Laquon Treadwell opens up to Paul Allen, Vikings make a Tuesday transaction

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Dec 10, 2019
Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Transaction

The Vikings on Tuesday released fullback Johnny Stanton from the practice squad. There’s been no word on any corresponding roster move, but there could be a fullback swap.

Ricky Ortiz (6-0, 236) tried out for the team on Friday. Ortiz, 25, played college ball at Oregon State. He signed with Baltimore as a UDFA in 2017 before making his NFL debut with Atlanta in 2018. Ortiz was released from New Orleans’ practice squad on Dec. 4th.

Treadwell interview

Also taking place on Tuesday, Laquon Treadwell appeared on Paul Allen’s “9 to Noon” radio program on KFAN. In a terrific one-on-one interview, the wide receiver opened up to the ‘Voice of the Vikings’ about what it was like getting cut earlier in the season and how it helped him grow as a football player and as a person.

“It helped me a lot,” Treadwell said. “When you come into the NFL, you have these goals, you have these expectations and you want to contribute to winning. That’s all you’ve been doing all your life is helping your team win ballgames. So for me, it was not only hard to get over that — like not playing — but I wanted to help win more than anything.

When I got here and I didn’t get that, I didn’t know how to live a normal life. I was like, ‘Ah! What do I do?’ So, I started straining and doing things that I maybe shouldn’t have done. But it kind of helped me grow as a person.

I changed my life for the better. I just grew. It forced me to grow [and think], ‘what would I do without football?’ It made me live like that. It wasn’t going the best for me on the field so I had to build a better life off the field, be a better person off the field. Being cut and coming back, it just gave me a fresh perspective.”

Treadwell on his mindset after re-signing with the Vikings:

“Being my fourth year, a lot of the things I made mistakes on early in my career I’m not gonna make them [again] because this is my fourth year. It’s a fresh start. For me, it may be the same team, same players but my perspective is, ‘ok this is my first day, let’s make the most of it and let’s see what happens.”

His faith and his wife, Victoria, have played a role in his recent resurgence:

“Everything is based off your foundation and my wife has done an amazing job helping me cope through the struggling times in my career. Even when I broke my leg she was the first person there outside of my family. We’ve grown together — for four years now we’ve been together — been married since March 3rd and now we’ve got a baby on the way.

It’s been great for us because we’ve not only grown as individuals but we’ve grown together, helped each other through a lot of tough and difficult times. And it’s all by faith. We walk by faith, we read the Bible and do everything that we can to put our best foot forward. And whatever happens, whatever may come, trials and tribulations, that’s all in the word. So, we don’t run from it we just accept it as is and try to work through it and help each other through it.”

In the last eight games, Treadwell has hauled in 9 catches for 184 yards and 1 touchdown. Not only is he averaging 20.4 yards per catch, he’s also been a standout blocker in the running game.

Treadwell on (finally) seeing results:

“It’s just four years of hard work. Although I wasn’t playing well on the field that didn’t stop me from putting in the work. I think I’m just getting the benefits and rewards of the hard work that I’ve put in.

I’m at peace with the process. I’m not forcing anything, I’m not straining or losing sleeping at night. I’m really at peace with where I’m at in life. So, it’s helping me. Going into the game and having a clear mind, having a clear conscience and having my mind on one thing — and that’s to help the team win.”

You can listen to the full interview here.