1 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to the OTP. Mike Keith and Amy Wells with 2 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: you with the Official Fighting Podcast. Hello, Hello, Amy, how 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: are you special guest? Good special gas to answer your 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 1: question up very well, because we have a special guest. 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: It's Jeff Lewald, very special, very special guest. It's like 6 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: a very special edition of the Walton's your Little House 7 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: on the Prairie. You're saying, Jeff like Wald, I guess 8 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: Jeff Legwald of ESPN is the best way to say 9 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: it now. But before, back in the day, when the 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: organization came to the to middle Tennessee, he was Jeff 11 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Lewald of the Tennessee. And did you actually come to 12 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: cover the oilers? I did the two lame duck seasons, 13 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: okay from Nashville. Like I would go to Houston four 14 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: days a week. Wow? Really yeah, So I'd go to 15 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: Houston four days a week ninety five and ninety six. 16 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: I did both those seasons for the Tennessee. And and 17 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: I would go to Houston and then would go to 18 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: wherever they played for the weekend, go home one day 19 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: to do laundry, and go back. What was that experience? Like, 20 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: you're a Chicago guy, you know the NFL you've covered 21 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: the league before you get to Nashville, and now you're 22 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: seeing this very strange situation go on. What was that like? 23 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: And it pre dates a lot of you know, there 24 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: were no there was no history for that, you know, 25 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: there were no reference points. You know when teams moved before. 26 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: They just moved and then they played in the new city. 27 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: But at the time Bud Adams said I'm moving, Houston 28 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: said we're not letting you out of the lease. He said, 29 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: I'm still moving. So they end up playing these two 30 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: seasons in the Astrodome with no angry crowds. You know, 31 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: the few people did show up were mad. And the 32 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: players lived in Houston. They did everything in Houston, but 33 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: it was you know, they were building the stadium in 34 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: Nashville and it was full speed ahead. So it was 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: a really strange time and there was no precedent for it, 36 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: and it was hard. You know, you know, all of 37 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: us move at some point. We all know what it's 38 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: like to move over. Your jobs take you other places. 39 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: But football players aren't really used to what was going 40 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: on around them because their families were surrounded by people 41 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: constantly asking them what's going on with the team, what's 42 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: going on, so they their minds were never really on 43 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: the job. It was you know, the fact they were 44 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,959 Speaker 1: eight and eight or you know whatever. They it was 45 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: a miracle. Actually, you know, people kept pointing to you know, 46 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: I tell people that all the time. People point to 47 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 1: Jeff's Fisher's eight and eight seasons and they're like, oh, 48 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: he's just stay Nate. Well, it was a miracle. They 49 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: went eight and eight and about three of those seasons. So, 50 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 1: h hard to coach in that situation, hard to play. 51 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, everybody's well commensay, did I get it? 52 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: But it was it was hard for them to do 53 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: their business. And people in Nashville didn't know how to act. 54 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: Is that there are and we were college too and 55 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: very much a college town. And the stadium referendum was 56 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: still an uncertainty, so you know, there was the scenario 57 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:29,119 Speaker 1: where voters voted down and now what happens. Well, So 58 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: as a writer, as a journalist, how do you cover that? 59 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: I mean, are you covering it from the angle like 60 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: this is your new team, here's how they're doing, or 61 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: are you covering it from this is a crazy story. 62 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: I just want to tell it both. You do a 63 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: little of both you try to tell people the personalities 64 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: of the people. You tried to to sort of do 65 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: the right about the people who were going to be 66 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: with the team. Most likely Bruce Matthews was going to 67 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: be with the team. Steve mcnaro's going to be with 68 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: the team, Eddie George was going to be with the team. 69 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: You know, you you stuck to those groupings and you 70 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: played it straight. You you know, when they talked about 71 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: the weirdness of the situation, you wrote about the weirdness. 72 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: And then you know, you had to do the ubiquitous 73 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: stadium story every day about what was happening in Nashville 74 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: because it was there was a lot of swirl around 75 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: the funding of the stadium, what's the name of the 76 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: team going to be? And you know, originally Budd didn't 77 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: want to change it and was adamant. He said he 78 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: was going to change it, and then he changed his 79 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: mind that he was not going to change it, and 80 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: Commissier Tagliabu had to step in. It was a mess 81 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: because when I joined the team, he had gotten to 82 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: the point that he did not want to change well, 83 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: he had he kept telling people privately he wished he 84 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: had never said that publicly right, So he was, he 85 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,600 Speaker 1: was kind and then at