1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: Welcome into the lounge presented by Draftings. I'm Garrett Downing 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: and I'm joined by Clifton Brown, and we are here 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the Breakers Hotel where 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:16,280 Speaker 1: the NFL is holding their annual owners meetings. All owners 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: and head coaches and general managers are here, and we're 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: wrapping up a few days here in Florida, and it's 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: been a busy, productive few days of work for us 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: and of course for the league as a whole at 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: these meetings. And part of the conversation that we had 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 1: a chance to have here is with Ravens owner Steve A. 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 2: Shotty. 12 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: Of course, the Ravens and John Harbaugh reached a contract 13 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: extension just before these meetings, so I had a chance 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: to sit down with Steve and John together talking about 15 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: their relationship that's seventeen years and going on four more, 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: and the mindset that they have going into this season. 17 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: So we're going to go ahead and roll that interview 18 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: and Cliff and I will then share our thoughts on 19 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: the backside of that conversation. Hey, Ravens, and I'm so 20 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: excited today to be joined by Raven's owner Steve Mashatti 21 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: and head coach John Harwell, thank you so much for 22 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 1: the time today. 23 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 3: Pleasure good to be here. 24 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: So right before the owner's meeting started, news broke that 25 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: you have a new contract extension and obviously very excited, 26 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure for you and for you Steve getting this 27 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: deal done. What has you most excited about the future 28 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: with John and this. 29 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 4: Team, Steady steady. I think we were doing a lot 30 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 4: of the right things. And yeah, it's it's not a 31 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 4: lot of work. I don't know if you spend any 32 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 4: time on it, but I didn't. I mean, you've got 33 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 4: an agent, you know, I've got SACI. So it's just 34 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 4: kind of we knew it was going to come. It 35 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 4: wasn't like a surprise, I don't think to either of us. 36 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 4: It was just I didn't know how long it was 37 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 4: going to take to work out the deal. But I 38 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 4: think you're his agent, probably was excited to get it 39 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 4: done as quickly as we were. And I don't think 40 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 4: it took much time, and there wasn't much, you know, 41 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 4: much deal or just extend a thing. 42 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 3: I think he demanded more money but suggested you suggest 43 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 3: appreciate a strong suggestions, So yeah, we're happy to have them. 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: For four more years, John, for you know, you've been 45 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: here seventeen years obviously, you know that's that's that's rare 46 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I don't need to tell you that. 47 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: And this is going to take you past twenty What 48 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 1: does that mean to you? 49 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 5: It just means more determined than ever. I mean, I 50 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 5: think just when you have an opportunity to be together 51 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 5: all these years like this, and we've had so many moments, 52 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 5: you know, and I think it's like life kind of 53 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 5: is a metaphor for life. You know, the challenges, there's opportunities, 54 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 5: there's obstacles, there's conversations, there's all these things that come 55 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 5: up and you and you walk these journeys together, you know, 56 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 5: and I feel like you kind of build these relationships 57 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 5: with people. And Steve, I've said this before, he's become 58 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 5: like a big brother. You know. I have a little brother, 59 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 5: you know, but I never had an older brother, and 60 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 5: to have over the course of this time, just what 61 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 5: we've been through together, I just want to make him proud, 62 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 5: and I want to work hard and I want to 63 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 5: find a way to just to continue to improve. I 64 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 5: feel proud about the things that we've accomplished. But you know, unfulfilled. 65 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 5: You know, you feel like all we're really thinking about. Yeah, 66 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 5: we weren't talking about any of this other stuff. Yeah, 67 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 5: we were talking about let's get this done, you know, 68 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 5: let's accomplish what we want to accomplish. Right now. 69 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: I'm curious how that dynamic works in season and out 70 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: of season. How the two of you, the conversations that 71 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: you have the council, you know, especially you lean on 72 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: Sea four during the season, and how you push each other, 73 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: because this is like a partnership. As you're talking about, 74 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: how does that relationship work over the course of the year. 75 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 4: I think I don't come out of left field very 76 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 4: often to him when I'm giving him advice. I think 77 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 4: that we like have our lanes. And I know what 78 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 4: he's going through because he's the face of the franchise. 79 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 4: He's going through these decisions. He's being questioned and criticized 80 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 4: and everything else, and so I take it seriously. It 81 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 4: makes me mad when he's unduly criticized. If he's criticized 82 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 4: and I agree with it, I kind of have to 83 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 4: work my way into telling you that I agree with 84 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 4: the criticism. Yeah, you know, it's like you write a 85 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 4: sharp knife, not about it. So, yeah, it's just I 86 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 4: love feeling like at the end of the day that 87 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 4: I contributed to his north. I know what he wants, 88 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 4: I know what he wants to accomplish. Can he get 89 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 4: distracted sometimes, yeah, because there are distractions all around him. 90 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 4: There's no distractions around me. So I think it's my 91 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 4: opportunity to kind of like pull him back and remind him. 92 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 4: I'm not telling him to be some I'm reminding him 93 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 4: that he might be a hair off of being what 94 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 4: he wants to be when he wants to be, you know. 95 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 4: So you know, I like my role, and I like 96 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 4: my role being behind the scenes. I don't I don't 97 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 4: wish that on him, you know, but it's part for 98 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 4: the course. That's why he makes it more money than 99 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 4: I do. 100 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: I'll take the. 101 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 5: Books on that. It's true though. I mean, it's just 102 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 5: there's a lot going on. I mean there's a lot 103 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 5: of you're driving this car, man, there's light flashing everywhere, 104 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 5: and there's traffic everywhere, there's people zooming around, and and 105 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 5: you get on the phone and or we'll talk, or 106 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 5: Steve will stop buying and sit down on the couch 107 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 5: sometimes and just you know, have you thought about this, 108 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 5: or maybe you should be looking at it that way, 109 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 5: or did you hear this happened, or here's what I 110 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 5: was thinking when when that situation came up. I thought 111 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 5: you were going to make this movie. You're going to 112 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 5: make that decision, and and it just has a chance 113 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 5: to kind of just get back on track a little 114 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 5: bit or just not maybe not be so distracted about 115 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 5: something or blinded by something. Stuff can get you kind 116 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 5: of emotionally sidetracked, you know, I can be thinking about 117 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 5: something too much. Sometimes He's like, why you're worried about that, 118 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 5: that's not even that's not even what we're talking about here. 119 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 3: That the main thing, it's not the main the main 120 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 3: thing now right right. 