WEBVTT - A Conversation with Jets Legend Thomas Jones (2/2) 0:00:05.440 --> 0:00:08.280 Welcome to the Official Jets Podcast. We're presented by wind 0:00:08.320 --> 0:00:11.080 bat Betting is a team sport bet together at win 0:00:11.160 --> 0:00:14.720 back Eric Allen here inside the studio. I am so 0:00:14.920 --> 0:00:19.000 pumped today because we finally have Thomas Jones on the 0:00:19.040 --> 0:00:23.520 official pod. T J. How are you doing? I'm doing great, man, 0:00:23.640 --> 0:00:27.080 Thanks for having me. Hey, you know what I was 0:00:27.120 --> 0:00:32.280 thinking about that we're coming up on almost sixteen years 0:00:32.320 --> 0:00:35.800 since the Jets acquired you in a trade from the 0:00:35.880 --> 0:00:39.960 Chicago Bears back in two thousand and seven. What was 0:00:40.000 --> 0:00:47.040 that moment like for you? Sixteen years? Man? Why do 0:00:47.159 --> 0:00:50.720 you have to say that mass six? Hey, listen, you're 0:00:50.760 --> 0:00:56.560 still that's crazy man, you know, I mean, my time 0:00:56.600 --> 0:00:59.280 in the Jets was so great and you know with 0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:02.600 the jetson and York, um that it feels like it 0:01:02.640 --> 0:01:07.720 was yesterday. So to to actually hear sixteen years, it's surreal. Um, 0:01:07.880 --> 0:01:11.080 how do you find out about the deal? So? I was, 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:14.039 you know, I was obviously I was in Chicago and 0:01:14.040 --> 0:01:17.240 and we had just uh played in the Super Bowl, 0:01:17.959 --> 0:01:22.160 and uh, you know, I was having some issues with 0:01:22.160 --> 0:01:25.040 with with the management in regards to just you know, 0:01:25.280 --> 0:01:28.800 renewing my contract, give me a new contract. Uh, you know, 0:01:28.840 --> 0:01:31.720 whether or not they were going to trade me or not. Um, 0:01:31.760 --> 0:01:35.280 you know, just business stuff. And I just so happened 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:39.040 to be in New York with my publicist. Uh. There 0:01:39.240 --> 0:01:45.240 was a a fashion show at that time that bt 0:01:46.440 --> 0:01:50.440 UH produced called Ripped the Runway, and so they had 0:01:50.480 --> 0:01:53.680 reached out to my publicist because they wanted me to 0:01:53.680 --> 0:01:55.800 to actually be a part of the fashion show, and 0:01:56.320 --> 0:01:58.760 um and model some of the some of the clothes, 0:01:58.840 --> 0:02:01.440 the clothes, and so I was in New York for 0:02:01.520 --> 0:02:05.600 the fashion show, and UM, I knew that we were 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:09.920 in conversation with several teams for potential trade, but I 0:02:10.000 --> 0:02:13.320 was I was headed to the rehearsal for the Rip 0:02:13.360 --> 0:02:16.200 the Runaway fashion show and my phone rang and it 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:20.160 was my agent, Drew Rosenhouse. And the first thing he 0:02:20.200 --> 0:02:23.880 says is, Hey, where are you. I said, Oh, I'm 0:02:23.919 --> 0:02:26.519 in New York and he goes, are you serious. I'm 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:28.920 like yeah, I'm like, I'm in New York. I'm headed 0:02:28.960 --> 0:02:32.920 to a rehearsal for a fashion show. He goes, You're 0:02:32.960 --> 0:02:36.880 not gonna believe this. Uh, the Jets want to trade 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:40.680 for you. And I was like, what, you know? It 0:02:40.800 --> 0:02:43.320 was just because I was assuming that we were going 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:46.519 to get something done in Chicago. We just I just 0:02:46.560 --> 0:02:48.200 played in the Super Bowl. You know, we had a 0:02:48.240 --> 0:02:50.400 great team. You know, we had great nucleus. I figured, okay, 0:02:50.400 --> 0:02:53.680 they'll bring me back, um. And he said they wanted 0:02:53.720 --> 0:02:56.800 to trade for me. And I said, okay, well that's great. 