1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: the Falcons in Focus podcast, brought to you by Ticketmaster, 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: recorded in the Ticketmaster studio. I'm Scott Barret. That's Tory mclaney, 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: Guest of honor, David on Yamada. What's up? Brand new 5 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: Falcons Defensive Tackle, Human wrecking Crew half Human wrecking Crew, 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: half Tasmanian Devil. It's sort of a combination of that. 7 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: He just signed a new contract, signed on the dotted 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: line with the Atlanta Falcons, and I know so many 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: people in the atl are stoked. So many people across 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: the NFL say this is gonna be a good spot. 11 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: You know who's not real happy about this deal? You 12 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: know who's really mad about this. I don't think Kim 13 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: Jordan's really all that thrilled. He put on social media 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: and he was like, wait a minute, where my partner go. 15 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: Kim seems like, I know we're with the Falcons, he's 16 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: with the but it seems like a fun guy to 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: hang out with, you know what I mean. I'm sure 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: he's happy for you, but I'm sure he's not real 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: thrilled to not work with That's he's a great friend, 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: a great friend, great individual, you know, but then it's 21 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: like it happens over Tom, you know what things happen. Yeah, 22 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: that's family at the end of the day. Still it's 23 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 1: funny just because it's like it's like the Terry found 24 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: Now it's just went and like he went and got you, 25 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: he went and got k Nell as he went and 26 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: of course got Ryan Nielsen. It's like, can't we're just 27 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: making Cam Jordan matter matter, mad Cam Jordan is not 28 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: what people want. But for you what what was it 29 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: like playing with Cam? Oh? It was great. You know 30 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: I played with him since my since my rookie year, 31 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: and you know what you're seeing seeing what kind of 32 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: player and what kind of player he is, and Kim 33 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: just you know, showing you how to be a professional 34 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: in this league. And he approached to his approach to 35 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: the off season or his approach to the the games, 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: like you kind of just learned from that because he's 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: he's done at that level, that this high, at the 38 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: highest level for it. He's the entirety of his career, 39 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,839 Speaker 1: you know. So that's that's that's that's one of them 40 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: things I kind of you know, got from got from him. 41 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: But he's he's family at the end of the day. Yeah. Yeah, 42 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: And you said that you've been working with Cam since 43 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: your rookie year. You've been working with Ryan Nielsen since 44 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: your rookie year, second your second year. Yeah, he was 45 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: drafted in twenty sixteen, Ryan Neilson twenty seventeen, seventeen. And uh, 46 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: I'm sure you've been as slot. You're you're reuniting with 47 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: with with Ryan Nielsen. What's that like? We want to 48 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: know some we want to know what he's like in 49 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: the defensive line room. We want I've heard the word 50 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: in tense throwing around. Let's see in the deal, he's 51 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,839 Speaker 1: he's a you know, he's a he's a players coach 52 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: at the end of the day. But at the same time, 53 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: you you you you have to do things right. You 54 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: have to do things right the way it's the way 55 00:02:57,680 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: it's drawn up, the way it's you know, the way 56 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: it's being presented, because he does such a hard he 57 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: does such a good job of understanding schemes. Yeah, like 58 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: he's he's one of the great minds. Like he knows schemes, 59 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: like he he easily told you this is a just 60 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: gap scheme. This is you know, like he's that kind 61 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: of coach and you know, Danny, it comes down to 62 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: the player of taking the information and using it. Yeah, 63 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: that's that's the other thing, you know. But he gets 64 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: he gets firy, you know, he gets fired. You see 65 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: him on the sideline. He gets fired, and he loves it, 66 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: you know he does. So that's that's the other thing. 67 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: He has the red hair, So I feel like everything 68 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: just let him, let him go out. I don't let 69 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: him go out. Did you see he gets in twenty twenty, 70 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: he got the beard going and everything got a little longer. Yeah, 71 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: the hair too, was all there, like he gets fired. Yeah, 72 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: he's a defensive coordinator now. So I feel like y'all, 73 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: y'all kind of like have grown together. Yeah, we've we've been. 74 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: We've been and we've been. We've been in the same 75 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: in the same room for so long, you know, like 76 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: I've spending six years with him in the same room, 77 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, and here to spend a couple more years 78 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: with him as well. So you know, I appreciate him 79 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: and I kind of you know, no one's expected and 80 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: did that. Yeah, And I mean, let me look at 81 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: the statue, like it must be a pretty good partnership 82 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: when you look at the right amount of pressure and 83 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: the fresh percentage and all that fun stuff. Um, your backstory. 84 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, we we really want to get into your backstory. 