1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legters podcast. I'm in this Williams 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: in January of Hall of Fame receiver Chris Called, the 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: host of the panel discussion for college careers, participated in 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: the East West Shrine Boat Joina Hian Lebroncos safety Justin 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: Simmons and Chiefs guard Laurent DuVernay Tardif let's listen in 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: Laurent and Justin. We have two guys different experiences in 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: the National Football League, but we're looking forward to kind 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: of share. You know, football has been a vehicle for life. 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: As we share our life with these young men, let 10 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: them know, and I want both of you to share 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: talk about identity and how important it is to identify 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: with something other than football. I know in our locker 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: rooms we always say this is not who I am, 14 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: this is what I do. Can both of you guys 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: share what you thought, help define yourselves or as you 16 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: keep as you get older, defining yourself as something more 17 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: than a professional football player. Justin, you want to start 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: or you want me to start, it doesn't matter. You 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: want to go go ahead? Sure, I mean, hi, guys, um, 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: I'm Laurol Duverne a target. If you can just call 21 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: me Larry if you have any question, because it's much easier. 22 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: Uh come from Montreal, French Canadian. Uh six years in 23 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: the league. My English is getting a little better and 24 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: I'm still working on it. But you know, I think 25 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: for me, back in two thousand fourteen, when I went 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: to the Shrine game, UM, there was a lot of uncertainty. 27 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: You know, I was. I played college ball in Canada, 28 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: Uh play eight weeks season. So for me to be 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: like parachute into the Shrine Game and then you know, 30 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: work my way to get a you know, a pro 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: day and then get the training camp, that was that 32 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: was quite a journey. Um. And I feel like at 33 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: the beginning, I was trying to like blend in, you know, 34 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: um and say no to who I who I was. 35 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: You know I was. I was shy of my accent, 36 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: I was shy of who I was in the locker room. 37 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: And and at some point, you know, I was just 38 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: like this is this is who I am. Like I'm 39 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: gonna be the frenchman. I'm gonna go out there, not 40 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: be afraid of a cold and be a badass player. 41 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 1: And that's that's It's at that point I think that 42 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: I realized that I had potential and and wind up 43 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: be great. You know that was kind of my motto. Yeah, 44 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: that's awesome. UM what's going on? Guys? My name is 45 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: Justin Simmons. Played five years now in the league. UM 46 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: also was a part of the East West Shrine Bowl 47 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: from Boston College. Is drafted in the third round and 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: my experience pretty much with that, UM didn't didn't really 49 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: have a high expectations in terms of UM, you know, 50 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: getting drafted. Obviously believed in myself and my abilities. It 51 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: was really the combine uh stage where UM I kind 52 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: of separated myself and and elevated my stock. But UM, 53 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 1: I think through that whole process, right and even going 54 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: through training camp in my first year in the league. 55 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: You know, I think that's a great question to start 56 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: off with because it's really you know, when you're when 57 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: you're when you're going through the process, and you know 58 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: you're having people defining you. You having Scout saying you're this, 59 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: or Scott saying you're not this, and your teammates saying 60 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: you're this, your teammates saying you're not this. And sometimes 61 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: your play is great, other days your play is terrible. 62 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: What really is going to get you through. That is 63 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: like your foundation of who of who you are and 64 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 1: what you've always been, you know, before you even got 65 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: to this, to this point in your life. Right, Like 66 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: for me, it's valuing my relationship, um with God. Right, 67 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: that's the first and foremost thing for me, and that's 68 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: what's gotten me through a lot of my hardships. The 69 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: other thing is my family. You know, my wife, my daughter. 70 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: You know, I'm a brother, I'm a son, I'm a husband, 71 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: I'm a father before I'm a football player. And um, 72 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: it's really recognizing that that's kind of got me through 73 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: a lot of my hardships because you know, the first 74 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: couple of years in the league were rocky for me. 75 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: It's because I was looking at Twitter. I was looking 76 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: at all the things that people were saying about me, 77 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: and it didn't do anything but made me play worse 78 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: or made me get in my head mentally, um a 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: little bit more so justin for most players, those first 80 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: couple of years are really tough. Yeah, I got cut 81 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: after your number three. I had started like thirty eight 82 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: straight games and I got cut. So these young people, 83 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: they should get used to some tremendous adversity earlier in 84 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 1: their career, right you yeah, you get. I mean there's 85 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: guys on our team Denver now that have been cut 86 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 1: seven times and earned the starting spot this year. You know, 87 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: the the journey. It's not to say that you know, 88 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: you can always make it, but it's also to say 89 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: never give up. It's just when you're going through my 90 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: whole my whole point was, and you're going through this 91 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: transition of making it into the NFL. Um it's tough. 