0:02:56.880 --> 0:02:58.560 I guess you know, I don't know all the details, 0:02:58.600 --> 0:03:01.960 but um, you know, yeah, tell me more. So he goes, well, 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:03.920 the fact that you're in New York is great because 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:07.640 they were gonna fly you into New York immediately, like today, 0:03:08.240 --> 0:03:10.280 but you're already there. How far away are you from 0:03:10.320 --> 0:03:12.320 Long Island? Um? And I was like, well, I'm in 0:03:12.320 --> 0:03:15.200 Manhattani in the city. He was like, okay, well, how 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:17.919 soon can you get to Long Island to the jet facility? 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:19.600 And I was, you know, I didn't know, but I 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:21.160 asked the driver and he said we can get there 0:03:21.240 --> 0:03:25.000 is traffic and maybe an hour of traffic. And say, okay. 0:03:25.120 --> 0:03:29.560 So me and my publicists we found out that the 0:03:29.680 --> 0:03:32.200 Jets want to trade for me in a in the 0:03:33.000 --> 0:03:36.000 suv headed to rehearsal for a fashion show in New York. 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:43.200 So it's crazy amazing. Listen, you have you had so 0:03:43.240 --> 0:03:45.560 many intrasts off the field, and we're gonna get to 0:03:45.760 --> 0:03:50.080 what you're doing now. But did your head starts spending 0:03:50.160 --> 0:03:52.320 at that time, like, Hey, this is gonna be a 0:03:52.320 --> 0:03:55.440 cool opportunity to play with the Jets, but maybe I 0:03:55.480 --> 0:03:58.720 can get into some things off the field and maybe 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:03.600 those experiences are gonna me post career. Yeah, definitely. I mean, 0:04:03.720 --> 0:04:06.240 Chicago is a great city. There's a lot of opportunities 0:04:06.280 --> 0:04:10.320 in Chicago outside of football. Um, you know, the New 0:04:10.400 --> 0:04:13.960 York is It's New York. You know, it's it's it's 0:04:14.200 --> 0:04:19.200 uh the mecca. You know, of of of opportunities, you know, 0:04:19.760 --> 0:04:24.920 and so um, at the time, I was really focused on, Okay, 0:04:24.960 --> 0:04:28.279 what is my football career gonna look like? Um, you 0:04:28.320 --> 0:04:31.560 know if I'm traded here. Um. But also I love 0:04:31.600 --> 0:04:34.240 New York City. I went to college with a lot 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:35.719 of guys out of from New York that I became 0:04:35.760 --> 0:04:37.520 really good friends with. I spent a lot of time 0:04:37.520 --> 0:04:41.240 in New York. Um throughout my NFL career, even up 0:04:41.440 --> 0:04:44.360 to that point, and so, um, I was excited about 0:04:44.400 --> 0:04:47.719 the opportunity to play in New York City. Um. But 0:04:47.800 --> 0:04:50.880 you know, being into fashion and being into other things 0:04:50.880 --> 0:04:53.200 that I that I was interested in outside of football. 0:04:53.680 --> 0:04:55.839 I mean, that would have been the perfect place for 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:58.039 me to be traded to from Chicago. But did you 0:04:58.080 --> 0:05:02.000 get in UM introduced anybody in the film world in 0:05:02.120 --> 0:05:05.400 New York at that time? Well, I played for the 0:05:05.440 --> 0:05:08.159 Cardinals for three years, and so I was very close 0:05:08.200 --> 0:05:13.320 to Los Angeles, forty five minute flight away. Uh, And 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:14.960 so I spent a lot of time in l A. 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:17.760 Because honestly, you know, I wasn't really a big fan 0:05:17.839 --> 0:05:21.040 of Phoenix. Uh. I was coming from Virginia, coming from 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:23.920 the East Coast, So I was I was a culturally 0:05:24.320 --> 0:05:26.800 Uh I was. I was a little more comfortable being 0:05:26.839 --> 0:05:29.600 on the East Coast. Um. Phoenix was a great city, 0:05:29.600 --> 0:05:31.320 beautiful city. But at that time, you know, I was 0:05:31.400 --> 0:05:34.480 young one, you know, fresh ayed of college. You know, 0:05:34.560 --> 0:05:37.039 I was used to a certain type of energy, East 0:05:37.040 --> 0:05:39.440 Coast energy. So it was like a culture shock for 0:05:39.520 --> 0:05:41.760 me when I when I was drafted by the Cardinals. 