WEBVTT - The Dave Pasch Podcast - Monti Ossenfort

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<v Speaker 1>Hey everybody, and welcome to a new Dave Pash podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm your host ESPN and Arizona Cardinals broadcaster Dave Pash.

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<v Speaker 1>After a couple of months off, we are back and

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<v Speaker 1>in a big way with first year Arizona Cardinals general

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<v Speaker 1>manager Monty Austen. For I think after you listen to

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<v Speaker 1>this conversation with Manti, you'll really learn a lot about

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<v Speaker 1>what it's like in the draft room on Draft Night.

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<v Speaker 1>In particular, we're going to talk in depth about how

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<v Speaker 1>the Cardinals ended up trading down from number three and

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<v Speaker 1>then trading back up to number six to grab Paris

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<v Speaker 1>Johnson from Ohio State, and how close it came with

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<v Speaker 1>the pressure on and the clock ticking on the Cardinals

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<v Speaker 1>to make that deal with Houston to move down from

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<v Speaker 1>number three.

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<v Speaker 2>It was intense. It was good, But I would have

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<v Speaker 2>to go back and look at the tape. I don't

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<v Speaker 2>think anybody in our room was panicking. I think we

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<v Speaker 2>had a plan and the time was ticking, and time

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<v Speaker 2>was of the essence, and you know we were able

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<v Speaker 2>to finally get and push it across the goal line.

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<v Speaker 1>Monty is the talk nationally amongst the media members about

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<v Speaker 1>Draft Knight three trades with three teams in the first

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<v Speaker 1>thirty four picks, the acquisition of a first round pick

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<v Speaker 1>for twenty twenty four, and two third round picks for

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<v Speaker 1>next year as well. Manni was very busy, and he

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<v Speaker 1>goes deep into all of those decisions on draft night

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<v Speaker 1>and what it was like for him in his first

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<v Speaker 1>year in the big chair making the decisions to make

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<v Speaker 1>trades into draft players. We're also going to talk about

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<v Speaker 1>some of the guys who've been on the roster, the

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<v Speaker 1>latest on DeAndre Hopkins, Buddha Baker, Isaiah Simmons, and the

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<v Speaker 1>health of Kyler Murray. We'll also talk with Mani about

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<v Speaker 1>his history spending all those years with the New England Patriots,

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<v Speaker 1>his time with Tennessee. We'll even go back to his

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<v Speaker 1>playing days in college at Minnesota Morris, where for a

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<v Speaker 1>brief period of time he was a radio show host.

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<v Speaker 1>All that and more coming up with Arizona Cardinals General

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<v Speaker 1>manager Monte assin Ford. We are presented by BETTMGM, the

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<v Speaker 1>official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by

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<v Speaker 1>All right, Time for our sit down with Arizona Cardinals

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<v Speaker 1>General manager Montiasinfo. So, MANI I got a chance to

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<v Speaker 1>meet you briefly maybe two months ago, three months ago

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<v Speaker 1>the last podcast actually did, which was with Michael brought

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<v Speaker 1>me up and introduced me to you, But I haven't

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<v Speaker 1>really had a chance to get to talk to you much.

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<v Speaker 1>So first time we've had a chance to really sit

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<v Speaker 1>and chat. I'm curious, first of all, what's this whole

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<v Speaker 1>process been like? Because you get hired and you're all in,

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<v Speaker 1>you're going one hundred miles an hour. What's it been

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<v Speaker 1>like personally? What's it been like professionally for you?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, professionally that you know it all culminated in these

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<v Speaker 2>last last few days, it was, you know, it was

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of a lot of work here from a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of fronts, a lot of people from the scouting department,

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<v Speaker 2>to the coaching staff, to trainers and all all facets

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<v Speaker 2>of football operations contributed to this past weekend. So it

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<v Speaker 2>was a nice just ending to just a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>work that have went in. You know, it's it's been

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<v Speaker 2>it's been a challenge. You know, the when when you

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<v Speaker 2>have this type of transition, it's you're away from your family.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of people are away from their families, you're

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<v Speaker 2>living in a hotel, you're living in temporary housing. But

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<v Speaker 2>you know what, it's also it's also a blessing because

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<v Speaker 2>you can you can just focus in on the job

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, because there is a lot to do.

