Interview by:  Gene “Norseman” Ramsay

Date:  07/17/02

Lance Johnstone Interview:  The Threat from Outside

As the 2002 season comes upon us, the Vikings fans everywhere are wondering when the days of the Purple People Eaters defense will be back in some form or fashion.  Well, as I have talked with various players, this may be the year you see some similarities.  One of the reasons for that may just be the play of Lance Johnstone.

Lance came to the Vikings from a pretty lengthy career with the Raiders.  It seems that this past off-season has shown Lance to be quite a workhorse.  He seems more committed than ever to make an impact on the Vikings defense.

Let’s talk with Lance as we go inside this Threat From the Outside…

  GR:  Lance, tell me what your off season workouts are like.

  LJ:  Well, for starters, I hired Mike Ellis from Texas to help me with my speed, quickness, and agility.  I work about 5 days a week.  Today is actually an easier day for me.  I’m glad because Mike works me pretty hard.

  GR:  Talk to me about your food management.

  LJ:  I think nutrition is very important.  I don’t even have soft drinks in my house.  I’m not exactly a huge guy and I do take vitamins and protein drinks.

  GR:  How about ephedrine?

  LJ:  I’ll tell you what, that stuff will mess you up.  I did take it back whenever but now, no way.  That stuff just freaks your body out.

  GR:  I know, I actually took some for fat loss awhile back and I hate the way it gets me all uptight.

  LJ:  Yea, I know what you mean.  That stuff is dangerous.

  GR:  As kids, we all played in our backyards and pretended to be some great football player.  Who were you?

  LJ:  I was Tony Dorsett, L.T., or Drew Pearson

  GR:  Who is your best friend?

  LJ:  I have many friends but I guess my best friend would be Jeffrey Cole and then there is Mark Baxter.  These are guys I grew up with and played ball with.

  GR:  Who is the jokester on the team?

  LJ:  Randy Moss or Doug Chapman.  Randy is a character.

  GR:  Who is the most serious guy?

  LJ:  Crawford gets a little too serious at times.  But sometimes that’s good.

  GR:  You’ve been here for the transition between Green and Tice.  What are the differences?

  LJ:  With Tice, the guys feel comfortable.  I mean, he played in league and the guys respect that because he knows where we are coming from.  He is also straight with you.  When he wants something to happen, you know what it is and how he wants it to happen.

  GR:  Who is your mentor?

  LJ:  You mean in football?

 GR:  Sure. Football, life…whatever.

  LJ:  In football it would be Pat Swilly.  He made me better and faster.  Personally it would be my dad. He has always been involved with me and in my life.

  GR:  Who was your favorite football team growing up?

  LJ:  The Eagles.

  GR:  What is your greatest attribute?

  LJ:  My speed and my will.

   GR:  What is your “weakest link”?

  LJ:  I don’t have one.  I guess if I did, I probably would not say.  I don’t need to give anyone the upper hand, you know?

  GR:  I understand.

  GR:  With what animal do you most equate yourself with?

  LJ:  I would say the panther.  They are just bad looking and no one messes with a panther.

  GR:  What about favorite cartoon character?

  LJ:  I’ve always liked Spider-Man.

  GR:  Have you seen the movie yet?

  LJ:  No.  I have not had the time to see it yet.  The last movie I saw was one of those girl movies.  I promised my lady we’d see it.  I don’t even remember it, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

  GR:  Well, you need to see it when you can.

  LJ:  Yea, and I want to see The Scorpion King too.

  GR:  Yes, you do.

  GR:  If you could play any other position, what would you play?

    LJ:  I would like to play running back.

  GR:  What would a night out with Lance Johnstone be like?

  LJ:  What do you mean?  Like out with the fellas, out with a lady?

  GR:  Let’s stick to out with the fellas.

  LJ:  Well, I need to keep the rating down, so….let’s see.  I would say wild, but I need to keep it PG-13, you know?  We would probably start out somewhere to eat and then go to a nightclub or something.  Was that OK?

