1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: the Falcons in Focus podcast, brought to you by Ticketmaster, 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: recorded in the Ticketmaster studios. I'm Scott Bear. That's try mclaney, 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: the Man of the Hour. To Kwan Graham has joined us, 5 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: and we're very excited to ask you this question. I 6 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: looked on yelp at Terry Black's barbecue, and I looked 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: up the phrase beef rib. And Arthur Smith was not 8 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: wrong when he said when he went to barbecue with 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: you that it looks like a dinosaur rib. Right, It's 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: like Flintstone's where the car would just fall over. Have 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: you ever completely eaten one Terry Black's beef rib? 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 2: Never have complete beef rib at all. It's pretty big, 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: you know. We you know, we just were there. I 14 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 2: was there to watch, you know, Bejon workout, and you know, 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: caught some lunch later and it just slapped it on 16 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 2: my play. I was like, you know, I just started 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 2: sharing it with everybody, honestly because I knew I could 18 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 2: have finished all of it. It was too It was huge. 19 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: See here's the thing. Arthur Smith was really giving you 20 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: like credit. He was like, he almost put down the 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: entire dinosaur sized rib and I think we all were 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 3: really impressed. 23 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 4: So it's nice to know the full story. 24 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 3: When going back to that moment, you go out to Austin, 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 3: Texas and you have kind of your whole coaching staff 26 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 3: out there too that are checking out Bejon Robinson. What 27 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 3: was kind of those couple of days, like having all 28 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 3: those guys in the town that I don't know, you 29 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 3: went to college in well, I trained. 30 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 2: There at the place you know called Collective and Bejon 31 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 2: Transer you know as well. But it was it was 32 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 2: pretty cool having them out there, and you know, I 33 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 2: know they're out there to you know, go see Bejon 34 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 2: to see what he was all about. And I guess 35 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: you know, they liked what they saw eventually, and it 36 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: was cool, you know, to get to sit down and 37 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: eat lunch with them and you know, really just to 38 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: have a conversation because you know, sometimes you may we 39 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: may get caught up in this football life and it's 40 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: not really too much you know, conversation just about you know, 41 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: day to day life stuff. 42 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: And anyone surprised you by how much barbecue they put down. 43 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: I gotta say Coach Stall probably really put down some 44 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: petree didn't put down as much barbecue as I thought 45 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,079 Speaker 2: he would. But yeah, Stall was over there putting it down. 46 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 3: For so Petree talking a big game by how much 47 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 3: he was gonna put down with the Terry Blacks barbecue. 48 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: But yeah, so. 49 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: What was your scouting report on Jon Robinson when they 50 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: asked you? All right, like you were this guy's teammate, right, yeah, right, 51 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: like we can see all the fancy stuff he does 52 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: on the field, But like, what was your insight? I'm 53 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: sure that you weren't upset when they took him at 54 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: number eight. 55 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 2: I definitely wasn't upset, you know how my fingers crossed 56 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 2: the whole time watching the first round. But honestly, I 57 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 2: feel like most of the questions were about his character. Yeah, 58 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 2: and you know, being in Austin, Texas and him taking 59 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: on that role, you know, in a similar light, you know, 60 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: maybe to Ricky Williams or you know, Vince Young, you know, 61 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 2: like that, having all that attention all the time. I 62 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: think he handled it so well, and I thought he 63 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 2: would also handle being the top ten pick as well 64 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: as just the same way, you know, approach it humbly 65 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: and also be you know, somebody that's going to come 66 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 2: in and work day in and day out. I kind 67 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 2: of tell them more of the you know, his more 68 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 2: of his character more than anything, rather than you know, 69 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,920 Speaker 2: the on the field stuff. Sure, well he could handle mentally. 70 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 3: That makes sense now for you, I actually want to 71 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: continue on this conversation of Austin, Texas the food scene 72 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 3: in Austin, Texas, because I feel like there are very 73 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 3: few places that have that level. 74 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 4: Of good food. 75 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: Like I just feel that way about Austin, Texas. Now 76 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 3: I read a quote, and you can correct me if 77 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 3: this is wrong, but you said I don't have many hobbies, 78 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 3: but I am kind. 79 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 4: Of a little bit of a foodie. Is that true? 80 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: It's definitely true. True. You'll probably catch me on any 81 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: little hole in the wall somewhere. 