with Coach [Brian] Pariani,” offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski said. “It’s important for those guys and I think he
understands that. He is a young man, but he is older in how he acts and presents himself. He understands he has a
ton of work to do in the run game and the pass game and certainly we thought enough of him and his skillset to get
him up here and you could see today just putting him in some spots where he could go and make a play.”

During organized activities, contact is limited and therefore the tight ends don’t have a complete opportunity to show
off their abilities in the blocking game, but their athleticism in the passing game was evident.

Smith caught a diving catch in the end zone during work on the red zone offense on a pass from second-string
quarterback Sean Mannion and likely would have had another touchdown on a pass from starter Kirk Cousins during
which Trae Waynes made an impressive pass defensed.

“He can move around. He’s fluid. He’s a tight end that can run,” receiver Stefon Diggs said of Smith. “He pretty much
does everything from what I’ve seen on tape. Like I said, I’m not a coach or anything, but from out here what I see he
moves around pretty well. He can catch the ball. He is athletic. He has a little bit of speed, too, so we make fun of him
a little bit. It is going to be fun.”

Smith played numerous positions while at Alabama. He was used as a traditional in-line tight end, split out wide, in
the slot and also got plenty of turns as a lead blocker in the backfield. Those various duties should help him transition
to the NFL, where much could be asked of him early in his career.

“With Irv, I just go back to I think he is 20 years old. I think it’s so impressive for a kid, and maybe it speaks to his
program, it probably speaks to his parents, he is here and is very serious about minding his business,” Stefanski
said. “We have some fun with him and that but I am just impressed by the kid. He breaks the huddle, most of the time
he knows what to do. He is playing fast. I could see a kid where he is young, but I can see this kid developing into a
veteran who knows what to do every single time. His skillset was put on display a little bit there. He is a threat in the
pass game but we didn’t draft him just to be a threat in the pass game. He needs to be a complete tight end for us.”

Smith doesn’t have the height and wing span of Rudolph, but he is more elusive in route-running and after the catch.

Conklin offers a bit more height (6-foot-3) and the extended reps with Rudolph temporarily out of state should help his
progression in the NFL.

“Irv is continually catching on with the things he’s doing. … Conklin, I think he’s having a really good spring,” head
coach Mike Zimmer said. “I think all these guys are coming in and making some big catches. Obviously the time will
come when we have to block people in pass protection and all the runs and things like that.”

As long as Rudolph is under contract with the Vikings, he should continue to be the lead tight end, but his absence
this week gave important time for the younger guys to show their capabilities with the first-team offense and perhaps
give the coaching staff more confidence in them for the day that Rudolph isn’t around permanently.

PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 5/31/19
Takeaways from Week 2 of Vikings OTAs

By Matthew Coller

EAGAN — The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of Week 2 of Organized Team Activities at TCO Performance
Center. Wednesday’s session was open to the media. Here’s what we took away from the action…

Backup QB competition

Sean Mannion received the second-team reps behind Kirk Cousins but head coach Mike Zimmer said he won’t be
the only one to get a shot. Zimmer told the media that Kyle Sloter will get one of the three days each week to work
with the twos. Mannion is the favorite for the job because of his previous experience as Jared Goff’s backup in Los
Angeles but Sloter has impressed during preseason action (albeit largely late in games). Jake Browning, an
undrafted free agent from Washington, will compete for a shot at the No. 3 job or potentially a position on the practice
squad.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski noted that he’s been impressed by Mannion’s approach and intelligence.

“I see a pro,” Stefanski said. “He came from a successful program last few years there. He is really a guy that I think
fits in extremely well with Kirk, extremely well with the backups. A guy that I have enjoyed being around. He is a
really smart guy and that room is an impressive room and he fits in really well in just his breadth of knowledge that he
has brought to that room.”

No more Treadwell hyperbole

Over the last two years during OTAs, we have heard plenty of podium quotes about the progress of 2016 first-round
pick Laquon Treadwell. He has subsequently gone on to struggle in both 2017 and 2018, combining for 55
receptions. With the Vikings electing not to pick up his fifth-year option, it’s clear that this year is his final chance to
carve out a role and there also isn’t any secret about where the team stands. So it doesn’t appear we will be hearing
any hype from coaches this offseason.

“He’s doing well, he needs to continue to do the things he’s been doing. He’s been getting better all the time,” Zimmer
said.

“We as coaches are giving them a few things each day to work on, Laquon is no different than any one of our
players,” Stefanski said. “There is certain things we point out on tape and we say, X, Y or Z needs to get better.
Laquon is no different than any one of these guys.”

