1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Colts Reunion Podcast, a conversation with former 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: Colts players look back at their career, what they're up 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: to now, and how the Colts played a positive role 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: in their lives. Hello and everyone, and welcome to the 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Colts Official podcast. This is the Alumni series. These are 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: always special. We do that with the famed alumni of 7 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: the Indianapolis Colts. Also a Ring of Honor member Bill Brooks. 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: I am Jeffrey Gorman and let's get right to it 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: because this next guest we've had. We've been waiting a 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: minute to talk to this man because he played the 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: game differently than most. And if you don't believe me, 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: check out the highlights old number ninety eight. We love 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: seeing that number and seeing what you did to create 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: havoc on the football field. Welcome Robert Mathis. Hey, thanks 15 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: for having me man in a long time. Enjoy my 16 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: time as a player. So the only feels right absolutely 17 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: when you got word you were going up in the 18 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: Ring of Honor, and Robert, you played a lot of 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: games in that stadium. You would look up there before 20 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: you do your thing on the field. What does that 21 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: mean to you? The first thing that you heard and say, hey, 22 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to be immortalized up there with the greats. 23 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: Very humble man, just this and still surreal, just like 24 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: you got these You've got guys like Bill Brooks, Payton Manning, 25 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: Jim Saturday, the wife, all these these these guys, these 26 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: Letting Derek coach guys and all, and they said you're next, 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 1: and like, thank you, I'll take it. But I'm still 28 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: humble all the same, all the same. That's what we 29 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: love about you, man, because a very you know, quiet. 30 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 1: I remember your first year here, very quiet and stuff 31 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: of getting making things happen and became a leader of 32 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: this football team. But the passion that you have for 33 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: playing the position of getting after the quarterback, Robert, that's 34 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: something that not many have. Have you been able to 35 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: share your experience with other players that have the ability 36 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: that you did, And is that a tough thing to 37 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: do because you're trying to teach some of these guys 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: your tricks and they just can't pull them off. Rest 39 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: assure anybody that are listened, I'm gonna talk about Hayden quarterbacks. 40 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: So that wasn't a problem. But the thing is, uh, 41 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: you have it's that one too. It's a very few 42 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: guys that really just want to get after the court. Well, 43 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 1: a lot of people say they want to do it, 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: but they're if you're willing to do what it takes 45 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: to actually get it done. And once you come across 46 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: those guys, you kind of just kind of stick them 47 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: closer to the vest and just just kind of pouring 48 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: to him and mold them. Robert, you talked about going 49 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: against quarterbacks that you didn't like quarterbacks or was there 50 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: any particular quarterback that you really really enjoy hitting when 51 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: you played against? Yeah, absolutely, and uh he came in 52 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: the league well I want want to say, three years 53 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: before me and he's still playing. Oh, I think I 54 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: know who that is. And yeah, it just always it 55 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,679 Speaker 1: was always tough, just a tough match going against him 56 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: in the old Patriot robberies. So it was just when 57 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: you they were able to get to him. It just 58 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot of a lot of work went into that. So, 59 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: you know, Dwighting myself and along with a lot of 60 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: other other guys that we played with. Man, it was 61 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: just just things that you remember for for a long time. 62 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: Right now, you talk about it was tough going against 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: that quarterback. Now, what about a defensive line offensive lineman. 64 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: Who was the toughest offensive lineman you had to go 65 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 1: against throughout your career. I say the toughest is Walter Jones, 66 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: even though I had just met a couple of couple 67 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: of rushes against him, but he was like, he's that guy. 68 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: But uh, it was a lot of battles with the 69 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: old Tennessee Titans offensive tackles of roofs and big country. 