82 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 4: Yeah. 83 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I definitely love to eat and I love to experience, 84 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: you know, different cultures of food for sure. 85 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 4: And Austin's a great place to do that. 86 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: And I also read something along the lines of someone 87 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 3: somewhere had asked you at some point your favorite Austin 88 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 3: Texas place state and you had mentioned some type of 89 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 3: text mex place. But you said specifically that you're a 90 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 3: big fan of the Don Juan. What is the don Juan. 91 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: We have to know this. 92 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, this is important. 93 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: So the don Juan is, let's see, it's probably about 94 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: the size of this notebook, and it's a tortilla is 95 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 2: basically just a big breakfast like taco and it adds 96 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 2: like sausage, like bacon, cheese, egg like all into one. 97 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: But you get extra tortillas on the side, and it's 98 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: like this big mound of stuff and you just like 99 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: grab it like individual tacos. But the place is called 100 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: one in a million million. It's in East Austin. It's 101 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 2: it's definitely good. It's something one of my teammates put 102 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: me on too when I was a freshman. 103 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: So would you prefer to go find like a food 104 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: truck or a hole in the wall or are you 105 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: like go give me like a Michelin star restaurant? Like 106 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: which would you rather go out and find some good 107 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: stuff at? 108 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: Well? I feel like that's kind of changed over the 109 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 2: course of time. Yeah, having a little bit more money 110 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: in my podcast, I definitely have tried anywhere down from 111 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 2: a you know, maybe just you know, two guys working 112 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: in the food truck all the way you know, into 113 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: a five star restaurant. But I feel like I can appreciate, 114 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: you know, the best of both worlds. You know, I 115 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 2: appreciate this, you know, the food trucks and the five 116 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 2: star restaurants, But personally, for me, I gotta kind of 117 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 2: stick to my roots. I kind of like those little 118 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 2: family owned hole in the walls. You know, if you 119 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 2: pass by, you might think it's just like a regular house, 120 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: but they really back there cooking enough the best food. 121 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: I think it's uh yeah, I think that's the best move. Honestly. 122 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: I remember going to this food truck. It's also in 123 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: the East Austin. It's Jamaican food. 124 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 4: Amazing. 125 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, Like my teammates just would bring it back to 126 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: the dorms. I was just like, man, what is this? 127 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 2: You know, jerk chicken, you know, oxtails, all that type 128 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 2: of stuff. So I just like to experience like all 129 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: types of food. 130 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 3: Of course, what kind of got you into that about 131 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 3: being interested in different cultures like cuisine and everything like that. 132 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 3: Was that something that you had always been interested in 133 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 3: growing up or was that something that in your young 134 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 3: adulthood you became more interested in. 135 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 2: I would definitely say when I went to college and 136 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: got out the house, my mom was definitely like a 137 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 2: soul food type of person, which you know, I definitely 138 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 2: love soul food. But when I went to Austin and 139 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: we started, you know, going, I started going places with 140 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 2: my teammates and stuff, I think I started enjoying, like, 141 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 2: you know, first text mex because there's text mech places everywhere. 142 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 2: Then I got onto like Jamaican food. Then you know, 143 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 2: just different breakfast spots, like the small little places, and 144 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: it just started to continue to grow. I just like 145 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: kind of just made like a kind of like a 146 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: list of like all the places that I had tried 147 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: and like new places I wanted to try, and you know, 148 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 2: I just started in all these different little places that 149 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: I heard of. And some places have like a website, 150 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 2: some of them don't. Some of them got like a 151 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 2: little Facebook page and you just try to figure out 152 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: what the menu is and stuff. But yeah, I would 153 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: say probably my freshman or sophomore year in college, I 154 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 2: really started like just trying to try different types of 155 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: foods because my mom always said I was to like 156 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 2: playing Jane, I don't like meeting potato right right. Yeah, 157 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: I just wanted to branch out and try different things, 158 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: and I just started loving it. From that point on. 159 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: So we're talking so much about the Austin experience, and 160 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: you grew up what about an hour and a half outside. 161 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: About fifty minutes an hour north. 