A kicking coach arrives

Earlier this offseason Zimmer mentioned the possibility of hiring a coach dedicated to working with kicker Dan Bailey.
On Wednesday the team announced that former San Diego Charger Nate Kaeding, who ranks ninth all time in field
goal percentage, will be that kicking coach.

“He is another set of eyes,” special teams coach Marwan Maalouf said. “He has done a real good job so far of
communicating with players and making sure everybody is on the same page. I think that is really important that we
are all talking the same language. He is somebody I could send with the specialists and I can concentrate of other
aspects as well as the specialists.”

The Vikings had the lowest field goal percentage of any team in the NFL last season.

It appears there will be a battle for the punt returner position with Marcus Sherels now playing for the Saints. Maalouf
said:

“A lot of guys who have done it. We will probably start pairing it down closer to training camp. I think guys’ roles start
to define themselves at that point. There is a lot of guys that can do it, which is a good thing.”

Running back Ameer Abdullah is the favorite to be the Vikings kick returner.

Jordan Taylor making an impression

While former Bronco Jordan Taylor wasn’t immediately considered the favorite for WR3 when he was signed by the
Vikings this offseason, he’s received practice time with the first team and appears to have impressed the coaching
staff.

“Consummate pro, I think it’s really nice to have a guy like Jordan in that room that has a head start a little bit on the
system for those young guys around him so we are trying to nudge some of those young guys toward him,” Stefanski
said. “It’s not like Jordan has to tell them what to do, he can show them what to do. He’s been out in the field and I’ve
been very impressed. You see the skillset again with Jordan with his size and length and speed. We are pretty happy
to have him.”

Over the last two years Taylor caught 29 passes in Denver for 351 yards and two touchdowns.

Diggs’ grown-up problem

Stefon Diggs missed the first two days of OTAs last week. He’s been on the field in Eagan this week. He offered a
simple explanation for last week’s absence.

“I had some house problems,” he said. “You know how adults are.”

Wednesday’s chat at the podium marked the first time Diggs has spoken since Adam Thielen signed a long-term
contract extension.

“I’ve seen it first hand as far as the work he put in, his commitment, his efforts and the kind of guy that he is. As far as
him getting paid, it’s well deserved,” Diggs said. “As a colleague of mine and as a friend, I was happy for him. I
smiled when it popped up on the ticker.”

The Vikings’ star receiver also noted that he was impressed with the three games Stefanski called last year as
interim OC.

“I am excited to see Coach [Kevin] Stefanski again,” Diggs said. “I have 100 percent faith and trust in him based off of
those last three games. Going into the offseason, I was under the same confidence. Seeing him and being back into
the motion and swing of things, it’s exciting once again. It is part of getting the ball rolling, picking up on the playbook,
the new things, define nuances how he wants things done.”

Hercules Mata’afa, three-technique

The Vikings picked up an intriguing UDFA D-lineman last year in Hercules Mata’afa, only to see him suffer a season-
ending injury in OTAs. He played several different spots before getting hurt. Now with a shortage on the interior
defensive line, the former Washington State pass rusher has found his spot at three-technique.

“We’ve moved him to the three technique and he’s really embraced it,” defensive coordinator George Edwards said.
“He is playing the run well, he has a good pad level. His quickness and his size rushing the pass rusher is really
showing up in these first couple practices.”

“He’s gained a bunch of weight…He shows quickness and acceleration and side to side a little bit of power,” head
coach Mike Zimmer said.

Shamar Stephen will play a role alongside Linval Joseph but aside from his position being solidified there will be a
battle with Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes and Mata’afa for playing time.

Kyle Rudolph

The Vikings TE was away for the Memorial Golf Tournament. He told NFL Network he believes there’s a way he
could still stay with the Vikings. Rudolph is in the final year of his contract and confirmed reports last week that the
Vikings offered him a contract extension.

Embedded video

Scott Hanson
✔
@ScottHanson
Latest on @KyleRudolph82 & talks w Vikings...

18
7:11 PM - May 29, 2019
See Scott Hanson's other Tweets

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 5/31/19
No plays off: Vikings top pick's journey from catcher to NFL center

By Courtney Cronin

Six years later, they’re still talking about how far Garrett Bradbury crushed that homer on a warm April night in
Monroe, North Carolina.

His Charlotte Christian teammates had eagerly nabbed a front-row seat to the action, lining up along the railing in the
visitors dugout on the third-base side. When Bradbury -- the center who was drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota
Vikings in April -- was at the plate, special things occurred when his combination of raw power and bat speed made
contact with a baseball.

Few forget how it happened that evening at Piedmont High School. Bradbury did more than just hit a home run ball to
left field. He annihilated it.

“That thing’s not coming down,” Bradbury’s teammate Nick Owens remembered thinking.

