1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: The following presentation of the Jaguars Podcast Network is presented 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: by by Star Credit. Fred Taylor makes people smile. He 3 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: did when he left head swiveling, hips turning, and defenders confused, 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: blazing by them on his way to the end zone. 5 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: He could do things full speed most players couldn't imagine 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: doing while standing still. Today, Fred simply walks through the 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: door and people want to talk to him, to know 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: the man who made them hold their breath every time 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: he touched the ball. This is Perspectives, the story of 10 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: the Jaguars first twenty five seasons told by the people 11 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: who built the franchise from the ground up. This is 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: Fred Taylor. Taylor arrived in Jacksonville a hero in waiting. 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: The six ft one two and thirty pounder played four 14 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: seasons in Gainsville. He was built the ball and he 15 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: knew it. It was just a matter of time. Everyone 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: else did too. There are so many memorable moments. Uh 17 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: my favorite moment um in the Jaguars uniform with it's 18 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: It's simply my rookie year against Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Um, 19 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: My childhood best friend Guy played Pop Warner with we 20 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: met signing up, registering for the same UH park. We 21 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: ended up being uh Ridelle Anthony is who I'm talking about. 22 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: We ended up being on the same team. Riedel was 23 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: a stud he was a great player from Pop Warner 24 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: and uh middle School, high school. We ended up going 25 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: to college same college, University of Florida, and uh Ridell 26 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: left as a junior and was drafted first round by 27 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: Buccaneers and I ended up getting drafted the following year. 28 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: UH here to Jacksonville and our rookie year. I remember 29 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: hanging out down at Ridail's place in Tampa and the 30 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: Mouth of the South. Mr Man Warren Sapp. We were 31 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: at SAP's place. UH we took his jet skis out 32 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: at three jet skis we took out to clear Water 33 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: Beach and throughout the time, young stupid, very confident Fred 34 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: Taylor says the SAP, Um, I'm gonna have a hundred 35 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: yards rushing on on your Buccaneers defense. And I remember 36 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: SAP saying, be careful, young man, don't write a check 37 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: your ass can't cash. And UH, I said, all right, 38 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: we'll see about that. Fast forward to the game. I 39 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: believe it was a Sunday four pm kick in November, 40 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: and the very first player of the game was a 41 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 1: run play tackle three yard loss and it was Warren 42 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: Sapp and he stood over me and said that F 43 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: and Ch is gonna bounce today. And I was like, okay, 44 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: we'll see about that very next play. Same result as 45 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: I recall it, if the same result, It's like, yeah, 46 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: that's check gonna bounce today. Yo. Man, It's like, all right, 47 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: it's okay. And in my mind, I'm I'm telling myself, 48 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: what did you get yourself into? Well? Fast forward more 49 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: throughout the game. Read Hell would score. You know, he 50 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: blazed Aaron Beasley for seventy yard uh slant route to 51 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: the house for a touchdown. Then I would come down 52 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: and scored, and he would score, and I would score, 53 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: then he would score and I would score. Fast forward 54 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: to fourth quarter, two minutes, a few seconds remaining in 55 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, I remember Coach Coughlin saying, we're just 56 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: gonna run this thirty six. Oh. I was running a 57 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: thirty six t behind Tony Boselli, and I, um, there's 58 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: a just a simple run to the right where Tony 59 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: was pulling, and we were just running that play so 60 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: we can get in two minute offense, so we can 61 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: be able to hurry up and give ourselves an opportunity 62 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: to get in range and scoring range. And cut behind. 