92 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: You know, we talked about it earlier before we got 93 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 1: on the call with you guys. There's a reason why 94 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: the numbers are so low. It's a tough league. It's 95 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: a tough environment to make it year in and year out, 96 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: no matter how good you are, a Pro Bowl, all 97 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: pro all that stuff. You know. I think J j 98 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: Y said it said it the best. You know. You 99 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: you gotta come every day, you know, rents do every 100 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,559 Speaker 1: day and every year. Your your spots up for takes, 101 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: and so just don't take it for granted. You know, 102 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: enjoy the process, but but really be be locked in, 103 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 1: honed in on on who you are because that's what's 104 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: gonna get you through, you know, the tough times. Laurent, 105 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: can you kind of share the story of twenty because 106 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: the whole world changed when we heard about this thing 107 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: called COVID. You you already had a different identity outside 108 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: of your Kansas City Chiefs uniform and what that led 109 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: you to and the decisions you had to make, and 110 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 1: what you've been doing the last nine months, ten eleven 111 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: months compared to the other professional football players. Yeah, I 112 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: mean back in two fourteen, when I was doing my 113 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: pre draft visit, I was also a medical student at 114 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: McGill University in Canada, and uh, and I remember, you know, 115 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: I was doing all those free drafts visits and meeting 116 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: with all those coaches, and a lot of coaches were saying, like, 117 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: how how can we know you're gonna commit a hundred 118 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: percent to football when you have you know, medicine as 119 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: a plan B or a plan Hey. And and coach 120 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: Ree back in Kansas City was actually one of the 121 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: only coach saw that they made the Clods School thing 122 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: as a positive thing. And you said, like, whatever I 123 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: can do to help you, I'll try to I'll try 124 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: to help you. Combine vote and uh. In two eighteen, 125 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: after what four years in the league, five years in 126 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: the league, I graduated and got my doctorate in medicine, 127 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 1: and that's one of the reason why after winning the 128 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: Super Bowl last February, I went back and helped on 129 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: the front line in long term care facility taking care 130 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: of orderly people. And I think it's kind of at 131 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: that point that I realized the im back of of 132 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: of COVID. You know, because we're young, we're healthy, we're 133 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: not scared of COVID like I'm the same way like, 134 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: but the impact that it has on health care professional, 135 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: their community there, their families. I felt like, you know, 136 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: my role this year UM was going to be to 137 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: help and be here. So so that's what I did. 138 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: I opted out of the two and twenty season. Uh, 139 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: and I've been here in Montreal UM doing a part 140 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 1: time master degree in public health at Harvard as well 141 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: as UM caring for or elderly folks and in long 142 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: term care facility in hospital around Montreal area. So it's 143 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,280 Speaker 1: been a it's been a really different year for me 144 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: for sure. Um. Uh. You know it, every week we're 145 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: going into the season, I feel like it's harder to 146 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: live with my decision because you know, she's are winning 147 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: that she's at looking good and she started playing this 148 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: weekend and you're not there on the field. And that's 149 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: what I missed the motive most about football. You know, 150 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: it's winning on the field, being there with your teammate. 151 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I feel like, ten years 152 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: from now, I'm going to be proud of the decision 153 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: that i made today or not today, but last July. 154 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: And uh, and I gotta live with it now. And 155 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: and it's um, I think, And I'm sure we're gonna 156 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: talk about that at some point in this interview, but 157 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: I feel like as athletes, we have that power and 158 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: almost that duty too, to to make the world a 159 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: better place, you know, to to take a cause that 160 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: you really believe in and promote it through your platform, 161 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: your tribune. And I feel for me it's hell. You know, 162 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: for other people, it was the right of vote or 163 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: you know, racial in quality. For me, it's help because 164 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: I'm a doctor and and it just made sense for 165 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: me to to follow my conviction and not to play 166 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: this year tremendous story. I followed it. Um. It speaks 167 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: to your overall character. Um. When you committed to the 168 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: medical field, you didn't know there was gonna be a 169 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: pandemic in the future, and trust me, regardless of whatever 170 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: we accomplished and playing in the National Football League, it 171 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: will never ever stand up to your sacrifice and what 172 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: you've given of your life in the prime of your 173 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: life on the best team in football. You should be 174 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: commended for what you did. That's not something that I 175 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: would have been able to do. Like you should be 176 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: commended for what you decided to do. And as the 177 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 1: weeks go on, there's four teams left and your team 178 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: is still playing. But you've been saving lives. You've been 179 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: saving auntie's, you've been saving uncle's daughters, um father's, mother's, 180 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: grandmother's and you should be commended for that much respect, 181 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: much respect for for what you do and and they 182 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: you've done it. We're gonna shift years now justin I'm 183 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: gonna go back to you. Wasn't long ago as you 184 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: talked about. You were at the East West Um Shrine game. Um, 185 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: can you give these young players some advice on how 186 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: to work with NFL coaches? How should they approach their interviews? 