one point, because he had 86 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: a sliver of Cherokee in his background, he had out 87 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: in a letter from the Cherokee Nation that he wanted 88 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: to name with the Cherokees, and it was it was 89 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: just it just kept going and going and going, and uh, 90 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: you know the fabled Tennessee oiler logo unveiling when the 91 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: banner fell down and the guy got fired because the 92 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: banner fell down, and it wasn't great. It was not 93 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: spectacular duck tapeing a banner in the new name Amy 94 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: Jeff Legwald had something else interesting going on in the 95 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: process though that I want to get him to talk 96 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: about it, and that is so many of the players 97 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: and coaches ask him questions about what was going on. 98 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, because you weren't just the guy 99 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: covering the football team. You were almost like their conduit 100 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: to what was going on in the mayor saying I 101 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 1: can't remember a bunch of times but asking me, what's 102 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: the mayor think about this? And I was like, shouldn't 103 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: you call him? I mean one of mine does, And 104 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: I'm just some dufus, you know, right about football, But 105 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: as a as a journalist. That has to be one 106 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: of your greatest experiences and one of the most influential 107 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: things that happened to you that whole Well, it's five 108 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: year period. It's unprecedented, right, it's unprecedented. Team plays two 109 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: lame duck years. They play a year in a stadium 110 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: in the state where they're moving, but that's still another 111 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: jilted town in Memphis. You know, Memphis hated the NFL 112 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: because they thought they should have had Jacksonville, right, you 113 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: know that was so you've got another They played in 114 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: two jilted cities back to back, and it just was 115 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: an odd, odd experience. And you know, people think the 116 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: Raiders are going through a lame duck year this past year, 117 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: that they don't know what a lame duck year is. Well, 118 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: I was, I was going to ask you, what advice 119 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: would you give to teams like that? Teams like the Raiders, 120 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: don't do it. That's my advice. Yeah, the Mayflower van 121 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,239 Speaker 1: in the middle of the night. Look what it costs 122 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: players and coaches three years of their careers where they 123 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: could have succeeded in some way. Because again, to me, 124 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: the talent and the coaching to go eight and eight 125 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 1: in that situation means you're probably ten and six in 126 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: a normal situation, and I think ninety nine shows what 127 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: they that group could do in a normal situation. But 128 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't normal for four years, and you figure the 129 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: average career of a player, some guys never got anything, 130 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: but the weirdness in their career was over. Yeah, three years, 131 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: so that would make a lot of sense. So once 132 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: you started covering the team in Nashville, was that a 133 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: sigh of relief for you as I lost a lot 134 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: of Hotel points? But other than that, no, it was 135 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: it was I think once they finally I think the 136 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: benchmark moment wasn't even the stadium, it was the name. Yeah. 137 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: I think when he finally had that tent gathering with 138 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: the Titans name and the logo, I think then it 139 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: became a real thing for all involved, the people buying tickets, 140 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: the players, even the players said it was it was 141 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: kind of a relief to finally because that was kind 142 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: of the last piece of the puzzle and he had resisted, 143 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: but had resisted for a little while. So when that 144 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: finally happened, it was like, Okay, you had a really 145 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: friendly relationship with mister Adams, I don't know friendly sometimes 146 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: wasn't the I mean, he'd let you know if you 147 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: didn't like what you were doing. And you know, he 148 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: could be pretty salty. I'm aware of that. Yes I 149 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: do know that, but but I mean, you know, Mike, 150 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: I don't think you ever knew my name was Mike. 151 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: May have called your marker, but no, he was. I mean, 152 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: the guy was an original. He was a unique one 153 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 1: and a billion I mean, you know, probably should be 154 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: in the Hall of Fame. It's a good question. I mean, 155 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: he is in the original Foolish club. You know, the 156 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: rest of those guys have been recognized. He did have 157 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: a you know, people sort of remember the odd moments, 158 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, when he did crazy things. But inside the league, 159 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: very influential. Was on the finance committee for a long time. 160 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: And they don't put guys on the finance committee who 161 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: don't know what they're doing in business because in the league, 162 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: at the league level, the finance committee is super influential. 163 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: It's like the broadcast committee. They decide where things are going. 