1 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to Indianapolis, Indiana, the twenty twenty NFL Scouting Combined 2 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: and the Official Titans Podcast, better known as the OTP. 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: My name is Mike Keith, joined as always by Amy Wells. Amy, 4 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: Welcome to Indy. Hello Mike, it's a great time to 5 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: be here. Ian Rappaport, NFL Network. Thank you for stopping 6 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: by to see us. No problem, I had nothing else 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: to do in the whole world. I'm just wondering how 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: many cups of coffee a day do you go through 9 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: at the NFL Combine. Um, it's early so I'm actually 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: doing fine now. I got up, I exercised this morning. 11 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: I feel like a normal human. So this is only 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: my fourth cup today. Um, later in the week and 13 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: Mike get Mike get a little more. Yeah, wow, how 14 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: later are you on on an average day? Well, on TV, 15 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,479 Speaker 1: I'm on until seven fifteen, and then for the next 16 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: couple days and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and basically 17 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: on until eleven fifteen. So what is your role in 18 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: covering the actual on field workouts for NFL Network. No, 19 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: Usually by the time the on field drills start, I'm 20 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: like cool, Like this is like I can chill. I 21 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: can go talk to sources, which is what I want 22 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: to do anyway, and it's all good. This year, I'm 23 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: actually participating in the coverage of the actual drills, having 24 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: to bring quote unquote knowledge to the situation, which you know, 25 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: God help us there, but whatever. So I actually have 26 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: to like be on the field and report and talk 27 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: about what guys are doing and talk about offseason storylines 28 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: and all that. It's gonna be a little different. I'll 29 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: actually have to pay attention. But I kind of like 30 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: the combine. I love the draft, so I'm looking forward 31 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: to it. That's such a cool thing. So you're almost 32 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: going to be like a sideline reporter for the workouts. Yeah, 33 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: So we have Kim Jones who will be their interviewing 34 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: coaches and talking about, you know, the drills and all that, 35 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: and I'll be there to talk about the news, you know, 36 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: the what happened with Tah's medical and who's rising and 37 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: who's following and who threw well and what it means 38 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: and all that. A little bit of a different role 39 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: this year, but it's in primetime and I think a 40 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: lot of people are gonna be watching, so it's all good. 41 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: How is to a tongue of Aloa doing right now 42 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: in terms of winning the combine medical, which is what 43 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: he sought to come here and do. Um. I think 44 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: it's going well, you know, and they've been Alabama has 45 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: been you know, Tua and his reps as much as 46 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: they can, have been pretty transparent about the process. So 47 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: I didn't really know what to expect coming here. But 48 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm not sure there's been any revelations yet, you know 49 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,679 Speaker 1: what I mean, So like, I don't think there's gonna 50 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: be something We're like, holy call, I can't believe this happened. 51 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: You know, the three month check came out really good, 52 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: no blood loss in his hip, the wall fracture his healed, 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: he's walking okay, So I think everything looks really good. 54 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: But you know, like it's it's a medical and there's 55 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: no way to predict. So someone will have to be 56 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: taking a risk whenever they take him. But is the 57 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: talent so great that you're willing to take that risk? 58 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: While we're talking about quarterbacks, I haven't had the opportunity 59 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: to say this sentence yet today. Joe Burrow's tiny hands, 60 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: and so this feels like a good time to break 61 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: that up. I think it might be trending. Um, but 62 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: in all seriousness, we take these measurements. They measure everything 63 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: on these guys. Why is that a valuable thing or 64 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: is it really you know, I think it's sort of 65 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: cool to be like, ah, tiny hands, like who cares, 66 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: funny stupid scouts. I'm not so sure it's that dumb, honestly. 67 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: I mean, he's going to be playing in a place 68 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: where it's gonna be outside. The weather in Cincinnati is 69 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: not the greatest of all time. It rains, it snows sometimes, 70 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: Like you know, how a guy can grip a ball 71 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: actually matters. He's a quarterback, so you know, I don't 72 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 1: think it's a reason for him to go like twentieth, 73 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: But it's a thing. It's a thing, like a lot 74 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 1: of things, you know, So I don't know it's I mean, 75 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: it's all kind of stupid. But if it, you know, 76 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: if he had ten inch hands, would he fumble less? Maybe? 77 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: I don't know. It's it's at least not something that 78 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: I think is completely stupid. Well, I mean, it was 79 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: a big deal for Russell Wilson. It was one of 80 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: the things because he has very large, enormous he has 81 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: enormous hands and that was something they said that helped 82 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: about his lack of height is because he had large hands, 83 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: he could throw the ball over over his head easier 84 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: and it maybe eliminated some of the concerns about his heights. 