1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: The Around the NFL podcast is huge in England and 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: other surrounding territories. Hi, everybody, it's Around the NFL special 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: edition of Around the NFL. IMP Dan hansis joined by 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: Mark Sessler. We were in England earlier this month as 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: many of you know listeners, doing our annual trip there. 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: We've done five trips to England now as part of 7 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: the Around the NFL. 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: Podcast and connecting with our great listeners overseas and Mark. 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: Part of our latest adventure was a trip to Sky 10 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: Sports and their studios there in London and meeting with 11 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: a good friend of ours, Neil Reynolds, the anchor of 12 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: the NFL coverage for Sky Sports, and we got to 13 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: do actually something pretty special with him, sit down with Neil. 14 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think we've ever done anything and like 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 3: it before, and Neil was kind of like the perfect 16 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 3: host for it. We cycled back through the ten plus 17 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: years of doing our show and the reason I say 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 3: that I think he's an ideal person to host it 19 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 3: is that, like our relationship with England, is this incredibly special, 20 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 3: strange and unexpected aspect of the Around the NFL podcast, 21 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 3: Because you know, when we started it, we're just like 22 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 3: we just want to talk football together. And we thought 23 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 3: maybe we'd have some like Jabbroni's from like Chicago and 24 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,119 Speaker 3: LA and you know, surrounding parts into it. And then 25 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 3: we have this like massive group of people from London, 26 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 3: UK and beyond, and it's like this connection is the 27 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 3: most special part of what we do. And Neil's always 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 3: been a friend to us an ally, is someone that 29 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 3: whenever we've gone over there, we've been on Sky Sports, 30 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 3: a bunch, hung out with Neil, had dinners with Neil. 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 3: So I thought this was a really interesting half an 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 3: hour to go through the lineage, the history of not 33 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 3: only the three of us, but also Chris Wesling of course, 34 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 3: and everything that happened over the past decade plus. 35 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: Yes, it was a really nice conversation with Neil, who 36 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: we go way back with and he has always been 37 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: really great to us as well, so we were comfortable 38 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: talking with him. And even though it's you know, it's 39 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: about us and about our show, and we talked about 40 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: internally whether we wanted to to kind of amplify this 41 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: on our podcast. Ultimately, I think we all were happy 42 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: with how the conversation came out, and obviously we are 43 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: so blessed to have the loyal listeners that we do 44 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: in England and the UK and as you said, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Scotland. 45 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: I mean you could go on and on and on 46 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: with the sport that we. 47 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 2: Have overseas and we're very lucky. 48 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: So we touch on that and other things, and yes, 49 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 1: get into how Chris Westling affected our show when he's 50 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: with us, and how we still think about him after 51 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: he has moved on. So let's throw it now to 52 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: that conversation with Neil Reynolds and we'll see you on 53 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: Sunday night for the flagship program. 54 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 4: Welcome to a very special edition of Neil Meats. I've 55 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 4: met Odell Beckham Junior in the past few months, justin 56 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 4: Jefferson brock Perdy, but this is the one. 57 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: This is the one. 58 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 4: A room filled with heroes. Can I take your line, 59 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 4: Don Greg Rosen, So, Dan Hanss, Mark Cecily around the 60 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 4: NFL podcast heroes straight out the in your lines. 61 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: Pulling back the veil, Neil here that we did our 62 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 1: preview episode on our podcast and I was sitting in 63 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: your spot and you were sitting here and I could 64 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 1: tell just like you're seething with anger that I would. 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: I would dare touch your territory. 66 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: So now you've you've put me in my place, and 67 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: now you've amiliated me on your on your network. 68 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: So congratulations, Reg and I are good little boys, and 69 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: we'll go along with this long standing bit between the 70 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 3: two of you. 71 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 4: Gone on a while as it has, it's probably enough. 72 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 4: Although to be fair, some of the bits on your 73 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 4: podcast they run around. 74 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 5: They're funnier as they age, and I'm happy that Odell 75 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 5: is a warm up back for absolutely. 76 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 4: So we're going to talk about your journey from when 77 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 4: you first became NFL fans, all the way through your 78 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 4: early years at the NFL to what you are now 79 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 4: is podcast powerhouses. 80 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: It just heads up me like Greg is opted to 81 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: be directly in our eye. I'm like sitting down. 82 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 5: I already am like like a mini mic. 83 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 2: What am I going to look? I'm just checked. 84 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 4: So if you're so, do you put your backside up 85 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 4: against the back of the check could your feet not 86 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 4: touch the ground? 