1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: The following presentation of the Jaguars Podcast Network is presented 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: by by star credit. Maurice Jones. Drew stands tall among 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: former Jaguars, ironic in a way that the five ft 4 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: six running back who's slid to the second round the 5 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: stick of the two thousand six draft because of his height, 6 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: remains to this day not only one of the most 7 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: beloved Jaguars, but one of the NFL networks best analysts 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: and a guy who commands the attention of coaches, players 9 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: and fans alike. This is perspective, the inside story of 10 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: the jaguars first twenty five seasons told by the people 11 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: who built the franchise from the round up. This is 12 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: Maurice Jones Drew. There is also irony that the smallest 13 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: star player the Jaguars have ever had is also the 14 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: biggest champion of the smaller market in the NFL. The 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: record speaks for itself. Only one playoff season in the 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: last twelve years, missed opportunities in the draft and free 17 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: agency that have magnified struggles on the field, and a 18 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: less than full stadium in Jacksonville, combined with an now 19 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: annual trip to London that fuels the fires of misinformation 20 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: about the city and the fan base and their credentials 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: as a football town. Maurice works at the NFL Network 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: and lives in Los Angeles, where he doubles as the 23 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: color analyst for the Rams and their radio network. But 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: it's clear that no matter where he lives and no 25 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: matter who signs his check, Mojo is a teal blooded 26 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: Jaguar through and through. My connection with this team is 27 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: I think it's less about like the team in general, 28 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 1: but it's more about the people who are in the building. Um, 29 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: It's more about the people outside the building. It's more 30 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: about the city. Uh. Coming here at twenty years old, 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: you think you know everything. I learned a lot of 32 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: lessons here. Um, But it's completely different than any other 33 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: place I've ever been to my lightly. I've been to 34 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: minnesota've been to Green Bay, I've been too obviously Oakland 35 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: was the last year I've been all these places. But 36 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: this is a family. This this you know. When I 37 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: came here, Wayne Weaver ran this organization, he ran in 38 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: like a family. I remember going to the Christmas dinners. 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: I remember seeing the wives and the players hang out, 40 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 1: and to me, that was that's what football is. It's 41 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: about creating relationships. And I remember seeing the security guards 42 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: every day who would smile even I mean after some 43 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: of the worst losses that we had, people will still 44 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: come and say maybe you did a great job, or hey, 45 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: you guys can do it like it was. It was 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: a family. And that's to me, the most important thing 47 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: that you can have here. Um, when I when I 48 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: am on TV and I'm talking about it, and I'm 49 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: not talking from a place where people are like you know, 50 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: where other people might have a bad my my situation 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: here in two thousand twelve was strictly financial, and I 52 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: said that in the press conference. It was strictly a 53 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: financial move. It was. It had zero to do with 54 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: me not liking people. I love the people here. I 55 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: always will love the people here, regardless of how how 56 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: it ended when I left, or how it was when 57 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: I was here. I still love the people in this building. 58 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: I love the cooks, I love the janitor, I love 59 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: the security guards, I love the people in the streets 60 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: that when you say hello after games. I love the kids. 61 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: I loved everything about this place because I grew up 62 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: here in the way people treated you and then the 63 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: way you treated them. Um, that that to me is 64 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: the most important thing. And so when people always ask, hey, 65 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: like what about jackson Like you know nothing about Jacksonville 66 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: because you've never been there. You don't know what it's 67 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: like there. You don't know how the people, the people 68 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: will give you the shirt off their backs. You know, 69 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: Dan Edwards, his daughter, his daughter was our our babysitter 70 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: at one point in my life, Like, if I wanted 71 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: a date night, I would call his daughter, or I'd 72 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: call other players on the team to come watch or 73 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: drop our Like you can't do that everywhere else. And 74 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: it's not as if you know, you know, and again 75 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: I don't know every other relationship, but this wasn't just 76 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: one player that would call to come watch my kids. 77 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: It'd be multiple players. It wasn't just you know. I 78 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: remember walking by uh the uh, the ticket office and 79 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: people just having it like, hey, how are you Like 80 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: it was a family atmosphere here, and that, to me 81 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: is what saved me because again again a kid coming 82 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: from Los Angeles having a bunch of money thrown in 83 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: his pocket, like I could have made a ton of mistakes, 84 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: and I didn't make a ton of mistakes, but the 85 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: people here protected me and they allowed me to grow 86 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: and be who I was, and and that's the most 87 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: important thing. Talking with Maurice, the connection is clearly durable, 88 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: nothing contented, and it won't ever end. It's also clear 89 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 1: that his love affair with Jacksonville and it's professional football 90 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: team began almost as soon as he put his feet 91 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: on the ground. But we did thirteen years ago. Well, 92 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: I remember first getting the call and thinking, I'm going 93 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: to Florida. I tryed to Miami. All of Florida is 94 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: the exact same and so uh so we land, you 95 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: get off, you walk on the tarmac. Uh, I get 96 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: met by I forget who it was at the time, 97 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: but uh picked up and Mercedes weren't on the same 98 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: flight because I'm from Francisco, he's from l A. So 99 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: we end up meeting here. But getting here, there was 100 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: so much potential I saw um And it's funny to 101 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: say that at twenty years old, Like I saw a potential. 102 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: But like, the people were nice, everyone was excited. Uh. 103 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: They were excited to have us here, which is crazy 104 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: because we got drafted by a trojan usc trojan. Uh. 105 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: But we just wanted to come and play. And at 106 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: the end of the day, when I when I first 107 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: got here, I was nervous. And so when you're nervous, 108 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: you kind of put on extra I was nervous because one, 109 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: I'm not from Florida. Uh. Two, I was nervous because 110 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: I got drafted in the second round when you had 111 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: Fred Taylor here, and I didn't know how he was 112 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: going to react to it, because you've heard horror stories. 113 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: I actually talked to Aaron Rodgers about his situation, what 114 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: Brett Farve and how that wasn't the best early on um. 115 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: And then three, just being you know, young kid half 116 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: away across the country, out your family. You're just nervous. 117 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: And so when I came in, I had to put 118 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: on this this persona, this this fake false attitude as 119 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: if I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine. Um, 120 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: and it all went into it all broke down when 121 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: the first day of O t a s or Mini camp. 122 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: I think we had it first and uh And in May, 123 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: the first week of May where I met Fred Taylor 124 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: and I was so nervous to meet him because I 125 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: don't know how he was going to react. And I 126 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: went up to him. I remember going up to him. 127 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: I remember sitting in the locker room, not talking to anyone. 128 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: You're seeing guys like Marcus Stroud, Big John, Mike Peterson. 129 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: They're laughing, having a good time. I could barely understand 130 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: what they were saying because I wasn't from the South. 131 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: Um but um. I went to talk to Fred and 132 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: I walked over to what Before I got to Fred, 133 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: excuse me, I saw Greg Jones and I was like, 134 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: what am I doing in here? Like this is this 135 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: is not a place for me because you're seeing the 136 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: size and those type of things. But I walk over 137 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: to Fred and I go, hey, Fred, like, I'm Maurice, 138 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: Nice to meet you, Like I just want to come 139 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: and learn everything that I can from you. And Fred 140 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: was like, oh, man, I already saw your highlights. Man, 141 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: you're good. Like we're gonna use you in these type 142 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: of ways and we're gonna do this, We're gonna do that. 143 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: And that really then made me so much more confident 144 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: in my abilities because he was like, Hey, this is 145 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: what you do well, and these are some things I 146 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: saw you struggle with or you need to work on 147 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: or you need to improve on. And then literally that 148 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: whole offseason we worked on being more patient, We worked on, 149 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, all the little things. And so when I 150 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: came in here, like especially coming from l A where 151 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: it's bright lights, and we were the man and we 152 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: were a big team and we did really well. Um 153 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 1: to have a guy who had been so successful in 154 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: the NFL to come in and say, Hey, this is 155 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: what we're gonna do together, it really helped me out 156 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: a ton. And so once I got on the field, 157 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: and the one thing I always tell people that Fred 158 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: told me that I'll never forget. Um. I think it 159 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: was one of the one of the first practice I 160 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: struggled in and he was like, dude, like, why why 161 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: are you pressing? Like this is like Pop Warner. The 162 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: same moves that they have worked in Pop warn they 163 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: work here. Trust me. And that was my mindset for 164 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: the rest of my career was that this this was 165 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: just like Pop Warner youth football, that, um, you go 166 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: out there and play the same way, like, trust me, 167 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: the little move that you did in Pop Warner is 168 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: gonna work. And it worked, and they just kept working 169 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: on and on and on and so, Um, that's where 170 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: the confidence came from, is practicing against that tough defense, 171 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: learning from Fred, learning from Kennedy, pola Um, you know, 172 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: being able to be put in certain situations. Um, telling 173 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: myself every day like I'm competing with one of the 174 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: better running backs in the league. Uh. You