164 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: And he was on that committee for a long time. 165 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: But it was fun to be around him. Now, he 166 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: he was under tremendous amount of pressure I mean he 167 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: he beat everything on the move and he and they miss. 168 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: They miss. He got bad advice, half bad advice, half 169 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: bad decisions. But the lame ducky years in the year 170 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: in Memphis were not good for business and he that 171 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: really affected him in a lot of ways, at least 172 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: to my dealings with them. You know, it bothered him 173 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,959 Speaker 1: that they weren't they were getting seventy you know, what 174 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: was the crowd for the Ravens in Memphis fourteen thousand 175 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: and something like that. You know, the game against the 176 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: Chargers and Ryan Leaf may have been the ugliest football 177 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: game ever played in the history of football. Uh, But 178 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: that that's what they were dealing with first LT Yeah, 179 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: and they, I mean they were. It affected him, you know, 180 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: he didn't like that part of it, at least when 181 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: I talked to him about it. So I think for 182 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: them to go on to go to the super Bowl, 183 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: I mean the Super Bowl press conference maybe was crowning 184 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: with the scarf. Oh it's the best. I mean, just 185 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: telling AFL stories and that and watching the league people cringe, 186 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: watching the Titans pr people crane talking about how they 187 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: recruited players. That was the moment. I mean, it was 188 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: he was. He couldn't have been happier. It was just like, yeah, okay, 189 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: it all worked out fine, you know for him at 190 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 1: that point. But that's my point about him, though. We 191 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: miss those guys that they're there. They don't Lamar guys 192 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: like him and Lamar. You know, Wellington Mara a little bit. 193 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: But Wellington's pretty you know, button down. Uh. But yeah, 194 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: he was. He'd say anything at any time, at any 195 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: place and it didn't matter. And you know, as as 196 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,319 Speaker 1: a guy standing there sort of chronicling the events, you're 197 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: just like, Okay, I asked it. I did ask him 198 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: one time. Sometimes, you know, the sort of the journalistic 199 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: uh deal is if you said it and you didn't 200 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: say it was off the record, it's fair game. But 201 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: if I've known somebody a long time, occasionally one usually 202 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: it's like one, I give him one chip? Do you 203 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: want to take that? You want to rethink that? One time? 204 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: I do it. Usually I did it to him. He's like, now, 205 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: did he ever call you because he wanted you to 206 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: report something? Uh? Never like that he would call you 207 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 1: to say you should. Uh. This is what I want 208 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: to say about that. He never said he never tried 209 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: to push you a direction or not, because he he 210 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: didn't like that. He didn't like people pointing him in 211 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: one direction or the other, so he would he would 212 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: not do that. You know, people would try to advise 213 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: him all the time. Okay, when you get in front 214 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: of don't say this. All bets were off. He'd say 215 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: whatever he wanted. It's funny because in talking to Amy 216 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,559 Speaker 1: Adams Strunk now, she'll tell stories all the time and 217 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: you think it's crazy. Yeah, they're real. Well, amay thing 218 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: to see Amy running the team now, because it's just 219 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: way back twenty five years ago. She was so young, 220 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: and it's just funny. And mister Adams would have never 221 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: seen this, No, he would. I think if you'd have 222 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: given him a chance to give me three scenarios of 223 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: how it looks after you're gone, I don't think he 224 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: would have picked picked this one. But she's doing great 225 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: by all accounts. I think he I don't think he 226 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: would have ever seen her doing this, but I think 227 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: he would enjoy. Oh, he'd like it. He'd like watch 228 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: watch I think it would blow his mind. He'd like 229 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: her interacting with the people, with the fans, yeah, and 230 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: just the players and just the from you know, what 231 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: I've seen and heard. So he'd like that part because 232 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: he'd like he very much enjoyed mingling with the players 233 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: after games and and that kind of stuff. You've really 234 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: had an amazing career being around this and having grown up. 235 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: Most most people get promoted, Mike, I still have the 236 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: same job I had some years ago. You've moved, you 237 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: moved to Denver and you covered the Broncos fifteen years now, 238 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: believe it, and now you work it's hard to believe 239 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: it's been and believable and year old by the way, 240 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: but that's okay. You've worked for ESPN and and you've 241 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 1: sort of you've been part of the Hall of Fame 242 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: voting and part of all of the things with the 243 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: prof all journalists and everything. I mean for a guy 244 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: who grew up in Chicago is an NFL fan. Yeah, 245 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: my high I tell people all the time. My high 246 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: school guidance counselor told me I should be a welder. 