162 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: Of Yeah, so you were close. And I think I 163 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: read that you grew up in like a Texas fan household, right, 164 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: So to be that close to Austin, right, this mythical 165 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: place in college football, and then to be able to 166 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: commit and play for the team that you grew up loving, 167 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: that was so close, Like what did that? What did 168 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: that mean to you? To be able to Yep, I'm 169 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: signing with the school that I grew up loving. 170 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: I feel like it was a little bit of a 171 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 2: difficult time at the time I committed. The coach Strong 172 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 2: you had that, yeah, and there was a switch when 173 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: they lost to Kansas, you know, he had got fired. 174 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: Coach Herman came along. I really didn't, you know, build 175 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 2: that deep a relationship with him. So I kind of 176 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: like committed to the school more than I committed to 177 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 2: the coast type of thing. Interesting, Yeah, that's the place 178 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: where I wanted to be. It was like a group 179 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: of guys I can remember, we were all committed, you 180 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: know during that time, like a guy named Joss Thompson 181 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: sam Ellener who plays for the Coat Right now, we 182 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: all had a group message. You're like, all right, who's staying? 183 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: Wow? 184 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: So you know, the whole group stayed and we just 185 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: that we wanted to commit and you know a lot 186 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: of us ended up being you know, captains and stuff 187 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: our senior year. So it was kind of like a 188 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 2: full circle type of thing. For sure. 189 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 3: That is kind of crazy. I mean, how much do 190 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,559 Speaker 3: you think back on on that? And I'm sure like 191 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 3: to get to y'all's final years together and to look 192 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: back on kind of that time where it's all like 193 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 3: this could have ended up so different for all of us. 194 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: Do you ever like reflect on that to be like wow, 195 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 3: because we stayed together, we were able. 196 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 4: To kind of build something pretty intriguing. 197 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Of course, our Texas career didn't go the way 198 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: that we wanted to go, but we did some things 199 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: that probably weren't done that in a long time, like 200 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,320 Speaker 2: get ten wins and you know, and the Sugar Bowl 201 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 2: and all that other stuff. But you know, we all 202 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 2: reached our dream. You know, we all you know, eventually 203 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 2: made it to the NFL. So regardless of you know, 204 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: sometimes people ask you if you would make a different choice, 205 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: you know, for any different reason, maybe because you wanted 206 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: to win more or anything. I don't think I would 207 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: change it for anything. You know, the people I met, 208 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 2: you know, the relationships I built along the way then, 209 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 2: you know as well as you know, Texas helped me 210 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 2: reach my dream as well. So I don't think I 211 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: could change anything in the world for that. 212 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: I love that. 213 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 3: So being a kid from from Texas, growing up in 214 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 3: a Texas household and everything like that. I actually we 215 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: were reading all about your family and your mom and brother. 216 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 3: Particularly your brother is fourteen years older than you, so 217 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: it's kind of like a fun uncle more than like 218 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 3: even a brother, because I know, my sister is eleven 219 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 3: years younger than me, and it's like I get to 220 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 3: do fun things with her, like take her to concerts. 221 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 4: And so what was your brother like when you're kind of. 222 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 3: Growing up and he's so much older than you, But 223 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 3: what impact did he have when you're kind of just 224 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: this little kid just trying to figure out where you 225 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: want to be in life. 226 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 2: Being completely honest, he was not like the quote uncle. 227 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 2: He was kind of like my father figure. 228 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: Really. 229 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, my mom was actually a correctional officer. So she 230 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: always worked the night shifts when I was younger, so 231 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 2: I was always with him, like, you know, majority of 232 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 2: the day. Yeah, so he was always like kind of 233 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 2: on me. Like I remember even being in Peelee. He 234 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 2: would have this little like camcorder, cam recorder, and he 235 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 2: used to like film all my games. Yeah. We used 236 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 2: to sit there right after the game like eat whatever 237 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 2: food we order, and we used to like watch film. 238 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 4: As a kid, like as a seven or eight hewie wow. 239 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: And and this was running back, yeah, running back, running back. 240 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 2: I played running back when I was younger. Then as 241 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 2: I got older, I just was so much you know, 242 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 2: taller and you know, bigger everybody. There is a weight limit. 