WEBVTT - LaDainian Tomlinson (11/14) 0:00:00.240 --> 0:00:05.800 Like games over the world. You played to win the 0:00:05.880 --> 0:00:19.440 game a Jet touchdown. You're listening to the Official Jets podcast, 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:27.000 Jets three sixty production. Welcome inside the Official Jets Podcast. 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:30.520 Ethan Greenberg here alongside Eric Allen. Yeah, we got a 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:34.080 great show. We're bringing in the Hall of Fame running back. Huh, Yeah, 0:00:34.159 --> 0:00:37.559 we certainly are. Ladanian Thomason. I had the pleasure of 0:00:37.680 --> 0:00:40.960 covering Ladanian back in two thousand ten and two thousand 0:00:41.000 --> 0:00:42.920 eleven one. He was a member of the Green of 0:00:43.000 --> 0:00:46.160 White and he was a key figure in that two 0:00:46.200 --> 0:00:49.720 thousand ten team, the last Jets team who made the 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:53.880 playoffs as they advanced to a SC championship game. An 0:00:53.880 --> 0:00:59.920 emotional game for Ladinian was that divisional playoff round contest 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:03.720 against the New England Patriots. They said, can be done, 0:01:04.040 --> 0:01:07.400 They said, we have no chance. Hey, let me tell yourself. 0:01:07.600 --> 0:01:10.520 Didn't make a B b oh any day. What a 0:01:10.520 --> 0:01:15.720 fantastic career. Uh, And what a powerful speech he gave 0:01:15.840 --> 0:01:18.520 as he got inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame 0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:21.520 last summer. Green's I watched all twenty six minutes, as 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:24.800 did you, I'm pretty sure, and it is very inspiring 0:01:24.840 --> 0:01:27.480 and just something that you touched on LT after the 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:30.600 game in two thousand and ten against the New England 0:01:30.640 --> 0:01:33.520 Patriots in Foxborough. Well, I remember before the game him 0:01:33.560 --> 0:01:36.479 walking out there to midfield for the coin tolls holding. 0:01:36.959 --> 0:01:39.959 Dennis bur Jersey has an honorary captain because correct me 0:01:40.000 --> 0:01:44.080 if I'm wrong. But didn't Dennis deliver a speech the 0:01:44.200 --> 0:01:47.360 night before the team? He certainly did, um, you know. 0:01:47.680 --> 0:01:51.640 And unfortunately we've lost Dennis uh he was killed in 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:55.680 an automobile accident. But that was certainly an emotional moment 0:01:55.760 --> 0:02:00.160 for the Jets. But looking forward here to tall can 0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:03.320 Ola Danny and you're talking about a five time Pro bowler, 0:02:04.040 --> 0:02:08.440 a first team All Pro three times, the NFL's Most 0:02:08.480 --> 0:02:13.200 Valuable Player in two thousand and six, the Walter Peyton 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:16.400 Man of the Year in two thousand and six. And 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:19.560 also when you think about Ladanian Thomason Green's you think 0:02:19.560 --> 0:02:22.600 about a guy who got into the end zone. Is 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:26.320 twenty eight rushing touchdowns in two thousand and six, We're 0:02:26.360 --> 0:02:30.160 an NFL record, as were his thirty one touchdowns from 0:02:30.160 --> 0:02:35.080 scrimmage in that same season, and at eighteen consecutive games 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:42.280 with a touchdown. He was a dynamic football player. Unbelievably 0:02:42.520 --> 0:02:46.480 explosive and he could catch it out of the backfield. 