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<v Speaker 2>There's a lot to do when when that transition comes

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<v Speaker 2>in and you know, there's uh, you know, there was

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of things that we wanted to to focus

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<v Speaker 2>on with the draft and just getting the right types

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<v Speaker 2>of people from the All Star Game process, through the

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<v Speaker 2>combine and then through our thirty visit process. So that

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<v Speaker 2>was that was a big funcus of ours and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>there was a lot of things to juggle, but a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of people stepped up and a lot of people

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<v Speaker 2>contributed to you know, what we hope was a winning

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<v Speaker 2>effort this past weekend.

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<v Speaker 1>You talked about being away from your family as a dad.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, how challenging has that been for you? How

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<v Speaker 1>what's it been like communicating with your kids, who this

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<v Speaker 1>is probably the first time you've been gone this long.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's been it's been a challenge for all of us.

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<v Speaker 2>And you know, we came to a pretty good routine

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<v Speaker 2>here over the last couple of months where you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm an early morning guy, and so on my drive

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<v Speaker 2>in Nashville is back on Central Time, and so on

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<v Speaker 2>my drive in it was really breakfast time. The girls

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<v Speaker 2>were getting ready for breakfast for school, and so my

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<v Speaker 2>fifteen minute drive in to work was a great time

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<v Speaker 2>for us just to chat over the phone and get

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<v Speaker 2>connected for Hey, what's going on today, and what's the

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<v Speaker 2>plan anything special at school today? And then you know,

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<v Speaker 2>FaceTime has been a lifesaver. That's been great to just

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<v Speaker 2>connect and see faces and you know, but it's been tough.

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<v Speaker 2>Missed a few sporting events this past weekend. My oldest

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<v Speaker 2>daughter had a had her last volleyball tournament in Birmingham.

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<v Speaker 2>But you know, thank god technology, I was able to

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<v Speaker 2>pull up the iPad and watch her games, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>so I could. I wasn't there, but I tried to

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<v Speaker 2>connect as much as possible. So I'm excited gonna take

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<v Speaker 2>a couple of days and get home to see him,

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<v Speaker 2>and but excited for them to get out here to

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<v Speaker 2>the valley and call this home.

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<v Speaker 1>So your daughter's playing volleyball? Is it club volleyball? So

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<v Speaker 1>she must be pretty good if she's traveling at pretty

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<v Speaker 1>young age.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, so you know, so her her mom, my wife, Shannon,

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<v Speaker 2>she she was a collegiate volleyball player, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the my oldest is involved in club volleyball and she's

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<v Speaker 2>she's really enjoyed that. So you know, I've it's it's

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<v Speaker 2>been tough missing out on that, but you know, I know,

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<v Speaker 2>my my wife has been there to to support her

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<v Speaker 2>and and to help her out. My wife actually coached

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<v Speaker 2>her school team this past year at at our school,

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<v Speaker 2>and so you know, but my wife took a step

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<v Speaker 2>back for the club season, and uh, but that's been great.

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<v Speaker 1>You were an athlete too. You played quarterback Minnesota Morerus

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<v Speaker 1>which is where and I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin,

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<v Speaker 1>and I don't know where Minnesota.

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<v Speaker 2>Or Yeah, allegedly an athlete I would say that, No.

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<v Speaker 2>Morris is in the middle of nowhere. It's in about

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<v Speaker 2>as far west part of the state of Minnesota, but

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<v Speaker 2>right in the middle, so west central Minnesota. Tiny little town.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a tiny school when I when I was there,

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<v Speaker 2>we were a Division two school. They've since dropped down

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<v Speaker 2>to Division three. But you know, hey, we had a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of fun, met a lot of friends there. We

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<v Speaker 2>we we weren't a good team. We Uh, that's kind

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<v Speaker 2>of an insult to to say we were a bad

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<v Speaker 2>team to bad teams. So we but we had a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of fun and we we worked hard, and uh

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<v Speaker 2>it was it was a good experience for me.

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<v Speaker 1>And so I'm trying to find information about you other

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<v Speaker 1>than you know, what's obviously been out there and through

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<v Speaker 1>either the Cardinals or the Titans. Are going back to

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<v Speaker 1>the Patriots. And one thing I caught on Wikipedia, and

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<v Speaker 1>I always have to ask, because Wikipedia is the worst.

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<v Speaker 1>There's been things on me that are that are not

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<v Speaker 1>correct on Wikipedia that I've had to tell people like

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<v Speaker 1>that that's not true. So you were a radio show

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<v Speaker 1>host in college? Is that is that accurate?

