1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: teen year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Aeneus Williams. 4 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: As we celebrate the NFL's hundreds of season, a series 5 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: of round tables were conducted around the two thousand and 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: eighteen postseason. Consistent of a staggering array of NFL greats, 7 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: these round tables talked about the NFL's past glory, its present, 8 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: stars in its promising future. Let's listen in well, guys, 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: a hundredth anniversary NFL season. We're here at the table 10 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: with some amazing individuals. It's a privilege. It's a privilege 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: to be here. It's very nice to be invited. For 12 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: a fat boy from Idaho, that's the youngest guy here. 13 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: It's just really a hundred years of history of NFL. 14 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: Just to to actually be here, it is just kind 15 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: of just great, and just to be here with you 16 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: guys wonderful for me. I grew up as a fan 17 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: of the game first, and you know, my dad played 18 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: in the league and my older brother and to be 19 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: sitting here is very humbling. I think of each of 20 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: you guys, with such great respect. It's a cool accomplishment 21 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: to think about all the different games that you've watched 22 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: and was a part of, and as a kid, all 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: the guys you emulate it. But then to sit here 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: with all the guys that have went before you and 25 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: the greats, it's it's an honor. It's an honor to 26 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: be able to be able to say you're part of 27 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 1: this group. You know, Jonathan mentioned he's the youngest guys. 28 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: You have younger guys and then kind of move up, 29 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: but then you have guys that really built the game, 30 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: you know Jerry who played for Vince Lombardi. And for me, 31 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: it's a thrill to hear perspectives on every era and 32 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: how the game has changed. That's it's pretty cool to 33 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: be here with you guys. Talking to Will a little 34 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: bit earlier and I asked him, did you really want 35 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: to be alignment? I mean, did any they want to 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: be alignement? I want to be a kicker, yeah, kick 37 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: Tom Dempsey, Yeah, Tom Dempsey. Yeah. Well I wanted to 38 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: be a fullback and I told my high school coach 39 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: that I wanted to play fullback. My older brother was 40 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: a running back, and he said, well, we have a fullback, 41 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: but we don't have very many tackles, so if you 42 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: want to play fullback, you'll probably sat on the bench. 43 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: But if you want to play tackle, you can probably start. 44 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: Who wanted, I won't give it a yeah, So I 45 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: decided to be a tackle and it worked out well. 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: For maybe there was some joy and some excitement and 47 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: some fun, but mostly it was just hard work. Being 48 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: an offensive alignment. You could have hung your picture in 49 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: the post office and got more attention. Quite frankly, I 50 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 1: want to be a quarterback. I started playing quarterback flag 51 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: football and I was eight years old and played through 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: eighth grade, and that's all I ever played with quarterback. 53 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 1: So I get to high school. First time I put 54 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: the pads on. As a freshman, I run over, you know, 55 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: to the quarterbacks, and the coach says, what are you 56 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: doing here? And I said, I'm gonna be a quarterback. 57 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: He goes, no, you're not. That first day, I'm kind 58 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: of like, you know, this is unbelievable. I want to 59 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: be a quarterback. But being like one of the biggest 60 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: kids on campus. The second day, I'm thinking, this coach 61 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: knows what he's doing. I kind of like this. I 62 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: think I first I thought about being alignment because my 63 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: dad played college at Howard University. I grew up in Washington, 64 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: d C. And so he was a defensive linement. So 65 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: that kind of I wanted to be like him, you 66 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: know a little bit, I want to play defense. But 67 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: also growing up in d C. In the eighties, that's 68 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: when the Redskins had the Hogs. But shade to Kobe 69 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: Graham and you know, and that's kind of when it 70 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: was vogue to be like alignment offense linement. Sounds like, 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: you know what, maybe one day, you know, maybe I 72 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 1: could be a hog one day. I wouldn't be bad, 73 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: you know, because I was, I was starting to grow 74 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: and be bigger than the other guys. And you know, 75 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: my high school coach said, you know what, right now, 76 