243 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: Oh really put me in as like a tight end. 244 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 2: Then you know we have some stuff. They would motion 245 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 2: me back in there so I could play running back 246 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: or we do like a reverse or whatever you need 247 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 2: to get around that rule. 248 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: I wouldn't want to see you at the second level 249 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: running towards me. That doesn't sound like a fun. 250 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 3: It's funny too because recently I found out that I 251 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 3: didn't know that there were these like weight requirements in 252 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 3: like Pee Wee or Pop Warner or anything that Desmond 253 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: Ritter was. He wanted to be a quarterback, but they 254 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 3: made him be a sinner because he was too big. 255 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: He was like one pound over, which which. 256 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 3: Is hilarious because they were like putting there, like putting 257 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 3: you were what a tight end? 258 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 4: And I mean, I think that's hilarious when you think. 259 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 3: Back to kind of those film sessions with your brother 260 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 3: when you're eight, nine, ten years old, how much of 261 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 3: even things that y'all talked about then has helped you 262 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 3: as a professional in this league. 263 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 2: I think one of the things that he always helped 264 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 2: me with was like not being satisfied. I could score 265 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 2: three or four touchdowns, or I could score every time 266 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: I touched the ball, but it was never enough. That 267 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 2: was never there was never a point where he says, oh, yeah, 268 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 2: you had a great game, YadA, YadA, YadA. He always 269 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 2: pointed out what you did wrong first, which I felt 270 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 2: like helped me later on, like especially getting too high 271 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 2: school when you started hitting film kind of harder, you know, 272 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: when you start growing up and going through the sport. 273 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: Then I think it really helped me, like in college 274 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 2: and the pros, because I've already been criticized by the 275 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 2: people you know, closest to me, and I already already 276 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: have that drive like within to a certain degree because 277 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 2: it was like instilled in me on so I think 278 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: it definitely helps me on you know, that side of it. 279 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: I gotta know that this is another Please feel free 280 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: to fact check us if it's not true. Did your 281 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: brother name you? 282 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 2: Yes, my brother did name me? 283 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 4: Okay, what's the origin story of that? 284 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 2: Then? Honestly, I'm not really sure. I'm not really sure. Yeah, 285 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 2: I don't. I don't know where he found the name 286 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 2: or whatever. But I was always like writing my name 287 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 2: in school. I was like, man who made his name? 288 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 2: And one day I was writing it it was like 289 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 2: t a q u on in but I didn't put 290 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 2: like their apostrophe right there. He got mad at me. 291 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 2: I was like, how are you gonna tell me how 292 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 2: to write my name? He was like I picked her 293 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 2: name and you're like what, Yeah. 294 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 3: It's like with bjon, like how you pronounce it, like 295 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 3: either bejon or bjon And his mom's like his name 296 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 3: is bijon. 297 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, my mom gets really mad. That's why everyone calls 298 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: me TQ. That's why that nickname. 299 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 4: Is the thing, because your mom like this is what 300 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 4: his nickname is. 301 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:00,599 Speaker 2: People used to say taekwon instead, and she used to 302 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 2: get some man. I was like, then this dude I 303 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 2: think named Tory Mann in middle school, he started calling 304 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: me TQ and it just stuck ever since. And it 305 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 2: was like it was easier too, since there. 306 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 4: Was no confusing the pronunciation of TQ. Yeah. 307 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: Okay, So I'm going to read this from the Temple 308 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: Daily Telegram and it's it's it's not a direct quote. 309 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: I just think it's really well written. I wish I 310 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: had the person's name, but uh, it says. What is 311 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: even scarier the reaction of Graham's mother, Forrestein Thompson, if 312 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: he brings home any grades lower than a's and b's, 313 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: or if he forgets to wash the dishes or clothes, 314 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: or if his performance in a game doesn't meet her 315 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: demanding standards. Yeah, does that sound about right? 