1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: It's going along with guys. Logan Ryan here back with 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: another week of the NFL Players Podcast. I'm joined by 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: two grades. Um definitely Hall of Famer's first ballot, uh, 4 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,159 Speaker 1: Luke Kickley and Jason Witten. I believe these guys are 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: in Vegas for the Pro Bowl. What they're used to 6 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Jason with eleven Pro Bowls, Luke with seven. How you 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: guys feeling back at the Pro Bowl? How does it 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: feel to be be a captain now? What does that 9 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: really entail? And and to be a captain and not 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: a player in the Pro Bowl. Well, last night we're 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: at the Skills Challenge and it was about thirty five degrees. 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: I was feeling pretty good. No one I didn't have 13 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: to go compete in it, you know. Uh, Honestly, it's 14 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: great that the league brings us out of here, and 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: you know, I think they'd be completely fine if, uh, 16 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: if we weren't here, if we didn't show up the practice, 17 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: you know. So there's not a lot of ton of 18 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: responsibilities for us. But like anything, I think the Pro 19 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: Bowls are get great game and great to see so 20 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: many guys you have so much respect for, and um, 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: I just think it's good for the game, get honored 22 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: the way you do, and to be the best of 23 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: the best is you know, these guys should be really 24 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: proud of that. And uh, for them to get to 25 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: interact and for us to get to be a part 26 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: of it. I know, for me, it's uh, it's it's 27 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: a great experience, no doubt. And and and Ja, you've 28 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: been to eleven Pro Bowls. Do you remember your first one? 29 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: Tell me how that, how that went about? Um, just 30 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: the memories. Obviously, Hawaii is the ultimate Pro Bowl site. Yeah, 31 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: tell me how that went for you. Luke and I 32 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: were just talking about it last night, you know, I mean, 33 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: hawaiis just you can't beat that, you know, I mean 34 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: for the player's perspective, the privacy and everything. But I 35 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: remember my first Pro Bowl. I was in my second year, 36 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: and I remember I was going to the beach. I 37 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: was walking out to the beach, and to get to 38 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: the beach, you had to go past this little pool. 39 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: Of course, there's a nice little bar set up there, 40 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: and uh, I was just kind of got scooped by 41 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: and I could see like the veterans were posted up 42 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: there at the pool having a few lemonades. And uh, 43 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: I remember I just heard a couple of them like 44 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: say my name and called me over to where they 45 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: were sitting. And I thought, for like that thirty seconds, 46 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, I don't even think they knew who 47 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: I was. You know, they knew my name. We'll come 48 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: to find out. You know, it's really they just needed 49 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: me to pay the tab, you know, so either you know, 50 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: I gave him my room number. I just had a 51 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: flat fee that I just paid right there, So I 52 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: went with the flat fee, paid it. Uh. The only 53 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: reason why they knew my name was because of that. 54 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: But I think you realized really quickly. Um, you know, 55 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: as the week went on, you got invited over there 56 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: for a little bit and have conversations with with some 57 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: of the grades. I think that's why we're here. You know, 58 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: you try to pay it forward and share some of 59 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: that knowledge and your experiences. And certainly those guys were 60 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: great for me, and I'm sure you guys have great 61 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: examples throughout your careers as well. Yeah, and Luke, I 62 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: mean you went to seven, right, seven Probowls? Were they 63 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: seven straight consecutive? Yeah? So I went to my first 64 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl and that was it was still in Hawaii 65 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: back then, so I know, I know exactly what bar 66 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: Jason was talking about. It's it was such a great 67 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: set up there because you come looted right out of 68 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: the hotel through the bar to the beach. So so 69 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: it was it was really cool. And then the second 70 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: one I went to was down in Arizona, so it's 71 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: a different a different kind of vibe, but still a 72 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: really cool place. We we played at the Arizona Cardinal 73 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: Stadium UM and it was a really beautiful hotel. All 74 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,160 Speaker 1: the guys are there, and I think that's the part 75 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: that's fun. As you played these guys on UM on 76 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: Sundays and you don't really get to know him as people, 77 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,399 Speaker 1: as as dad's, as husbands, as fathers, and you get 78 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: a chance to really do that and kind of peel 79 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: it back a little bit and see who these guys 80 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: really are on a more casual basis. So it's it's 81 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: been a lot of fun now speaking of like you know, 82 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: the guys and you guys were you know, your first 83 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: year or second year, was there somebody that stood out 84 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: to you that you felt