And it didn’t come down until what Charlotte Christian coach Greg Simmons estimated was at least 450 feet, over the
left-field wall, up and over the tall pine trees that lined the back of the stadium.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Simmons said. “You can ask any coach that was there. It’s one of those things that
when it happens, everybody just stops and says, ‘Wow!’ There was no question in my mind that he could hit and play
at the Division I level as a baseball player.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Bradbury’s baseball career served as a precursor to his NFL future. In the sport that was his first love, the catcher's
power-hitting ways defined only part of his identity as a baseball player. The qualities Bradbury demonstrated
athletically (listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds as a high school senior) and from a leadership standpoint made him a
perfect fit behind the plate.

“He took control of the game from there,” Simmons said. “It’s almost like having your inside linebacker, your
quarterback. The pitchers had a lot of confidence in him because they could spike their breaking ball and knew he
would block it up. He kept runners close because he had a good-enough arm where he threw guys out. I think the
thing behind the plate was his leadership because he wanted to be part of every play. That’s one of the reasons we
put him back there. He was a heck of a catcher. That made the decision easy.”

The skills Bradbury garnered throughout his high school career as a three-time state champion would eventually find
a place among those that help him with his current job, in which he is in line to be the Day 1 starting center for the
Vikings.

All these years later, it’s not difficult for Bradbury to see the carry-over from one sport to the next still having an effect.

“You are kind of the leader back there behind the plate,” Bradbury said. “I got to call pitches. I got to control the infield
in terms of where they were going. Just verbally put everyone in their position. As an offensive lineman, you have to
be able to communicate. You have to have all five guys on the same page. In terms of communication, that helped
the most.”

MUCH TO HIS CHAGRIN AS A LONGTIME RED SOX FAN, Tim Bradbury bought into his son’s love for the New
York Yankees and brought home goodies from business trips to the Big Apple, from Derek Jeter jersey shirts to the
stickers and posters that covered the walls in Garrett's childhood bedroom.

Born 12.5 pounds on June 20, 1995, Garrett never truly experienced a growth spurt. He grew at a steady pace
throughout his adolescence and teen years, eclipsing the 225-pound mark early in high school.

First-round pick Garrett Bradbury can apply much of what he learned as a high school catcher to his role as a center
for the Vikings. Courtesy of Shelley Bradbury
Simmons saw the benefit of putting the biggest and most athletic kid on the team behind the plate when he began
working with Garrett in middle school. As a sophomore, Garrett took over starting duties at catcher for the Knights.

“He was a frickin’ brick wall,” Tim Bradbury said. “People really couldn’t go through him. It was hilarious to see people
try to take him out. We would laugh.”

But his size was an illusion when it came to the plays Bradbury made behind the plate. He seamlessly threw out
runners attempting to steal with a powerful arm. His footwork from his time playing first base and the raw power he
harnessed into his swing made him one of the most well-rounded players on the team.

“To be a big kid, he didn’t play like a big kid,” Simmons said. “He was very athletic. Moved well. Had a great arm and
really good awareness behind the plate, knew how to keep the pitchers under control.”

Added Owens, who played shortstop at Charlotte Christian before playing at Virginia Tech: “The way that he
managed our pitching staff was probably the most impressive. When a pitcher would walk a batter on four pitches, he
has the instinct to know to go talk to them and calm him down, get his mind right. That’s something that can’t be
taught. It’s something that he just has.”

While college baseball was an option and some believe he could have been drafted out of high school had he stuck
with one sport and attracted scouts during fall ball, it quickly became a foregone conclusion that football was
Bradbury’s ticket.

Still, even after he had committed to play for North Carolina State, where his career took him from tight end to
defensive line before he settled in at guard and eventually center, Bradbury was all-in during baseball season.

In 2014, it rained during the North Carolina state baseball championship, forcing the Knights to play three games in
one day. The toughness Bradbury garnered in football, Simmons believes, made him a better baseball player.

On that day, Bradbury caught all three games and hit three home runs to help the Knights win their third straight title.

“I think that he liked that he could touch the ball every single play, which is why I think as a center he does such a
great job,” Simmons said. “At the high school level, our catcher was the guy making all the bunt coverage calls; we’d
run things through him, the pickoffs and those kind of things. He was making calls and doing all that like he’s doing
now as a center.”

BRADBURY WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN to the cerebral aspect of baseball. Being allowed to control the flow of the
game by calling pitches allowed him to flex his mental muscle like he did with his grip-it-and-rip-it hitting style.

The pitch calls came from the coaches in the dugout at Charlotte Christian, and they were written on a wrist band that
he was expected to wear and reference during the game.

Bradbury forgot his wrist band one afternoon. Simmons wasn’t happy but received some reassurance that changed
his tune.