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<v Speaker 2>Man?

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<v Speaker 1>Did you think is that true? Did you think about

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<v Speaker 1>going into.

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<v Speaker 2>Broadcasting you're digging deep. You're digging deep. No. So at

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<v Speaker 2>my at our tiny little school, there was a student

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<v Speaker 2>run radio station that I you know, I'm not sure

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<v Speaker 2>that the signal went out much further than the force

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<v Speaker 2>the four blocks of campus. But uh, yeah, there was

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<v Speaker 2>a Saturday I can't remember. No, I think it was

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<v Speaker 2>a Sunday morning show for two hours that you know,

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<v Speaker 2>you just filled blocks of time, and so, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>me and a couple buddies we were screwing around and uh,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, hey, well this would be cool. And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think it lasted for a few months, but I

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<v Speaker 2>think they ran us off. I don't think listenership was

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<v Speaker 2>real high.

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<v Speaker 1>So so broadcasting was not going to be part of

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<v Speaker 1>your future.

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<v Speaker 2>Nah, I got out of that click.

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<v Speaker 1>But scouting was what what? When did you make the

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<v Speaker 1>choice to go down this road knowing you know how

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<v Speaker 1>hard it is to work your way up. You're already

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<v Speaker 1>you talked about being away from your family now, but

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<v Speaker 1>that's something as a scout, traveling over the years, you've

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<v Speaker 1>learned to get you to what made you decide to

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<v Speaker 1>go this route in terms of staying involved in football?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, when my when my playing career was over. I

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<v Speaker 2>I kind of was at a little bit of crossroads,

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<v Speaker 2>didn't quite know where I was going to go, and

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<v Speaker 2>thought about going in the coaching coaching realm. And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>it's something always about personnel, the personnel. I'd always was

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<v Speaker 2>interested in the draft and kind of when I was young,

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<v Speaker 2>reading up on on personnel moves and trades and things

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<v Speaker 2>like that, and and so you know, I didn't didn't

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<v Speaker 2>think coaching was was the right path for me. And

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<v Speaker 2>and so I decided, hey, this is this is an

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<v Speaker 2>avenue that I I kind of wanted to go try

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<v Speaker 2>going down. And and so when I when I left

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<v Speaker 2>under undergraduate at from Morris and decided to go to

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<v Speaker 2>graduate school at Ohio University for a couple of years

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<v Speaker 2>and and they have a sports administration program there and

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<v Speaker 2>so went there for a couple of years, and through

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<v Speaker 2>through the connections from Ohio University, I was able to

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<v Speaker 2>land an internship. My first job in the NFL down

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<v Speaker 2>you know, actually first I had a training camp internship

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<v Speaker 2>with the Minister the Vikings, hauling mattresses around a dorm room,

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<v Speaker 2>installing window air conditioning units. Uh you know, real glorious stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>And uh so that was my first exposure to the NFL,

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<v Speaker 2>and then after my two years in Ohio, found a

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<v Speaker 2>year long internship down in Houston with the Texans in

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<v Speaker 2>personnel and and at that point I was hooked and

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<v Speaker 2>and just had a real fortunate along the way to

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<v Speaker 2>meet some great people and learn and and to have

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<v Speaker 2>a bunch of things break my way for me to

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<v Speaker 2>kind of just move up the ranks.

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<v Speaker 1>Was Mike Tice, the head coach of the Vikings. Then

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<v Speaker 1>it wasn't Denny, was it?

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<v Speaker 2>It was? Man That's a great question at that point,

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<v Speaker 2>it was what year was it? It was two thousand

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<v Speaker 2>and one.

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<v Speaker 1>I think it might have still been Denny.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it was. I think it was Denny. It

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<v Speaker 2>was it was Moss's rookie year.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, Yeah, it was Masny.

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<v Speaker 2>Then, Yeah, it was Denny, it was. It was actually

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<v Speaker 2>unfortunately it was it was the summer that that Corey

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<v Speaker 2>Stringer passed away. Yeah, it was that. Then. That was

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<v Speaker 2>a that was a tough, tough situation there in Mankato.