187 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: What's the mindset? Because ultimately you have to go out 188 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: and take a grown man like you and and Laurent 189 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: and try to take third job. What's the right psyche 190 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: to get into in the earlier you can get into 191 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: it is probably better for you justin than than Laurent 192 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: you go after that. Yeah, that's a great question. I 193 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: can remember when I approached my interviews, it was you know, 194 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to make sure it was it was professional, right, 195 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: like first impressions or everything. You know, you're meeting gms, 196 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: you're meeting head coaches, you know, scouts, whatever the case 197 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: may be. Uh, you want to be as professional as possible. 198 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: You know, I know that there might be a certain 199 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: dress code or whatever, but just make sure you know 200 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: you're you're you're looking the art, you know, you're you're 201 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: you're you're doing the right things that are setting yourself apart, 202 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: because that's what this league is about. Everyone's talented, but 203 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: what's really going to separate you is how you conduct 204 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: yourself in those interviews, right. And then the next thing 205 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 1: is to not put yourself in a bubble. You know, 206 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: be versatile and obviously I think that's one of the 207 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: biggest things. Like I can remember when I was being um, 208 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: when I was being interviewed with with some of the 209 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: teams during the East West game. You know, I was 210 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: a safety and a corner in college, and they asked 211 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: me like, would you be willing to just play you know, 212 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 1: would you be willing to just only play safety for us? 213 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: And remember again coached up right before I think goodness 214 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: I did was to not put myself in a bubble 215 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: um of saying like I can only do this, like 216 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: you know, I'm the best at this, Like I could 217 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: do it all. I could do whatever you guys need 218 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: me to do, you know, really showcase that you know, 219 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: it's not it's not being um a cocky or or 220 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 1: or overconfident, but just confident in your abilities because that's 221 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: what teams want. You know, if you no one's gonna 222 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 1: believe in you more than yourself. And so when you're 223 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: going into of those rooms, man, you know, have that 224 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: have that confidence kind of um exude off you, um 225 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: shine off, you have that aura you know when you 226 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: walk into that room and really go in there to impress, 227 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: because this is a job, like like Chris said, you know, 228 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: you're you're coming in and you're fighting for for guys 229 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 1: that have had the established themselves for the last couple 230 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,040 Speaker 1: of years, right, and what's really gonna set you apart 231 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,839 Speaker 1: is the things that you can do and you can 232 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: do them maybe at the same level, a little bit less, 233 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: but you're cheaper, you know, in terms of coming in there, 234 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: you're gonna be You're gonna be cheaper, and in the 235 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: NFL's eyes, that's always better. You know, if they can 236 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: get the same product or maybe a little bit less 237 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: for cheap, they're gonna go with that route. Just take 238 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: that to to the fullest, to the fullest advantage. Man, 239 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 1: approach those interviews top class. Job. It's a job interview 240 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: and you just need to approach it that such, give 241 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: me a little more information besides being true to yourself, 242 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: what are some of the other things, showing up to 243 00:11:55,840 --> 00:12:00,079 Speaker 1: the meetings early, already, always having something to write with me, 244 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: some of the other things that coaches are expecting justin 245 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: from you as a professional, but they don't expect necessarily 246 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: when you're a star in college. Blended in a little 247 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: more for me, Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. So the thing 248 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 1: that the things that you this is like this is 249 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 1: obviously opinionated, but something that I think you should definitely 250 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: take the heart when you're doing interviews or even when 251 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: you're at the facility, you're at the building and things 252 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: like that. You know, you always hear the term um, 253 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: first one in, last one to leave. But the things, 254 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: the things that I think are important. Right when you're 255 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: doing these interviews, have questions prepared, you know, like don't 256 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 1: don't go in there and just you know, hopefully fly 257 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: by with some of that. Have questions prepared, like you know, 258 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: when you're watching film and you've got a question asked, 259 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,959 Speaker 1: you know. I think I think one of the biggest 260 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: things is when coaches are evaluating you. Obviously I played 261 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: the safety position, you know, quarterback of the defense, and um, 262 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: when I went in there, I asked questions. We have 263 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: different languages, the way motions are happening, pre snap keys, 264 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:59,839 Speaker 1: things that you know, like explain those things to coaches. 265 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,599 Speaker 1: They may not always ask, but explain them. Talk about techniques. 