like was the stars of 85 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: stars or like just the superhuman like seeing that person 86 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: and you know, seeing that that that player you might 87 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: have played against. Seeing him in person, was that much 88 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: more impressive, like background story or anything like that. I 89 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: just remember Junior, stay out my first one, and I 90 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: feel like, you know, like any tight end, you probably 91 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: don't start out being a tight end. You're like a linebacker, 92 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: a defensive end, and you're just not very good and 93 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: they move you over to tight end. That's usually how 94 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: it goes. At least that was my experience. And uh so, 95 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: of course, any high school kid that plays linebacker, you 96 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: know who number fifty five is for the Chargers and 97 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: uh you know it was the group, right, it was. 98 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: It was John Lynch and and ray Lewis and Peyton Manning, 99 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: all those guys that were sitting there. And and obviously 100 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: ray Lewis kind of is the one that controls it 101 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: and says, hey, you're gonna pay the tab and runs 102 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: the show. But I remember just kind of like at 103 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: the corner of my I see in Junior today, I'm 104 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: thinking like, man, you know, this is pretty pretty neat, 105 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, and so um I think when you play 106 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: against him on Sunday and actually in the back after 107 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: you catch a little past, it's like, oh man, I 108 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: don't know it's my hero hitting me. You know, It's 109 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: just I don't want him to know that. But yeah, 110 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: I think every player has that moment when they meet 111 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: somebody that they looked up to or they idolized. Uh. 112 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: That's what makes the Pro Bowls special. I mean, that's 113 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: that's what makes the NFL so special for sure. Luke, 114 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: what about you, anybody that you stuck outside? I Uh, 115 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: my first time was Larry Fitzgerald. I grew up. I 116 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: grew up watching him and he was one of those 117 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: those receivers that was so hard to play against because 118 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: he could line up outside, he could line up inside, 119 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: and he could block and he wasn't afraid to do it. 120 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: So you didn't know why he was in certain alignments 121 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,239 Speaker 1: on the field and for what reason. And you couldn't 122 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: just look past him in the run game because he'd 123 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: come and smack you. And so it was fun to 124 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: go talk to him. And he's a big, strong dude, 125 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: and it was kind of the same thing that that 126 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: Jason was talking about. You get hit in the game 127 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: and you looking at Larry and he just gives you 128 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: that big toothy smile that I'm sure you've seen before, 129 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: and you want to get mad at him, but you 130 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: can't because he's such a good dude. So Larry for 131 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: me was one of the guys among many of them 132 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: that you see him that first time and you start 133 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: talking to him and you realize, like, man, Larry can 134 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: inside outside as a blocker. He's basically a big tight 135 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: end that could play outside and inside as a receiver. 136 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: I think it helps too when they're good dude too. Yeah, 137 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: And so like the guy you idolized and you're like, 138 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: oh man, he's a good guy. You know. You hear 139 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:07,840 Speaker 1: so many of the other stories. It's nice to hear 140 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: the good ones, you know. Yeah, they say, don't meet 141 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: your idols. You don't want to mean he'd be disappointed. 142 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: But I'll say what, Larry Fitzgerald is the nicest human 143 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: being on the planet. He lines up in that cut 144 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: split every player like you talk about, and runs every 145 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: route out of it. And I was in New England 146 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: and I had the job of where a matchup defense 147 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: and I always get matched up with Larry fits somehow, 148 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: some way, being in a slot or whatever it was. 149 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: He runs every route off the same stem and then 150 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: he's catching ten balls for a hundred on you and 151 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: he's asking how how the kids doing, and um, you know, 152 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: happy holidays? I mean Tennessee. And Kevin Byer is gonna 153 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: talking Larry Fits and he's like, hey, how the kids doing? Man, 154 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: how are you doing for the holiday? I said, man, 155 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: don't talk to Larry. That's that's how he gets in 156 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: your head. Don't. But we're not saying anything nice to 157 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: Larry today. For that a couple of years ago, he 158 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: went up put a hundred on me. I'm not allowing 159 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: him to do this reverse psychology trash dog that he does. 160 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: I think it was all part of a planned but 161 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: I don't know I agree with it. And then, um, 162 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: somebody who I felt like was my welcome to the 163 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: league moment, not in the Pro Bowl, but was was 164 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: Tony Gonzalez just massive, large hands, um great player, and 165 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: you know we're we're playing him. And he had a 166 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: day on me on Monday night. And I think