00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: you're bigger than all the hogs, you know, like, okay man. Yeah, 77 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: I've always been alignment all the way, from when I 78 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: was little, all the way until you know, through my 79 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: whole career. Enjoyed it, loved it. Um Now, when we 80 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: play pickup games, I was always a tight end or 81 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: something like that. You know. I was, like I said, 82 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,679 Speaker 1: I was a little man trapped in the big man's body. 83 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: I got a question who set the tone for you 84 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: in the NFL as far as when you were there 85 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: as a sort of a wake up call. I definitely 86 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: remember my welcome to the NFL moment I was. It 87 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: was my my rookie year. Obviously, I was playing guard 88 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: and We're playing the Green Bay Packers in the preseason. 89 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: Me and Steve Ebert the center. We have a combo 90 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: block up to the linebacker. It's Gilbert Brown, big Gilbert, 91 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: big Gilbert. So I'm like, okay, let me just boom boom, 92 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: thinking about how we did it in practice. Cut up hard, 93 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: I hit him and Steve slips off. Gilbert gets his 94 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: hand under my shoulder. I've never been thrown backwards on 95 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: my back one yard in the backfield. He tackles and 96 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 1: running back then does the grave biggest standard overn. I'm like, okay, 97 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: I guess for me. It was two of the first 98 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: five weeks in the league, I played against Leroy Sulman 99 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay Buckingers Hall of Fame, and it was like, 100 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,559 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, is every week gonna be this? And Fred 101 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: Dean was another guy. Um he was with San Diego 102 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: when I first got in the league, and of course 103 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: the team had played on the Bengals had played in 104 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: the year before, so we had video on the game 105 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 1: and I'm I'm watching him and I'm thinking, is this 106 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: in fast speed? We're playing San Diego and I'm saying, 107 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: he is that fast, he is that strong. So I'd 108 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: say those two guys were like really made me focus. 109 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: My big opening game was We're going back to my 110 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: old college stadium, Colis Sam play the Raiders and they 111 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: have Ted Hendrix, Salsad Howie, Greg Townsend Mill and Lester Hayes. 112 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: I mean all guys thirty years and up. And it 113 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:05,559 Speaker 1: was like, oh my gosh, these are grown ass man again. 114 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: And I was thinking, hey, some of the good will 115 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:14,679 Speaker 1: from college would last, you know, mother and me left 116 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: and right. And it was like, oh my gosh. It 117 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: really was humbling experience and I felt like a kid 118 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: out there. My first practice, we do this Oklahoma drill, 119 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: separated drill and it goes Shields versus Salamua, and I'm like, 120 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: what the heck is this Salamua? Big samoan guy, unbelievable player, 121 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: nicest guy in the world. He'll laugh and smile at 122 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 1: you while he throws you in the ball hill that 123 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. And then week two we have the 124 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings that come in to practice against US, Henry Thomas, 125 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: Johnny Randall, and they're talking to each other, They're talking, 126 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: you know, bull yelling back and forth, and they're just 127 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: clowning you. So you're going here like, oh, I'm not ready. 128 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm definitely not ready. It's like I got a lot 129 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: of growing up to do, because this is bad. This 130 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: is not that, this is terrible, but you know, like 131 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: that was that wake up moment, but of I've got 132 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: to get better. I mean, I thought I was okay, 133 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: but now there's a whole another level and it just 134 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: sort of wakes you up. That was one of those 135 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: moments of like, yeah, we're definitely at a whole different level. 136 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: That was exactly my already Donovan feeling. Right. I had 137 00:07:29,840 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: never seen a guy or heard of a guy, or 138 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: read about a guy that just stood there and shook, 139 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: just went back and normally the defensive tackles boom, bullet 140 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: and bullet and coming at you already, but just sat 141 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: there and shake like a matador. Right. Yeah, And I 142 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: played the first half and I'm going I don't think 143 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: I touched the guy It's amazing the stigma placed on 144 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: lineman though. I mean, what comes to mind for the 145 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: rank and file public is you know, a big fact 146 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: I can't move. I used to hate it. Our strength 147 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: coach when we would do conditioning drills, he would say, 148 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: all right, skill position, you have to make it in 149 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: this time. Lineman, you have to make it in this time. 150 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: Like we were some sub categories in some space. Yeah. Well, 151 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: they used to post a lifting schedule and they write 152 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: little skills, big guys. So I took and I erased both. 153 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: I put little skills a big skills. That's right, you know. 154 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: Definitely skill players exactly, exactly takes a lot of skill. Well, 155 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: I love to be able to control the game, and 156 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: I said that was the best way for us to 157 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: do that, as being alignment is being able to control 158 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: what happens on playing and play out running back, you 159 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: depend on the linements a quarterback and depending on us, 160 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: but you are in control of what you do with 161 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: that guy. The thing too as a kid growing up 162 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: and being a big kid, so I'll be careful around 163 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:54,079 Speaker 1: the smaller kids. And I noticed it to this day, 164 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: like playing offensive line was the first time that it 165 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, use your bigness and own Flick Paine, 166 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 1: and it was a great thing once you kind of 167 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: embraced it. Well, that's key, you staying flick pain You 168 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: just change it up. You know. Sometimes we might not, 169 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: you know, try to attack other times, so we just 170 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: try to keep them up down. But we can hit people. 171 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: We can attack people. And like you said, I mean, 172 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: that's the fun part of the game. So what was 173 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: it like. I mean, you mentioned that you played center, 174 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: and what was it like just being so good, like 175 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: just that every being able to play every position on 176 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 1: the line, that drag of all trades. And my dad 177 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: played in the league and he was very hands off 178 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: in terms of how we approached the game other than 179 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: you don't quit, you do what the coach said and 180 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: volunteer for everything. So I ended up long snap and 181 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: covering ponts doing all that type stuff. If the coach 182 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 1: came up to me and asked me, we're thinking about 183 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: moving you to center or tackle or right tackle, it 184 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: really helped around my game. I think the big thing was, 185 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: like you said, watching Anthony and Richmond Webb and Munch 186 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: in my own meeting room and the centers in the league, 187 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: Dermanti Dawson guys like that. It's just Na was a 188 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: hybrid of all those things. I never really felt like 189 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: I was that good at any of those, but I 190 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: just kind of found a way. And they say, unless 191 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: you play left tackle, you better be able to play everything. 192 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: Exactly well, I played left tackle. I wasn't up stance. 193 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: I was on a right handed stance. I would step 194 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: with my inside foot first, just all backwards. He's really 195 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: being humble because I've known him since. You know, he's 196 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: coming out of high school and an amazing athlete. I mean, 197 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: he played baseball as well as anybody. I mean, so 198 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: you that helped out that you were a great athlete 199 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 1: and being able to play all positions and uh, you know, 200 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: so I got to see him firsthand when his freshman 201 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: year in college and to see exactly you know, see 202 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: him come along. So you mentioned a little bit about 203 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: Jerry being a guy that his offensive lineman kind of 204 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: inspired you, I know growing up in l A right 205 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: up the road in Oakland art salesman, I watched him, 206 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: and you know, it's just like that's how it's done. 207 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: Of course, you know, they had a pretty good line 208 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: with Gene Upshaw and all those guys. But so, who 209 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: are some of the guys you watched when you were 210 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,079 Speaker 1: you know, first started out as an alignement and wanted 211 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: emulator be like, well, mine would be backwards. I actually 212 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: watched more defensive guys. First. I really love Anti Tall 213 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: Jones and guys like that. So we watched the Dallas 214 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: Cowboys and we watched linebackers and stuff like that. So 215 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: I would basically emulate what they did and then converted 216 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: over offensively and go, okay, this is what counters that, 217 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: and this is what counters this, and so I learned 218 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: it sort of the backward size. I was backward too. 219 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: I didn't watch the offensive linement very much. I watched 220 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: my