1 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: This is the OTP presented by Far Bureau Health Plans. 2 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: When it's game day for your health coverage, trust far 3 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Bureau Health Plans to draw up a winning play for you. 4 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: They've been backing Tennesseeans for nearly eighty years. We welcome 5 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: in head coach Brian Callahan for his usual visit. Brian, 6 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: A lot of these mondays with us have been tough 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: for you, and we must just for things they have. 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: But you guys keep it, you guys enjoy it. We try. 9 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: So let me ask you a serious question. How have 10 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: you been able to keep perspective through all of this. 11 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: It's a challenge, you know, because everything is so weak 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: to week in the league and you and you feel 13 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: every loss so intensely, you know, and then they pile 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: up and there's just it just feels like it's a 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: bit of a beat down. So it is difficult to 16 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: keep the perspective. But I do have I do try 17 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: to focus on the things that one I can control 18 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 2: and two that that are positive. And so you keep 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: trying to find positives and all the experiences, keep trying 20 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 2: to build the team and messaging to the team the 21 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: way that you want it to be done. And ultimately 22 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: with an eye towards you know what's to come, and 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: you know another personnel cycle and another offseason and another year. 24 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: For me, the amount of growth I've gone through this 25 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: year has been pretty remarkable, and there's a lot of 26 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 2: things that I'll I'll continue to adapt in evolve as 27 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: I learned how to be a head coach and learned 28 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: a lot of hard lessons this year, and those are 29 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 2: the things that sort of keep me going. The challenge 30 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 2: of it is what really keeps me going. 31 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: Is the challenge of being consistent. The number one thing 32 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: you have to focus upon. 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's an emotional game. You know, there's a lot 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: of emotions that run in wins and losses. And I 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: think I've always felt like the best teams handle winning 36 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: the same way they handle losing, and I try to 37 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: be that even amidst a lot of losses this year's 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: you still try to be critical of performance and but 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: but coach and encourage and keep keep moving forward and 40 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: keep trying to get better. But those are the consistency part, 41 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: I think is something that I've had to really focus 42 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 2: on because you can get you can get lost in 43 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 2: the negativity of it all sometimes and you have to 44 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: work really hard to stay consistent when it gets really difficult. 45 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: You know, it's easy to stay consistent when it's good, sure, 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: but the you learn a lot about a lot of 47 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: about people players, about how people react to adversity when 48 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: things don't go the way you plan and and don't 49 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 2: go as well as you want them to. But the 50 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 2: consistency part is something that I work really hard at 51 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: and I think I do a decent job of it. 52 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's certainly not easy. 53 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: I appreciate Mike asking a broad philosophical question. I am 54 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 3: here to get down to brass tacks. 55 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: I guess here I am. 56 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 3: Have you decided who is going to be your quarterback 57 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 3: this Sunday? 58 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: Not yet. 59 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: I'm actually leaning towards having both of them play at 60 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 2: this point. To be honest, I'm not sure who's going 61 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: to start or who's going to play when, but preliminarily 62 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: thinking that that they both might on this week. 63 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: So yeah, we'll see from that standpoint, getting a chance 64 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: to play both guys, what do you think that gives 65 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: you in the last game and gives you headed toward 66 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: the off season. 67 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, just one more shot to play good football for 68 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: you know, Will has been on the on the bench 69 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: for two games, and Mason's done some good things, but 70 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 2: yet still haven't found a way to win the games 71 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: that he's played, and so just give him one more 72 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: chance to go out and play good football and see 73 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: if see if they can improve on their performance. Ultimately, 74 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 2: that's what we're looking for, is to find a way 75 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: to win. We haven't won a lot of games and 76 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 2: need to need to try to finish strong. 77 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: As it pertains to injuries, are there any injured players 78 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 3: that you're already ready to say they're not going to 79 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 3: be playing on Sunday. 80 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: I think it'll be hard for for Taji to clear 81 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: the protocol fast enough to play Sunday. I'm not going 82 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 2: to rule him out or by any means, but you know, 83 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: concussions generally, it's generally a one game miss for the 84 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: most part over a history, so I'm not counting on 85 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: him being able to make it. Everybody else has a chance, 86 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 2: and we'll see as the as the week pushes forward, 87 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: some of the guys that missed this last week might 88 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: have a chance to get back and play, So we'll see. 89 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 2: I'm optimistic about a lot of them, but you never 90 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: you never really know until you get out to practice 91 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: by Wednesday, so too early to tell officially, but but 92 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: optimistic on a couple of guys. 93 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: Let's get back. Goes back up to Taj just a second. 94 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: He showed something different in the game at Jacksonville. He 95 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: showed he has the ability to be a lead back. 96 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 2: Right he certainly did. He was a really impressive performance. 