Belichick, 167 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: I don't know if you ever saw the meme of 168 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: having two defenders on Julio Jones like a vice but 169 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: on third and he's like, no, literally, you and May 170 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: are gonna just vice Tony Gonzalez so you don't have 171 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: another catch. And after the game. I just had to 172 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: just shake his hand and like, I appreciate it, sir, 173 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: thank you for the learning opportunity that you had on 174 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: me tonight. So that was just somebody I always remembers 175 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: just all time. Great you did you like, you know, 176 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: Jason's that's somebody that you always were competing with or 177 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 1: looking at seeing what he was doing from week to week. 178 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: And these guys like that to me, I mean, I 179 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: feel like he did you see all the time impositions evolved. 180 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean, I think he really it starts and ends 181 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: with him, you know. I mean from kind of I 182 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: guess late eighties and early nineties and kind of even 183 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: before that. You know, those guys were kind of tough 184 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: and grinded out and two way players. But I wouldn't 185 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: say a lot of those guys in no disrespect to 186 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: some of those grades that that played in the game 187 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: early on, but I don't think defense has looked at 188 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: them as this is a matchup problem. You know that 189 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: we we got to really account for this guy in 190 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: the in the passing game. And I think Tony was 191 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: the first guy um that created that, you know, and 192 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: sustained that at a high level for a long time, 193 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: and um, just what he did in his durability and 194 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: the big plays and um, you know, just you talked 195 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: about Larry being crafty, I mean that was Tony too, 196 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 1: you know. Just I swear he had stick him on 197 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: his gloves or something because he never dropped any passes. 198 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: And uh, yeah, he was great and the same thing 199 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: like we were talking about, was very welcoming sharing some 200 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: of the secrets with me, you know, and um just 201 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: became a friend as went on. Awesome guy. And I 202 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: think for the now, I feel like being out here 203 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: at the Pro Bowl, you're seeing Kelsey and Mark Andrews 204 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: and and Kittle and they've taken it even to another 205 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: level of all three of them and were mismatches in 206 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: their own way. And uh really, I think Tony Gonzalez 207 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: was kind of the pivot point for the NFL, the 208 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: guy that says like, hey, this is a this is 209 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: a matchup issue for defenses. Yeah. I mean what Jason 210 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: was saying, you gotta know where where Tony was My 211 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: my rookie year, we played Atlanta when he was there, 212 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: and we had we had to play on third down 213 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: that was specifically designed for Tony. We called it cal 214 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: and that was obviously where he went to school, and 215 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: based on where he lined up, we had leverage, we 216 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: had helped we basically put like one hole, but it 217 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: adjusted based on where Tony was. And I had never 218 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: in college and never had to worry about tight ends 219 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: my first five or six games in the league, never 220 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: really had to think about tight ends. But that game 221 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: was circled for everybody because Tony was coming into town 222 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: and he could just he was big, he knew how 223 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: to use his body, he was crafty, he could push off, 224 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: and he kind of had like that old guy deal 225 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: with the rest or. He could like push off and 226 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,680 Speaker 1: they would just kind of they would just kind of 227 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: look away and Tony would push off, and then he'd 228 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: catch the ball and you kind of look back and 229 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: they just smile at you, and knowing that what's it's 230 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: Tony g We're not gonna call it. You know. It's 231 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,439 Speaker 1: great about him too. And I feel like there's only 232 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: been a couple of guys that I can remember, but 233 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously Tom Brady would be one now too, 234 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: But like they played as good football in their last 235 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: year as they did in the prime of their career. 236 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: You know, Like for me at the end. I mean 237 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: I was in Las Vegas, and you know, look, I 238 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: mean I was a show myself, just trying to be 239 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: a leader and a veteran and all that. I mean, 240 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: I knew it was coming time to it. It's a rap, 241 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: you know, but I mean Gonzalez and and of course 242 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: Tom Brady, Like that's incredible, like that your last couple 243 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: of years you played I don't know what Tony played 244 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: seventeen eighteen, Tom played two and you're you're leading the 245 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: league in your position, Like that's, uh, that's hard to do, man. 246 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: I mean you went, you went to the Pro Bowls. Man, 247 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,839 Speaker 1: that's longer than of guys careers. You're still making Pro Bowls. No, No, 248 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: it was great. But yeah, but I feel like Tony, 249 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: like you said, like if we're you know, before we 250 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: move on from him. But he just found ways at 251 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: the end. I covered him near the end of his career. 