Garrett Bradbury knows he'll have to earn respect from his linemates before he becomes a leader. David
Berding/USA TODAY Sports
Coach, don’t worry. I’ve got this.

“That son of a gun memorized the whole thing and didn’t miss a call the entire game,” Simmons said. “So after that, I
said he didn’t have to wear it.”

In a few months, Bradbury is expected to be in charge of coordinating blocking assignments for his four offensive
linemates while making sure the snap count and communication with quarterback Kirk Cousins is seamless. All in
front of loud, rowdy crowds that make doing just that difficult.

It’s a role he has prepared for since the day he was drafted, knowing full well that it requires the same mental
preparedness and communication skills he sharpened in baseball.

“You've got to earn the guys' respect first,” Bradbury said. “No one is going to listen to a rookie coming in barking
orders trying to lead anyone. So I'm just going to come in and work. That's what I've always done, whether it's a
freshman or a senior, now I'm going to be a rookie.”

Who knows if his ability to quickly get out of his stance to throw a runner will help his pulling abilities on an outside
zone run, but Bradbury’s athleticism is what drew the Vikings to him in the first place. It’s what they expect will play
an integral role in Minnesota’s new offense, beginning with a revamped line and a new center ready to make his
mark.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 5/31/19
Back from Injury, Hercules Mata’afa Steps in at 3-Tech

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — Hercules Mata’afa’s rookie season was wiped out before it even had a chance to begin because of
an ACL injury.

But now that Mata’afa is back on the practice field — and in the position he feels the most comfortable — he’s
beginning to show why he was one of the best defensive players in college football just two years ago.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer was a guest on KFAN’s 9 to Noon live broadcast from Twin Cities Orthopedics
Performance Center on Wednesday and told “Voice of the Vikings” Paul Allen that Mata’afa “has been the surprise of
the camp, to be honest with you” during Organized Team Activities.

“Players are talking about him. He’s up to 275 now,” Zimmer said. “He can get out of the chutes without raising up at
all, has been difficult to block. He’s very active.”

Mata’afa brushed the praise aside earlier this week and said he’s just happy to have found a spot as a 3-technqiue
defensive tackle, a position where he believes he can flourish.

“I feel like I’m at home. I’m playing where I feel comfortable at,” Mata’afa said. “I’m glad I came here because I knew
the Vikings would give me a shot if linebacker didn’t work out for me. That’s what they did, and I’m just coming here,
showing what I can give the team.”

Mata’afa was the 2017 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at Washington State, where he set a school record with
22.5 tackles for loss to earn First-Team All-Pac-12 honors.

But he went undrafted in the spring of 2018 before landing with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. With Mata’afa
weighing a hair over 250 pounds, Minnesota tried him at linebacker during rookie minicamp.

The transition wasn’t as smooth as everyone hopes, so the Vikings rotated him between defensive end and the 3-
technqiue during OTAs in 2018.

But Mata’afa suffered a torn ACL in the last week of OTAs, prematurely ending his first season in the NFL before
training camp.

“It’s good to be back. It was pretty hard … my first full year without football since I redshirted,” Mata’afa said. “I just
came in for treatment every day and made sure my body was right for these moments right now.”

That included adding 20 pounds to help out on the interior of the defensive line, a spot Mata’afa isn’t entirely
unfamiliar with.

“I played 3-tech in college, so it’s not new to be me, it’s just different schemes,” Mata’afa said. “Getting used to the
new scheme is something I’m working on.

“That’s where I played all college, and it’s where a lot of people told me I couldn’t play coming out of college [and in
the NFL],” Mata’afa added. “It feels good to be able to make my mark. I am where I am and I’m happy to be here.”

Much like Zimmer, Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards said earlier this week that Mata’afa has turned
some heads as spring practices roll on.

“He’s really embraced it. He is playing the run well, he has a good pad level,” Edwards said. “His quickness and his
size rushing the pass rusher is really showing up in these first couple practices.

“He ended up on injured reserve last year, and he really worked his butt off throughout last season and this whole
offseason, getting him prepared to go,” Edwards later added. “He has put on some good girth, and it really hasn’t
affected his play. So his quickness is really beneficial inside.”

The Vikings have established veterans on the interior in Pro Bowler Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen, who
returned to Minnesota after spending the 2018 season in Seattle.

The rest of the group features young players such as Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes and 2019 sixth-round pick Armon
Watts.

Zimmer usually isn’t one to heap praise on unproven players, but he had plenty of it Wednesday for Mata’afa when
talking to Allen on the radio.

“We had a kid when I was in Cincinnati named Geno Atkins,” Zimmer said. “We were in OTAs and one of the
quarterbacks came up to me and said, ‘Do you think he can do this when pads go on?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. We’ll
see,’ and he did.

