1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Welcome back to One Bill's Live Steve Tasker. Chris Brown 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: here in Buffalo and joining us on the line now 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: is The Bill's radio color analysts. He's also a nine 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: year veteran in the National Football League, exclusively with the 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills after being their first round pick in two 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: thousand and nine. Eric Wood on the show, Eric, thanks 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: for joining us. It's good to see if we can 8 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: see you on Skype, so it's really going to help 9 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: our conversations stay lively. But you look good, have you 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: You're feeling good during the pandemic, the family, everything going 11 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: well down there. Yeah, fortune, we've been able to stay 12 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: healthy through this time. And you know, cut Kentucky's a 13 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: slower state, I think, similar to New York, so we're 14 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: not quite opening up, but we were. We were down 15 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: in Florida last week on a family vacation and it 16 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: was hard to tell anything was going on down there. 17 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: But you know, we've we've been blessing to stay healthy 18 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: through this time and you know, just trying anything we 19 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 1: can to pour into the community around here around us. Yeah, 20 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: speaking of staying healthy, you know, the NFL puts out 21 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: a nine page protocol to try to keep players healthy 22 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: when they return to the team facilities as best they 23 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: can anyway. And I mean, I don't know if you've 24 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: had a chance to kind of at least skim that 25 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: people were looking for cliff notes as early as yesterday 26 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: because it was lengthy and it was very specific. But Eric, 27 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: knowing that you know how coach McDermott likes to run 28 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: his daily operation and all of the particulars that are 29 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: involved in these protocols, how much do you anticipate they 30 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: will disrupt the efficiency in which coach McDermott and his 31 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: staff like to get things done. Well. I think, first 32 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: and foremost, it's going to disrupt the location because you 33 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: simply can't keep social distancing practices in the team meeting 34 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: room and even the individual meeting rooms. You know, the 35 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: offensive line has fifteen not small bodies in a room 36 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: that's not big enough to social distance by any means. 37 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: So I would imagine you'll see some sort of tents 38 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: assembled outside, which will be perfect in Orchard Park that 39 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: time of year that they're coming back this summer, because 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 1: it will be beautiful out compared to some places where 41 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 1: they'll be scorching if they don't bring out portable air conditioners, 42 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: but I would imagine there would be some types of 43 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: tent systems because you want to meet as a team. 44 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: Coach McDermott starts every day off with a team meeting. 45 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: One of my favorite things about Coach McDermott is the 46 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 1: rigidity of the schedule. Every day. You know what to expect. 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: It's a team meeting to start. He's running the show 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: and everyone's assembled. Well, where is that location for that? 49 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: Now that's gonna be tough. And the interesting thing is 50 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: that you get these You got a nine page protocol. 51 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: It's a booklet of protocols that you got to follow 52 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 1: and it affects everybody coaches, players, staff and the implementer 53 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: people that are going to help them do this. Before 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: you can even attack the NFL your playbook. As a player, 55 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to learn this protocol book. And so 56 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, it's gonna set you further 57 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: back trying to get trained up unless you start having 58 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: virtual meetings beforehand and say hey, listen, when you come back, 59 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: do this, this and this. You know, you gotta train 60 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: your people of how to even be in the building, 61 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: let alone train them to know the playbook and how 62 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: to play their position on the field. I mean, there's 63 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: the It justest seems like your neck deep in little 64 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: idiosyncrasies that you gotta do to keep healthy or at 65 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: least keep socially distanced. Now, what a pain this is 66 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: gonna be. Forget about the discomfort of being there. Yeah, 67 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: and to your points, Steve, I've talked to a number 68 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: of national media outlets about how this offseason sets up 69 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: well for the Bills because they have so much continuity. 