1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: trusted colleague Weston had Coowits were coming to you hear 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambou Field. West were about a 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: week into training camp and I know a lot of 6 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: fans want to know what's going on with the position 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: battles and competition and all that kind of stuff. The 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: reality is this, the pads go on in training camp 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: shortly after you and I get done taping us. There 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: has not been a padded practice yet. So rather than 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: pontificate on non padded practices, I thought we could actually 12 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: focus this episode on some of the insight that we 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: are getting into veteran players on this roster as they 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: have come into the media auditorium to speak to the 15 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: media at the podium for for an extended period of 16 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: time over the last several days. I'm telling you, fans, 17 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: if you haven't had a chance to go on Packers 18 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: dot com and watch some of these press conferences, you 19 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: will really get a feel for the personalities of some 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: of these players. The players who have been with the 21 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: Packers for several years now and I want to start 22 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: with Marcedes Lewis West because his session with the media 23 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: yesterday was um was as enlightening, as entertaining, as down 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: to earth as maybe one that I have heard in 25 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: quite some time. He is really he's not just a 26 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 1: special football player and a special presence in that locker 27 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: room for the Packers. He's a He's just a really 28 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: really special human. I could sit and listen to him 29 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: talk about football life and leadership all day long. Yeah. 30 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: I think that was pretty much the sentiment of every 31 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: reporter leaving the auditorium. I heard Jason will They say 32 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: that as well as soon as he walked off the 33 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: podium after an eighteen minute news conference on Monday. Listen. 34 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: I touched on this an Insider Inbox on my Tuesday edition. 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: That's him. That's the guy that came into the Packers 36 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: locker room three years ago, and I think just sort 37 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: of blew everybody away, earned the respect of Aaron Rodgers, 38 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: a guy that you know is it's so funny for 39 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: Louis saying over and over again he's not a rock guy. 40 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: Even said I'm not somebody's gonna walk in locker and 41 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: be like, ah, you know, like there can only be 42 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: one Highlander. But the way he conducts himself, he's the 43 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: guy given the pregame speeches after tough losses. He's a 44 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: guy given the postgame speech to the locker room. From 45 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: a player perspective, that's just the way this guy is built. 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: But as you said, I really thoroughly enjoyed this transition 47 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: back to having in person press conferences. Now it's still 48 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: not quite the same as we're just all huddled around 49 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: a guy just kind of being able to shoot the 50 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: breeze a little bit, but it is a big step 51 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: forward from Zoom. And as good as Louis was last 52 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: year on zoom and he still was very thoughtful in 53 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: that capacity, there's something about his energy and the way 54 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,839 Speaker 1: he conducts himself that it just it meshes well, uh, 55 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: human interpersonal communication and just hearing a little bit you'll 56 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: match and even asking that first question, why are you 57 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: still here sixteen years of NFL football and seventeen regular 58 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: season games? What keeps you coming back? And he told 59 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: a really neat story about actually really a sad story 60 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: and uplifting story, but about his mom, who gave birth 61 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: to him at fifteen and seeing everything that she went 62 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: through to help raise him, and how difficult that was, 63 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 1: how nothing he could ever do touches that. Having that 64 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: kind of foundation and that framework, I think that set 65 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: him up for a really humble approach to professional football. 