know, my 175 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: mindset was always trying to come in and be the starter, 176 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: but to go in there and learn and compete like that. 177 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: The confidence kind of this came out and then that 178 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: matter more perspectives following this from Vistar Credit Union Advice Star, 179 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: we believe in better and that means treating people that 180 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: are with friendly personal service that's kept our members happy 181 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: since a smile and personal greeting when you enter the branch, 182 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: an online or phone chat for those quick questions, and 183 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: the call center that's open every day. If you believe 184 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: that great services, better join vi Star. We never forget 185 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: that it's your money. All loans up to to approval 186 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: insured by n c u A. They put it all 187 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: together in two thousand and seven. The golden era of 188 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,079 Speaker 1: Jaguars football is generally regarded as the Coughlin years and 189 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: it's best team bunch that went fourteen and two. What 190 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: the two thousand and seventy may have lacked an overall talent, 191 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: it more than made up for with huge personalities that 192 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: shape as fun at season and the Jaguars have ever had. 193 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: Two thousand and seven was a special year just because 194 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: I think it all came together for us as an organization, 195 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: as a team that one year. Um, two thousand and six, 196 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 1: we were close, Uh, go to Kansas City, had a 197 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:42,719 Speaker 1: chance to win in Kansas City. If we win in 198 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 1: Kansas City, we make the playoffs and we I think, 199 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: I forget what we lost by, but we lost. So 200 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,959 Speaker 1: that that kind of that off season. I remember a 201 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: lot of the guys we went on a vacase and 202 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: they were like, look, this is the year. Everyone go 203 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: and work hard. Everyone do what you have to do. 204 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: Come back and let's go. Let's go and take this 205 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 1: thing over. Um. So two thousand seven we come back. Uh. Granted, 206 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: you talked about we talked about Chris Naoli, we talked 207 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: about Vinnie man oh Y, we talked about Brad Measter. 208 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: We had a Tony pass shows that year. UM, and 209 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: so it was crazy to see Kalif Barnes and left 210 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: tackle who doesn't get enough credit for blocking Dwight Freeney 211 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,839 Speaker 1: and Robert Mathis by hisself. When we would go on 212 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: those games, we would never slide the line. We would 213 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: slide the line the other way and he would have 214 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: to be one on one with either Dwight Freeney or 215 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: Robert Mathis. And so we knew going in that we 216 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: had an opportunity. And that year was it was a 217 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: little weird because that's the year Byron left, which gets 218 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: cut right before the season. UM. And I remember Mike 219 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,839 Speaker 1: Peterson UH having a team meeting saying like it doesn't matter, 220 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: you know, we can't control that, and that was something 221 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: that was really important for us to hear because we 222 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: were a young team. Now that I look back at it, 223 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 1: like I think Fred might have been twenty seven, Mike 224 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: Peterson might have been twenty six seven ish, and I'm 225 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: twenty one UM at the time, so I'm thinking these 226 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: guys were like super old, but they're young, you know. UM. 227 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: And so to have that leadership from our leaders who say, 228 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: we can't control what's going on over there. All we 229 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: can do is control our play on the field, and 230 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: if we believe that we're a playoff team or a 231 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: championship team, will go and show it. And so uh 232 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: we start we start running. UM. I would say a 233 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: year we played the Falcons where that was the year 234 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: Big got in trouble. We played the Falcons, We got 235 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: after them pretty good. Um we played, Uh, David Garas 236 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: are starting quarterback, We're rolling, David gets hurt. We're going 237 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: to Tampa and beat Tampa. And we I think we 238 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: threw the ball seven times or eleven times, um, and 239 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: we It was funny. I remember going on the field 240 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: and I remember them uh talking about being nine on seven, 241 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: which is like a run inside run drill, and Uh 242 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: we did. We wanted to see if Tampa was ready 243 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: for Tampa was a cover two team. They wanted to 244 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: play West Coast offense. Did they were they able to 245 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: handle smash mouth football? And we went out there and 246 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: Quinn Gray as our quarterback and and he threw Uh. 247 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: I want to say, one touchdown to Matt Jones. But 248 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: other than that, we ran the ball seventeen times in 249 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: a row. At one point we were gonna impose our 250 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: will and everyone and obviously everyone remembers going into Pittsburgh, 251 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 1: beating Pittsburgh in the regular season, and then once we 252 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: got to the playoffs, I never saw the intensity I 253 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: now I then understood why the playoffs were the playoffs, 254 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: because practice was so intense. I mean, guys were tackling 255 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: each other and man, we were hidden and we were 256 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 1: doing everything to make sure that we understood. You know, 257 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: during the regular season, some guys would stay here and 258 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: you know, hang out, some guys would go places. In 259 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs, everyone stayed and