Odd coupling becomes a friendship beyond football

John Randle was attending his first training camp with the Seattle Seahawks in 2001 when he met Steve Hutchinson. The two seemed an unlikely pair to become the best of friends.

Randle had spent the previous 11 seasons with the Vikings and was established as a Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Hutchinson was a hotshot first-round pick out of Michigan and played on the other side of the ball.

Randle, though, was impressed by the rookie guard.

"We were very similar," said Randle, who is nearly 10 years older than Hutchinson. "Like he's a watch guy, I'm a watch guy. He likes cars, I like cars. ... We're very family-oriented. From the outside people look at us and are like, 'Those two can't be alike.' But once you get to really know somebody, then you start to see the person's personality come out."

Hutchinson and Randle began hanging out together off the field and, on the field, developed respect for each other by competing in practices.

"I tell people all the time, 'If it wasn't for me having to block John every day for three years in practice, I wouldn't be where I am today,' " Hutchinson said. "You play against John in practice and then you go in a game and everything else is like slow motion."

The two stayed in contact after Randle retired in March 2004, but Randle was as surprised as anyone when Hutchinson signed with the Vikings two years later. When Hutchinson and his wife, Landyn, were house hunting, the Randles told them the house two doors down was for sale. Today they are neighbors; Landyn and Candace Randle are best friends and have a decorating business together called "Two Friends."

Hutchinson and Randle, meanwhile, often golf together. They also have been fishing a few times, but this is one activity where their views are a bit different.

Last year, Hutchinson suggested they go to Mille Lacs. Randle quickly accepted the offer and said he would be ready to go at 9 the next morning. Hutchinson informed Randle that was far too late and to be ready at 4 a.m. "I said, 'Are you serious?'" Randle recalls. " 'Starbucks doesn't open up until 6 a.m.' "

Hutchinson, who also owns a lake house near St. Cloud, wasn't only serious about getting started early. Fishing in a group that included former Vikings offensive lineman Chris Liwienski, Randle started to wonder just how long they'd stay on the water. As nightfall came, Randle suggested it might be wise to move closer to shore. "Steve's like, 'Oh, no,' " Randle said. "He had brought these lighted bobbers. We stayed out there until midnight. ... We did that for four days in a row."

Hutchinson recalls it being a very successful two-day trip in which the three ended up throwing plenty of walleyes back into the water. "Johnny loves to fish, but I don't think he would ever do it on his own," Hutchinson said. "You've got to kind of drag him out there. ... Chris was on board with it because he's kind of like me. Johnny just kept looking going, 'Hey, I'm missing "The Young and the Restless." ' "

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com