247 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: So this I've I've beat thet I got more titian 248 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: that's my thing. Came back. No guy guy told my 249 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 1: guy told me, you know, you might want to think 250 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: about being a welder. That was what's the what's been 251 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: the most fun part of this for you. I like 252 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: all of it. I like the people. I like, you know. 253 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: I just like the people in the game who are 254 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: in it. Uh look, and I get the rest of it. 255 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: I understand the injury price players pay to play the game. 256 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:48,240 Speaker 1: I understand what I think the league should do for 257 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: their careers when they're over. I believe healthcare should be 258 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: universal for players. If you are a vested player, you 259 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: should get healthcare for life. I believe that they could 260 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: afford it. It's doable, and it will be a great 261 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: day to me when that happens. But in the game, 262 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: I just like the people involved in who are in 263 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: it for the for the right reasons, and they do 264 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: it the right way. I still enjoy that. The most 265 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: moving to Denver was there an adjustment you had to 266 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: make covering a new team with a new completely new 267 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: story because you were very much invested in the Titans 268 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: move and fair whole story covering the Titans was you know. 269 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: I still talk to the people you know to this 270 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: day that I covered every day there, and it was 271 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: I think looking back on it, I think people would say, now, look, look, 272 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: it's an eclectic group they had, you know, McGuinness is 273 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: on that staff. Greg Williams is on that staff for 274 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: a long time. You know, Uh, Jim Schwartz is still 275 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: in the league. Jim Washburn is among the best to 276 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: ever do what he did and it you know as 277 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: a as a D line coach. You know, he's like 278 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: Jesus to people. Well he is. He was, and he 279 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: was a controversial choice because it turned out because of 280 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: because of the background. And yet there are more people 281 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: who love Jim Washburn and who's value Jim Washburn. And 282 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: he is even now in retirement, he is being flown 283 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: around before the draft each year to work with the 284 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: pass rushers in those drafts. I mean he worked with 285 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: Bradley Chub last year before the draft. I mean he 286 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: is again, you know, and they're all on you know, 287 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 1: Jeff Fisher's I mean, it was quite the group. And 288 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: I honestly thought the two thousand team was the best 289 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: team they had. And they you know, the the Ray 290 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: Lewis ripped the ball out of ed I mean in 291 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: the block kicks. You know, that will forever go down, 292 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: But that that team was the best in football. To me, 293 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: the one shame of that whole time is that that 294 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: team didn't win it because they were the best team 295 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: in football and they were built through the draft. I 296 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: think what, uh, eighteen starters were drafted players, right, seventeen 297 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: or eighteen to have that right, I mean, and I mean, 298 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: that's that's phenomenal. That team was built from the ground 299 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: up during a move of lame ducky years. And you 300 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: know when they when they were using the doctor's office 301 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: as the practice facility, I mean that the Floyd Reese 302 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: would ride the elevator with a kid with the flu 303 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 1: going to see the doctor, and the locker of the 304 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: locker room was a conference room that they made into 305 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: the locker well. And you'll remember this too. So when 306 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: I first joined the team and they did walk throughs 307 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: in the parking lot of parking because there was no 308 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: drainage on the field. We stood at one of the 309 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: first practices I ever went to in ninety eight, and 310 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 1: it was during the Cicada year. So the cicada at 311 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:07,239 Speaker 1: what it's ever, the noise couldn't hear, couldn't hear. It 312 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: was like they didn't have to pipe in crowd noise 313 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: because the cicadas were It was. It was nuts, it 314 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: was surreal and so We're overlooking them all at bellevue 315 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: watching practice with cicada noise and you can't hear the 316 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: person next to you, next to you. Wow, I mean 317 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: it was just the bugs. And then a bunch of 318 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 1: the players, a bunch of the players started had the 319 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: weird bug I don't like bugs, Like they hated going 320 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: out there because they were everywhere. Yeah, it was a 321 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: strange time. You know, A little known fact about that 322 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: team is Jeff Fisher bought that team food every day. 323 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: He bought out of his own pocket because it was 324 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: such a weird time with the organization. And they had 325 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: the trailer for the coaches. The coaches offices were in 326 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: a trailer. It was just epic. I remember thinking. And 327 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: the pediatrician still used his office. I mean the pediatricians 328 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: showed up one day and the and the Tennessee Oilers 329 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: were in the building and he said, well, I got 330 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: patience to see. The whole thing was just baffling because 331 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: we were in a trailer. Our staff we were in 332 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: a trailer, and what is Lot M on the stadium site. 333 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,200 Speaker 1: Then you had the ticketing people on West End in 334 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: a in a building, and then the football staff was 335 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: at the Belleview at Bellevue, and so you went three 336 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: different Well, you couldn't get everybody together for a meeting 337 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: because we didn't have