121 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 5: Right, And that's that's valuable. And for head coach, you 122 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 5: don't get that too often because it's not too often 123 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 5: the players are going to say that. It's not even 124 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 5: too often Eric will say it to me, Will sometimes, 125 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 5: but or even the coaches, because they're all in there, 126 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,160 Speaker 5: they're in their forest. You know, I'm trying to be 127 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 5: their forest for the trees, but I've got to have 128 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 5: somebody to be my step back and take a big 129 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 5: picture look at it. 130 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: You mentioned Eric, and for both of you. The stability 131 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: has been the name of the game for for the 132 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: Ravens for forever. And you went from Ossie to Eric 133 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: and there's this great partnership between personnel and coaching, and 134 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: that is not the case everywhere, as both of you know, 135 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: how important has that been, the dynamic between both sides 136 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: being aligned in the direction that you're going. 137 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 4: It's obviously it's everything, you know. The only the hiring 138 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 4: processes is fraught with mistakes because you don't have the time. 139 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 4: I mean, we spent ten hours together before I hired you, 140 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 4: and that lasted it's now seventeen years. So how do 141 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 4: you not make mistakes? So I see my partners, my 142 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 4: business partners, they make mistakes, but it's not necessarily that 143 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 4: they're bad judges of character or talent or anything. It's 144 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 4: that they are under the gun. They don't have time 145 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 4: to get to know people were hiring strangers, you know. 146 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 4: I mean I did that in my business my whole life. 147 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 4: And Art was great at it too, and so like 148 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 4: you know, I came in under his tutelage, and that 149 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 4: was the one thing I think Art was great at. 150 00:07:54,040 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 4: It wasudge judging character, keeping a family environment, keeping it honest, 151 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 4: transparent environment. I thought he was really good at all 152 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 4: those skills, and then he hands me Azzie. I mean, 153 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,679 Speaker 4: he drafts him in the first round, and then he says, 154 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 4: if you're giving up football, you're not giving up the Browns. 155 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 4: So scouting or coaching, you decide. So I inherit him, 156 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 4: and one of his first hires is Eric. So that's 157 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 4: put in, you know, right there. I inherit a coach. 158 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 4: Three years after I take charge, I replace him with John. 159 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 4: And continuity is a gift that you get. You try 160 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 4: and participate in that continuity, but it's really it's bigger 161 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 4: than people. You've got to really work at it, and 162 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 4: it can it can go sideways if you don't, if 163 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,719 Speaker 4: you don't work hard at it. And that it is 164 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 4: like we get complimented by the contuity, and it's like, well, 165 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 4: what's the alternative? Rolling through coaches, Well, then you're picking 166 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 4: the wrong people obviously, and they're failing at their job. 167 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 5: Not just choosing the right people. Although I think as 168 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 5: I've looked at it, you've always done that. I mean, 169 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 5: Steve is always that's what that's that's how you you 170 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 5: made a fortune by choosing people. But it's not just 171 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 5: choosing people, it's also working with people. It's also coaching people, 172 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 5: developing people along the way. Countless conversations where he's advised 173 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 5: me about an interaction with a player or a coach 174 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 5: or scouting or something or hey, or I'll just call 175 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 5: up say guy, we're having a problem. I'm hat a problem. 176 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 5: What do I say in this situation? How would you 177 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 5: look at this? And we'll be in the phone for 178 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 5: hours sometimes going through it all, and You've always got 179 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 5: a take on it that I never really thought about. 180 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 5: You know, it's always some other type of an angle 181 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 5: that is just kind of I would say, Wow, that's 182 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 5: another way to look at it. And it's The NFL 183 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 5: is kind of fraught with fault lines. The biggest one 184 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 5: is the coaching in the scouting fault line in every organization. 185 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 5: I'm sure every dynamic has there's power, and there's pushes 186 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 5: and pull and who's in charge of what and all 187 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 5: that kind of stuff. That is never I've never felt 188 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 5: that in our organization ever. And because of the people. 189 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 5: The people are the people positioned in these different spots, 190 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 5: but the people here when you walk in or you 191 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 5: walk into an office, you have a conversation. You see 192 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 5: them in the parking lot. They're good people. They're good 193 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 5: people who have the same goal. But we all know 194 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 5: what the expectations are because the boss sets the standard. 195 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:30,559 Speaker 5: This is how we're going to treat one another. This 196 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 5: is how we're going to interact with one another. There's 197 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 5: never been like who's in charge of this or whatever. 198 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 5: Everybody understands their area of responsibility and they just want 199 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 5: it to be good. But everybody works with one another. 200 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 5: We don't agree to disagree on anything. We agree to 201 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 5: agree ultimately on everything. But that's the work you're talking about. 202 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 4: Right, Yeah, the work exactly. My strength is that I 203 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 4: bought a hobby, not a business. I've been in business. 204 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 4: I was successful at business in that business. When I 205 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 4: got into this, I wanted it to be an uber hobby. 206 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 4: And I think that it freed me to look at 207 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 4: this next career of mine as when you as not 208 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 4: life and death, because I spent twenty years like everything 209 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 4: was life and death. 210 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 3: And so I have a partner and it's life and 211 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 3: death for him, right for me? 212 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely, and it's. 213 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 3: Not for me. 214 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 4: And so I think that that's why I can give 215 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 4: good counsel because it's not life or death for me. 216 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 1: A huge part of it too is the quarterback. And 217 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: You've had a lot of consistency and stability at quarterback 218 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: throughout your tenure, and of course with Lamar there's this 219 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: partnership that exists. How significant has that been in your success? 220 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: Not just on the field self. I mean, we watch 221 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: Lamar every week and he's incredible in terms terms of 222 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: the things. 223 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 4: That he does. 224 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 1: But that stability at quarterback and having Lamar as or quarterback, 225 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 1: how big of a bole has that played? 226 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 3: Well? 227 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 5: It's been massive. When I first got here, we were 228 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 5: looking for a quarterback and I was it was new 229 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 5: to me. I was coming as a special teams coach 230 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 5: kind of guy, and they were talking about drafting the 231 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 5: franchise quarterback and with the seventh pick in the draft, 232 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 5: and the strategy that was involved in that. I remember 233 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 5: a conversation we had at the base of the steps 234 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 5: I'll come off the practice field where Steve and Ozzie 235 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 5: and Eric dick casts were involved in this, and I'm 236 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 5: just like, I'm just listening and learning and watching, how's 237 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 5: this going to go? And they and they worked it 238 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 5: all and we ended up with Joe Flacco and it 239 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 5: was it was amazing. 