252 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: I was a young player or whatever, and and he 253 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: was covered. But that's what he wanted. He wanted you 254 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: to be covered and then he'll he'll get open late. 255 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 1: He wasn't trying to win the route early made you 256 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: feel comfortable, you're looking back, and then he did the 257 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: subtle push offs or when most people swipe you with 258 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,439 Speaker 1: their left hand to break inside, he's swiping with his 259 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: left hand and breaking outside. Just the subtle nuances to 260 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: kind of still find a way to be effective. It's 261 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: still change his game and still work on his craft 262 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: to be effective no matter how he was moving, was 263 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: the most oppressive thing. And then always catching the ball, 264 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, so so, Luke, I just think 265 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: this is something I want to know. I mean, you're 266 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: you're known for your ability to call the play before 267 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: the play. Um just a film study. So so tell 268 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: me what's your what's your film regiment, what your preparation regiment? 269 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: Is that it is just known and admired by so 270 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: many players in the league. Well, I think, I think 271 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: when I when I first I watched a lot in college, 272 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: but I never knew what I was really doing. You 273 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: just watch tape and you go through stuff. And then 274 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: as my sophomore year in college, we had a guy 275 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: named Wes Davis who was a safety for US, and 276 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: he was a big film guy and his locker was 277 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: probably two or three down for mine. And after my 278 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 1: freshman year, West was like, hey, come in here, I'll 279 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: watch him tape with him. He was an older guy, 280 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: and he really kind of showed me how to break 281 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: stuff down, formations, personnels down in distance situations. And so 282 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: it kind of started with him and and he we'd 283 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: be sitting there watching tape and he'd be like, all right, 284 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 1: when this comes out in the in the game, I'm 285 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: gonna look at you, and this is a look we're 286 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: gonna get. And I was like, no way, Like he's wrong. 287 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: And I get out there that first game and he 288 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: and we gotta look and he looked at me in 289 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: that same play opened up exactly how we saw it 290 00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: on tape, and he kind of just gave me. He 291 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: smiled at me. And from then on, I'm like, man, 292 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: there's such an advantage to be had watching tape. And 293 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: then when I got to Carolina, as you guys know, 294 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: there's the opportunity to watch tape is endless. You can 295 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: you can sort everybody, so I could every every route 296 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: that Jason ran, I can sorted every every ball they 297 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: got thrown out, and I can sort it so you 298 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: can break it down to whatever you want. But I 299 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 1: just found a routine for me that worked um throughout 300 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: the week that I stuck with so Monday was something, 301 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 1: Tuesday was something than Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. But I think 302 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: the thing that helped me more than anything is we 303 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: had such good coaches when I was in Carolina that 304 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: they highlighted stuff that was important. We stressed things that 305 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:39,680 Speaker 1: were important, and we covered a lot of stuff that 306 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: we saw in the game. So it was really more 307 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: of of those guys set such a good blueprint out 308 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: for us, and as long as we kind of studied 309 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: it during the week and did a little bit of 310 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: refining after practice, then we're in good shape. And I 311 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: think that's what a lot of it comes down to. 312 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: I think our coaches were fantastic and in preparation, gave 313 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: us a lot of good information, didn't waste our time 314 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: trying to throw everything at us. They just gave us 315 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: some tools to be successful, and then kind of kind 316 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: of honed what I liked watching during the week, um 317 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: throughout my rookie year, and then from my rookie year on, 318 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: I kind of had the same regiment. But I think 319 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 1: I always tell people, if you can steal a couple 320 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: of plays um by watching tape, it's worth it. And 321 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: you know you're wrong a lot too, but a lot 322 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: of it is like you call one play out, everyone 323 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: remembers that one, and if you call six six of 324 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: them out incorrectly, no one ever remembers. Oh. So it's 325 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: one of those things I just had. I just enjoyed it. 326 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: I learned a lot, and then it's fun when your 327 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: preparation kind of leads to some success. But it was 328 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: a good time. West taught me a lot. And then 329 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: obviously their coaches as well. I remember and Uh in 330 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: New England. You know, he coached by Bill's argue, be 331 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: the best coach, and you know things are different from 332 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: college and NFL tips and tendencies and and and what 333 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: you do from week to week. And I remember he 334 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: was like, we're playing Louke Keikley in the preseason in Caroline, 335 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: and you know, we're not even gonna double We're not 336 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: even gonna block down linemen. We're gonna double team the backer. 