85 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: So I mean, he can work both ways. I want 86 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: to go back on something else, though, I mean, you 87 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: report on everything. How difficult is it to report on 88 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: medical type issues in cases around the draft free agency? 89 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: From the standpoint about being extra careful for you, yeah, 90 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I would say I spent a 91 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: lot of time reporting on medicals. I spent a lot 92 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: of time talking about injuries during the season. And you know, look, 93 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: if a players out for the season with the torn 94 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 1: a cl it's what it is. Like, he's he tores 95 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: ACL and he's out for the season, and as it 96 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: relates to the season, like that's the story, and then 97 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: who replaces him? Okay, that's it. In the draft, it's 98 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: very different because like like for TWOA, for instance, he 99 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: had two ankle surgeries at Alabama, tightrope ankle surgeries, something 100 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: a lot of people are not familiar with. How the 101 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: X rays come out in his ankles. What surgeons and 102 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: doctors think of him is important. But no one quite 103 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: knows how important, because you know, these are all news 104 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: stories what people think of them, but how does it 105 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: actually affect the next fifteen years. It's all projection. No 106 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: one actually knows. I mean, there are people whom you 107 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: know have had medical red flags at the combine and 108 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: taken off teams boards and have gone on to play 109 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: ten years. You know, Gronk was off a lot of 110 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: teams boards, so I was in the second round. Yeah, 111 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: so that's kind of the problem. So when I find 112 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: out there's like a serious medical issue, you know, I'll 113 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: talk to a source, I'll talk to another source, and 114 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: then I'll talk to the player's agent usually or the 115 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,160 Speaker 1: player and just make sure that they have a chance 116 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: to explain or respond or just know what I'm going 117 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: to be reported. So you work even harder on that, 118 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:39,239 Speaker 1: much harder it's and it's always it's always annoying, honestly, 119 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: because you know I will know the truth, and everyone 120 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: fights you because it could affect their draft stock. But 121 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: the truth is the truth. So usually you get to 122 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: a former, you report what it is, as long as 123 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: you let the player kind of respond. Do you have 124 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,799 Speaker 1: to be careful because medical stuff is personal and there's 125 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: privacy things associal with that. As a reporter, are there 126 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: ways that you need to protect yourself when reporting things 127 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: like medical conditions and things like that? I think it's 128 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: really the same where you just protect your stories, like 129 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: I'm not subject to hippa or anything, so I can 130 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: sort of say what I can say what I want. 131 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: But still like you're overly careful because first of all, 132 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: it's a guy's personal health. Second of all, you know, 133 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: if I say something that God forbid is wrong, like 134 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: you could cost a guy a lot of money for 135 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: being wrong. If it's right, it's just right, like it's 136 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: just right. But if it's wrong, that's that's really bad. 137 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: So I think that's just sort of what you're careful of. 138 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: What's there a story that you covered in twenty nineteen 139 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: Ian rap report that you were proud of stuff, a 140 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: story you broke. Trying to remember what I actually broke 141 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: is difficult, I would say for you guys, And I 142 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: actually think of this a lot. You know, there's stories 143 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: that I'll break. Like we spent a lot of time 144 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: two years ago on where was Dez Bryan going to play? 145 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: He ended up with Saints. We've been did a huge 146 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 1: deal on it. We talked about on TV plenty and 147 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: then he tore his achilles and didn't play, and nobody 148 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: cared like it was there was a story that we 149 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: spent a lot of time that had literally no consequence. 150 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: It did not affect the season. Breaking that Ryan Tannehill 151 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: was going to be the Titans starter was It was 152 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 1: great personally for me because it's a you know, breaking 153 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 1: a starting quarterbacks a big deal, but it literally was 154 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: the spark plug for changing not the story obviously, but 155 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 1: Tannehill and him coming in. You know, it was a 156 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: story that we got to watch playouts. So I was 157 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: happy to break it and then to watch it unfolded. 158 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: To know that how much consequence that quarterback change had 159 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: was just kind of honestly fun for me. Plus the 160 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: fact that one Tanhill was a great guy too, that 161 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: Mario had handled it like an absolute pro, like just 162 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, just incredible. It was all really 163 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: interesting and fascinating to watch, and I was I was 164 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: proud of that one. Are you surprise Ryan Tannehill did 165 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: as well as he did? No, I'm really not. He's 166 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: always been pretty good. It's just you know, the Dolphins 167 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: moved on because they just wanted someone else. I mean, 168 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: I don't they just wanted someone else. It's always about 169 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: health for him. He's been a good quarterback. He's every 170 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: time he's played. I mean, he took the Dolphins to 171 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: the playoffs. He didn't get to play in it, but 172 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: he took them there. He's always been a good quarterback. It's, 173 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: you know, either he's injury prone or he's had bad luck. 174 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: My guests would be he's had bad luck. But I 175 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: think he looked pretty good this year. Is this offseason 176 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: one of the crazier off seasons that you've been a 177 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 1: part of, because we've got a free agency coming up 178 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: that's just stacked full of big names for becoming free agents. 