97 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: You know, I think the the the tough part of 98 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: it was I think he took a five yard loss 99 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: in that last carry that knocked him off his hundred 100 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 2: one hundred. So but yeah, he he performed fantastic. I mean, 101 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 2: he looked explosive, He ran hard, he ran strong, he 102 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 2: was physical, protected the ball great, put the ball in 103 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: the right spots in the in the run game, and 104 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: you know, we run for almost one hundred and sixty 105 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: yards or whatever it was, and he was a large 106 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: part of that. So a really impressive performance and then 107 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: a bummer that that he couldn't finish it out because 108 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: I thought he would have, you know, would have been 109 00:04:58,000 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: a banner day for him on top of what he 110 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: are he had so good to see for him. He's 111 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: played really good football for us for the last month 112 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: and that's really been positive. 113 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 3: As we turn to the Houston Texans, we know that 114 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 3: their playoff position is locked in, but we don't exactly 115 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 3: know how much their starters are going to be playing 116 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 3: on Sunday. Does that mean that for you, on both 117 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 3: offense and defense, you have to have a pretty fluid 118 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 3: game plan. 119 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 2: I think you just you prepare like they're all gonna play, 120 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: and then you just adjust from there. You know, that's 121 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: that suits you. The The gist of it for us 122 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 2: is that all their best players are gonna play, and 123 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: if they don't, they don't. You know, I think they 124 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 2: they've last played on Wednesday. It's a long layoff between 125 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: there and the first playoff game for them. So you know, 126 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: I'm not I'm not in their building. I don't coach 127 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 2: the football team, but I do think that my perspective 128 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: would be, you'd want some guys to play a little bit, 129 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: you know, just to keep keep your keep your skills sharp, 130 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 2: and get yourself ready to go to for the playoffs. 131 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: And so we'll see, and I just will plan on 132 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: like they're all gonna play, and if they don't, they don't. 133 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: Well, And they've got some guys too, like mixing seven 134 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: yards short of a thousand yards rushing. Collins is thirty 135 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: two yards short of a thousand yards receiving, and those 136 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: things matter too, very much, so for personal goals in 137 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: some cases contractual goals as well. 138 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, those are all parts of the process. I mean, 139 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 2: those are things that guys are aware of. It means 140 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 2: something to them. They're they're very significant statistical markers that 141 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 2: guys want to hit. 142 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, they're there. 143 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: I'm sure those guys are going to try to get 144 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 2: what they need, just like you know, we want Calvin 145 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: to get a thousand yards. You know, those are all 146 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: things that we want guys to be able to achieve 147 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: and give them the opportunity. 148 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 4: To do it. 149 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 3: You beat the Texans in the first game in Houston. 150 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 3: What are some things from that contest that you want 151 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 3: to replicate here on Sunday. 152 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: I think the way our defense played and the way 153 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 2: they covered it was really an impressive performance. I'd like 154 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: to see that again. I thought we rushed the quarterback 155 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: pretty good in that game as well. I think we 156 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 2: put cgen or some duress. Offensively, we generated some explosive plays, 157 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: like to do that again, but I thought we protected 158 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: well against a pretty good rush group. So I'd like 159 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: to see that continue. They got good players on the edges, 160 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 2: they got a good interior rush, they can they got 161 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 2: a good scheme. So it's a good challenge for us, 162 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: a good way to finish the season. All right, let's 163 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: wrap up with this Pro Bowl comes out on Thursday. 164 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: Who are some of your Tennessee Titans that you think 165 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: have had Pro Bowl worthy seasons in twenty twenty four. Yeah, 166 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 2: I think Jeff certainly has. He's still one of the 167 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: most disruptive interior players in football. Plays the run in 168 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 2: the pass equally well. He doesn't maybe have the sack 169 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: production that some of these interior guys have, but as 170 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: far as impact on our team, he's one of them. 171 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: I think Mamani Hooker's played really well. I think he 172 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: should deserve to be in the conversation with some of 173 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 2: the safeties run the league. His ball production has been 174 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: really good. I think also Luke Gifford as a special 175 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: teams player is Pro Bowl worthy. I think he's a 176 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: fantastic special teams player on top of the fact that 177 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 2: he's filled in very well for us at linebacker, but 178 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: as a special teams player, he's fantastic. And then the 179 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: guy that I think is really underrated is Pete Skronsky. 180 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: I think Pete's put together a really, really nice season. 181 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 2: I put him up against any of the Pro Bowl 182 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 2: guards right now. I think he's been fantastic, particularly the 183 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: last half of the year. He's been lights out. I mean, 184 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: he's really playing good football. So those are the guys 185 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: I think are the ones. Tony Pollard probably belongs in 186 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: the discussion. Although it's a crowded discussion for running back 187 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: right now, but I think Tony Pollard should be at 188 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: least discussed amongst some of the better backs in football. 189 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: So yeah, I think those are those are probably the 190 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: guys that earned the recognition. Again, receivers are crowded. There's 191 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: a lot of receivers that are really productive. But I 192 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: think Calvin's played really well for us too. Whether or 193 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 2: not that where it's a Pro Bowl not or not, 194 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: I don't know. I just appreciate how he's played. But yeah, there, 195 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 2: I think that we've got a couple of guys that 196 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: should be at least in the conversation for some of 197 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: those spots. 198 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: Hard to believe it's the last one. 199 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: It really is, It really is. It's hard to believe. 