Alexander Mattison: Minnesota Vikings RB

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BirdDogs off, we promise you. We continue it as the Zach Yelp show coast to coast on CBS Sports Radio. Let's head out to the guest line right now and welcome in a man that played his college football at Boise State. He was the third round, 102nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

He's had a successful career so far in Minnesota and now is going to be the lead back. And that, of course, is Alexander Madison. Alexander, always appreciate the time. Thanks for it. How are you? I'm doing good. I'm doing good.

Of course, my pleasure. How are you doing? Well, I'm doing fantastic.

Let me just ask you this right out of the gate. If I would have said to you after the playoff loss to the Giants that next year you'd be back in Minnesota and you would be the starting running back for the Vikings, what would you have said to me at that time? Honestly, I'm not sure I would have said much. I probably would have just kind of laughed it off and thought, you know, in the back of my mind, I know that this is probably my last game here.

I don't know if you saw there's a kind of a viral video of someone capturing the moments where I was just really soaking it all in. And that was really not only just, you know, after that loss, it just hurt to just go out that way after that season that we had. But understanding that this could and most likely is my last game in the U.S. Bank as a Minnesota Viking, it just all hit me at once.

And that really was, you know, where I was thinking, heading into free agent to that, you know, we're going to go find a new home, a new team. And yeah, so it's pretty, it was a pretty big shock to be back in Minnesota. When you got the deal finalized with Minnesota on a two year deal, just how did you kind of process that one with all those emotions that you thought you were on the way out? It was extremely, it was one of those things, one of those moments where I knew it was a place that I could see myself, even when I got back to there, I could see myself finishing my career as a Minnesota Viking. Just the logistics of it all, obviously for me didn't feel like it was realistic to do so.

But I would have loved. And so now that I'm back, I do love the fact that I'm back because when I first got drafted there my first year, I was telling my family that I would love to just play my whole career here, play my whole career in one place and the best place to play in the league. So to be back, I was extremely grateful.

I was extremely honored that they showed their interest in bringing me back and their trust in bringing me back. And the deal that they proposed was something that was just, it all just pointed in the right direction of that trust that they had in me and in belief in me. Were you close to signing somewhere else? Was that ever a real possibility?

Did that ever get close? There were some talks, but Minnesota, they had the most respect behind their offer towards me. And you could tell that they wanted me there. And I'm not sure if there was any other back on their radar. I think I might have been the one back that they were trying to go after the agency.

And then, you know, the car is trying to fall after that. So there was some talk here and there. But once guys started signing, all directions started to point a little bit towards narrowing down to Minnesota. Alexander Madison here with us. We're familiar with you. We've talked to you a bunch throughout the years, but now you're going to get a lot more carries in that backfield being the lead back. If people haven't seen you play, what does Alexander Madison bring to a football team? I like to always go by the motto behind my running style is a downhill fast and physical back.

I play with violent knee drive and I bring physicality and, you know, sneaky elusiveness. And I think that when you see me step on that field and see me play, that's exactly what you're seeing. Why are you ready for this moment to be the lead back in Minnesota now? I prepared for my entire career, my entire life. I'm prepared to be in this position.

You know, I've jumped at this moment, I've jumped at this opportunity. So now it's all about seizing the opportunity and continuing to prepare like a pro, practice like a pro, and recovery like a pro. And I, you know, all hats off to Dalvin Cook and the way that he was able to really mentor me and challenge me to continue to challenge myself and to challenge him, even though we knew the dynamic of the running back room, we were able to, you know, create such a competitive and brotherhood bond that he was making me a better person every day. In that relationship and that synergy that you guys shared, there were so many rumors that Dalvin Cook was either going to be traded or released this offseason. When it became official that Minnesota was moving on, just how did you kind of react to that? It was definitely something, a process.

We had talked pretty much a few, five, maybe five times between me signing back and him being released. And, you know, we knew that it was going to happen. We knew that it was a matter of time.

But, you know, obviously to the public, it was something that wasn't out there. But the conversations between us, it was just, you know, he passed the torch. And I'm just extremely excited for this opportunity to not only make him proud, but not let him down. Just because I understand how much he meant to this organization, how much his time here was so impactful. So just talking to him, that's kind of where our mindsets were throughout the process.

You know, he was glad that if he was passing the torch, it was for me. I know you said there was a lot of things behind the scenes that the public was not made aware of. When you re-signed in mid-March, did you know and did you have a good feel that he was not going to be back with the team?

Yeah, pretty much. I mean, signing that deal, I kind of knew what it was. That's one thing I can commend with the front office to the back.

They keep it real with you and they give you straightforward answers. And, you know, I wouldn't sign on the deal to come back and be a backup running back. So kind of from just signing those papers, we knew what it eventually was pointing to just because of how the business is getting worse. You know, of course, Evan Cook is a franchise, a historic back in Minnesota history. So it's definitely not an easy decision on their part at all. But, you know, the business and everything kind of just shapes things up.