179 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: We have obviously the Draft, there a lot going on 180 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: with that. There's the CBA that players and everybody's working 181 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: on there. It seems like there's a lot of NFL 182 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: news swirling around right now. It's usually like this. The 183 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: only thing that's different is Tom Brady. I mean that's 184 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: it's you know, I went away on vacation last week 185 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: and everybody want in the world wants to stop you 186 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: and say, where's Tom Brady going? I mean, I will 187 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: have you know I sat next to an NFL official 188 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: on the plane. Hey, by the way, where's where's Brady going? 189 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: You know, when I walk around here in the in 190 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: the hallways, it's where's Brady going? I mean, everybody wants 191 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: to know, and obviously there's only a couple of people 192 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: who know, and maybe even they don't actually know. But 193 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: to have a story like that hanging out there makes 194 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: this offseason a little different. We'll go find out where 195 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: Tom Brady's gonna go. If you would, I would hope 196 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: I would. He had rappaport. Thank you so much for 197 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 1: taking time. No, you gotta get back to work. We 198 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: appreciate you joining us on the OTP. All right, thank 199 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: you guys. Always enjoy it. Joined now by the man 200 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: who maybe my favorite radio host, not a liar, Pat 201 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: Kerwood series XM NFL Radio Moving the Chains. I love 202 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: listening to your show, and you have great callers, and 203 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: you have great guests, and you have great information. Do 204 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: you ever get tired of talking about the NFL? No? 205 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: You know, it's funny in life. You can think you 206 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: know what you want to do. And I was in 207 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: the NFL for a long time, but when I got 208 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: into media, end of it, and it was okay. Writing 209 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: was labor, but I did it. And then along came 210 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: radio in the middle of all this nuttiness. And I 211 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 1: still do the NFL Today Show on CBS fourteen or 212 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: fifteen years of coaching Boomer and Bill Caller and the boys, 213 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: but the radio became like, I absolutely can't wait for 214 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: three o'clock. Like I never had a job that I 215 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: couldn't wait for it every day, and I love it. 216 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: So we've nurtured a great fan base of callers that 217 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: are smart guys. I mean, give them all homework, so 218 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: you can't come on and just have a gut feeling. 219 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: We don't have gut feelings knowledge our show. So it's 220 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: just been really good to develop at all. And I'm 221 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: pretty sure I'm just going to do radio till it's over. 222 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: Explain what you do with the NFL Today on CBS 223 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: if you would. Yeah, I'm in charge of the content 224 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: that the guys are so I know, I'm the only 225 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: the only person that knows what everyone's going to talk about. 226 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: So spontaneity is important in television and it's important in 227 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: radio as well. But so what I know is what 228 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:23,319 Speaker 1: they're going to say, and then I decide personally if 229 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: I think they have enough content to win an argument 230 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: with they don't even know where the argument's coming from. 231 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: But you know you only got two points. You know 232 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: you've got a good opinion, but you only have two 233 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: points behind you. There's someone in the audience that's got 234 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: seven points. So you're gonna get wiped out so fast, 235 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: it's not funny. You might want to think about some 236 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: more things. I'll send you a list of things to 237 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: consider to have in your repertoire of reasons why so, 238 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 1: I'm basically living in the neutral world of what do 239 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: you want to be against the CBA or for? You 240 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: want to be against it? Okay, here's ten things you 241 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 1: want to be for it. Here's ten for you. You 242 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: know whatever. So, and I've done it forever. I've done 243 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: it with a lot of different hosts, James Brown, Jim Nance, 244 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: Greg Gumble, and then a lot of different guys Shotton Sharp, 245 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: and all of them know the personalities, know where their 246 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: passions are. And one guy, Bill Cawer, calls me every Tuesday. 