200 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 2: It's almost some coming up on a year. I know, 201 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 2: just the amount of things that have gone on and 202 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: the work and the ups and downs and all the 203 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 2: things that happened in your first year. It's, you know, 204 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 2: first year sort of coming to a close, and now 205 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 2: you reflect and get better and go attack the second year. 206 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: You know, Ryan Callahan, we always appreciate you. 207 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 208 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: Coming up next, Mike Pereira, Fox's Rules Analyst. He is 209 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: after the break. 210 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 3: Stay with us, Hey Titans fans With a Kroger Boost membership, 211 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 3: You'll score big with double fuel points, free delivery, and 212 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 3: lots more. Go to Kroger dot com slash boost for details. 213 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 3: Kroger official grocer of the Tennessee Titans. 214 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: Tighten Up Holm is at the forefront of all that 215 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: we do. It's why we're so committed to caring for 216 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: the places and spaces in which we work and live. 217 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 1: Ashley the official furniture provider of the Tennessee Titans, now 218 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 1: joined by Fox's Rules Analyst, who was the NFL's Vice 219 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: President of Officiating from two thousand and four through twenty ten. 220 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: You know him, Mike Pereira, Welcome. 221 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 5: You know you keep saying those years two thousand and four. Man, 222 00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 5: I just feel myself getting so much older. God seems 223 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 5: like forever. I'm great. I'm absolutely great. Happy Holidays, stall Well. 224 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: I interviewed you the year you got the job. You 225 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: and I did a long phone interview in two thousand 226 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: and four for Titans Radio the year you got the job, 227 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: and you were explaining what the job was really it 228 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: was great. 229 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 4: Wow, great coach Mack maybe with us. 230 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: Coach Mack was on the staff at that point. 231 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, Oh, he was still on the staff, Mike. 232 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: That was Coach Mack's first year on the staff for 233 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: Jeff Fisher, as he replaced Gunther Cunningham. Wow. Who went 234 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: back to Kansas City, the late great Gunther Cunningham. 235 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 4: Wow. 236 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: All right, So two topics to begin with, and these 237 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: neither has anything to do with your job now, except 238 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: that you missed last season after you had some serious 239 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,319 Speaker 1: back issues. You had some back surgery. So it would 240 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: be poor of me, poor form to not ask you, 241 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: Mike Pereira, how you do it. 242 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 5: I got my life back thanks to a surgeon at 243 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 5: uc SF in San Francisco, a doctor Sigurd Boervin, who 244 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 5: somebody recommended to me. I was done I was cooked. 245 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 5: I couldn't walk, I couldn't get out of bed. Basically 246 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 5: when I could, I was on a walker and my 247 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 5: life was over as I knew it. I mean, it 248 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 5: really was. And when you feel that way, when you're 249 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 5: active like we are, some of the thoughts that go 250 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:35,319 Speaker 5: through your head are not good ones, but they almost 251 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 5: it's almost assuredly they're going to appear. And I went 252 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 5: through the surgery I had. I was fused on seven 253 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 5: different levels in my back. I have more metal than spine. 254 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 4: In my back. 255 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 5: And three months three months after I had the surgery, 256 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 5: which was approximately on November one, twenty twenty three, at 257 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 5: eight thirty in the morning, three months after, I was 258 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 5: walking a mile and now I walk two to three miles. 259 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 4: And I can do. 260 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 5: Everything I used to do, except I can't tie my 261 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 5: damn shoes. 262 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 4: I can't. 263 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 5: I can't bend over that far. And when it comes 264 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 5: to putting out stop putting on socks. I have a 265 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 5: little contraption that I have to put my sock over 266 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 5: and then pull them up with straps. 267 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 4: But I'm the luckiest man in the world. 268 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: That's great. 269 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 5: I'm a football person. I divide my life into quarters. First, second, third, 270 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 5: and fourth, and the fourth quarter starts over an age 271 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 5: span of one hundred starts at age seventy five. And 272 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 5: I'm headed into the fourth quarter now, and I've been 273 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 5: given a second chance, and I'm just the luckiest guy 274 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 5: in the world. 275 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 3: That's great, that's so good to hear. Well, my topic 276 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 3: that we need to cover is a little more goofy. 277 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: It's kind of silly, but in the season opener, you 278 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 3: were trending all of cross social media. You were everywhere 279 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 3: because you left Tom Brady hanging giving him a fist bump, 280 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 3: and I'm gonna leave you hanging. 281 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 1: Ry, Oh, come on you and Tom. 282 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 3: Brady ended your alleged feude. 283 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, are you still fighting? 284 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 4: You know the. 285 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 5: Funny part of that thing. Of course you don't realize 286 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 5: it when it's happened. But the thing is the setup 287 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 5: that I have in the booth. I have to reach 288 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 5: down and push a button to talk. So just when 289 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 5: Kevin Burkhart was kind of introducing me, I didn't think 290 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 5: I was gonna say anything. I think it was just 291 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 5: just gonna be a shot of us. And then he 292 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 5: made a reference to me and I had to say something. 293 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 5: So just as Tom stuck his hand out. I looked 294 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 5: down to my button to push my dang button so 295 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 5: that I could talk, and of course it came. It 296 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 5: looked like the ultimate rejection for Tom. And then of 297 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 5: course they showed videos of him on the sideline at 298 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 5: a different time to getting ignored by something. So then 299 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 5: the following week Ian Blantino was in my spot, and 300 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 5: then they made a concerted effort to fist bump and 301 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 5: make it look perfect, which made me look even worse. 