87 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 3: Look at that it's already gone in this direction. 88 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: Checking. Yeah, I'm just checking. 89 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 4: So as the host and you respect, I was uncomfortable 90 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 4: for the first minute or so there. 91 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, you kind of took a dig there at Greg though, 92 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: and he's a friend of mine, and you've made things 93 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: really awkward for everyone just. 94 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: Ten years. 95 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 3: I'm a friend of dancers. 96 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, there you progress. I took that. 97 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 4: We're going to talking about football growing up. Give me 98 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 4: a give me a football memory, what kind of something 99 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 4: that stands out that you prey passionate about the game. 100 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 4: Early on, it was a different time. 101 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 3: I like find it interesting that we had practices five 102 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 3: nights a week of two hours of contact and I'm in, like, 103 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 3: you know, like fifth grade, and the coach was. 104 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 5: With relationship with professional I don't know. 105 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 2: What my career career. 106 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 3: The coach would call us ladies. He's like, come on, ladies, 107 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 3: so try to jazz us up. You couldn't do that today. 108 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: So I like learned the rough and tumble way about 109 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 3: the game. And then when I started to watch the NFL, 110 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 3: I was like, I'll apply this to my career, and 111 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 3: none of it applied at all. I couldn't translate it 112 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: at all, and just became a football watcher. 113 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 4: I put some questions down here. I knew it would 114 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 4: just still go out of the window within three minutes. 115 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 5: I remember going to see Doug Flutie the first game 116 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 5: I ever went to it. And I only went to a 117 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 5: few games at Foxboro Stadium because my dad was more 118 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 5: into basketball and baseball. But we went and we saw 119 00:05:54,960 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 5: Patriots Colts nineteen eighty eight. Patriots weren't a great back then, 120 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 5: but Doug Flutie ran an end around to win the 121 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 5: game with about two minutes to go, and I was hooked. 122 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 5: In that place, went freaking crazy. There weren't actually even 123 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 5: seats there, it's all. It was all bleachers, one of 124 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 5: the worst stadiums ever, and just the excitement in that stadium, 125 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 5: and even when they would only win six games a year, 126 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 5: it was like each one of those wins felt like 127 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 5: it was like, I don't know, like winning a postseason 128 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 5: series or something. It was such a big deal. 129 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 2: Then I was hooked. 130 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, my first Jets game, and you know, it was 131 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: October nineteen eighty eight, and my dad, who's you know, 132 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: grew up a Namath guy, never even warned me as 133 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 1: a child, like, hey, this is gonna be bad, like 134 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: just the heads up, Like fandom with the Jets is 135 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: very difficult and painful, and you're gonna have your heart 136 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: broken and ripped out in ways that you can't even imagine. 137 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 2: And Week one this year is another example of that. 138 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: But the we were it was Chiefs Jets in a 139 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: downpour at Old Giants Stadium, and I remember Freeman McNeil 140 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: inside the twenty yard line and fumbling and overtime to 141 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: ensure a seventeen seventeen tie, and it's just feeling really 142 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: unfair as an eight year old, and then realizing that 143 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: the fact that they tied the game was kind of 144 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: a win for the Jets, so kind of like I 145 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: learned to it would even get darker in the future. 146 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: So that's my introduction to Jet's vandom and torture was 147 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: a seventeen seventeen. 148 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 2: Tie in the rain. 149 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 3: I think my career retrospective was maybe a little more meaningful. 150 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 4: Well well, I think as you will go through the 151 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 4: development of the podcast and how much it's grown, you're 152 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 4: the only one who's played the game. 153 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 2: Out of the curve. So I like to remind them, 154 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: must bring you closer to that. 155 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 3: It actually it gets them on the same island against 156 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: me very quickly. 157 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: Because I don't think they like any remarkable Neil that 158 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: we're doing a television show, right now and you asked 159 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: him to share an early memory as like an NFL 160 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: than and it started talking about. 161 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 2: When he was an eight year old playing. 162 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 5: I mean aditionally, my son kind of practiced flag football, 163 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 5: you know, out of here this that's about the same 164 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 5: level of football that Mark, as. 165 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 3: Greg Free practices on that team that I was on 166 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 3: a humble outfit. 167 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 4: Just as an aside, I caught your single on that monitor. 168 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 4: Then the studio hasn't seen hair like that in years. 