240 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 6: I'll never forget it, that conversation. 241 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, and exactly where you said we were, because 242 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 4: I had been. I had taken over in two thousand 243 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 4: and four. And then Kyle Bowler didn't work out like 244 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 4: we hoped he would, and then Steve McNair comes in 245 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 4: and then his body breaks down, and then two of 246 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 4: six turns into a terrible two oh seven, which leaves 247 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 4: us with the eighth pick in the draft. Hire him, 248 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 4: And I'm there's they're saying that there's one first round 249 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 4: quarterback in that draft that year, and it was Matt Ryan, 250 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 4: and I said, I don't care what you have to 251 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 4: give him, like the whole Mike Dicka Ricky Williams. 252 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 3: Thing, like, I don't care. 253 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 4: I'm not I'm not so dug into the value of 254 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 4: draft picks right now because without Matt Ryan. 255 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 3: We're not going to be any good and you have 256 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 3: to have the quarterback. Got to have the quarterback. 257 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 4: So to me, it was like, stop talking to me 258 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 4: about draft assets when there is no I want a 259 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 4: team asset, and that is the You're everybody in the 260 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 4: world is saying that there's one first round quarterback and 261 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 4: It turned really out to be true because we're the 262 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 4: ones that went back in and got Joe. 263 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 3: Cam said, this. 264 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 4: Guy's got as much upside as Ryan. You shouldn't give 265 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 4: up the world. We can do just as well with Joe. 266 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 4: And I was like, all right, you better I don't 267 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 4: know you very well, you better not be wrong. 268 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 5: Appreciated. 269 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 3: And so that's what we did. 270 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 4: And so we traded out instead of down and got 271 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 4: Joe and we had a hell over run with Joe 272 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 4: and we were able to parlay this into seven more years. 273 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 3: So we have had a nice run. 274 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 5: And then we had Lamar in the same sort of 275 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 5: a situation. I mean, Lamar was not the top rated guy, 276 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 5: right that was that was a different kind of year 277 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 5: because there was a bunch of quarterbacks that year and 278 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 5: we had the conversation about Lamar and the draft meetings 279 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 5: all the way through on the phone. How many times 280 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 5: did we talk, but we didn't want anybody to know, 281 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 5: and we did. We were in the draft meetings, and 282 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 5: the conversation kind of came back around, you know, and 283 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 5: it ended up being can we build an offense around 284 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 5: Lamar Jackson? 285 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 3: Can we do it? 286 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 5: And we decided that we could and then we'd give 287 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 5: it a shot. But that wasn't the end of it, 288 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 5: because we still had to get them. And I remember 289 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 5: the draft day on that one, I had stepped out 290 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 5: because we had made the pick of Hayden and still 291 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 5: Lamar was kind of in the back of everybody's mind. 292 00:14:58,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 5: And I'd gone out to eat like a like an 293 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 5: ice cream cone or something, you know, I'm trying to relax. 294 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 5: I come back in an in there buzzn't Steve's buzzing Eric, 295 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 5: and how's your buzzin' And he looks at me and 296 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 5: I'm like like this. He goes that was a conversation. 297 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, And we went back and got Lamar. 298 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 5: Of like, we went back and got Joe. 299 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 4: And and made just what you said, building a team. 300 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 4: Can we build an offense around Lamar? 301 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 3: Well? 302 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 4: Can we build a team around this coach? Can we 303 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 4: build a company around the employees I absorbed from Art Modell. 304 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 3: That's the question. 305 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 4: It's like, well, you can, if you do it right, 306 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 4: if you're if you're dedicated to it, if you're really 307 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 4: good at it, yes you can. 308 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 3: And that's you go back from May to you to. 309 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 4: Lamar, and people are saying, what are they saying now 310 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 4: that they couldn't build an offense around Lamar. 311 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 3: How silly does that sound? 312 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 4: Now? Because we were looking at it like, oh, there's 313 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 4: a big you know thing. It's like, no, it really isn't. 314 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 3: It is not as hard as we're thinking. 315 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 6: So it's interesting. 316 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: So you going back to that point when when you 317 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: drafted Lamar, you felt like, because it's easy to say. 318 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: Now that oh no brain er. 319 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: Of course you could build it around him, and everyone 320 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: have envisioned this success. But like he was the thirty 321 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: second pick. 322 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 3: Wanted him to work out as a receiver, right, and 323 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 3: so it's not. 324 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: For running back exactly. And so to make that decision 325 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: at the time, it was it was considered a risk. 326 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: What made you feel like this is the right route 327 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: we want to go? And how has he just changed 328 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: his team? 329 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 4: I don't even look at it at as a risk, really, 330 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 4: I don't. I don't like that word, because if it failed, 331 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 4: we failed. It wasn't that Lamar failed. So at the 332 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 4: minute we're making an out of the box again, how 333 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 4: out of the box was it? I just thought, well, 334 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 4: it's going to succeed because we're going to mitigate the risk. 335 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 4: That's the whole point of taking on risks is having 336 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 4: confidence in your partners that you can mitigate it and 337 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 4: bring it down to almost no risk at all. 338 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 5: Really, what was the risk? I remember looking back and 339 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 5: having this conversation, It's like, Okay, everybody was chasing the 340 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 5: prototype kind of quarterback, which was Joe who was very successful, 341 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 5: but also the Mannings, the Brady's and those guys. Everybody 342 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 5: wanted that type of a quarterback. How many of those 343 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 5: guys were that that won Super Bowl? They're so hard 344 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 5: to find and they were so overvalued that it became 345 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 5: kind of impossible. Those were actually the unicorns. Now you've 346 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 5: got a guy that looks a little different in the 347 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 5: style of play, yet he's super talented. So you could 348 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 5: look at the way he play and you say, this 349 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 5: is a very talented quarterback, a very talented football player. 350 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 5: He's a value because of that. It just is kind 351 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 5: of different than what other people are looking for. They see, 352 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 5: so is our opportunity to get him where we were 353 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 5: drafted and kind of went up. So it really wasn't 354 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 5: a big risk that way. It was just a different 355 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 5: kind of a choice. 