302 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:12,719 Speaker 5: But yes, Tom and I have we have made up, 303 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 5: and we have spent a lot of time together since then, 304 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 5: and yet we have not found an occasion to fist bump, 305 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 5: And maybe we will this this coming week seventeen or 306 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 5: into week eighteen. But it's actually been a pleasure to 307 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 5: be standing next to him during the course of games. 308 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: A potential Christmas miracle. We'll see the fish pump, all right. 309 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: So let's talk officiating. My prayer, is there a real 310 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: movement afoot to finally change the pass interference penalty on 311 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: the defense from a spot foul to a fifteen yard penalty. 312 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 5: I so wish, Mike that I could say that there is, 313 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 5: But there isn't. I mean, the Competition Committee is definitely 314 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 5: afraid of taking away the deep vertical path, and I 315 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 5: am definitely afraid of the same thing that I saw 316 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 5: when I worked in the league office and ran the 317 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 5: officiating program, and those were forty fifty yards incorrect calls 318 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 5: that were made. They gave fifty yards chunk yards to 319 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 5: a team that didn't deserve it. And I would argue 320 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 5: with the competition committee that much like we do in 321 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 5: the spring leagues now, where we use the college rule. 322 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 5: You know, they always say to me, well, if a 323 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 5: defender gets beat, then he's just going to reach out 324 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 5: and tackle a guy. And I say, do you watch 325 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 5: college football. If they're close enough to commit pass interference, 326 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 5: they're trying to make the play. That's not true. They 327 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 5: don't just tackle people. And I even conceded to changing. 328 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 4: The rule to say, if it is. 329 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 5: An intentional act of just tackling a guy and not 330 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 5: making any type of play, then we could make that 331 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 5: one a spot foul. But no, I don't see it 332 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,720 Speaker 5: on the horizon. I don't see it on my time. 333 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 5: Anytime they've tried I did do anything with pass interference, 334 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 5: including making it reviewable in replay, it's failed. And so 335 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 5: I just don't see that they have that appetite, even 336 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 5: though I sure wish. 337 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 3: They would my PRAYERRA twenty twenty four has been the 338 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 3: year of the dynamic kickoff. Do you think it's still 339 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 3: too early to call that change to the kickoff a success? 340 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: That is a permanent fixture in NFL football. 341 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 5: I'm not too early to call it a success. 342 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 4: Now. 343 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 5: I think that it will change, I think, but the 344 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 5: changes will be tweaked. Look, what were the two reasons 345 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 5: that they were looking for? The two results they were 346 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 5: looking for less concussions and more returns. There are less concussions, 347 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 5: although we haven't seen that final data. From what we've 348 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 5: seen so far, that's certainly a positive. What about the 349 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 5: number of returns, well, they've gone from nineteen percent to 350 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 5: thirty two percent. What about the average drive start? It's 351 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 5: actually gone to twenty nine point five? Is the is 352 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 5: the average yards where you know the offense takes over 353 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 5: the ball. 354 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 4: So I believe, although. 355 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 5: This is a temporary rule and has to be voted positively, 356 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 5: it has to be a positive vote by twenty four 357 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 5: of the thirty two owners, I believe it will pass again, 358 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:26,360 Speaker 5: and maybe if it kind of copies how instant replay went. 359 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 5: They might say two years next time and make it 360 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 5: a temporary. 361 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 4: Two year rule. But what tweaks will they look at. 362 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 5: I don't think they're quite satisfied with thirty two percent returns. 363 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 5: I think they want to see more along the forty 364 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 5: four to forty five percent returns. So what's the easiest 365 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 5: way to do that. Well, maybe back up the kickoff 366 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 5: so you kick off from five yards further downfield. But 367 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 5: I think the main one would be take touchbacks. If 368 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 5: a ball's kicked into the end zone and doesn't bounce 369 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,959 Speaker 5: into the end zone. If it's kicked into the end 370 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 5: zone right now, it goes to the thirty I think 371 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 5: they're more wise to move it to the thirty five 372 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 5: because now you're a total of six yards over the 373 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 5: average drive start, and there's more incentive to keep a 374 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 5: team from kicking it into the end zone. Look, the 375 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,239 Speaker 5: touchback last year was the twenty five yard line, this 376 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 5: year it's the thirty. Team said I'll give up the 377 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 5: extra five. That's not that big of a deal. Extra 378 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 5: ten that's a little bit more big of a deal. 379 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 5: So I kind of predict that we will see the 380 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 5: rule passing in maybe for another one of two years 381 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 5: with the touchback going to the thirty five yard line, 382 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,439 Speaker 5: and if they do that, I do think will be 383 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 5: I think this rule will be around for quite a while. 384 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: Hey, Titans fan, seat geek makes it easy to find 385 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: tickets so you can be a part of all the 386 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: touchdown celebrations this season. 387 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 3: Whether you're buying or selling football tickets, seat geek is 388 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 3: the place to do it. Seat Geek is the official 389 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 3: primary ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titan. 390 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 1: The most disruptive idea in ticketing ticket that works expect 391 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: the expected. See geek. 392 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 3: C K. 393 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: Made a rookie mistake this football season, Maybe you should 394 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: have had snickers because now. 395 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 3: You can enter for the chance to turn those rookie 396 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 3: mistakes into prizes, including a trip to Super Bowl fifty nine. 397 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: Visit snickers dot com slash Rookie Mistakes for details. Mike. 398 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: In twenty twenty four, we have noticed the impact of 399 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,959 Speaker 1: replay assist very consistently. In your opinion, is that a 400 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: positive or a negative for NFL officials? 