Thielen answered questions on his mentality moving to a new state and playing with a new team.
What's up guys good to good to be here Good to see all your faces good to meet You all but uh uh any questions That isn't the Vikings what's different About this kind of Atmosphere for you uh Yeah it feels like a whole different World for me Um um super exciting kind of a you know Kind of breath of fresh air just to Um you know I gotta go prove myself Again Um in front of a you know I got to meet A lot of people and prove that that I'm The player that I am uh to everybody in This building Um so it's it's definitely a different Experience for me but um like I said It's a it's kind of keeping me young Keeping me fresh and excited As a Vet just uh you know kind of stick with What the what coach kind of um is Talking about just trying to get one Percent better Um you know it doesn't really matter What year you are in how much success You've had in the past Um you got to get better and I felt that Today you know I I there's things from Today that I need to get better at and That's exciting it's frustrating Um but I'm here to get better I'm here To help my team get better and at the End of the day this stuff will pay
Dividends in the long run um and that's Why we're here Decide on Carolina You know I think I think it goes there's A lot of factors obviously but I think It really comes down to the plan you Know the the the opportunity to to build Something build towards something really Special and when I came here I felt that I felt the culture that was being built I felt the excitement around this place And Um there's just there's just something That felt right and Um and that's exciting and I felt that Every single day that I've been in here So Um I'm just glad to be here excited to Be here and and so fun being around These guys Got here that or when you were on your Visit here that you were trying to get Them to say who the first pick was now That they've actually decided who that Was have they shared that with you and If not who would you like it to be I Wish they would share that with me no um You know honestly and this has come from My heart uh for me I'm just worried About the guys in this locker room right Now Um I don't get paid to make a draft pick So for me I'm focused on getting better Individually helping my teammates get
Better and then and then just uh you Know when things happen uh we'll we'll Figure it out from there but there's There's an important three days that That we just started today that we're Really focused on and I think when you Do that when you take it one day at a Time and you really focus on each day to Get better individually and as a team You know that's when you start stacking Things and and they pay dividends when You get to week 16 week 17 and into the Playoffs so Um that's why we're here Seen you feel like this offense is built Where you could just throw a rookie Quarterback right into the mix and he Could succeed uh well we're one day into It but uh but no yeah I mean I think I Think Um you know between you know the Organization the the leadership from the Top down Um I think that's what's what's been put In place to to help someone be Successful whoever that is Um but uh but yeah I mean there's going To be a learning curve it's right you Know it's the NFL it's a lot different But we're excited as leadership to help Whoever it is whether that be you know It doesn't matter what position comes in Here as rookies like anywhere right you You try to be a leader you try to Mentor
No matter what who they are what they Are and and if they're playing or not Playing um you try to Mentor them help Them through some good times and bad Times and again you try to focus on Yourself individually and as a team Wide receiver room as it stands now what Do you like about it I'm excited just Being around these guys you know I've Seen it from afar a little bit but just To be in the room and just to see how These guys work their personalities Great great teammates they love to work You know it's fun to be on the field That was the first time kind of being on The field working together and I think There's a there's um there's um you know Kind of a sense of of Um I don't know if I should expectations Not the word but kind of a sense of of Excitement just around what what that Receiver room could look like and uh you Know obviously a lot of work to do but But we're here and we're getting better Really talented wide receivers what what Have you learned from him in these first Couple of weeks being here and then just What what does he bring to that group Yeah I think it's his attitude it's his Mindset you know from the minute Um you know the minute I got uh in a Meeting you could feel the energy and The passion and the and the kind of Accountability
Um and uh and the expectation that he Kind of lays on everybody Um you feel that you can tell that he's A lot of experience and he's not going To change for doesn't matter who you are It doesn't matter if you're a first Overall pick or you were an undrafted Guy he's going to treat you the exact Same and he doesn't expect a lot out of You whether that be effort or making Play so Um that that's been really good for me Just having that kind of expectation and And uh kind of that energy and Excitement every day To prove yourself again what does that Look like for you Being here today given everything I got Like I said there's things out there Today that make me frustrated and make Me want to go out there again tomorrow And and be better Um you know I think it's just that that Day in and day out mentality of of going Out there and proving yourself you know I have a lot a lot to prove to myself to My teammates and to these coaches um you Know they they show that they believe in Me now I got to go out there and prove It every single day it's probably what Makes me so frustrated because if I Don't make those plays I you know I want To do it so badly for my teammates and And for my coaches and
Um and that's what makes makes you just Kind of strive for more There are some veteran receivers who Would not necessarily like the idea of Having a rookie quarterback you seem to Have embraced the potential of what is Probably going to happen on Thursday can You just talk about that yeah you know I'm just excited uh to be around these Guys and around this team I just feel Like I just feel like Um there's a lot of excitement in that Locker room Um there's a lot of talent and a lot of Just really good dudes and that's why I'm here and yeah I think there's an Excitement to To help build something special uh to to Not just show up somewhere and and be Great just from day one you get there But to really be a part of building Something you know being here day one And and being striving for something Great and doing that collectively so I Think that's really what what it comes Down to This early on Well I'll say this you know that's That's another reason why I'm here a Great defense Um very talented young Um and that's why I'm here I mean to win A championship or to to have success in