66 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: When you're a first round pick at the tight end 67 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: position in two thousand and six, that isn't always going 68 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: to be a position of humility. But I think because 69 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: of that base, it's allowed him to make adjustments throughout 70 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: the course of his career. That's made it accepting of roles, 71 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: and in this particular case, it's, as you know, the 72 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: wise veteran on this ball club. Yeah, and I think 73 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: it's not even just accepting of roles, but honestly like 74 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: embracing whatever role that he has given because this is 75 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: a guy we've seen him catch a couple of touchdown 76 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: passes here and there. He does get involved in the 77 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: passing game, but it's still very rarely. He he really 78 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: has looked at as as that extra offensive lineman for 79 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: a lot of the running packages. He does a lot 80 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: of the dirty work, and he is counted on to 81 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 1: have that presence in the locker room and especially within 82 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: his own position group. You wrote it's a story on 83 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: our website now that the relationship that's developed between Marcedes 84 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: Lewis and and Robert Tonyan, you know, the mentor mentee, 85 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: but something that you know. And and he's not gonna, 86 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,720 Speaker 1: as you said, he's not the U raw ra guy. 87 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: He's not going to be running out on the field 88 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: and slapping Robert Tonyan on the rear end after a 89 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: touchdown catch or something. But he takes a lot of 90 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: pride in what Tonyan has accomplished because Tonyon is a 91 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: guy who has been in his ear, you know, practically 92 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: from day one, been in his hip pocket to try 93 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: to learn to absorbed, to take in everything he can 94 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: about all of the the different facets of the tight 95 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: end position and how to become a complete pro at 96 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: that position. And you couldn't ask for somebody better than 97 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: Marcedes Lewis to impart that wisdom because he does it. 98 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 1: He does it so willingly and uh and so enthusiastically 99 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: to those guys who are who are asking for Yeah, 100 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: and naturally, you know it's not something that's forced. It's 101 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: something you can tell that he enjoys. And I remember 102 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: sitting down with Tony in back when we used to 103 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: be able to be in the locker room in two 104 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: thousand and eighteen. It was his first training camp when 105 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: he was trying a sort of a long shot to 106 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: make the roster as a number three or number four 107 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: tight end. And I remember him talking about what it's 108 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: been like working with Jimmy Graham in Mercedes Lewis at 109 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: the time, Graham he was working with one of the 110 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: best pass catching tight ends in NFL history. And Lewis, 111 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: who pound for pound for what he does and the 112 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: job that he feels, one of the most well rounded 113 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: tight ends in the modern era. And and he hasn't 114 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: change that perspective. He still enjoys seeking information and Louis 115 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: even touched on it. I mean him going to the 116 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: tight end you thing that Kittle and and Toungya and 117 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: all these tight ends were putting on this offseason in Nashville. 118 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: He enjoyed going there and speaking for twenty minutes because 119 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: the position he plays, the tight end, is one that's 120 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,559 Speaker 1: long been disrespected in the National Football League. The last 121 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: thought I had is as Lewis walked off the podium, 122 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: and this is no disrespect to anybody, but something crossed 123 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: my mind. I thought to myself, how did the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ever, 124 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: let this guy go. I don't care if your record 125 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: is one in fifteen, fifteen and one. You want to 126 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: have Mercedes Lewis in your locker room now. It ended 127 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: up being good for Louis because it gave him a 128 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: chance to have a real legitimate shot here getting that 129 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: Super Bowl ring that's alluded him. But when you have 130 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: a specimen, a human being, a guy that thinks the 131 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: way that Lewis thinks, that that's going to make the 132 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: rest of your football team better. And that's why Lewis, 133 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: at thirty seven years old, he said, the athletic ability 134 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: is gonna wane, it just happens. But his art, his size, 135 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: in his approach to the game that never stops. Yeah, 136 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: and it's and it's second and none quite frankly, and 137 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: a lot of those categories um quickly with serious x M. 138 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the 139 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: minute NFL news that true football fanatics need. Seven three 140 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: sixty five. Well, another veteran player we heard from yesterday, 141 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: and I really enjoyed getting his perspective. And I'm talking 142 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: about Preston Smith because you know, his first year here 143 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: and even a good chunk of last year. Most of 144 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: what we got from Preston media wise was always, you know, 145 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: Preston and Sadarius doing their media thing together. They're really 146 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: good friends. They have a lot of fun with it. 147 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: That's all fine and good. Zadarius Smith currently not practicing. 