169 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 4: I'm just going to say. 170 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 1: It's it's I would say it's your hair people here 171 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: at Sky, but this is this. 172 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 2: Is how. 173 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 4: Fantastic. So how did you guys all meet? When did 174 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 4: you first Will meet Greg? 175 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 5: Well, they knew each other before I came aboard at 176 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 5: the NFL. I was hired. I was working at a 177 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 5: place called Pro Football Talk, and I came over and uh, 178 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 5: and these guys were there. We were actually at the 179 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 5: NFL scouting combine. I think when I first we met 180 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 5: first there met Mark and that was a good introduction 181 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 5: to Mark because most of the time on league events 182 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 5: has been out at bars like this. 183 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 3: That is that is it was organized to meet up 184 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 3: with Greg who was coming to the NFL I had 185 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 3: joined I think a year plus before, I was working 186 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 3: for a terrible corporation. I won't even say the name. 187 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 3: I don't know if they're attached to this corporation on level. 188 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: But it was football. No, not at all. 189 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 3: It was like a terrible job, but it paid well 190 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 3: because it was so terrible. And so the NFL I 191 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 3: found out was hiring to a friend and I started 192 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 3: as a three day a week editor, making what essentially 193 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 3: like a high school student would make. About a month 194 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 3: later Dan showed up who you came across from the 195 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 3: East Coast, and I taught Dan how to use the 196 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 3: computer system. 197 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: I think that ever since, it's. 198 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 3: Like, was this when we two thousand summer of ten. 199 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 2: So yeah, now that's yeah. 200 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: We both started as part timers three days a week, 201 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 1: maybe a little older than most people that take that position, 202 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: but I guess it was the allure of the NFL, 203 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: and then we got opportunities. 204 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 2: Once we were in the door, we just hung around. 205 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 4: So what was it like the early days trying to 206 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 4: get the footing of the podcast established in the NFL? 207 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: It was difficult. 208 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 5: When I moved out to Los Angeles, Chris Westling, our 209 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 5: great friend, moved out at the same time, and the 210 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 5: four of us were working on what it amounted to 211 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 5: a blo a news blog writing and our bosses at 212 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 5: the time when we suggested doing this podcast, there was 213 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 5: a studio there for rich Eisen wanted no part of it, 214 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 5: thought it was a complete waste of time. Kept that 215 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 5: opinion going for about four to five years, even as 216 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 5: the numbers started rolling in. They didn't understand what that was. 217 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 5: But they had a rule initially that like, well, it 218 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 5: was all extra. We're like, we're not asking for anything, 219 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 5: we're just doing extra. It's like, well, if you leave 220 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 5: someone on the desk that's still working writing up you 221 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 5: know that. I'm trying to think oft Yeah, Percy Harvin 222 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 5: missed practice, then it could be okay. So at first 223 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 5: one person would be at the desk and we would 224 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 5: call that person on the podcast and say hello. But 225 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 5: that didn't last long and we just started doing whatever 226 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 5: we want. 227 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it's Greg's origin. Story only starts with Greg. 228 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: But we started a podcast Mark and I before Greg's arrival, 229 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: called the atl Debate Club, which was originally was a 230 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: column that. 231 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: We wrote like it was like a he said he 232 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 2: said another thing that wouldn't exist. Yeah, and I remember. 233 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: Going into a Carmen, one of our bosses at the time, 234 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: her office and saying, you know, we wanted to try 235 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: this in podcast for him and Dave Damashek, who we 236 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: owe a lot to, had put our mini Debate Club. 237 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 2: It was like a ten to twelve minute show. 238 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: On the back of his program, and so like we 239 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: were kind of doing it without anybody even paying attention. 240 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: It wasn't even technically our show. And then we were 241 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 1: able to kind of spin that out into our own show, 242 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: and then when Greg and Chris arrived, then we turned it. 243 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: It kind of turned into the ATN podcast. But yeah, 244 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 1: it was it took a long time for the people 245 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,839 Speaker 1: in that building to actually catch up to what we 246 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: the progress that we were making, Like I remember took 247 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: me a long time to even get like a full 248 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: time job there. 249 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: And like what I was. 250 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: Essentially warned when they gave me the job, like this 251 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,839 Speaker 1: is you're not being hired to. 252 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: Do a podcast, Like it's not about the podcast. 253 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: And I remember just shaking my head and thinking to myself, 254 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: you have no idea what you're talking about. 