0:02:46.800 --> 0:02:49.680 He ran hard, and when he came to the National 0:02:49.720 --> 0:02:53.919 Football League out of TCU, he set the league. I 0:02:54.200 --> 0:02:58.880 fired the first round of the two thousand one draft 0:02:58.919 --> 0:03:02.960 of San Diego Charger. So like Ladanian Tomlinson running back 0:03:03.000 --> 0:03:08.760 to TCU, Holt was instant offense, and I thought the 0:03:08.840 --> 0:03:11.840 Jets got a lot out of him. As he finished 0:03:11.919 --> 0:03:15.120 up his career here in New York, I remember LT 0:03:16.080 --> 0:03:19.280 his staple halfback passed to Antonio Gates. That was That 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:22.240 was like my first memory of LT. And obviously he 0:03:22.320 --> 0:03:26.280 then took the NFL by storm, thousand, six eighty four 0:03:26.360 --> 0:03:30.040 yards career rushing, fifth in the NFL all time, right 0:03:30.080 --> 0:03:33.960 behind Curtis Martin. Alrighty, A, I think it's I think 0:03:33.960 --> 0:03:36.760 it's about that time. You're right, Greens. We've talked enough 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:39.640 about Ladani and let's talk to him, all right, Greens, 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:43.320 Let's bring in the A four mentioned Ladanyan Thomlinson. Ladany 0:03:43.400 --> 0:03:47.840 And how are you this morning out in California? Down wonderful? 0:03:48.040 --> 0:03:52.000 Just of course he's pretty early here. The first part 0:03:52.000 --> 0:03:55.000 of the day is just getting started. So U dorn 0:03:55.040 --> 0:03:59.440 Well but you are joining us here on the Jets 0:03:59.440 --> 0:04:02.840 Official Podcast. And Uh, the first thing that I wanted 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:06.160 to talk about, Ladinian was the last time I saw 0:04:06.200 --> 0:04:09.680 you in person was last winter, and that was before 0:04:10.640 --> 0:04:15.080 you actually got officially inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. 0:04:15.840 --> 0:04:20.520 What was the Hall of Fame induction weekend like as 0:04:20.600 --> 0:04:26.640 you officially took your place among the mortals of our game. Well, 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:30.400 it was experienced like no other, of course. Um, you know, 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.440 it's it's one of those things that you kind of 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:38.680 envisioned one day happening, but you really don't know what 0:04:38.800 --> 0:04:41.960 it's gonna feel like once you, you know, get the candle, 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:45.240 Ohio and see, you know, the Hall of Fame for 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:50.080 what it really is a place to celebrate excellence, um, 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:53.480 and the greatest football players in the world. Until just 0:04:53.600 --> 0:04:57.200 going through that hole, um, you know, four or five 0:04:57.320 --> 0:04:59.760 days that I was there, I mean, I tried to 0:05:00.000 --> 0:05:02.359 take it in as much as I could, but it 0:05:02.480 --> 0:05:05.919 was just so overwhelming. It really was, because we're talking 0:05:05.960 --> 0:05:11.120 about all the history of pro football and the greatest 0:05:11.120 --> 0:05:14.840 players to every play and then finding myself, you know, 0:05:15.240 --> 0:05:19.520 amongst them. Um. And then one of the Polist teams 0:05:20.200 --> 0:05:23.640 was one of the first meanings we had having Jim 0:05:23.720 --> 0:05:26.719 Brown come over to me and sit right next to me, 0:05:27.200 --> 0:05:30.000 and what he said. He said, you know, once you 0:05:30.120 --> 0:05:35.120 get here, we're all equal. And I was thinking to myself, unbelievable. 0:05:35.160 --> 0:05:37.840 This is Jim Brownson next to me and he just 0:05:37.920 --> 0:05:41.760 told me that we're all equal at the Pro Football 0:05:41.800 --> 0:05:45.120 Hall of Fame. And my first thought was, well, I 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:48.800 appreciate that, Mr Brown, but we're not all equal. Just 0:05:49.320 --> 0:05:55.159 football Player of All Time six minute Hall of Fame 0:05:55.320 --> 0:05:59.000 speech and in it you trace back your family's roots, 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:03.720 going act to your great great great grandfather George Thomlinson, 0:06:04.160 --> 0:06:07.080 who came to this country on a slave ship some 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:11.400 a hundred and seventy years ago from West Africa. At 0:06:11.520 --> 0:06:16.160 what point did you decide, Hey, I am going to 0:06:16.160 --> 0:06:20.799 share this with everybody my official story. I probably really 0:06:20.839 --> 0:06:26.880 didn't come to say I'm absolutely