0:05:41.800 --> 0:05:43.280 So I spent a little more time in l A 0:05:43.839 --> 0:05:48.040 because it was a little more lively, a little faster pace. 0:05:48.560 --> 0:05:50.760 So I've met a lot of people in the industry 0:05:51.400 --> 0:05:54.400 music and film while I was in Los Angeles. I 0:05:54.440 --> 0:05:57.760 had a lot of relationships UM. From that that my 0:05:57.839 --> 0:06:00.480 time in Arizona. So, um, New York in l A 0:06:00.480 --> 0:06:04.919 are the two biggest you know, uh places for entertainment, 0:06:05.279 --> 0:06:08.159 and so we kind of go hand in hand. So um, yeah, 0:06:08.200 --> 0:06:09.760 I met a lot of people in l A that 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:13.320 we're working in New York and you know, by coastal back, 0:06:13.360 --> 0:06:15.159 back and forth. So I had a lot of relationships 0:06:15.160 --> 0:06:17.400 in New York and the entertainment industry at that time too. 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:20.919 How would you describe those three years? Oh seven and 0:06:21.040 --> 0:06:25.440 Jets fans will relate to this right now. Quarterback instability 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:29.480 for you and oh seven, tough year. Then you produced 0:06:29.520 --> 0:06:34.640 on the ground. Oh hey, Brett Farve comes in and 0:06:35.040 --> 0:06:40.440 the team. I remember over time victory in New England. 0:06:40.600 --> 0:06:45.360 The following week you went to Tennessee, undefeated Titans team 0:06:45.440 --> 0:06:49.120 and you put put a thumping on them. Eight and three. 0:06:49.279 --> 0:06:52.159 Look like a super Bowl favorite. But then it fell 0:06:52.200 --> 0:06:55.400 apart down the stretch. Uh. Let's talk about those first 0:06:55.440 --> 0:06:58.479 two years first, as you got your feet on the 0:06:58.520 --> 0:07:03.200 ground here, Yeah, I mean the first year was was 0:07:03.920 --> 0:07:09.600 growing pains. You know, it's part of building a team, 0:07:09.640 --> 0:07:11.760 you know. Um, I think the year before that they 0:07:11.760 --> 0:07:13.720 had gone to the playoffs in two thousand six, the 0:07:13.800 --> 0:07:16.040 Jets went to the playoffs, and we actually played the 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:18.200 Jets that year in those six in New York. We 0:07:18.280 --> 0:07:20.000 beat but I think we want like ten to three 0:07:20.080 --> 0:07:22.320 year or something like that. You ran for over a 0:07:22.360 --> 0:07:25.520 hundred yards in that game. I think, yeah, yeah, yeah. 0:07:25.520 --> 0:07:27.400 We actually played back to back games. We played the 0:07:27.400 --> 0:07:30.160 Giants and then we flew back to New York and 0:07:30.200 --> 0:07:34.000 played the Jets and back to back weeks. Um. So 0:07:34.080 --> 0:07:36.000 you know, they had a really good season that year. 0:07:36.080 --> 0:07:37.520 You know, they made it to the playoffs and so 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:41.320 they had a good nucleus. I think. You know in seven, um, 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:45.680 Chad Pennington ended up being injured and um, and we 0:07:45.760 --> 0:07:48.240 had a lot of young players that had to come 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:52.960 in and make plays. And on offense and defense, I know, UM, 0:07:53.080 --> 0:07:55.360 the offensive line was young. You know, we kind of 0:07:55.440 --> 0:07:59.240 had like a musical chairs going on with the offensive line. 0:07:59.280 --> 0:08:03.080 So I don't think we had too much stability there. Um. 0:08:03.240 --> 0:08:06.600 And also on offense, UM, you know, we actually cut 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:10.360 all of the fullbacks and so um we were using 0:08:10.440 --> 0:08:15.160 the tight ends uh to run ice so and certain 0:08:15.280 --> 0:08:18.040 plays that traditionally a fullback would be in. So UM, 0:08:18.080 --> 0:08:19.680 there was some growing pains there. I think I had 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:23.800 one rushing touchdown and was one shovel pass touchdown. Uh, 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:25.640 but I had over eleven hundred yards and over three 0:08:25.720 --> 0:08:27.920 hundred carries. So