watch film. Everyone knew what 260 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: was at at hand. And so to go into Pittsburgh 261 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: and and and then beat them a second time, a 262 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: team that was built like we were. Uh, I wanted 263 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: to be physical, run the ball, bigger quarterback, Um, all 264 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 1: those things are going there and beat them way we 265 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: did in that fashion. Um, it was nice. And then 266 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: to be honest, going to New England was even that 267 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: week was even crazier. And that I think that's when 268 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,719 Speaker 1: I realized, you know, that's when I gained a lot 269 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: of respect over the years for New England because I 270 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: was so tired that week. I think I was going 271 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: to be at like six o'clock every night and so 272 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: trying to just get my energy. I've never played into 273 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: January before and never been there, so I was doing 274 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: everything I could to keep my energy up. Um. I 275 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: think everyone else was doing the same thing. Practice were 276 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 1: even more intense. Um, we're going to that game, but 277 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: we were rolling. We we had a you know, a 278 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: couple of mishaps here, but we had an opportunity to 279 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: win the game and it just didn't happen. But that team, 280 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: it was so many little things that went on throughout 281 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: that year, um, that we overcame. And that's part of 282 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: the you know, always tell people, you know, there's a 283 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: little luck involved when winning a championship. It's not you 284 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: you are a really good team, but there's a little 285 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: bit of luck involved. You're healthy, which is one which 286 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: we were that year. Um. You you don't, you know, 287 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: Mike Vick goes out so we don't have to play 288 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 1: him and against Atlanta, we we have some different other teams. 289 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: We knew we were a good team. We lost to 290 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: the Colts twice, but we knew we had him beat 291 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,679 Speaker 1: in Indian up and we knew we could beat him. Um. 292 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: But I mean there were so many little things that 293 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: went on, like so many uh a little adverse situations 294 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: that we're able to kind of use his motivation to 295 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: get better. Um, you know, it made it so special 296 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: even til today, Like, um, I would I would anytime 297 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: I go to Hawaii, I go hang out with Chris 298 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: Naoli and Benny Mana Ya rest his soul, and and 299 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: those guys. We would just talk about life, right, we 300 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: talked about football. We talk about those times. I remember 301 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: being here in two thousand seven, a young kid um 302 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: going out and Chris Naoli would like pick me up 303 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: from my house to drive me to work because it 304 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: meant that much to him, or you know, his his 305 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: wife would cook for me. Or I would go and 306 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: eat at certain people's houses because I didn't have I 307 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: didn't have I wasn't married at the time, I didn't 308 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: have when to live. I was living by myself, so 309 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: I was eating like Sonic Burger and stuff. But they 310 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: knew it was so important that they'd be like, well, 311 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: you come over and get a home cooked meal. Right. 312 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: Those little things are the things that made that team special. 313 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: I had to hang out with Fred and we we 314 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: go and watch tape, and we go and do certain 315 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: things like we just we just were a complete team 316 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: at that point. They came back to Earth in two 317 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: thousand eight, and in early two thousand nine, everything changed. 318 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: The Jaguars released Fred Taylor and elevated Jones drew to 319 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 1: the role of feature back. It was the opportunity he craved, 320 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: but it came at the expense of the teammate he loved. 321 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: His relationship with Taylor helped the transition and set the 322 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: stage for three incredible years. In two thousand eight, we 323 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: we had a championship team, but those adverse situations that 324 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: we had in two thousand seven that were able to overcome, 325 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: we weren't able to do it because of you know, 326 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: the NFL is so different than any other level of 327 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: football or other sport because money comes into play, and 328 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: so we had some moves there that people couldn't we 329 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: couldn't get over, we couldn't overcome, and so we had 330 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: a lot of injuries, we had a lot of thing 331 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: and it just wasn't a good year for us. Uh Um. 332 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: I remember in two thousand and eight being in Lake Tahoks. 333 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: I just had my first son and we were going 334 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: to Tahoe as a family, and I got a call 335 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: from my agent saying like they just released Fred and 336 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: I was like, what are you kidding me? And so 337 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: I merely text him like hey, man, like is this true? 338 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: Like what's going on? He was like yeah, you know, Um, 339 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate everything, Like you know, if you ever need anything, 340 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: call me, and I'm like, I'm going to I'm about 341 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: to I'm literally about to leave Lake Tahoe in two 342 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: days and I'm going to Miami. So I'll see you 343 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: in in like three or four days and we'll talk 344 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: about it. Um, and I get down there and again, 345 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm supposed to replace him. There's all 346 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: these different things