1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Hi, Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am a 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: nist Williams and the day I'm excited that I give 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: a chance to converse on his podcast. What a slot receiver, 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: but make no mistake about it, he's a key receiver 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: when it comes down to transparency leading to transformation. And 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: he's talking about his story of recovery, a story of 7 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: being queen since two thousand thirteen, his story of what 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,919 Speaker 1: it was like to have a teammate and the National 9 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: Football League get involved and get this, a sell of 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: the wife reaching out to the National Football League beginning 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: the journey of his recovery. I can't wait to hear this. 12 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: Let's listen in First, let's start out Vans. Hey, man, 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: you're from Trenton, New Jersey, where Troy Vincent uh over 14 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: football operations. Come on, man, tell us how you leave 15 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: Trenton and got to Arizona. But first are the end 16 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: of little secrets we need to know about the Vincent 17 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: Familey that you would know, uh being from Trenton, New Jersey. Yeah, 18 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: that was a key point. You said, are there any 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: any secrets about the Vincent families? I would know, Yes, 20 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: there's some secrets. That's why I said, secret. Have you 21 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: heard the term what Trenton makes the world takes? No? Absolutely, brother, 22 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: That's what I said. The fact, I think it says 23 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: that on the bridge out there when you crossed over 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: to Philadelphia. But I'm actually originally from Trenton, New Jersey. 25 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: Troy Vincent is fan here and I had a chance 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: to run into him. Is my father grew up in Trenton, 27 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: New Jersey. So that's where our family grew up at 28 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,759 Speaker 1: all the way back from the early nineteen hundreds, and 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: my father ended up having to join the service out 30 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: in Arizona because he was a part of the game 31 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: there in New Jersey and got a lot of trouble. 32 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: He was one of the last gang members alive. So 33 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: he was stationed out in Fort Watchuka, Arizona, where he 34 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: met a fifteen year old young lady. He was twenty 35 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: years old, actually proposing to her one day, and so 36 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: she got pregnant. They moved back to New Jersey. I 37 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: was born, So then come back to Trenton to have 38 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: you Is that what you're saying. Yeah, they went back 39 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: out to Trenton, New Jersey, where I was born at. 40 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: And unfortunately, though my father kind of went back to 41 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: his old ways being there in Trenton. So they went 42 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: back and forth for the next twelve years. My sister 43 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: was born out in Trenton. To eventually got to a 44 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: point though, where you know, we just had to go 45 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: to Arizona because my dad was just really living that 46 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: crazy lifestyle there in Trenton. And unfortunately, they're just saying, 47 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: I don't know if you ever heard this, you can 48 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: take the brother out of Trenton, but you can't take 49 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: Trenton out to the brother. So nothing really changes. No, 50 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: it was good. Now this is as a receiver, how 51 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: did you create the mental edge over defensive backs and 52 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: cover guys. You know, that's a really good question, man, 53 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: And it started from the very beginning. So when I 54 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: was a rookie, you know, I was only like a 55 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,239 Speaker 1: hundred and seventy pounds my first time playing wide receiver 56 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: in the NFL, and I played against guys like Lester 57 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: Hayes and Mike Kines, and they were kicking my butt 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: because I was a little guy. So what I had 59 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: to do at that early stage will start to watch 60 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: and pay attention to see what those guys were doing, 61 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: what their strengths were. So I can figure out how 62 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: this little guy was gonna be able to manipulate them 63 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: during the game. We can get into that too, if 64 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: you want to know how it really did it. Now, 65 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: what is it like almost seeing a resurgeon what we 66 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: were called the small slot receivers. We're seeing rugs and 67 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: all of these guys. It's become these guys are going 68 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: in the first run. Two of them may go from 69 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: the University of ALABAMAUM alone. That's exactly right. And the 70 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: reason why is what what happens is is that slot 71 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: receiver is probably one of the most important positions on 72 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: the offense, and that guy needs to have some great 73 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: perritheo so that he can know linebacker positions, cornerback positions, 74 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: whether it's a strong safety or free safety, so that 75 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: when they start running these different routes, they know exactly 76 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: where they're gonna be in the gaps so that they 77 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: will be open to catch that ball. And it doesn't 78 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: make a difference how tall you are, it's just you 79 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: gotta know how to get open. And that's the reason 80 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: why that slot position is one of the most important. 