I took a beating that year. But 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:29.400 you know, as part of the running back position, and 0:08:29.560 --> 0:08:31.120 you know what I mean, you get the ball, you 0:08:31.120 --> 0:08:35.000 know you're gonna get hit. Hopefully you can wear defenses 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:37.840 down and in the second half, you know that's um, 0:08:37.880 --> 0:08:39.840 they're tired of hitting you. And and you know, some 0:08:39.960 --> 0:08:44.120 creases open. Um. So it was a tough year for me, 0:08:44.200 --> 0:08:46.280 coming off of a Super Bowl year in the last 0:08:46.320 --> 0:08:48.679 two seasons where I was in the playoffs to being 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:52.440 four and twelve and and not really having a lot 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:56.120 of production. But I knew if I had some help 0:08:56.160 --> 0:08:59.280 coming in the next year, which was a way, then 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:02.880 I could get back to my old Chicago self. And 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:06.160 that's what happened in olate Farve came in, Um, you know, 0:09:06.240 --> 0:09:08.400 gave us an opportunity to throw the ball down and field, 0:09:08.400 --> 0:09:10.480 which stretched the defense. Now it's not eight nine in 0:09:10.480 --> 0:09:13.439 the box every week. Brought in some incredible offensive lineman 0:09:13.480 --> 0:09:16.720 Damian Woody. Allen Fannica brought in one of the best, 0:09:17.000 --> 0:09:21.160 arguably the best fullback in the history the NFL. Tony Richardson, Um, 0:09:21.600 --> 0:09:23.320 I mean he's known for leading running backs to the 0:09:23.320 --> 0:09:26.920 Pro Bowl thousands of our seasons. Um. And then you know, 0:09:27.200 --> 0:09:30.640 we we just came together at the right time, you know, 0:09:30.679 --> 0:09:33.320 in that in that o a season. So uh yeah, 0:09:33.400 --> 0:09:39.480 draftly different seasons, but also draftly different teams and drastically 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:45.439 different experiences for sure. Oh nine. Was that magical from 0:09:45.440 --> 0:09:49.520 your perspective? I mean what the team did you? Yourself? 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:53.040 I think four hundred yards, fourteen touchdowns on the ground, 0:09:53.640 --> 0:10:00.720 and you were the definition of a workhorse man that 0:10:00.160 --> 0:10:02.920 that was. That's a running back to dream that year 0:10:04.240 --> 0:10:06.000 to have a great defense that's gonna get you the 0:10:06.040 --> 0:10:10.880 ball back and uh, you know, have a great offensive line, 0:10:10.880 --> 0:10:14.080 green fullback. Um. Even though you have a young quarterback, 0:10:14.480 --> 0:10:18.200 uh you know who's learning on the go. UM. You know, 0:10:18.280 --> 0:10:21.320 that still puts a lot of the owners on us 0:10:21.360 --> 0:10:24.920 the running back to to produce. And so any running 0:10:24.960 --> 0:10:28.439 back worth the granted salt once that situation, Uh, they 0:10:28.480 --> 0:10:31.080 want to be in that position where they're getting carries 0:10:31.080 --> 0:10:34.040 a game. UM. That's that's why you're in the NFL. 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:37.000 You're in the NFL to get the ball to produce. UM. 0:10:37.040 --> 0:10:40.439 And so that year was probably the most fun I've 0:10:40.480 --> 0:10:43.600 ever had. And also I think it was I was 0:10:43.960 --> 0:10:47.240 thirty one, I think thirty one, So I felt like 0:10:47.280 --> 0:10:51.560 I had finally earned the right, uh to be the guy, 0:10:51.679 --> 0:10:54.000 because every year up until that point, it felt like 0:10:54.000 --> 0:10:56.480 there was always someone they were trying to replace me 0:10:56.559 --> 0:11:01.559 with or figuring out how we can supplement him, as 0:11:01.559 --> 0:11:04.320 opposed to saying, hey, this is the guy. So I 0:11:04.320 --> 0:11:06.920 think that season was the first year I felt, hey, 0:11:07.080 --> 0:11:10.480 I'm gonna be able to get more the majority of 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:13.719 the carries, um, and I have fully the way of 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:17.079 the offense on my shoulders. You were here three years 0:11:17.880 --> 0:11:23.080 twice your teammates voted to you most inspirational. What does 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:27.240 that mean to you personally that you had that kind 0:11:27.240 --> 0:11:30.360 of respect from the guys in the room, your peers. 