that are going on, and yet he 347 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: was still willing to be that mentors to me, like 348 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: still pushing me when we're training in Miami, still doing 349 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: the little things that we had did from the day one. 350 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: And so it was it was hard for me to 351 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: be able to rationalize or be able to understand that, 352 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: you know, like how to how that happens, Like you 353 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: just got released and then you're still willing to the 354 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: guy that they're putting in your place. You're still willing 355 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: to help out. Um. But you know that's what Fred, 356 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: That's who Fred was. And so I trained that offseason 357 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: understand that I had a high there was expectations set 358 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: on me at this point. Right, you got a new 359 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: tough contract. Um, Fred's gone. What Fred had did in 360 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: the past, right, ten thousand yards, all these big seasons, 361 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: like I had to go and be able to either 362 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: match that or surpass that. And so that was my 363 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: that was my goal, my personal goals, UM, and that's 364 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: what I trained for. Uh. Granted, obviously the team goal 365 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: is to win a championship and we would play to 366 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: do those things. But that that was a time in 367 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: my life where I really didn't under I didn't understand, 368 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: you know, I felt like we had all we needed 369 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: was like one more piece. It was like, just keep Fred, 370 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: We'll figure this thing out. We have one more piece. 371 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: But the organization wanted to go in different ways, and 372 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: it was what it was. But the reason those three 373 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: years were those three years that I had after Fred, 374 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: was because there was I always knew that he has 375 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: set a standard in a bar for running backs and 376 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: that I had to to either uphold it or lifted 377 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: even higher. And that was to me the most important 378 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: thing I can do. Um to do my job to 379 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: the best of my ability, no matter if you had 380 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 1: eight or nine guys in the box. You know, I 381 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: was sitting meet with the offensive line and Brad Meester 382 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 1: was still here, Benny Man and I was here for 383 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: a little bit. Oocha knew Wharry was here. Um, we 384 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: had a passials was there for a second. I mean, 385 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: we had a bunch of guys that you know, we 386 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: ended up drafting Eugene Monroe and Evan Britten, and I was, 387 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,439 Speaker 1: you know, as a whole we were trying to at 388 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: least I was. I wanted people understand, like the standards 389 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: still the standard, right, Like when Fred was here, you 390 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: could have put fifteen guys in the box. We were 391 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: still gonna run the ball when you know, And it 392 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: was because the way offensive line was gonna block it 393 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: was the way I was gonna run. It was the 394 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: way that David was going to check into the right play, 395 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 1: like everything had to be the same, and so uh 396 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: those years going into it, it was all about making 397 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: sure that I didn't um, that I did not mess 398 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: up what the the running back the running backs of 399 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: Jacksonville have set from all the way back from James 400 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: Stewart to nature. Means. I was Fred Taylor to myself 401 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: and then too when I left, I said the same 402 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: thing that the next guy like, you know, like this 403 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: is Denard Robinson, Like here you go, like you gotta 404 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: make sure that you do it this way because this 405 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: is what the standard is and so um, but you 406 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: know it was. It was some good times man like, 407 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: like I mean, there's so many stories you could talk 408 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: about that. I remember um in two thousand and eleven 409 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: when we won the Rushing Todd And I say we 410 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: because the receivers really were selfless blocking on the outside 411 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,479 Speaker 1: like fullbacks, and Greg Jones was here and in our 412 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: line and we were seeing nine and ten guys in 413 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 1: the box every week. It was there was no there 414 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: like it was. It was just like, hey, this is 415 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,919 Speaker 1: what is gonna be. And I laugh now because I 416 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: see these guys complaining about having loaded boxes and I'm like, yeah, 417 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: that was the everyday thing for us. That was everyday 418 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: thing for us. So it's uh, you know, those years 419 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: were real special for me. More perspectives following this from 420 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 1: Bistar Credit Union advice Star. We believe in better, especially 421 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: in helping build a better financial future for our members, 422 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: so we reviewed our offerings from the ground up. We've 423 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: lowered or eliminated over half our fees and enhanced our 424 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: already competitive rates, saving members more than a million dollars 425 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: this year, in addition to the millions we saved them 426 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: every year. If you believe that saving money is better 427 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: Joined by Star we never forget that it's your money, 428 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: all loan subject to approval, insured by n c U. 429 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: A A passionate football player, Jones Drew was also a businessman, 430 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: and he could see the change was in the air. 431 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,720 Speaker 1: After a two thousand ten season which fell short of 432 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: the playoffs. It's funny how this, you know, the the 433 