81 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: Here's the here's and not only were you, but you 82 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: have the three of me goals, and all right, you 83 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: guys call the three of me goals. Now, when you 84 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: when we played against you, I didn't think you were 85 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: a good, good amigo. I didn't want you to be 86 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: my friend. All right, that's the first thing, but no, seriously, 87 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: But the other thing is how did you get over 88 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: and how does the little guy get over coming across 89 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: that middle linebackers safety is looking to hey, this is 90 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: a little guy. Let me see if I can punish him. 91 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: How did you get past that? And the second question 92 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: is when fans come see and they see you, walk 93 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: up to you and see you not this big guy, 94 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: how often did you get the question how in the 95 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: world did you last in the NFL? So I'm gonna 96 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: answer that one first. So basically it was this when 97 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: when people with fans will come up to me and 98 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: be like, you're a little guy, how did you make 99 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: it to the NFL? I said, because I was scared 100 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: and I didn't like to get hit, So I always 101 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: knew how I was gonna be able to get away 102 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: from these big guys. When you said that, that's right, 103 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: I tell you scared And that's the reason why, which 104 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: he answers the first place, what I would do is 105 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: whenever I had to go up and catch the ball, 106 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: I always knew that I was not going to be 107 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: in the same position after the ball came, so I 108 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: knew the defensive that was coming, and so I would 109 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: jump up in the air like this, but I would 110 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: turn like this when I caught the ball, so that 111 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: when they hit me, they wouldn't be able to just 112 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: knock my head off. That's exactly how I ran. I 113 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: always played scared. That's why I was pretty good. Now 114 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,679 Speaker 1: you'd be the facetious when you say you played scared 115 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: or really scared. Oh brother, I'm serious, man. I was 116 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: scared to death out there because it got to a 117 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: point where, you know, I had a lot of injuries 118 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: during my career, and I was on a lot of 119 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: pain medications and everything. So I did sustain a lot 120 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: of injuries. But because it was my identity, I wanted 121 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: to go out there and just give it all I had. So, Mike, 122 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 1: playing scared actually was my benefit out there in the 123 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: football field. Man. So you're going to get as Michael Hayes, 124 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: all these guys over six ft, right, dude, they were 125 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: giants in fact there. I remember watching a play where 126 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: Lester Hayes and my kings went up and actually threw 127 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: me down on the ground. Man. It was poking my 128 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: eyes out right in the beginning of the game because 129 00:05:58,080 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: they didn't want me to be able to see the 130 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,719 Speaker 1: ball throughing game, So you don't see a lot of 131 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: that stuff. They ended sometimes there even though you're watching 132 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: the game live. So you played one of the best 133 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: quarterbacks of all times, right coming one of the best 134 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: prospects as well of all times, John Wood Elway coming 135 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: out of Stanford. But you and I played a game 136 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: against each other my rookie year, December fifty one. I 137 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: never forget. It was cold and Denver, and I was 138 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: fortunate I had a chance to pick off Elway a 139 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: couple of times. You and I didn't have too many matchups, 140 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: But do you remember that game. I do remember that game. 141 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: You know, it's really awesome. We were looking forward to 142 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: you guys come and do us because it was hard 143 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 1: to beat the Broncos at home. What right exactly? That 144 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: altitude and everything absolutely well. When we're prepared, you and 145 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: you know it's gonna be a secret that you're gonna hear. 146 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: So we were prepared knowing which teams were coming so 147 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: that we can figure out how to make you guys tired. 148 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: So by the end of the game, you know, the 149 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: defensive linemen or the officeive lineman couldn't couldn't keep up 150 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: with us because we knew that altitude was gonna play 151 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: a big part and did three. And let me tell 152 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: another thing about John Elways. So at the beginning of 153 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: the jack games, John would call the play ready break, 154 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: But at the end of the game he would call 155 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: the play and he said, you better catch that football ready. Great, 156 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: that's how we did it. Man. He would say that 157 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: to you guys right before you broke the whole. Yeah. 158 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: John would actually actually say it in in in different terms. 