63 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: Tony cut right, cut left down the Tampa Bay sideline, 64 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: come spread, looking up the middle. Now cutting back there 65 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: he goes at the forty fredk tackle. He's on the run, 66 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: at the fifty friends on the go. He's at the 67 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: thirty Fred Fred ten. He's into the end zone. Touchdown Jacksonville. Wow, 68 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: seventy yards for Fred Taylor and the trackwards grapple. Seventy 69 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: one yards later. I find myself doing inappropriate acts to 70 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: our goal post at the time. Thank god for editing, 71 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: video editing. But it was that was that was like 72 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:57,160 Speaker 1: the best moment in my entire career, simply because of 73 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: of me getting the last laugh against Warren sapp one 74 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: of the greatest defensive tackles they ever played a game. Uh, 75 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 1: Derek Brooks was on that team. Hardy Nickerson was on 76 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: that team. John Lynch was on the team. Run Day Barber, 77 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: who's gonna be another Hall of Famer, he was on 78 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: that team. Simmey and Rice was on that team. This 79 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 1: defense was the best defense in all the football and um, 80 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: you know my talking crap not knowing exactly what I 81 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 1: was getting into. Kin of Fruition and my childhood friend, 82 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: you know, two guys from a small country town, grew 83 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: up together through high school, college. We had to shoot 84 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: out with each other. He would score, I would score, 85 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: He would score. I would score. That was all the 86 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: scoring for a while throughout that game. So for me, 87 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: that game stands out the most, the best, most memorable 88 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: game in Jaguars Uh, in the Jaguars uniform. He made 89 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,799 Speaker 1: it look easy, but it wasn't always effortless. Taylor initially 90 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: struggled with the transition to professional football, and it took 91 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,479 Speaker 1: a moment in Week three three things to get rolling. 92 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: You know. In order to talk about the moment when 93 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: I took over as the starting running back in Jacksonville, 94 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: I can't tell you without saying, uh, Willie Jackson, who 95 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: was a receiver here. You know, he allowed me to 96 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: regain my confidence because in the preseason it was shot 97 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: Coach Coughlin. You know, he was demanding so much of players, 98 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: whether you're a tenure vet rookie, it didn't matter. You know. 99 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: He wanted you to excel and uh a sin. He 100 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: would say, guys, you have to sin. You gotta go, 101 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,039 Speaker 1: you gotta go, and and he would always, you know, 102 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,799 Speaker 1: demand the best of you. Well, there was a period 103 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: for me where um, the media, some of the local media, 104 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure some of the fans, because they tend 105 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: to go in the direction of the media most of 106 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: the time or a lot of the times, in all 107 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: fairness to them. Uh. Um, And it was Fred, it 108 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: is a bust. Fred, You're a bust. And I heard 109 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: that stuff, and um, not until I talked to Willie. 110 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: He goes there, that wasn't the reason you were drafted here. 111 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: This is why you were drafted here. Just go back 112 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: to the old Fred, and I stopped. I would always 113 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: listen to coach call from but I started to listen 114 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: to Willie, like, you know what that makes that makes 115 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: the most sense. You know, Let's try it that way. 116 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: You know, let's stop beating uh, you know, heads against 117 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: the wall. Let's just go calm yourself down and get 118 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: back to the basics. So fast forward three games. We're 119 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: playing the Baltimore Ravens. Um in my rookie year, Um, 120 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: Stew goes down. I always kept myself prepared, and to 121 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: give Stew his credit, Stew always made sure I was 122 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: preparing the right way, and I was thankful to have 123 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: a veteran guy who was very receptive of taking me 124 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: under his wings. A guy who's threatening his his whole 125 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: entire livelihood. This is how we feed our families. But 126 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: you know, he threw all that out the window, the 127 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: window and just looked at me as a teammate who 128 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: could help us win. So Uh, thankful. I'm thankful for 129 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: Stu that even though he went down. Um me jogging 130 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: on the field, I remember being as nervous as could be, 131 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: but I was ready. And my very first carry was 132 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: at thirty nine, toss to the left where I was 133 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: able to cut it back to the right, made the backside. Uh, 134 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: linebacker miss to sweep left. There goes Fred Taylor. He's 135 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: across the cold coming back breaking tackles forty five, Taylor forty. 