337 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: Like we're not gonna work up to the backer, We're 338 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: gonna skip the lineman. And he's like every player that 339 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: we don't get two on Lea Luke Kikle is gonna 340 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: make the tackle. And Dion Lewis was our running back. 341 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: He said, you called out the first three plays straight, 342 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: some power, a toss, and a screen halfback screen, and 343 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: I think you had twenty tackles at halftime in a 344 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: preseason game. Well, preseason is easy because you get you know, 345 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 1: they only run like five or six plays, so most 346 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: guys aren't even trying to play twenty play. You have 347 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: twenty tackles in a preseason so you got some. You 348 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: were more than right every once in a while, definitely. 349 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 1: So why do we feel about how do you feel about, 350 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: you know, the physicality and where the game is now? 351 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: You know, I think there's a lot of transition from 352 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: you when you guys kind of in these last couple 353 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: of years in terms of now some of the contact, 354 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: the taunting penalties obviously changing Jason from from your error. 355 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: I would say, well, I think like kind of two fold. 356 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 1: I think from the physical standpoint, like, I think it's 357 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: we really evolved, you know, from the two days and 358 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: the drills and the hitting and hey, I got a 359 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: concussion and I don't want to tell anybody. I definitely 360 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: think the leagues put an emphasis on it. I think 361 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: players are smarter and they're educated, more educated. Obviously there's 362 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: a long way you can go, right, you can always 363 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: keep evolving and improving. Um. But I think just the 364 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: schedule to set up the off season all that stuff 365 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: is is huge. And you know a lot of guys 366 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: that didn't play before that last CB A like you 367 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: don't remember those days. I mean it was hard, you know. 368 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: I feel like there was always three or four guys 369 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: that would show up the training camp and after a 370 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: day or two, I'm out, you know, and you would 371 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: never get to that point now just because you know 372 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: what's going to be expected. Uh hard. Yeah, guys are 373 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: more talented, they're more physical. It's still a man's game. 374 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that, but I think we've made huge 375 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: strides from from that standpoint, you know, with some of 376 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: the like taunting and all that. I think the int 377 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: in is right, you know. I just think there's gray, 378 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: you know, and whenever there's gray, um with with a 379 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: lot of alpha's that are you know, wanting to kind 380 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: of show their personality, and it just there's where's the 381 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: middle ground and all that, you know, and I think 382 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: trying to figure that out. You know, you don't want 383 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: it to be a distraction or you gotta draw the 384 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: line somewhere. At the same time, I do think we're 385 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: trying to put an emphasis on making it fun, you know, 386 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: making it enjoyable. Let these guys show their personality. So 387 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: I just think we're figuring out, all right, where where 388 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: do we Where do we kind of draw that line? 389 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: For sure? Definitely, I think I think if you're explained 390 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: it perfectly with the gray area, and you don't want 391 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: to take the competitiveness and and the fun out of it, 392 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: but you also don't want to, you know, show the 393 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: kids the wrong example of of taunting and and being 394 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,320 Speaker 1: and kind of showboating. At the same time, there's a 395 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: fine line of respect you need to have. But football 396 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: is a competitive sport. Football is a physical sport. Takes 397 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 1: a lot of emotion, and you can't take the emotion 398 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: from the game as well. And I think as a 399 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: defensive player, the inconsistency sometimes of the calls can really 400 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: a fifteen yard penalty after a big play as a 401 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: huge swing as we know in field position and in 402 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: a game. Yeah, and I think through like the talteen piece, like, 403 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 1: you know, where do you draw the line? I feel like, um, 404 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes you have this personality and you want 405 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: all this, but like so I'm coaching my boys in 406 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 1: the high school football. And it's amazing, you know now, 407 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: Like my eyes are just getting open to um the 408 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: experience of like watching these kids, like some of them 409 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: feel like because the world's totalm this that like you're 410 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna get recruited because of what you put out 411 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: on Twitter or what you put on in social media, 412 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: you know. And I get it, like you should. I 413 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: understand the branding piece of it all and you know, 414 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: making yourself known, but listen, like, don't forget that the 415 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: work has to come before the success comes, you know. 416 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: And I think sometimes we've kind of taught this that 417 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 1: generation of like me, me, me me, you know, and 418 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: now when they get on this stage, it's like, oh, 419 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: wait a minute, did I crossed the line of a 420 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: fifteen yard penalty? You know or whatever it is. So 421 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 1: I just think, you know, it's hard for those kids 422 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: because they're watching, you know, they're watching everything that you do, 423 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 1: and and uh, you wanted to be fun, you want 424 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: to be enjoyable, but also you got to know, like 425 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: nobody's bigger than the team, you know, and you can't 426 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 1: forget that core principle. Yeah, I was telling my wife 427 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: the other day, I was like we gotta we gotta 428 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 1: three year old. And if he wants to play football 429 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: or whatever, it's up to him. But if he plays 430 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: wide receiver, he will be looking at Cooper Cup team 431 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: just the way that man approaches the game played against him. 432 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: Obviously watched him throughout the season, you know, start breaking 433 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,640 Speaker 1: records and all that stuff, But he blocks. The way 434 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: he runs his motions, the way he flashes when he 435 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 1: doesn't have the ball, the way he runs the ball, 436 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: runs his routes when he's not getting the ball, those 437 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: are all things. It's almost like this is a guy 438 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: from the eighties, you know, not as much flash and flair, 439 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: not somebody um flips the ball accident ref after a touchdown. 440 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: Those just all things. I think, Um, you know that 441 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: people want to be cool and be seen, but putting 442 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: up huge numbers is how you really cool and seen. 443 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,960 Speaker 1: And I just think, you know, he's the greatest example 444 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: right now how you can still be extremely effective and 445 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: not worry about the show voting or the flashiness or 446 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 1: or whatever it is that you know, social media kind 447 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: of makes you portray to defend yourself for to put 448 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: yourself out there for your game. Let your game do 449 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: the talking. And he had a like I got a 450 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: lot of respect for him. I don't know him, but 451 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: obviously what he's done this year is incredible, really his 452 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: whole career. But there was a clip I saw a 453 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: couple of months ago and after a game, one of 454 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: the reporters asked him. I don't know if you guys 455 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: saw it, but they asked him about a certain play 456 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: and he's just like, yeah, I saw the say through 457 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: streating down rotation. It looked like it was gonna be 458 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: his own dog cover three buzz and he just goes 459 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: on and on and on like he knew the entire thing, 460 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: and uh, there's I kind of just smiled when I 461 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: watched that because obviously he's talented, but you know, he 462 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: gets it. You know, he knows the answers to the 463 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: test before the tests a lot like you were talking 464 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: about Luke, and uh, you don't see that as much 465 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: at the receiver position, and that was pretty rare. I 466 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: think there's a reason for his success. I mean that 467 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: is the reasons. Preparations definitely allows him to play faster 468 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 1: and more athletic than he might be. Um, it definitely 469 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: comes from that. You want to play fast. Watch Tate 470 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: you know what's coming. You'll play really fast and you 471 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: know when you're about to get that touchdown before it 472 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: even happens. Luke, what what linebackers do you like in 473 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: the game right now? Who are some guys that that 474 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: you know if you watch or you think are really 475 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: playing at a high level. Well, I think the two 476 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: guys that I came in with are still playing really well. 477 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David. Those are kind of, excuse me, 478 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: the old guard of guys. But the new guys coming 479 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: in that are kind of that are on their second deals, 480 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: that are the more established guys. I think Darius Leonard 481 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: and Indy is really good. I think he's all over 482 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: the place. He's a big time turnover machine, and those 483 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: are that that's a special skill. I think that that 484 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: guys have the ability to create turnovers and put the 485 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: ball on the ground and he's everywhere, he's long, he's athletic, um, 486 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: he's good. I really like Fred Warner over in UM 487 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: in San France. And then Devin White's a guy inside 488 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: our inside our division that's that's super good speed, size, attitude, 489 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: really good pressure guy. And then we've got a guy 490 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: here this this week in Dallas, Michael Parsons, that's he's 491 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: got so much athletic ability, size length, he can line 492 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: up on the ball, off the ball. There's there's a 493 