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<v Speaker 2>We had training camps. So that was that was the year. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>And so you were with the Patriots obviously for a

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<v Speaker 1>long time, most recently with the Titans, but fifteen years

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<v Speaker 1>overall in New England. What was your biggest takeaway when

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<v Speaker 1>you look back and think, hey, this was something that

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<v Speaker 1>I held on to that I learned from Coach Belichick

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<v Speaker 1>or one of the many other personnel guys who've gone

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<v Speaker 1>on to be GMS like Jason Light.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. Boy, we could be here for two hours talking

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<v Speaker 2>about that, because you know, I just extremely fortunate to

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<v Speaker 2>have that experience of being there. But you know, I

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<v Speaker 2>think I think the biggest thing for me is just

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<v Speaker 2>taken from there is just the importance of building an

0:10:37.679 --> 0:10:41.600
<v Speaker 2>entire football program. That there's nothing that can stand alone

0:10:41.840 --> 0:10:44.199
<v Speaker 2>and be on its own. Everything is connected, whether it's

0:10:44.720 --> 0:10:48.320
<v Speaker 2>the coaching or the scouting, but even to the strength training,

0:10:48.360 --> 0:10:52.560
<v Speaker 2>to training, to nutrition, to how the team travels, to

0:10:53.360 --> 0:10:56.680
<v Speaker 2>you know, the PR group. Everything is every everything is

0:10:56.720 --> 0:10:59.920
<v Speaker 2>on the same page. Everything is pointed in one direction,

0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:03.760
<v Speaker 2>and that's to winning. And so you know that's something

0:11:03.760 --> 0:11:07.600
<v Speaker 2>out There's really no secret sauce. Everybody always brings up,

0:11:07.679 --> 0:11:10.600
<v Speaker 2>oh the Patriot Way and there's some you know, magical

0:11:10.600 --> 0:11:13.480
<v Speaker 2>formula or some secret pill like that. There really isn't

0:11:13.559 --> 0:11:17.199
<v Speaker 2>other than you know, people knowing what their job is

0:11:17.400 --> 0:11:20.079
<v Speaker 2>and how they contribute to a winning effort and doing

0:11:20.160 --> 0:11:21.240
<v Speaker 2>it at a high level.

0:11:21.800 --> 0:11:25.880
<v Speaker 1>Do you have any particular interactions with Coach Belichick that

0:11:26.000 --> 0:11:27.640
<v Speaker 1>you recall. I don't know if you've had a chance

0:11:27.640 --> 0:11:30.000
<v Speaker 1>to get to know Ron Wolfley at all, who I

0:11:30.120 --> 0:11:32.920
<v Speaker 1>do the Cardinal Games with with. Wolf was the special

0:11:32.920 --> 0:11:37.360
<v Speaker 1>teams captain for Bill in Cleveland and still talks to

0:11:37.400 --> 0:11:39.520
<v Speaker 1>him like they still have a relationship. He's had him

0:11:39.520 --> 0:11:42.160
<v Speaker 1>on his radio show and he's got great stories that

0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:45.280
<v Speaker 1>really tell you all you need to know that basically

0:11:45.360 --> 0:11:48.000
<v Speaker 1>Bill hasn't changed, Like he's the same now as he

0:11:48.200 --> 0:11:50.760
<v Speaker 1>was then in terms of how he interacts with players,

0:11:50.760 --> 0:11:52.840
<v Speaker 1>how he interacts with people on his staff. Is there

0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:55.520
<v Speaker 1>anything that you recall, like, man, that was a great

0:11:55.559 --> 0:11:59.240
<v Speaker 1>conversation or one that was like embarrassing where he riptures.

0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:02.160
<v Speaker 2>Well, I mean, I you know, I'd say I'd say this.

0:12:02.200 --> 0:12:06.720
<v Speaker 2>I mean Coach Belichick is He's He's always been. You know,

0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:09.079
<v Speaker 2>he's been a person that I've warn't an immense amount

0:12:09.160 --> 0:12:11.920
<v Speaker 2>from And you know, he's been extremely generous with his

0:12:12.000 --> 0:12:15.160
<v Speaker 2>time here since I since I got this job, just

0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:18.880
<v Speaker 2>being a sounding board for me and and just being

0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:21.080
<v Speaker 2>being there to to talk through some things with. And

0:12:21.120 --> 0:12:23.920
<v Speaker 2>he's He's been tremendous with that. You know, I think

0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:27.560
<v Speaker 2>my first, uh, when I was a lower level scout

0:12:27.600 --> 0:12:31.080
<v Speaker 2>in New England one year we were prepping for the draft,

0:12:31.120 --> 0:12:33.880
<v Speaker 2>and and at the time I was living in Colorado,