401 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 5: Well, there might's the main question who's at the benefit 402 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 5: for Is the benefit for the game or is the 403 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 5: be benefit for the officials. I think the benefit is 404 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 5: there for the game those of us that watch the game, 405 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,199 Speaker 5: we have less stoppages that take two or two and 406 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 5: a half minutes. That's the benefit. Is it good for 407 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 5: the officials, that's a different story. You know, I'm not 408 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 5: popular within the ranks sometimes when I say that I 409 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,199 Speaker 5: don't think officiating is as good as it used to be. 410 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 5: Officials don't like to hear that. But the fact is, 411 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 5: technology controls the game at this point. You know, back 412 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 5: when I officiated, which was a long time ago, so 413 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 5: we're talking about ninety six and ninety seven, you know, 414 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 5: we were responsible to run the game. I mean, if 415 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 5: you threw a pass interference flag, you had to determine. 416 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 4: Even though you weren't absolutely certain. 417 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 5: And you were ways away, you have to you had 418 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 5: to determine where the spot of the fowl was. If 419 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 5: there was a runner that went out of bounds, you 420 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 5: had determined whether to determine whether or not he was 421 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,120 Speaker 5: at the thirty seven or the thirty eight yard line. 422 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 5: And grant you, you weren't always accurate. But now you know, 423 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 5: the big guy comes in. You know, you call pass 424 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 5: interference and the next thing you know, in your ear 425 00:20:57,760 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 5: you hear. 426 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 4: Put the ball at the two four yard. 427 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 5: Okay, whatever you want me to do, I'll put it there. 428 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 5: Guy runs out of bounds, you put him at the 429 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 5: thirty seven. Put the ball at the thirty eight and 430 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 5: a half. They've taken officiating out of the hands of 431 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 5: the officials, which in my opinion, has done two things. 432 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 5: Made him a little tentative waiting for input and also 433 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 5: protected some officials who are maybe struggling because they're changing 434 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:29,879 Speaker 5: calls that are on the field. 435 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 4: But if we look, if we look at. 436 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 5: The grand plane and what we want, I mean, are 437 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 5: more calls being accurately made in the field, Yes, And 438 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 5: is the game flow a little better with expedited review 439 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 5: or assist yes. So we're not going to see it 440 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,479 Speaker 5: going backwards. As a matter of fact, we'll see it 441 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 5: going forward. You will see more activity in the way 442 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 5: of correcting. For example, the the rule of the year 443 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 5: face mask violations that they'll certainly, in my mind, will 444 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 5: now have face mask calls reviewed. So if they're not 445 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 5: face mask then they can take them off. If they're 446 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 5: not hits on defensives receivers, they can take them off. 447 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 5: People say, well, that's not the problem. The problem is 448 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 5: if they're not called, that's the bigger problem. But if 449 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 5: you actually tell the officials, if you say to the 450 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 5: officials win in doubt, go ahead and throw it because 451 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,879 Speaker 5: replay can pick it up, then you're going to get 452 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 5: these ones that aren't called that maybe they didn't have 453 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 5: a great look at Maybe then they will call them, 454 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,959 Speaker 5: and then, like I said, if if they're not, then 455 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 5: they can be taken off. Look, I'm a proponent of 456 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 5: the sky judge. I'm a proponent of letting an official 457 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 5: be in a booth with a second look at every 458 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 5: play and let him correct it as. 459 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 4: Knee to be. 460 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 5: We're getting close to there. We just don't call it 461 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 5: a sky judge. But you know, with the technology, with 462 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 5: the importance of the games, with the gambling, it's more 463 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 5: important that we get as much as we can get right, 464 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 5: even though it is absolutely impossible to get everything right. 465 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 3: Okay, so you brought up the sky judge, and I 466 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 3: would love it if you could clarify this for me. 467 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 3: What is the difference between what the league is doing 468 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 3: now with replay assist and what a sky judge would do. 469 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 3: Is it just that it's a person on site in 470 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:40,400 Speaker 3: the building. Is that the difference? 471 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 4: Well, let's see. 472 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 5: You've gotten now replay can use expedited review with the 473 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,360 Speaker 5: or assist with the replay person that's in the studio. 474 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 5: Then New York is the next level, and they make 475 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 5: all the big decisions on the reversals, the challenges, the 476 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 5: confirmations of changes of possessions or score. But you know, Amy, 477 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,880 Speaker 5: it's getting close, It really is getting close. But they'll 478 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 5: never call it the sky Judge because you know, the 479 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 5: Spring Leagues called it a sky judge. So they don't 480 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 5: want to, like, they want their own term, you know, 481 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 5: if it, if it comes to if they're gonna they're gonna. 482 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:15,960 Speaker 4: Call it the Master Referee or. 483 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 5: Something like that, and they'll have them, they'll have them 484 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 5: wearing you know, striped shirts inside the booth, in the 485 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 5: in the press box. But it is, it is inching closer. 486 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 5: And you know, I'm I'm a purist. I mean, I 487 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 5: love the game. I love every aspect of the game 488 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 5: pretty much. And I always loved it because it was 489 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 5: a human game. It was a violent game. It was 490 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 5: a game where you know, humans played it. I mean 491 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 5: humans coached it. Humans made decisions, humans fumbled, humans through 492 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 5: incomplete passes. Coaches call bad plays and officials made incorrect calls, 493 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 5: and so the problem is the only the expectation of 494 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 5: perfection is for the officials who have the hardest job 495 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,680 Speaker 5: of maybe all of them, because it's a mental job, 496 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 5: not a physical job. And we always forget about the 497 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 5: fact that when we all watch it, when the three 498 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 5: of us watch it, you know what, we're watching it 499 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 5: mostly in slow motion. When they replay things and from 500 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 5: above looking down, I mean, they're on the same level. 