316 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, Yeah, that's true. That's definitely true. She's she definitely 317 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 2: would be the first person to tell me that I 318 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: didn't have a good game. Yeah, it definitely was like 319 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: that in my household. My brother as I got older, 320 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 2: he kind of like leaned off me a little bit. 321 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 2: He started becoming more of like my brother as I 322 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 2: got old older in my teenage years, right, Yeah, they 323 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: kind of backed off from like the you know, that 324 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 2: father role as I started to grow like as a 325 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 2: young man. But my mom heard on me since day one, 326 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 2: never really let up even to this day. 327 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: So it was like, get good grades, but like those 328 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: are good ways to grow up with discipline and structure, right, 329 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: I mean, so I take it that you worked pretty 330 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: hard to get a's and b's and do all the 331 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: things that she wanted you to do. 332 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I remember we used to get those progress reports. 333 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. 334 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 2: Look, he used to hot them out my bag for 335 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: as long as I could. You know, you know, if 336 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 2: you didn't turn something in, you might have like a 337 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 2: low B or C or something, and she really didn't 338 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: want to see anything below eighty fives. 339 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: Right see. So yeah, like you just got to stash 340 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: those and then that gives you time by the time 341 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: the final report card comes out to get the grade 342 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: where it needs to be. 343 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 4: So she was is she still a correction shaw? 344 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:53,800 Speaker 2: No? 345 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: No, no, okay, that was what she was when you 346 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 4: were growing up. Yeah, what was was that like? 347 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 3: Because I am imagine that that's a pretty demanding job 348 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 3: for anybody. What was it like for you know, you're 349 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 3: talking about like the hours being kind of wonky and 350 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 3: weird and long. What did you see from her as 351 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 3: you were kind of growing up and what did she 352 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 3: mean to you? 353 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: Honestly? Like when I was younger, of course I would 354 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 2: see her on the weekends, but I kind of felt 355 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: like I would miss her, like she's coming out the door, 356 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 2: I'm walking in the door, you know, vice versa. Like 357 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: always kind of like, you know, missed her. But I 358 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 2: always knew that she was working hard and stuff. And 359 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 2: eventually she ended up actually quitting because my grandmother had 360 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 2: you know, varying cancer. She was going through like that 361 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 2: whole battle for probably like a good year and a half, 362 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: and you know, it didn't really go her way, and 363 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 2: eventually she decided to have a career change. After that, 364 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 2: then things were a little different. She was working like 365 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 2: her traditional eight to five, like probably when I was 366 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: around maybe like starting around like maybe seven or eight 367 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: or something like that. Then I started and my mom 368 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 2: more than you know, I had peewee games and stuff, 369 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: So it kind of changed from that standpoint. 370 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 3: We again, correct us if you're wrong, but has your 371 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 3: mom and brother had a chance to see you play 372 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 3: in the NFL to come to. 373 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 2: A live game, though, but they always watch it. It's 374 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 2: been kind of hard to getting them out there with 375 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 2: their work schedule everything that they got going on. Yeah, 376 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 2: soucially my brother with you know, him having my niece 377 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 2: and everything. 378 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 3: So the plan is at some point in the twenty 379 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 3: twenty three season, we've got to get them out here. 380 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, for sure, Yeah, I. 381 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 3: Really do, because I first off, I want to meet 382 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 3: your mom, because that sounds she sounds like a really 383 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 3: cool lady. 384 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 4: For you when you're. 385 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 3: Kind of like thinking back to I don't know just 386 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 3: what you wanted to be as a player, I think 387 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 3: something that really like stuck out to me was there 388 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 3: was this quote from you where you said, I try 389 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 3: to take a little piece of everyone's. 390 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 4: Game and make it my own. 391 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 3: For you, what were some of those pieces that you 392 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 3: think back on in maybe your years, where were like, 393 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 3: these were people who I aspire to be, and these 394 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: were the things that I aspired to be within myself too. 395 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, you know, I always watched you know 396 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 2: the top guys. You know Fletcher Cox at the time, 397 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 2: JJ Watt, you know, Aaron Donald, you know Grady at 398 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,119 Speaker 2: the time, when they had went to the Super Bowl. 399 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: You know, at the time, was like a junior when 400 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 2: Grady went to the Super Bowl, just watching like how 401 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 2: fast his get off is and like how violent he 402 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: is off the line, Just trying to take little pieces 403 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: of their game, because you know, everybody has different body types. 