space to have everybody together for 338 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,479 Speaker 1: a meeting. They had a conference call one time between 339 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: all the football people when they didn't know where training 340 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: camp was going to be, and they they were given 341 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: They were sort of listing all the choices for Bud 342 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: and at one point he couldn't take it anymore and 343 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: he just started shouting on the conference call. All right, now, 344 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: one thing you love doing? Do you still write up 345 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 1: all the draft stuff? Do? How many players do you 346 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: write up? I usually review if I can because it's 347 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: just me. You know, usually get between five hundred and 348 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: six hundred. It's crazy. How do you have time to 349 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: do that? Doesn't have a very small brain, so it's 350 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 1: like a bronosaur. How much do you sleep? Really? I 351 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: sleep enough to get by. It's still like four hours 352 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: a night. It's roughly that some of us need eight 353 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: to ten. Well, I don't need beauty rest. It's obvious, 354 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: but it's got my thirty third combine Mike's thirty three. 355 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: I think who is who is your favorite player in 356 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: the two thousand nineteen draft. I don't have that yet. 357 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 1: I don't have my favorite player yet. Okay, who do 358 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: you think is the number one player right now? Who 359 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: who coming into the process is the number one player? 360 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,959 Speaker 1: I'd say it right now if you're just doing it 361 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: by grades. There's always two things with the draft. I 362 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: always say there's two boards. There's the quarterback board, there's 363 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: everybody else, because the quarterbacks will always be overdrafted when 364 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: like last year, when Darnold and Mayfield and Rosen are drafted, 365 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: they were drafted in their spots, but that's not where 366 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 1: they were graded, right, Okay, so but most of the 367 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: other players were taken where they were graded. So that's 368 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: the difference. So it will likely be a defensive player 369 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: for me at the top of the board. You know, now, 370 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: is it gonna be Boza's gonna be Quinnon, Williams or 371 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: one of the corners? I don't know that yet, but graded, 372 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: it will likely be a defensive player. Now, will a 373 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: defensive player go one? You know? Maybe not? You know, 374 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: after the quarterbacks are done, after Pro days, they're done 375 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:48,880 Speaker 1: and all that. So that's why to me, it's fun 376 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: to do a graded board and you let it go 377 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: and then people always go crazy where you have the 378 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: quarterbacks and stuff. So it's fun when establishing a grading 379 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: for a player. When you're putting together your evaluation, what 380 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: are the top things that you look at? You try 381 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: to take the whole package. Obviously what they do on 382 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 1: the field in games is always the most important thing, 383 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: but you're always taking everything into consideration. What's the medical history, 384 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: what's you know, if there's an off the field thing 385 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: you've you've been a prize to, or you know somebody 386 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: lets you know or you find out about there. It's 387 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: all in the combination because ultimately it's the value of 388 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: the players if he can come in and go to 389 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: work every day and be what you saw on the 390 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: game video. Because that's the question. It isn't whether or 391 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: not they can play, it's whether or not they can 392 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: Monday through Saturday do everything required to be ready to play. 393 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: So that's the difference between guys who make it and 394 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: guys who don't. And because you would be stunned. I mean, 395 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: my dad worked for the railroad. He didn't you know, 396 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: he didn't have a big library of literature to read 397 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: every day because he's too busy work at grinding. But 398 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: he used to say all the time, talents the most 399 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: wasted commodity in the world, and it is. You see 400 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 1: many many talented players who don't survive because they didn't 401 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: figure out Monday through Saturday. Speaking of talent, why do 402 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: people love Alabama defensive lineman Quitted Williams just well schooled 403 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: and a phenomenal athlete for a man that size so 404 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: and he plays like a pro meaning with his hands. 405 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 1: Most defensive lineman in college get by because they've been stronger, 406 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 1: faster than the other guy. He knows what he's doing 407 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: with his leverage and angles and how to beat this block. 