356 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: You made this point today, and you've been a supporter 357 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: obviously of Lamar since the day came in and you 358 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 1: made the point that it's a matter of when, not if, 359 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: he wins that Super Bowl, and of course you're all 360 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: working towards that just how badly, I guess do you 361 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: want it for Lamar? Of course for each other, but 362 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: for him, and he's been chasing that. You know, he 363 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: said that on the day, the moment he was drafted. 364 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 5: He didn't put it in the words came and expressed it. 365 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 5: It's like so deep, it's so deep inside, such a desire, 366 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 5: just such a determination to get it done for Really, 367 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,239 Speaker 5: you're right, for Lamar, for all the guys, I mean, 368 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 5: every single person in that locker room, every single person 369 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 5: in that building, Steve, all of us, we want that 370 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 5: kind of success because I mean, yeah, I think we're 371 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 5: doing process. We're doing so many things right. But you 372 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 5: know what, we haven't been able to be good enough 373 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 5: when we needed to be good enough to take the 374 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 5: next step to get that much closer. And even if 375 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 5: we'd won the championship game two years ago against the Chiefs, 376 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 5: we still would have had to win the Super Bowl. 377 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 5: If we'd have beaten the Bills last year, we still 378 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 5: would have had to beat the Chiefs and win the 379 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 5: Super Bowl. So there are other steps We've got to 380 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 5: get good enough and everything we do so in those 381 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 5: moments has come the next time around that we can 382 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 5: come through, you know. But we all want it for 383 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:06,879 Speaker 5: each other, and so we want it for Lamar, absolutely 384 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 5: want it for each other. 385 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 4: I don't look at Lamar singularly. It's such a I 386 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 4: wonder for Ronnie Stanley, I want for Marlon Humphrey. You know, 387 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 4: It's like it just doesn't stop with Lamar. Lamar doesn't 388 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 4: even stand out to me as who I'm brooting for 389 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 4: right like we've been doing this forever. I want it 390 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 4: for Eric to constant as he technically won a Super 391 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 4: Bowl as a GM No. So it's like, okay, I 392 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 4: want that. Ozzie got a couple of them. I want 393 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 4: Eric to get it. 394 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 5: So it's like, yeah, yeah, we want for the fans too. 395 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:39,719 Speaker 3: Man. 396 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 5: I almost see the fans dance in the streets like 397 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 5: they weren't in twenty thirteen, like they were in two thousand. 398 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 4: I don't like waiting twelve years, and yet I'm respectful 399 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 4: of the fact that I've got partners downstairs that still 400 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:57,239 Speaker 4: don't have one impatience is good for you. I think 401 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 4: it's healthy to a degree because you know, all of 402 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 4: us still feel it, you know. And if I had 403 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 4: burned through four coaches, then it would be completely different, 404 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 4: because it's like, okay, now let's see what you can do, 405 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 4: and now let's see I. 406 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 3: Know what we can do. 407 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 4: I know that we work to put ourselves in position 408 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 4: to win and we all get credit for that. And 409 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 4: that's all you can do. And I hate it that 410 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 4: every year you just have to start back over again. 411 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 4: But you know what, this is not for the meek, 412 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 4: you know. 413 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 5: And when we win it, we're gonna start all over 414 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 5: again and again. 415 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it'll let that euphoriable. 416 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 5: But I want to. 417 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 3: I want to. I want to have that problem. It's 418 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 3: like like everything else, Like every game, it'll be a relief. 419 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 4: It's not like how well you're just you just then think, 420 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,959 Speaker 4: oh good, now it's been no year since our last right, 421 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 4: and then it'll be one, and then it'll be two, 422 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 4: and then it'll be three and we'll be going, damn it. 423 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 3: I wanted to repeat, no, I want you know, well, maybe. 424 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 4: We were repeating we've got a window. We've got a window. 425 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: With Lamar Steve, I know you are super into the draft. 426 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: I know you've joked in the past about you know, 427 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: hasslan Eric during this time of the year. 428 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 5: Enjoying me a couple of days since his last draft calls. 429 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: On this. 430 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 5: How long were we on the phone. It was a 431 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 5: couple of hours. 432 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:28,400 Speaker 3: I'm pulling up a receiver that you were like, oh, 433 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 3: I love him. 434 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 4: He's he's like a sixth round undrafted and we both 435 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 4: are like, okay, yeah. 436 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I love it. I just love it. 437 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 4: I always said that in free I tell my friends 438 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 4: free agency, we have a budget, and we quickly burned 439 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 4: through it, like this year, Like we came back to 440 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 4: Jupiter and it was we don't need a wholesale change. 441 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 4: We need to figure out how many of our guys 442 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 4: we had more free agents than we had money available 443 00:21:57,160 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 4: to spend, and that happens every year. But we weren't 444 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 4: really looking outside the organization. And then we're psyched to 445 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 4: get Ricard and it's like to get Ronnie, and it's 446 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 4: like to get Thailand. It's it's like, but we had 447 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 4: a lot of let a lot of them go, and 448 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 4: that's never a good thing. But you know, going in 449 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 4: you're gonna have more free agents that you want than 450 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 4: you have money to spend on it, right. 451 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 5: So I tell a good thing. 452 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 4: I tell people that's that's my money, that's our money. 453 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 4: But the draft is already in Eric's budget. So I 454 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 4: say the draft is like going Christmas shopping with somebody 455 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,120 Speaker 4: else's credit card. 456 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:37,480 Speaker 3: That's how exciting it is. 457 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 4: Because they're all free, they've already been accounted for it, 458 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 4: they're already paid for it. So I just love it, 459 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 4: and I love watching these guys. I can't believe some 460 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 4: succeed and I can't believe some fail. You know, It's 461 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 4: like when I go through the people that we've loved. 462 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 4: I've loved more than you, You've loved more than me, 463 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 4: and some of them are great. In some of them 464 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 4: you think, how did that person? How did that guy fail? 465 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 4: You know, But there's so much that goes into it 466 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 4: that we don't really know their backstories to a degree. 467 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 3: But yeah, it's fun. 468 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,120 Speaker 4: It's my hobby on top of my main hobby. That's 469 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 4: my real that's my off season hobby. 470 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 471 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 6: And I'm sure I know you love the draft too, 472 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 6: or you fired up about just just the process and 473 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 6: the prospects. 474 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 5: You can't talk about it enough. I mean just watching 475 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:21,959 Speaker 5: the tape, the grind to that part of a one 476 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 5: hundred and seventy one players we were talking about, you know, 477 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:28,040 Speaker 5: and Steve seen guys and it's just it is. It's fun. 478 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 5: It's like who fits our team? You know, who do 479 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 5: you really want? Well, ask the coaches all the time, 480 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 5: and Eric asked the questions. It's just tell me who 481 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 5: you want, tell me who you want. You see a 482 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 5: spot form in this team, and who you excited about. 