255 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: This everything is about the podcast. And it was true 256 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: and that's our jobs. 257 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: We do other things with the company that are important, 258 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,199 Speaker 1: but it's the Pod that I think has made us. 259 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 5: You know, we have to wait for those people to 260 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 5: end up leaving the company. 261 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, to really I would say one thing that 262 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: listed them. We I felt like. 263 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 3: We became friends quickly, and we would we would go 264 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 3: out to have beers after work sometimes and I'll remember 265 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 3: a night that we were walking around this park with 266 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 3: like cans of beer and talking about like the debate 267 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 3: club in the show, and being like, we can't give 268 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 3: up on this, like this is the thing, and you 269 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: Dan always had that very strong vision for it, and 270 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 3: there were I do think that when the four of 271 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 3: us got together it felt different. I love, we love 272 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 3: doing our thing together, but if something clicked. But I 273 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 3: will say, if you go back and listen to those 274 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 3: early episodes, our voices are quiet, like we are, We're 275 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 3: just our. 276 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,840 Speaker 2: Inflection was no experience, especially and like. 277 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 3: Like Wesling's first ever a couple appearances, like none of 278 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 3: us had done it before, right, and so it was 279 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 3: like really raw and it took a lot of time 280 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 3: to figure it out, but you kind of just knew 281 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 3: from the beginning it kind of felt right. 282 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: You know. 283 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 4: So you've covered a lot of events, a lot of games, 284 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 4: both sides of the Atlantic. Let's go around all three 285 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 4: of you. Maybe a favorite game or a favorite event 286 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 4: that you've you've really. 287 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 2: Enjoyed, correct, I mean, there's so many. 288 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 5: It's tough on this one Patriots super Bowl wins to 289 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 5: choose from. 290 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 2: I mean, it's gotta be to me. 291 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 5: Patriots, Seahawks before we started actually Saints Colts. I'll always 292 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,559 Speaker 5: say it was one of my favorite moments of all 293 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 5: time when Tracy Porter made that interception and I looked 294 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 5: over and the Jaguars owner was right next to us 295 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 5: in the media box and he was he was so 296 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 5: mad because he hated the Colts so much. To that one, 297 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 5: but the feeling I had when the Seahawks had gotten 298 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 5: to the two yard line from that Seahawks Patriots and 299 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 5: we're all in there together, and at that point it 300 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 5: had been arguably the greatest ten year run any team 301 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 5: had ever had, win loss wise and consistent success, and 302 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 5: the Patriots hadn't won a single Super Bowl in those 303 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 5: that ten year time and they had lost two heartbreakers, 304 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 5: obviously in the Super Bowl, and that feeling of it's 305 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 5: all they're gonna lose it right here, and then the 306 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 5: flip in one second and to me, the greatest play 307 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 5: in the history of football, Malcolm, Malcolm Butler, nothing tops that. 308 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 4: It's great to see history when you watch you something. 309 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 5: You know, you knew, you knew this second half, you 310 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 5: could almost not believe that that had actually just happened. 311 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think the being at Super Bowls is still 312 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: to this day. 313 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: I still like. 314 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: When when it comes time to go to the game, 315 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: like growing up just loving the NFL. It's so incredible 316 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: to be kind of the center of like the pop 317 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: culture universe. So like being around even though as a 318 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: Patriot hater, like some of those great games twenty eight 319 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,479 Speaker 1: to three, Malcolm Butler, even though in the moment it's like, uh, 320 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: like now. 321 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: You remember, oh you were there. It's part of history, 322 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 2: you know. 323 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:58,720 Speaker 1: And and like I remember like seeing the Giants Patriots 324 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: too with that ending with the hail Mary, like picturing 325 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: that ball in the air where Brady tossed it and 326 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: Gronk just missing it. That great Eagles went over the 327 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: Pats as well. 328 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 2: Stick to me. 329 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 1: But you know the first time we came to London 330 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: with with Wes as a group, and it was I 331 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: think I think James Winston threw five interceptions in that game. 332 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 2: Seven times. Yeah, it was. 333 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 1: It was horrendous, but just like that whole week, it 334 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: was such a whirlwind and being in that stadium and 335 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: seeing how how first of all, this this this community here, 336 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: the football community here in UK and as I say, 337 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: the surrounding territories has always been so kind to us. 338 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: But then seeing looking at the crowd and not looking 339 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: like any other football crowd, where it was everyone repping 340 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: their own colors and their own team. It wasn't a 341 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: typical crowd. And then you know, getting interviewed on the 342 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: big screen, it. 343 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 2: Was just like that. 344 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: To me, it was like, oh, we made it like 345 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: we're here and this is a whole new ball game here. 346 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: Yeah. 347 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 3: I think I was kind of cycling through some of 348 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 3: the same things about that Seahawks Patriots Super Bowl. It 349 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 3: came after the flat gate and there was a moment 350 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 3: when you know, teams are coming out of the tunnel 351 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 3: and it was thunderously loud, and I just remember being 352 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 3: like I've been in a lot of football games, I 353 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: had never experienced audibly something so devastatingly crazy as that 354 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 3: When they showed Bill Belichick coming out and he had 355 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 3: his hood on and he just looked like literally a 356 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 3: villain from a science fiction film, and the place went 357 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 3: absolutely crazy negative on you. 358 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 2: You could say Vader it was, I mean, it was 359 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: just like. 360 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 3: He totally was leaning into the role. But then a 361 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 3: couple seconds later, out of the darkness, like Tom Brady 362 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 3: emerged and it's like, even though he was at the 363 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: center of that, the place erupted and positive and just 364 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 3: you could feel the energy. And I think the thing 365 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 3: that connects for me a little bit is that after 366 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 3: the Falcon Super Bowl twenty eight to three, you know 367 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 3: we would decide for the game, you go to the 368 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 3: winters locker room and the losers off the two very 369 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 3: different environments. But I went in there and I was 370 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 3: in the exact right place at the right time where 371 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 3: when Tom Brady came over to hug teammates, like, I 372 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: was just standing there recording the whole thing, and I 373 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 3: was trying to process this moment. I'm like, I've been 374 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 3: watching this guy since I was like a young young 375 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 3: person not working in football, totally different and he's at 376 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 3: the height of his profession, at the greatest comeback ever 377 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 3: and I'm like, I'm just trying to measure the idea 378 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: that I'm a foot and away half from Tom Brady'm like, 379 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 3: I'm glad I chose his career versus that accounting. 380 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,680 Speaker 1: Now, so we all brought up Brady there. I think 381 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: we're going to need more distance because he just retired, 382 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,360 Speaker 1: I think probably now, but like you know, five, ten, 383 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 1: twenty years from now, like we were there for like 384 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: that incredible second run that he had, right. 385 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 2: And you know, I think we you know, we went 386 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: to four. 387 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: Or five of the Super Bowls, and it's just like 388 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: it's crazy to for a guy that I think part 389 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: of the reason because he was the dude and that 390 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 1: the electricity that he produced just by being the building 391 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: with him for that game. 392 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 4: You just mentioned community and you've mentioned him a couple 393 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 4: of times already. Wes and felt like we lost Wes 394 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 4: on the weekend of the Super Bowl going into that 395 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 4: box and Chiefs, I had the stupid thought that weekend 396 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 4: West isn't going to know who won the Super Bowl, 397 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 4: which is the weirdest thing to think at that time, 398 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:19,400 Speaker 4: but into what was it like what losing the reaction 399 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 4: after losing him, obviously losing him you guys were devastated, 400 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 4: But to have that sort of rally of support and 401 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 4: love that was showing around the world towards West and 402 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 4: towards you guys. Tell us about that time. 403 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,200 Speaker 5: Well, I just showed what you know, as someone who 404 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 5: knew him when we were at Rootal World together and 405 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 5: I hadn't even met him in person at that time. 406 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 5: He was just this guy on AOL instant message for 407 00:18:44,520 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 5: me for five years who I imagine living. He always 408 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 5: was like I can see the water from here and 409 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 5: he's drinking his beers while he's writing these fantasy posts too, 410 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 5: you know, one of all of our great friends. When 411 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 5: we all got out to Los Angeles, to see how 412 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 5: many different people he touched, just it it meant a lot, 413 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,679 Speaker 5: because I think he was such a people person. You 414 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 5: started to realize how everyone had this special relationship with 415 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 5: Wes in different ways, whether you were one of his 416 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 5: best friends, or whether you only met him a few times, 417 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 5: or whether you were a listener to the show. So 418 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 5: I'll always remember when they put his image and that 419 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 5: was one of them right there up on the big 420 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 5: screen at Tottenham Stadium a couple of years ago. It 421 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,119 Speaker 5: was very difficult, but it was also beautiful and it was, like, 422 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 5: I don't know, one of the most powerful moments of 423 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 5: our lives, and it not one that that that you 424 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 5: wanted all but also something that just kind of speaks 425 