Alexander Madison here with us on the Zach Gelb show. A lot of people are wondering what direction is this Minnesota Vikings team heading in with some of the moves that they've made and some of the players that they've said goodbye to this past offseason. You've got a lot of talent on this team. What do you believe that this group can accomplish this upcoming season? Well, the big goal that we have is, you know, to make that big dance at the end. I think that we're fully capable and I think we have the confidence within the team to really go get that done. But, you know, we take it one game at a time and we get a time to understand the many goals that we have in between getting there. But I wholeheartedly believe that this is a team coming back this year that added pieces, even though we have lost some pieces. I think we have a great opportunity ahead of us going into year two with this offense.

With bringing in Brian Flores to head that defense, it's definitely looking scary on that side of the ball and I think that we have the utmost confidence and capability for us to go make a run this year. What do you say to people that look at Minnesota and go, they won so many one-score games last year that they thought you guys were fraudulent and also that this team's not going to be able to have sustained success? What do you say to the doubters?

I say tune in, tap in. It's not a fluke. You know, that was something that kind of got under our skin a little bit last year is to understand that, you know, how do we continue to do it time and time again and people still don't believe in us and still don't think that we're capable of, you know, being successful. And attaining the success that we did as a team during that season, you know, you don't finish games like that, you don't finish a season like that, it's just not real. So I just, you know, tell those people to tune in and get ready, you know, buckle up their seats up and get ready for another great season because the mindset that we have coming into this is to prove all the doubters wrong and prove our supporters right. Because within our locker room, within our family, we have goals that we have for each other and, you know, we're going to ride with each other no matter what the outcome is. What did Kevin O'Connell, Alexander Madison bring to this football team last year? He brought not only an aggressive attacking mindset to the offensive defense, to the team overall, but just a positive mentality that, you know, no matter what, overcoming adversity is a part of life, is a part of the game. And we know that we can trust in him to give us a hundred and ten percent week in and week out no matter the outcome and to give us his all and trust in us and we trust in him and I think that's a big part of the foundation that we laid going into last season. Just that trust in one another and trust in the process and understanding that at the end of the day, we're the only ones that can beat ourselves.

And, you know, if that's the case, then so be it. We go back to the drawing board and we figure out a way to not let that happen again. I know you're very close with Dalvin Cook like we talked about earlier, Alexander Madison, but what is the team getting? Whoever signs Dalvin Cook, what are they getting right now in him? Oh man, I mean his career speaks for itself.

They're getting an all pro, pro bowl, superstar running back. I mean, there's not much I can, not much else I can say about him that doesn't speak for itself, but he's definitely one of a kind. He's definitely a leader, not only on the field, but off the field. He's definitely one of those once in a lifetime special guys that just brings a different edge to the team.

So, love him to death and wishing him nothing but the best and we're going to be chopping it up soon when whatever happens happens, but yeah, he's just one of a kind. By the way, I know that you guys are both younger players, but you've had now a few years in the league. We all know how great Justin Jefferson has been.

I'm just wondering, being on a same offense as Justin Jefferson, what have you been able to learn and pick up from him? He's funny because he's sort of a mystery when it comes to how great he is. I used to say it all the time, I don't even know if he knew how great he was going to be as rookie year. But I don't think he understood the level of greatness that he was going to attain. I know everyone has those dreams, everyone has that feeling that they're the best in their position because you have to have that confidence within the game to go out there and be the best. But he definitely carries himself in probably one of the most humble ways that you can see a superstar carry themselves. An international superstar that he is, a freak athlete that he is, he definitely just carries himself in a different way. So just watching him and talking to him and everything, he's just one of those guys, he's still a kid playing a game that he loves and he's just blessed with his God-given talent and he's blessed with his work ethic to make sure that he separates himself from pretty much any other receiver that's played this game. I think he's better on that route for sure. And I know that he still has two years left under contract but they better get a deal done with him soon because you don't want to risk anything going the wrong way with Justin Jefferson.

Oh yeah, you want to make sure he's the one you want to make sure he tires the bike and that's for sure. Absolutely. Before we let you run, one of our affiliates is The Ticket and Boise. You played your college football at Boise State. How do you look back at what Boise State meant to Alexander Madison? Oh man, Boise State was probably one of the most pivotal time frames in my life. You know, those years make the young men that we grow into be. So I'm extremely grateful for the people I had around me, the mentor that I had, Coach Harson, Coach Marks, who really helped me develop not only a blue-collar mentality on the field but life skills to help me navigate through the stresses of life, overcome adversity in life, and just be a great well-rounded human being.

I think I learned that much more from Boise State than even just, you know, the football side of things. And I can really just say that I'm extremely grateful for my time and every time I go back I just get to reminisce and all the hard times and overcome the adversity throughout my time there and just understanding that those pivotal years in my life at Boise State really kind of made me the person I am today. Well I always appreciate your time, really happy for your success and excited to see with more carries how the season does pan on out for you guys this year. Thanks so much for doing this today and continued success, alright? Thank you, I really appreciate you, it's always a pleasure.