501 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 5: They're looking through twenty two bodies and they just don't 502 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 5: get the look that we do. So replays good for 503 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 5: the game, but kind of deemphasizes the importance to me 504 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 5: of the officials job. 505 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 1: All right, Mike Prayri, you got to help me with something. 506 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 4: I'm here to help you. 507 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: I've God bless you because here's I Here's what I 508 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:52,439 Speaker 1: got is the whole offensive tackle isn't lined up on 509 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: the line of scrimage. He's lined up in the backfield. 510 00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: Thing really that big a deal, to the point that 511 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: it's been started that people have started calling it so 512 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,680 Speaker 1: much here late in the season. 513 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 5: Well, first of all, first of all, this is a 514 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 5: hard one to help. First of all, officials are doing 515 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 5: what they're told to do. They get the flat, but 516 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 5: they're told to do it by their leadership, by the 517 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 5: competition committee. Whatever does it create that much of an 518 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 5: advantage for the player that's lined up a little deep? 519 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 5: Maybe a little bit, But ultimately, what are they also 520 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:37,399 Speaker 5: trying to do? What are they trying to do in 521 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 5: this game? What's the what's w's the one person on 522 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 5: the field that they're mostly trying to protect, the quarterback. 523 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 5: So a little bit of you know, worrying about the 524 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 5: tackles being lined up a little bit off the line 525 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,520 Speaker 5: of scrimmage, Well, they need to do that to protect 526 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,919 Speaker 5: that quarterback that they're trying to protect. So to me, 527 00:26:56,760 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 5: it's making it's making a bigger deal out of it 528 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 5: than they need to make. But I think, you know, 529 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 5: help me with this one. Okay, if you can understand 530 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 5: this statement from me, we no longer officiate the game 531 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 5: as artists. We officiated as scientists. And here's what I 532 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 5: mean by that. I think we have a tendency to 533 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 5: over officiate the game. Back in my day and back 534 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:35,919 Speaker 5: in the days before me, it was about advantage disadvantage, right, 535 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 5: and if something didn't create an advantage and it wasn't 536 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 5: safety related, you don't call it. But where they are now, 537 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:52,159 Speaker 5: where they are with officials, if you don't call things 538 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 5: that they think need to be called, you get a downgrade. 539 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 5: And if you get a downgrade, that affects your chances 540 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:02,119 Speaker 5: of making the playoffs. If you get three or four downgrades, 541 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 5: it affects your chances from, you know, working a championship game. 542 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 5: I mean, if you get two, you probably eliminate your 543 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 5: chances from working the Super Bowl. So you're calling things 544 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:18,400 Speaker 5: just because they feel like they should be called, even 545 00:28:18,440 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 5: though they don't understand that what they're downgrading people for 546 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 5: doesn't have an effect. For example, for example, at the 547 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 5: end of a game a week ago or two weeks ago, 548 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 5: they downgraded official an official for not calling an illegal 549 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 5: formation with twenty one seconds to go in the fourth 550 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:36,560 Speaker 5: quarter of a three score game. 551 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 4: You want that called? 552 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 5: No, you want that interruption, you know, when it absolutely 553 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 5: has no impact of the game. The artistry in the 554 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 5: game of officiating has pretty much left the scene, and 555 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 5: that's what concerns me a little bit. It's not for 556 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 5: the good of the game. It's for the competition. It's 557 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 5: for the competition of the officials. Moving on and even 558 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 5: staying employed, and I just think they need to be 559 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 5: less a part of the game than more part of 560 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 5: the game. And all my guys hate me for saying that, 561 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 5: but that's okay. 562 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 3: Well, similarly, the hip drop tackle was a point of 563 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 3: emphasis going into this season, but it doesn't seem as 564 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 3: though it's being called very often. Does that mean that 565 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 3: the plan worked and players knew it was being emphasized 566 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 3: and so they stopped doing it, or is it just 567 00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 3: too hard to judge when that's happening and officials aren't 568 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 3: inserting themselves like you've said. 569 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, Amy, they did say they did to all 570 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:38,600 Speaker 5: the clubs look for it. 571 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 4: Don't look forward to be called. 572 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,719 Speaker 5: And that's the same thing that happened with the illegal 573 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 5: use of the helmet contact. Very difficult to call, and 574 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 5: so they said the players, and they said that the coaches, 575 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 5: and they said the ownership. Look, this is really hard 576 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 5: to call, and so we're not expecting the officials to 577 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 5: call it. But you can expect the letter from the lead, 578 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 5: which is going to take some money from you. So 579 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 5: that's the way. And I felt less strongly about that. 580 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 5: I felt like you could call illegal use of helmet 581 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 5: the hip drop. I was more concerned about. And that's 582 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 5: why I said, if you're going to put these types 583 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 5: of rules in that you say are so difficult to call, 584 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 5: then make them reviewable. I mean, why would we not 585 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 5: do that because you're basically given a free chunk to 586 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 5: a team that should have gotten it for the foul 587 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 5: and so have they followed the letter of the law. 588 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 5: Have the officials called it? Well, we guess what. We 589 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 5: got to week sixteen and we got our first one. 590 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 5: We got our first one that was called on the field. 