404 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: Like I'm not the same body type as him. Maybe 405 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit of a longer athlete with longer 406 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 2: arms and stuff. So I might watch a guy who has, 407 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 2: you know, maybe the same you know length of arms, 408 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 2: or a guy that has a similar get off, or 409 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 2: a guy that is really good at this certain move. 410 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 2: What does he do to work off of it? And 411 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 2: I always try to take some of the top guys 412 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 2: because they're at the top of the game for a reason, 413 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 2: so why not try to take a piece of their 414 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: game and make it your own. But at the same time, 415 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 2: you're also not them, right, right, So that's also something 416 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,640 Speaker 2: that you have to keep in mind. Like Aaron Donald's 417 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 2: twitching is you really can't teach that, but there's definitely 418 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 2: things that you can do to help yourself get off 419 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:10,719 Speaker 2: the ball faster and do this this better. And like 420 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 2: maybe some of the drills that he does or his 421 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 2: workout habits, things like that, I feel like I take 422 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: pieces of it. But lately I would feel like some 423 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 2: of the guys I played with in college, like Charles 424 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 2: and Mini, Hugh Pooniford, like some of the guys are 425 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 2: in the league, you know other places. I learned from 426 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 2: them when I was, you know, a young freshman and 427 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 2: taking pieces of what they taught me and just you know, 428 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 2: implementing it and eventually it helped me get here. 429 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: It do you talk so much about about getting to 430 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: know Grady right? It seems like there's like a genuine 431 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 1: friendship there. Why did you guys click so quickly? It 432 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: just seems, you know, like you guys are general, Yeah, 433 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: like really natural. 434 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 2: Honestly, I came in here as a rookie not knowing 435 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 2: what to expect. Like my natural demeanor is kind of 436 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 2: like I'm to myself until I figure out. Yeah, pretty chill, 437 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 2: so I figure out the situation. Maybe maybe it was 438 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 2: some people wrong, Maybe they think I'm like rude or something, 439 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 2: but I'm really not. I'm just you know, a shy 440 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 2: guy on the inside, and you know, Grady just being 441 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 2: a you know, older guy that's in a position of 442 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 2: leadership that started talking to me, and we just started 443 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 2: conversating back and forth, and eventually, you know, we started 444 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 2: hanging out outside of football every now and then we 445 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 2: started talking about our family and and you know, we 446 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 2: just kind of, you know, grew closer and as well 447 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 2: as you know, me being on the field majority of 448 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: the time with him last year, I think that definitely helped, 449 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 2: you know, build that bond between the two of us. 450 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: But anytime I ever had a question about the game 451 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: or a question about just handling pro life, that's the 452 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 2: main person I always went to. That's the person's opinion 453 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 2: I trusted the most, and I felt like he never 454 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 2: steered me wrong with device. 455 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 3: It's really cool too, because I always Grady Jared was 456 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 3: the first person that we had on this podcast when 457 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 3: we are very very first guests, and I remember we 458 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 3: talked to him at that time about you, and I 459 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 3: think that was like early last year, and it was 460 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 3: just so cool then even to hear kind of him 461 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,640 Speaker 3: talking about you, and now you're talking about him and. 462 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 4: How consistent that relationship has been. 463 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 3: But in saying that, is there something about Grady Jarted 464 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 3: that you that you found out about him that you 465 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 3: didn't know about or something that y'all do together that 466 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 3: people would find interesting. 467 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: M I'll probably say, you're probably jokesters. We're probably joking 468 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 2: majority of the time. If you ever see us like 469 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 2: like maybe practice, maybe you know, maybe maybe on the 470 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 2: bench last year, you see us talking, yeah, and you 471 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 2: see the mic and he'll say something random. I'm kind 472 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: of looking at him like you're probably you're probably like, 473 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: you know, making a joke or something. But I would say, oh, 474 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 2: since we were talking about food, yeah, Me and Grady 475 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 2: kind of share that in common, Mica. He's a big 476 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 2: food trying food places. He always tells me places to try, 477 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: like you know, like places in the city because you know, 478 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 2: I was new here. I really didn't know anything about Atlanta. 