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 5: to the many list. 426 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean that whole that whole period was because 427 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: it happened in the middle of COVID and we were 428 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 1: all just disconnected in general, and for his illness to return, 429 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: and then really the way the way it all played 430 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,359 Speaker 1: out was heartbreaking. And I'll always remember like because he 431 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: did do is he never gave up like. 432 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 2: Wanting to be part of the show. 433 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: So even when as he was getting sicker and sicker, 434 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: he would come on to the Sunday shows and just 435 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 1: for a couple of games. And but we you know, 436 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 1: behind the scenes, we knew it was not looking great 437 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: and we knew but right before he passed away that 438 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: we were aware a couple of days in advance. It 439 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: was time to prepare for this, and I just I 440 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: remember we went to the hospital the day before and 441 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 1: we couldn't even go up to see him because of 442 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: like COVID protocols. But Nick came down his brother and 443 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: Phil and we you know, we kind of shared that moment. 444 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: I think Colleen was with us too, and then you know, 445 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: I remember when we got the word and it was 446 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: a couple of days before the Super Bowl. Thinking one 447 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:42,199 Speaker 1: of the things I thought of was like, listeners knew 448 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: Chris was sick, and if you were watching some of 449 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: the Sunday show you could see it physically that he 450 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: was sick, but they didn't know maybe you know how 451 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: bad it was. So thinking to myself like, now this 452 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 1: news is going to get out and it's I was 453 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 1: actually remember thinking in terms of the listeners that it's 454 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: going to be such a punch of the stomach because 455 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: they weren't aware of what we knew, how truly sick 456 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: it was. 457 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 2: So it was it was really sad, and. 458 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: We miss him every day and these trips that are 459 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: never never the same without him, the podcast will never 460 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: be the same. 461 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 2: But so many great memories. 462 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 4: I remember that week one when you came over and 463 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 4: you were on one table you four yes, and I 464 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:22,639 Speaker 4: was on another table hosting there with Rob Ryan and 465 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 4: Solomon Wilcots, and was whispered to me afterwards, that's one 466 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 4: of my greatest Sundays ever covering in the NFL, and 467 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 4: I just flew out of the studio. It just was 468 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 4: great that we'd all had that experience together. Mark, do 469 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 4: you sometimes watched the game now today and think Wes 470 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 4: would love that play, He'd love this. I mean he 471 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 4: was sort of ahead of all of us on Joe Burrow, 472 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 4: wasn't he. I remember that in you know when he 473 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 4: would join us on Sky Sports. Do you think you 474 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 4: see players now that you'd be like, I'd love. 475 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 3: To Yes, Yeah, And I think it's there's just this 476 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,919 Speaker 3: reminder that Wes, I mean from an analysts standpoint, in 477 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 3: a lover and observer of football, because I mean long 478 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 3: before he did it for money, he just did it 479 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 3: because he had like six other brothers. They'd be arguing 480 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 3: about football on Sundays. And it's like he became a 481 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 3: great analyst because of the way he grew up. And 482 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 3: you know, he and I were the same age, and 483 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 3: so there were some references that I think kind of 484 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 3: had shared meaning to us, and like certain football memories, 485 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 3: I think that we each lost like our favorite football friend, 486 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 3: you know, And it's like doing the show in the 487 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 3: wake of that was really tough, but I think it 488 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 3: it brought us together. It challenged us a lot But 489 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 3: the one thing that I think still trickles in daily 490 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 3: weekly is you still hear from someone who's like, oh, 491 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 3: but I don't know if you'll read this. It's like 492 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 3: a DM on Instagram or something. I just want to 493 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 3: let you know, Like people don't know this, but Wes 494 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 3: reached out to me when I was having a tough 495 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: time and converse with me one on one, and it's like, 496 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 3: there's probably been like and this guy also blocked like 497 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 3: seven hundred people on Twitter, so he you know, he 498 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 3: he was. He took it, took it carefully. But I 499 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 3: mean how many people he contained? 500 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 2: Multitude? 501 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 3: Yes, just like you find out that Wes changed and 502 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 3: surprised and interacted and like helped so many different people. 503 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 3: And it was like that who us was because like 504 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 3: we had the football stuff, but the friendship that we 505 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 3: had with him was paramount overall the work business in general. 