148 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: He's on the NFI list. Preston spoke with the media 149 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: at at the podium, and you know, he didn't he 150 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: didn't shy away at all from the questions about, you know, 151 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: the lack of productivity sast year. His sacks went from 152 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: he had twelve and twenty nineteen a couple more in 153 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: the playoffs that year too, then he only had four 154 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: last season. He did talk about the fact that, yeah, 155 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: his role changed. Kyler Facrol did a lot of the 156 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: dropping into coverage and whatnot. In twenty nineteen, he was gone. 157 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: He left as a free agent, so in Preston Smith 158 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: was the best guy they had at that position to 159 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: handle some of that. So pass rushing opportunities dwindled. But 160 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: he also said, I don't want to have the same 161 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: season I had last year. He acknowledged that he didn't 162 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: play as well. Um, he knows he can play better. 163 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: He knows he can get back to the form of 164 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, and um, I'll just say this was you know, 165 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: I say it a lot of insider inbox. You never 166 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: underestimate a motivated professional athlete, and Preston Smith looks to 167 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: me like a motivated professional athlete. He very much does. 168 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: And what's interesting, I don't know if it's because it's 169 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: been so long since a lot of these guys have 170 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: had face to face interaction with the media, or the 171 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: fact that you know, they're not being asked to do 172 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: interviews every day, but we've been on the string here 173 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,719 Speaker 1: of like guys having all time press conferences like the 174 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 1: last three or four days. JayR Alexander had one too 175 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: at the end of last week. In my opinion, that 176 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: was Preston Smith's best press conference as a member of 177 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers. Maybe not the most entertaining, but 178 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: I mean in terms of the what came out of it, Yeah, 179 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: the insight that you get. I mean Randall Cobbs last 180 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: week when he was brought back, same type of thing, 181 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: Which is why I wanted to talk about these in 182 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: the show today because they really, they really do. They 183 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: really are giving us members of the media, reporters everybody 184 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: who's listening, the fans who watched the press conferences on 185 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: the website, you really do get a better feel for 186 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: the personalities of these players. And I want to touch 187 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: really quickly on the Kyler facul thing because I know 188 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: some people are going to hear Preston talk about that 189 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: and be like, Oh, that's just an excuse whatever. Go 190 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: back to two thousand and nineteen, Go back to those 191 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: press conferences with the Smith bros. And with Mike Smith 192 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: outside linebackers coach. How many times did they talk about 193 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: what Kyler fac All meant to that group because he 194 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 1: was the one doing a lot of that dirty work. 195 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: He was the one having to pick up those assignments. 196 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: Last year, they didn't have that guy. Rashaan Garry is 197 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: more in that mold of Zadarius Smith where it's a 198 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: lot of there's versatility there, but it's all pretty much 199 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: happening on the defensive front. So Preston Smith had to 200 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: be kind of the guy that picked up that weight. 201 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: So what I my takeaway was when he mentioned this 202 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: is that you know, the question was asked, did you 203 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 1: think after at the end of last season, that could 204 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: be it for you here and He's like no, and 205 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: he he had a line in there. I'm gonna butcher 206 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: it here because I don't have it directly in front 207 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: of me, but basically saying something along the lines of 208 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,199 Speaker 1: I wanted to do what I had to do to 209 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: come back with his contract everything else, because he he 210 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: knew what was in place here in the direction things 211 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: were heading. And Joe Barry, to his credit, at the 212 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: new defensive coordinator. I made the tweet on Monday watching 213 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: him during the team periods just hopping up and down. 214 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 1: That's a guy in what is mid fifties now at 215 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: this point, hopping up and down like a kid as 216 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 1: his defense is getting set and trying to make the 217 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: adjustments to and Roger's adjustments. You can tell these guys 218 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: are motivated by by Barry's message, and in Preston specific case, 219 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: this is a guy he played for before in Washington. 