408 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: And you know he's he's well schooled. Now that the 409 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: only thing people worry about as Alabama players is they 410 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: practice hard. Your four years or three years at Alabama, 411 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: however long you're at Alabama, you've practiced like for real 412 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: that they almost go full live because they have so 413 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: much talent on the field, and those guys are constantly 414 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: ramping it up because they're trying to get on the 415 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: field to play. So you've got five star on five star. 416 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: So their weeks are very different from other places. So 417 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: the injury rate is pretty high. You see a you 418 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: know even even Williams is going to have surgery after 419 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: the Combine on a finger, and a lot of Alabama 420 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: prospects have surgery right after the combine, So that's the 421 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 1: only only red flag often for an Alabama players the 422 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,640 Speaker 1: amount of physical beating they've taken for what however many 423 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: years they were there is Quinn and Williams the highest 424 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: graded defensive lineman you've seen so far. I think most 425 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: teams would say he or Bosa would be the two 426 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: bosas at classic rusher. So he's always going to be 427 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: a little higher for some people because that's a harder 428 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: player to find and more impactful. I think if you 429 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: had the core players, quarterbacks always going to lead the way, 430 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: but edge rusher, left tackle, that's that's still that's still 431 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 1: the royal guard. You know, as far as prospect, do 432 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: you buy into the theory that this is a great 433 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: defensive line draft. Yes, especially at edge rusher, there are 434 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: more sort of not just athlete rushers, there are more 435 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: sort of technicians, guys who understand what they're doing. You're 436 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,200 Speaker 1: sort of seeing the you know, von Miller has had 437 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: the pass rush summit past couple of years for guys 438 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 1: in the league. But you can see the evolution. Players 439 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: are taking more time about handwork and footwork and beating 440 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: blocks instead of just running around the guy. You know, 441 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: I always wonder what say Javan Curse would have looked 442 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: like in the current environment because he had never rushed 443 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: the passer really when he got to the Titans, and 444 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: there were times in his career when he was the 445 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 1: best pass rusher in football. Brocco's questions the trade for 446 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: Joe Flacco, were you surprised? I knew he was looking, 447 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: you know, at a group, and Flacco fits the offense 448 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 1: they want to run. I mean, people keep saying, why 449 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: is he so adamant about that offense? Well, because it 450 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: put three Super Bowl trophies in the case they met. 451 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning run that offense in a lot of ways. 452 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: So it's what It's what Elway believes in. It's what 453 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 1: he thinks will work. And Vic Fangio, the new coaches, 454 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 1: believes in it as well as a defensive guy. So 455 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: that's what they want to do now. And it also 456 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: tells me what he thinks of this quarterback class, because 457 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: I think if he believed there was a slam dunk 458 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 1: in that top ten, because they have the tenth pick, 459 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: and it tells me if he believes there was a 460 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: slam dunk in the top ten that he thought he 461 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,919 Speaker 1: could get, they would have just ridden it out with 462 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: case Keenum in the second year of the contract and 463 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: just left it alone. But it tells me where they're 464 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: at on the quarterback class right now. What do you 465 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,360 Speaker 1: think of Joe Flacco in terms of how he will 466 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: fit that offense? Specifically, he's got to be healthy. You know, 467 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: he's had a back and hip things, so that's those 468 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 1: are red flags sometimes. So when you know he's eleven 469 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: years in so you start hearing hip, you get a 470 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: little nervous. But there it's essentially they're only on the 471 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: hook for this year of the deal, so it's a 472 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: one year it's kind of a one year prove it 473 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: type thing. They're still they still don't have their long 474 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: term solution and they're going to have through at some point. 475 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: I mean, they're one of the few teams, maybe the 476 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: only team right now who does not have a drafted 477 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:56,160 Speaker 1: player at quarterback in their building that they picked. What 478 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 1: did they do with case Keenum there? They'll shop him, 479 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: you know that. I would think Cliff Kingsbury and Arizona 480 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: might want him as a backup for Rosen and he 481 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: coached him at Houston. You know that there is that history. 482 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: So I think they'll shop him there, shop him Jacksonville. 483 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: They'll shop him and see if somebody will take the contrary. 484 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: The problem is that the contrary, you know, you trade 485 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 1: the contract too. Keendom's guaranteed seven million, whether he's on 486 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: a roster or not, you know, so that's part of 487 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: the deal. In terms of the offseason, what are some 488 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: other moves that you would like to see the Broncos mate, Well, 489 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: they have, they've got offensive line issues. They got they 490 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 1: gotta do something. You know, they've been even Peyton's last 491 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: two seasons, which would have been twenty fourteen twenty fifteen, 492 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 1: they were jumbling guys around, and you know Peyton covers 493 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: a lot of that up. You don't notice it as much. Well, 494 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: it's been very noticeable the last two years especially, they've 495 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 1: they've essentially ruined three young quarterbacks because they were under siege, 496 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: so you can't you know, quarterbacks are ultimately judged for 497 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: other people's mistakes a lot of the times, and Lebroncos 498 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:17,080 Speaker 1: had three young or three quarterbacks Osweiler, Simeon and Paxton Lynch, 499 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: who were judged by a lot of other people's mistakes. 