70 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: You mentioned how much tucker it will be to learn 71 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: the plays when you're getting shuffled around. I look at 72 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: the workout group size of only fifteen individuals, and I 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: guess the Bills have the luxury of they have the 74 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: brand new weight room, and then the field house is 75 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: attached to the at the grass field is attached to that. 76 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: So maybe you have maybe that's forty five because they're 77 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: going to be separated, and that would be more similar 78 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: to what we're used to have, the defense going and 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: the offense meeting and then flipping it. And so maybe 80 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 1: that's what they're gonna do. But when I when I 81 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: originally read fifteen, I'm like, our normal day during the 82 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: off season, ota time is really only maybe eight to 83 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: one ish. If you've got to break into fifteen people groups, 84 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: do you start staggering them? Well, then does the team 85 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: know each other? Do you get the continuity the camaraderie 86 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 1: that that's the benefit of that time of the year. 87 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: It's it's it's going to be interesting to see and 88 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: how much that's the efficient. That's the efficiency that we're 89 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: talking about here, because even with those fifteen guys they 90 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: sat in there, you're only going to have one strength 91 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: and conditioning coach, So that means any other assistance you 92 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: have are not in that weight room with those fifteen guys. 93 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: You got one guy working with those fifteen. And then 94 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 1: on top of that, every time you use a piece 95 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 1: of equipment you have to disinfect it before the next 96 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: guy gets on for obvious reasons. So there's all these 97 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: little extra steps that I think are just gonna bog 98 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: the day down. And we know that coach is methodical, 99 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: but he also likes to be very efficient. Heck, every 100 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: coach does. But this is gonna I don't want to 101 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: say it's gonna gob up the works, but it's certainly 102 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: gonna slow things down where you're not gonna get guys 103 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: in and out as as quickly as you have in 104 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 1: the past. You're exactly right, and I can't wait to 105 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: see National Strength Coach of the Year Eric Siano with 106 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: a towel in his hand in a spray bottle, wiping 107 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: down rack guys. But yeah, but the Bills. One of 108 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: the luxuries they do have, which it wasn't the case 109 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: when I first got to the Bills, is now they 110 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: have so many racks and workout stations that guys can 111 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: literally have their if they only have fifteen guys in 112 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: the lay room, they can be at their own individual spots, 113 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,119 Speaker 1: so they'll be able to go pretty much a full 114 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: workout without anybody else getting on their actual equipment. Yeah, 115 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: interesting too, you got so you got you get fifteen guys. 116 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: Let's say you can at fifteen guys working out on 117 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 1: one field. So you've got two grass practice fields beside 118 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: beside the field house. You've got another practice field inside 119 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: the field house, and you've got a weight room, so 120 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: there's two practice there's three full fields. You got the 121 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: stadium field. That's a fourth field, You've got the weight room, 122 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: and then you've got like meeting rooms. So if you 123 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: have fifteen guys in each of those, that's sixth thing. 124 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: That's six that's that's almost your whole roster of broken 125 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: down into fifteen things. You have fifteen a group of 126 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: fifteen on each field, and then if you rotated them, 127 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: or if you didn't rotate them, one of them is 128 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,479 Speaker 1: going to be in the weight room and then the 129 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: other one is gonna be in meeting rooms. Right, so 130 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: you get fifteen guys in the meeting room doing right, 131 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: so you can have them all there at once and 132 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: spraced out and working out at the same time. But 133 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: here's the problem. What do you do then? You know, 134 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: where do they all go? You can't all shower the 135 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: same time, you can't, right, you can you you can't 136 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: rotate because you gotta disinfect four fields between, yeah and between, 137 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: So now you don't have to disinfect grass. So they 138 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: could all go out on a field four fields, but 139 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: you have field I saw that in there, right, So 140 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: you could do the turf field, you could do the 141 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: grass fields, you could do the stadium field, you could 142 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: do the field house, and you could do probably the 143 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: youth football field out on the back side of the 144 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: stadium back in the you know right, you know what 145 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: I mean. So you've got enough fields where you could 146 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: have fifteen guys doing almost full saying all at the 147 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: same time. But you don't gain anything by having them 148 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: there at the same time because they can't even be 149 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: in the same room, you know. And then you got 150 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: to put them somewhere to have meetings in a place 151 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: where you can show overheads. And that's the question, Steve, 152 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: are how close are they gonna get to real football 153 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: and how much is it going to hurt these teams 154 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: in terms of their preparations for the season. I mean, 155 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: we don't We don't really know that yet. I guess 156 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: if you have to do it in small groups. I mean, Eric, 157 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: we don't know what we're going to see. We might 158 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: see offense out there without a defense. So as not 159 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: to create additional exposure between the two different sides of 160 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: the ball, you can't do that either. Yeah, you don't 161 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: want them at this point, you know, with hand to 162 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: hand contact and all that. So yeah, I would assume 163 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: there'd be a good amount of walkthroughs. You know, the 164 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: offensive line can kind of walk through their deal. Let 165 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: the receivers and quarterbacks throw the ball. You can work 166 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: on the exchanges with the running backs. They'll get creative 167 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: with what they're giving Josh. From a mental perspective, you know, hey, 168 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 1: envision this. You know there's probably gonna be a coach 169 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: on the other side of the field, you know, maybe 170 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: showing what the corner will do, so then John Brown 171 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: can adjust as rape off of what the projected coverage 172 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: they're putting out there is. But it's gonna be interesting. 173 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: I do know that I'm glad we have such an 174 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: organized organization and staff because they'll make the most of 175 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: this time and they'll get the benefit. But you know 176 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: the benefit of this time being able to evaluate talent. 177 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: It's gonna be really, really hard, and it almost leads 178 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: to the fact of art, least to the point of 179 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 1: maybe it's better to let these guys train on their 180 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: own if they have a good situation, when in years 181 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: past you're dying to get guys back in the building. 182 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: Now you might like similar to coach Nagie for the Bears, 183 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: who just canceled the remainder, they're ending their virtual off 184 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: season two weeks early so they can focus on their 185 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: bodies more and they basically said, hey, we know the system, 186 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,280 Speaker 1: We're good to go, and maybe there's there's some time 187 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: where they say, Hey, guys, if you can train on 188 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: your own, you can train effectively. Maybe you're just taking 189 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: up space in here. I don't know. Yeah, we're talking 190 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: with Eric wood Bill's radio color Analyst's not gonna ask 191 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: you this. You were here throughout the nine years of 192 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: your career. How impressive has this culture change been? Now 193 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: we're three years into it? Can you give us a 194 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: kind of a snapshot of before and after? I don't 195 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 1: know as an EBB and flow and head coaches and 196 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: that kind of thing, but how impressive and how vast 197 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: is the culture change and what does it meant to 198 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: their success? Well, it's tremendous. And I'll start with the 199 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: first and foremost. This team this year expects to get 200 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 1: to the playoffs. They expect to compete for a championship. 201 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: And that's a credit to making the playoffs in twenty 202 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: seventeen and twenty nineteen. That's a credit to great leadership 203 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: from the top, continuity at the top, you know, the 204 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 1: sustained success that seems to be in this organization's future 205 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: from what Brandon Bean has done. And I know this 206 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: is more of a roster building a point I'm about 207 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: to make it Maybe not a culture, but he brings 208 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: in guys with the right for their culture. But what 209 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: he did from a salary cap standpoint is just absolutely incredible. 210 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: But each day you walk into building, you know what's 211 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: expected of you, You know exactly what. You get a 212 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: crystal clearer message from coach McDermott every single morning and 213 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: that just sets the day of for success. It sets 214 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: everything up for a six US And they brought the 215 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: right types of guys in here, the right coaches, and 216 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: that was an immediate for coach McDermott. There was a 217 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: ton of turnover in that first year or so on 218 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 1: the staff because when McDermott came over from Carolina, that 219 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: whole staff didn't get like, oh, this is the first 220 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: time head coach. So he had to go find buddies 221 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: around the league, guys even you know, knew along the 222 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: way to kind of come in and fell out the staff. 223 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: And they've now that seems that they've established the staff 224 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: that they're really proud of getting getting kind of set 225 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: in stone here. But to answer your question, Steve, it's 226 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: been absolutely incredible and it's been a lot of fun 227 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: to watch, and throughout my tenure, we just had so 228 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: many head coaches that so many of the guys had 229 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: great messages, and so many of the guys were phenomenal men. 230 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean, I come under a come in under a 231 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: Dick Giron, like a a what a person? What a 232 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: what a leader Dick Giron is And then Chan Gailey 233 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: was great, and then we have Morowned and then we 234 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: have Rex and it's just like you get so many 235 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: different messages it's hard to know what to buy into. So, Eric, 236 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: I know we haven't talked to you since the whole 237 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: thing came down with George Floyd and the reactions to it, 238 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: but you were a player at the time when the 239 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: anthem protests started up a few years ago, and so 240 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: I want you to try to encapsulate what it was 241 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: like a couple of years ago watching teammates go through 242 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: that wrestle with that you know whatever, and now look 243 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: at it now and maybe tell me how you feel 244 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: it might be different in a good way this time 245 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: to maybe how it was, you know, the iteration of 246 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: it the first time. Yeah, So when this all started 247 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: going the first time, credit Coach McDermott and the Bacculas. 