136 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 1: He's free at the thirty. He's at the twenty. Fred 137 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: Taylor ted five touchdown Jacksonville fifty two yards and Fred 138 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: Taylor makes a statement in his first major run fifty 139 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: two yards later. Uh, I'm in the end zone, not 140 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: having a clue what to do with the ball, and 141 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: I remember, like yesterday, my jersey was as tight as 142 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,119 Speaker 1: could be. Uh, shout out Drew Hampton, our old equipment 143 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: guy who hooked me up with the tight jersey so 144 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: nobody was arm tackling me. I can tell you that 145 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: how tight that jersey was. But young Fred Taylor in 146 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: the end zone, I didn't know whether to spike the 147 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 1: ball keep my first touchdown ball. All I remember is 148 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: growing up as a child, guys would spike it and 149 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: guys would keep it, and I didn't know what to 150 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: do at that point. So if you ever see the highlight, uh, 151 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: it seems as if I have like a like, Uh, 152 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: it's stuck with sticky glue because I'm trying to spike 153 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: it but it wouldn't release. And Uh, to me to 154 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: these days, the silliest the thing I've ever done as 155 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 1: a pro. More perspectives following this from Bistar Credit Union 156 00:09:55,760 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: Advice Star. We believe in better, better convenience, so members 157 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: can bank anyway they want, whether it's at a branch, 158 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,719 Speaker 1: on a mobile device, or at one of more than 159 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: twenty thousand feet free a t M s across North America. 160 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: We believe that people have better things to do with 161 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: their time if you believe that convenience is better join 162 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: VI Star. We never forget that it's your money. All 163 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: loan subject to approval insured by n c U. A 164 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: Taylor learned Earl playing in the NFL was going to 165 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: take the best he had to offer, game in and 166 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: game out. Playing for Tom Coughlin challenged him to give 167 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: his best day in and day out. When I got 168 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: when I went to work out, I thought Coach Coughlin 169 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: wasn't madman. You know, he goes son Uh, you're out 170 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: of shape. Why can't you finish the drill? And and 171 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: from there I just had this. I would look at 172 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: him and I would go, something's wrong with this guy 173 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 1: because I just did it a hundred reps and he 174 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: wants me to do another hundred. But it's for an 175 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to be drafted, you know. I sort of wait 176 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: the different draft positions of the different teams that worked 177 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: me out, and at that moment, I was projected top 178 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: three backs, and UH, I felt that if I can 179 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: go to Jacksonville, UH, it would be the best um 180 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: place for me to end up in the entire draft. 181 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: So um it all worked out at the very end 182 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: of the day. UH. The difference in Coach Spurrier playing 183 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: for coach Spurry and playing for Coach Coughlan is night 184 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: and day. Uh in a sense that Coach Spurry wants 185 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: to hurry up, get done with practice and make his 186 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: four o'clock tea tie and be able to play before 187 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:54,599 Speaker 1: uh the sunlight is up. Uh. Coach Coughlan totally opposite. 188 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: He wants you out there practicing until uh it's dark 189 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: and uh. You know, but they were two great men 190 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: who I grew to respect over the course of time, 191 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: and um uh they both allowed me an opportunity to 192 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: find myself as a young man. I got into some 193 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: trouble down in in Gainesville under Coach Spurry. He went 194 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: to bat for me because he believed, you know, it 195 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,440 Speaker 1: wasn't in my character. It was just a bone head, 196 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: childish mistake. And the same for Coach Coughlin when he 197 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: was extremely hard on me. I didn't understand it at first, why, 198 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: you know, he it seemed that as if he was 199 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: picking on me. But after a while, uh, you learned 200 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: that he just wanted absolute best for you. He followed 201 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: that big run against the Ravens with a seventy seven 202 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: yard score against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, and 203 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: the seventy eight yard touchdown catch in Baltimore and big 204 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: scores in Cincinnati, Nashville, and Denver. Scoring seventeen touchdowns as 205 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: a rookie and narrowly missing out on NFL Rookie of 206 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: the Your honors to a my name, Reddy Moss. A 207 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: hamstring injury brought back some old doubts and a new nickname. 