Digital Social Hour
The $20M Mistake NFL Teams Make: RB Alex Mattison Reveals All | Alex Mattison DSH #1014
Wed, 25 Dec 2024
NFL running back Alex Mattison reveals the harsh $20M reality facing running backs in today's NFL. From contract negotiations to career-ending decisions, get an exclusive look into why running backs are facing unprecedented challenges in the modern game. 🏈 In this eye-opening conversation, Mattison shares shocking insights about the NFL's business side, including how the average running back career has dropped to just 2.5 years. Learn why teams are making costly mistakes by undervaluing their running backs, and hear firsthand stories about sudden team changes and career-altering moments. From acupuncture secrets to game-day strategies, Mattison opens up about his journey from Minnesota to Las Vegas, revealing the physical and mental preparation required to succeed in the NFL. Get the inside scoop on how players analyze opponent tendencies, protect themselves from career-threatening tackles, and balance family life with professional demands. Whether you're a football fan, aspiring athlete, or business enthusiast, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the NFL's evolving landscape and the real impact it has on players' lives. Mattison's candid insights and strategic mindset offer a rare glimpse into professional football's most pressing challenges. Watch now to understand why the devaluation of running backs might be the NFL's costliest mistake, and hear Mattison's powerful perspective on the future of the position. 🏈💪 #nfl #minnesotavikings #fantasyfootball #nflhighlights #alexmattisoninterview CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Season Performance 02:11 - Play Adjustments During Season 04:01 - Impact of Trash Talk 05:52 - Insights on Football 07:45 - Importance of Running Backs 08:44 - NFL Business Dynamics 09:25 - Unexpected Trades 09:58 - Being Cut from a Team 11:38 - Average NFL Career Length 18:05 - Game Adaptation Strategies 19:30 - Role of Safeties in Football 26:33 - Dalvin Cook's Body Care Routine 28:35 - Dalvin vs. Adrian Peterson Experience 37:20 - Future Plans 37:20 - Online Presence 38:00 - Upcoming Foundation Event 38:18 - Donate to Sunrise Children's Hospital 38:21 - Closing Remarks APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Alex Mattison https://www.instagram.com/alex_mattison22 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What are the challenges facing NFL running backs today?
Yeah. Yeah. The only difference is like some of the verbiage. But I mean, there's some that's the same and you listen to it and you're like, I wonder if that's the same as what it was. Right. And it is. And then there's sometimes where there's like a word and you think of what it was in Minnesota. Right. And no, that word is a different play here.
So you just kind of got to learn how to disconnect them.
Have you ever played against a team where they found out your plays and they kind of knew what you were about to do?
Chapter 2: How has the average NFL career length changed?
Chapter 3: What is the impact of trash talk in football?
All the different teams around the league have different ways that they do things, different way that they have their lifts versus their scheduling where it's like, Here we practice earlier in the day than Minnesota was later in the day. So just little things like that that are different.
You got to memorize all the plays too.
Yeah, that too, yeah. Luckily, the system that we're in now is a system that is like a combination of the systems that I've been a part of in Minnesota. So... pretty familiar with like the different schemes and everything like that. So that's a good part. Oh, nice. Yeah.
There were some similar plays and stuff.
Yeah. Yeah. The only difference is like some of the verbiage. But I mean, there's some that's the same and you listen to it and you're like, I wonder if that's the same as what it was. Right. And it is. And then there's sometimes where there's like a word and you think of what it was in Minnesota. Right. And no, that word is a different play here.
So you just kind of got to learn how to disconnect them.
Have you ever played against a team where they found out your plays and they kind of knew what you were about to do?
I've never known for a fact, but I've lined up and they're like, okay, yeah, he's doing this. And I'm just like, how do they know that? But, you know, it comes down to like being...
a football player comes down to prepping all week they've probably seen when they line up in this formation and it's third and eight they're either doing this or they're doing that so like you get down to it and that's what they do a lot of like coin flips when it comes down to formations and things like that that awareness right yeah so do you have to change the plays throughout the season like the words what you call them stuff
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Chapter 4: How do running backs prepare for game-day challenges?
But there's guys that'll be on the side of the ball, they're lined up and they're just like talking mess and just like. Yeah, it's funny because I'll be there, and if I do a point, they're like, oh, you're not. That's a fake point. And I'm like, damn. You're locked in. Yeah, yeah.
There's people trying to talk to you, right?
Yeah.
Talk smack or whatever, get in your head. Yeah. You ever let that happen?
I don't. It doesn't affect me. Yeah. It doesn't affect me. There was a time I remember. Jamal Adams, he got mad at me because I had, I think, an explosive screen. And he tried to make the tackle and I kind of broke his tackle, but ended up out of bounds. So when I got up, he was like talking mess. And I honestly couldn't understand what he was saying.