doing it until about 0:06:27.320 --> 0:06:31.120 maybe a month a month before the Hall of Fame. 0:06:31.400 --> 0:06:34.800 So after my football life, you know, I had a 0:06:34.800 --> 0:06:37.279 lot of people around this country coming up to me, 0:06:37.800 --> 0:06:40.279 you know, saying how much day in joy my football life, 0:06:40.360 --> 0:06:43.000 and it meant so much for them to see that story, 0:06:43.120 --> 0:06:46.960 and you know it, it helped them and all the 0:06:47.080 --> 0:06:51.839 great responses from that football. So you know, I started 0:06:51.839 --> 0:06:53.800 to think, man, you know, I need to talk more 0:06:53.800 --> 0:06:56.800 about this when it truly means to me, you know. 0:06:57.240 --> 0:07:00.520 And so I had thought of abut it for a 0:07:00.600 --> 0:07:03.560 long time, you know, uh, and going back and forth 0:07:03.640 --> 0:07:05.520 in you know, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna talk 0:07:05.520 --> 0:07:07.919 about it, and then said, no, I don't think I 0:07:07.920 --> 0:07:10.800 should talk about it. But I woke up one morning 0:07:10.880 --> 0:07:13.520 I just had an overwhear and feeling that I had to, like, 0:07:13.640 --> 0:07:16.480 I had to talk about it and say and tell 0:07:16.560 --> 0:07:19.040 people what it actually meant to me, because I felt 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:22.600 like this was something that would help so many people, 0:07:22.640 --> 0:07:26.240 and so many people in this country have the same 0:07:26.280 --> 0:07:30.160 story I do and have struggled with that story. And 0:07:30.360 --> 0:07:34.360 so it came out, and and I was really proud 0:07:34.480 --> 0:07:37.720 of the way, um, you know, it came out, and 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:40.680 also the response that I got from it. Well, listen, 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:44.680 I encourage everybody in JAT nation who is listening, everybody 0:07:44.680 --> 0:07:47.280 who subscribes to the podcast, and go back and listen 0:07:47.320 --> 0:07:51.400 to your speech, because that was inspirational and and this 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:54.960 moment with this country struggling with a lot of issues, 0:07:55.280 --> 0:07:59.880 I thought that was courageous of you to challenge everybody 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:04.880 to try to make this the best team by working 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:10.160 together and living together representing the highest ideals of mankind. 0:08:10.680 --> 0:08:13.760 Those are your words. I thought. I thought that was 0:08:13.840 --> 0:08:17.880 a fantastic speech, and you know, it was a time 0:08:18.360 --> 0:08:21.440 and I still think people should It should resonate with 0:08:21.480 --> 0:08:25.440 people more than ever Nowadayia, Yeah, I mean, I think, 0:08:25.600 --> 0:08:29.800 you know, we need to understand in today's generation. You know, 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:33.280 this is a very important time in our country, UM, 0:08:33.559 --> 0:08:36.240 and we need to come together as a country and 0:08:36.320 --> 0:08:39.160 be strong. You know, we gotta look around and see 0:08:39.200 --> 0:08:42.240 what's happening in the world and the other nations, and 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:46.840 you know, um, the different conflicts that our country has 0:08:46.920 --> 0:08:51.120 happened with other countries. UM. And so that's why it's 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:56.120 more important now to to have you know, this team America, 0:08:56.360 --> 0:08:59.960 so that we do represent the greatest ideas of mankind. 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:03.200 And that's the most important thing for all about charity. 0:09:03.679 --> 0:09:05.760 I know you touched on it a little bit. You 0:09:05.760 --> 0:09:08.560 said that you've had this overwhelming feeling that you had 0:09:08.640 --> 0:09:11.440 to tell your story and just a second what he said. 0:09:11.440 --> 0:09:13.480 I watched the entirety of your speech, and I was 0:09:14.000 --> 0:09:16.000 captivated from the minute it started to the minute and 0:09:16.200 --> 0:09:19.160 it ended. But when you woke up, you know, can 0:09:19.200 --> 0:09:22.080 you try to describe the emotions of what it was 0:09:22.120 --> 0:09:24.560 that you felt like you need to tell the story 0:09:24.600 --> 0:09:26.840 as opposed to just maybe I should maybe I shouldn't. 