208 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: It still bothers him to this day, though in the end, 209 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: Fred proved those detractors wrong. Fredil Fred hurt then and 210 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 1: it's still hurt now. When I look up Fred Taylor 211 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,839 Speaker 1: stats to make my comparisons to the best, you know, 212 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: other running backs that have played the game. Uh, when 213 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: I look up uh top Russias of all time, and 214 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: it it gives it gives you a link to Pro 215 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: Sports Reference or something of that nature, and it has 216 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: all the players nicknames. And unfortunately the fragile Fred tag 217 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: is it's still there and I never accepted that as 218 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: a nickname. It's certainly motivated me throughout my career. I think, 219 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: you know, I always say God does things in the 220 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: most mysterious of ways. For example, Uh, people talk about 221 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: the market, the Jacksonville market, or the lack of and 222 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 1: maybe that has something to do with the lack of 223 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: Pro Bowls and you know, lack of recognition in terms 224 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: of being in the same conversation with other running backs 225 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: around the league. Well, I always go back to God 226 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: only gives you what you can handle. And for me, 227 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: a young kid from a small country town in Belglade 228 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: to a small college town in Gainesville to a look 229 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: just a bit larger, uh town in Jacksonville. It was 230 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: just enough. Now, it was just enough. I can handle 231 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: Jacksonville and those those those injuries in the media, you know, 232 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: the New York media would have torn me alive had 233 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: I missed those amount of games in that period. Fredil 234 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: Fred might be the least of my worries. Yet here 235 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: is it is what it is. I was in Jacksonville, 236 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: that was the name was associated with me, but it 237 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: definitely motivated me. I went through a period where I 238 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: stopped partying so much, I stopped doing other things so 239 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: I can minimize the soft tissue injuries, UH and give 240 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: myself an opportunity to be on the field and be 241 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: successful trying to help the team win. Personally. Um, there 242 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: was a stretch, I believe a three years stretch where 243 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: I didn't miss a single game. But I learned how 244 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: to be a pro. In that period. I learned the 245 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: simple things to take care of your body. Uh to 246 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: uh nutrition, different nutrition, different diets, UH massage. I developed 247 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: the routine that will help me sustain a thirteen year career. 248 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: And in the back of my mind, I I tend 249 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: to laugh at you know, whoever started the nickname and 250 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: whoever would say it um. I laugh at those people 251 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: now because the average lifespan is around three years, three 252 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: and a half years or so, and for me to 253 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: have played almost four times that average, you know, that's 254 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: that's just a testimony or testament to um my dedication. 255 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: And I have a quick story. We played Philly. We 256 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: played the Eagles in Philly, and I remember during warm 257 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: ups I would always go out warm up with my 258 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: headphones on, try and tune everything out. And I remember 259 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: being on one end zone in Philly and the fans 260 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: were chatting or they were chained Fragile Freddie, and they 261 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: would say throughout the individual warm ups, throughout the team 262 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: warm ups, and I looked up there and said, I'm 263 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: gonna get the last last. So throughout the game, an 264 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: opportunity came where I saw they had a cornerback blitz. 265 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: I knew I was gonna cut back into the cornerback blitz. 266 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: I didn't care what happened, but I was gonna cut 267 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: back into. All I had to do was beat the safety, 268 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: which was Dawkins at the time. I beat the blitz. 269 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: I beat Dawkins, out ran everyone, escored a touchdown in 270 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: that same end zone, and it was as quiet as 271 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: could be for that brief moment. I felt great knowing 272 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: that I silenced the entire stadium. But laughing didn't last. 273 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: Neither did the winning. Injuries, including a big one of 274 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: his own, the salary count, and losing all took their 275 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,199 Speaker 1: swings at the Jaguars, and by two thousand two, the 276 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: first era, the Tom Coughlin era, was over Taylor. Clearly, 277 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: the identity of the franchise was ready for change. For 278 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: a moment um, just going back to how tough coach 279 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: Coughlin was for those five years, He's extremely tough. Things 280 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: weren't going quite the way we wanted them to go 281 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: as an organization or as a team. As an organization, 282 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: and for a moment, you know, you tell yourself, okay, 283 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: the fans are asking for a player for league. Coach, 284 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: the players aren't playing, they're not winning in the fourth quarter. 