591 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:45,479 Speaker 1: It was wrong. 592 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 4: It wasn't a hip drop tackle. 593 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 5: So we're er for one on the field when we're 594 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 5: trying to call the hip drop. 595 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 4: Why was it wrong. 596 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 5: Because he didn't elevate, He didn't elevate, his body hit 597 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 5: the ground, and then the legs didn't get all the 598 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,800 Speaker 5: way over on the onto the ankles of the runner. 599 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 4: Good God, it's a complicated one. 600 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,280 Speaker 5: That might be the most complicated call that the officials 601 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 5: would have to have to make. So I think, you know, certainly, 602 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 5: I don't expect to see one in week seventeen or eighteen, 603 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 5: and I don't expect to see one in the playoffs. 604 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 5: But it's I'm always a bit amused when you put 605 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 5: in rules that you know can't really be officiated, but 606 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 5: that is player safety, and there have been a number 607 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 5: of injuries. 608 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 4: So I understand that, Mike. 609 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: What is the most important issue or issues that you 610 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: think the NFL officiating office is going to have to 611 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: deal with in this upcoming offseason. 612 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 4: I think it's going to revolve around replay. 613 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 5: I mean I really, I really feel that, and how 614 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 5: much more they're going to get involved with picking up 615 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 5: flags on the field. Look, they did a couple of 616 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 5: things last year already. They said if rupping the passer 617 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 5: is called for a hit to the head or neck area, 618 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 5: if there is no contact to the head or neck area, 619 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 5: then replay can. 620 00:32:06,240 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 4: Take it all. 621 00:32:07,400 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 5: If they throw a flag for intentional grounding because of 622 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 5: the fact that the quarterback got out of the pocket 623 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 5: and didn't get the ball back to the line of scrimmage, 624 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 5: they can go back and put him in the pocket 625 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 5: if he was indeed in the pocket. So they've made 626 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 5: these strides, which I guess are okay, But I have 627 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 5: a couple of issues in regards to that. Number One, 628 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 5: they're using a different standard to me when it comes 629 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 5: to like and this is going to be it hits 630 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 5: on defenseless players. If they said we can pick it 631 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 5: up if there's no head contact to the head or 632 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 5: neck area, they won't pick it up. If there is 633 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 5: any contact, even ever so slight to the head or 634 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:51,800 Speaker 5: neck area, they. 635 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 4: Won't pick it up. 636 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 5: They won't make that additional judgment as to whether it's 637 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 5: forcible or not. And so that to me is, look, 638 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 5: if you're going to make get reviewable. If there's not 639 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 5: forcible contact, then take it off. If it's just a 640 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,800 Speaker 5: glancing blow with a hand, it's not consistent with what 641 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 5: you want called on the field. If you look at 642 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,640 Speaker 5: it and say you're going to tell the referee, okay, 643 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 5: look at I don't want that call that's incorrect even 644 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 5: though there is slight contact, and make it incorrect with replay, 645 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 5: and then the other thing that's going to happen. I 646 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,600 Speaker 5: do think that in some ways it's going to open 647 00:33:24,680 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 5: up Pandora's box, as I stated earlier, where if you 648 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 5: let the officials know that their call is subject to 649 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 5: being picked up, they'll have more of a tendency to 650 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,200 Speaker 5: call it. So let's just take face mask. So if 651 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 5: they call a face mask, and then the league says 652 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,680 Speaker 5: we'll pick it up. If there's absolutely no contact. Then 653 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 5: if there is the slightest of grab that you wouldn't 654 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 5: have wanted call before, then you know, then they wouldn't 655 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 5: take it off. 656 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 4: So I would hope. 657 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 5: They would get to the standard of it is or 658 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 5: isn't a foul period and make that decision based on that. 659 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 5: And I also think that if there are some that 660 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 5: are so obviously misspace mask Sam Darnold, Joe Burrow, if 661 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 5: it's if it's so clear and so obvious and it's 662 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 5: player safety related, and the officials looking through twenty two 663 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,920 Speaker 5: people didn't get a look, and let them put it on. 664 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:22,680 Speaker 5: I mean, let it put them on. I mean we're 665 00:34:22,719 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 5: headed that direction anyways. And so lastly to me, and 666 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 5: this was my gift when I left in twenty ten, 667 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:36,359 Speaker 5: I said, make all seventeen referees full time, make them 668 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 5: full time, Make them report to their officiating place. Maybe 669 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,240 Speaker 5: put it somewhere in the middle of the country, like Dallas, 670 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 5: and they go there every week during the season. 671 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,720 Speaker 4: They work together, They develop. 672 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 5: The same messages, they teach the same messages to their crew. 673 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:59,319 Speaker 5: They role play, they learn what to say, what the 674 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 5: signals are. They do everything together, they participate with the 675 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 5: Head of Officiating, they participate with the competition Committee. Two 676 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,719 Speaker 5: of them each year are assigned to the Titans, and 677 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:15,879 Speaker 5: they come to the Titans mini camps everything, they're with them. Now, 678 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 5: you don't let them work a Titans game. I just 679 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 5: think that you have one hundred and twenty smid officials 680 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:24,800 Speaker 5: being taught by a very limited number of people. And 681 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 5: to me, the referees are the most important because they 682 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 5: teach their own crews, and so I would love to 683 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 5: see him bite the bullet, spend the money and get 684 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 5: more consistent messages to all one hundred and twenty officials. 