266 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: If you don't have to draw up what the whole 267 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: defense is supposed to do, if you don't have to 268 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: drop with the whole offense is supposed to do, like 269 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: Chris said, bring bring out a piece of paper and 270 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: a pen, you know, write some things down. They don't 271 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: they don't they don't ask you to do that. It's 272 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: not required. But if they cease me like those are 273 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: the things that Chris was alluding to when he was 274 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: saying kind of expand like those are the things that 275 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: are gonna separate yourself, right because even when I went 276 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: in to go interview, I just went in, sat down, 277 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: answered questions, and then kind of left. When I look 278 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: back on it now, I wish I was more tentative 279 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 1: and asking questions, right, bringing a pen and paper, um, 280 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: setting myself apart, because I think all that all that helps, 281 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: And like I said, everyone is talented. The difference between 282 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: you know, all Pro Pro Bowl, you know, all that 283 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,559 Speaker 1: stuff is just like very miniscule. You know the guys 284 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: that make it year in a year out. So really 285 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: really separate yourselves and doing that, man, and all that 286 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: stuff goes a long way. I know it. It may 287 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: not seem like it, but I'm I'm telling you, you know, 288 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: being in the room with coaches and and and talking 289 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: to gms that stuff, you know that they care about 290 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: all that stuff. You know what I'm saying. So really 291 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: taking great great examples there. UM, I have a story. 292 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 1: Um my head coach in Minnesota, Dennis Green Um God 293 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: bless us. So he's passed away, but one time he 294 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: installed a new video um security system at our facility. 295 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: He showed the team who gotten the building early and 296 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: who left and the thing that he said he loved 297 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: about it because he kept track of it, what time 298 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 1: everyone got in and what time they left. He said, 299 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: the people I pay the most get here the earliest 300 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: and stay the latest, with everyone being equally in talented justin. 301 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: You say that is a necessity. Uh, Laurent, I want 302 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: you to give these young players some examples of what 303 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: you think, and it's it's it's better for us now 304 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: that we're a little older. But if we could go 305 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: back and be sitting in that room and have another 306 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: week of tryout, working with NFL executives, the coaches, how 307 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: would you approach it? If I could just add to it. 308 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: You know, coaches know what you've done, they know who 309 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: you are by looking at the film. What they what 310 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: they don't know, and what they're looking for is your 311 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: potential is how good can you get? And that was 312 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: true specifically for me because I was coming from Canadian football. 313 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: They were looking at my DVDs. They had no idea 314 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: who I was playing against. So for all of those 315 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: guys who are coming from smaller schools, I feel like 316 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: my message is like show them that you can learn, 317 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: ask questions justin you were saying it earlier, but like 318 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: show them that you can be shape in the type 319 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: of player that they want you to be and that 320 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: you have unlimited potential. I feel like they know who 321 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: you are. They watched your film, So don't tell them 322 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: about how it was to play that game. Just just 323 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: project yourself in the future and see how you can 324 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: fit into the organization. I remember, like when you're meeting 325 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: with kennse c, what's the type of scheme that they're 326 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: running on offense, and then talk about how you can 327 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: make block in open field because that's what we do. 328 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: You know, not every guard in the NFL and every 329 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: team is the same like some some require different abilities 330 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: to learn, research and and then try to like fit 331 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: that scheme and and show that you have the potential 332 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: to do it because we all have great ability from 333 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: a physical standpoint, and they can see it on film. 334 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: But what they cannot see is your ability to ask questions, 335 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: to learn, and to want to be great. Most coaches, 336 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: um don't be surprised like they're cocky. They want guys 337 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: that want to be elite players in the NFL. I 338 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: believe there's a happy balance in there. But I would 339 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: miss on the side of being confident in your ability. 340 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you're in this game because of your ability, um, 341 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: not because you want some spelling. The show your best 342 00:16:55,520 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: self to them every day. Every interaction is a job interview. 343 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: To me, one of the things that always won me 344 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: out to the coaches was I love the game, like you. 345 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 1: Gotta be able to tell these people, man, I love 346 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: the game. I want to play football justin say, man, 347 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: you can draft me a corner, um draft me at safety. 348 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 1: I'll play wherever you want. Laurent's like, listen, I've checked 349 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: you guys out getting open space used to see me. 350 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 1: My footwork is nice. I can run. Don't don't try 351 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: to project me being from Canada that I can't play 352 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: in the NFL. No, I can play in the NFL. 353 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: Each and every one of you is your own corporation 354 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: and you have to come up with the marketing strategy 355 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: to market yourself to the best coaches, the best scouts 356 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 1: for the best league in the world. And it's not 357 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: just oh I can block, I can catch. It's your personality. 358 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: Can you be a good teammate? Are you into other things? 359 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: Are you a good learner, Do you read, you know, 360 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: do you think outside the box? All those things make 361 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: you a better prospect, because right now, don't get this 362 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: mixed up. You are not a pro player. You have 363 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: an opportunity to play pro football, but you don't have 364 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: You're not no pro player. You don't have no pro career. 