70 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: So those the guys that kind of gave me a 71 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: lot of us a lot of problems. White that dwighted myself, 72 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: But who are not the white? He kind of whip 73 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: roofs a little bit. But but uh, off the top 74 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: of my head, those two as a as a duo 75 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: gave us some battles. Robert, the way you played the 76 00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: game was choreographed. It was acrobatic, it was symphonic. Uh. 77 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: It was moves that you didn't have coming out of 78 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: college that you you became an expert. And I know 79 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: Dwight Freeney had a lot to do with that, but 80 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: where did the way that you played the game and 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: would rush the passer, who gave you the most info, 82 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: who gave you the most learning tools to say, hey, 83 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: I can do it, and I can do that a 84 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: big disadvantage at this level. Well, I would say John 85 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: Tilling had a whole lot to do with that because 86 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: he gave the White and myself the freedom to just 87 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: to be creative in our rushes. And so most most verses, 88 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: most of those rushes don't work, but a few of 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: them work. And then he let us practice those moves 90 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: and and uh in football practice and uh doing behold. 91 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: It just kind of tator our game to whatever our 92 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: skill level was. So, you know, Dwhites, you want to 93 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: give you that spin, that the inside spining. So I'd 94 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: like to kind of vary it because I was, you know, 95 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: quote unquote underside, so I was I wanted to try 96 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: to throw a mirageer thing is that offensive tackles. So man, 97 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: my thing is if you have them thinking, most times 98 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: they're gonna lose that, right. Yeah. And if you also 99 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: this is a huge part of it. If you look 100 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: at the tape on you, the way that you rushed 101 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: would be sometimes it looked like your shoulder pads were 102 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: twelve inches off the ground, but you were coming full force. 103 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: You understand what I'm talking about. You'd go underneath blocks 104 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: like that and I know you did that in college, 105 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: honed it up a little bit, But when did you 106 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: learn what year did you learn that? Saying? Man, I 107 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 1: am coming out and being a tornado to these quarterbacks 108 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: and the stuff that I When did you feel like 109 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: you belonged in the NFL? Yeah, when I was in college, 110 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: a lot of those offensive tackles were close to my height, 111 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: so I got it, really really couldn't get underneath them. 112 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: But when you get to the NFL, these guys are 113 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: six or five or better and me being six feet 114 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: I said, okay, this is a game of leverage. So 115 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: I'm I'm going to try to get underneath them and 116 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: try to squat them off and kind of like slingshoting 117 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: myself around to the quarterback and the whole I discover 118 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: offensive linemen they don't like to play below their bellies. 119 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: I kind of use that, and so just try to 120 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: run around them, and then the one stage just to that. 121 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: Then I started doing the patent of Freni span. And 122 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: after that, do you bull rushing because they're not ready 123 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: for it? Because and then that's how you make them think. Man, 124 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: we always always like to say his chest not checkers, right, 125 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: It's kind of play action like on an offense and 126 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: say there really is, like hey, I'm gonna set these 127 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: guys up for a bull rush, but I'm gonna spend 128 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,239 Speaker 1: move and go underneath them. I love the way because, 129 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,840 Speaker 1: like I said, with John Tierlink, that was a symphony 130 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: that you guys had. He he let you run, He 131 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: let you and Dwight, you know, do your thing, but 132 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: boil boyd the choreograph moves that you would have. That 133 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: was an art. That was an absolute art. And you, 134 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: my friend, are the artiste when it comes to the 135 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: strip sack when it comes to And I can't speak 136 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: enough about John Tierlink because we have a model that 137 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: we have. But my training company is called skill not scheme, 138 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: and that really I credit him with that because he 139 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: told us, look, I'm the coach you guys, other players, 140 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna coach around your talents. That is the job 141 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: of a coach or a good coach. That is. So 142 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,119 Speaker 1: whatever that where, whatever it is that you guys do, 143 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to coach around it. So go do what 144 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: you do with the strip sex. I grew up watching 145 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: Derek Thomas. I was watching him on the old football 146 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: NFL Rocks type type videos and he always came with it. 147 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: He called it a tomahawk chop on the quarterback. And 148 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: I was doing that in high school, college and then 149 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: got to the pros and John Tilley. He never altered 150 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: my game. I said, Okay, we're gonna keep it going. 