“That’s kind of, you know, I’m not saying he’s Geno, but he’s so active in these OTAs,” Zimmer added. “Now, the
question is, ‘Can he continue to do it when we get the pads on?’”

Mata’afa will get his chance to shine in two months when training camp rolls around and the pads come on.

In the meantime, Mata’afa is just thrilled to be playing football again, all while keeping his goals modest.

“Making the team — that’s my first goal,” Mata’afa said. “From there, it’s winning games. That’s all I’m here for, to
help the team.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 5/31/19
Randy Moss and Deion Sanders Make an Awesome 2-on-2
Challenge While Gone Fishing

By Chris Corso

The ultimate duo has teamed up and gone fishing.

Vikings legendary wide receiver Randy Moss and legendary defensive back Deion Sanders have been spending
some quality time out on the lake at Sanders' estate in Texas.

After the two Hall of Famers caught a pair of fish, the two joked and challenged anyone in any sport 2-on-2
challenge:

Embedded video

Sports Illustrated
✔
@SInow
Deion Sanders and Randy Moss going fishing is a MOOD

(via @DeionSanders)

16.6K
11:48 AM - May 29, 2019
4,242 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
"We banged a double man," Moss said.

"We ain't even playing baseball and we hitting doubles," Sanders laughed. "Whoever want some, get at us. Whoever
want to go 2-on-2. I don't care if it's baseball, basketball, football, whatever ya'll want! What ya'll want to do?"

Following the challenge, Moss joked that they would take on any pair in any sport other than football.

Small forward Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder fired back to the challenge on Twitter:

Paul George
✔
@Yg_Trece
· May 29, 2019
Cmon with it OG RT @SInow: Deion Sanders and Randy Moss going fishing is a MOOD

(via @DeionSanders)

Embedded video

Randy Moss
✔
@RandyMoss
I was waiting on u!got something brewing.......I know u get down.....wht up homie

872

2:59 PM - May 29, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
100 people are talking about this
Even Vikings legend Cris Carter, who paired up with Moss to form one of the most successful dual receiving threats
in NFL history chimed in on the tweet:

Deion Sanders
✔
@DeionSanders
Yep @chriscarter i got him now. #8421

Cris Carter
✔
@criscarter80
PG , I need a partner because my guy @RandyMoss (we spent many hrs fishing together) got a new fishing buddy
@DeionSanders , let’s do this ‼ https://twitter.com/yg_trece/status/1133811742738223104 …

36
5:50 AM - May 30, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See Deion Sanders's other Tweets
Host of The Bass Master Classic Dave Mercer and his crew would happily take on the challenge as long as it's on
water:

Bassmaster
@bassmaster
· May 29, 2019
We might know a few anglers that could compete against @DeionSanders and @RandyMoss? @MarkZonaFishing
@DaveMercer @davyhite???

Sports Illustrated
✔
@SInow
Deion Sanders and Randy Moss going fishing is a MOOD

(via @DeionSanders)

Embedded video

Dave Mercer
✔
@DaveMercer
Those 2 dudes, don’t want no part of the @bassmaster TV crew

127
1:09 PM - May 29, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
16 people are talking about this
The SuperFreak and PrimeTime continued to reel 'em in and enjoy their time out on the lake:

Embedded video

Randy Moss
✔
@RandyMoss

Truly a blessing @DeionSanders!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

2,148
10:57 AM - May 30, 2019
261 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter

Deion Sanders
✔
@DeionSanders
That’s a Crappie for you baby! #Truth @RandyMoss #CountryPrime #CantonTexas

440
7:26 AM - May 30, 2019
55 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Randy Moss
✔
@RandyMoss
@DeionSanders Find me a better duo in da country!#comegetsome

112
11:03 AM - May 30, 2019
33 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
The Vikings social media account pitched in with a picture of the two matched up out on the gridiron 20 years ago in
the NFL:

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Minnesota Vikings
✔
@Vikings
This would be just as good as it was 20 years ago.#Skol

3,690
5:32 PM - May 29, 2019
504 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
The pair of legends is putting out feelers for a fishing tournament in 2020.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 5/31/19
Lunchbreak: How Bradbury’s Baseball Background Could Help in
NFL

By Eric Smith

Garrett Bradbury was a first-round pick as a football player, but his background in another sport could help him thrive
in the NFL.

ESPN Vikings beat reporter Courtney Cronin recently dove into Bradbury’s baseball career, and found that the rookie
center’s time as a catcher in high school could translate to the football field.

Cronin chatted with Bradbury’s former high school coach and teammates at Charlotte Christian, and found out
Bradbury was a dedicated player who loved days on the diamond.