365 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: Even Trevor Lawrence gonna be the first pick that Jacksonville Jaguars, 366 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: an urban miner, He's gonna be the first pick, but 367 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: he don't have a pro career. He got an opportunity, 368 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 1: So don't get that mixed up. These are opportunities to 369 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: show yourself that one day you can be in Laurent's shoes, 370 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: one day that you can be in justin shoes. And 371 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: a huge part of that I know I'm talking to 372 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: Justin talking to Laurent, is we've had people that have 373 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: helped us out. January is National mentor Mom, and we 374 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: have had people in the locker room, people outside the 375 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: locker room, people in the front office that have instrumental 376 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: in our overall growth. Justin, I'm gonna start with you, 377 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: can you tell these young prospects how important it is 378 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: when you go into an NFL locker room to be 379 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: attracted to the right role model, because some of these 380 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: veteran players could lead you to believe that the NFL 381 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: was something different. On top of like you know, learning 382 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: schemes and showing that you can mentally prepare. One of 383 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: the biggest things that I learned is you can't rely 384 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: on certain veterans in the locker room to help you out. Right. 385 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: This is like we we mentioned it earlier, this is 386 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: a business. This is a livelihood for so many people. 387 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: And when you're coming into a locker room, you could 388 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: be trying to take a spot from a five six 389 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: year vet that has just established themselves as a starter, 390 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: and then here comes a young prospect. Like I said earlier, 391 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: that's cheaper, right, can do Probably you could probably do 392 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: the same things that this that this this vet is doing. 393 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: Maybe maybe it's a little bit of a lesser degree, 394 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 1: but you're cheaper, and you can't expect that veteran to 395 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: help you when you have questions. You know, it's different 396 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: than college. I remember, Um, I got lucky. I had 397 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:00,160 Speaker 1: great vets, you know, I had vets that were well 398 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: established in the league, uh, kind of on their way out. 399 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: Gave me a lot of insight. You really got to 400 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: take a hold of it and make this thing your own. 401 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: And you know, if you've got questions, ask your coach, right, 402 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 1: ask some guys on the team that you think you 403 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: can trust. But you you know, unfortunately it's a business, 404 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: you know, as you're not gonna be able to trust everybody. 405 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: And then the secondly on top of that is, um 406 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: we keep talking about separating yourself. Right. An NFL career 407 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: on average is three or four years average, So that 408 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: means both Laurn and I are a year or two 409 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 1: years removed from the average, which is remarkable if you 410 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: If you think about it like that, you know, you 411 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: really got to take advantage of who you're hanging out 412 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: with and maximizing it to the best of your abilities. Right, Like, 413 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: you can't come in day one to the Broncos and 414 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: think you're gonna do everything that von Miller is gonna do, right, 415 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,399 Speaker 1: You can't. You can't come into you know, to to 416 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 1: Kansas City and think you're gonna hang with Kelsey and 417 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: Tyreek Hill do everything that they're gonna do and you're 418 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: gonna make it day one, year one, and and being 419 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: in the same situation, you just can't do it. You 420 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: guys need to approach it as professionals. This is your job. 421 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: I know it's it's weird to think about it in 422 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: that context, but it's your job. You gotta take care 423 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: of this, you know, make it last for as long 424 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,959 Speaker 1: as you can. Can get as much money as you 425 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: can while you're in it, so you could set your 426 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: family up, you can set yourself up for longevity down 427 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: the road. That's the that's the most important thing. You know. 428 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: You've seen guys that have been on mad and covers, right, 429 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: the best in the league at their position, and then 430 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: you see how they act off the field, and then 431 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: before you know what, they're out of the league and 432 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: now they're fighting the scramble to get back. You know, 433 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: so if that can happen to those types of guys, Newton, 434 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,400 Speaker 1: oh yeah, yeah, yeah, you didn't say it can happen 435 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: to Cam Newton. Come on, man, Cam Newton. I mean, 436 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 1: we're just being real, Antonio Brown. You guys just saw 437 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: what happened to Dwayne Haskins in the middle of the pandemic, 438 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: was doing what he was doing, and Washington was like, yeah, 439 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: we're moving on first round pick. It's just the reality. 440 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: So make sure make sure you guys are smart man 441 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: about about what you're doing and who you're hanging with, 442 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: and you know the hierarchy of celebrity celebrity celebrity ism 443 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: and in the locker room, just be smart about it man. Now, Laurun, 444 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: you came into a different environment the locker room with 445 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: Andy Reid and what they have in Kansas City. They 446 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: got some grown men there in Kansas City and the trenches, 447 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 1: so a lot of time that helps you coming from 448 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: Canada and no matter where you're coming from, just having 449 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: mature guys. How did that makeup of that group help 450 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: you in your development? And what were some of the 451 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 1: examples of people telling you to write things? Once again, 452 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: it's all about offending mentors, finding guys that you respect 453 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: that show up early and leave