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: NFL lambscape and landscape can change. Um. I remember again 434 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: in two thousand eleven, we're going into the season and 435 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: we cut David Garrard the week before the season or 436 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: the week of the season, and it was like, oh no, 437 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: all right, well we did this last time. This has 438 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: a chance to work. The difference was we didn't have 439 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 1: the personalities in the locker room that we had in 440 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven the last time we did it. 441 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: So my as a leader on the team and as 442 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: one of the older people on the team, it was 443 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: my job to corral everyone. So I we had a 444 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: team meeting and it was like, look, well it doesn't matter, 445 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 1: we have to go out there and do our job. 446 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: And so um that year we drafted Blaying Gabber. We 447 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: had the lockout situation. There was so much going on 448 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: in this building, right there was there was the rumblings 449 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: of the team being sold. There was all type of 450 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: stuff going down, and so you're trying to you know, people, 451 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 1: I want to people talk about distractions like that is 452 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: the craziest thing I've ever been a part of, because 453 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: you don't know if the team is sold, if you're 454 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: gonna make it, because now it's it's a different owner 455 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: wants to do whatever he wants to do. You don't 456 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: know if the team is gonna be moved. Yeah, family 457 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: stuff you have to worry about. I mean, there's everything 458 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,360 Speaker 1: that goes into that. On top of now, we gotta 459 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: play football without our starting quarterback, right and I still 460 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: feel to this day if David would have played in 461 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eleven, we probably would't went to 462 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: the playoffs and made some noise because we were close 463 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: a couple of games. But going back to the season, 464 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: you know, Luke McCown uh is our starting quarterback. UH 465 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: play really well in the first game when the first 466 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: game we go to the Jets and he throws four picks, 467 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: And I knew in that situation what was gonna happen. 468 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: I already knew, Like if he didn't play well, Blaine 469 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: Gabard was coming in and we're gonna play with this 470 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: rookie quarterback who still he had the armed talent, but 471 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: still didn't understand that the NFL landscape the game of 472 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: football because of what he did in high school and college. 473 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 1: He played in the spread offense. So it's a little 474 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: bit different. Um. But again, it was one of those 475 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: things where I was like, hey, like I I still 476 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: have to uphold my end of the bargain to Fred Taylor. 477 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: As an organization and as a team, we stopt to 478 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,959 Speaker 1: uphold our our ore into the bargain is going out 479 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:07,360 Speaker 1: there and putting our best foot forward. And we did. 480 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: We did everything we could. Um. You know, we again 481 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 1: we ran against eight nine in boxes. Um. You know, 482 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 1: we did everything that we had to do to try 483 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,639 Speaker 1: to put ourselves in position to win, and we we were, 484 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: and we lost a bunch of games by close scores. 485 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: So it wasn't like we were getting blown out like 486 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,880 Speaker 1: we did against the Jets. UM. But you know, that's 487 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:27,399 Speaker 1: part of it. Like it was, it was just a 488 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: lot of outside noise that kept seeping into what we 489 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: were trying to do. UM. After at the end of 490 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: that year, I remember or towards the end of that year. 491 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 1: I remember, like every day and practice, the offensive linem 492 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:40,400 Speaker 1: be like, how many more yards we need to win 493 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: this thing? How many more yards we need to win 494 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,639 Speaker 1: this thing. I was like, I don't know, I don't know, 495 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: but let's just keep rolling. And I end up either 496 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 1: hurting my hip flex or in like week eleven, and 497 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 1: so I couldn't practice anymore at this point, and the 498 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: offensive lineman would be like, yo, you're playing in the 499 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: game right, like this is the one thing that we're 500 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:58,880 Speaker 1: gonna do. If we don't do anything else, we're gonna 501 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: win this Russian time. I was like, I got you. 502 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna playing the game. And I would get here 503 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: like five of the morning, get treatment all these different things. 504 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: I would try to run some days it wouldn't work. Uh, 505 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: really didn't get going until running back to like week 506 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: thirteen or fourteen late in the year. And then I 507 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: remember the morning of the last game, le Shaw McCoy's 508 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: up uh or he was I think he was gonna 509 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: be active, but then they decided to make him inactive 510 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: and so but we still we had won the rushing 511 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: tile the morning of the Coast game, but we wanted 512 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: to get the the single season rushing record, and so 513 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: I remember warming up to get the day of the 514 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: game and pulling my Hamshire and warming up and I 515 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 1: was like, oh, this is crazy, and so I hurry up, 516 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: I run in and I go talk to Mike Ryan. 517 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: I'm like, you know, I think I either pulled my 518 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: Hamshire or a tour it or something, but like, we 519 