159 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: He would use some different language at the end of 160 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: the game. Fact, sometimes John would threaten us and whether 161 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: we would have a job on the football team. They 162 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: were probes the next year if we didn't catch the ball. 163 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: That's why we had such amazing comebacks at the end 164 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: of the game. Now here's of course you for you. 165 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: I see you now you got all your hair cut off. 166 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: When your hairstyle fit in two day's uh culture that 167 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: you had when you were playing, it would actually fit 168 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: perfect because you know I was one of the original 169 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: guys long here, and believe it or not, Dan Reeves, 170 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: the head coach of Denver Broncos. We were playing in 171 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: the game against Cleveland Browns and when they tackled me, 172 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: they kept tapping me by my long hair, and so 173 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: Dan said, you better cut your hair off or you're 174 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: gonna be cut. So that's the only reason why I 175 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: involved today. All right, let's go down the jury of recovery, 176 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: and I'm excited to talk about that. You mentioned transparency 177 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: is the key to transformation. I wrote that statement down. 178 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your own personal journey, journey which was 179 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: led led you to dedicate your life to helping others 180 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: who struggle with substance abuse. Fans, what led you to 181 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: where you are now? You know, I'm gonna be real 182 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 1: transparent with you guys. So what you saw, unfortunately on 183 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: the football field, and what I just shared, even with 184 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: the joy that I was sharing with was just the 185 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: edited version of bands Johnson. Because behind the scenes, I 186 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: was broken and I was broken emotionally. I had a 187 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: lot of trauma that I grew up in and around. 188 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: Because my father married at fifteen year old. He ended 189 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,239 Speaker 1: up being very abucent He was also a functional alcoholic 190 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: and he used drugs too, but he just really didn't 191 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: show me how to be a father or a husband. 192 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: So growing up and looking for that identity being a 193 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: pro football player one day, growing up and then achieving that. Unfortunately, 194 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 1: it's like climbing the ladder and when you get to 195 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: the top, the only place that goes down, especially when 196 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: you're a pro ball player. So during my career, man, 197 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: I really struggled. I was in several relationships. I had 198 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: some issues that I had problems with it had to 199 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: go on the Open Wolfy Show to make an apology. 200 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: So I struggled and just dealt with life by using 201 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: I used drugs and alcohol. Even during my career, I 202 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: will show up at the game actually high, but by 203 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: the halftime I ran it off by then, so I 204 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: was able to go out there and perform. So I struggled. 205 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: But then after my career was over with, And by 206 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: the way, let me say this, two guys, do you 207 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 1: know I had three women pregnant during my career at 208 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: the same time, at the very same time, I had 209 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: three sons. One of those sons I met was because 210 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: I cheated on my wife who was pregnant. I had 211 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: a girlfriend I was dating pregnant, and I had another 212 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: man's wife pregnant. And the only way I was able 213 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: to deal with life at that time was by using 214 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: behind the scenes. So my only reality was when I 215 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: was on the football field. And then after ten years 216 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: and three Super Bowls, when my career was over with, 217 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: the only place to go was out. And unfortunately, how 218 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 1: I coped during my career was even worse after my career, 219 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: and that's the reason why I just leading on drugs 220 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: and alcohol to deal with life on life's terms. So 221 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: this would any of your team need to know where 222 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: you really were? You know certain things you said that 223 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: because there were certain guys that I was friends with, 224 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: like my amigos, who really tried to hold me up, 225 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 1: but I would hide behind the scenes. I would get 226 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: in a lot of trouble. Man. I would get pulled 227 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: over by the cops sometime on a Saturday going a 228 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: d thirty miles an hour. Because I was bands Johnson, 229 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: they wouldn't arrest me. I got in the car accident 230 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: one time where they had to take them to the hospital. 