0:11:31.200 --> 0:11:33.360 It means everything, you know. I mean, you're with these 0:11:33.400 --> 0:11:36.480 guys every day. You're in the locker room, you're uh, 0:11:36.520 --> 0:11:39.320 you know, you're in training room. Um, you know, you're 0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:43.760 in the practice field. You know we're traveling together. Um, 0:11:43.800 --> 0:11:46.760 you know we're having pregame meal together. Uh, and we're 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:50.000 going to battle on the field. And so um, out 0:11:50.000 --> 0:11:54.120 of all the guys on the team. For the guys 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:58.280 to vote you as the most inspirational player or person 0:11:58.360 --> 0:12:02.559 on the team, that's the biggest accolade that you could receive. Obviously, 0:12:02.600 --> 0:12:07.960 the nfls about wins and losses and championships, but internally, UM, 0:12:08.040 --> 0:12:10.800 what is the infrastructure of the team, what does the 0:12:10.920 --> 0:12:15.280 leadership look like? UM? What does the accountability look like? Uh? 0:12:15.360 --> 0:12:18.160 And I was always big on accountability and being a 0:12:18.280 --> 0:12:22.040 leader and leading by example. So to be voted most 0:12:22.080 --> 0:12:25.520 inspirational by my teammates, uh, it let me know that 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:29.679 every day that I spent watching extra film every day, 0:12:29.720 --> 0:12:32.280 that I uh stayed in the weight room every day, 0:12:32.280 --> 0:12:35.959 that I uh was the last one to leave the facility. UM, 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:37.960 every day that I was hard on a player because 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:39.520 I wanted him to be the best that he possibly 0:12:39.520 --> 0:12:42.920 could be. And also, UM, I wanted to win. UM. 0:12:42.960 --> 0:12:45.600 And let me know that they appreciated that, and that 0:12:45.640 --> 0:12:48.520 meant everything to me. So it doesn't get any better 0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:51.920 than that. How much did you appreciate the people in 0:12:51.960 --> 0:12:55.600 the building, Because what always struck me about you was 0:12:56.320 --> 0:13:00.600 your relationship with the equipment guys. That's not something that 0:13:01.080 --> 0:13:04.560 people on the outside sea, but during open locker room 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.760 periods the media would be down there three four times 0:13:07.760 --> 0:13:10.320 a week for forty five minutes sessions and stuff like that, 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:14.240 and you were always with the guys. One of my buddies, 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:18.559 Brendan Burger, was always around your locker. Yeah. I love 0:13:18.640 --> 0:13:21.520 those guys, man. I mean, but I've always been infatuated 0:13:21.559 --> 0:13:24.720 with just the game of football, um, the exits and 0:13:24.760 --> 0:13:27.800 ose um, the history of the game, but also the 0:13:27.840 --> 0:13:31.760 equipment and the cleats and the shoulder pads. And I've 0:13:31.760 --> 0:13:33.840 always you know, from a little kid I was. I 0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:37.880 was always intrigued by uh, the equipment and so um. 