Episode 497

Terrified of Greatness

Hosts	Arif Hasan, James Pogatshnik
Guests	Ted Win (The Athletic)
Type	Preview

Norse Code Episode 497: Terrified of Greatness was a preview episode featuring an interview with Ted Win of The Athletic.

Overview

The episode previewed the Vikings' upcoming game against the Raiders with guest Ted Win. The hosts also discussed team dynamics and fielded extensive mailbag questions covering quarterback play, coaching decisions, and various NFL topics.

Segments

Opening: General discussion
Interview: Ted Win preview of Raiders game (35:36 timestamp)
9/11 Discussion: Referenced as "team sport"
Mailbag: Extensive listener questions

Mailbag Questions

A hyundai for one of us - Is there any realistic chance we should expect Dobbs and the receivers to get on the same page during the stretch run? Conventional wisdom says time, but recent evidence disagrees
Damian Barrett - With Dobbs confirmed as starting QB, any suggestion that his struggles in the last two games were as a result of him having too much autonomy over play calling? Should the Vikings revert to having him being a literal meat puppet and just acting as KOC's on field avatar? Now that James is a published writer, how soon can we expect him to be snapped up by The Athletic and which beat will he cover?
Bob Marks - How many fumbles will Mattison have against the Raiders?
Jrucket - What do you think the plan is next year for the safety position? Feels a bit crowded there. Any trade value in that position?
Not your father's dopamine - On a scale of 1 to David Tepper, where do you think the Wilf family falls in terms of micromanaging the team? And should the government nationalize the NFL?
Paul - As of today, how many first round QB prospects are we looking at? If the Vikings miss out on first round QBs, would it be a good idea for them to draft one in round 2 or 3?
Logan Bolsharif - Question for Arif's Packers Quarterbacks Corner: Since Sunday night, I keep seeing that Jordan Love is good now. What the fuck. You said he was bad. You betrayed me. Why did you do this? Also, why is he good now?
VHcadet - Question for coaching firepit corner. Robert Salah had to dismiss reports that Zach Wilson was hesitant to start for the jets again after being benched and unbenched multiple times while allowing Nathaniel Hackett to call plays. Is this the end for Salah? And honestly can we blame Zach wilson who has now shown some flashes of why they drafted him at number 2 and clearly needs to be almost anywhere else than this dumpster fire. Bonus question which team will be the new Browns of ineptitude allowing other teams to hide behind their incompetence?
Chris - What is the highest number of QBs making starts across the league in the last 10 years?
KJ Segal - If FSU boycotts the Orange Bowl by accepting the bid, going, then just refusing to play, how hard would the NCAA come down on them, and would it be hard enough to justify not doing the intentionally hilarious/righteous thing? What's the over/under on air mail passes soaring helplessly over Jefferson's head this Sunday?
Kevin - James Madison hires Holy Cross' Bob Chesney to a 5-year deal as Dukes' new coach. How happy are we?
Kenneth Allen - For James' "when you go low, I go lower" corner, what would be the funniest way that a player (or Mr. Gun Kelly) could personally insult Arif? For Arif's dual loyalty corner: I know it was a while ago, but what did you make of Staley's post-GB presser? It seemed like he blamed players for execution, insisted the coaching wasn't at fault, and a *lot* of hostility towards the media. Feels like a dead man talking.
Screenshot QB exposer - I really need to hear James pronounce the word pumpernickel, can he do that for me?
Fraternal Order of the NKVD - For Arif's bee corner: it's well known that the surplus of bee labor is stolen by plants (pollination), bears and humans (honey). Yet they also live in a feudal society under the dominion of a monarch. Given that bees have lived in this state for countless generations without change what does this tell us about their relationship to their mode of production? Are they simply content with their social structure and conditions or are they simply missing the emergence of a bee Dutch Republic forged in the cauldron of bee Europe?

Guests

Ted Win of The Athletic appeared to preview the Vikings-Raiders matchup.

Key Bits & Lore

The episode featured several recurring segments including "Arif's Packers Quarterbacks Corner," "coaching firepit corner," "when you go low, I go lower corner," "dual loyalty corner," and "Arif's bee corner" with extensive beekeeping discussion involving political and economic theory.

Production Notes

Interview segment begins at 35:36 timestamp.

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