231 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: I was high and the doctors recognized me, and so 232 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: when the cops came to find out what was going 233 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: on and who this guy was. They had to hide 234 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 1: me where they hit where they put the bodies at 235 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: when people die in hospitals, so that they wouldn't get 236 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: me in trouble. I got in the cars at one 237 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: time where I ran into somebody. Man. I mean, I 238 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: gotta be transparent with you guys, because the brothers that 239 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: are watching me right now, I needed to show you 240 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: that I am way worse than you ever could see 241 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: yourself as. And that's why my transparency is so important 242 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: right now. I think I went all over the place. 243 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: Bad answer right there, But it's just really important for 244 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: me to just open up to everybody so they can 245 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: see that many of us deal with a lot of 246 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 1: underlying issues and even during our career and unfortunately, because 247 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: we climbed to the top of that ladder when we're 248 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: famous now the only place to go is down. When 249 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: your identity goes, when your football careers over with, we 250 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: just fall. Tell me this, Vans, as you're going through 251 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: all of this behind the scenes, You're having the challenges 252 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: with ladies, your wife going public, even talk about with 253 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: Oprah Winfrey. What was it like for Vans was Vans inside, 254 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: just a little kid trying to figure things out. Tell 255 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: me about that. You know, it's awesome, brother, you have 256 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: to be a former ball player because you know exactly 257 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about, because obviously you can relate with 258 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,199 Speaker 1: this in some respect, even though it's not to my level. 259 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: And yes, that little kid inside who wanted to achieve 260 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: this identity. Unfortunately, once you achieve that identity that you 261 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: thought you had to achieve rather than receive, you don't 262 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: know where to go but down. And so I really struggled. 263 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: So that's another reason why I'm so transparent to let 264 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 1: you know. Former ball players know, and hopefully I'll be 265 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: able to educate even current ball players that the things 266 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: you go through in your life to be a famous 267 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: ball player is actually gonna be how you're gonna play 268 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: on the life playing field when your career is over with, 269 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: and so you're gonna be able to help more people 270 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: by knowing that you have to fall down to get up. 271 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 1: You mention, you said instead of attempting to achieve, instead 272 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,199 Speaker 1: of receive. Explain that I always thought as a child, 273 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: because like I said, I grew up in a traumatizing 274 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: childhood that an identity had to be something that was 275 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: achieved rather than received. I'm a man of faith, and 276 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: so I got to just to be real transparent. I 277 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: didn't even realize even though I thought I thought I 278 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: was a believer, my faith didn't show up until I 279 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: found myself just so broken that I was literally almost 280 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: at a place where I was dying. And that's the 281 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: reason why I realized now that my identity was actually 282 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: received as a child, not achieved as being this pro athlete. 283 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: And that's the reason why why I am now is 284 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: in my faith, in my Lord and state with Jesus Christ. 285 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,839 Speaker 1: I just had to say it, how brother, No, I'd 286 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,600 Speaker 1: be in a Christ followers as well. Man, I am 287 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: the transparency because whether Christ follower or regardless of what 288 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: human being believes, this identity thing, particularly for our younger 289 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: generation as well. Um, how did you know you were 290 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: to the point of being broken? When did brokenness hit 291 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: you where you knew I needed help? In the second 292 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: part of that question, why is it so hard and 293 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: our support of masculinity for us to come to the 294 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 1: point where we say we need help? This is how 295 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: it happened. Man. So I lived that really dark lifestyle 296 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: after my career was. There was like many former ball 297 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: players who I'm actually reached out to right now who 298 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: are struggling all over the country because I know where 299 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 1: I hid at and I hid and so not even 300 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: family was able to encourage me to try to get 301 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: any help because to me, I was this former football 302 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: player and you can't tell me what to do. Well, 303 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: it got to a point where I crashed in the 304 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: car and I was using guys. I screamed out one 305 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 1: day in the canyon. I was just asking God to 306 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: please help me because I couldn't do this anymore. I 307 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: ended up using myself into a coma where I went 308 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: my mother picked me up and took me to the hospital. 