685 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 5: And you know the league, and I don't like to 686 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 5: criticize them because often they don't deserve to be criticized 687 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 5: and are. But the league has had as a tendency 688 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:57,400 Speaker 5: to try to make things better by putting band aids on, 689 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 5: and band aids usually and when a rule change its 690 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:06,000 Speaker 5: reaction to something that happened. I think they just need 691 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:08,720 Speaker 5: to take a big step now because the game's getting 692 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 5: tougher to officiate. And I'm not for making one hundred 693 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 5: and twenty one guys or one hundred and twenty one 694 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 5: guys and girls full time, but I am for the 695 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:21,799 Speaker 5: seventeen referees because I do think that will have a 696 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 5: positive effect. 697 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:27,040 Speaker 3: Now you mentioned all of these officials that are involved, 698 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,040 Speaker 3: we also know that there's a shortage of officials in 699 00:36:30,120 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 3: high school and college who are coming up the ranks. 700 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 3: What are you and others doing to try and encourage 701 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 3: more men and women to get involved in the career 702 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:41,879 Speaker 3: of officiating. 703 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 4: Well, we're trying to get parents to shut up. 704 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:50,359 Speaker 5: I mean, just to be absolutely candid, because all new 705 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:54,640 Speaker 5: officials start at the youth level, and the sportsmanship is 706 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:59,399 Speaker 5: the youth level is as bad or worse than any 707 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 5: other play. You know, they're not competent, they're just starting 708 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 5: out and you got parents yelling at them, and so. 709 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 4: What do they do? Quit? It's not worth it. 710 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 5: It's not worth it for the money that they make 711 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 5: on the youth level or the high school level, or 712 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:15,719 Speaker 5: in fact even the college level. 713 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 4: But that's a different story. 714 00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 5: But the shortage, as you said, Amy, it's it's unbelievable. 715 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:26,400 Speaker 5: I mean, and it's just pretty much every sport and 716 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 5: it's every state, and the only people who are going 717 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 5: to make it better are the officials themselves. I mean, 718 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:38,239 Speaker 5: they have to actually, I mean they care about each other. 719 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,879 Speaker 5: They have to go about trying to find a way 720 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:44,479 Speaker 5: to get more people involved. And every time I speak 721 00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:48,400 Speaker 5: to groups, I tell them that that nobody, no athletic director, 722 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,799 Speaker 5: no coach, no mayor of a city's going to do 723 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 5: anything for you. You have to care about officiating. You 724 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 5: have to try to leave it better than it was 725 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 5: when you first got into it. And there are ways, 726 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 5: you know. I started a foundation in twenty sixteen called 727 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:09,040 Speaker 5: Battlefields to ball Fields, and we give scholarships to veterans 728 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:13,399 Speaker 5: to become sports officials in their communities. We've got officials 729 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 5: in our program from Tennessee. We pay for their uniforms, 730 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:21,080 Speaker 5: we pay all their expenses, and we now have issued 731 00:38:21,120 --> 00:38:24,960 Speaker 5: over fifteen hundred scholarships in thirty eight different states. It's 732 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 5: not much, I mean, that's only fifteen hundred, But if 733 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,359 Speaker 5: we could all of us that are in this avocation 734 00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:37,880 Speaker 5: for most people it's an avocation, if we could step 735 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 5: up and figure ways to do things like that to 736 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:45,399 Speaker 5: overall help our program and ours has been kind of successful. 737 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:50,919 Speaker 5: And the success is retention, quite frankly, if you get 738 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:54,320 Speaker 5: them staying involved. And part of my thing was because 739 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:57,080 Speaker 5: Number one I don't feel that we do enough for 740 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:57,880 Speaker 5: our veterans. 741 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,480 Speaker 4: Number two, I don't. 742 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 5: Think they're going to be bothered that much by those 743 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 5: parents that are yelling at I mean, they went they 744 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,040 Speaker 5: went through Uh, they were a lot more. 745 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:10,400 Speaker 4: But it is dire situations. 746 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:13,880 Speaker 5: Yet, I will tell you, if you have the guts 747 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:17,920 Speaker 5: to take on something that's so difficult, that's hard to 748 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 5: put your butts on the line, if you make it 749 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:25,120 Speaker 5: for three years, you develop lifelong friendships, a group of 750 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:29,000 Speaker 5: people that share the same frustrations that you have. And 751 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:33,239 Speaker 5: I'm telling you all of my good friends, including the 752 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:38,440 Speaker 5: best man at my wedding there they're officials, and so 753 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:42,840 Speaker 5: I hope things get better because it's the kids that 754 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 5: are suffering. 755 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,879 Speaker 1: Mike Pereira, thank you so much for the time. We've 756 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: kept you too long, but so much fun to catch 757 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:49,719 Speaker 1: up with you. 758 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:51,359 Speaker 4: Was prepared to go another half hour. 759 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,680 Speaker 1: A mean, I'll just head out New Year's Eve, that'd 760 00:39:59,719 --> 00:40:02,399 Speaker 1: be great. Thank you so much for your time, and 761 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 1: we are so glad that you are doing well. When 762 00:40:06,320 --> 00:40:09,640 Speaker 1: we read everything last year, we were worried. We talked 763 00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: to Coach Mack about it and he kept us posted 764 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:16,359 Speaker 1: and it's just it's not the same without you. I mean, 765 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:19,239 Speaker 1: you are the original in this field. And when Mike 766 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 1: Pereira says it, it is so. It is so. We 767 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 1: all listen. Now, we know you have problems with Tom 768 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: Brady and we hope that clears up, but. 769 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:35,279 Speaker 5: Well listen, it's a pleasure to talk to you you again, Mike. Yeah, 770 00:40:35,440 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 5: you know, I'm a big fan of coach Mac And 771 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,800 Speaker 5: as I said, I'm just I'm lucky to be sitting 772 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:45,080 Speaker 5: in this chair talking to you, and I will never 773 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:48,440 Speaker 5: forget that luck and good fortune that I got and 774 00:40:49,160 --> 00:40:56,160 Speaker 5: the great surgeon, and I'll be in Minnesota in week seventeen, 775 00:40:56,440 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 5: and I'm just supercharged and happy to be able to 776 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 5: do that. 777 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 1: Mike Praira, thank you. 778 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:03,160 Speaker 4: You got it.