Cronin wrote:

Bradbury was immediately drawn to the cerebral aspect of baseball. Being allowed to control the flow of the game by
calling pitches allowed him to flex his mental muscle like he did with his grip-it-and-rip-it hitting style.

The pitch calls came from the coaches in the dugout at Charlotte Christian, which were written on an arm band he
was expected to wear and reference during the game.

Bradbury forgot his wrist band one afternoon. [Charlotte Christian coach Greg] Simmons wasn’t happy but received a
word of reassurance from him that changed his tune.

Coach, don’t worry. I’ve got this.

“That son of a gun memorized the whole thing and didn’t miss a call the entire game,” Simmons said. “So, after that, I
said he didn’t have to wear it.”

Cronin said the hope for the Vikings is that the leadership Bradbury showed on the baseball field will translate to a
successful career on the gridiron.

It’s a role he has prepared for since the day he was drafted, knowing fully well that being able to do so relies on the
same mental preparedness and communication skills he sharpened in baseball.

“You’ve got to earn the guys’ respect first,” Bradbury said. “No one is going to listen to a rookie coming in barking
orders trying to lead anyone. So I'’m just going to come in and work. That’s what I’ve always done, whether it’s a
freshman or a senior, now I’m going to be a rookie.”

Vikings OTA Practice No. 5
View photos of the Vikings during their fifth OTA practice on May 29 at TCO Performance Center.

NFL.com Lists Tarkenton as All-Time Franchise QB

Franchise quarterbacks … teams either have them or are looking for them.

And those who become franchise quarterbacks usually go down as some of the most beloved players in team
history.

Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com is going through each division and looking at the all-time franchise quarterback for each
team. He tackled the NFC North earlier this week, and it was no surprise Bhanpuri went with Hall of Fame
quarterback Fran Tarkenton as the man in Minnesota.

In order for to qualify, a player must have 48 starts with one team and meet two of the following three requirements:

1) Winning regular-season record

2) Minimum passer rating of 75.0

3) At least one Pro Bowl selection

Bhanpuri said Tarkenton's legendary play and ability to help the Vikings get to three of the team’s four Super Bowls
puts him at the top of the Vikings list.

Bhanpuri wrote:

Tarkenton’s accomplishments in his first go-around with the Vikings (1961-66) aren’t applicable to this exercise, but
he’s more well-known for the feats he achieved in his Vikings return, anyway. After re-joining the team in 1972
following a five-year stint with the Giants, Tarkenton guided Minnesota on an incredible run that included six straight
postseason trips and three Super Bowl berths in four years.

Though the Vikings never captured football’s ultimate trophy during that span — and they still haven’t — no other QB
in franchise history provided as much stability and sustained winning as he did. Had Randall Cunningham’s 1998
squad finished off the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game and finally captured a championship for Minnesota, I
wonder if his Vikings tenure might’ve turned out differently. Would his name be the fourth on the Vikes’ list?

Based on the above criteria, Bhanpuri also had Daunte Culpepper and Wade Wilson as candidates for the Vikings.

Tarkenton, who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, started 170 career games in Purple, going
91-73-6 with Minnesota.

Tarkenton was the NFL’s all-time passing leader with 47,003 yards when he retired in 1978. He currently ranks 11th
in that category, and threw 342 career touchdowns.

As for the rest of the NFC North, Bhanpuri went with Jim McMahon in Chicago, current Lions quarterback Matthew
Stafford and former Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who finished his career with the Vikings.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 5/31/19
Immersive Experience with FDNY Gives Harrison Smith Unique
Perspective

By Lindsey Young

When Harrison Smith stepped into the burning building, the lack of visibility caught him off guard.

He carefully maneuvered his way through different rooms, sticking close to the rest of his team as smoke billowed all
around the group.

But fortunately, Smith was not in a real emergency situation. Rather, the Vikings safety was participating in the 3rd
Annual Firefighters Challenge, hosted by actor and producer Denis Leary.

“It was a controlled setting, and we knew that everything was going to be fine,” Smith said. “The firefighters were
there with us the whole way, but it was a little insight into their daily lives.”

The all-day event took place in New York City earlier this month and raised money for The Leary Firefighters
Foundation.

Smith joined his cousin, actress Elaine Hendrix – perhaps best-known for her portrayal of Meredith Blake in the 1998
rendition of The Parent Trap – at the event. Hendrix is a close friend of Leary’s and consistently supports the
foundation, which Leary created in 2000 after six firefighters – including a cousin and a high school classmate – were
killed while combatting a warehouse fire in Massachusetts.

Leary, who created and starred in the critically acclaimed series Rescue Me (2004-11), continues to be moved not
only by the widespread support for his foundation but by its impact within New York City and beyond.