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: need to get this thing fixed because I have to 520 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: play um. And only only people that knew were Mike 521 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,480 Speaker 1: Ryan and and uh melt Tucker. At the time, there's 522 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: only two people that knew. So we get in the game. 523 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: I think we might have been like currently around. We 524 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: might have been sixty yards a hundred and sixty yards 525 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: away or something, which was it was like a tall task, 526 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: but we knew we could do it, and I think 527 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:09,880 Speaker 1: we got one sixty nine or something that day. But 528 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: the smile on those guys faces on everyone from the receivers, 529 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: the offensive linemen to the coaches, that that's what it 530 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: was all about. It the end the day was like, 531 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 1: regardless of how bad this season was, we were able 532 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 1: to hang our hat that we're able to win the 533 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: rushing title in a season that we had a ton 534 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: of things, team being sold, coach being fired, had starting 535 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: quarterback cut week one, all these different things going around, 536 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: we were still able to salvage something UM and it 537 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: was it was awesome. Now it goes from being on 538 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:42,640 Speaker 1: the high of highs too. During the off season. During 539 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: that season, we were in the contract talks, uh, possibly 540 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: during another extension, UM, so that you know, I could 541 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: retire a Jaguar, like be a Jaguar forever. That was 542 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: something that was important to me. UM. But like as 543 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: we were playing once a team sold, UM, we stopped communicating. 544 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: And I think that was the biggest issue that I 545 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: had with the front office at that time, was that 546 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: there was no communication. UM. So you know, after the season, 547 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: I made it clear and I don't think people will 548 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: know this, but I made it clear, like I wanted 549 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: a new contract. We we had we had I want 550 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: to say, we just won the rushing title sixteen hundred yards. Uh. 551 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: The year before that it was through and so whatever 552 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: in the year before that was thirteen. So it was 553 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: that the numbers were there, um, and that we were 554 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: facing things that no one ever faced before. And so 555 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: I was like, yo, like it's time to start rewarding 556 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: us for the things that we're doing, um in these 557 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: adverse situations. And so I made it clear that I 558 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,640 Speaker 1: wanted a new contractor I wanted an extension, um going 559 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: into that going into that off season, which I didn't 560 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:50,879 Speaker 1: think was hard because it wasn't like we had a 561 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: ton of money. There was a lot of you know, 562 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: there wasn't really many people out there. Um, so uh, 563 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: we're I remember my agent going to the combine and 564 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 1: him talking to the front office and the people in 565 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: the building, and you know, they kind of like they 566 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: never just they tried to make it like the elephant 567 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,479 Speaker 1: was the room. Never just wanted to speak on it, like, oh, well, 568 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: this guy is doing well, because my agent had a 569 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: bunch of other guys on the team, and this guy 570 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 1: is doing well. And I am like, well, you know, 571 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: like I know, Maurice has talked to you. Um, he's 572 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 1: really adamant about getting this deal done before it's you know, 573 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 1: it's all said and done. All we got some other 574 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: things we gotta do, and you know, we're we're we'll 575 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 1: work on it all right. So, uh, at that point, 576 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 1: they hadn't hired coach Malarkey. They were waiting on hiring 577 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: finding a coach, um, I think, and then they hired 578 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: coach Malarkey and some different things, and UM, what upset 579 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: me more than anything was that they went out and 580 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:46,800 Speaker 1: paid some guys in free agency that had UM I 581 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: don't I don't know how to say it, because they 582 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,680 Speaker 1: just they just didn't put they the numbers and the 583 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: stuff they had done. The production they had had nothing 584 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: compared to what I did at that point, and so 585 00:27:55,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: that frustrated me. Was like, okay, you can give you know, 586 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: the whole adages take care of home first, Like for 587 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: some reason, we forgot about that, and so we had 588 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: guys in our building that should have been paid, obviously 589 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: myself included. UM, but you go out and paid get 590 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 1: these other people all this other money, and then you know, 591 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: one guy gets hurt, another guy ends up playing a 592 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,719 Speaker 1: little bit. It just it just it didn't. It didn't 593 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: feel right to me, and so I told him, I'm like, 594 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: you know, I understand the whole argument of honor your contract, 595 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 1: but at the same time, you have to understand where 596 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: I'm coming from as well as a players that we're 597 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: we're going out there running against. It doesn't matter who 598 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: the receiver receivers were else outside. It didn't matter anything, 599 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: Like you could have had Randy Moss team when you 600 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: played Jacksonville like they still do today. They're gonna load 601 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 1: the box and do their job. And so we didn't 602 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: have a lot of communication throughout. There was some you know, 603 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 1: I there's some things