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:40.440 In high school, college and in every NFL team I 0:13:40.440 --> 0:13:42.240 was on. I was always spending a lot of time 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:44.480 with the with the guys in the equipment room, building 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:46.800 relationships with those guys. And I also appreciate the fact 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:48.319 that they're the ones that are taking care of us. 0:13:48.679 --> 0:13:50.320 You know, they're the ones that are making sure our 0:13:50.320 --> 0:13:52.720 helmets have Aurian them. They're they're making sure that we 0:13:52.720 --> 0:13:55.720 have the right shoulder pads that fit um. I mean, 0:13:55.800 --> 0:13:58.920 they care a lot about us enough there too. You know, 0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:03.720 they're watching our our socks and you know our um 0:14:03.760 --> 0:14:06.600 you know, shirts and thermals and and workout gear. I mean, 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:10.040 you know, that's a very humble, humbling job, and I'm 0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:12.240 a very humble person. My mom and dad worked in 0:14:12.240 --> 0:14:13.839 the coal mins for nineteen years. So I think I 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:19.160 always gravitate towards people who, um, you know, have jobs 0:14:19.160 --> 0:14:23.920 where they're um, they can easily be overlooked and easily 0:14:23.960 --> 0:14:29.040 be under underappreciated. I gravitate towards those people. Uh. And 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:32.240 plus they're just good guys. Man. We had some great conversations. Man. 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.000 You know, I would get my lunch and a lot 0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:39.280 of times, UM, I wouldn't say I was dodging the media, 0:14:39.360 --> 0:14:42.160 but UM, I learned over my first three years in 0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:45.560 the NFL that sometimes you know, um, if you focus 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:47.720 too much on the media and and they're going to 0:14:47.800 --> 0:14:50.120 ask their questions, they have a job to do. Um. 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:51.920 Sometimes you know, you have to you have to find 0:14:51.960 --> 0:14:55.120 that balance between being able to give interviews and and 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:59.200 hear the chatter and then avoid the chatter, and so 0:14:59.560 --> 0:15:01.360 they equip The room was a good place for me 0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:04.520 to duck off with my food and and just sit 0:15:04.560 --> 0:15:07.680 back in there and just talk and laugh and joke, um, 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:09.600 and build great relationships with those guys that I have 0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:13.240 to this day, win bet is bringing the excitement of 0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:17.280 wind Las Vegas to online sports betting and casino play. 0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:21.000 Get in on all your favorite teams, players, and sports, 0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:25.080 from boosted parlays to live in game odds on every 0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:28.680 major sport. They have what you need to win. 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With that being said, can you 0:16:10.640 --> 0:16:14.240 talk about the connection you had specifically with this fan base. 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:18.760 It feels like you played longer considering what you accomplished 0:16:18.800 --> 0:16:22.240 here in New York, just the three seasons, But can 0:16:22.240 --> 0:16:26.200 you talk about their attitude, their mentality, their expectations, and 0:16:26.600 --> 0:16:30.520 how you fit into that. Yeah, I'm from Virginia, but 0:16:30.720 --> 0:16:35.720 I've always been uh connected to New York, regardless of 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:42.560 whether whether it's fashion, music, the energy. UM, I've always 0:16:43.440 --> 0:16:47.480 I've always felt like I was um had a had 0:16:47.520 --> 0:16:51.280 a piece of New York in me. Uh. So you 0:16:51.280 --> 0:16:54.240 know the New York fan base, man, I mean that's 0:16:54.280 --> 0:16:58.640 the passionate uh. You know, they they're they're little rowdy 0:16:58.640 --> 0:17:02.960 at times, would need be UM, but you know they 0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:07.840 they're there. They genuinely want to win, and they genuinely 0:17:07.880 --> 0:17:11.800 want to be successful. And so I think you know, 0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:15.159 me being able to come to New York, uh and 0:17:15.320 --> 0:17:17.760 and be able to to play running back, you know 0:17:17.880 --> 0:17:21.320 running back there UM that position obviously since Churtis Martin. 