“Seeing actor friends of mine who used to be firefighters – like Steve Buscemi, who was a member of FDNY Engine
Company 55, or Bobby Burke, who’s still an active firefighter part time – come out every year and spend the day
helping us raise money always humbles me,” Leary told Vikings.com. “And then once we actually buy and deliver the
new vehicles or tools or boats to fire departments around the country – or help to build new training facilities – that
makes it all worthwhile.

“And it all makes a difference in each city and town we are able to help,” Leary added. “It all saves lives on some
level – the lives of firefighters and the lives of the people they rescue.”

Hendrix initially was motivated to support the foundation by her friendship with Leary. Now, however, she shares a
passion for the cause.

“When you get in and really learn how much firefighters do and what they do and what they have to learn, when you
gain that much of an appreciation, you can’t help but become passionate about it,” Hendrix told Vikings.com. “Now I
always tell Denis, ‘Whatever you need me to do, I’m there.’

“I can’t not help. I love it,” Hendrix added.

A family affair

Hendrix called it a “no-brainer” to include Smith, saying the two grew up in a close-knit family that emphasized
making a difference.

“Our mothers were sisters. My mom passed away about a year and a half ago, and my mom and Harry were also
really close,” Hendrix said. “We were just raised that way. We were raised, you help. That’s just what you do.

“I knew Harry would be into it,” Hendrix later added. “The fact that we do have an elevated platform – it’s interesting
because Harry and I haven’t ever exactly talked about it in these terms, but I would venture to guess he would agree
with me – we come from a background where there’s a certain sense of responsibility with that. ‘Do something with
that elevated platform. Don’t just waste it away.’ So this was our chance to do something positive … and we got to do
it together. It was incredible.”

Having had a schedule conflict in 2018, Smith was grateful for the opportunity to participate in this year’s fundraiser.
Other attendees included fellow celebrity guest and Food Network star Rachael Ray, former NFL center Nick
Mangold, as well as members of the Army and corporate groups.

Harrison-FDNY-story-2-052919
The Leary Firefighters Foundation
Smith and the others completed five different challenge stations that included the controlled structure fire, repelling
down the side of a five-story building and a simulated emergency set-up in a mock subway system.

“They showed us how they rescue people from the subway and explained how dangerous the third rail (which
provides electrical power to the trains) is,” Smith said. “It surprised me how dangerous it is to go down there.”

Smith learned that straddling the fire hose while entering a burning building enables firefighters to find their way back
to the entrance in case of poor visibility or disorientation. Additionally, he was taught the importance of “sweeping”
the floor while spraying to avoid the pooling and flow-back of dangerously hot water.

Smith was honored to share the experience with Hendrix, his eldest cousin, who has attended several Vikings games
and consistently supports Smith in his endeavors despite a busy schedule of her own.

He explained their mutual desire to experience each other’s livelihoods – even in minor ways, such as attending the
film Draft Day – which also featured Leary – together upon its release in 2014.

“That was cool for us to go to the theater and watch it because she was asking, ‘Is this what it was really like?’ And I
told her, ‘Ah, there’s aspects, but it’s a little dramatic,’ ” Smith recalled. “It was cool. It was a little bit of a crossover.”

Hendrix’s willingness to pull her hair back and suit up in firefighter equipment didn’t surprise Smith, who pointed out
that she’s a “passionate person all around,” which has been key to her acting career.

Hendrix regularly chips in for nonprofit efforts, particularly in animal rescue.

“She spends a lot of time doing that, actually going out and rescuing the animals – not just adopting them. She does
that, too, but she’ll actually go out and really get her hands dirty,” Smith said. “And she’s worked with Denis and
appreciates him as a writer and an actor and knows what he cares about. … So she wants to help out his foundation.

“She was scared to do the repelling, but she did it,” Smith added. “She was like, ‘I’m here, I’m going to do it.’ She’s
just kind of all for everything. She’s going to go do it. She has a huge heart, and I’m just glad she invited me. It was
really cool to be a part of it.”

Harrison-FDNY-story-4-052919
The Leary Firefighters Foundation
Leary expressed gratitude to Hendrix and Smith not only for attending but for jumping in head-first and completing
every activity.

“This year, Elaine rode a rescue rope down five stories when grown men were still on the roof dealing with their fear
of heights,” Leary said. “I’ve been saying this for a while now – if I get stuck in a fire, I want Elaine Hendrix to rescue
me.”

From football to firefighting

Leary said that Hendrix gives 100 percent in all her commitments, and he thanked her for bringing Smith “into the
fold” of the foundation and its efforts.

“He could not have been a nicer guy,” Leary said of the Pro Bowl safety. “Not only that, but he geared up and went
into every single training mission, too – like he’d been doing it every day for the past 15 years.”