285 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:08,399 Speaker 1: They're tired. They overpracticed, they practiced too hard. You know, 286 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: it was grueling, like those those practices on the coach 287 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: Coffin's watch. They were intense. It was two days. It 288 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: was passed throughout the entire week, even on some Fridays, 289 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: and the veteran guys started complain. I, for one, I 290 00:18:24,359 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: always just went to work. I never complained about the 291 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: padded practice or anything of that nature. The one thing 292 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: that that sort of pushed my relationship was Coach Coughlin's 293 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: relationship to the side a bit. What's the growing injury? 294 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: I told my growing off the bone, and the media 295 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: started asking questions, you know, why isn't Taylor here where 296 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: it's Fred and and I remember, you know, I'm not 297 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: sure if the exact quote, but Coach Coughlin to a 298 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: certain extent responded, I don't know, maybe he's in the 299 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 1: training room. He should have been back a couple of 300 00:19:05,119 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: weeks ago. Uh, it's only a three week injury. Well, 301 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: I tore my entire. I tore my growing, detached it 302 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: from the bone, which was I missed the right amount 303 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: of time when I missed the entire season, so our 304 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,719 Speaker 1: relationships started to get a bit gray. And at that 305 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: particular moment, I didn't really care if they fired coach 306 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: Coughlin or not. I felt that change would have been 307 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: the best thing at that particular point in time. Uh. 308 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: Insert Jack del Rio his first year. You know, we 309 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: spent maybe as much time at the movie theaters, are 310 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: not practicing as much as maybe any team in the 311 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: entire NFL, and it felt good. I mean I still 312 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: did what I would normally do as a player. Uh. 313 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,239 Speaker 1: It was that period I started to take care of 314 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: my body and make sure I didn't miss games. So 315 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: for me, it was things were smooth. The relationship was 316 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: Jack with Jack was was smooth. He looked at me 317 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: as a as a leader, a captain, and he respected 318 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: what I did on the field. After a few years 319 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: of the same, you realize it was too many great 320 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: areas and I believed Jack's inexperience as a head coach, 321 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: his inexperienced micromanaging his his experience as a player. Uh. 322 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: I think that sort of got in the way of 323 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: our goal here. Uh. He bumped head with a lot 324 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: of guys, and I I don't necessarily, UM, I don't 325 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: hate Jack four. Actually, I would actually love to have 326 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 1: conversations the same conversation I found myself having with coach 327 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: Coughland when I met him in the preseason games. I 328 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 1: would have those same conversations with coach del Rio. But 329 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,880 Speaker 1: those coaches were night and day. Coach Coughland was black 330 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: and white. If you entered that middle area, those that's 331 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,159 Speaker 1: the consequence line. You know what you were getting yourself into. 332 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: Jack was after a moment, it was more gray and 333 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 1: inconsistency showed and he lost a lot of the guys. UM. 334 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: But both coaches at the very end of the day, 335 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,959 Speaker 1: you know you learn from them. You learn, you know 336 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: from every um experience in life. You have to take 337 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: those and and develop so you can help your person 338 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: more perspectives. Following this from Vistar Credit Union Advice Star, 339 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: we believe in better, especially in helping build a better 340 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,000 Speaker 1: financial future for our members, so we reviewed our offerings 341 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: from the ground up. We've lowered or eliminated over half 342 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: our fees and enhanced our already competitive rates, saving members 343 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: more than a million dollars this year, in addition to 344 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,719 Speaker 1: the millions we saved them every year. If you believe 345 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: that saving money is better joined by star. We never 346 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: forget that it's your money, all alone, subject to approval 347 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: insured by n c U A. A few years into 348 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 1: the Jack Deal real era, the jag Wars decided to 349 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: start planning for life after fred. A fifteen hundred yards 350 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: season in two thousand three and two thousand more rushing 351 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 1: yards between two thousand four and two thousand five didn't 352 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: stop the Jaguars from drafting Maurice Jones Drew. Maurice wondered 353 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: how Taylor would react, but he needn't work. By two 354 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: thousand six, Taylor was not only entirely self confident, he 355 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: was completely self aware. M j D my guy. I 356 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: love Mojoe. We have a great relationship now. Uh. I 357 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: constantly check on his family. I constantly route from Murray's. 358 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 1: I think he's doing a wonderful job at the network. 