309 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: I fell on the ground into a twenty eight day 310 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: coma at day twenty four and they pulled the plug 311 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: on me. And so it wasn't until I was screaming 312 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: out guys to God to help me that all of 313 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: a sudden, my seventh ex wife and I got a 314 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: long story. My seventh ex wife reached out to the 315 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: NFL because I was a million dollars in death. They 316 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: reached out to former Tampa Bay buccaneer Randy Grimes, and 317 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: guess what teammates, listen to teammates. Ball players listen to 318 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: ball players. Randy Grimes reached out to me and did 319 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: an intervention on me to tell me, listen, man, I struggled. 320 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: Too many ballplayers struggle. And then he kind of just 321 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: really played it out for me till I said, you 322 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: know what, man, You're right, I need some help. And 323 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: so the NFL offered me an opportunity to go get 324 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: that help. And that's when I really realized that the 325 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: NFL actually is way bigger than people think, because just 326 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: like the Legends is here for us, the NFL is 327 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: there to help these former ballplayers. And that's the reason 328 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: why Legends is engaging with all the former ball players 329 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: so that we can continue to be that support for 330 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: each other. And I want to stay there because sometimes 331 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 1: when Legends transition, they sometimes have an adversarial thought as 332 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: relates to the league. Did you have that at first? 333 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: And were you surprised that your seventh ex wife was 334 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 1: able to reach out to the league, and not only 335 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: reach out, but some truction started that helps you eventually 336 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: connect that we're Randy, oh man, this is amazing that 337 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: you're saying this stuff. Brother, the spirit of God talking 338 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: to you right now. Do you know when I first 339 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: left the NFL, I hated the NFL. I couldn't stand 340 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: them because I was like trying to blame somebody. So 341 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: I had to blame the NFL for what I was 342 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: going through in my life. And so even though there 343 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: was probably an opportunity for me to reach out for help, 344 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: I refused to because I hit and I blame the 345 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: NFL for But then after my seventh ex wife reached 346 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: out to the NFL, instead of MEAT reaching out to 347 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: the NFL, they reached out to Randy Grimes, who got 348 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: helped through the NFL. And then I saw that the 349 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: NFL actually is there for us, especially with you know, 350 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 1: the different programs that are opening up with Legends and 351 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: the trust and player care. They want to support us 352 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: that are struggling out there. It's not the NFL's fault, 353 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: it's our fault, because we think just because we left 354 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: the game and now all of a sudden we're not 355 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: famous anymore, that it's somebody else's fault, nor it's our fault. 356 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: And that's the reason why I got to be transparent. 357 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: Let you brothers know that you just gotta start getting 358 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: back together. So being to see what you went through 359 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: in your life is gonna come up to be a gift. 360 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: What you struggle with you're gonna be able to use 361 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: to help save somebody else's life. That's what you did 362 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: do in your career. When you fell down, you had 363 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: to get back up. The only way you got muscles 364 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: is by working out. The only way you want games 365 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: is by preparing for the game. It's the same way 366 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: in life. They speak to the seventh ex wife is 367 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: intriguing the seventh number completion. You and I understand that. 368 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: What would you say to a girlfriend or a wife 369 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: who's seeing a legion, our current player on a destructive path? Why? What? 370 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: What was in the seventh wife that provoked her to 371 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: move to see if she can get you help. I'll 372 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: be honest with you, man. She was a woman of God, 373 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 1: she was a woman of faith. And even though she 374 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: had to leave me because not only was I cheating 375 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: on her, but I was trying to rip her off 376 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: and taking different things from her, and she ended up 377 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: have them to leave me. But she didn't give up hope, 378 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,959 Speaker 1: and that's the reason why she reached out to the NFL. 379 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: And this is what I want to tell every wife 380 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: that might be watching this right now, is I'm sorry 381 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 1: for your husband because of the trauma that he may 382 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: have grown up around, the trauma that he went through 383 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 1: maybe in his career. I want you guys to be 384 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 1: educated and know that it's not your fault. It's our fault, 385 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: but we just want to blame everybody else. And do 386 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 1: you know what I did. The first thing I did 387 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: when I got clean after the NFL page me to 388 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: go to treatment, I went actually in set up in 389 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: front of a church in Denver, Colorado, and I asked 390 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: people to raise their hands that they knew any of 391 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: my ex wives. Do you of the half the church 392 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: out of three thousand people knew six of my ex wives. 