247 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: He calls at the Cower hour, So Tuesday mornings we 248 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: talked from eight forty five till about ten thirty, just 249 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: fishing for things until I say, you know what, your 250 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: voice was actually excited about that, that's the subject you 251 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: got to go to. Or I remind them you're the 252 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: only coach on the set. You know, other guys are players, 253 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: so they're going to naturally give player perspective. You're the 254 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: only guy who give coach perspective, and coach perspective usually 255 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: in conflict with players perspective. So we can stir Bill 256 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: into the pot. So now, how did you end up 257 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: in that role with that job? Well, CBS way back 258 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: when and I was available to do stuff and I 259 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 1: was living out in New York. They they found out 260 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 1: that the talent will not listen to TV producers that 261 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: never were involved in the sport. So when a producer 262 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: comes and says, we'd like you to talk about you know, 263 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: three four defense, even if it's a good idea, they're 264 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: not going to do it because the guy asking them 265 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: never played, never coached, never ran a team, never did anything, 266 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: and they turn them off. So they found me one 267 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: day and they said, would you be interested in kind 268 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: of coaching our guys because they aren't listening to anything 269 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: we tell them, and their contents weak. So there's two problems, right, 270 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: They're not listening and they don't have a lot to 271 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: say out of stick and unless it's sticks, So I said, well, 272 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: I'll try it. I don't think I want to do 273 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: this very long. This sounds like a really bad job, 274 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: but fifteen or whatever it is, fourteen or fifteen years later, 275 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: I'm still doing it and I really like It's it's 276 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: just interesting that too, because they want to be great. 277 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: Because every guy I've ever been around as a player 278 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: wants to be coached. They accept me as their coach. 279 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: I don't come on very hard to him. I just say, look, 280 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: if you want to do that, you can, but you're 281 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: gonna lose. Would you like to win that argument? You know? 282 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: And they always hear the word win, they go yes, 283 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: of course. So that's why I do it, and it's fun. 284 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: It's so it overlaps with the radio in a lot 285 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: of ways. To prepare for I do radio six days 286 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: a week, four hours a day during the season, and 287 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: they're on Sunday, so I've done six days of concentrated 288 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: football on every possible level. So by time I get 289 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: to them on Sunday mornings, I'm, you know, like I 290 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: got more than I need. I mean, it's not a 291 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: long show. Getting them ready for halftime is usually a 292 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: different story altogether. But the pregame show, you know, there's 293 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: always about five hot topics that that a show should 294 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: touch on. So it's fun. You are CBS's and the 295 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: serious XM NFL radios universe. You're there, Dave McGinnis, you're 296 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: what Dave McGinnis does for Titans radio, he does. He 297 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: does the exact same thing for us, and it's been 298 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: you know, he came straight out of football and went 299 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: into media and didn't really think he wanted to do it, 300 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: and now he's touched such a nerve in that different 301 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: way because it takes something special to communicate it in 302 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: a way like John Madden did that everybody can get it. Yeah, 303 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: it's not rocket science, but there are a lot of 304 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: guys that like to make believe it is. And I 305 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: think it's a protective device where they code things and 306 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: languages that oh my god, what does that all mean? 307 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: And maybe it's too hard to understand. So and plus 308 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: the business end of it, I loved this. I made 309 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: more of my own progress with the offseason because I 310 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: know the cap I negotiated hundreds of contracts. So now 311 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: is the time to really make it simple and so 312 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: easy to understand how it all works. It's not rocket science, 313 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: even in the off season. But a lot of guys 314 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: don't do it. Most of the players who do TV 315 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: and radio disappear in the off season because that's not 316 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: even their world. But you know, when I were talking 317 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: about walking over here, they're up to a CBA vote 318 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: at some point, and I guarantee eighty percent of the 319 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: guys never read at all. And then they didn't even 320 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:08,959 Speaker 1: read the CBA, so they don't even know what their 321 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: name is signed to. And the reason I got in 322 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: the front office was I was coaching and I decided 323 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna read Pete. I was with Pete. I said, 324 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: you know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna read the 325 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: CBA cover to cover, and I'm gonna have a million 326 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: questions and I'm gonna league office and I'm gonna ask 327 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: everyone of these. So he's what he's doing that, I said, 328 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: because we shouldn't be coaching the team if we don't 329 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: understand the rules. You can go figure out the ref's rules. 330 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: I already know they can't do anything right. Let's see 331 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: if I can do the CBA, right, can I ask 332 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: a Pete Carroll question? Sure? Okay, So still one of 333 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: my best friends. So he's this up and coming coach 334 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: with the Jets, but comes head coach that doesn't work, 335 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: goes to the Patriots, has some success with the Patriots, 336 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: doesn't win as much as they obviously have since, but 337 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: he was doing okay, and then he ends up at 338 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: SC and has this unbelievable run at Southern Cow goes 339 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 1: to Seattle, third stop in the NFL, amazingly successful. Does 340 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: any of that surprise you after kind of how it started? 