It isn’t uncommon for former and current NFL players to participate in the annual event, but Leary was particularly
struck by Smith’s eagerness and comfort level.

“Harrison came out [of the Room of Fire] with a smile and a question: ‘Can I go back in?’ Nick Mangold was there
again this year, and even he walked away impressed by Harrison,” Leary said. “He’d be a natural firefighter.”

Leary called the cousins a “dream team”; after the event, he texted Hendrix that he continued to get positive
comments about “Hendrix and Harrison.”

The actress can’t help but chuckle at the attention – and T-shirt-worthy nickname – the duo received.

“It’s hilarious because [Harrison] thinks that I’ve got this celebrity status, I think that he’s got this celebrity status,” she
said. “And yet, we never get away from, ‘Well, that’s my cousin. That’s just my cousin.’ ”

But with both family members being notable names, which was most recognizable by fans?

“I’m definitely not as pretty as she is,” Smith quipped. “All of the firefighters wanted to take pictures with her, not me.”

Added Hendrix with a chuckle: “He’s very modest. I’ll just say this – we made a good team.”

Harrison-FDNY-story-5-052919
The Leary Firefighters Foundation
A mile in their boots

While Smith may not have posed for as many photos, he did spend plenty of time talking with the firefighters on hand
– many of whom had volunteered their day off – and learning a little about their world.

He and Hendrix both most appreciated (literally) stepping into the firefighters’ boots for a day.

“We didn’t even scratch the surface of what they do, but just to get such an up-close and personal connection with
them and what they do, that’s my favorite part,” Hendrix said. “Harrison and I grew up in a close family, so we’re
close. Then you step into this firefighter world, and they may not be blood-related, but they are very much a family.
And they are very close.”

Smith also was drawn to the camaraderie between the firefighters and likened it to the brotherhood of the Vikings
locker room.

“They have fun with each other. You can tell, just the way they get along with each other, they trust each other. They
have a lot of fun when it’s appropriate,” Smith said. “There were some similarities between the locker room and their
firehouse. You could just tell the chemistry. They rib each other about a lot of stuff and have their own little jokes.”

A handful of die-hard Giants or Jets fans aimed some friendly trash talk in Smith’s direction, but he also was
pleasantly surprised to connect with a couple of Vikings fans. One firefighter, Anthony Cordaro, is a New York native
but has been following the Vikings since the Purple People Eaters era.

“It was cool to meet those fans and talk to them about football and their experiences as firemen,” Smith said. “All the
firefighters there were amazing. They wanted everyone to experience everything. You didn’t have to do anything if it
made you uncomfortable, but they were there. … They were all just great, great people.”

Smith talked with the firefighters about everyday life in the firehouse, even down to their general diet and dining
routine.

“They make their own meals. Some of the firefighters are good at making food, and the other ones kind of get kicked
out of the kitchen,” Smith laughed. “They’re not allowed to cook.”

Honoring the real heroes

Some of the stories that will stick with Smith were less lighthearted, however.

He recalled learning about firefighters who worked around the clock following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the
ways they continue to be affected. Many of the firefighters have lingering health consequences, including respiratory
diseases.

Nearly 20 years after 9/11, a day spent with the New York City Fire Department gave Smith a new perspective on the
firefighters who risk their lives every day in order to protect and save others.

Harrison-FDNY-story-3-052919
The Leary Firefighters Foundation
He understands that fans of all ages look up to him as an NFL player, but Smith conveyed that he’s uncomfortable
with the idea of professional athletes being somebody’s hero.

“I think it’s an easy thing for some people to point to and for us as football players to think we’re super tough, we run
into each other,” Smith said. “Some people talk about it in the context of a ‘battle,’ stuff like that, and I’ve always just
thought that was really silly. Because it’s just not. I appreciate the chess aspect of the football, and it’s obviously
physical, but at the end of the day, it’s a fun game.

“Some things are going to hurt every now and then, and you’re going to put a lot into it, but those guys … are really
risking their lives when they go out to do their jobs, same with military members, so it’s a huge difference than what
we’re doing,” Smith continued. “A lot of kids look at us because it’s easy. We’re on a bigger platform, it’s easy to see
us every day, but those guys are showing up to work every day and clocking in and putting it on the line. I have a
great appreciation for that.”

Smith walked away from his experience with a greater admiration for firefighters and a standing invitation to
participate in future foundation events to support the field.

“Harrison also spent a ton of time … putting smiles on people’s faces,” Leary said. “It means a lot to the FDNY
members and the other participants for a guy like him to take the time and support the cause.

“I want him to come back every single year. Elaine and him are invited forever!”