0:12:33.960 --> 0:12:35.920
<v Speaker 2>so I wasn't even in the office, but you know,

0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:38.480
<v Speaker 2>I had had I had a project to do, and

0:12:39.480 --> 0:12:42.080
<v Speaker 2>for some reason, I got on a project of looking

0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:45.880
<v Speaker 2>at special teams players for the draft, and so you know,

0:12:45.960 --> 0:12:48.400
<v Speaker 2>there was a there was a It was the year

0:12:48.559 --> 0:12:51.800
<v Speaker 2>that Matt Slater was coming out of UCLA, and so

0:12:52.160 --> 0:12:54.160
<v Speaker 2>Matt Slater was one of the guys that I happened

0:12:54.160 --> 0:12:58.080
<v Speaker 2>to look at. And you know, I looked at ten twelve,

0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:01.199
<v Speaker 2>ten twelve players, and you know, Matts, Matt Slater stood

0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:04.240
<v Speaker 2>out as just a guy that an out outstanding special

0:13:04.280 --> 0:13:07.360
<v Speaker 2>teams player. And so you know, I, as a lower

0:13:07.440 --> 0:13:09.200
<v Speaker 2>level scout, you didn't have a lot of interaction with

0:13:09.240 --> 0:13:12.079
<v Speaker 2>coach Belichick. And so you know, I completed this project

0:13:12.160 --> 0:13:14.880
<v Speaker 2>and and sent it in and and you know, passed

0:13:14.920 --> 0:13:18.160
<v Speaker 2>it up to to Scott Pioli, to Nick Cassario, some

0:13:18.200 --> 0:13:21.280
<v Speaker 2>guys that I had worked for, and you know, I

0:13:21.320 --> 0:13:23.599
<v Speaker 2>woke up one morning with the time change in Colorado

0:13:23.640 --> 0:13:27.439
<v Speaker 2>and you know, I checked my phone and I had

0:13:27.480 --> 0:13:31.160
<v Speaker 2>an email from Coach Belichick and like kind of groggy

0:13:31.160 --> 0:13:33.760
<v Speaker 2>even snap up and like, oh, I got to read

0:13:33.800 --> 0:13:35.960
<v Speaker 2>this one, you know. So it was it was it

0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:39.000
<v Speaker 2>was Coach Belichick, and it was him asking me about

0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:42.040
<v Speaker 2>the project that I did and specifically about Matt And so,

0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:45.240
<v Speaker 2>you know, that's something that that really was my first

0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:48.400
<v Speaker 2>like real direct interaction with Coach Belichick on a on

0:13:48.440 --> 0:13:50.680
<v Speaker 2>a one to one basis, and just you know that

0:13:50.720 --> 0:13:53.559
<v Speaker 2>he had taken the time to to read what I

0:13:53.600 --> 0:13:56.520
<v Speaker 2>had had put before him. You know that that was

0:13:56.600 --> 0:13:58.680
<v Speaker 2>kind of something that's always going to stick with me.

0:13:59.240 --> 0:14:01.960
<v Speaker 1>I remember, I think it was called the Two Bills.

0:14:02.000 --> 0:14:04.160
<v Speaker 1>It was a thirty for thirty with him and Bill

0:14:04.200 --> 0:14:10.280
<v Speaker 1>Parcells and watching Coach Belichick's reverence for Coach Parcells and

0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:14.200
<v Speaker 1>again hearing from Wolf other guys that played for Bill.

0:14:16.080 --> 0:14:18.240
<v Speaker 1>I know it's all business with him, but at the

0:14:18.240 --> 0:14:21.800
<v Speaker 1>same time, like I feel that he respects and appreciates

0:14:21.880 --> 0:14:24.120
<v Speaker 1>guys that went to war for him, whether it was

0:14:24.160 --> 0:14:27.200
<v Speaker 1>a player or somebody in your position. Is that something

0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:28.080
<v Speaker 1>that you found as well?

0:14:28.200 --> 0:14:30.720
<v Speaker 2>Absolutely, I think I think that's absolutely fair. I mean,

0:14:30.760 --> 0:14:34.920
<v Speaker 2>Bill is an extremely focused individual, and he is focused

0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.280
<v Speaker 2>on He's focused on winning and doing what's best for

0:14:37.280 --> 0:14:40.040
<v Speaker 2>the football team. And I think when he sees he

0:14:40.160 --> 0:14:42.480
<v Speaker 2>sees you know, other people he I mean, that's his

0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:45.920
<v Speaker 2>goal is to surround the rest of his organization with

0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:48.920
<v Speaker 2>people that have that same mindset, and he has a

0:14:48.960 --> 0:14:52.080
<v Speaker 2>real appreciation for people that can can really put the

0:14:52.120 --> 0:14:53.200
<v Speaker 2>team before themselves.