359 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: UM not to say I wouldn't have thought he would 360 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: have because he could talk. He was always a talker, 361 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: especially his rookie year. I think the one thing that 362 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 1: stands out most about Maurice is how he absorbed everything 363 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 1: that I shared with him. I wanted to make sure 364 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: that he was successful. I you know, I try to 365 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: be pretty level headed and the sense that I knew 366 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: I was older. You know, I knew that, UM, I 367 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna play every snap. I knew that, UM the 368 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: way the NFL works. Yeah, prior to Maurice, I believe 369 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: we drafted a running back every single year from my 370 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:33,479 Speaker 1: entire career. But neither was as special as Maurice. They 371 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,560 Speaker 1: were good, but Maurice was just a different talent. He 372 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 1: can return the ball, kickoff return, point return, UM. He 373 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: can receive the ball out of the backfield, short game, intermediate, 374 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: he can get down the field on will routes. UM, 375 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: he could run the ball. His vision was amazing. His 376 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: he wasn't a big guy in stature, but he was powerful. 377 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: His lower body was as strong as it could be, 378 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: and he broke a ton of tackles. UM. I think 379 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 1: Maurice he accepted his role. You know, he didn't ask 380 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,400 Speaker 1: to be anything more than he UH was very patient. 381 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: He knew that I still had a lot left in 382 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: my tank, and we had great chemistry. There were opportunities 383 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: where he would say no, no, now you go in, 384 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: and I would saying no, you go in. We almost 385 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,679 Speaker 1: came to a point where neither one of us was 386 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: in and then someone would have to run on the field. 387 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: But those were those were great times. I mean, I 388 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 1: cherished those moments. Uh. I think the only inconsistency with 389 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 1: Mauris though, is his select amnesia when it comes to 390 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:44,679 Speaker 1: who was the best Madden Football player, because for some reason, 391 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: he don't remember the amount of times that I beat him. 392 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: But that's okay, you know. I I tend to just 393 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: smirk and laugh at those moments, and I teach him 394 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: to this day about it. But we have a great relationship. 395 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: I just spent some time with them out there at 396 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: the NFL Network a couple of weeks ago. You know, 397 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: he's rooting for me, uh in my Hall of Fame push. 398 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: I'm certainly rooting for him. I certainly believe he's uh 399 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: capable of being in a shrine someday. It would be 400 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,920 Speaker 1: amazing to have both of us in there, two guys 401 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: that shared the backfield for the same team, the same organization. 402 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: I think that would be She's, for me, probably the 403 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: most amazing thing that I've seen in the two men 404 00:25:28,359 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: ran rough shot over the rest of the league, and 405 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 1: together they helped power the NFL's best rushing attack in 406 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: a playoff season in two thousand seven. Fred exited stage 407 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 1: left after two thousand and eight and spent a few 408 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: seasons in New England before hanging it up. He finished 409 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: with eleven thousand, six ninety five yards and seventy four touchdown, 410 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: but he was rarely mentioned among the very best of 411 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: the best, the Hall of Fame caliber players. Maybe it 412 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: was because he played in Jacksonville, the NFL smallest market, 413 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: or maybe it's because he didn't play in the Super Bowl. 414 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: One Guy Bill one Dury special guy new where Taylor 415 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: belonged in the conversation, I think, um the Jim Brown quote. 416 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: You know, during my playing career. For a while, I 417 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: didn't see it. I didn't hear it anywhere. Someone had 418 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: to tell me, and I certainly went and looked it 419 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: up soon after I heard about it. Uh just a 420 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 1: kid who watched uh Jim Brown highlights. Man, he's the goat. 421 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: Like people missus the term goat. You know you have 422 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: kids nowadays they's just everything is go, you go? Did 423 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: he go? Here? Go? They don't understand the real meaning 424 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: of go. Jim Brown is the real goat at the 425 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: position of running back. In my opinion. Uh So when 426 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: I heard it, I was like, wow, that Wow, this 427 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,880 Speaker 1: is That's all that really matters, you know. The lack 428 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: of Pro Bowls, the lack of Pro Bowl recognition, Um, 429 