151 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: We're gonna we're gonna chop chop the ball out these 152 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: quarterbacks hand. Now you talk about that impact Turlink had 153 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: on your career in the NFL, but this another player 154 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: you played with, Dwight Freeney. What did he mean to 155 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: you playing with him and what was the biggest thing 156 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: you learned from Dwight Freeney as you played with him. Well, 157 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: when I came in in two thousand and three, he 158 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: was probably literally the only guy passed rusher wise that 159 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: I could look and look out of eye. The rest 160 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: of the guys man almost like seven seatings, those prototypical 161 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: you know, big guys are so and to see him 162 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: like although we were similar as far as like speed explosion, 163 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: we were different. The white. The white had had a 164 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: whole lot of power and um he used that for 165 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: his game and to set up the inside spin, and 166 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: mine was the rush the edge to set up the 167 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: inside spin. So he the way he approached the game 168 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: and him him being such a student of the game. 169 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: I learned that from him. He would do. We watched 170 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: him break down tendencies uh, formation recognition uh. And it 171 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: was all just to you know, to get to that sack. 172 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: So whatever it is that that's gonna tell me this 173 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: is a past. Hey, I'm gonna I'm gonna study this 174 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: all week. And I could say I got that from him. Well, 175 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: that's great. You know, we talk about Dwight Frenny and 176 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: you as far as the best due to me in 177 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: the National Football League to cause havoc in the backfield there? 178 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: How special was it to have Dwight on one side 179 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: and you're on the other side of defensive line knowing 180 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: that you guys are gonna meet at the quarterback hopefully 181 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: get a sack to strip sack and it's played throughout 182 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: the game and really cause havoc for offenses. It was special, 183 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: But it was not special because he stole a lot 184 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: of my telling like it is telling like it is 185 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 1: Robert No, it's just uh, first coming into the league, 186 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: he got a lot of double teams, Like my first 187 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: three years, a lot of double teams and things like that, 188 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,200 Speaker 1: and that's when I saw the importance of Okay, I 189 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: have to get to the quarterback to take these blockers 190 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: off him, some of the tensions off him, and and 191 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: you you're getting these one on ones that so you 192 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: want to earn your seat at the table, and the 193 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: way to do that is to go beat somebody to 194 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: the quarterback. So once that train got Roland, now he 195 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: gets one on once and you know he's gonna win those. 196 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: And then now you now you come with the I 197 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: call him the AFC South Print Pro with Tennessee, Jacksonville 198 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: and then Houston. It's just seven verses four and uh, 199 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: I think that type of protection. First time I saw 200 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: it was he was versus us so but now you 201 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: gotta have two edge rushers and um know to know, 202 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: I know the white is gonna get home if he 203 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: has one on one. So I'm just gonna wait for 204 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 1: the ball to come out. I'm gonna scoop it, try 205 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: to score it. But for the most part, him being 206 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: over there is was like a safety blanket. You said 207 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: you two helped each other out out there by playing, 208 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,959 Speaker 1: But did you guys ever have any friendly competition as 209 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: far as who's gonna get to the quarterback first, how 210 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: many quarterback sacks are you gonna get? Yea? How many? Yeah, 211 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: bring it robbers? How many strip sacks come on and have? 212 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: Or whatever? Is there was there any friendly competition with 213 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,959 Speaker 1: you guys out throughout the year. No, although we were 214 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 1: each other's biggest cheerleaders, it was it was unspoken if 215 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: he got a sack early in the game, guess what 216 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna like, I need to get back there. But no, 217 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: it was never never in any jealousy. It was just, hey, Okay, 218 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: he's hot now, so keep going because now you're about 219 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: to get some extra blockers over there on you. So 220 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: once that happens, I'm gonna get going, and vice versa. 221 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: So it was something we just always fed off each other. 222 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: And and as time, like as time for Griss we started, 223 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: we start synchronizing our rushes. So if he go low, 224 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: I go high, if he go high, I go low. 225 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: Stuff like that. I've known you a lot of years. 