0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:23.000 I mean it's one of the greatest of all timomy 0:17:23.000 --> 0:17:25.920 and it's big shoes to feel um. But New York 0:17:26.000 --> 0:17:28.639 is where I was supposed to go. The energy is 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:32.439 that's what I needed. I needed that, um, not to 0:17:33.200 --> 0:17:36.480 motivate me anymore than I motivate myself. But it's nothing 0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:38.320 like going out coming out of the tunnel in the 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:41.920 Meadowlands and the New York Jets fans are sat j 0:17:42.040 --> 0:17:45.320 dts just just Jets and it's all Green. Um, just 0:17:45.359 --> 0:17:49.680 the mostique of the stadium, the mistique of the team. Um. Yeah, man, 0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:52.159 I mean it was a match made in heaven. You 0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:53.720 know what I mean? The New York Jets fan base. 0:17:53.960 --> 0:17:56.560 DONAFL is a business. And you talked about the trade 0:17:56.560 --> 0:18:00.920 between the Bears and the Jets. How difficult wasn't for you? 0:18:01.240 --> 0:18:03.919 The couple of months after all nine, you guys advanced 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:07.440 ANFC championship game. I got a seventeen sixteen, seventeen to 0:18:07.560 --> 0:18:10.440 six lead over Peyton Mann and the Colts in their building. 0:18:11.040 --> 0:18:14.160 Uh me. You were such a big part of that 0:18:14.240 --> 0:18:18.560 team and what was building. And then the organization goes 0:18:18.600 --> 0:18:21.639 out and drafts Shawn Green and then before you know it, 0:18:22.080 --> 0:18:24.440 you signed a free agency with the Kansas City Chiefs 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:27.360 and you embark got a new start again. Yeah. I mean, 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:31.119 that's that's the NFL. And you know, Sean Green was 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:35.120 a great back, great friend. Um. I loved to share 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:37.240 in the backfield with him. We had some great games. 0:18:37.240 --> 0:18:41.719 We dominated some teams, embarrassed some teams. Uh. You know, 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:43.959 I remember the Raiders. We played the Raiders out there 0:18:44.000 --> 0:18:46.920 in in Oakland and oh nine, and we both had 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:48.680 over a hundred yards. I think I had like a 0:18:48.720 --> 0:18:51.040 buck twenty. He had like a buck forty. I mean 0:18:51.040 --> 0:18:53.960 the same game, you know. I mean that's pretty hard 0:18:53.960 --> 0:18:56.359 to do in the NFL against any NFL defensive. We 0:18:56.520 --> 0:18:59.879 dominated teams Sean and I and Leon Washington, you know 0:19:00.200 --> 0:19:02.879 before he was injured that year. Um. But that's the 0:19:02.920 --> 0:19:05.000 business of the NFL. And I was already prepared for 0:19:05.040 --> 0:19:09.359 that because of my experiences in Arizona and in Tampa, 0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:14.399 even Chicago, so um. A lot of times. Uh, you know, 0:19:14.440 --> 0:19:19.120 guys are emotional about the NFL business, but I never 0:19:19.160 --> 0:19:21.960 took it personal because I understood that this business. First, 0:19:22.680 --> 0:19:27.400 I enjoyed my my my time with every which which um, 0:19:27.400 --> 0:19:30.800 which with which whichever team I'm on, um, And those 0:19:30.800 --> 0:19:32.480 are memories that I have, and then I take the 0:19:32.480 --> 0:19:35.040 experiences and I go to the next team. Do