500 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: Why is Vic Fangio the right choice for John Elway 501 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,400 Speaker 1: to run this football team? And that funny in the 502 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: year everybody was falling all over themselves to get the 503 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: young offensive whiz kids. I keep saying lebroncos one is 504 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: farther out of the box than everybody did. They heard 505 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: a sixty year old never been a head coach before 506 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 1: defensive quacha. So I don't I'm not sure anybody's a 507 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: bigger outlier in the coaching search than they are. But 508 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: I would say Vic spoke John's language. Vic talked about 509 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: we're gonna get it right in the room. You know, 510 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: we're gonna get it right on the practice field. And 511 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: they had, you know, they had let things get away. 512 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: You know, guys were a few minutes late here, a 513 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: few minute later. You know, it's not a big deal 514 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: in the big picture, but in Elway's world it means 515 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: a lot. I mean, you're talking about it. I think 516 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: it's the odd situation nobody else really has to face. 517 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 1: I mean, the Hall of Fame quarterback as chief football 518 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: guy is a different deal. Because if you're in the 519 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:28,360 Speaker 1: locker room, what are you going to say the guys 520 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: upstairs don't get it. I think he gets it, you know, 521 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,960 Speaker 1: he's sort of went ninety yards with no time on. 522 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: He was pretty yeah, yeah, you know. That's they can't 523 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: sit in the room and say, oh, those guys don't 524 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 1: get it. If they understood it was like here or 525 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: in the huddle, you know. So it's an odd dynamic. 526 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: Takes a strong personality to coach. That's why, you know, 527 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: I think John Fox had a hard time occasionally with 528 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:59,080 Speaker 1: that dynamic. Gary Kubiak flourished because he had been John 529 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: Elway's roommate and during when they played, so Kubiak flourished, 530 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: and Gary's health issues really derailed their plan because their 531 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: plan was Gary Kubiak's going to coach the Broncos for 532 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: a long time and that that's what they hoped for. 533 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: So when he had to step away after twenty sixteen, 534 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: they were really their plan took a huge hit and 535 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 1: they weren't quite ready for that. So Vi Vic is 536 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: kind of a return to the way Gary coached. Gary's 537 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: very tough on players, even though he's very mild mannered. 538 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: Vic's the same Way, so they've heard a defensive Kubiak. 539 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: I guess it's the way it pushed him. The Titans 540 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 1: will play Denver this year, Yes, we are. We don't 541 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: know when, but we are coming to Denver. What come 542 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 1: on out, We'll be there. We'll be there. What type 543 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: of ball club do you think that? And we don't 544 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: know when in the season or what they'll look like. 545 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: But just overriding from Vic fangio perspective, John Way, what 546 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: he wants to do now having Joe Flacco, what kind 547 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: of ball club do you expect the twenty nineteen Denver 548 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: Broncos to be. I would expect von Miller to be unleashed. 549 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: And you look at it Vic and at Donnitel did 550 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: with Khalil Mack. I think you're gonna see that because 551 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: I think Vaughn's a better athlete. So I think you're 552 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 1: gonna see I think you'll see Super Bowl Von more 553 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: than we have because sometimes he's he's been hidden or 554 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 1: tucked away in their plan. You know, he's he's had 555 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: moments when he's even dropped into coverage, which I always 556 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,719 Speaker 1: asked the defensive coaches if I'm giving a choice of 557 00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 1: Russian Von Miller and dropping him into coverage. I know 558 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: which one I'm picking, but I think I think they 559 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 1: will be very more intent on what they're doing with 560 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: von So. I think defensively got some issues in the secondary, 561 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: but I think offensively you're going to see a play 562 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: action offense that will take some some down the field occasionally, 563 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,840 Speaker 1: but we'll we'll we'll try to run it and and 564 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: do the things that they've always done in that offense, 565 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 1: you know, dating all the way back to Shanahan. Well, Mike, 566 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: I don't want any part of von Miller. I'm not interested. 567 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 1: There's some have said when they hired Vic Faggio's head coach. 568 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,320 Speaker 1: I mean, Von Miller had fourteen and a half sacks 569 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 1: last year and probably Chubb had twelve, but there are 570 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: people who think he could have twenty five. Again, not 571 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 1: interested in that. There are people Miller could have twenty 572 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: five sacks in this defense. He should have had probably 573 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 1: twenty last year. I think people undervalue the kind of 574 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: season he had because, uh, Chubb has been a revelation 575 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 1: or a great pick you know last year at five, 576 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, and a lot of people as soon as 577 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:50,720 Speaker 1: they were trying to bail out of that pick last year. 578 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,120 Speaker 1: But when the Browns took the corner, they stayed. They 579 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: were like, we're taking Chubb because they thought the Browns 580 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,719 Speaker 1: were going to take Chubb at four. Everybody did. They were. 581 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: They were shopping the five pick all over they were, 582 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: they were bailing out. He was gonna go all the 583 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 1: way down into the mid the middle of the round, 584 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:11,160 Speaker 1: because he was like if I can't get Chubb after, 585 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: you know, they were interested in Mayfield, Darnald, and Chubb. 