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:28.559 And then all of a sudden, I know you talked 0:09:28.600 --> 0:09:32.600 about it, but what was the emotion like, Well, I'll 0:09:32.600 --> 0:09:36.920 tell you what I'm You know, I'm a spiritual person. Um, 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:39.840 you know, I was raised you know, it's just you know, 0:09:39.960 --> 0:09:43.040 to be a spiritual person. I believe in God. You know, 0:09:43.080 --> 0:09:47.319 I'm a Christian man, and so, um. You know I 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:52.320 lost my father when I was you know, after my 0:09:52.440 --> 0:09:55.679 sixth year in the NFL. Uncle that all season, right 0:09:55.679 --> 0:09:58.920 after the season, lost my father, seventy one years old 0:09:59.000 --> 0:10:02.920 at the time. But you know I never met my grandfather. 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:06.160 You know, my dad's dad never met him. You know, 0:10:06.360 --> 0:10:10.679 my dad never met his grandfather. And so but I 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:14.760 heard stories about my grandfather and my great grandfather, and 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:18.920 so when I woke up that morning, the spirit that 0:10:19.000 --> 0:10:23.760 I had was from them saying, you know, speak speak 0:10:23.800 --> 0:10:26.599 for us. You know, this is what we want. I 0:10:26.960 --> 0:10:29.719 can't describe the feeling that you have inside when it's 0:10:29.800 --> 0:10:33.360 overwhelming and something that's is weighing down on you to 0:10:33.520 --> 0:10:37.040 do something, you know, to speak for them, uh, to 0:10:37.120 --> 0:10:40.559 speak for my father. That's that's the feeling I had. 0:10:40.600 --> 0:10:43.040 That's when I knew I had to do it, um. 0:10:43.360 --> 0:10:45.760 And that's kind of what I went through. I mean, 0:10:45.800 --> 0:10:48.920 that was the overwhelming I'll tell you this. After I 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:51.360 got done with the speech, For one, I don't know 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:54.120 how I held it together turn that speech without shooting 0:10:54.120 --> 0:10:58.240 the yeah yeah. But I'll tell you this, Eric, when 0:10:58.240 --> 0:11:02.480 I walked off that stage and I got behind the stage, 0:11:02.559 --> 0:11:06.400 I cried for fifteen minutes. I cried for fifteen minutes. 0:11:06.520 --> 0:11:09.560 I could not I could not contain myself. You know. 0:11:09.640 --> 0:11:12.559 Lorenz O'Neil was there to you know, to to help, 0:11:13.120 --> 0:11:16.880 you know, and and hugged me and and Antonio Gates 0:11:17.200 --> 0:11:20.280 those guys. But I just it was like the spirit 0:11:20.320 --> 0:11:22.959 of my dad and my grandfather and my great grandfather 0:11:23.000 --> 0:11:25.680 and my great great they were all there with me 0:11:25.880 --> 0:11:30.119 at that time. Well listen, Uh, it was an awesome 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:33.600 celebration of your career. And the great thing now, Buddy, 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:37.800 is anybody's going to can't know how they go in there. 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:41.880 For generations to come, they'll be able to see you 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:45.800 in those football highlights, but also the words that you 0:11:45.960 --> 0:11:49.960 put out there and talked about your family and the 0:11:50.080 --> 0:11:52.800 unity that we needed this country, and I thought that 0:11:52.880 --> 0:11:56.080 was really powerful. And speaking of powerful, you were a 0:11:56.120 --> 0:11:59.480 passionate player, tremendous career with the Chargers. I don't want 0:11:59.480 --> 0:12:01.880 to talk to much about the Chargers, but you're a 0:12:01.920 --> 0:12:04.199 couple of years a round here with the Jazz, did 0:12:04.240 --> 0:12:07.319 some really good things. How much do you enjoy playing 0:12:07.640 --> 0:12:12.520 in New York during that time? I enjoyed it tremendously. 