This league you got to have a great Defense and uh you know just playing Against these guys in the past and then Now being here Um you know I I think uh Um you know there's there's high Expectations on that side of the ball And and there's high expectations on on The offense to to really play Complimentary Um you know great special teams great Special teams unit that has a lot of Weapons Um and and in this league you have to Have all those different phases Collectively working together and Playing complimentary football to win uh So it makes me angry to lose on a route Like that but uh I'll be back tomorrow Is like a veteran player on off offense He really kind of cling to to kind of Grow your game and kind of grow your Understanding of the offense you know That's a great question I think I think For me when I look back at you know Early on in my career was kind of a Multitude of guys it was kind of seeing Some of the Chad Greenways the Jared Allen's the Um you know Jarius Wright and Greg Jennings and Jerome Simpson and Um you know Matt Castle just you know The list goes on I know I'm forgetting Some guys but just seeing how some of
Those guys you know they've been around For a long time and had a lot of success And so just kind of seeing how they Worked how they took care of their Business how they treated guys I mean I'll never forget the day that I came in The locker room as an undrafted unsigned And then you know get signed after a Rookie camp and Chad Greenway is comes Up to me and starts talking to me and And kind of pouring in some leadership Towards me I'll never forget that and It's something that I carried with me to This day to make sure that I'm treating Every single guy when they come in that Locker room with respect and trying to Be available when they need me Adam you talked about the excitement of The build and the vibe here and Everything else but with all the veteran Guys like yourself and Andy and miles And others that have been brought in Does coach write maybe looking at you Guys to be for lack of a better Description the construction Foreman of Building this team and showing the ropes And doing the things that you were just Talking about has that been a spoken Kind of responsibility place to you guys Yeah I wouldn't say it's been a spoken Responsibility but I will say that Um you know I think they they bring in Guys like that for a reason to come in Here and make plays to help this team
Get better And to just collectively help each other Out help each other you know kind of Raise each other's standard right you Need good players that's what's so great About the game of football is it takes 11 guys on every single play to do their Job at a high level to have success so You can't just bring in LeBron James and Be great right like you have to bring in A lot of guys a lot of veterans and then Mix that with some great young talent And some guys that that you can kind of Raise their game by bringing some good Talent around them which is exciting and Another reason why I'm here Portion of practice right for having Some individual discussions like during Stretch or whatever is he kind of Looking for is was he coaching you up at That spot or is he saying tell me what You see I mean how's that relationship With you guys early on yeah I think uh Yeah I think it's kind of a little bit Of his expectations for me Um kind of his vision for me and then You know how do I feel about that and uh You know I I've man I've I've been so Blessed to to be around him these last Few weeks and just to have some time to To just to talk to him about the game of Football and and The Game of Life as Well Um you know he's a great mentor a great
Leader a great coach that's been around A lot of really good ball as a player And as a coach so I'm just kind of Trying to soak it in and he loves the Game of football he loves talking about Routes I felt it from sitting in his Office to being on the field his passion For just understanding Um what it takes to have be successful Has been really cool and and and really Has helped my game Paris Marshall so far man I'm I've been I've been so impressed I've been so Impressed from him off the field and as Well on the field he's got a lot of Talent and not only does he have a lot Of talent he's a great kid I shouldn't Say kid but uh I'm probably 10 years Older but uh um he's a great guy that That comes to work every single day with A smile on his face he's been he's been So great in the meeting room and then Being on the field with him you know There's there's a lot of potential there And and I'm excited to be a part of it Yeah you know that's that's not my my Thing I'm just excited to be here now And I think he's excited just to have a Fresh fresh start and just to be out There just loving the game that that or Playing the game that he loves and you Can see it you can see it out there in The Huddle Um you know I can pick up on those
Things you know I can tell when a guy Loves the game of football and he's one Of those guys Um and uh I'm just excited to be around Him and I honestly I'm learning from him So it's been fun to just kind of see you Know how he runs some routes and and Learn a little bit from him as well Whole different world for you can you Just describe your emotions I saw you Walking out with Taylor y'all kind of Grin in kind of looking like a first day Of school kind of uh just describe how You felt Yeah definitely uh it definitely felt Like the first day of school for sure Um at a new school in a whole different City and uh I've never left the state of Minnesota so Um man it's exciting Um you know I I I was out there Stretching uh warming up a little bit Before practice and and all I could do Was smile I'm just excited to be here Um and and that's not that's not just Because I'm in a new place it's because Of the people around me it's because of The my teammates uh the coaches man like There's so many uh great coaches and and Great leaders from the organization you Know just it's just it's just fun to be Here and uh and there's so many reasons For that but yeah definitely definitely A new world for me
Um but uh but exciting thanks guys Appreciate it nice to meet you all
Charlotte North Carolina – A Great Place to Live
Events
Charlotte North Carolina is a big city with lots of great things to do. There’s no shortage of entertainment options, from sports to cultural experiences and museums to a huge selection of restaurants.
Life
If you’re looking for a laid-back lifestyle, you should look no further than Charlotte North Carolina. The people here are friendly and chill, and it’s easy to meet new friends.
You’ll also find a vibrant downtown area with a mix of traditional business and upbeat nightlife. The city divides into four wards: First Ward, which is home to the Public Market and Spectrum Center; Second Ward, where you’ll find trendy restaurants, high-end steakhouses, and rooftop cocktail bars; Third Ward, which includes several museums, the Bank of America stadium, and Victorian homes on tree-lined streets; and Fourth Ward, with its historic neighborhoods and charming craftsman-style homes.
Sports
Charlotte is a major sports hub with lots of professional teams and leagues, including the NFL, NBA, NHL, USL, and Major League Lacrosse. It’s also known for hosting several major sporting events, including the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race and the Wells Fargo Championship golf tournament.
Weather
When it comes to the weather, Charlotte is usually sunny and warm all year. There are a few days that are cloudy, but the rest of the time you can expect nice, clear skies. The average temperature is around 75 deg F during the summer, and the temperature drops a bit in the winter.