248 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: They called a team meeting on the Saturday night before 249 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: our game. I believe it was against the San Francisco 250 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: forty nine ers at home when Colin Kaepernick was coming 251 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: into town, but it could have been the week before, 252 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: and they called a team meeting and basically said, hey, 253 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: let's be unified and what we do as a team. 254 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: And out of a three hour meeting, you know what 255 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: came out of it. We're not going to be unified 256 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: in what we do because someone would say, hey, I'm 257 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: not comfortable kneeling, and another person would say, I'm going 258 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: to kneel no matter what. And I think that's the 259 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: great thing about a locker room is we won those games, 260 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: and although we were maybe not unified in our pregame message, 261 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: we are all brothers, we have a mission, we respect 262 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: each other, we love one another, and we got to 263 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: win those games. Well, my thoughts on it at the 264 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: time were, this is an issue that I have not 265 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: lived through. I can't put myself. I can never put 266 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:36,679 Speaker 1: myself in one of my black teammates shoes. I can 267 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: never do it. I wish I could, I wish I 268 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: could feel that just maybe from a sympathy standpoint or 269 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: whatever it may be. I can't do that. But man 270 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: if I had something important enough in my life that 271 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: I was willing to take the criticism that those guys 272 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: took at the time for kneeling. If there was anything 273 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: is important to me in my life that I was 274 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: willing to take that criticism. I would hope that at 275 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: least my teammates that didn't have the same views as 276 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: me would respect that enough not to speak out against 277 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: me or to look at me different. And that that 278 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: was my thought at the time. And now I think 279 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: it's awful the events that have occurred. I think that 280 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: maybe we're at a point right now where so much 281 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,280 Speaker 1: has happened so soon and so many people are coming 282 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: together that maybe this will be the change. Um. I 283 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: just got off of a phone call a couple of 284 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: hours ago where we had all the people within ESPN 285 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: College Football and gave anybody they wanted a right to 286 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: speak up. And some of their stories just in the 287 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: broadcast community were horrifying. I mean horrifying, and it's not 288 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: something I've witnessed, it's not something I experience, and I 289 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: just feel awful and I wish, I wish I could 290 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: do more. And I think the best posture at this 291 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: time in a position where I am I'm in where 292 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: I want to do something is to listen and learn 293 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: and then and then proceed from there. Yeah, and I 294 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: was gonna I want to ask you about how important 295 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 1: close knit locker room is. And I've made the point 296 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: on this show and throughout my time and broadcasting that 297 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: I think professional football and maybe and other sports as 298 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: professional sports as well, or a real testament to how 299 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: close knit and how good in a lot of cases, 300 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: how good racial relations can be. You've got guys who 301 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: really truly as genuinely as individuals and as a group, 302 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: love and respect each other and care about each other 303 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: across racial lines that maybe isn't present in any other industry. 304 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: And I've made the point that it's a great place 305 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: for this kind of conversation to take place because you 306 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: have men who are in the locker room together, and 307 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: they work and work hard and sacrament. They hurt together, 308 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: they sweat together, they accomplish things together, they suffer through 309 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: hard times together. And I think could you speak to 310 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: how important and how revealing it is when you're in 311 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: that type of environment. Yeah, I've always said that an 312 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: NFL locker room is a microcosm of what society should 313 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: look like. And I mean, if you can't, I'm not 314 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: I'm not saying this. I say this from a humble standpoint, 315 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: if you. We always hosted people for thanks the Other 316 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: and Christmas at our house, and most of the time 317 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: it was probably fifty percent white and fifty percent black. 318 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: I understand eighty percent of our team was black, so 319 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: that's not a crazy number, but it was. It was refreshing. 