that people say like I better 604 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: do something or this and that, and if you know 605 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: me that that's like the worst thing you can tell 606 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: me because I always do the opposite. Um. And so 607 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: it just it went from being on the top of 608 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 1: you know, see the rushing title, to the miscommunication, the 609 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: not really just telling me as a as a man 610 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: or as an adult saying, hey, you know, we're not 611 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,239 Speaker 1: gonna redo your deal. I'd rather you just something we're 612 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:11,719 Speaker 1: not gonna do your deal and you have to come 613 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: in and give me, give us one more year and 614 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 1: then we'll talk about it instead of just not talking 615 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: to me. Period. And it went from that to the holdout. Um. 616 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,720 Speaker 1: Finally coming back from the holdout, which you know, was 617 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: one of the toughest things I've ever done because at 618 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: that point, my my oldest son was just understanding football 619 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 1: and learning football, and every day he would say, I 620 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: thought you love football, Like why don't you want to play? 621 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 1: And all these things, and I was trying to explain 622 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: to them how it's this is. It's just not it's 623 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: not like youth football, high school or college. This is 624 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: this is a business, and you know there's a part 625 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,840 Speaker 1: in business that that kind of uh takes over a 626 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: little bit. Um. But then coming back and and I 627 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: actually being in the Russian Leader for a couple of 628 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,800 Speaker 1: weeks and then breaking my foot and and it was 629 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: crazy because I come back and I'm in great shape, 630 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: I'm running, I'm having I'm doing a great you know, 631 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: we're we're doing a great job. Even though we weren't winning, 632 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: we were we were getting better. And then we go 633 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: to Oakland, the team that we should have beaten, um, 634 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: and the first play someone just lands on me wrong 635 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: on my foot brakes and a half and that was it. 636 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: Jones Drew saw the transition from Jack del Rio to 637 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: Mike mclarkey in two thousand twelve, and then Mike mlarkey 638 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: to Gus Bradley inteen. He transitioned himself from Jacksonville to 639 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: Oakland in and then from playing to broadcasting shortly after 640 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: that season ended, his body no longer able to withstand 641 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: the punishment it dealt out weekly to defenders on his 642 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: way to the end zone. He left with eighty one 643 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 1: career touchdowns, the most in Jaguars history, and his sixteen 644 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: hundred and six rushing yards in eleven remained the franchise's 645 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: single season record at nine and eighty yards from scrimmage 646 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,240 Speaker 1: is also the team mark. Along the way, countless memories 647 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: were created, from his taking a knee at the Jets 648 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 1: one yard line to set up a field goal and 649 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: kill the flock, to that touchdown run against the Patriots 650 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: where he seemed bottled up then it floaded from the 651 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 1: pile to his incredible yard day with two eighty yard 652 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: touchdown runs in Tennessee. The list goes on and on 653 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: and on. Someday in the very near future, he'll be 654 00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: recognized for his incredible commitment to Jacksonville on and off 655 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 1: the field, and it's another moment he can't wait to 656 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: share with his family in Jacksonville. Uh Man being put 657 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:25,239 Speaker 1: in the Ring of Honor would be one of the 658 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: top things that uh, you know, it's it's it's hard 659 00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 1: to think about. Earlier this month, I was put on 660 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:34,960 Speaker 1: the ballot for the Hall of fame, And I never 661 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: would have thought that because at the end of the day, 662 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: I played because I loved it. I played because I 663 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,320 Speaker 1: was around the right people, and I love the people 664 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 1: I was around. UM. But to get recognized later in 665 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:45,680 Speaker 1: your career for what you did when you're playing is 666 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: is one of the best honors you can have, UM. 667 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: And to be able to put up next to Fred Taylor, 668 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: guy that I you know that I love, Like when 669 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: when when when Fred wasn't number one, I was hurt 670 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: for him as much as I wanted to be number one, 671 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: like it hurt me because I know I saw what 672 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 1: he did every day. Now granted I didn't see Tony 673 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: Boselli and what he did every day, but I saw 674 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: Fred played through injuries. I saw Fred get up here 675 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: in the morning and all the stuff that he did. 676 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: And so that was my personal connection with him. To 677 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: be able to be up there with with him, Brad Measter, 678 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: all these like like it to me, it's like it's 679 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: just like it just feels like it. UM. I'm trying 680 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 1: to think of the word, but it's it's not even 681 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: accepted or except it's just like gratifying, like all the 682 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: hard work we put in together for the guys that 683 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: I played with. It came out for something and and 684 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:32,960 Speaker 1: and you know, I know what I mean, lots of 685 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: my family I know me and a lot to my 686 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 1: friends that are in this city. Um, and my kids 687 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 1: for sure love it. But uh, I can't wait for 688 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: that day to come. And it'll be exciting.