0:12:12.840 --> 0:12:15.400 I tell people all the time. You know, I don't 0:12:15.400 --> 0:12:18.800 think I could have went to a better place my 0:12:18.920 --> 0:12:22.200 last two years. Um, you know, to go to a 0:12:22.240 --> 0:12:25.680 totally different coast, a totally different you know, kind of 0:12:26.080 --> 0:12:29.199 brand of football that if you will, on the East 0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:32.480 Coast and with what those fans, you know, what they 0:12:32.559 --> 0:12:35.760 mean to to the Jets, not only the Jets, but 0:12:35.840 --> 0:12:38.360 the East Coast period. The way the fans are on 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:41.760 the East Coast, they're very passionate. They're allowed, you know, 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:46.079 and they're into it. They love it. Uh. They really represent, 0:12:46.679 --> 0:12:49.480 you know, the passion of America. Where we talked about 0:12:49.600 --> 0:12:53.400 football is America's passion. Where I see that on the 0:12:53.440 --> 0:12:56.960 East Coast, you know, from those fans. So that was 0:12:57.120 --> 0:12:59.839 you know, that was incredible and they accepted me. And 0:13:00.520 --> 0:13:03.400 even now I go back and it's the same. You know, 0:13:03.520 --> 0:13:07.000 I fans around you know town when I was there, 0:13:07.640 --> 0:13:10.200 when I was there on um I got there last 0:13:10.200 --> 0:13:14.000 Wednesday before the game. Obviously did the game on Thursday, 0:13:14.440 --> 0:13:17.480 but I wrote the subway on Wednesday evening and and 0:13:17.559 --> 0:13:21.400 you know, people started asking me for photos and you know, 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:24.280 signing autographs and they were just like, man, we enjoyed 0:13:24.320 --> 0:13:27.160 your time with the Jets, you know, thank you for coming. 0:13:27.520 --> 0:13:30.439 And I'm like, no, thank you for accepting me. And 0:13:30.840 --> 0:13:34.640 really your cheers inspired me. And that's that's the way 0:13:34.679 --> 0:13:36.800 I felt when I first came. I felt to love 0:13:37.280 --> 0:13:39.719 but also I enjoyed the brand of football that we 0:13:39.880 --> 0:13:43.040 played the Jets. I mean, we really had a good team. 0:13:43.480 --> 0:13:46.079 We you know, we got along, we challenged each other, 0:13:46.160 --> 0:13:48.839 and it was just a great situation. And I'll tell 0:13:48.880 --> 0:13:52.160 you what, that's has something about you. You didn't have anybody, 0:13:52.280 --> 0:13:54.040 You don't have a driver come pick you up or 0:13:54.040 --> 0:13:59.440 even uber. Yeah, you know, when you're moving around the 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:02.720 city times it's hard to just have a job. You 0:14:02.800 --> 0:14:05.240 might as well, just, um, you know, do what the 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:09.120 people are doing. You're about the subway and everybody must 0:14:09.160 --> 0:14:11.240 have had their phones out. You know, it probably did 0:14:11.280 --> 0:14:14.880 a couple of thousand photos during a three stop move 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:19.160 our city's transportation. We talked about it many times, but 0:14:19.360 --> 0:14:21.400 I gotta bring it up because Jets fans will be 0:14:21.400 --> 0:14:27.880 delighted to reminisce about this. The divisional playoff win against 0:14:28.000 --> 0:14:32.280 New England. After you guys and went Indianapolis and beat 0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:35.040 Petty Manning in his house a final week, you go 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:38.200 to New England, beat Tom Brady, Bill Belijack and company. 