defensive your guys to the point of exhaustion, you know, 221 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: over and over and over and over. They studied them, 222 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: Uh A great deal. First person when I actually watched 223 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: for technique was probably you and Richmond Webb watching him 224 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: Blockford Da Marino, and I thought he had really quick feet. 225 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: And then Jackie Slater of course, with the whole the 226 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: little kicks that that he's got. It's just really unique 227 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: that I was like, what does he doing? Like I 228 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: was doing that, so I would, you know, just take 229 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: a little bits and pieces from offensive play lineman. If 230 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: I thought it was good, I like, I like what 231 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: he took that stuff, and me see if that works 232 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: for me? And uh, you know this pieces together like 233 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: your toolbox, you know, just kind of figure out what 234 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:15,959 Speaker 1: makes you the best. You playing with Mike Munchek and 235 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: we're Hall of Fame guard. The thing about his game, 236 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: he was so violent with his hands and physical and 237 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: just you know, and I was more of a clamp 238 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: and hold on for dear life type guy. And seeing 239 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: Munch every day in practice and just seeing the good 240 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: things that he did just helped me grow so much. 241 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: And I thought I used my hands well, I mean, 242 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: he really clamped with his hands and just set a 243 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: great example for me. So I got to play with 244 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: Munch for eleven years and then he got to be 245 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 1: my coach, which Jared, we talked about your experiences playing 246 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: with coach Lombardi. Tell us about the Ice Bowl. You 247 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: it was a quest for the third consecutive title, something 248 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: that no one had ever done. So we were it 249 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: was a long and difficult year. We were about preparation. 250 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: I watched three films of Dallas's previous three games, and 251 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 1: I watched Jethrow on every short yardage play and jeth 252 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 1: Row was up every time. I said, coach, we can 253 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: wedge Pew if we have to run that back. So 254 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,839 Speaker 1: he ran it back three or four times. That's right, 255 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: put in a wedge on Pew. We got down to 256 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: the one yard line, jeth Row came up just like 257 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 1: he had the previous three weeks and got into him 258 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: and we got into the end zone. How about some 259 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: other moments that you missed after you finished playing the game, 260 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: and that you missed that from the game. It was 261 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: really cool. My brother Clay played in the league. If 262 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 1: I got to give up a sack, my brother is 263 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: the best guy to give it up to. But coming 264 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: up to Cleveland and just seeing how much of fans 265 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: appreciated and love my brother, I was like, Wow, this 266 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: is really cool. And then you know, the visiting team 267 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: would warm up in the dog pound, so I'd make 268 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: sure they could read my name, play hey Matthews, matt Hey, 269 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: you and a bad guy. We love your brother. That's great. 270 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: I mean, for me, I would just say that winning 271 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl was that moment in my career. I 272 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: was just fortunate enough to just kind of have the 273 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: culmination of everything that you work so hard for. Our 274 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: defense was all world And just to know that you 275 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: accomplish something as a team, because you know, as offensive line, 276 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: we're all about team. You only as be wrong as 277 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: your weakest unit, and you know, to accomplish something like 278 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: that that we started, it was just really special. You 279 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: mentioned Cleveland had a rookie quarterback in Boomer Sison. It's 280 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: ankle deep mud and we're in the closed inn at 281 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: Cleveland Stadium and we have to score to tie the 282 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: game and going overtime, and they call a pass player 283 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: to me with seven seconds left, no time out, and 284 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: I'm thinking we had a rookie head coach, thinking this 285 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: guy didn't want to keep his job. If I miss it, 286 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna walk home from Cleveland and Cincinnati, and we 287 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: catch it. We tied up, going the extra time, win 288 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: the game. But you know, it's it's things like that 289 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 1: which we don't get a lot, you know, a lot 290 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: of opportunities like that. So that was fun for me. Really, 291 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: my most exciting moment, most memorable was sixty two championship games. 