226 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: I've known you since your rookie year coming in here. 227 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: One thing I did, bell, I'll te is I cut 228 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 1: him a wide berth, meaning I didn't mess with Robert Mathis. Okay, 229 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: he had a look in his eye even at Wednesday practice, 230 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: Thursday practice. You just let him do his thing, you 231 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. And that competitive fire, Robert, that's 232 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: stuff that that not many people have seen out of 233 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: you like we have on Sundays especially, How did you 234 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: feel that after after you leaving the game, knowing what 235 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: it takes to get your body and your mind ready 236 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: for a battle and a war on Sundays and all 237 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden it stopped. How do you feel that fire? Well? 238 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: I mean different strokes for different folks, but I know 239 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: as for me, I had to do something football related 240 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: and it became like therapy because you you just can't 241 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: just stop football. You've been doing it, you know, most 242 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: guys high school and you know, like little leaves, just 243 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: your body has been on the schedule up until this point. 244 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: And then it was just like, okay, what do I 245 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: do now? I don't miss the bumps and bruises and 246 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: the injuries and just having to pull yourself together weekly. 247 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: I do miss like the locker room, the dynamic of that, 248 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: you know, just camaraderie and things like that. So that 249 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: was the probably the biggest hurdle, and just being able 250 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: to teach my younger guys, younger NFL guys, college, high 251 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: school and a great just grade school student athletes, and 252 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 1: pour into them and just give them the dudes and 253 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: don't um all the positives that I did. I maximize 254 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: that in relationship, telling them all the negatives. I try 255 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: to minimize it by look, this is what I did wrong, 256 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: don't do this, don't be like Robert here type of deal. 257 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: So whenever I get a lot of satisfaction from that. 258 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: So I'm in a good place, a great place actually, 259 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:29,559 Speaker 1: and that couldn't be more blessed than um and just 260 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: thankful for opportunity. But I bet there are those times 261 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: when you're watching a Sunday or Monday night game where 262 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: you see something happening and want to throw something at 263 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: the TV, say come on man, absolutely absolutely, It's been 264 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: a couple of times I don't kicked over my just 265 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: want to flip a couch to a thorough book at 266 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: the TV. But but that's just we can't watch football 267 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: as fans. I'm dissecting. I'm not even looking at the 268 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: dbs or receivers. I'm looking at the pass rushers. Yep. 269 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: Always like the first the first three segments I'm watching 270 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: that then or whenever he thought the ball, then that 271 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: will not become a fan. But oh I'm looking at it. 272 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm critiquing, criticizing, fussing, and and and and custom That's 273 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: what they should have for Robert Matthews. Just have him 274 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: on a speed dial for all, for all these defensive 275 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: coordinators and saying, hey, well, how should I you know, 276 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: give me a call right now during this game and 277 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: what we should do. That's what I think you're great 278 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: at is uh is improvising and getting to the quarterback. 279 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: Your relationship with Peyton Manning, Your relationship with Tony Dungee, 280 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: Can you expand expand on that a little bit? Because 281 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: you guys helped each other out so much, You and 282 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: the head coach, the way that you played defensively, the 283 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: way that he stared the ship, and of course the 284 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: sheriff what he did offensively with your prowess on defense. 285 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: What's your relationship like with those two? Well, with Bill 286 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: Poley and Tony Dungee, they had a blueprint. Get Peyton 287 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: man in the ball, he will get a league, get 288 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: the league the white and Robert you keep the league here. 289 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: That's what it was. And uh me watching Peyton he 290 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: just how he approached the game from the mental aspect 291 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: that made that that Dell probably was the biggest thing 292 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: that I learned. And I'm coming in as a rookie 293 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: watching him. He was five years in, but he would 294 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: fill up a whole notebook and like two in a 295 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: two weeks time, and I like, all this goes into 296 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: I mean, but you can see how proficient and efficient 297 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: that that that he is with it and just surgical. 