0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:41.640 I'll never forget you walking in the tunnel with the 0:14:41.760 --> 0:14:44.920 tears in your eyes. Just how much did that mean 0:14:44.960 --> 0:14:51.160 to you? Uh? It meant a lot um too. You know. 0:14:51.200 --> 0:14:54.040 I felt like my career at that point had come 0:14:54.160 --> 0:14:57.720 full circle. Um, you know, one of the biggest games 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:01.160 of my life with the charges, the championship game, not 0:15:01.320 --> 0:15:03.920 being able to play, you know, from a from a 0:15:03.960 --> 0:15:08.640 spraying mcl um and and just feeling helpless at that moment, 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:13.440 you know, um, that I couldn't play two now here 0:15:13.520 --> 0:15:17.080 at the end of my career, have another opportunity to 0:15:17.080 --> 0:15:20.280 to help my team move on in one of the 0:15:20.320 --> 0:15:24.160 biggest games of my career. To be able to do that, uh, 0:15:24.200 --> 0:15:27.880 you know, it just felt like I, um, you know, 0:15:27.920 --> 0:15:33.000 I just I don't even I can't even explain the feeling, 0:15:33.240 --> 0:15:36.200 you know, the emotions that you go through because it 0:15:36.400 --> 0:15:39.000 is a as a as a player, and we we 0:15:39.160 --> 0:15:42.800 really do, um, you know, hurt with the losses. You know, 0:15:42.880 --> 0:15:46.040 we we really do. When when we win, it's great, 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:48.640 but you're always thinking about the next one. And so 0:15:48.720 --> 0:15:53.160 football is not just physically challenging, it's mentally challenging because 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:56.480 you've got to be able to overcome losses, tough losses, 0:15:56.520 --> 0:15:59.120 and pick yourself up and think about next week when 0:15:59.160 --> 0:16:01.920 in fact you're deal kind of thinking about last week. 0:16:02.360 --> 0:16:04.880 And so to be able to get through that moment 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:07.000 where I felt so low, not being able to help 0:16:07.000 --> 0:16:09.800 my achieve to ben being you know, at one of 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:12.480 the highest moments of my life. But when we beat 0:16:12.520 --> 0:16:15.880 the Patriots when I was with the Jets, I mean, 0:16:15.960 --> 0:16:19.200 that's what to me, football is all about. And and 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:22.640 quite honestly, that's what life is all about, right because 0:16:22.640 --> 0:16:25.560 you're gonna feel down sometimes, you're gonna feel you know, 0:16:25.600 --> 0:16:27.600 like things are not going right, but you gotta pick 0:16:27.640 --> 0:16:30.880 yourself up and find that that next challenge to be 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:35.600 able to overcome it. Yeah, listen, you rushed for yards 0:16:35.640 --> 0:16:37.840 that first season with the Jets in two thousand ten, 0:16:38.160 --> 0:16:41.600 and I remember it. The stats might not point it out, 0:16:41.640 --> 0:16:45.160 but you could have went four thousand, but instead you 0:16:45.400 --> 0:16:48.560 and Rex decided, hey, listen, it's gonna be better off 0:16:48.600 --> 0:16:50.520 to get you ready for the playoffs. And that was 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:53.560 the right move to ever think about that SEC championship 0:16:53.600 --> 0:16:58.960 game in Pittsburgh because speaking of full circle, Ladinian, you 0:16:59.040 --> 0:17:02.160 were gonna you are destined to go back to Texas 0:17:02.360 --> 0:17:06.720 and playing a super Bowl for the first time, you know, Yeah, 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:11.280 it did seem like that, and you know it, um, 0:17:11.440 --> 0:17:13.919 you know, it's funny because when you're going through you 0:17:14.119 --> 0:17:17.120 you really believe that it's supposed to happen, you know, 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:20.560 and I guess it's it's really kind of crushing when 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:23.880 it doesn't happen, because you you know, you questioned, like, man, 0:17:23.960 --> 0:17:26.919 this was supposed to happen, Like what the heck? But 0:17:27.520 --> 0:17:30.480 I'll tell you it was. It was a great game 0:17:30.560 --> 0:17:33.720 that you know, against Pittsburgh there and I just think 0:17:33.760 --> 0:17:36.320 about the start we had, you know, the start really 0:17:36.440 --> 0:17:38.560 kind of heard us. We we didn't get off to 0:17:38.640 --> 0:17:41.359 a good start in Pittsburgh. Jumped out on us. But 0:17:41.440 --> 0:17:45.199 then we came rowing back, we did, and we falled 0:17:45.200 --> 0:17:47.960 and just this came up a little short. I'll say, 0:17:47.960 --> 0:17:50.520 we ran out of time. You know, that's what we 0:17:50.560 --> 0:17:53.560 didn't get it. You're