0:14:53.880 --> 0:14:57.040
<v Speaker 1>So you'd talked to after the draft in your press

0:14:57.080 --> 0:15:03.480
<v Speaker 1>conference about the rush of everything you did. And I'm curious,

0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:05.440
<v Speaker 1>because you know, we're not in that room. We have

0:15:05.520 --> 0:15:07.960
<v Speaker 1>no idea what it's like to be in that room.

0:15:09.080 --> 0:15:12.000
<v Speaker 1>What was it like to be the GM on draft night.

0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:14.440
<v Speaker 1>You've been in the rooms before, but you've not been

0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:17.600
<v Speaker 1>that guy making all the calls, having the final say.

0:15:18.360 --> 0:15:19.040
<v Speaker 1>What was it like?

0:15:19.960 --> 0:15:23.320
<v Speaker 2>It was different? It was certainly different, you know. I

0:15:23.320 --> 0:15:26.320
<v Speaker 2>I think that that kind of dawned on me in

0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:28.280
<v Speaker 2>the in the couple of days leading up to the draft.

0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:30.360
<v Speaker 2>And you know, in the in the past, you prepare

0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:32.080
<v Speaker 2>for a draft and you're like, man, you know, I

0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:34.440
<v Speaker 2>hope this happens, and I you know, you know, if

0:15:34.440 --> 0:15:36.600
<v Speaker 2>this happens, I think we should do this. But now

0:15:36.600 --> 0:15:38.960
<v Speaker 2>it's there's no more. I think we should do this.

0:15:39.080 --> 0:15:41.960
<v Speaker 2>It's we're going to do this, and you know, alter

0:15:42.120 --> 0:15:44.400
<v Speaker 2>that's that's uh, you know, that's a that's a big

0:15:44.400 --> 0:15:47.680
<v Speaker 2>mantle to take on, you know, and so you know that, uh,

0:15:47.840 --> 0:15:49.760
<v Speaker 2>that's something that I did, you know, think about. It

0:15:49.800 --> 0:15:52.080
<v Speaker 2>did cross my mind going in. But you know, I

0:15:52.120 --> 0:15:54.880
<v Speaker 2>think for me personally, like I think the thing that

0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:58.160
<v Speaker 2>really helped me over that that first hour of the

0:15:58.240 --> 0:16:00.880
<v Speaker 2>draft where there was there was so much action, is

0:16:00.880 --> 0:16:03.800
<v Speaker 2>is we were prepared and that the team are our

0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:07.600
<v Speaker 2>group of individuals upstairs. We were ready and you know,

0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:10.160
<v Speaker 2>it could have things could have shook out a different

0:16:10.160 --> 0:16:12.200
<v Speaker 2>way and we would have been fine. We would have

0:16:12.240 --> 0:16:14.240
<v Speaker 2>been fine with that too. I just I just think

0:16:14.240 --> 0:16:17.360
<v Speaker 2>that the time that we prepared and the scenarios that

0:16:17.400 --> 0:16:20.600
<v Speaker 2>we tried to walk through, you know, things didn't happen

0:16:20.640 --> 0:16:23.640
<v Speaker 2>exactly the way we thought they would, but we had

0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:27.400
<v Speaker 2>also talked at nauseum about different ways that things could happen,

0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:30.160
<v Speaker 2>and we were ready. We reacted, and you know, ultimately,

0:16:30.240 --> 0:16:32.720
<v Speaker 2>I think I think we made decisions that were good

0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:33.160
<v Speaker 2>for the team.

0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:35.520
<v Speaker 1>How much of what you're talking about right now in

0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:39.360
<v Speaker 1>terms of things didn't go exactly how we thought or

0:16:40.280 --> 0:16:41.960
<v Speaker 1>we weren't sure what was going to happen. It felt

0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:44.840
<v Speaker 1>like the world wasn't sure based on it just seemed

0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:47.600
<v Speaker 1>like everything was coming down to number two. Like I

0:16:47.680 --> 0:16:50.520
<v Speaker 1>kept hearing they don't like CJ. Stroud in Houston, and

0:16:50.640 --> 0:16:53.040
<v Speaker 1>clearly was subterfuge, right, It clearly was put out there.