506 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 3: And it's just like you miss you hear his laugh 507 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 3: in your head every day and you miss him. 508 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 5: I talked to his wife, Lukeisha when we got here. 509 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 5: Today's just talking about these trips, and she had said 510 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 5: that first trip because she came along with it when 511 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 5: we went the one you were talking about meant a 512 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 5: lot to him. Was actually a big turning point for him, 513 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 5: because I don't think he realized the sort of scope 514 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 5: that the podcast had in general, like we don't meet 515 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 5: necessarily our listeners back home or like this and having 516 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 5: this experience with you guys on Sky and doing this 517 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 5: national broadcast and then meeting all these fans upon fans 518 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 5: at their live show and it sort of blew his mind. 519 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 5: And she said, like that trip specifically meant a lot 520 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 5: to him and helped him because he was already having 521 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 5: recovered from his first bat with cancer, like really appreciate 522 00:23:56,520 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 5: those sort of moments and what he had made of 523 00:23:58,640 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 5: his life. 524 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: When people ask, uh, what's your favorite moment in the 525 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: history of the podcast, it's always first trip to London 526 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: after West got better. Yeah, and we it was so 527 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: it was like a triumphant show. And I remember and 528 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: we brought the Keysha up on stage at the end 529 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: of the show, and I remember going to introducing each 530 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: of the heroes one by one, and when introduced Chris, 531 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: like the place exploded in. 532 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 4: The underground play and it's been pouring on the way 533 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:22,719 Speaker 4: I was watching that night. 534 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 1: It was fantastic and just like I think that's part 535 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: of the I love that he had that moment for 536 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: people to be able to show their love for him, and. 537 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's he was a star. He certainly was a star. 538 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 4: So I'm king to know, when you've met all these 539 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 4: NFL stars and you do your interviews and all that 540 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 4: in your jobs, have you ever been starstruck? Go down 541 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 4: the line with that. I think it's interesting because we 542 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 4: round so many big name players and various times. 543 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,879 Speaker 3: I think for me, like the like that Brady moment, 544 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 3: like what was kind of huge, but I was functioning. 545 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:56,880 Speaker 3: I have a weird one like I named my son 546 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 3: Carlton after cal McCoy, and but I never, you know, 547 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 3: met Calt McCoy. And then at this last super Bowl, 548 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 3: you know when you're at the Super Bowl hotel, if 549 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 3: you ever have experience, if you're watching this, like you, 550 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 3: it bubbles up as the week goes on and it 551 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 3: more and more like people walk by where you're like, WHOA, 552 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 3: that's that guy. He's like so I just was one 553 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 3: morning waiting for these guys to come down and go 554 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 3: do a show. And like Colt McCoy, who is pretty 555 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 3: approachable and not really someone that a lot of people 556 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 3: even recognize. I think in the hotel I saw him 557 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,159 Speaker 3: and I was like, I couldn't move. I was like, 558 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 3: I just for some reason, was like this is the 559 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 3: guy that I'm starstruck. 560 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 4: Flight response, I realized, away, take me somewhere I'll never expected. 561 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 2: They couldn't move. 562 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: That's how I usually close with Mark, because it goes 563 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: off in that direction. Well, a couple of ones like 564 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: I met. I interviewed name It on the red carpet 565 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: at one of the Super Bowls, and I don't even 566 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: really remember that I blacked out, but I remember going 567 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: back to the hotel room. 568 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 2: My dad was there and playing him back the audio and. 569 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: Like like seeing me, my dad was like, oh my god, 570 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: like this is Utah to my hero growing up. But 571 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: the one that kind of where I actually felt truly 572 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 1: like starstruck in a way that I was cognizant of 573 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: was the first super Bowl we got to cover together. 574 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: Was the Super Bowl forty six, which was Giants Pats two, 575 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,840 Speaker 1: And it was in Indianapolis and they had us I 576 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: think we had turned in time cards that had over 577 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: eighty hours. 578 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 2: On it that week. 579 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: They just they had us sitting in this like bullpen 580 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,439 Speaker 1: pit basically next to the NFL network set and grabbing 581 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: everybody as they came by, and Joe Montana comes right, 582 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: and if you're a person of a certain age, it's Montana. 583 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 2: He's the guy. He's always going to be the guy. 584 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: And I grew up when Montana was Montana and the 585 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: top quarterback ever. So I went up to him and 586 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: if you could find this on YouTube, actually Neil like 587 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:48,359 Speaker 1: it's a very fresh face young zoozer and I'm interviewing 588 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 1: Joe Montana asking him about Tom Brady and just being like, 589 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 1: I can't believe I'm actually doing this right now. 590 00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 2: That that one's hard to beat for me. 591 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:02,639 Speaker 5: Wait did you say that was the young zeuser? So 592 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 5: he actually gave himself the third person new nickname. 