right about that. Listen. You're in 0:17:53.800 --> 0:17:56.800 NFL analysts for the last couple of years and we 0:17:56.880 --> 0:18:00.439 watch you out there in southern California. But about this 0:18:00.520 --> 0:18:03.520 Jets team that was left for dead before the start 0:18:03.600 --> 0:18:07.680 of the season, and what Todd Bulls has got working 0:18:07.800 --> 0:18:11.080 for them right now because they've already we'll see what 0:18:11.119 --> 0:18:14.040 the Ruttors have done in the year. They've already exceeded 0:18:14.080 --> 0:18:18.359 a lot of expectations externally, but internally, Ladinian, they're saying, 0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:21.000 we haven't done anything yet in Todd Bowls, that we 0:18:21.080 --> 0:18:25.440 have another gear in us. Yeah, and I think this 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:30.240 is just kind of the coaching of Todd Bowls and 0:18:30.240 --> 0:18:33.399 and how good he really is as a coach, you know, 0:18:33.760 --> 0:18:36.760 And and you know, you look at Todd's demeanor, it's 0:18:36.840 --> 0:18:40.880 always the same, you know, It's always about business. It's 0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:44.280 always about the next challenge, the next step, not getting 0:18:44.320 --> 0:18:46.760 too high, not getting too low. And if you look 0:18:46.800 --> 0:18:49.520 at all the great coaches in the past and even 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:52.800 in in in today's game, most of them they have 0:18:52.960 --> 0:18:56.119 that quality. You know, they're they're leader of men, but 0:18:56.560 --> 0:18:59.520 they never allow themselves to get too higher, too low. 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:03.520 So in essence, you know, the locker room, your players there, 0:19:03.560 --> 0:19:07.280 they all reflection of the coach. And so that's what 0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:10.440 I've seen in this team, a team that's gonna keep balloting. 0:19:10.640 --> 0:19:12.840 You know, they're they're not gonna worry about what they 0:19:12.920 --> 0:19:15.159 don't have and and other things that are going on. 0:19:15.480 --> 0:19:18.760 They just focused on the task and that's why they're winning. 0:19:18.960 --> 0:19:21.800 You know, that's why they're surprising some people and winning 0:19:21.800 --> 0:19:24.200 games that most people probably don't think they should win. 0:19:24.280 --> 0:19:27.320 It is because of the coaching, but also give credit 0:19:27.359 --> 0:19:31.480 to those players who really believe in what they have 0:19:31.880 --> 0:19:34.640 right now, what they what they are building. So you're 0:19:34.680 --> 0:19:38.480 here last week for Jetts Bills Thursday night football, and 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:42.040 you digest the game very differently than the average fan 0:19:42.200 --> 0:19:45.680 that I do. And so from your perspective, what are 0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:48.600 some of the things that you like about this Jets team. Well, 0:19:49.200 --> 0:19:52.159 I think the strength of the team is the defensive line. 0:19:52.560 --> 0:19:57.199 Um you have guys. More Wilkinson is obviously, you know, 0:19:57.480 --> 0:20:00.600 the premier player in the National Football League at defency 0:20:00.640 --> 0:20:03.840 and position. You know, Uh, they move them all around 0:20:03.840 --> 0:20:06.359 the line, and then you got Leonard Williams there. Those 0:20:06.359 --> 0:20:09.480 two guys together, I mean that it's difficult for any 0:20:09.520 --> 0:20:13.399 offensive line to deal with them. But then you couple 0:20:13.520 --> 0:20:17.120 that with um, their ability to be around the football 0:20:17.160 --> 0:20:22.680 and calls turnovers and and just keep grinding. Um, that's 0:20:22.720 --> 0:20:24.760 what I like about them. They're always gonna be in 0:20:24.760 --> 0:20:27.160 the game because of that defense. But at the same time, 0:20:27.280 --> 0:20:30.880 Josh McCown has played some terrific football now and you're 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:33.520 starting to get the run game going, and to me, 0:20:34.440 --> 0:20:36.600 the offense is so much better when they can have 0:20:36.680 --> 0:20:40.000 the run game going and they have