298 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: I like, okay, well let me incorporate a little bit 299 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: more note taking in my game film study and just 300 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: and that's how I learned. This is this is your job, 301 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: your career, so treated as such and just be a 302 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: businessman about that. He taught me how to be a 303 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: businessman about my football career. And I'm I'm indebted to him. 304 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: Uh Coach Dungee. It was he kept it simple and 305 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: he treat treat men like men, and and it was 306 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: if you didn't get the job done, He's going to 307 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: tell you what it is in this calm voice and 308 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: say you're killing us, if you if you're really killing us, 309 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: and just kept it, just kept it all the way 310 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: real and just straight up and down. So these are 311 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: things that you appreciate as men tend me what you 312 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: expect and if I can't get it done, that's on me. 313 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: And so these are I mean, just all the people 314 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: that have I came across during my time with the 315 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: coach Manu, these are things I will always remember. Talked 316 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: about Peyton Manning. You talked about toy Dungee and how 317 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: good they were. Do you ever look back on your 318 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: time there and think how good you guys really were? 319 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: Because there are not many players I can be able 320 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: to play in and this with the Coats and go 321 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: through that much success during that time period, do you 322 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: just look back and say, Wow, we had a special 323 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: time back then. Do you ever think about that? You know, 324 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: quite honestly, it wasn't until I retired. I just sat back, 325 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: you know, just kind of looking at old clips and 326 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: uh and just like man, we had we had. We 327 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: had a squad for like a decade squad squad and um, 328 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: we unfortunate. I mean, we're blessed. We got a Super 329 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: Bowl out to deal. But He's like, you just gotta 330 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: damn it. That's like we left like two two or 331 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: three rings on the table and uh. But that's how 332 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: we always look at it. But we had a special 333 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: I mean from from from one to fifty three fifth, 334 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: every man on that on that on those teams, man 335 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: had had a purpose and they had they rolls in 336 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: their lanes and everybody filled them to perfection. And uh, 337 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 1: it was just just this, that whole locker room, the dynamic. 338 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: Just you got the Jeff Saturdays, who was he was 339 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: a very much an unsung hero. He was he was 340 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: he was the leader. He was a leader. Let's let's 341 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 1: let's make no mistake about it. Uh. I mean you 342 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: have the Gary Bracketts, who who doesn't get the credit 343 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: he deserves. Of course, you got Reggie Marvd that teach 344 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: you how to be out look practice you get Marvin 345 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: said this quote, Man, they paid me to practice. The 346 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 1: games are for free. And it's like and I learned 347 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: that from Reggie. So man, it's just this stuff, the 348 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: teaching moments that you really don't you're not even ready for. 349 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: That that sticks with you for a lifetime. That that 350 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: just lets you know the type of team that we had. Well, 351 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: the fans certainly love you, Robert and and the work 352 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: that you did here the family Bill Polian, like you said, 353 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: Tony Dungee, all the way down, all through the different 354 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 1: coaching changes and stuff. The fans were you were always 355 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: a fan favorite because they know what you brought the table. 356 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: So is there anything that you want to say that 357 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: the fans out there that followed your career and cheered 358 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: you on every Sunday. I am Indie. Indie's me. I'm 359 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 1: ten toes down. That's it. Yeah, I love it, Robert, 360 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: I love it. One of the facts, most favorite Colts 361 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: players to ever play, and obviously in Indianapolis, you'll go 362 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: down in history. Can't wait to see you at the 363 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: Hall of I said, Hall of Fame. Hey, hey, can 364 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: we get there? That will be coming down the road there, Yes, 365 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: will be coming down the road. That's right. I will 366 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: and I'll continue if the Pro Football Hall of Fame 367 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: and Canton, Ohio because defensive coordinators, you, my friend, you 368 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: kept them up at night for well over a decade. 369 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:28,400 Speaker 1: So yes, Ring of Honor for starters, and then we're 370 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: gonna see you and Dwight Freeney and Canton one day too. 371 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: I sir, appreciate the time that you gave us and 372 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: the in depth talk about your career what it meant 373 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: to you. And oh man, I can't wait, awesome. Thanks 374 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: for the time. Robert mathis right there. Like I said, 375 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: I'll say it again and put my stamp on it. 376 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: Enjoy him and can't Ohio in a few years because 377 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: it's coming. Sure. Appreciate the time, Robert. This is the 378 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: Colts official podcast for Bill Brooks. I'm Jeffrey Gorman and 379 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: Robert Mathis. Thank you again so much, sir. We'll talk 380 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: to you soon.