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter for me. The only thing that matters 430 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:01,439 Speaker 1: is when I hear my idols. You know mentioned you know, 431 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: I'm the best running back that he sees out there 432 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: in the NFL. Uh, when the guys I compete against, 433 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: you know, the Ray Lewis is of the world, Um, 434 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: the ad reads out of the world, Derek Brooks, Warren 435 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: sapped Detroy pot malews. When those guys say he's the 436 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: best running back, uh, that I've ever faced. That's what 437 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: really matters. And I think, UH, if I had thought 438 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: more about the Hall of Fame when I came into 439 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: the NFL, or even throughout my playing career, I think 440 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 1: I would have placed it here as a goal to attain, 441 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: and my career probably have gone a little different in 442 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,919 Speaker 1: terms of, um, how I would have rested, how I 443 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: would have treated my body, maybe even a team's success. 444 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: But when I came in the NFL, it was hall 445 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 1: of Fame was never thought, you know, not until I 446 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: achieved the ten thousand yard mark. I became the twenty 447 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: one running back in NFL history to attain that that goal, 448 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 1: and not until at that point in time, I started 449 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: to think maybe just maybe, um, I can make the 450 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame someday, you know, maybe I could um 451 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:19,400 Speaker 1: out rushed my idol and Jim Brown, which is just thought. 452 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: He was number nine on the list before I retired. 453 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:30,239 Speaker 1: And uh it was just twelve thousand, two hundred and 454 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: fourteen yards. I believe I have to look that up again, 455 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: but I believe those are the numbers or I'm extremely close. 456 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: And uh, my last couple of years, that's all I 457 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: wanted to do was just out rushed my my idol, 458 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,719 Speaker 1: and that was my goal. That came short. I finished 459 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: with eleven. I was just a couple of hundred yards 460 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,400 Speaker 1: short due to some injuries um up in New England. 461 00:28:56,000 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: But just to ride just still be able to just 462 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: here that interview of him saying, you know, Fred Taylor, 463 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,240 Speaker 1: he got some juice. He's the best running back that 464 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: I see out there. Um, that I've seen with my 465 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 1: eyes like that. I'll never forget that. Uh, no matter 466 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: what happens um the Hall of Fame, I'm very appreciative 467 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: and humble to be in the semifinalists conversation. And for 468 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 1: the life of me, that's the only thing I was 469 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 1: fighting for, for an opportunity to be in the conversation 470 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 1: and opportunity to get in the room. And that's when 471 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: the deep, deep digging starts and the real conversation begins, 472 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: when you are in that room of the with the 473 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: fifteen finalists. Uh. And we'll continue to fight for that. 474 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's out of my hands, but we will 475 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: in some shape form capacity, UH try and continue to 476 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:59,040 Speaker 1: push things out there that hopefully will allow uh me 477 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: to get into that room them someday where they could, uh, 478 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 1: the voters, the selectors, they could uh you know, determine 479 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: if I should be there or not. And at the 480 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: very end of the day, they have they have a 481 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: hard job. UH so many great players, great moments. At 482 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: the very end of the day. In my heart, I'm 483 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 1: gonna always feel that I was a Hall of Fame talent, No, 484 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: especially knowing the guys that I played against, the guys 485 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: that competed against that are selected Hall of famers now forever, 486 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: you know, weigh myself against those guys and their abilities. 487 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: UM as well as UM knowing of the one hundred 488 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:42,480 Speaker 1: year history of the NFL, the amount of backs that 489 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: came through the NFL, you know, to retire fifteenth all time, 490 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: all caps, all time, I mean, that's nothing I ever 491 00:30:53,840 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: set my mind to, uh in the injuries that I endure, 492 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,480 Speaker 1: the way I was able to fight through those and 493 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: still be able to grind out a thirteen year career, 494 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:12,160 Speaker 1: retire fifteenth all time on all rushing list of the 495 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: thirty two modern error backs, I am, you know, I'm 496 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: My numbers are better than sixteen. And those guys that 497 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: are seventeen, and those guys that are already in the 498 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. You know, little moments, little things like that, 499 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: those little nuggets and make me smile and make it 500 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: say it's all worth it. And I would do it 501 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,560 Speaker 1: again in the heartbeat if I could. Today. Taylor commutes 502 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 1: between his home in South Florida and Jacksonville, where he's 503 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: part of the Jaguars game day broadcast. His name is 504 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: already on the wall, and perhaps in the very near future, 505 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,880 Speaker 1: he'll wear the gold jacket as one of the best 506 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: to ever play the game. The people in Jacksonville already 507 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,680 Speaker 1: know he is, and he knows the people in Jacksonville 508 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: are the gold he already has after all. In the 509 00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 1: words of long time jag wars dot com senior editor 510 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 1: Big Catchman, it's the memories didn't make us rich. You know, 511 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: I never understood Vic when he said that. And he 512 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: said that a long time ago, way before I retired, 513 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 1: way before I actually understood what he was trying to say. 514 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:12,160 Speaker 1: And um, you know, I I learned that towards the 515 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: end of my career. You know, there are opportunities where 516 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: I had autograph signings and appearances and all this different stuff, 517 00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:22,760 Speaker 1: and I turned it down. I mean not only I 518 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: was turning down a large sum of money just to 519 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 1: you know, show up. But I figured, at the very 520 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: end of the day, that's what it was all about, 521 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 1: showing up, being accountable, being reliable, you know, having those 522 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:41,240 Speaker 1: relationships where people believe about believe in you. So that 523 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: taught me a lot, you know. And again it wasn't 524 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: about the money at the very end of the day, 525 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: it was about the relationships that were being affected. So 526 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: at some point throughout my career are under I started 527 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 1: to understand the value and relationships. It's always been easy 528 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: for me to just be real, be myself treat people 529 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: the way I've always wanted to be treated. I think 530 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: my grandmother for that. She did a great job of 531 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: raising myself for my sisters and brothers, um and teaching 532 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 1: us what humility is. I mean, I I don't come 533 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: from a lot. I come from a lot of her 534 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,280 Speaker 1: hard work. I'm a product of that. I've seen her, 535 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 1: you know, going out to the sugar mill, uh, going 536 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 1: out to the the packing house where she would pack 537 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:33,560 Speaker 1: different vegetables and pick vegetables and packed vegetables, and she 538 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,720 Speaker 1: would have a you know, sixteen hour work day. So 539 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 1: that hard work taught me a lot when I was 540 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 1: young and uh, and I think just everything she taught 541 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 1: me carried over to how to treat people. You know, 542 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: I firmly believe that I was just blessed with God 543 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 1: given ability to play a game. A game. It's nothing 544 00:33:56,000 --> 00:34:00,720 Speaker 1: more than that. It's just a game. And it doesn't 545 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: mean you treat people differently. It only means that you 546 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: were blessed to play a game and being able to entertain, 547 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 1: you know, And you want to share those blessings with everybody. 548 00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:14,960 Speaker 1: I shared with my family, I share them with the fans, 549 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: you know, to see a young kid's face light up, 550 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:21,839 Speaker 1: or even an adult fan for that matter, to see 551 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 1: their faces light up. You know, you're giving back those 552 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,359 Speaker 1: those people. I always believe, and I said that many 553 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:31,040 Speaker 1: times as a player. You know, if we're losing, that 554 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:34,880 Speaker 1: stunk for me, because you have people out there busting 555 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,200 Speaker 1: their butts making a living and they come. They you know, 556 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,759 Speaker 1: they try and find a way to budget in these 557 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,320 Speaker 1: game tickets, and they want to come and be entertaining 558 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,920 Speaker 1: and be able to go home happy, uh seeing their 559 00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: team win. And it upsets me a lot that we 560 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 1: didn't always do that and these people are really out 561 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: there grinding. It reminded me and my grandmother, you know 562 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: how she grinded to make a couple of dollars. Um. 563 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, I coming in the building being able to 564 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:07,719 Speaker 1: when I walk outside see my name on the wall. Um, 565 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 1: it's still all surreal. It's wow. Every time I look 566 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,359 Speaker 1: up there, when I look up there, Uh, I don't 567 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: make it a habit to look up there, but when 568 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: I look up there, I go wild. That's gonna be 569 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:21,640 Speaker 1: there forever. Forever is a long time