341 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: Four No, I'll go back to the beginning. So he's 342 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: he's a coordinator at the Jets, right, and they decide 343 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: they meaning the President decided to give Pete the head 344 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: job and dismiss Bruce Coslet, and he gave Pete a 345 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: four year deal. Mister hess turned out he didn't want 346 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: He wanted Bruce Coset to have the full compliment of 347 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: his contract, which the President decided not to, so he 348 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: released Pete after one year. By three hundred and sixty days, 349 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: he wasn't even the head coach for a full year. 350 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: And the irony of it was the night he got released. 351 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: He and I spent about three or four days putting 352 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: a whole format together to present to him about what 353 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,440 Speaker 1: we're who. We're going to fire coaches, players, the big 354 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: step towards fix in this place. And Pete walked in 355 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: and I was going next. So we're in a room 356 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: and the president came to Saidario, mister Hess, he wants 357 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: to see Pete first. So Pete walks and about fifteen 358 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: minutes later, Pete comes back to me, goes, I'll be 359 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: in my office. Dude, I'm going to Disney World, which 360 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 1: I always knew. He said every time he got fired 361 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: at a job, the first thing he did was go 362 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: to disney World. So he looked at me, because I'm 363 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: going to disney World, You're up next. I go, Holy, 364 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: they just fired him, and I went in there and 365 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: I figured they're gonna fire me next. I'll beat down 366 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: there trying to get on that bus to disney World. 367 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: And then they gave me a huge promotion, and mister Hess, 368 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: when I was walking out of the office, said hey, 369 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 1: you know when I fired Pete, he turned around and said, 370 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: don't screw up pat because you need him. He's the 371 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: one guy that can keep this thing good together. So 372 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: he landed up getting me a promotion while he was 373 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: being fired. So in between, after you left the Jests, 374 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: he went to the forty nine ers, if you recall, 375 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: the defensive coordinator. So then off to the Patriots. He's 376 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: gonna follow Parcels. But Parcels had full control, and when 377 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: Bob Kraft border, he did not want to have a 378 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 1: guy with full control, so he split all the jobs up, 379 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: and Pete was coaching a team but not managing the personnel. 380 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: That was a disaster. So now he's out of work. 381 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: I'm out of work and I call him up and 382 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: go hey. The kickoff classic was Penn State in usc 383 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,639 Speaker 1: at the meadow Lands. I said, come on, we'll go 384 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: to the game. We'll get a couple of beers. We'll 385 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: sit up and the stop and say him just feel 386 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,719 Speaker 1: sorry for ourselves. And his wife and my wife went 387 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: through the beach for the day. We get there and Ernie, 388 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: of course he sees us going in. He goes, come on, 389 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,679 Speaker 1: don't go up, no seats, just come down the field. 390 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: We get down the field and Pete goes. He always 391 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: kind of thinks like that. He goes, I think I 392 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: want to be a college coach. He goes, I love 393 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 1: these bands. He goes, I love I love these young kids. Yeah, 394 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: he goes, this is so damn exciting. I said, okay, well, okay, great. 395 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: So two months later he goes to me, hey, SC 396 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:53,439 Speaker 1: called I go oh my gosh. So that was it. 397 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: He was going SC and he was excited to do it, 398 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: and he had this vision of it, and he said 399 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: some crazy things to me while I was at SC. 400 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: But the number one reason he's successful in Seattle was 401 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: he found out that I'm the GM of USC. I'm 402 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 1: the head coach and I recruit the players, which makes 403 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: me the GM. And he said, I'm never going back 404 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 1: in the NFL lets I have full control and Seattle 405 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: Cave and full control. You have more great stories. I 406 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: would love to sit and ask you more, but I 407 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: know you've got to get back to the radio. Thank 408 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: you for what you do and every afternoon, I mean 409 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: it is it's you get me home so many days 410 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 1: on Sirius XMNFL radio. And I'm sure you didn't want 411 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: me to cover just Pete Carroll, no, but we I 412 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: mean just talking stories. It's just so great. Pat Kerwin, 413 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: thank you so much. You're welcome, and I got Pete 414 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: coming up next, so I'm not missing out one. See 415 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,360 Speaker 1: you guys. Join out at the table by an NFL 416 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 1: insider for ESPN. Dead and Graziano, thank you so much 417 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: for taking time with Amy and me my pleasure. Thanks 418 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: for having me. So when I watch ESPN and I 419 00:21:55,119 --> 00:22:00,200 Speaker 1: watch any of the nine to ten hundred NFL shows 420 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: you're on, how many different shows are you on? Oh? 421 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: We at this time, you're NFL Live and get up 422 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: and h whatever sports centers on that particular hour, So 423 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 1: you know, can I ask wherever they need me? Can 424 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: I ask a very honest question. Do you ever forget 425 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: which show you're on and who you're on with? No, 426 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: because it's all in different rooms. Okay, that's helpful. Absolutely, yeah, 427 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: I know where to go. No, I mean it's it's 428 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: uh and it's all I mean, everything's different like that. 429 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: Every show wants something different. NFL Live, we dive in 430 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,639 Speaker 1: a little bit, you know, get up as more treetops. 