  GR:  Yea, I think you kept it clean.

  GR:  Who is your favorite player?

  LJ:  Me! (laughs)  Man, that’s tough because there are so many.  Reggie White, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders.  I’ll stick with those three.

  GR:  What player talks the biggest trash?

  LJ:  Shannon Sharpe.

  GR:  What player, from the Vikings, did you really hate to see go?

  LJ:  Robert Griffith.  He is a great player and one of the best safeties I have ever seen.

  GR:  For a player, when is the best time for a fan to come up to you and ask for an autograph?

  LJ:  As long as you are respectful about it, any time is pretty much ok.  You have to do it right.  I think the only time it bugs me is when I am at a restaurant and trying to have a nice meal and kick back.

   GR:  What is your favorite type of food?

  LJ:  Seafood.

  GR:  As a quarterback seeker, who do you love to just get after and run over?

  LJ:  Well, with the Raiders, it was John Elway.  I have not really developed a target quarterback since being with the Vikings.  I just want to get them all.

  GR:  I understand you play video games.  Which ones do you enjoy?

  LJ:  I like Madden.  Right now we’re doing College Football 2003.  I really don’t have a favorite team I play.  I play them all.

  GR:  If you were not playing football, what would you be doing?

  LJ:  I would be doing something productive.  Something entrepreneurial.

  GR:  What motivates you?

  LJ:  The goal of growing in all facets of my life.  Growing personally, professionally, physically, spiritually.  I want to get better every day.

  GR:  What are you afraid of?

  LJ:  Not doing everything I should or could do.  Not giving my all.

  GR:  If you could meet just one person, who would it be and what would you ask them if you had one question to ask?

  LJ:  Nelson Mandella.  I would ask him what motivated him.

  GR:  What angers you?

  LJ:  I’m a pretty nice person.  I think what angers me most is when I see people taking advantage of nice people and people I love.

  GR:  How do you want to be remembered?

  LJ:  As someone who tried to maximize his potential.

  GR:  What is your greatest accomplishment?

  LJ:  Being able to support my family and help them in ways I could not without being in the NFL.

  GR:  Do you play fantasy football?

  LJ:  No.

   GR:  You know about it though?

  LJ:  Yea.

  GR:  If you had the first pick in the draft, who would you pick?

  LJ:  Randy Moss.  You get a lot of points for him.

  GR:  I won’t tell Daunte you said that.

  LJ:  Hold on now, Daunte could throw for touchdowns and run for touchdowns so… I changed my mind.  I’ll pick Daunte.

  GR:  You sure?

  LJ:  Can I have them both?

  GR:  For this purpose, sure.

  GR:  During an early camp, you had Jim Marshall and Mick Tinglehoff working with you guys.  How did that go and will they continue to assist?

  LJ:  You know, having those guys around is great.  That was one thing about being with the Raiders.  There were always guys there who used to play.  It makes for a better atmosphere.  It’s like you want them to see you play and you want them to notice you so you might play a little harder.  Having Jim there was great.  He was good to talk to and he made for a better atmosphere.  It was great having him there and I hope he keeps coming around.

  GR:  Who is the toughest player on the team?  The guy you want on your side in a tight spot?  The guy you want watching your back?

  LJ:  Chris Hovan.  That guy is an animal.  He’s crazy man.

  GR:  OK Lance, blind taste test…Coke or Pepsi?

  LJ:  Coke.  I don’t have either in my fridge, but Coke.

  GR:  Well, the NFL just signed a deal with Pepsi as the soft drink of the NFL.

  LJ:  Well, for the Commissioner…Pepsi.

  GR:  Lance, thanks so much for your time today.  Getting to know you has been fun and I wish you good health in the upcoming season.  Good luck with your training and your goals for this year.  We will see you on the field.

  LJ:  Thanks man, we’ll see you later.