late, and and it 454 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: doesn't have to be at your position. I feel like 455 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: for me when I got drafted at my first three 456 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: years in Kansas City, where with Alex Smith, and the 457 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: guy was showing up early, detelling his work and even 458 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: though he was the starting quarterback, like I was not 459 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: in acting with him on a day to day basis, 460 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: like chilling with him, but I was looking up to him, 461 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: and I feel like this discipline just made me a 462 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: better player, Like I've learned what it was to actually 463 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: work in football instead of just playing. Like and he 464 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,679 Speaker 1: told me, I remember, like you work from Monday to 465 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: Saturday and then you have fun on Sunday. And that's 466 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: really how I approached your game. And I feel like 467 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 1: for me that the biggest thing was to find a routine. 468 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: Like you don't have to do exactly what you know 469 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: Jeff Allen or Mit Schwartz is doing, but you can 470 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: pick a couple of things from every player that works 471 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: for you. And then every week you tune it. You 472 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: tune it and you add little thing, you delete some stuff, 473 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 1: and after a few years you have your own routine 474 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: and that works for you. Right. And I was in 475 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: a in a situation in Minnesota. I have been the 476 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: four Stary Pro Bowls. I have been in the league 477 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: eleven years. At the time, draft a player that a 478 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: lot of people consider to be the best in the 479 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: draft in the fall into twenty one. That player's name 480 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: was Randy Moss. The coach called me and said, we're 481 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 1: getting ready draft Randy Moss. And I was like, Okay, 482 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,720 Speaker 1: My phone just started blowing up. People just started saying, Chris, 483 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:14,959 Speaker 1: he's gonna take your spot. What's gonna happen? All this 484 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: one thing, your young players need to realize that we 485 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: do have a legacy in the NFL, that we are 486 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: going to pass on what we've learned in the NFL 487 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 1: from other players who passed it on to us, so 488 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: we don't own that information. So for me, I committed 489 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: that I was gonna do everything for Randy Moss to 490 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: make him the best football player that he could ever be. Ultimately, 491 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 1: Randy Moss was a first ballot Hall of Famer and 492 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: if we didn't accept him and do the right things 493 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: for him, he's a transcendent player once every generation. Um. 494 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: So you have to know that. And for me, I 495 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: wasn't worried about my job, and a lot of people 496 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: used to ask me, and reporters used to ask me, 497 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: and it boils down to this. I could go across 498 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: that middle and do stuff that Randy Moss couldn't do. 499 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: I could go in motion, I could play any wide 500 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: receiver spot. I was gonna be there early. I was 501 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: gonna mentor the other players. I wasn't gonna never flunk 502 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: no drug test. I wasn't gonna never be late. I 503 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna say the wrong thing to guys, so you 504 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: can put yourself in a position that you can become irreplaceable. Now, ultimately, 505 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: in this league, they are going to draft someone you. 506 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: Sama will tell you this, he played. Kevin will tell 507 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: you this, he played in the league. It's gonna take 508 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,120 Speaker 1: your spot. He gonna take your locker, he gonna take 509 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: your number. That's why the number is. Every two point 510 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: four or three point four years, the NFL turn over. 511 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 1: But when you are in a position to teach someone 512 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,479 Speaker 1: to mentor someone that potentially can make this game a 513 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: better game than when you came into it, it's your 514 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: obligation to do that. And that's what I had to do. 515 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: In the Randy Moss situation, it was bigger than me. 516 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: It was about this country boy from West Virginia that 517 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: this was gonna be his opportunity in life, and his 518 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: family was depending on I ain't have no time to 519 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 1: be having no ego. His mom was depending on his 520 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters was depending on it. Because that's what 521 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: success in the National Football League will do. My nieces 522 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: and nephews go to better schools because I got there early. 523 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: My brothers and sisters have been able to move out 524 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: to the suburbs because I stayed late. That's why we 525 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,199 Speaker 1: share our experiences with you, because it becomes important and 526 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 1: for two guys in the league to be able share 527 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: their time of what it takes to be on the 528 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: grind every day to have a pro career. Um, I'd 529 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: like to Bill thank you guys, and what's the role 530 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 1: in mentoring other players once you're in the league, because 531 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 1: it's hard enough to be able to keep your job, 532 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: but how do you turn it around? And ultimately Bill 533 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,159 Speaker 1: to return that LRONO want you to go first. When 534 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: I teach something to younger guys, I feel like I've learned. 535 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 1: I learned a lot to Like, I feel like there's 536 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: no way you can teach a scheme or technique and 537 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:12,160 Speaker 1: not master it yourself. So I take I take that opportunity, 538 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 1: you know, to teach the younger guy, and that way, 539 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm I'm growing as a player myself. 