220 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: So I just think with the way that Barry is 221 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: gonna lay this thing out once you get to Darius 222 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: Smith back from the back injury, the direction that Rashawn 223 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: Garry's heading, and in Preston was very complimentary of him 224 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: in that regard. I think those three outside linebackers there's 225 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: gonna be a big opportunity if they can stay healthy 226 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: this year for all three of them make a big impact. Yeah. Well, 227 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: Preston kept it pretty simple. I mean he was asked about, 228 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: you know what, why did you decide to come back? 229 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: He had to accept, you know, a salary reduction, a 230 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: contract restructure with incent all these incentives built in an 231 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: opportunity to win back the money. We've seen that work 232 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: before here by the way, with a guy named Mason Crosby. 233 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: So I'll just throw that out there. But but keptain. 234 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: Preston kept it pretty simple. And then he's like, hey, 235 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: we're right there. You know this team is right there. 236 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: I haven't been to NFC Championship games. I didn't get 237 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: to do that in Washington. I've been to NFC Championship 238 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: games twice in a row. We know we have a 239 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: shot here and um, and you know, I appreciated the 240 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: candor and I love you. You brought the Mason Crosby 241 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: example up. You know, two thousand twelve, things did not 242 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: go his way. Two thousand and thirteen, Mason reduced his salary. 243 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: You're like eight hundred thousand dollars, took millions off his salary. 244 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: But the way they worked the bonuses as he could 245 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: earn every dime back, and he did. He had a 246 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: career year at the time. So for Press's perspective, he said, 247 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: he's not thinking about the sack totals that will get 248 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: the you know, the enhancers in there. He's thinking about 249 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: what's in front of him. And I just I gotta 250 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: say it, Mike. I mean, when you come off a 251 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: year like last year, which can be frustrating, can be humbling, 252 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna see a guy coming back now, 253 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: especially with this structure in place, that's going to be 254 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: motivated to show that he's still that same player that 255 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: broke out for the Green Bay Packers in two thousand 256 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: nineteen when maybe a lot of folks weren't expecting it. Yeah, well, 257 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: another motivated player, um, and we'll flip back to the 258 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: offensive side of the ball. Another motivated player here in 259 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: one without questions. Mark que Sveelda Scantling, the wide receiver. 260 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 1: He is now entering his fourth season, fifth round draft 261 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,719 Speaker 1: pick in eighteen, so this is the final year of 262 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: his rookie deal. Now he's coming off of his career 263 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: highs in terms of yardage, touchdowns. You know, six hundred 264 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: and ninety yards I think was roughly the number six 265 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: touchdowns in the regular season, had a big time performance 266 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: in the NFC Championship Game against Tampa Bay. But the thing, 267 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: the thing I like, the thing I like about ENVS. 268 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: And I know fans get frustrated with the drop passes 269 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: in the inconsistency and everything like that. But as much 270 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: as MVS doesn't revisit those down moments with the media, 271 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: he also doesn't stand in front of the cameras and talk, 272 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: you know, say, hey, well, what about my seventy two 273 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: yard touchdown against the Bears that helped get the number 274 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: one seed. What about my fifty yard touchdown against the 275 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game. He doesn't 276 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: go that route either. He's just it's all about what's 277 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: in front of him, and and he's got a lot 278 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: in front of him here. This is a pivotal year 279 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: in his career, and the Packers aren't necessarily worried right 280 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 1: now about whatever the next contract is going to be 281 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: for him, and he's not either. It's just whatever happens 282 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: in one it's it's going to tell the story, and 283 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: it's going to speak for itself. That's kind of where 284 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: things are with this guy. Yeah, and especially the entire 285 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: construct right now, these offensive skill position players. I mean, 286 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: there's no gambling in Bushwood here, sir, But I mean 287 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: I wouldn't put a single penny down on what the 288 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: snap totals are gonna look like the opener against the Saints. 