393 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: And then the other half knew my children that I 394 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: had abandoned. And so I got on my knees and 395 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 1: I just cried out and said, please tell them all 396 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: that I'm sorry because it was my fault. I'm the 397 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: one that destroyed their lives and my kids lives. It 398 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: wasn't them, That's what I did. And so my seven 399 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,919 Speaker 1: seven days wife actually was just the one that you 400 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: know what, she figured, you know what, I got to 401 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: try to help this guy because he doesn't understand what's 402 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: going on in his life and how broken he is, 403 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,640 Speaker 1: so she's the one to reached out to help save 404 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: my life. Wow, why do you think that that that 405 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: teammates Randy, that that legend? Why is it so important? 406 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: And what do people not know about the locker room 407 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 1: which a lot of us miss when we leave the game. 408 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: You know how we always say what happens in the 409 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: locker room stays in the locker room because sometimes we don't. 410 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: We don't even tell our coaches what's really going on 411 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: in our life, but we'll tell our teammates. Well, it's 412 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: the same thing. After our careers are over with, we 413 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: gotta stay engaged. Unfortunately, go hide out when our career 414 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: is over with. Here's a question, how did you hide? 415 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: You met? You said I would hide? How How would 416 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: you hide? So someone that has a legend or a 417 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: current player around him that is hiding, how would we 418 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: identify that? That's a that's a really good question, and 419 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: how I hate was this? I just lived alive when 420 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: I was off the field. I would always when I 421 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: was around fans and around family and around other people 422 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:25,719 Speaker 1: who recognize me, pretend like everything was fine. But then 423 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: I would just do my own thing, and I would 424 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: just disappear on people and I show back up once 425 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: in a while. Well, I think everyone that knows the 426 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: former ballplayer or knows that is a relationship with a 427 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: former ball player, you'll be able to see how he 428 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 1: acts behind the scenes, so that you can maybe reach 429 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: out to the legends or the trust or the player 430 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: care or whoever you can reach out to to let 431 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: him know that I need to reach out to a 432 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: former ball player to talk to my husband, or to 433 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,360 Speaker 1: talk to my child, and to talk to my loved one. 434 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: In fact, I got a guy out in California. I 435 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: won't mention any names, and I help him right now. 436 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: I got a guy to call me this last night 437 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: now in Florida who was a former ball player. Because 438 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: they're starting to see and hear me on these different 439 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: podcasts and things like that, and they know that there's 440 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: hope out there. And it's the family members who are 441 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: reaching out to me to reach out to their loved one. 442 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: And I said, we're right into Because you've also joined 443 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: the cast of any network show intervention. What has that 444 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: been like? It's been amazing. Do you know when I 445 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: was after my career and I was struggling with my addition. 446 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: One of my favorite shows was watching the An E 447 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: Show Intervention, and I used to like, hope one day 448 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 1: somebody would do an intervention on me, but I knew 449 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: that I would probably say no. However, watching the show, 450 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: I started realizing that there was actually hope because I 451 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,959 Speaker 1: saw some things that I was going through, but for 452 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: some reason, these people turned themselves over to get the 453 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 1: help that they need. So when Any Intervention reached out 454 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: to me, I was like, are you serious? You guys 455 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 1: want me to be a part of your show. I 456 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: can't wait to be a part of it. I'm gonna 457 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,159 Speaker 1: be honest with you. It's real. It is not acting. 