0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:54.640
<v Speaker 1>Were you guys hearing that as well? Like, were you

0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:57.680
<v Speaker 1>guys unsure? Hey, is it going to be Stroud? Is

0:16:57.720 --> 0:16:59.080
<v Speaker 1>it going to be Will Anderson? Are they going to

0:16:59.160 --> 0:17:00.960
<v Speaker 1>look to trade down? Is going to be somebody else?

0:17:01.160 --> 0:17:03.080
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? And I think we looked at all those scenarios day.

0:17:03.160 --> 0:17:05.720
<v Speaker 2>I think you know, we didn't. We had no idea.

0:17:05.800 --> 0:17:07.760
<v Speaker 2>We had no idea. I mean, we felt we felt

0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:09.320
<v Speaker 2>pretty good about what was going to happen at one.

0:17:10.240 --> 0:17:12.040
<v Speaker 2>Number two we had no idea. So we had to

0:17:12.040 --> 0:17:14.440
<v Speaker 2>talk about all those scenarios that you just said, we

0:17:14.440 --> 0:17:17.600
<v Speaker 2>we hey, if they take this quarterback or a different quarterback,

0:17:17.640 --> 0:17:20.040
<v Speaker 2>or do they go a position player? And we had

0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:22.520
<v Speaker 2>to talk through all those scenarios about who may or

0:17:22.520 --> 0:17:24.520
<v Speaker 2>may not be interested in moving up based on what

0:17:24.680 --> 0:17:27.800
<v Speaker 2>happened at number two. So we worked through those, and

0:17:28.359 --> 0:17:30.840
<v Speaker 2>you know, you could drive yourself crazy going going with

0:17:31.280 --> 0:17:33.920
<v Speaker 2>there's a million different scenarios, and you well, what if

0:17:33.920 --> 0:17:36.479
<v Speaker 2>this happens, Well, that would never happen. Oh really, like

0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:38.600
<v Speaker 2>you just don't know with the draft, you know. So

0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:42.359
<v Speaker 2>we worked through those and we we felt good about,

0:17:42.480 --> 0:17:44.919
<v Speaker 2>you know, just working through those different scenarios, and we

0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:47.720
<v Speaker 2>were as surprised as ever as anybody when when number

0:17:47.720 --> 0:17:48.600
<v Speaker 2>two came off the board.

0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:51.560
<v Speaker 1>Okay, so number two comes off the board? Is it

0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:54.400
<v Speaker 1>right away? Okay, we've worked through these scenarios, so scenario

0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:57.640
<v Speaker 1>X has happened. Let's execute that plan correct.

0:17:57.640 --> 0:17:59.560
<v Speaker 2>And I think, you know, I think I think the

0:17:59.560 --> 0:18:03.680
<v Speaker 2>discussion on this the number three pick, they really they

0:18:03.720 --> 0:18:06.720
<v Speaker 2>really started back at the combine and you know, hey,

0:18:07.640 --> 0:18:10.000
<v Speaker 2>you know at that point it was more I don't

0:18:10.000 --> 0:18:11.600
<v Speaker 2>know if we're going to pick at number three, but

0:18:11.880 --> 0:18:14.159
<v Speaker 2>if we don't pick, or would you be interested in

0:18:14.200 --> 0:18:17.719
<v Speaker 2>coming up? So you know, we started those conversations back then. Uh.

0:18:17.960 --> 0:18:19.720
<v Speaker 2>And then I would say the week leading up to

0:18:19.760 --> 0:18:23.160
<v Speaker 2>the draft, and specifically the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday before the draft,

0:18:23.200 --> 0:18:26.600
<v Speaker 2>those talks really started to get more concrete. And so

0:18:26.960 --> 0:18:29.520
<v Speaker 2>it was a goal of mine is to have I

0:18:29.560 --> 0:18:32.200
<v Speaker 2>wanted to go into Thursday with parameters of what was

0:18:32.240 --> 0:18:34.720
<v Speaker 2>going to happen, so that no matter what happened at

0:18:34.800 --> 0:18:37.879
<v Speaker 2>number two, I didn't want a cold call to come

0:18:37.920 --> 0:18:40.040
<v Speaker 2>out of the blue and number three and us start