you 0:19:35.119 --> 0:19:41.520 have a favorite moment that you had here? Uh, the 0:19:41.560 --> 0:19:47.720 New England game Foxboro two thousand, Yeah, that was big man. 0:19:47.920 --> 0:19:54.399 I remember, um, you know, the Jets, because I mean 0:19:54.440 --> 0:19:58.159 I've been I played in five six different conferences and 0:19:58.240 --> 0:20:01.680 so my roo key year. My first two years in 0:20:01.720 --> 0:20:03.960 the NFL, the years on Carton's Well, we were in 0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:09.280 the NFC East, and then two thousand two, I think 0:20:10.000 --> 0:20:15.800 is when they they switched up the divisions in them, 0:20:15.920 --> 0:20:19.119 we were in the NFC West. And so then on 0:20:19.200 --> 0:20:21.560 Tradie Tampa Bay we were in the NFC South, and 0:20:21.600 --> 0:20:23.840 I went to Chicago we were in the NFC North. 0:20:24.320 --> 0:20:25.679 And then I went to the Jets. We're in the 0:20:25.720 --> 0:20:27.879 NFC East, and then I go to Kansas City when 0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:31.919 the NFC West. So there's different rivalries and different divisions 0:20:32.040 --> 0:20:34.800 that you kind of have to get used to. And 0:20:34.880 --> 0:20:39.200 so m after my first game in New York, Uh, 0:20:39.320 --> 0:20:41.960 what is the spive Gates five? A game against the Patriots, 0:20:42.480 --> 0:20:46.320 my first my first game as a Jet. UM. Yeah, 0:20:46.320 --> 0:20:50.280 I developed this like hatred for the for the Patriots UM. 0:20:50.320 --> 0:20:53.400 And I think then playing at Foxboro, knowing how big 0:20:53.440 --> 0:20:55.080 that game was, knowing what was on the line, the 0:20:55.119 --> 0:20:57.960 divisional league, UM, and being able to win in the 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:01.560 fashion we did in overtime. I'll never forget that moment. 0:21:01.560 --> 0:21:04.439 I remember sitting in my locker after the game and 0:21:04.440 --> 0:21:06.960 I was just emotionally and physically drained. I think I 0:21:06.960 --> 0:21:10.080 had over a hundred yards about thirty carries UM and 0:21:10.119 --> 0:21:11.919 I was just in my locker and I was just 0:21:12.080 --> 0:21:15.639 in tears, like I just couldn't like even moved, Like 0:21:15.720 --> 0:21:20.480 I remember Jericho Contry and uh and Shoddy came over 0:21:20.480 --> 0:21:22.639 to my locker and I was just like bawling, like 0:21:22.680 --> 0:21:25.040 I was just letting everything go because I gave I 0:21:25.080 --> 0:21:30.000 had nothing left. And so that moment, to me was 0:21:30.000 --> 0:21:31.919 was a very very important moment for me in my 0:21:32.000 --> 0:21:35.760 career and definitely the biggest moment for me um personally 0:21:36.240 --> 0:21:40.800 as a jet That's awesome. We're taping this on Wednesday morning. 0:21:41.520 --> 0:21:45.920 Tom Brady made his retirement official a couple of hours ago. 0:21:46.920 --> 0:21:51.280 What were your thoughts when you heard that? Um, I 0:21:51.320 --> 0:21:54.600 wasn't surprised. It's hard to let the game go, man, 0:21:55.280 --> 0:21:57.760 especially when you play as long as as he played, 0:21:57.840 --> 0:22:00.159 as long as I played twelve years. I mean, you know, 0:22:00.200 --> 0:22:04.320 you've given the majority of your adult life to this game, 0:22:04.640 --> 0:22:08.000 to this sport, to this job, to the fans, to 0:22:08.080 --> 0:22:14.480 the public, um, and transitioning is difficult. Um. You you 0:22:14.520 --> 0:22:17.200 play this game as a kid, and then you going 0:22:17.240 --> 0:22:21.199 to play the game as a man and trying to 0:22:21.240 --> 0:22:23.560 figure out what you love as much or what you're 0:22:23.600 --> 0:22:27.560 just as passionate about it's hard, and I understand how 0:22:27.640 --> 0:22:30.160 he can retire in and you know when I come back, 0:22:30.359 --> 0:22:32.440 I can. I can fully understand that because at the 0:22:32.480 --> 0:22:35.040 end of the day, you know, this is who he is, 0:22:35.080 --> 0:22:38.479 this is his identity. So, um, I had Tom came 0:22:38.480 --> 0:22:40.000 out the same year with me. You know, we came 0:22:40.000 --> 0:22:43.080 out in two thousand draft and he's had an incredible 0:22:43.119 --> 0:22:46.280