540 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,479 Speaker 1: So yeah, it's huge, But at some point you do 541 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 1: ask yourself, like you were saying, like what does it 542 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 1: mean for me? Like? Am I putting myself in danger 543 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,640 Speaker 1: because I try to make the team better? I mean, 544 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: that's that's football at the end of the day. I 545 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: think that's that's how we're built. Right. Don't be shy 546 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 1: to to teach, because you're gonna learn a lot and 547 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: you you will be a better player because of it. Hey, justin, 548 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get down to when you were prepping for 549 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: the pros. I know people were telling you, but now 550 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: that you've been in the league, you have some experience. 551 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,199 Speaker 1: Can you share with the young prospects some of the 552 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 1: things they don't tell you, Like, I mean, people told 553 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: me the game was fast, but man, we're playing against 554 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:02,400 Speaker 1: Lawrence Taylor and he went across the formation and went 555 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,919 Speaker 1: from sidelines and side the coaches. They didn't tell me 556 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: that that he was on a different level. Can you 557 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: give me some some real live examples, because sometimes you 558 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: just don't know, But after being the league four or 559 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: five years now you do know. Can you give us 560 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,360 Speaker 1: a couple of those nuggets? Oh yeah, yeah, I mean 561 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: that that was the biggest one for me, Like that 562 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: that speed of the game, you know, going from college 563 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: to pro like, there are things you don't know. I remember, man, 564 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: I went to the I went to my first training 565 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 1: camp and I got the marriest times on one side, 566 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,639 Speaker 1: and I got Emmanuel Sanders on the other, and you know, 567 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 1: they just came there, just came out fresh off the 568 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, and I'm supposed to be in half I'm 569 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: supposed to be in like half field coverage, and I'm 570 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: you know, by the time I look back at the 571 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: quarterback to kind of get a read once on where 572 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: he's looking at things like that, routes flew right past me. 573 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: You know. First first training camp, man, I thought I 574 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: was deep, had my depth, that all the landmarks my 575 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: coach told me. But there's one thing he didn't tell me, 576 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: and that was that speed. There was that speed, man. 577 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: And there's a lot of things, man. I think one 578 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: of the one of the most untold um things that 579 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: you kind of learned in the league is the best 580 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: ability is availability. Making sure that you're on the field 581 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,440 Speaker 1: seven being asked to do, like I said earlier, everything 582 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: that you need to do if you're not a first 583 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: round pick and you you know you don't have a 584 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: starting spot, man, be ready to play special teams all out. 585 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, that's that's that's a that's a must. That's 586 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: the only way I made it on my team. And 587 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: I was drafting in the third round. They already had safeties. 588 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: You know, it's just kind of they took me earned 589 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 1: my spot through special teams. And that's another untold. You know, 590 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 1: like you're getting drafted to play safety or or our 591 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: guard or this or that, you know, whatever the case 592 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: me to be, but you need to you need to 593 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 1: go balls on the walls for special teams. Um, that's 594 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: that's another untold. But availability and special teams play man, 595 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: I think you know you execute those two things in 596 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: training camp, O t A S all that, all that stuff. 597 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: When you guys get your shot, man, you'll you'll see 598 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: how far that will take you. Oh and the last 599 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: thing too is uh, when you're when you're doing and 600 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,239 Speaker 1: training camp, you know they're filming all this stuff, right, 601 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: I don't know what it's gonna look like with the 602 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: pandemic and stuff. Hopefully those things will be there available 603 00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: for you guys, but they're filming that. And when they're 604 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: filming that, that film is for all thirty two teams, 605 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: not just the team you're with. And so whatever you're 606 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: putting on film during ots, training camp, all that stuff, 607 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: all thirty two scouts, all thirty two gms, all thirty 608 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: two NFL teams will see that, and you need to 609 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:34,840 Speaker 1: keep that in the back of your mind. Like every 610 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: day you're going out there for practice, You're not just 611 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: practicing for the team that that took you as an 612 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: undrafted guy. You're you're going out there and you're practicing 613 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,720 Speaker 1: for all thirty two teams. And I think that's an 614 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: important point to remember. To pick up on what Justin 615 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:52,000 Speaker 1: was saying, like availability goes with staying lty. And I 616 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 1: feel like when you play college ball your first few 617 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: years in the league, you're you're strong, you can come 618 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: off like when you're banged up, you're good to go. 619 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: And I feel like as you get older, taking care 620 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: of your body is so critical. And don't underestimated that 621 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: because the last thing you want is to give a 622 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: younger player an opportunity to shine on Sunday because you 623 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,840 Speaker 1: were out for two weeks with a twisted ankle. Like 624 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: I feel like you want to do everything you can 625 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,160 Speaker 1: uh spend the time like it's your job, it's your body, 626 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:22,000 Speaker 1: And I just want to say that, like, take care 627 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 1: of your body. Take care of your body. Now. I'm 628 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: gonna tell you the sooner you get become a health fanatic, 629 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: of watching what you eat, get massages, going to Cairo 630 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,440 Speaker 1: cractor like, don't wait till your second contractor don't oh man, 631 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: I gotta wait till I get the sooner. That is 632 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: the life you should adopt on day one. Everyone should 633 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 1: be eating better. You're a professional athlete. Your body will 634 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: only perform at a certain level. And the sooner you 635 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: get over to that mindset that I'm gonna take care 636 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,959 Speaker 1: of my body. This is my money maker. Get you sleep, 637 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: take care of your body, because that's how you become available. 