289 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: Because you have Davante Adams, You're always going to play 290 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: a lot. But these other chess pieces here, whether it 291 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: is Lewis and Tonyan or whether it's MBS and and 292 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: Alan Lazard and Randall Cobb and Amari Cooper, Mary Cooper, 293 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: Amari Rodgers, some of these other guys that are involved 294 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: the running backs. There's so many different directions they can go. 295 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: But what intrigues me the most about Valdes Scantling with 296 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: the way that the Packers have built out these offensive weapons, 297 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: is he's a guy that when he's on the field, 298 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: you know the defensive coordinator and the safeties are paying 299 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: attention to him. Because it's been shown time and time 300 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: again how this guy can hurt you if you don't 301 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: account for him on the field. You can't just ask 302 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: cornerback to go and play him straight up. You need 303 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: to have some type of attention over there just in 304 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: case he ends up going over the top of you. 305 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: And Valdis Scantling said when he was asked that the 306 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: news conference, Hey, Eric Stokes is in here with the 307 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: four to five forty, who's the fastest guy on the team. 308 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: And before you can even get that last word out, 309 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: MVS with a straight face, was like, yeah, no, it's 310 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: still me. I mean, the guy is confident in his 311 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: abilities and and certainly I thought the last year the 312 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: end of the season, that to me and you kind 313 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: of asked Matt la Floor about this, but that to me, 314 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: the way that guy ended the season, that is a 315 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: sweet taste to have your mouth going to the next season. 316 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: Not saying that you're gonna get complacent, but it's a 317 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: lot different when you have something like that to build 318 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: off of, rather than thinking of some disappointment and what 319 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: how you performed. Yeah, I mean, Matt la Fleur said 320 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: for MVS. And and it goes for you know what 321 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: we've seen of him throughout his career. It's all about 322 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: the consistency. I mean, this guy is among the league 323 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: leaders over the last over the three years of his 324 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: career in terms of forty plus yard receptions, forty plus 325 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: yard touchdowns. He's he's right up there at the at 326 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: the top of the league. But you look at last year, 327 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: even with the career high and yardage and touchdowns, he 328 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: still had five games where he didn't catch a pass 329 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: and two other games where he only caught one pass. 330 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: The the potential. Now, granted, this is an offense, as 331 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: you said, I mean, there's Davante Adams. Now, there's Randall 332 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: Cobbamari Rodgers is in the mix. Al Lazard is right there. 333 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: So there's only so many footballs to go around, right, 334 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: But you just you look at the game, you look 335 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: at the game by game production, and uh, and there's 336 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: there's certainly more out there for mvs. And I think, uh, 337 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: you know, I think he's certainly going to have a 338 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: chance too to have that you know, career year at 339 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: the right time here in year four. One other guy 340 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,040 Speaker 1: I want to get to before we go, and you 341 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: brought it up, you brought it up earlier in terms 342 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: of his news conference, and it's Jairo Alexander. That was, 343 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: um that was rather entertaining. We've seen him on zoom 344 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: with the sunglasses and and all of that before but um, 345 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,440 Speaker 1: but you asked him, you know, and you wrote the story. 346 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: It's on our website for those, uh, for those who 347 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: want to go find it. This is a guy who 348 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: I mean, he's he's got the Pro Bowl and the 349 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: All Pro recognition and everything now three years into, uh, 350 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: three years into his NFL career, and this is a 351 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,640 Speaker 1: guy that that back in high school, even in college 352 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: to a certain extent, couldn't get anybody to pay attention 353 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 1: to the ability that he had. And uh, and you know, 354 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 1: guys don't. Guys usually don't get overly bothered or worried 355 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: necessarily about those accolades. And I'm not saying that Jaye 356 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: Alexander has. But at the same time, the recognition that 357 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: he's getting as an NFL player really means something to him. 358 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: It's a juxtaposition to everything he went through his first 359 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 1: twenty one years of his life. Yeah. And if you 360 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: sit down for me, Mike, So this is my tenth 361 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: year doing this as a Packers reporter. I'm now going 362 