292 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: So we're in Yankee Stadium, hornings hurt and I'm kicking 293 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: and Uh, I kicked the first field goal, and I'm 294 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: nervous and I've overwhelmed, right, I'm really struggling a little 295 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: bit with everything. And so I kicked the ball and 296 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: I stayed down and when I looked up, the ball 297 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: was outside the uprights and the referee is going like this. 298 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: That goes what they're doing, and Bart said, shut up 299 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: and get off the field. We got down to about 300 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: two and a half minutes to go, and we're ahead 301 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: like thirteen to seven, and if I make that, it's 302 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: a two score game, so it cinches the game kind of. 303 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: But I aimed ten yards out side of the goal 304 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: post and the wind bringing it in and the team 305 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: jumps on me and pounds me like him a quarterback 306 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: or running back or something like that. The team votes 307 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: me the game ball, which was really cool. The writers 308 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: voted nisk the game corvette got the game. Got the corvette. Yeah, 309 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: that's a life. I guess mine would be the playoff 310 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: run And had my rookie year, um got a got 311 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: an opportunity to have Joe Montana, Marcus Allen, you know, 312 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 1: Derrek Thomas, all those guys on one team. We went 313 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: to Houston at that point where we were like one 314 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: down and we actually ended up making a comeback in 315 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: the second half. You had a center give a game 316 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: breaking speech in the middle of the game. So it's 317 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: like one of those things you ever seen in the 318 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: movie where a guy is sitting here and he stops 319 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: and he goes, guys, we gotta win. We're gonna do this, 320 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: We're gonna do that, We're gonna do this, We're gona 321 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: do this, and you go, oh, that will never happen 322 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: on the football field. It actually happens on the football field. 323 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: He gave a great speech, and he gave us that 324 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: motivation and gave us that piece and wow, I'll never 325 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: forget this moment because it changed our mindset and what 326 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: we wanted to do. And we end up coming back 327 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: and winning the game. And then he end up going 328 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: all the way to the championship game that year. So nowadays, 329 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: in today's game, who do you think are the guys 330 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: who do it as well as we did it out there? 331 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: Who are the young up and comer future Hall of famers. Well, 332 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: one guy that I'm in the miss watching and I 333 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: watched him twice a year and he just retired with 334 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: Joe Thomas, I mean, the guy was technically sound. I 335 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: mean he was always seemed to be in the right position, 336 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: and uh when he's healthy. Tyrann Smith from the Cowboys, 337 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: I enjoy watching him. Taylor, the one from the Titans 338 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: is a guy that I enjoyed watching. So there's you know, 339 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: there's a handful of guys that I try to watch 340 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: when I'm home and the Bengals are on the road. 341 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: So I still watch, still enjoy watching Alignment playing. Yeah, 342 00:17:52,080 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: I'm very bushed. There's just kids in Atlanta. Matthew under 343 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: kids got something there. That young kid for the Cold 344 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 1: like him a lot. I think their whole line was 345 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: pretty solid all the way across the board. So those 346 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: guys I like watching. But you know, I think some 347 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: of that sort of interesting to think about is the 348 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: transition from when you played compared to each generation, and 349 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: how the rules have changed the opportunity. I remember learning 350 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: in the in the seventies and eighties when we first 351 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: did it, where we had to have our hands tucked 352 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: in here and and hold there and you couldn't use 353 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: them to Now, I mean, we can go all the 354 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: way out here. Guys. I just want to say what 355 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: a pleasure it is having everybody here as we wrap 356 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: it up hundred anniversary for the NFL this year, and 357 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: I get a chance to be with you guys, and 358 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: we get a chance to be together, so thank you, 359 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: thank you very much. You know, this is probably the 360 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 1: first time in the hundred year period that Ligneman I've 361 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: ever got together time. So maybe Tony, you can make 362 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: it happen a couple more times in the next hundred years. 363 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 1: This has been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback 364 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: or request a topic for discussion, email us at NFL 365 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: Legends at nfl dot com.