320 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: It was fun to have people from different areas of 321 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: the country, in different backgrounds, we have different food. It 322 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: was incredible. I say all that, and I've kind of 323 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: been convicted recently because I've always held the posture like 324 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: I have a bunch of black friends. I have a 325 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: bunch of black teammates that I get along with so well, 326 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: well they're all teammates, you know. And I have black 327 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: friends outside of football. But but athletes do get treated 328 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: differently then not on athletes in society. And I think 329 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: all of my life, a majority of the black people 330 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: I've been around has been through athletics, and I've kind 331 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: of been convicted hearing other people's stories that aren't involved 332 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: in the athletics scene, and sometimes their tree did even 333 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: harsher than the non athletes, which was, Man, that's just 334 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: been heartbreaking to hear. I know on your podcast, Eric 335 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: that you know you had Coach on recently in addition 336 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: to Fitz. You know, a long conversation with coach. I mean, 337 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: I think you had more time than even the media, 338 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 1: did you. What did you kind of well, I mean, 339 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: you know coach as well as anybody. So were there 340 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: any things that he provided in your dialogue that maybe 341 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: we're new and kind of stuck in your head that 342 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: you said, oh, you know what, I haven't heard that 343 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 1: from him before. Was there anything that stood out in 344 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: the time that you had with him on your What's Next? Podcast? No? 345 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: Nothing earth showing, And Coach McDermott is so consistent that 346 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: I kind of knew where I wanted to go with 347 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: all of it. And it was funny. I reached out 348 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: through the Bill's media department because I wanted to be 349 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: respectful of coach and not just text him as a 350 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: friend to set it up. I wanted to be respectful 351 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: of his schedule, and they said I had about twenty 352 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: or thirty minutes, and I said, well, I said, is 353 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: there something on the back end or can I kind 354 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: of just feel it out and if he's enjoying the interview, 355 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: then I'll just keep going. So I ended up being 356 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: able to steal a little bit more time from him. 357 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: But probably the thing that stuck out to me the 358 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,959 Speaker 1: most was the Michael Jackson stuff like that would be 359 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: history song. Was Michael Jackson and that he's got moves, 360 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: because I don't know that I've seen him busted out 361 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: the dance moves before, and he's always the hard clap 362 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: on the sideline guy when there's a lot of people, 363 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: you know, getting into the music during the games, and 364 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: he's never done that. So I gotta see I gotta 365 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: see those m those dance moves. But I just thought 366 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: putting coach McDermott on during this time, I'm kind of 367 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: a downtime in the NFL right now, where there usually 368 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: would be a lot more going on through OTAs and stuff, 369 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: would be a lot of funds for Bill Spans to 370 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: get a kick out. They would get a kick out 371 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: of it. I've always had a great relationship with him, 372 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: and I hope that's stuck out through the podcast, and 373 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: I hope people people were able to feel how much 374 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: I respect I have for this man. When I've been 375 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: around a lot of people. And I was asked a 376 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: couple of years ago who the top five leaders I've 377 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: ever been around and why are And I only spent 378 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 1: what seven months under Coach McDermott as my coach before 379 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,479 Speaker 1: my career ended by injury, and I'd probably put him 380 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: at the very top of the list of any leader 381 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: I've been around, and that includes guys like Kyle Williams 382 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: and Lorenzo Alexander and college coaches, high school coaches, teachers, 383 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: whoever may be in my life. And I was only 384 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: around him for seven months as a direct player for him. 385 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: I will confirm real quick that I did see Coach 386 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: dancing a little bit at the Christmas party his wife. 387 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 1: It's only for a couple of minutes, but there there 388 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: is rhythm there. He didn't have it all dialed up, 389 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: but he was probably at a two on He was 390 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: probably only at a two on a ten scale, because 391 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: I gotta imagine he's got to feel like everybody's watching 392 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: him in a setting like that. So but there was 393 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: enough there to know he's got rhythm. So there you go. 394 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 1: I could stud Yeah, we'd we'd have to orchestrate a 395 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: scenario where he was a couple of glasses of wine 396 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: into it and celebrating a Super Bowl victory before we 397 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: would see the full Michael Jackson get up. I'm pretty sure. Yeah, 398 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: I was gonna say, I'm gonna say good luck int 399 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 1: and coach McDermott to break his routine of daily to 400 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: get to him if you'd have one too many glass 401 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: of wine and let his guard down fin a Super Bowl. 402 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: I promise we would see it. Last question for me, Eric, 403 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: we were talking about having no fans in the stance. 