586 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:19,719 Speaker 1: So Mayfield goes one, Darnald goes three, and they think 587 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: Chubb's going four, so he's pulling the parachute. They're gonna 588 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: go down to fourteen, fifteen, whatever, and then they just stayed. 589 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 1: Chubb will be very good for a very long time. 590 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: Can I end it with the scenario question? Yes, there 591 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,440 Speaker 1: are something I don't promise to give you an actual, 592 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:40,080 Speaker 1: real good answer. Well, there are some people who think 593 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: that John Elway would like to have Drew Locke. I 594 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: don't buy that. You do not buy Why do you 595 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:50,759 Speaker 1: not buy that John Elway would not take Drew lock 596 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: to bring him along. I'm not saying he wouldn't consider 597 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,800 Speaker 1: taking him, but I don't think I think the fifty 598 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: six percent is a concern. Elway believes, even though his 599 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:09,720 Speaker 1: own career track as well traveled. He was a strong armed, 600 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 1: big quarterback. And but that's back before sixty percent was 601 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,760 Speaker 1: considered kind of the minimum, and a fifty six percent 602 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,759 Speaker 1: passer in college probably translates to fifty or forty nine 603 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:26,239 Speaker 1: ish in the pros. So that's an issue, and it's 604 00:35:26,239 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: an issue Josh Allen faced last year with the bills. 605 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's the same issue. And traditionally, I'm 606 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: not saying never, but traditionally guys have a hard time 607 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,080 Speaker 1: fixing that. You're either accurate or you're not. You either 608 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: throw in frame or you don't, and it's hard to repair. 609 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: But a lot of his is from his footwork and 610 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: how he positions himself when he throws. So they've looked 611 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: at him heavily. I would say at this point, a 612 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: lot can change in the next month and a half. 613 00:35:57,719 --> 00:36:02,040 Speaker 1: But at this point, I think that's been overblown as 614 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 1: a national narrative. Right now, he still might take him, 615 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 1: But to say that right now, I think it would 616 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 1: be false. Just talking about quarterbacks for a second, per 617 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 1: your evaluation, who is the top quarterbacks? Okay, I didn't 618 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: even have to finish it. Wayne Haskins Ohio State. Not 619 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 1: close either, because really he is a typical He's a 620 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 1: pro quarterback, accurate, six three, stand in the pocket. Watch 621 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,399 Speaker 1: him play, Watching that guy, watch him play. He's played 622 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,240 Speaker 1: in big games, big moments. Would you take Kyler Murray? 623 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:36,799 Speaker 1: You know the thing about Kyler Murray is that when 624 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:39,360 Speaker 1: the minute you take him, you're the first guy to 625 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: ever do that. He's never been There's never been a 626 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:46,840 Speaker 1: player like him taking a quarterback. Ever. Why would you 627 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:49,959 Speaker 1: say there's never been a player like Kyler Murray ever 628 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,879 Speaker 1: taken a quarterback. Not, not at this point, not at 629 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,400 Speaker 1: the top of the draft. There's not been. There's not 630 00:36:56,480 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: been a five nine quarterback taken in the opening two 631 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:03,759 Speaker 1: rounds of the draft. I mean Drew Brees was six 632 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: feet and Drew Brees, but I mean Drew Drew's bigger. 633 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:14,280 Speaker 1: I mean Jack Elway, John's father when he was alive, 634 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,800 Speaker 1: always said Drew Brees is one of his favorite players 635 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 1: out of draft board. But Drew Brees was a people forget. 636 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:23,840 Speaker 1: He's a very refined passer at Purdue. There's plenty of 637 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:28,080 Speaker 1: game film to break down what he was doing at 638 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:30,480 Speaker 1: that point. But you're talking about a guy who may 639 00:37:30,520 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 1: measure in at five nine and change. Now I've been 640 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:39,160 Speaker 1: told he might tip the scales here at two o four, 641 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:42,839 Speaker 1: but he's going to be a classic. I'm over two 642 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: hundred for the combine and I'm one eighty eight for 643 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:50,800 Speaker 1: my pro day guy. So but electric with the ball. 644 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,719 Speaker 1: You know, live arm, he's got all the goodies. You 645 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 1: just don't the minute the GM takes him. You're the 646 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:00,759 Speaker 1: first to ever do it. And that's you know that 647 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:05,480 Speaker 1: it's a pretty risk adverse crowd picking players because you 648 00:38:05,520 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: know they're betting their mortgage essentially on it, and it's 649 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,719 Speaker 1: hard to be the first do anything. But he's there's 650 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: no question in the athleticism and throwing the ball. So 651 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:19,880 Speaker 1: it's just a matter of you building the team, whatever 652 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,719 Speaker 1: team takes him, building an offense around him so he 653 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:25,279 Speaker 1: can function. Jeff lech Walt, thank you for the time, 654 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:28,760 Speaker 1: always for you, though I would never say that publicly, 655 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:31,200 Speaker 1: even though I just did. Well, yeah, it just did, 656 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 1: just between friends. You know. I got fooled by the 657 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:41,920 Speaker 1: closeness we have at the table. Jeff Lechwalds from ESP 658 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:44,359 Speaker 1: and our guest of the OTP for Aby Wells at 659 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: Mike Keith, thanks for joining us once again of the 660 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 1: OTP