85 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: I mean born in Lagos, Nigeria and lived there until 86 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: you're eighteen nineteen years, yeah, eighteen, and then moved by 87 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: yourself to Winnipeg in two thousand and eleven. I mean, 88 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: let's not even get to Winnipeg yet, Like we'll get 89 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: we'll get to that point, but tell us a little 90 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: bit about But it was like to grow up in 91 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: your young adults you're basically your whole childhood and young 92 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,479 Speaker 1: adult years in Nigeria. It was great. You know, I 93 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: come from I come from a family of six kids. 94 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: I'm the last kid actually, but also the biggest. All right, 95 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: I guess so that, but I'm also the last kid. 96 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 1: I'm the last one, and uh, you know, went to 97 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: I went to high school back home, just like every 98 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: year the high school board in school, you know, like 99 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: that's kind of like the that's kind of like the 100 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: norm back home. And once that was done, it got 101 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: to the point of where do you want to go 102 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: for college? Because I got a couple of my siblings 103 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: that went to the UK and uh. I had. One 104 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: of my sisters was in Canada at that point, but 105 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: she was in uh Kamloops that's kind of close to 106 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: uh that's in British Columbia, closer Vancouver, so she was 107 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 1: up there. My parents kind of knew what, you know, 108 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: what Canada was like that point, so it was like, Okay, 109 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: you're either going to UK or you're going to Canada. 110 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: So I guess Canada was a Canada was a spot. 111 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: But then it came down to where I was going 112 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: to get my acceptance letter quicker. Yeah, So and it 113 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: ended up being University of Money Toober and that's basically 114 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: how that started. And I got there twenty eleven. Was 115 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: it May of twenty No, I think it was March 116 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: twenty Wow, Yeah it was. It wasn't that bad. It 117 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: wasn't that bad at that point. It was it was 118 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: like all right, you know, I think it was like 119 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: things are kind of warming up, you know, like snow 120 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: staying melting. Like by the time I got there, you 121 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: could kind of see the ground and so, you know, 122 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: but you kind of see a little ice here and there. 123 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: You kind of you just know something happened. What did 124 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: you don't know what did. But my first couple of 125 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: winters weren't that bad, you know. Then it got to 126 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,560 Speaker 1: like the minus forties for yeah, that that was that 127 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: was tough. But apart from that, when when I got 128 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: there in twenty eleven, Uh, I did my what was 129 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:13,239 Speaker 1: it summer or spring semester. I did that. I took 130 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: classes and just two classes, went home, did that. Then 131 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: it came to fall time and school and you know, 132 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: school started and everything was busy at that point, and 133 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: UH kind of near something else to kind of yeah, 134 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: that's that's that's what it was. And I guess football 135 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: was was was that was that for me. I went 136 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: by my head coach's office at that point and uh, 137 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: kind of just asking me if I could join the 138 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: team because I was wondering. So I went by his 139 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: office to be honest and asking if I could make 140 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: if I could join the team, and he was like, 141 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: you know, you could, you could come out for you know, 142 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: come out for practice tomorrow. And I was out there 143 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: the next day practicing, I guess, not practicing. I was. 144 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: I was busy get on the side, like the rules 145 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: are hyvocated. I nedan't know nothing, Like I was just 146 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: out there like Okay, what's going on? Like I put 147 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: the helmet on my neck, go sore. But that being 148 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: that being said, first year I got I was it 149 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: was this guy are just skinners. He was basically just 150 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 1: out there with me the entire time, you know. So 151 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: we uh we did that my first year. My second 152 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: year kind and stay again and there, you know, stay 153 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: gaining the feel for it, stay gaining in a couple 154 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: of games, and after that, just every year because my 155 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: my my idea too, it was always to improve every year, 156 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: to try and get better something. And that's that's that 157 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: was the approach I took towards it. But I just 158 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: think we're gonna keep going with this. I just think sometimes, 159 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,599 Speaker 1: you know how like when you watch that movie and 160 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: you get to the ending and then you can like 161 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: go backwards and you're like that was the life changing moments. Yeah, 162 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: right that you didn't think about it at the time, right, 163 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: You just wanted to stay on a coach's office. That 164 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,959 Speaker 1: initiative starts you down this path. So you're sitting here 165 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: right now. What intrigued you about the game of football 166 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: enough to go to the head coach and be like, hey, 167 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,320 Speaker 1: I want to try this out. I knew. I knew 168 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: it was that like you come off to play and 169 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: then it got to the point of actually get hit 170 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: people and like you know you kind of and uh, 171 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: just having fun with our friends and just being out 172 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: there and enjoying the game. You know. Do you remember 173 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: the first like football game that you watched, uh, like 174 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: when you got to the game. I think it might 175 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: have been like a like like a yeah, it might 176 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: have been a CFL game. Yeah, I don't remember exactly 177 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: who was playing a right, yeah, but probably it probably 178 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: was aflame. Were you usually starts some new earlier than 179 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: the gotcha? Okay? Were you into any other sports like 180 00:09:56,360 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: growing up in Nigeria soccer? Soccer? Okay, be an Arsenal 181 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: fan back then in the days? But yeah, I don't 182 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: know if i'd want to meet up with him in 183 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:13,360 Speaker 1: the box. Don't sound like a good thing for me. 184 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: You might, you might, you might have me on that lady. 185 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: I'm not true. Yeah, yeah, that doesn't sound like funny, 186 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 1: but yeah, it's just so fascinating. Did you was there 187 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: culture shock at all? Going from one place to the next, 188 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: learning that you're you're doing so much new, right, you're 189 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: doing so much new and you're doing kind of by 190 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: yourself too, Yeah, to a point, because I've kind of 191 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: I've I grew up in the in the sting of 192 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: why I went to boarding school, Like, I've been away 193 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: from home for a long time. That's good. So I've 194 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: been away from home for basically the entire of Mike 195 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: Oh my life, to be honest. But it wasn't really 196 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: that much of a culture shock because my ceilings and 197 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: I kind of went out the visited them while they 198 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: were in the UK. So I kind of was, Yeah, 199 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: I kind of was a little commitied to to be 200 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: in a way. Yeah, yeah, true. Now what let's go 201 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 1: to you. You go to the head coach and you say, 202 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: I want to play football, and you said, you know, 203 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: your goal was to improve yea every year. What was 204 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: the moment for you that you look back on and 205 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: you're like, that was the moment that it all clicked 206 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: for me? Probably my third year? Third year? Yeah, what 207 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: about that year? Really? I just I can't already. So 208 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: I took the time into to actually like understand certain 209 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: like I always want to learn, Like I'm the kind 210 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: of person who's open to learning, and I take probably 211 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: in there and it was just certain plays and certain blocks, 212 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: and that play recognition was just happening so quick, and 213 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: I was like, all right, I guess this is this 214 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: is this is where it's at. You know, like you 215 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: just started moving at such a quick pace because you 216 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: understand a little more. So that's that's what That's what 217 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: it was. And you think about the amount of guys 218 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: that go from a Canadian university to the NFL Draft. 219 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: That's pretty rare, even guy coming from the even guys 220 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:09,719 Speaker 1: coming from the CFL. There's somebody on this team came 221 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: from the CFLD d Alford, but even that's pretty rare. 222 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,359 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden you're the top Canadian 223 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: prospect in the draft, and then the Saints move up 224 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: to get You know, it seems like all of these 225 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,679 Speaker 1: improbable things that you made probable, right, and then all 226 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: of a sudden you find yourself in this position. Right. 227 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: I don't know, there wasn't a dream, right, If we 228 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: go back to I just want to be involved. Then 229 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: as the process picked up and you gained more respect 230 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: and your name got out there, I don't know, like, 231 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: what's that experience like when all of a sudden it 232 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: becomes real like this and player, right, you think you 233 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: can have like a career out of this. You just 234 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: I guess every I just kind of took every opportunity 235 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: around with it, like just going the Shrine game. Like 236 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: going the Shrine game I think was the biggest. Uh 237 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: was was like the biggest show out opportunity I had. 238 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: And just having having teams and scouts at least like 239 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: she walk kind of player I was, and she you know, 240 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: like a guy from Canada playing again some of the 241 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: guys in the in the in the I went into 242 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: colleges up here, you know. So that that was that 243 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: was something that was something different and I think that 244 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: kind of picked up really good. And uh, because I 245 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: had a pro day. It was basically the pro day 246 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: is another story for usself. I tell you that's another 247 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: story for usself. I had a pro day and uh 248 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: what it might have been like sixteen teams that were 249 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: there and they came out there in Canada. That kind 250 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: of was like, oh, these there's really interest across the 251 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: bother you know. Wow. So all of a sudden you 252 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: go out for your pro day and you're like, man, 253 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: there are a bunch of guys. Yeah, Like I'm meeting 254 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: with scouts. There's two. There were two D line coaches there. 