638 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: All right, all right, justin we're gonna go to a 639 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: little lightning round. Um, what is the best way to 640 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: prepare your body for a long NFL season? These are 641 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 1: quicker answers. Yeah, the best is to fully commit. This 642 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 1: is something that I do. I think, Uh, you know 643 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: Larry hit earlier. You know, take bits and pieces from everyone, 644 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: but the best is to fully commit um to chiropractic massage. 645 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,239 Speaker 1: Cry oh, you know all this stuff that that you 646 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: need to commit, commit financially to to those things. That's 647 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: what I do. Next question, what do you think Laurent 648 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: as far as biggest mistakes younger players rookies? Mate, I 649 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: think you're invincible. It's sor right to be cocky. But 650 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 1: when you show up the training camp, especially if you're 651 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: used to train like in like in order side of 652 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: the country and you ended up playing in Miami, like, 653 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,480 Speaker 1: it's gonna get hot, and don't think you're invincible because 654 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:02,959 Speaker 1: you're young. Chug that water. Make sure you're hydrated, Like 655 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: you see the number of injury that happened, like day 656 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 1: three of training camp had string like pull muscle, like. 657 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: You don't want to be that guy, So make make 658 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 1: sure you do everything to stay hydrated and stay in shape, 659 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: sleep well, eat well. Last bit of advice I'm going 660 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,560 Speaker 1: with you justin during this process. You know, we just 661 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 1: talked about the East West, you know, trying experience and 662 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 1: then you know, doing your interviews and things like things 663 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 1: like that, like be that guy. And if you guys 664 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 1: get your opportunity, you know, to to to be invited 665 00:33:31,080 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 1: to a training camp, to to to and to be 666 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: involved in O T S and things in that nature, man, 667 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: take advantage of it. Really, Like what you know, I know, 668 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: this is a this is a panel setting. You know, 669 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:46,720 Speaker 1: we're answering you know, certain questions, but this is the 670 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 1: this is the realist part of the whole conversation, and 671 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: that's be early. Don't leave till you're the last one. 672 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: Ask questions, text your coaches, you know, questions about film 673 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:00,920 Speaker 1: you're watching in your hotel room. Do all that stuff, man, 674 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,320 Speaker 1: be available. You should be the training room's best friend 675 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: in there. Seven They should see you when they're all 676 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 1: the time hot tub could tub rolling out, all that stuff, 677 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 1: be on the jugs machine, you know, anything that you 678 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,920 Speaker 1: can do to separate yourself and enjoy it, because like 679 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: Chris said, Man, you could be there and then you 680 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 1: could just be cut the next day. You could do 681 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 1: all the right things and still be cut the next day. 682 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:24,400 Speaker 1: But the thing that doesn't lie is the eye and 683 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: the sky when you're out there putting film together on 684 00:34:26,560 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 1: all thirty two teams, and if you keep doing the 685 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: right things, there's there's thirty two opportunities for you, and 686 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 1: I'm telling you a team will take that. I think 687 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: just go balls to the wall up too late your 688 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 1: pro day and then continue to train, but also remember 689 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: that we need that break before the bring ending up 690 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: training camp. My first year in the NFL felt like 691 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: it lasts for ever, so go hard. But at the 692 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 1: same time that deal period like that two weeks before 693 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: training camp. Make sure you're planned the right way because 694 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:01,720 Speaker 1: there's a long season ahead. Been great advice of Laurent. 695 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 1: It's been a pleasure meeting with you. Your story is 696 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 1: an inspiration. Justin good luck to you this offseason as 697 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: far as free agency, this is only the beginning for you. Um. 698 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:14,800 Speaker 1: I look forward to seeing you doing the exciting things. 699 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: My best advice for you is master one career at 700 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: a time. Right now, you are ready to embark on 701 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 1: the greatest opportunity you are ever gonna have in your life, 702 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 1: and you need to be focused about that. You need 703 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: to be eating it, you need to be thinking it, 704 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 1: and you need to be concentrating on I went to 705 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 1: Ohio State. I majored in broadcast, a major in communication. 706 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: So once I got into pro football, I was trying 707 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 1: to master that year four or five and six, I 708 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: started doing other things to try to see okay. I 709 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: was after I had a career. I didn't start calling 710 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 1: games and stuff intil year twelve thirteen fourteen going to 711 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 1: Europe hosting my own show. So that was later on 712 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: after I had a career. But right now you need 713 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 1: to concentrate on making a club. You need to concentrate 714 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 1: on making your mom's dream come true, because I don't 715 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: care what you dream about the National Football League. We 716 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 1: got a lot of guys on this call that played there. 717 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: Being in the league, it's better than the dreams you 718 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:23,319 Speaker 1: ever have about playing in the league. This has been 719 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:27,320 Speaker 1: the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a 720 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: topic for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at NFL 721 00:36:31,280 --> 00:36:43,800 Speaker 1: dot com.