483 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 5: That's kind of that's the fun part. 484 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: Of taking it beyond the field. The organization is in 485 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: a great shape. The stadium lease is in place, there's 486 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,399 Speaker 1: exciting renovations happening at the stadium, there's renovations happening at 487 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: the undearned Performance Center. How pleased are you when you 488 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 1: look at the state of the organization as a whole, 489 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: beyond just the football team, but where this team sits 490 00:23:58,440 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: organization wide goes. 491 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 4: Back to the continuity you're talking about. I had one 492 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 4: president for twenty years and sas she's stuck with me 493 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 4: for twenty more. And it's just money, it's just debt. 494 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 4: It's just we want the best for our fans. I 495 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 4: want the best for my players. So yeah, physical facilities, 496 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 4: that's just a no brainer. I wouldn't ever get I 497 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 4: wouldn't get caught behind. I'd rather be one step ahead 498 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 4: of that stuff. And God bless the State of Maryland. 499 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 4: You know, they came up with the money, they didn't 500 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 4: get it to the point Art Modell was in Cleveland 501 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 4: and Ursay was here in Baltimore. It was like the 502 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,919 Speaker 4: state realized that they've got a gym there at Camden 503 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:48,479 Speaker 4: Yards and they needed to be proactive, and they showed us, 504 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 4: without fighting, how the state can work with teams. And 505 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 4: I know David is appreciative of it too across the 506 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 4: stre So we've got a great thing going here, both 507 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 4: baseball and football. 508 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 5: I got a question about that. You talk about a 509 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 5: gem at Camdon Yards, and some of these other stadiums 510 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 5: that they're already built come of the same era that 511 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 5: they're tearing down and replacing. You You've got this gem 512 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 5: at M and T Bank Stadium that you've you're you're 513 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 5: you know, making better and renovating. But it is kind 514 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 5: of becoming an iconic stadium. 515 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 3: Right Yeah, I think so. 516 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,959 Speaker 4: And part of that is is M and T standing 517 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 4: stepping up and giving us extension upon extension, and they're 518 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 4: they're great, they're they're just a great partner. So yeah, 519 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 4: I think that when you say iconic, it's like win games, 520 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 4: and certainly the name on the stadium better stay the same. 521 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it has become, to your point, a place 522 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: that when we talk to these free agents who come in, 523 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,200 Speaker 1: they say, man, we played here in twenty twenty one 524 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: and it was so tough. You know, the night game 525 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: there was so tough, and I remember that game on 526 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football. I think it's developed a reputation around 527 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: the NFL. 528 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, I didn't think driving up to it, like you see, 529 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 5: it's got the brick and the steel and it's night 530 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 5: lights and the way it's set up, it just it's 531 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 5: going to last forever. It's not going to be one 532 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 5: of those you know, look like a spaceship landing there. 533 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 7: Now. 534 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 4: Listen, we started construction after Camden Yards, so it was 535 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,919 Speaker 4: only fitting that we kind of tried to do something 536 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 4: that was similar, that was old school and so old 537 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 4: school lasts. 538 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 3: Yeah. 539 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:24,119 Speaker 1: So lastly, you're this is the thirtieth season of Ravens 540 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: football in Baltimore for both of you. Obviously has been 541 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: a great run up to this point for these first 542 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: these first thirty years. What do you envision for the 543 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: next thirty years of Baltimore Ravens football. 544 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 3: I don't know. I don't know. I want to. I 545 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,160 Speaker 3: just I want to win now. I don't. I don't, 546 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 3: I don't. I don't give a damn about thirty years 547 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,119 Speaker 3: from now. I really don't. I want to win now. 548 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 3: I want to win with these guys. I want to 549 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 3: I want to win now. 550 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:54,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, thirty days from now, I'm talking about draft coming up. 551 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:55,240 Speaker 3: Coming up. 552 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 6: You guys are fired up by this year. I can 553 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 6: tell it. 554 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: Just it seems like there's just the energy and enthusiasm 555 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: and you're ready to play. 556 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, we're gonna be great. We're gonna be a great team. 557 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 5: We're gonna do it every day. We got to be 558 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 5: good at the things that really matter. You know, we're determined. 559 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 6: It's awesome. Well, thank you so much for the time. 560 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 6: I appreciate it. 561 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 1: Thank you. 562 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 5: Thanks ging. 563 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 2: So Cliff. 564 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: Obviously just insightful Stelf. I thought from from Steve and 565 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: from John and talking about I really think the relationship 566 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: that they have and the connection that they have. 567 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:25,360 Speaker 7: Yeah, a great job by you in an interview, I thought, 568 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 7: yeah too, And also, yes, the chemistry that they have 569 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 7: extremely important. You know, ladyship opposite between owner, owner, head 570 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 7: coach uh kind of sets the tone in a lot 571 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 7: of ways along with the general manager in the direction 572 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 7: that the Braves go, and they are so much on 573 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 7: the same page. I think that interview gave it insight 574 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 7: of how they interact, that they are not afraid to 575 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 7: express their opinions, but they're always on the same page. 576 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 7: And that you know, Steven Shaddy, you know, I believe 577 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 7: views himself as someone to help John along the way 578 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 7: for particularly during the season where it's so emotional wins 579 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 7: and losses every week, the ups and downs. What a 580 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 7: great sounding board for John to have someone like Steve 581 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 7: who knows the team so well, knows him so well, 582 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 7: can kind of help him keep the steady pace and 583 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 7: get back focused on the next week if you're coming 584 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 7: off a disappointing loss. And yeah, I mean, you don't 585 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 7: want a person that you always agree with, but you 586 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 7: want a person that you can always work with. And 587 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 7: the fact that they've been able to work together so 588 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 7: successfully so long has been a really key part of 589 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 7: the raid and success. 590 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, Steve made the point in the conversation that he 591 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: views himself as being able to see the forest through 592 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 1: the trees. John is in it, and the day to 593 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 1: day he's dealing, he's in the trenches. He's dealing with coaches, 594 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 1: he's dealing with players, he's dealing with game planning. He 595 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: is living the highs and lows of an NFL season, 596 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: where Steve can look at it from that aerial view 597 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 1: and say, you know, what about going this route or 598 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: what about trying this and how just that type of perspective, 599 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: and obviously, you know, he's he's the owner and he 600 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: can call the shots, but he also defers to John 601 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: and allows him to make decisions as well. And of 602 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: course Eric, so I thought that that was, you know, 603 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: interesting perspective in terms of how he sees that dynamic 604 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: and that relationship. And I do think in that conversation 605 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 1: you've got to see how they play off of each other. 