458 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: It is real, and that's the reason why I'm a 459 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 1: part of the Any Show Intervention. And I'm looking forward 460 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: to doing this for the rest of my life because 461 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: it was a promise I made to God when I 462 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: got clean that I was gonna go find me and 463 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: that's exactly what I'm doing right now for the rest 464 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 1: of my life. Were there any prior to this opportunity? 465 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:13,639 Speaker 1: Were there any other interventions that you had attempted Prior 466 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,719 Speaker 1: to Guys, I did so many interventions. I probably did 467 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: over a hundred interventions over the last few years, and 468 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: oh yeah absolutely. In fact, there was a guy actually 469 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: the end up o'dee in the streets of Trenton, New Jersey, 470 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: that I had a chance to go and save. After 471 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: they brought him back, I ended up rushing him and 472 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: getting on an airplane. I did an intervention on the 473 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: guy out in India. In another country, I also went 474 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: up to Canada. So when people reach out to me 475 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: to do interventions, I'm that person that's gonna be there, 476 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: and that's what I've been doing for years. And so 477 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: then when Amy reached out to me to be a 478 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: part of the intervention show, I couldn't wait to be 479 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 1: a part of it. What are some essential elements to 480 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 1: a successful recovery advance? Well, the essential elemental successful recovery exists, 481 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 1: and this whether you believe it like I am or not, 482 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: because I always let everybody know there are many roads 483 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: to recovery. But being a man in faith, I literally 484 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 1: had to surrender myself to a higher power because I 485 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 1: thought that I was the one that could do everything. 486 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: But unfortunately, when I got to a point where I 487 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 1: had no more faith in myself, I had to crash, 488 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: and I just had to just surrender myself in my 489 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: life over to, like I said, my savior, Jesus Christ. 490 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: You've done individuals the NFL allegends. You've mentioned that due 491 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: they open up to you because you're still transparent. You know, 492 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: it's really interesting how former ball players, when family members 493 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: can't convince them to get into treatment, wives can't convince 494 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: them to get into treatment, friends can't convince them to 495 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: get into treatment. For some reason, when a former ball 496 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 1: player who played in the NFL the same way they 497 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: did reaches out to them, they're honest, especially if you're 498 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: not just giving a call to say hey man, I 499 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: heard you're struggling, but you give a call and say, 500 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 1: hey man, this is so and so I just want 501 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: to let you know that I was dealing with some 502 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: stuff in my life and I'm clean now and I 503 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: just want to reach out to you because I heard 504 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: you was struggling and I'm here for you. Do you 505 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: know how fast they end up saying yes. It's just amazing. 506 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: And that's the reason why every former ballplayer that I've 507 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: reached out to that were struggling, guess what they said, 508 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 1: fans man, thank you for reaching out. I need some help, man. 509 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: Let's talk about your bonds. Tell me about Randall Huntingham 510 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: and how he's been a legend that you've connected with. 511 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: Randall Cunningham is amazing brother. So I met Randall Cunningham 512 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:19,880 Speaker 1: at the East West Shrine game back in the day, 513 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: back in the early early eighties, Yes, near the East 514 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: West Shrine name. I never played wide receiver, and so Randall, 515 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: Randy Randa Cunningham was showing me how to run rowse 516 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,360 Speaker 1: and he was throwing the ball to me. And at 517 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: that game we got a check with my father, who 518 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: I hated at the time, told me you better give 519 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: Randles that money and tell him to throw you fourteen passes. 520 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: So I was now my dad, but I gave Randall 521 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: the check, and yes, he threw me fourteen passes. I 522 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: thought thirteen of them. Your dad gave you that whistle. 523 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: And then that leads me to another part of the story. 524 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: So Randall Cunningham getting me drafted in the NFL. When 525 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: I was moving out to Las Vegas to be a 526 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: part of a treatment program out here called the Vance 527 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: Johnson Recovery Center, I actually found out that Randall cunning 528 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,679 Speaker 1: had was a pastor in Las Vegas, and so I 529 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: reached out to him and said, bro, I gotta be 530 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: under you when I get out there. So we engaged man. 531 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 1: I was going to this church, I was going to 532 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: the Bible study and we're spending time together. The NFL 533 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: reaches out to him because the Raiders came to town 534 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: and said, hey, Randall, you know who do you know 535 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 1: that we can maybe have come to our uniform respector 536 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: guess who he handed the ball off to again, Vans Johnson. 