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: good crop of young guys that are that are coming up. 494 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: There's the guys that are kind of established with Darius 495 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: and Fred and um, Devin White and then and then 496 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 1: I got a lot of respect for for Bobby and 497 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: then Lavante. I don't think ever gets enough credit. I 498 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,360 Speaker 1: think he's done it at a high level. I think 499 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: he's you look at his numbers and what he's done 500 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: throughout his career. He's a special guy. Um, and I'm 501 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: and I'm happy that guys like him have had to 502 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: success the last two years that they've had down there. Yeah, 503 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: just do him. Lavante's has been so consistent and I 504 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: don't know, Homny Pro Bowls, he probably deserved a lot 505 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 1: more ability to his ability to to cover Travis Kelsey 506 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 1: and that Super Bowl last year. A linebacker covering Travis Kelsey, 507 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: like we talked about, that's rare. And then allow them 508 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: to play the shell that they wanted to play and 509 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: not take a safety to have to do it, I 510 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 1: think is a huge strategic edge for them last year 511 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 1: winning that Super Bowl. And somebody that reminds me of 512 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: your game a little bit. You mentioned Fred Warner. I 513 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: feel like he knows his defense. I feel like in Carolina, 514 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: Yo had a system that you knew really well, and 515 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,360 Speaker 1: they have a system in San France and he knows 516 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: really well. But his ability to cover them routes in 517 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: zone coverage, to understand the route concepts, I think you'll 518 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: ever forever be known for your ability to be that 519 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: middle runner and pick off the in cut and then 520 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 1: go get the check down and then where whatever the 521 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,239 Speaker 1: concept was to pick on the middle runner high low, 522 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: you you were always able to make that play. And 523 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: that's what Fred has seemed like watching him from Afar 524 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: on film, He's able to really do that for them 525 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: and not be a you know, not be taking advantage 526 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: of high low in those zones where all the routes 527 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,120 Speaker 1: are meant to take advantage of that backer. I feel 528 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: like with those backers too, and even with both of 529 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: you guys, especially like from an offensive perspective, for a 530 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: defensive player, it's like, yeah, the tent level and all 531 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: the stuff that they can do, but they know how 532 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: the offense wants to attack them, so they almost know 533 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: the weaknesses of their defense. And that's where it separates 534 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 1: because it's like, all right, they know where we're trying 535 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,399 Speaker 1: to go. He knows, all right, we're gonna try to 536 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: clear out and run the dig in behind, you know. 537 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: And so when you know those things like that puts 538 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure on the offensive guys because like, 539 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: all right, they know what we're trying to do. And 540 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: you know, you think of Bobby Wagner and when leading 541 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: the Boom, when they were rolling, like they completely knew 542 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: the areas of the field you were trying to attack, 543 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 1: and makes it really hard when they know does And 544 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: when you were in um, you know, you finished up 545 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: with the Raiders. Did you see Dan? What was your 546 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: thoughts on Darren Waller? Um? You know firsthand? And and 547 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: how he's kind of at the position athletically is just ridiculous, beast. 548 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: You know, the very first thing I had that entered 549 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: my mind, honestly when I saw him was how in 550 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: the world did Calvin Johnson and Darren Waller play wide 551 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 1: receiver at Georgia Tech in the triple option? How did 552 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: that end up? I mean, we're talking about two of 553 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: the biggest freaks in the NFL. Both of them play 554 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: in that offense at Georgia Tech. Uh yeah, I mean, listen, man, 555 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: he can do whatever he wants. He's big, he's strong, 556 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: he's fast, he's smart, it's tough. Uh, he's got a 557 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,959 Speaker 1: good spirit about him. You know, his his story is incredible. 558 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 1: And to see what he's overcome and now that he 559 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: talks about it and he speaks out just uh, he's great. 560 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: I mean he would add another great year. He just 561 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: got hurt this year a little bit. But um, there's 562 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 1: not a roud he can't run. Uh, he's a willing blocker, 563 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: he's tough, great teammate and uh, you don't realize how 564 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: fast he is until you get up on him. You know. Um, 565 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 1: it's incredible what he's doing in his career. Those are 566 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: the worst guys that that don't look like they're running fast. 567 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: You watch him on tape, they don't they're running fast, 568 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: and then you play him and they run right past. 569 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: He's got you got a short stride, but I think 570 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: he's running four three At the times we were we 571 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 1: trained the same combine Jim and he broke every record 572 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: in the gym, DBS and all that he's he's moving. 