606 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: You know, they joked and had some good moments in there. 607 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:23,960 Speaker 1: And then the other part to me that that really 608 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 1: I think stood out is just the stability. And it's 609 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: stability at like every level. It's stability ownership, itstability to 610 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: head coach stability and from a personnel standpoint and the 611 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: stability a quarterback. And like when during John's tenure, it 612 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: was it went straight from Joe to Lamar. And it's 613 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:46,239 Speaker 1: rare to have a coach that's been here in one 614 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: spot for seventeen years. It almost never happens, right. It's 615 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,120 Speaker 1: also rare to have a coach who's had just essentially 616 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: two quarterbacks in his tenure. That's also incredibly rare. And 617 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: so I thought the perspective on that was enlightening, no question. 618 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,320 Speaker 7: I mean, that's a blessing the Ravens have had to 619 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 7: have two quarterbacks like that, and particularly back to back. Yeah, 620 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 7: that's been a blessing. But give the Ravens foresight that 621 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 7: they were able to make those moves. I mean, no question, 622 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 7: when the Ravens drafted Joe Flack or not, everyone was saying, Oh, 623 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 7: this is going to be a great move. He's going 624 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 7: to be a Super Bowl winning quarterback. Lamar had to 625 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 7: watch thirty one other people drafted in front of him 626 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 7: before he was taken. There were so many questions about 627 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 7: Lamar when he came to the league, what he can do, 628 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 7: what he can do, and how good he's going to be. 629 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 7: The Ravens had the foresight to make that move to 630 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 7: go get him, and obviously they're reaping the benefits. 631 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: And the thing about that that's crazy is that, you know, 632 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: I asked, basically, everyone else is saying this is this 633 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: is a risk, and this is a big question and 634 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: all this stuff, and it looks like it was a 635 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 1: no brainer now, But that wasn't the conversation. You go 636 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: back to twenty eighteen and Steve's point that like, well, 637 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: it's only a risk if you don't kind of believe 638 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: in the system, the ability to build around him and 639 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 1: the ability to set him up for success, and so 640 00:30:59,520 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: he didn't. 641 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 2: They didn't see it as this big risk. 642 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: And I thought that was just interesting way of looking 643 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 1: at it. 644 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 7: It is, when you make the commitment to draft Lamar, 645 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 7: then you also have to have the foresight or should 646 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,280 Speaker 7: have the foresight to maximize what he does best and 647 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 7: build the entire system, as John often says, around him. 648 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 7: That's what the Ravens have done, and I believe in 649 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 7: Todd Monkin it's even going to another level allowing Lamar 650 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 7: the freedom, as he says, to give him the keys 651 00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 7: to the offense to drive the car. When you have 652 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 7: a talent like Lamar Jackson. He is one of one, 653 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 7: not only with his talent, but his versatility the things 654 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 7: that he can do. The Ravens, I think, are still 655 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 7: building on taking advantage of all the things Lamar can do. 656 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:44,400 Speaker 7: But you can see that this whole system has been 657 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 7: set up for him to succeed. And also one point 658 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 7: with John two. I give Steve a lot of ANDASI 659 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 7: and everyone who was involved with decision to hire John 660 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 7: Harlball as a guy who had been a long time 661 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 7: special teams coach. 662 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 6: That was an. 663 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 7: Outside the box move. It's still an outside the box 664 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 7: move all these years later. There aren't many teams that 665 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 7: will give a special teams coach who has never been 666 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 7: a coordinator the head coaching job. They just, to me 667 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 7: don't have the courage even if the person does will 668 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 7: in an interview to make that move. The Ravens did, 669 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 7: and look how well it's paid off. 670 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 4: Yeah. 671 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: And the last point that that I'll mention that really 672 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 1: stands out to me is how driven both of them are. 673 00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 1: You can tell that it ticks them off the way 674 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:27,720 Speaker 1: last season ended and being so close to these last 675 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 1: few years and and they're doing everything possible. Uh, from 676 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: a coaching standpoint right now, John and the staff and 677 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 1: they're building the system and they're talking about ways to 678 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:41,000 Speaker 1: evolve and improve and and Steve is pushing as well, 679 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 1: like there's there's not a there's there's an impatience around 680 00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: not winning a Super Bowl and then that and that's 681 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: something that is driving them and you can tell in 682 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: that conversation. So they're they're doing everything possible to make 683 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 1: that happen now. In addition to sitting down with both 684 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: of them, also had a chance to talk with Ravens 685 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: President Sashi Brown about some of the big business objectives 686 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: that the team has right now and the focus on 687 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:05,400 Speaker 1: that side of things as well. 688 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 2: So let's go ahead and roll that conversation. 689 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: Here a Ravens fans, I'm excited now to be joined 690 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: by Ravens President Sashi Brown. 691 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:14,800 Speaker 6: So she we're here at the league meetings. 692 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 1: And as you look at the organization right now, what 693 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: do you see as the key areas of focus. 694 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 2: For the team? 695 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 8: I think it's first at a really exciting time. You know, 696 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 8: we've got two times some would say three times MVP, 697 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 8: a quarterback leading us one of the most exciting athletes 698 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,400 Speaker 8: in the world. Much less quarterback in our. 699 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 9: Sport in Lamar, Derek and all the players. 700 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 8: So we always keep the main thing, the main thing, 701 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 8: which is let's win as many football games as we 702 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 8: can and field a championship level squad. And Eric and 703 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 8: John have done a masterful job at leading us and 704 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 8: situating the franchise to do just that. 705 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 9: So that's the first thing. So it's a great time 706 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 9: to just be a fan of the team. 707 00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 8: And then, you know, I think it's a really exciting 708 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 8: time in the history of the French We've extended our 709 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 8: lease which has allowed us in partnership with Maryland to 710 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 8: make a major investment and reimagine really M and T 711 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:11,799 Speaker 8: Bank Stadium and the fan experience, which was already. 