537 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 1: Now you just mentioned Johnson Recovery Centers. If we just 538 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: go gloss over that, what what is it? Well? You 539 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: know what I'm doing is we're just now starting this 540 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: thing off. Is I really want to help former ball 541 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,400 Speaker 1: players and so that's the reason why I've been reaching 542 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: out to a number of players over the years and 543 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: right now we're putting together a program so that we 544 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: could be that resource for ball players that are needing 545 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: to get into treatment who want to be ball players 546 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: with ball players were also helping vets and a lot 547 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 1: of ball players need more than just dealing with their additions. 548 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: We have a lot of mental health and a lot 549 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: of trauma, a lot of injuries that were going through 550 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: and dealing with and so after we get done with treatment, 551 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: sometimes we fall off and we need that next level 552 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: of care. And that's another thing about legends is you 553 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: offer different many layers of care football players, not just 554 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,679 Speaker 1: to get in the treatment, but all different types of resources. 555 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: But this is gonna be my my plan for the 556 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 1: rest of my life, and I'm looking at other different 557 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 1: options too, just to make sure we keep having those 558 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: different layers and levels of care football players that are 559 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: struggling this as we close this out, if you could 560 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: succinctly look into the eyes of that legend, that current player, 561 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: how do our brothers get over the disappointment of their fathers? Wow, 562 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: that's a really good question, man. This is how we 563 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: get over the disappointment with our father's. Guys, you have 564 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: to know that your father had a father, and your 565 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,480 Speaker 1: father had a father, and depending on what he had 566 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: to grow up in and around, that little boy inside 567 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 1: of your father might still be struggling and dealing with 568 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: life the way he had to grow up and unfortunately 569 00:25:58,640 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: you had to be a part of that. And so 570 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: that's why you may have gone through some trauma in 571 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: your life. And that's the reason why I tell people, man, 572 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: that's the reason why I leaning on my faith and 573 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: I also ask for forgiveness. It's all about forgiveness, man, advance. 574 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: Where can we find an ease Intervention? Well, the new 575 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: season started in March fifteenth this year, actually, and you'll 576 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: be able to watch the show Intervention. Mine's gonna be 577 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: coming up. And actually, guys, you're gonna see some really 578 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: amazing shows where people are just so transparent. A lot 579 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: of people were broken out here in Las Vegas, and 580 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: the Vata addiction has risen to a whole nother level 581 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 1: because of and the show Intervention is a place where 582 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: you're gonna see the thearians hope. And if there was 583 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: ever a season for interventions to be shared would be today. 584 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 1: And so I would really encourage all of you to 585 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: go to the show Intervention and just watch it and 586 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,520 Speaker 1: know that you know what your loved one might need 587 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: some help, and you'll be able to identify because you'll 588 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 1: see people that are struggling, but help us out there 589 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 1: waiting for you. Where can we connect with you? Well, well, 590 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: people can do a couple of things. Number One, you 591 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,400 Speaker 1: can go to my website dance inspires dot org. That's 592 00:26:58,440 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: how you can reach out to me. In fact, my 593 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: phone numbers on there, and you can also suit me 594 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: an email and I'll reach back out to you and 595 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 1: offer any type of support that I can. The other 596 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: thing you can do, and this is what's really cool. 597 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: You can call a phone number with my football number 598 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: eight eight to bands to bands. That's how you can 599 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: reach out to me. I'm here for you, man, and 600 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 1: I'm really looking forward to hopefully engaging and partnering with 601 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: the Legends, because that's what's really important to me now, 602 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: is being back a part of the community that I abandoned. 603 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: But you guys say this has been outstanding advance. Thanks 604 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: for joining us. The best is yet to come. Thank 605 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: you for joining us. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. 606 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 1: To provide feedback or request the topic for discussion, email 607 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.