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: to my fifteen sixteenth year as an actual sports reporter. JR. 363 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: Alexander unequivocally is the most fascinating human being I've covered 364 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: in any sport I don't care if it was Bayport, 365 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: a cross Country or the Green Bay Packers. He fascinates 366 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: me because his story is incredible if you know where 367 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: he comes from from, just from a family perspective and 368 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: what this means to his family for him to make 369 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: it to this step to understanding why he carries himself 370 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: the way he is. You can hear him speak, you 371 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,160 Speaker 1: can read his words in a newspaper, but you got 372 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 1: to understand the meaning behind those words. When he says 373 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: I'm the best, he says that because nobody wanted to 374 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: even say he was good. He says that, I'm I 375 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: feel like I can be the greatest cornerback of all 376 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: time because there was people out there didn't think he 377 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: was the best cornerback and even the city of Charlotte. 378 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: This is an individual that has been at countless points 379 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: of his life the only person that believed in himself, 380 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: maybe outside of his family, but I mean in terms 381 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: of just knowing that, hey, I feel like I can 382 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 1: do this. I'm gonna do it. I don't care what 383 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: anyone else says. So that's why I asked him the 384 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: question about the All Pro and the Pro Bowl. Is 385 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: that for the very first time. This is a guy 386 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: that's now being thrown in the conversation with Stefan Gilmore, 387 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: He's being thrown in the conversation with Jalen Ramsey and 388 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,199 Speaker 1: these young corners in this league that are basically ushering 389 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: the next generation of that position. And for him to 390 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,399 Speaker 1: be able to clear out everything and just focus on 391 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: once in front of him, that's what makes him special. 392 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: The forty time. The athleticism, the vertical the press man skills, 393 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: all that stuff made him a first round pick, but 394 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: it's that aspect of his mental approach that's going to 395 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,439 Speaker 1: make him a really, really noteworthy player for years to 396 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: come well. And it speaks to the respect that he's 397 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: garnered from his peers with regard to Pro Bowl and whatnot, 398 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: and coaches, other players around the league and all that, 399 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 1: and from the media with regard to the second team 400 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: All Pro recognition. That a guy at his position at 401 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: cornerback gets an interception in Week one and that's his 402 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: only interception of the regular season, and yet at by 403 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: season's end he does have those accolades, and then he 404 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: goes out in the NFC Championship Game and picks off 405 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: Tom Brady two times. So um we have not seen 406 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: the best yet of Ji year Alexander. I think that's uh. 407 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,440 Speaker 1: I think that's a pretty safe statement, and uh, I 408 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: can't wait to see what exactly lies ahead. You covered 409 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: this team longer than I have, I still have yet 410 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: to see someone, at least in Green Bay that teams 411 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: just won't even throw at. Like they just said, there 412 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: were intervals last year where they just gave up throwing 413 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 1: at him. It's incredible. There were there were times when 414 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: I first got here in two thousand that two thousand 415 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: and six, two thousand seven where there were quarterbacks who 416 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: definitely stayed away from al Harris at times. Um, but 417 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: I would say not quite to the extent that we've 418 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,159 Speaker 1: seen almost a fear of challenging Ji R Alexander and 419 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: just four quarters of shutouts. I mean I didn't get 420 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 1: a chance to go back and look at the numbers, 421 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 1: but I mean he threw a couple of shutouts for 422 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 1: sure last season. And again, it's that type of guy 423 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: that when you talk about building a championship calibular defense, 424 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: this top five defense the Packers have been looking for 425 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 1: for the last ten years, Alexander's a guy that could 426 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: do it. Yeah, all right, well, with that, we're going 427 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: to call it a wrap on this edition of Packers 428 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 1: on Script and be sure to follow all of our 429 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: coverage of training camp on packers dot com. The pads 430 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: go on today, it's going to start to ramp up 431 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 1: and get a little bit more interesting for Wes. I 432 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. We will 433 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: see you next time.