479 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 2: You know, he's kind of from the area. So he 480 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 2: always told me places to try, places to eat. That's 481 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 2: something that we we we probably bonded over to begin with. 482 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 2: I think one of the first places we went to 483 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 2: was like CNS Oyster Bar. 484 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, the oysters. It's funny because Grady, when 485 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 3: we were we asked him a question, he like had 486 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 3: a list of places in Atlanta like that you could 487 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 3: go eat and everything like that, and I was like, 488 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 3: first of all, Grady, You're all of your places are 489 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:36,199 Speaker 3: out of my tax bracket. But sure, But it's so 490 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 3: funny because I honestly think that now that I know 491 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 3: that both you and Grady are connoisseurs of food and 492 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 3: restaurants and cuisines and everything, y'all should do like a 493 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 3: full on like Instagram account where it's just y'all going 494 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 3: to various places in Atlanta and just trying their food. 495 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 4: I think y'all could be really good at that. 496 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we start a TV show. 497 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, make a little podcast trying to think. 498 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 4: I think it works. I think it makes sense. 499 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: And you. 500 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: Talk so much about the never satisfied drive that you have, 501 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: But do you ever take the time or pinch yourself 502 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: and realize, Okay, like I've been dreaming about this moment 503 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: my whole life, right, and then you get here and 504 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: then you're a value contributor on an NFL team. Are 505 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: you the type that can ever like acknowledge where all 506 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: the hard work has gotten you? Or do you not 507 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 1: even think about that? You're just like just so driven 508 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: on progress and what's next. Do you ever have time 509 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 1: to like look back and be like, I'm a kid 510 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: from a small Texas town, Who went to Texas, Who 511 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: got drafted? Who is a major part of an NFL 512 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: defensive line? Do you ever take time to think about 513 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: all that you've done? 514 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 2: Honestly, I think this is one of my flaws. I 515 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 2: don't think it's a yeah. I think I think it's 516 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,719 Speaker 2: a flawed because I think everyone should look back at 517 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 2: their course of work and you know, be proud of themselves. 518 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 2: Sometimes I don't really like recognize it and understand everything 519 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,239 Speaker 2: that I've done and how big of a deal it 520 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 2: is until I see some of the stuff like people 521 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,120 Speaker 2: talking about me from back home or something, and how 522 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: how they talk about me like I'm a big deal 523 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 2: or something. But I don't ever feel like a big deal. 524 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm doing what I needed to do 525 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 2: every step of the way. And now I'm here. Now 526 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 2: I still got to take care you know, what's in 527 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 2: front of me. I still got to take care of business. 528 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 2: I still got to, you know, worry about the next game. 529 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 2: It's like a week after week thing. That's kind of 530 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 2: how I've always viewed, like a season, Like this week, 531 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:41,479 Speaker 2: I'm worried about this next week, I'm worried about this. 532 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 2: So it was hard for me to really step back 533 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 2: and understand that, especially after you know, having the season 534 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: and the injury last year, and I feel like it 535 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 2: put me more in that mode of like I got 536 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: more work to put in, I got more things to 537 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 2: accomplish and do. 538 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 4: That's interesting. 539 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 3: I think like you're bringing up a good point about 540 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 3: like the injur almost sometimes makes you like stop and 541 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 3: slow down to a certain extent because you can't physically 542 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 3: do everything that you want to do. When you look 543 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 3: back at that time period and working really hard to 544 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,239 Speaker 3: get back out on the field and back to one 545 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 3: hundred percent, what was something that really like pushed you 546 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 3: to get back and really helped you through that process. 547 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 2: I've seen I've seen even since watching the game, since 548 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,479 Speaker 2: I was a kid. I've seen guys have you know, 549 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 2: major injuries, maybe even more serious than mine, come back 550 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 2: play just as good or even better. And I didn't 551 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 2: want want I don't want to be one of those 552 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,959 Speaker 2: guys that comes off of major injury and spends all 553 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 2: that time rehabbing and you know, falls flat on their face. 554 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 2: I never wanted to be that guy. And I always 555 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 2: felt like it's all about the work that you're putting 556 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: in down from a physical standpoint as well as mental, 557 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 2: because I feel like the mental side of it is 558 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 2: what is the greatest part of an injury. 