that balance. Um, 0:20:40.119 --> 0:20:43.880 they really can be difficult to stop. Those receivers boys 0:20:43.720 --> 0:20:47.480 have really done a great job. Emerson encouraged those guys 0:20:47.480 --> 0:20:51.080 have been impressive. Uh. And so it's just it's a 0:20:51.080 --> 0:20:53.639 team that's gonna continue to battle. They're gonna surprise a 0:20:53.640 --> 0:20:56.879 lot of people. How special relationship do you have with 0:20:56.920 --> 0:20:59.680 bilal pol You just mentioned the running game, and I'm 0:20:59.680 --> 0:21:02.320 not a pairing anybody to you. I would never do that. 0:21:02.359 --> 0:21:06.040 But I'm just gonna talk about explosion and vision and 0:21:06.119 --> 0:21:09.960 the way he presses the whole and has an opportunity 0:21:10.119 --> 0:21:14.080 or has the patience and then the vision to bounce 0:21:14.200 --> 0:21:18.600 things and to cut Um. You knew below early on 0:21:18.840 --> 0:21:21.480 in his career and he still to this day looks 0:21:21.560 --> 0:21:24.360 up to you. How special is your relationship with him? 0:21:24.800 --> 0:21:29.160 And how happy are you with the way he's developed 0:21:29.200 --> 0:21:33.000 over the years. Yeah, with our relationship. He started his 0:21:33.119 --> 0:21:36.920 rookie year when he came in. We built the relationship then, 0:21:37.440 --> 0:21:41.480 you know, because the Land was a kid that you know, 0:21:41.600 --> 0:21:44.320 wanted to learn. You know, he wanted to know everything 0:21:44.440 --> 0:21:48.040 that he that he had to know, um about playing 0:21:48.040 --> 0:21:51.119 the National Football League and how to sustain playing in 0:21:51.119 --> 0:21:54.440 the National Football League and so um. You know, I 0:21:54.880 --> 0:21:58.000 gave him as much advice as I could. I told 0:21:58.040 --> 0:22:01.919 him everything that that he wanted to know, um and so. 0:22:02.920 --> 0:22:05.600 But the thing that he had was to work at 0:22:05.960 --> 0:22:07.639 you know, you can see him as a young he 0:22:07.920 --> 0:22:10.359 would work on it. He would staff to practice, he 0:22:10.560 --> 0:22:13.359 watched film, he would take notes, you know, and so 0:22:14.320 --> 0:22:18.000 digesting all of all of that, you know, even seeing 0:22:18.520 --> 0:22:21.320 high practice and some of the other guys on the 0:22:21.359 --> 0:22:23.640 team and the way. I guess I went a by 0:22:23.680 --> 0:22:25.879 my business. I'm sure it was. It was a great 0:22:26.000 --> 0:22:29.240 learning experience for him. And now you see it all 0:22:29.280 --> 0:22:31.639 starting to come, you know, come to a head and 0:22:31.680 --> 0:22:36.080 come to fruition his talent what he can do. Because 0:22:36.680 --> 0:22:39.840 for one, he's an excellent football player, but he's smart 0:22:40.280 --> 0:22:42.960 and so that's why he's able to to do so 0:22:43.000 --> 0:22:45.399 many things on the football too. He's able to handle 0:22:45.480 --> 0:22:47.920 bigs pick ups, he's able to run rout out the 0:22:47.960 --> 0:22:51.560 back field, he's able to run the ball inside out. Um. 0:22:51.600 --> 0:22:53.639 You know, he has a physical ability, but he's a 0:22:53.680 --> 0:22:56.440 smart player. And so I'm just so proud of it. 0:22:57.040 --> 0:22:59.520 I've seen him progress over the years and just been 0:22:59.640 --> 0:23:02.879 so prowle that, Um, he's done the job that he 0:23:02.960 --> 0:23:06.639 has done. Um, and you know, quite honestly, you know, 0:23:06.800 --> 0:23:09.320 he just keeps on to me, he keeps getting better. 0:23:09.480 --> 0:23:13.080 That run the other night was incredible when broke both 0:23:13.160 --> 0:23:16.800 tackles and many people miss and almost got to the 0:23:16.920 --> 0:23:18.639 end zone and it was it was just it was 0:23:18.680 --> 0:23:20.840 just so nice to see it, you know. Yeah, And 0:23:20.840 --> 0:23:23.840 I think he's an underrated downhill runner because he doesn't 0:23:23.880 --> 0:23:26.080 fool around while she'll press that hole and if it's 0:23:26.119 --> 0:23:29.840 not there, then whole bounce. But he gets downhill in 0:23:29.880 --> 0:23:32.520 a hurry. What do you think about the committee? John 0:23:32.560 --> 0:23:35.480 Morton's got going in the way he's implementing all those 0:23:35.480 --> 0:23:38.320 backs because we'd be remiss if we didn't match in 0:23:38.400 --> 0:23:41.040