712 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,480 Speaker 9: You know, we're usually one two three in. 713 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:16,360 Speaker 8: The league given the year in terms of our stadium 714 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 8: experience of fan experience, but now we're able to reinvest 715 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 8: in that alongside Maryland and bring a lot more to 716 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:26,719 Speaker 8: the game day experience and all that tailgating experience, bring 717 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 8: it right to the stadium footprint with a ton of 718 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,719 Speaker 8: new spaces and exciting opportunities. So it's a great time 719 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 8: to be the Ravens fans and we're really excited to 720 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 8: roll out this second phase of renovations for the flock. 721 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:40,600 Speaker 1: Well, you mentioned those renovations are ongoing both at the 722 00:34:40,680 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 1: under Armed Performance Center and at MT Bank Stadium. 723 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 6: At the stadium, what has you excited. 724 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 1: About these renovations in terms of bringing the stadium to 725 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,280 Speaker 1: the next phase of its iteration. 726 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:52,760 Speaker 8: Well, first of all, I think it's just a volume 727 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:58,840 Speaker 8: of new opportunities and spaces that in fan experiences that 728 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,280 Speaker 8: you'll see. So everybody when they come to the stadium, 729 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 8: they're going to see technology immediately. 730 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 9: That's a huge part of what we wanted to do. 731 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,800 Speaker 8: We understand that nobody wants to miss a second of 732 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 8: the game, so we are heavily investing to make sure 733 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 8: that we update our technology around the stadium. The second 734 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:19,799 Speaker 8: thing is there's a ton of new spaces. Last year 735 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,320 Speaker 8: you saw the Miller Like gatehouse. It was one of 736 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:26,120 Speaker 8: our most popular additions, so people were able to take 737 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 8: in the roof deck and obviously the beer hall as well. 738 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 9: But this year we're going to start to see the 739 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 9: plaza come to life. 740 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,280 Speaker 8: One of our challenges is when we built the stadium originally, 741 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 8: is we built out very small retail space, so Ravens 742 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 8: fans will have a place to come in Baltimore three 743 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 8: hundred and sixty five days a year, not even just 744 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 8: limited to game days, to come get merchandise in apparel 745 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:50,040 Speaker 8: and a huge news store. With our partnership with Fanatics, 746 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 8: is going to be a really exciting opportunity to get 747 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,320 Speaker 8: more in different type of Ravens apparel, your jerseys and 748 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:57,840 Speaker 8: all the things, of course, but just a lot more products. 749 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 9: So there's a ton of new spaces for people to take. 750 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,440 Speaker 8: Advantage of, and the plazas are going to be awesome 751 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:05,600 Speaker 8: to bring that tailgate experience that's so unique to Baltimore 752 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 8: right onto our state and footprint. 753 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:09,600 Speaker 1: So something that fans don't get to see, but you 754 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:11,839 Speaker 1: and I were living through it is a construction at 755 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 1: the Unheur owned Performance Center. There's a lot going on. 756 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 1: What can you share about the work that's happening at UAPC. 757 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 8: Well not too much right now, but we knew if 758 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,360 Speaker 8: you can believe it, the Castle, which is still I 759 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 8: think one of the best training facilities in sports and 760 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 8: part of our legacy, really needed an investment on the 761 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 8: football side. There's been so much progress and evolution. We 762 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:38,359 Speaker 8: went to the front of the class in ahead when. 763 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 9: We first built the castle. 764 00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,480 Speaker 8: But I think now at under armed training facility, you've 765 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:47,840 Speaker 8: seen colleges at the D one level and other facilities 766 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,600 Speaker 8: built around the NFL that have just progressed and pushed 767 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:55,880 Speaker 8: forward what a modern training facility looks like. We hadn't 768 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,360 Speaker 8: made major changes to our football side of the building. 769 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 8: We added a wing some years ago on the business 770 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:06,800 Speaker 8: side to accommodate an increase in headcount and expanding staff, 771 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 8: but we really wanted to invest in our players and 772 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 8: their experience, and so we've got some new, high powered, 773 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 8: really well thought out and big designs that we've shared 774 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:22,279 Speaker 8: with our players and I wait until we unveil them 775 00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:25,239 Speaker 8: here with Chad and the rest of the PR team. 776 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:27,720 Speaker 1: So it's actually one of the things that was announced 777 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:31,000 Speaker 1: earlier today here at the league meetings is the global 778 00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: markets program and the Ravens have now entered the UK 779 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 1: market and been granted UK marketing rights. So what's the 780 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 1: significance of this. 781 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:43,440 Speaker 8: Yeah, grateful for the NFL granting us those rights. The 782 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 8: UK has been a place we've played two games already 783 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:50,080 Speaker 8: and the growth of the NFL game internationally is booming. 784 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 8: So you know about flag football coming to the Olympics 785 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,279 Speaker 8: in twenty twenty eight, So it's a global game. We've 786 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:00,880 Speaker 8: seen a lot of that growth here locally in Maryland, 787 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 8: we're right on the verge of getting Girls' Flag Young 788 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:08,160 Speaker 8: Women's Flag to be sanctioned at the state level, with 789 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 8: scores of teams across different counties playing now inter school 790 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:16,880 Speaker 8: and so you know, we look at the growth of 791 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:21,440 Speaker 8: the game internationally, we look at UK as one of 792 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:24,000 Speaker 8: the places that's really going to be a bedrock for us. 793 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,080 Speaker 8: I mean, the game is well established there, there are 794 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 8: two or three games, they are played every year. We 795 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 8: thought it was a natural fit for us, and there's 796 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:35,920 Speaker 8: a lot of commonality and love for our brand over there. 797 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 8: So we're happy to get the win last time. We 798 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 8: went over a year before last against Tennessee, pulled Derek 799 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:42,680 Speaker 8: over to our. 800 00:38:42,719 --> 00:38:44,560 Speaker 9: Side, and we'll be ready to go back and get 801 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:44,920 Speaker 9: after it. 802 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 8: But we've seen a huge amount of appetite the game 803 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 8: growing in South America, Mexico, Central America, but also in Europe, 804 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,319 Speaker 8: and so UK I thought was a great fit for us. 805 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 8: Easy to bring fans over. We've had a couple come 806 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 8: over already, and easy for us get back over to play. 807 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:01,440 Speaker 5: Some more games. 808 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:04,960 Speaker 1: Something that I get asked about as much as almost 809 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: anything football related is often uniforms. 810 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:09,399 Speaker 6: So I'm sure you get these questions all the time. 811 00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:09,600 Speaker 4: You know. 812 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:11,120 Speaker 1: Of course people love to talk about the games and 813 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:13,600 Speaker 1: what happens in those, but people love to talk about uniforms. 814 00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:16,840 Speaker 1: Last year we unveiled the new helmets, the Purple Rising helmets, 815 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:20,200 Speaker 1: which were these fans were certainly excited about. Is there 816 00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:22,360 Speaker 1: anything on the horizon on the uniform front. 817 00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:26,279 Speaker 8: You know, nothing at this point to be announced. I 818 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:28,400 Speaker 8: know people have asked me that I was asked yesterday 819 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,960 Speaker 8: by the media, But it's always exciting to think about. 820 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 9: Reality is we have just a super closet. 