431 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: I think, and we talk about Dak Prescott. I think 432 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 1: every every day. I think. I keep saying I hope 433 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: I'm there when he signs like, I hope, I hope 434 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: I'm on that show that day because it's been uh 435 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,719 Speaker 1: but it's been great. Yeah, I mean, I don't want 436 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: to get too far into but I mean I was 437 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 1: a baseball writer at newspapers for fourteen years. I never 438 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 1: in my wildest dreams imagined TV or even football really, 439 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: so the last ten twelve years have been pretty cool. 440 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,679 Speaker 1: Do the people who are considered the experts at ESPN 441 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: have specific areas of expertise in which they rely on 442 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 1: you guys on No, And I think not necessarily. I mean, yeah, 443 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,439 Speaker 1: there are such people there, like we'll have Jim Nagie 444 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: that runs a Senior Bowl will work for us, like 445 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 1: I think, I think it's kind of a seasonal deal 446 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:20,479 Speaker 1: where he'll do some NFL lives during draft season. And obviously, 447 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 1: you know, mel Kiper and Todd McShay have the specific 448 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,359 Speaker 1: draft related, you know, role, and we have people on 449 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: our staff that have been in front offices, or have 450 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,120 Speaker 1: been head coaches, or have been players. So I think, 451 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: you know, you gravitate toward that. People in my role 452 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: more like news and information types. But yeah, whatever, I mean, 453 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: I've they've had me host a show. I mean, it's 454 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: just you know what, I'm like the Swiss Army knife guy, 455 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: I guess. So tell me about your journey from being 456 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: a baseball writer to an NFL insider on ESPN. Well, 457 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: I mean, unfortunately, I think you know, people know what's 458 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: going on in the newspaper industry, right. So in two 459 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, I'm working for the Newark Star Ledger 460 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: covering the Yankee covering baseball Yankees and Mets, and they 461 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: bought out half the staff, so I took a buyout offer, 462 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: and the job I got next was at a place 463 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,119 Speaker 1: called aol FanHouse. They were hiring a bunch of writers 464 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: at that time, but the job they had was a 465 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: football job, and I had done a little bit back 466 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: when I started out in Florida when I was a 467 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:16,400 Speaker 1: Palm Beach and I'd done some Dolphins stuff as a backup. 468 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: So they offered me that job and I got into it. 469 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 1: And then that only lasted two years because it was 470 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: bloated and they were spending too much money, and the 471 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: new CEO blew the whole thing up. But by that 472 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,919 Speaker 1: point I had done enough a little bit here and 473 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 1: there TV with ESPN, so I had made some friends 474 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: and then I was able to position myself. I guess 475 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 1: where when they had a job opening, they called me. 476 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: It was the NFC East blog. They used to have 477 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: a blog for each of the eight divisions. So I 478 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 1: got that job. And then two years later they went 479 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: to the thirty two team model. They put me on 480 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: the Giants, which was the closest team to my house, 481 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 1: which was nice of them. And then at that time 482 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: they started a show called NFL Insiders, which ran four years, 483 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 1: and that was where I kind of got my real 484 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: sort of regular TV break. I guess they started using 485 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: me on that. When that show end, they they're using 486 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,160 Speaker 1: me on NFL Live in Sports Center and whatever else 487 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: is going on. So it's been fun outside of all 488 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: the CBA discussion, what's the most intriguing NFL storyline right now? 489 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 1: To Dan Graziano, I think quarterbacks. I think it's it's 490 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: it's this bizarre offseason where there's this many free agent quarterbacks, 491 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: big name free agent quarterbacks. I think there's the potential 492 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: for a lot of kind of status quo, but there's 493 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: also potential for chaos, right like if Tom Brady leaves 494 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: New England, Like we're in an all bets are off situation, right, 495 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: I mean, so I think I think you could look 496 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 1: and see you can get to ten or twelve teams 497 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: that you can look and say they're probably gonna have 498 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: different starting quarterbacks next year. And I think that's fascinating. 499 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: What's Brady gonna do? Is there a market for Philip Rivers? 500 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 1: You know? Or is Tennessee gonna bring back Tannehill? Are 501 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: going a different direct? I mean, like all kinds of stuff. 502 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: That guy's former number one, number two overall picks, and 503 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 1: Jamis Winston and Marcus Mariota. We don't know where they're 504 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: going to end up. So I think the fact that 505 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: it's quarterback and that you usually don't see a lot 506 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,440 Speaker 1: of quarterbacks involved in the free agent market, I think 507 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: that makes us an unusual year of the twenty nineteen season. 508 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: We saw a lot of different stories unfolding in twenty nineteen. 