So I like looked at him and asked, I said, what? And he like tried to like, you know, continue to talk mess. And I was just like... And just kept going. And I could tell he was, like, frustrated that I didn't talk back to him. But it's funny to me because, like, it doesn't faze me.
Yeah. Well, some people use it to play better. They like to get riled up.
Yeah.
Like Michael Jordan type stuff.
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Chapter 5: What tactics do running backs use to evade tackles?
Hometown, though? I grew up, yeah, pretty much. Yeah? In Jersey. That's dope. Yeah, me and my wife, we... High school, went to high school together.
That's irreplaceable, man. I've learned that with my relationship because I see all my single friends struggling right now, but this girl's been with me from rock bottom.
Same with you. Yeah, my rock. We just hit 10 years a couple weeks ago. Congrats. Yeah, appreciate that. That's rare these days, man. Yeah, it is. That's why I'm glad that...
she's here with me by my side through all the journey she's seen i mean she was here before the first offer rolled in so wow yeah so beautiful it is um what what do you think how do you think you've been able to make that work out being a professional athlete and balancing that um i mean it really comes down to uh priorities comes down to how are you going to balance this life with trying to be the best husband father best friend provider um
It's hard. It's hard because you travel a lot. Yeah. Yeah. It's hard because the schedule, the way the schedule is, the way that you have to like I do. I mean, a lot of people are different. I do a lot of taking care of my body. So like I know that part's also hard because like in season, even after practice. Right.
Like I might be home and then I got a recovery session where I got to go get acupuncture. I got to go do this. And so that part I know is hard like on a spouse because it's like season. It's just like going, going, going, going. And we just really get an off day to be with our family. And even on my off day, I'm doing like boxing in the morning. Wow.
Then I'm doing like anything like great opportunity like this to come sit down with you and talk. Yeah. later in the evening, I'm going to do another acupuncture, soft tissue massage session. So it's also just one of those things where I just love and appreciate and respect her patience and especially dealing with the toddler and a newborn right now is definitely hard.
I told her, I was like, yeah, we got to stop with the seasoned babies because it's definitely one of those times of the year where it's just like full-fledged. Chaos, right? Yeah.
You're probably working 80 hours a week.
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Chapter 7: How do unexpected trades affect players emotionally?
So you just kind of got to learn how to disconnect them.
Have you ever played against a team where they found out your plays and they kind of knew what you were about to do?
I've never known for a fact, but I've lined up and they're like, okay, yeah, he's doing this. And I'm just like, how do they know that? But, you know, it comes down to like being...
a football player comes down to prepping all week they've probably seen when they line up in this formation and it's third and eight they're either doing this or they're doing that so like you get down to it and that's what they do a lot of like coin flips when it comes down to formations and things like that that awareness right yeah so do you have to change the plays throughout the season like the words what you call them stuff
Sometimes, yeah.
You get to a point where you either add in new stuff or you start to switch up your verbiage a little bit. I've seen that a lot with snap counts. If you're lining up and you're like, we're going on this count, they know what that snap count is, so they start to jump the count. They start to get a feel for it, so you have to switch it up all the time.
Yeah, because I see the guys that get the most sacks. It almost seems like they know what's coming.
Yeah, yeah.
And I mean... It's funny because sometimes you'll have guys that line up and they like, I don't know how guys do it because like I'm in a mode where I'm like thinking to myself about all the different things that I have to do, where I'm going, what my alignment is, what my aiming point, what the defense is doing.
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Chapter 8: What does the future hold for the NFL running back position?
People can run laps all they want to and be in shape, be conditioned and all that, but there's that extra different type of football conditioning when it comes down to taking hits. getting a guy, four people laying on top of you, and then you got to get up and get on the ball and run again. Right. Yeah. And this is why injuries are so common. Yeah. Yeah.
That fatigue sets in and your body just does what it does. Especially your position.
Yeah.
I feel like almost every starting running back is dealing with something that
Yeah. It's day in, day out. It's like, how does my hip feel? How does my ankle feel? How does my... It's just always something that she's like week to week. Just got to get better, get better, get better.
It's got to be one of the most vulnerable positions, if I had to guess.
Yeah. Yeah. I feel like other than... other than the linemen, we get touched every play, really. For the majority of the part where 97% of the game, we're getting touched, whether that's picking up a blitz, catching the ball at the backfield, or running the football. we're having to deal with some contact.
Damn, you must have a fearless mindset then. That's crazy to think about 97% of the time you're getting touched up.
Yeah, and that's why for me, I always try and fight for it a little bit. I tell people the value of the running back position is a lot higher than it's as it is, it's a lot higher than it actually is. Like, on paper right now, it's been devalued so much. But, I mean, you see guys like Saquon and, you know, even, you know, a great duo over in Detroit with David Montgomery and Gibbs. Like,
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