573 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: That's UM. Obviously eleven Pro Bowls and seven Pro Bowls. 574 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame guys here, What was your your mindset 575 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,120 Speaker 1: going into the next season. Were you focused on making 576 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: were you not focused? Where you thinking about making the 577 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl or you know, tweeting for fans to retweet 578 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: you for the Pro Bowl? How did it go in 579 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 1: every year, the consistency that that you had in your career. Yeah, 580 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,879 Speaker 1: I just I was so excited. I loved playing football, 581 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: I loved being around the guys UM, and I just 582 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 1: loved the start of the season because we went down 583 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,959 Speaker 1: to We went down to Watford College every year, and 584 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: I felt like we got to go on like a 585 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 1: summer camp with all the guys. Because all the buddy, 586 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 1: all the guys that I was friends with, they all 587 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: had kids and wives and they were going back and 588 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: forth and they never had a the time after practice 589 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: or during the week to do anything. But during training 590 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 1: camp it was they had no excuse. Every after practice, 591 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: after meetings, we'd all go hang out. So I was 592 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: always so excited. I was never really worried about, you know, 593 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: Pro Bowls. I just wanted to go out there and 594 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 1: have fun with my guys, be a good teammate and win. 595 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: And I that's one thing that I missed right now 596 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,399 Speaker 1: is the feeling of people relying on you to do 597 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: a job. And I think it puts it all in 598 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:27,920 Speaker 1: perspective and makes it all worth it. Like all this 599 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,399 Speaker 1: stuff you do in the offseason, training wise, all the 600 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: studying you do, you do it because somebody else is 601 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: relying on you to do a job and you want 602 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: to do it as well as you can. So I 603 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: think going into the season, I was there was a 604 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:40,159 Speaker 1: lot of excitement. I wanted to see what kind of 605 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,159 Speaker 1: team you had. I was excited to go hang out 606 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: with my buds for a couple of weeks and then 607 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: really just to get back into football. And I just 608 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: I love the game so much. I love the competition, 609 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 1: I loved being around everybody. I loved our coaches, the organization. 610 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: I just had so much fun with it that all 611 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,479 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowls and all that stuff was kind of 612 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: just a byproduct of of having fun with the guys 613 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 1: and trying to win. How about you with any last 614 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 1: words here about the how you went in and approached 615 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: every season. No, I mean I agree with everything Luke said. 616 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: I mean I just think it was you know, personally, 617 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: it was a challenge to see if you could get 618 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: yourself to play at a high level, you know, because 619 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: ultimately you knew that was gonna help your team win. 620 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: And uh, I think that was all the focuses on, 621 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: is how can we evolve as a team and see 622 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: where our teams at to give ourselves a chance. And 623 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: I think that excitement and the work that you put 624 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: in and you know, maybe you're trying to add a 625 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: couple of things to your game and you're you're trying 626 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: to see how that evolves in the camp, that that 627 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,679 Speaker 1: was what I enjoyed the most, you know. And again 628 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: I think and you hear people say it all the 629 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 1: time when you retire, what you missed the most as 630 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 1: those relationships, you know, and just the the organic piece 631 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: of being around them. And I feel like it's just 632 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: such small pockets, like Luke was sharing, you know, after 633 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: a game, that little forty five minute pocket or two 634 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: hour flight or a training camp when you canceled the 635 00:28:57,520 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 1: meetings that night and you got you had like a 636 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: little three hour pocket. Those are the moment you remember 637 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: in the relationships that I don't know, I feel like 638 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: you're going after a common goal but shared commitment piece. 639 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 1: It was always very rewarding for me. Yeah that's awesome. 640 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,239 Speaker 1: I mean you guys, like I said, you guys are 641 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: mode up, consistency straight. Pro Bowl is a great run, 642 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: played the game the right way. UM. Great teammates obviously, 643 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: UM part of great teams. So I appreciate you joining. 644 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: I know you got really a big responsibility this week 645 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 1: of being the Pro Bowl captain. So get the coin 646 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: flip right or whatever that is that you guys have 647 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: to do. But I appreciate you guys for joining me 648 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: and get on the podcast. Yeah, no problem, absolutely, thanks 649 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 1: for having us, Thanks for having us many, no problem. 650 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us on the NFL Players Podcast. Don't 651 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: forget to subscribe and follow at NFL Players podcast on 652 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 1: Instagram for the latest players stories and to connect with 653 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: the NFL Players community.