509 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:13,480 Speaker 1: What specifically grabbed your attention in twenty nineteen season, Yeah, hmm, 510 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: let me think. I'm trying to think I did a bunch. 511 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think where I was. I did a 512 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: bunch of forty nine er games in the second half. 513 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,639 Speaker 1: I think them they were fascinated bouncing. I mean, to 514 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: be four and twelve and to bounce back and be 515 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: that dominant. So they you know, five first round picks 516 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,479 Speaker 1: in the defensive front seven, so it seemed like Nick 517 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 1: Bosa kind of unlocked everyone else and then that thing 518 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 1: just kind of popped when they got the quarterback back healthy. 519 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 1: So yeah, I mean yeah, I think the kind of 520 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,760 Speaker 1: maybe the decline of the Patriots a little bit. I know, 521 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 1: we don't want to stay decline because then they'll bounce 522 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:46,360 Speaker 1: back and win the next three Super Bowls on us, 523 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,199 Speaker 1: but just the fact that they weren't kind of the 524 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: team that we have been used to seeing them be 525 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: the last twenty years. So I think I think that 526 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,919 Speaker 1: was interesting to follow us the year went along, and 527 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 1: I mean individual stuff, I mean, your team was I 528 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 1: went to two two Nashville games. One was the Chiefs game, 529 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: which was crazy, and then one was the Saints game 530 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: where Henry sat out, which turned out to be a 531 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: really smart move. But it was fun to see that team, 532 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: you know, as the second half went along kind of 533 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: build and you know, I don't know, I don't know 534 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: that there's one dominant storyline. I can remember as they 535 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: bounced me from game to game every single week, and 536 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: I'm not usually on one consistent run with a team, 537 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:28,040 Speaker 1: which is good. I don't know whether I'm you know, 538 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 1: I have like an attention deficit situation or what, but 539 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: I kind of like the variety everywhere that Amy and 540 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: I go. Right now, every question is about Derrick Henry. 541 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,959 Speaker 1: Are the Titans gonna resigned? Derek Henry? And I think 542 00:27:40,040 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: we're overwhelmed at the amount of national attention that this 543 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: story is even getting. Should we be surprised? No, I 544 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: think because running backs weird. I mean, like these the 545 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,119 Speaker 1: big running back contracts that have been given out the 546 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 1: last couple of years, people aren't thrilled with him. You know, 547 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,959 Speaker 1: David Johnson Arizona is really not using anymore. Todd Gurley 548 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: has had injury issues. Ezekiel Eli had had a good year, 549 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 1: but I mean one year on the big contract. So 550 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:03,199 Speaker 1: I think, you know, if you're Derek Henry and you 551 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,119 Speaker 1: want to cash in, are you entering a market where teams, 552 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 1: including your own, are reluctant to do that for you? 553 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:12,479 Speaker 1: And I think running back's tough. And I'm looking at 554 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: Henry's situation thinking, I mean, like, just from a cold 555 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: management perspective, he's kind of made for the franchise tag 556 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: like I would franchise him this year and had franchise 557 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 1: him next year because he had a guy that almost 558 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: had four hundred touches And obviously he's a different kind 559 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: of guy. I'm watching highlights of him right now. He's 560 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 1: incredible to watch. But you know, he gets hit a lot, right, 561 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: and how long can you bank on it lasting? So 562 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: maybe he's a special guy. Maybe he's a different guy 563 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: the last But if you're a team trying to make 564 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: that long term bet, it can be a little could 565 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: be a little scary at that position. Why didn't A J. 566 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: Brown win Rookie of the Year. I think it was 567 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: who won it? A quarterback? Yeah, I think that's one 568 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: of your answers. So games, Yeah, no, I hear you. 569 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: I think a J. People were probably too slow on 570 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: the uptake in terms of what he was doing. I think, 571 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: you know, it was really a lot of December, November 572 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: and December, especially December stuff, right. I mean he was 573 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: a nice pick up for me in fantasy football, Like 574 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: I enjoyed when did you get him? You know, right 575 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: around like right around Thanksgiving? Perfect? Yeah, So that was good. 576 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: So I look ahead and maybe keep him next year. 577 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: But um, but I think, yeah, yeah, he had a 578 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: couple I don't want to get into that right now, 579 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: disappointing finish, but I think, you know, look, he's a 580 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: that team, you know, isn't necessarily a you know, one 581 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 1: of the bigger, you know, attention markets in terms of 582 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: relative to others. But uh, and of course the reputation 583 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: is that they were a running team. I think when 584 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: you went to their games, you saw their games, you 585 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: saw the difference he was able to make. When you 586 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 1: talked to people on the coaching staff, even early in 587 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: the season before his numbers really popped, they were talking 588 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: them and they loved the guy, and they're talking about 589 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: the contributions he was making weren't showing up in the 590 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: stats in the box score. So he had a couple 591 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: of games where he kind of looked in visiting the 592 00:29:57,560 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: Kansas City game. He didn't do anything in that game, right, 593 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,160 Speaker 1: But I mean that because Kansas City decided he wouldn't, 594 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 1: and so they decided they had to go to Humphries 595 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: or whoever else was going to make plays for them. 596 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: So I think it's a combination of he doesn't play quarterback, 597 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: he doesn't play in one of the league's biggest markets, 598 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: and I think it was kind of late in the 599 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: season before people kind of got wind of what exactly 600 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: he was doing. You mentioned it earlier that there are 601 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: a lot of quarterbacks who are kind of on the 602 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 1: move this year or could potentially be on the move. 603 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: In your heart of hearts, deep in your gut, deep 604 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: in your soul, do you think Tom Brady ends up 605 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: playing for a different team in twenty twenty. I think 606 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: if I had to bet yes or no, I would 607 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: bet no. I'd say he's going back to the Patriots. 608 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: But I'm not confident about it. I just you know, 609 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: if you're making me pick one side, that's what I'd take, 610 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 1: because it seems to make so much sense. All I 611 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: know about Tom Brady is he wants to be a 612 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,479 Speaker 1: free agent. He's excited to be a free agent. That 613 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: means talking to and listening to other teams, and if 614 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 1: he finds out that the grass is not greener than 615 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: maybe he goes back. But there is a definite chance 616 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:55,800 Speaker 1: that he leaves. And I'm not all the way sure that, 617 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: like people in New England have their arms around that 618 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: just yet, I think there's absolutely a chance that he 619 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: plays for another team next year. I wish I could 620 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: tell you which one it's going to be. If he does, 621 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:12,000 Speaker 1: can you make a sports comparison to him in another uniform? Well, 622 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 1: let's see. I mean, you know, he wasn't a quarterback, 623 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,480 Speaker 1: but I mean I remember Jerry Rice playing for the 624 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: Raiders at the end, but a bunch of Niners went 625 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: other players, that's true. I remember Willie May's plan for 626 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: the Mets. I mean I don't remember it, but I 627 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: know what happened. Um, you know, Babe Ruth played for 628 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: the Boston Braves, right, you know, I mean that that's 629 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: probably it, right. I mean, there have been a lot, 630 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: but he was he was done. That's the thing, like 631 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: is Brady. Brady's probably gonna go somewhere and help somebody 632 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: run next year. So I'm trying to think what the comparison. 633 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess Montana and the Chiefs, right, Montana 634 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: and the Chiefs. Of course, Joe had been hurt, right, 635 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,959 Speaker 1: and and Steve Young had taken over. It wasn't like 636 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: he departed still on a playoff team. And same thing 637 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: with Peyton Manning and the Colts. He got hurt or 638 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: else he would have probably finished his career here. So um, yeah, 639 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 1: we've seen it, but usually unusual circumstances, not like the 640 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: guy I just decides he doesn't want to be there anymore, 641 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: which again I don't know if he has decided that. 642 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:05,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if he will decide that, but it's 643 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: definitely possible. But all this drama is good for business. 644 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: Love it. I was disappointed when Breeze announced he was 645 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 1: coming back because I saw you. You want that. You 646 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: want the chaos, right, you want it like it's it's 647 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: I think it's fun. I think the league likes it too. 648 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 1: I mean when you talk about offseason transactions and who's 649 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: going to go where, and I think I think the 650 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,720 Speaker 1: league likes the attention being on it in the off season. Obviously, 651 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 1: you know it's the most popular sport when it's in season, 652 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: but it has a pretty well viewed offseason as well, 653 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 1: So this is only going to help with that, all right. 654 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: Dan Graziano's last opinion. Does the league keep a review 655 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: element in place for past interference going forward? Yes, I 656 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: think if they got rid of it completely, they'd have 657 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:45,040 Speaker 1: too much resistance from the coaches, which is what happened 658 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: last March anyway, and how it got through. But I 659 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: do think there'll be modifications to it, because I don't 660 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: think anybody really liked the way it worked this year. 661 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:53,840 Speaker 1: Follow up, is it in the hands of the sky 662 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: judge that we're that the coaches watch? I don't. I 663 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: don't think it'll go that far. It's possible at some 664 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: point it does, but this office and I still think 665 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 1: there's too much resistance on the ownership side to that. 666 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 1: So I think you'll see modifications to how it's administered 667 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 1: in game, and you'll probably see like behind the scenes 668 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,480 Speaker 1: instructions given to officials. I'm like, hey, this is how 669 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: we want this officiated versus how it was officiated last year. 670 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: So I think you'll see a change, but I don't 671 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 1: think it'll be that dramatic. Dan Graziano, ESPN, thanks for 672 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 1: your time, my pleasure. That's gonna do it for the 673 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: Official Titans Podcast for Aby Wells, I'm Mike Keith, and 674 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: we appreciate you listening to the o TP