255 00:13:55,720 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 1: My old D line coach from the Saints and it 256 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: was another D line coach. I think it was from 257 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: the Raiders. I can't remember to be exact, but you know, 258 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: you had two coaches there all the way from the US. 259 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: Some of these guys has never been too Canada. And 260 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: it was funny, like it was just pitched. You couldn't 261 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: even see the car in front of you. Shot bad, 262 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: but you know, like just having they took the they 263 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: took the time to actually come out there and uh 264 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: for that. Yeah, so like all of a sudden it 265 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: becomes it becomes real. Yeah, it becomes a real thing. 266 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: Like you know, there's there's interesting, there's there's there are 267 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: actually people are looking at you and probably he could 268 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: be he could be somewhere. Yeah. It was interesting because 269 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: I was doing when we were doing research um for 270 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: this podcast. Uh, I was reading. I was I like 271 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: went back and I was looking at articles that were 272 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: written around the time that the Saints drafted you, and 273 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: the words that were used to describe the pick was 274 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: very interesting to me because they somebody said it was 275 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: a head scratcher. Some one said that you were kind 276 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: of a mystery man. No one really knew that much 277 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: about you. Kind of think putting yourself back in in 278 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: you know, twenty sixteen, you in those shoes, was that 279 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: almost like a chip on your shoulder type of thing, 280 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: Like they don't know much about me. I'm gonna go 281 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: out here and do something. It's it's always like it's 282 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: it's just about proving myself, right, you know, like I 283 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: don't really people. People have the opinions and they go by. 284 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: You can't really tell someone what to think or how 285 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 1: to go about what they think. It's it's it's what 286 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: you got deep down and who you are deep down. 287 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: That's that's all that matters, you know, Like I saw 288 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: I saw some of them as well, Like even even 289 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: after my first season, I guess one of the it 290 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: might being one of the one of the people that'd 291 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: be like, oh the Saints should could have drafted this 292 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: person that I saw that. I was like, all right, 293 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: you know what, Yes, you have your opinion and you 294 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: go about it. By the end of the dowgs end, 295 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: they'll keep working and just keep going about my business, 296 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: and that's all that matters to me. Yeah, well, then 297 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: let's take us to drafty Saint's trade it up, right, 298 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: Saints trade it up. So tell us about the moment 299 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: when I don't know, like paying us a picture of 300 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: like where you were when the phone lights up. I 301 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: was actually golfing. Are you a good golfer for it? 302 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: It was a friend's birthday, right, yeah, he kind of 303 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: playing the whole golfing trip. But I just I'm like, oh, 304 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm tired seeing at home watching the draft. 305 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: Might as well just go out with him. And I went. 306 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: We went golfing, and while I was out there, I 307 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: got the call and was like, okay, guys, just keep going. 308 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: I'll catch up the golf cart. That's what happened. Wow, 309 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: I mean like normally that story is like my friends, 310 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,680 Speaker 1: I love that. Yeah, honestly, that's honestly, I feel like 311 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 1: that's kind of like the quintessential part of your story. 312 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: It's like I was just golfing, right, and it's it's 313 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: I think when you like you experienced this, like we're 314 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: we're catching up, we're doing research on your background, and 315 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: we think of all these like aha moments, these big moments. 316 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: But it sounds like to you, it's just exactly what 317 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: you said that. Yeah, if there's an opportunity in front 318 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: of me. I'm like, I'm gonna take advantage of it. 319 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: You seem like a roll with the punches guy anyway, right, 320 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 1: Oh this game looks fun. Oh I'm good at it. 321 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: Oh there's people here. I'm in the NFL. Okay, you know, 322 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: like what's the next thing? Right? That is just you know, 323 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 1: a fascinating yeah kind of waiting. What was You're like, 324 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL moment where you were like I've 325 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: made it and you really like felt it a damn 326 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: where I said that I made it. It was sense 327 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: like like when I don't know if you may if 328 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: you had like a specific tackle that you think of 329 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: or a sack or something that you're like, I sacked 330 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 1: this quarterback and like I'm here. No. It was just 331 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: the point where I got to playing against some of 332 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: the people that I've seen on uh. You know, you 333 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: see all the numbers. You'd be like, oh this person 334 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: is that that that? And in your hair You're like, oh, 335 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: they might really beat that. Then I stayed playing people, 336 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, it's not really what they say. I 337 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: was like, all right, I guess I could do that. 338 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: It's like I belong. Ye. Yeah, what was your family's 339 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: reaction to Yeah, all this stuff the draft not because 340 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: they didn't know much about it. You know, my family 341 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: and don't know much about it. Said, they're like, oh, okay, 342 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: Like I guess if that's the rot you're trying to take. 343 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 1: So that's that's what it was. That's what it was earlier. Then. Well, 344 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: now I think they understand it a little more and 345 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: they understand what's what's going on. Yeah, now have they 346 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: had a chance to come to a game, because I 347 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 1: was reading when you were drafted that they from like 348 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: twenty eleven until the time that you were drafted that 349 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 1: they didn't see they've actually never seen to play football. 350 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: They've never seen. Probably hopefully this year, I'll we gotta 351 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: get them to Atlanta. Oh yeah, yeah, welcome. Stopped by 352 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: the podcast. Yeah, well podcastle's aw you from, don't tell 353 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: you the story from their own phone exactly. Honestly, we're looking. Yeah, 354 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: their point of view might be really interesting because they're like, 355 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: he told us that he was going to play football, 356 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 1: and now he's making money doing it. What is just 357 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: like we asked you about. Ryan Nielsen asked, that's exactly 358 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: how it works. Oh man, this is so fun. I 359 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: love this. Yeah, so I guess just to like wrap up, Yeah, 360 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: because we do something called rapid fire. Um, so we're 361 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: going to ask you five questions to wrap up, and 362 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, some of these questions we recycle some of 363 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: them a little, a little off the wall. Sir, you ready, 364 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: let's go, all right? Your favorite play of your career, 365 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: favorite player of my career. I think it was I 366 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: don't even think it was my play, to be honest. 367 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: It was a one on Cam Newton when he kind 368 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: of ran into my chest and was out for a 369 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: little bit. Run the clip. That's a good one. It 370 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: is a good when he ran into my chest. Yeah, 371 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 1: that still counts as a player. It does count as 372 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: a play. Yeah, you were involved. I was involved to 373 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: a point. Yeah. Well, I mean you could have fallen 374 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: when you probably is there a TV show of a 375 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: movie that you love or that you're binging right now? Anything. 376 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: I just go with the flow, like I watched, I 377 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: go on Netflix and watch you know what's on there, 378 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: just kind of I'm not really watching that show. I'm 379 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: not watch an initial right now, to be honest. I'm 380 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: just going there and watch the movies or the comedy specials. Yeah, yeah, 381 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: I love the comedy special I'm a big fan of 382 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: just like turning them on, like while I'm cleaning or something, cackling. 383 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: All right, who is your favorite player growing up? Regardless 384 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: of favorite player growing up? Terry Harry, Oh that's a 385 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: good one, okay, French striker, Yeah, absolute, yeah, Menace. I 386 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: was hoping that you were going to say, like a 387 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: soccer player. Yeah, and he made Arsenal what they were back. Yeah, 388 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: that's that's why I twenty years to get back to 389 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: the welcome back to this year. Finally, have you played 390 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 1: in the UK when you were with the Saints. Yeah, 391 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: I've played twice. Actually yeah, So did you get a 392 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: chance to see like in Arsenal game schedules prey packed 393 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 1: the last time the last time I was up there, 394 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: I think we're trying to go see a game, but 395 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: it was on Saturday and yeah, okay, this is gonna 396 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 1: be a random Canada question, so I'm sorry. Oh yeah, Starbucks, 397 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're there. Yeah, the question for 398 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: our listeners was it was gonna be Tim Hortons or Starbucks. 399 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: You knew right away. Beams is like a meeting Squoat 400 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: like you're actually going your first day at teams. No way, 401 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: that's the first date location all of your friends north 402 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: of the border, he said, Starbucks. One followed no you 403 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 1: got oh man, I love it. Now. Last question, um, 404 00:22:54,440 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: what is your favorite? Um? Traditional Nigerian food? So it's okay, 405 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: plantain with some chicken or oxtail or something of that sort. Yeah, okay, Yeah, 406 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 1: we got to get the people in the cafeteria to 407 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: whip up something. They have some plantaine. They they knew 408 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: you were coming. We're gonna that's fantastic, and so is 409 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: this podcast. Yeah, guys, thank you so much for joining 410 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: the Falcons in Focus podcast presented by Ticketmaster. Please rate, review, 411 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Falcons Podcast Network. I'm Scott, that's Tori. 412 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:38,680 Speaker 1: This is David. Let's go, let's go.