593 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 2: Even the operating on levels that that doesn't even think 594 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: we're possible. 595 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 5: I gotta hand it to you, like sometimes you just 596 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 5: gotta give it to good enough. 597 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness. 598 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 5: I think it was asking Bill Belichick a question at 599 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 5: a Super Bowl press conference in two thousand and seven 600 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 5: that because I just remember, I think I had been 601 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 5: thinking about what question can I ask to really impress 602 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 5: Bill Belichick? Like I had been reading I was He's 603 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 5: my favorite football figure and I read Education of a Coach, 604 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 5: but Halberston I had like read all the books. I'd 605 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 5: read the scouting book that his dad had written in 606 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 5: all the books, like he suggested about Paul Brown and 607 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 5: all this stuff, and I just thought, this is the 608 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 5: smartest guy ever. 609 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 2: And it was the first Super Bowl I cover. 610 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 5: I was with NBC at the time, but I was like, well, 611 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 5: at the very least, I gotta just like ask something 612 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 5: in the middle of a press conference, and my stomach 613 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 5: was just like royaling as like Brian McCarthy, the PR 614 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 5: guy for the NFL, because it was it was in 615 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 5: it was the one in the big you know, the 616 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 5: ballroom or whatever where there's fifty It was like it 617 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 5: was some stupid thing trying to compare Antonio Pearce of 618 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 5: the Giants to like his old Giants linebackers. Like I 619 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 5: was really trying to get like mister and I knew. 620 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,479 Speaker 5: I was like, well, he doesn't talk nice about his players, 621 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 5: but if you ask about the other team and it 622 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:22,959 Speaker 5: will go deep on end. 623 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 2: Well you tried. Yeah, he gave a great answer. It all, 624 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 2: it all was great. 625 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 5: But I just like when he handed me the microphones, 626 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 5: like this is going to fall out of my I 627 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 5: was just. 628 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 2: Too nervous last one. 629 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 4: Your growth has kind of coincided with the international growth 630 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 4: of the NFL all these regular seasons. 631 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 2: I know, that's not even. 632 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 5: It's all been part of our mutual friend Henry Hodson's 633 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 5: master plan. We're actually been implanted, got a great game here. 634 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 2: Yet do you think we've taken out once they don't 635 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 2: need this anymore? 636 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 4: Do you think we're living through historic times? Like if 637 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 4: you look back at, you know, on this period of 638 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 4: growth in the NFL, it feels as a real story 639 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 4: being told. 640 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: It feels like from when we join the league to 641 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: picture like where we are now. Like the the idea 642 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: of the NFL could become a global game, I think 643 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 1: is it felt like a bit of a long shot 644 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: years ago, and because it just felt like such a 645 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 1: uniquely American game that would be difficult. And you know, 646 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: the football football thing has caused some heat. I feel 647 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,120 Speaker 1: like through the years rule and it's so the fact 648 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: that the game is not only caught on it now 649 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: feels like there's like really like a really educated football 650 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: fan base. 651 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 2: People know there's stuff out here. 652 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,080 Speaker 1: It's and you see the way these stadiums fill up, 653 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: like we were talking about earlier in the show, just 654 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: how everyone gets to go to these games when they 655 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: come to London and rep their team or their favorite player. 656 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: I think it's incredible the growth, and I think the 657 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 1: fact that there's three games, I think you can make 658 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: a case where they're being more because I think there 659 00:29:58,000 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 1: is the demand for it. 660 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 4: Dan thinks he grew to internationally. I'll just show you 661 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 4: this promo and you can make up your own mind 662 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 4: because you can watch more Neil Meets because I've been 663 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 4: around some of the biggest start. 664 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 2: That's with an ellipses or colon where I. 665 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,239 Speaker 4: Just feel like there should be more punctuation on them. 666 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 2: But there's they're all on demand. 667 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 4: Neil Meets Odell Beckham, Justin Jefferson brock Purdy and Dolphin's 668 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 4: head coach Mike McDaniel. And of course now. 669 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 2: That is just my headshot. 670 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, we'll put them kind of the other two, well 671 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 4: we'll put We'll go Greg Dan and some other guy, like, 672 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 4: we'll do it that way. 673 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 3: I'm just I'm just starstrucks sitting next to Dans all right. 674 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 4: But thanks to Mark Sesler, Dan Hans as Greg Rosenthal, 675 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 4: and thank you for joining us for this special Neil 676 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 4: Meets and we'll see you next time. 677 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 2: Both now