821 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:35,760 Speaker 8: I mean, I think our all black uniforms are probably 822 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:38,480 Speaker 8: the best uniforms in the league, not to knock the 823 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:44,080 Speaker 8: purple white and the new Purple. So we like all 824 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:48,800 Speaker 8: of our variations and really excited to roll out some 825 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,400 Speaker 8: of the work that was done by Brad Downs and 826 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:55,280 Speaker 8: our marketing team and Kenko who runs our equipment staff. 827 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 8: They've been working on a few things to come up 828 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 8: with that color combination with the all purple, which was 829 00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 8: rolled out beautifully in the win against Cincinnati, and. 830 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:06,440 Speaker 1: Lastly, Slash you just you just wrapped up your third 831 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:10,080 Speaker 1: season as team president. What are the biggest takeaways that 832 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,799 Speaker 1: you've had in these first three seasons and what has 833 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:13,960 Speaker 1: you excited about the future. 834 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:16,760 Speaker 9: Yeah, I have my open and press conference. 835 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:18,840 Speaker 8: I talked about humbling seeing, you know, one of my 836 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:22,840 Speaker 8: mentors and Dick casts sitting with me as he you know, 837 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 8: moved on into quasi retirement. We keep Dick busy still 838 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,400 Speaker 8: on occasion. Loved to see him coming to practice and 839 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,920 Speaker 8: hanging around the facility and helping us out on strategic initiatives. 840 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:35,759 Speaker 8: But humbling was the word that I described it then, 841 00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 8: And still humbling, you know. I go into every day 842 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:40,920 Speaker 8: with the mentality of trying to make us better and 843 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:43,640 Speaker 8: make sure that I'm leading alongside John and Steve and 844 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 8: Eric and Ozzie and the rest of the crew. We've 845 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,960 Speaker 8: got a fantastic team of fantastic people. We're in very 846 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:52,240 Speaker 8: much service to our fan base and to our community. 847 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 8: And so, you know, I love the job, love the franchise, 848 00:40:56,239 --> 00:40:57,000 Speaker 8: love the city. 849 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 9: Love the people. I couldn't ask for more. 850 00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:02,560 Speaker 8: Really excited every day and every day is different. We 851 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 8: have a lot of important, exciting projects that have taken 852 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 8: place over these three years and made a lot of 853 00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:08,640 Speaker 8: progress on each of those. 854 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 9: So the future is bright, very thankful. 855 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:13,800 Speaker 8: We've I think we've got the best ownership group in 856 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 8: the league with Stephen Renee and so you know, we 857 00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:20,879 Speaker 8: got John extended. You know, things are really really great 858 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:22,600 Speaker 8: right now and I'm happy to play. 859 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 9: My small part of that. 860 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:26,240 Speaker 6: It's good time to be a Ravens fan. That's it awesome, Sahi, 861 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:26,880 Speaker 6: thank you so much. 862 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:27,239 Speaker 9: Thank you. 863 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:30,239 Speaker 2: That was Ravens President Sashi Brown. 864 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Lounge podcast and we are coming 865 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:33,920 Speaker 1: to you from the Sea Geek studio. We also want 866 00:41:33,920 --> 00:41:35,840 Speaker 1: to mention our partners at Draft King Sportsbook. They are 867 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,359 Speaker 1: an official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draft 868 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: King Sportsbook. 869 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:40,520 Speaker 2: The Crown is yours. 870 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:42,960 Speaker 1: So in the conversation which Sash, she covered some of 871 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,279 Speaker 1: the big things that are happening with this team right now. 872 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,759 Speaker 1: Renovations at MPTY Bay Stadium, renovations at the under Own 873 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:52,240 Speaker 1: Performance Center, and I think it's just going to continue 874 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:56,440 Speaker 1: to make the stadium specifically, like the Ravens are investing 875 00:41:56,480 --> 00:41:59,680 Speaker 1: in that game day experience. We talked with Judy Batista 876 00:42:00,440 --> 00:42:03,000 Speaker 1: yesterday on the podcast about just how great a game 877 00:42:03,080 --> 00:42:06,040 Speaker 1: day atmosphere that is. The Ravens want that to continue, 878 00:42:06,080 --> 00:42:08,399 Speaker 1: and so these renovations are going to help. 879 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:11,600 Speaker 7: Out that now absolutely. And you know, just like there's 880 00:42:11,680 --> 00:42:14,760 Speaker 7: competition on the field, there's competition. 881 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:15,120 Speaker 9: Off the field. 882 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,920 Speaker 7: I mean, so many teams are building new stadiums and 883 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:22,040 Speaker 7: making renovations, and every team wants their fans to come 884 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 7: out obviously and support the team, you know, and the 885 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:28,080 Speaker 7: Ravens I think are continuing to stay a step ahead 886 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:32,160 Speaker 7: of the competition as far as making changes that make 887 00:42:32,239 --> 00:42:35,120 Speaker 7: it even more attractive and more fun to come to 888 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:37,879 Speaker 7: M and T. It's a stadium that you know, over 889 00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:39,400 Speaker 7: the years, I mean when you look at M and 890 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 7: T Banks Stadium, it does it looks like, you know, 891 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:44,600 Speaker 7: one of the brand new stadium. It doesn't look like 892 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 7: a stadium that has been along around as laws it has. 893 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:50,319 Speaker 7: There's always new things every year now in the land 894 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:52,040 Speaker 7: next two to three years, you're going to see new 895 00:42:52,760 --> 00:42:55,720 Speaker 7: things not only inside the stadium but around the stadium 896 00:42:56,040 --> 00:42:59,080 Speaker 7: to make the atmosphere more like a party atmosphere. And 897 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:02,200 Speaker 7: when you can buy the passion of the Ravens fans 898 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 7: with a good team with that venue, it just makes 899 00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:07,800 Speaker 7: it the place to be. I mean, I love it, 900 00:43:07,920 --> 00:43:10,360 Speaker 7: especially night games and M and T. There's really no 901 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,080 Speaker 7: other experience like we go other places, but the buzz, 902 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 7: even before its opening kickoff, is just one of my 903 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:18,760 Speaker 7: favorite parts of going to M and T Bank Stadium. 904 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 7: And that's something the Ravens and everyone who works for them, 905 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,959 Speaker 7: they're actively making that happen. It doesn't just come together 906 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,600 Speaker 7: by accident. That a lot of people working hard behind 907 00:43:27,640 --> 00:43:29,920 Speaker 7: the scenes and make it happen, and a Sashi said 908 00:43:29,960 --> 00:43:32,000 Speaker 7: he appreciates those efforts and that's going to continue. 909 00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:35,279 Speaker 1: What's your favorite, asked him about uniforms. What is your 910 00:43:35,440 --> 00:43:39,200 Speaker 1: number one on your list? What's your what's your favorite uni? 911 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:42,680 Speaker 7: Well, it used to be in the white purple combination, 912 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:46,399 Speaker 7: but I think the all the All Black I think 913 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:47,360 Speaker 7: that might be my favorite. 914 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 2: She mentioned that too. Yeah, that's that one that seems 915 00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:51,120 Speaker 2: like that's the fan favorite. 916 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:51,480 Speaker 4: Yeah. 917 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:53,839 Speaker 7: I mean to me, it's just you see Derek Henry 918 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:55,640 Speaker 7: and All Black. I think he's gonna take it to 919 00:43:55,680 --> 00:43:57,200 Speaker 7: the house, like every play. 920 00:43:57,280 --> 00:43:58,640 Speaker 1: Well, what did they were in the All Black set 921 00:43:58,680 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: against in Buffalo when he did that? What first play 922 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:02,040 Speaker 1: of the games? Secont play of the game, so it 923 00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:05,319 Speaker 1: worked out pretty well there, absolutely so I also liked 924 00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:08,880 Speaker 1: I like the purple with alternate helmet helmet Purple Rising uniforms. 925 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of those two. So yeah, it's 926 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:14,560 Speaker 1: it's exciting to talk to uniforms and all these other 927 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:17,560 Speaker 1: things that are happening. So as always, we love hearing 928 00:44:17,600 --> 00:44:19,799 Speaker 1: from you, the fans, the listeners, the viewers. You can 929 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:22,520 Speaker 1: email us at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot 930 00:44:22,600 --> 00:44:24,960 Speaker 1: net let us know your thoughts, your questions that you 931 00:44:25,080 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 1: have coming out of these meetings. Has been a productive 932 00:44:27,239 --> 00:44:30,800 Speaker 1: few days, like I mentioned here in Florida, and the 933 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:32,839 Speaker 1: meetings have wrapped up and then we're gonna be heading home. 934 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:35,440 Speaker 1: But a good few days here, and thank you so 935 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:36,960 Speaker 1: much for watching and for listening.