559 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: Right, just to be able to grind through that, especially Yeah, 560 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: because you're so to it. But I think you're right 561 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: you considered a flaw that you don't look back, because 562 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,959 Speaker 1: that's kind of partially what got you here, right, Just 563 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 1: that constant, never be satisfied, drive to get better and 564 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: better and better. We've hit our favorite part of the podcast, 565 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,680 Speaker 1: which is called rapid fire. Although it never goes very fast. 566 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: Everybody gets the same five questions, right, same five, Yeah, 567 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:26,120 Speaker 1: pretty much, and feel free to answer it however you want. 568 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 1: Are you ready? 569 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 2: I got to answer all five. 570 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, we'll go on. 571 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, we'll go one. And you don't have to remember. 572 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 1: Okay, number one, you're in high school, college, youth football, pros. 573 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter. What's your favorite play of your athletic career. 574 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 2: Favorite play, I would say my senior year playoff game 575 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 2: one against Corsicana. The QB was a quarterback coach your son, 576 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 2: and I sacked them on the sideline. I just got 577 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 2: up and on point it out on because he had 578 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 2: said that he didn't he couldn't tell who was the 579 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 2: Texas commit on the film. Oh man, so I just 580 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 2: topped it off with half four of the Sacks and 581 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 2: that last one I just pointed out him four. 582 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 4: I love it. 583 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 3: I honestly, I'm glad that's your pick because that's really good. 584 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 4: Now, who is your favorite player growing up? 585 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 2: Favorite player? I would definitely say J. J. Watt. Yeah, yeah, 586 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 2: I was a huge Houston Texans fan. Yeah. Shout out 587 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 2: Matt Shaub too. 588 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 4: That's right now, he's on the staff. 589 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: What is a show or movie that that you're binging 590 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: or that you're super into? Any TV movie anything like that? 591 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 2: Shows sounds really weird. The show just started. It's called 592 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 2: it Discovery of Witches. 593 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,679 Speaker 4: Okay, I have read that book. Oh my god, you 594 00:27:56,720 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 4: were watching that show? 595 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 2: Yeah? I just started watching it. 596 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 4: It's really good with it. 597 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 3: It gets a little wonky, but sometimes that's good TV. 598 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 4: You spoilers, I know, no spoilers I want. 599 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm a huge supernatural TV show guy. Yeah for sure, 600 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:11,479 Speaker 2: love that. 601 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 4: Okay. 602 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 3: Since we have been talking this entire time about food, 603 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 3: we know about Austin, Texas and everything, but Atlanta. 604 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 4: What is a restaurant in Atlanta that you. 605 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 3: Would tell people like, hey, this is this is a 606 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 3: place in Atlanta you gotta go to. 607 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 2: Mm I would say, I would say, I love hows 608 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 2: really steakhouse. Yeah, it's a it's definitely like a you know, 609 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 2: a traditional style of steakhouse. But I just love the atmosphere. 610 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 2: I like the food and sometimes I feel like with 611 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 2: their meaning and they keep it simple. It was very 612 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 2: good though. 613 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 4: A good steak you really can never go wrong with it. 614 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you can mess it up well, yeah, 615 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: but I but yeah, just do a couple of things 616 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: really really well and nail that. And I'm fine with that. 617 00:28:58,240 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: I don't need like a menu that's like. 618 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I gotta throw this out there. Marcell's too though, Marcelle, Yeah, yeah, 619 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: Marcelli's is definitely fire. 620 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 1: See you and Grady. You gotta start right there, I know. 621 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 4: Yeah. 622 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: Just Restaurant Tour three, Atlanta, number five. Last one. If 623 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:16,120 Speaker 1: you had a superpower, what would it be? 624 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 2: Mmm, superpower? I'll say mind reading? 625 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: Mind reading, And I think that might have been a first. 626 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: Like it's normally flight or teleportation normally, but mind reading, 627 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: that's a good one. 628 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 4: Now, would you be able to turn it off and on? 629 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 4: Because I feel like, I definitely want to on and 630 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 4: off switch hear other people's thoughts all the time. I 631 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 4: kind of be like, I don't really know what y'all. 632 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: Want, but but if you need to know something, especially 633 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: if you're in a three point stance and you're like quarterback, okay, yeah, 634 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 1: that would be perfect. Well, that was a perfect way 635 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: to end it to Kwan Graham, Thank you so much 636 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: for joining the Falcons in Focus podcast. Please do what 637 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: you do, rate, review, and subscribe to the Atlanta Falcons 638 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: podcast network. Subscribe to Atlanta Falcons on YouTube, where you 639 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: can see this podcast as well, and we will be 640 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: back with you again next week with another awesome guest. 641 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. See it