Their warm relationship started in the aftermath of the Vikings' 46-36 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day 1998 at Texas Stadium.

"I was excited about really kicking Dallas and was visiting with all the people coming in our suite late in the game, but my assistant kept telling me (Fox Sports) wanted me on the field," McCombs said. "I didn't want to leave, but the assistant finally told me John Madden wanted to present me with a turkey leg.

"That was the first and last turkey leg he gave to an owner. He said, 'I want to give Red a turkey leg because he's brought so much energy to the Vikings and his purple pride is spreading.'"

McCombs also fondly recalled introducing Madden to the phrase "It's not saucered and blowed."

"He said he'd never heard of it," McCombs said. "I told him, 'John, let's face it. You've spent your whole life in California, and not everything in the world starts on the West Coast. That's just a country saying that means it's still not done yet."

McCombs said Madden's appeal stemmed from his everyman style.

"It didn't matter if you were the guy punching tickets or an owner, he'd always stop and talk to anyone who wanted to talk Football," McCombs said. "With his simplistic style, John made the game far more appealing to a large group of fans who may not have gotten interested in the game without him."