404 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: Can you get your mind around what would be like 405 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: to play a game in an empty stadium with your 406 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: team playing in a tough, hard fought to vision game 407 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: or whatever, whatever whatever game you want to pick up 408 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 1: with no fans in the stands. Yeah, no atmosphere at all. 409 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: Can you get your mind around what the significant differences 410 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: would be and how it would have or maybe the 411 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: significant effects, if any would be. I would love to 412 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: make a joke right now that I played on bad 413 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: enough teams with I have played at empty stadium, but 414 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: I really didn't. They still they still showed up. People 415 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: still showed up in Buffalo. Yeah, we're eliminating from the playoffs. 416 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: It's snow and people still showed up and there was 417 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: an atmosphere, So I've never felt that. I mean, it's 418 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: going to be interesting what they would do. From a 419 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 1: music standpoint, if they're pumping crowd noise, they wouldn't be 420 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: able to do that because some stadiums could get louder 421 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: than others and all that. But it's going to take 422 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: a lot of self discipline to get up for each game. 423 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: It's gonna take You're gonna see the true the teams 424 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: with true leadership from within, get get guys going, because man, 425 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: when it's cold and you're or and Steve, you've played 426 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,679 Speaker 1: in games where you run out that tunnel and oh, 427 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: here we go. But prior to that, you're like, I 428 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: feel like garbage right now, and I need that. I 429 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: need that fan, whether it's a away crowd or a 430 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: home craft. It's like you feed off that energy and 431 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: that keeps your adrenaline going for including warm ups four 432 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: and a half hours or whatever it may be. So 433 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 1: it's it's gonna be interesting, and it's hard to wrap 434 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: my mind around. And me now being in the broadcast scene, 435 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, there's not a whole lot of answers, especially 436 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: in college football with certain conferences saying they wanted to 437 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: do it, not want to There's it seems like there's 438 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: more uncertainty in college football with what a season would 439 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: or wouldn't look like, because if the students are at school, 440 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 1: how do you throw the football team out on the 441 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: field and they're all gonna be living together? You know, 442 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: if you if you're deeming it's unsafe for students to 443 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: be on campus, how is it safe for you? And 444 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that's my opinion. I am saying that 445 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: logic doesn't work. Yes, exactly, the logic doesn't work, no question, 446 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: real quick, Eric, So would you would you say it's 447 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: I'm accurate in saying that players across the board, at 448 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: some point in time in their playing career, they will 449 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:24,120 Speaker 1: feed off the energy of the crowd in some way, 450 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: shape or form during a point at any game that 451 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: they've ever suited up for, every single player feeds off 452 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: the energy of the crowd. Would that be accurate or misguided? 453 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I would say that's accurate in some way, 454 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 1: shape or form. I'm sure some guys get psyched out 455 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: by it, you know, I'm sure some I'm sure there's 456 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 1: been young quarterbacks that they get on the road for 457 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,160 Speaker 1: the first time in an NFL in a hostile environment, 458 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 1: and they can't communicate with anybody, and they start to 459 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,360 Speaker 1: freak out like that's a that's a moment that's being 460 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: affected by the crowd. I would say, yes, everybody has 461 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: been affected by the crowd in some sense. And I 462 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: would say that most guys, when you consider an NFL 463 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: team generally has fifty three alpha males that are you know, 464 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: been the top dog for a while and they're kind 465 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: of cut a certain way to make it to where 466 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: they're at. Man, you get them in front of that 467 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: crowd and that just clicks for them and they think, man, 468 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 1: I'm about to turn it on. I gotta put on 469 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 1: a show today. And not having that is going to 470 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:25,400 Speaker 1: be really interesting if that is the case. Eric, thanks 471 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 1: so much. Man, it's great seeing you have a great 472 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: time this weekend and all this, you know, through this 473 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: pandemic in the summer. I know you're down in Louisville. 474 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: The weather it's gotta be great. It's broken up here 475 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:35,959 Speaker 1: in Buffalo. I hope you get a chance to get 476 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: out and joy some time in your family and stay 477 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: well during the rest of the pandemic. I appreciate it. 478 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me, young guys, it was fun.