0:18:40.040 --> 0:18:43.359
<v Speaker 2>from ground zero. So we had multiple teams that we

0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:46.280
<v Speaker 2>had talked to Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. You know, hey,

0:18:46.320 --> 0:18:50.040
<v Speaker 2>if if this happens or if our guy's there, you know,

0:18:50.440 --> 0:18:52.000
<v Speaker 2>this is what it would look like. This is what

0:18:52.040 --> 0:18:54.639
<v Speaker 2>we'd be interested in. Okay, all right, I'll you know,

0:18:54.760 --> 0:18:57.640
<v Speaker 2>we'll see what happens. And and so then when number

0:18:57.680 --> 0:19:00.840
<v Speaker 2>two did come off the board, you know, there were

0:19:00.920 --> 0:19:03.159
<v Speaker 2>some teams that weren't interested anymore. And coming up to

0:19:03.240 --> 0:19:05.480
<v Speaker 2>number three, there were some teams that were still interested

0:19:05.480 --> 0:19:08.240
<v Speaker 2>in coming to number three. But there was no at

0:19:08.280 --> 0:19:12.040
<v Speaker 2>no time was there. We weren't starting from zero. We

0:19:12.040 --> 0:19:13.960
<v Speaker 2>we kind of had a ballpark of what we were

0:19:14.000 --> 0:19:16.560
<v Speaker 2>trying to do, and you know, ultimately we were able

0:19:16.560 --> 0:19:18.520
<v Speaker 2>to work through and come up with a deal that worked.

0:19:19.320 --> 0:19:22.800
<v Speaker 1>So we're watching the draft and it feels like the

0:19:22.840 --> 0:19:26.159
<v Speaker 1>trade is made as we're coming down to the wire.

0:19:26.640 --> 0:19:28.520
<v Speaker 1>Was it like that for you in the room or

0:19:28.640 --> 0:19:32.679
<v Speaker 1>was it calm? Were the conversations very typical of what

0:19:32.720 --> 0:19:35.040
<v Speaker 1>you expected? And it just took time to kind of

0:19:35.280 --> 0:19:37.439
<v Speaker 1>get it to the league so they could announce it.

0:19:38.160 --> 0:19:40.960
<v Speaker 2>I would say it did. It did come down that

0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:43.360
<v Speaker 2>the time was taken down, and that was a product

0:19:43.440 --> 0:19:47.080
<v Speaker 2>of you know, when when the number two pick, When

0:19:47.080 --> 0:19:49.880
<v Speaker 2>the number two pick goes in, the clock starts immediately right,

0:19:49.920 --> 0:19:52.639
<v Speaker 2>so that there's no lag to Hey, let's walk up

0:19:52.640 --> 0:19:55.119
<v Speaker 2>there and announce it like it it's it's going. And

0:19:55.160 --> 0:19:57.480
<v Speaker 2>so there's some time to Hey, we got to check

0:19:57.560 --> 0:20:00.360
<v Speaker 2>back with all the teams that we've had discussions with, Hey,

0:20:00.400 --> 0:20:03.160
<v Speaker 2>are you still interested? No? Are you still interested? Yes?

0:20:03.280 --> 0:20:04.960
<v Speaker 2>And then so you go down the line and so

0:20:05.080 --> 0:20:07.160
<v Speaker 2>then you go through that process. All right, so now

0:20:07.160 --> 0:20:09.719
<v Speaker 2>we're down to x number of teams that are interested

0:20:09.760 --> 0:20:12.679
<v Speaker 2>in coming up. Okay, so this team, we know that

0:20:12.760 --> 0:20:14.680
<v Speaker 2>this team was here on the deal. This team was

0:20:14.720 --> 0:20:17.000
<v Speaker 2>here on the deal. Okay, which one do we like

0:20:17.040 --> 0:20:18.920
<v Speaker 2>better out of the two? All right, we like this one.

0:20:19.000 --> 0:20:21.000
<v Speaker 2>Let's go back and see if we can talk. And

0:20:21.040 --> 0:20:24.280
<v Speaker 2>so as we are going through that, you know, it

0:20:24.800 --> 0:20:28.200
<v Speaker 2>helped that I have a personal relationship with with Nick

0:20:28.200 --> 0:20:30.920
<v Speaker 2>Cassario and Houston have a lot of respect for Nick

0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:33.399
<v Speaker 2>as a as a person. He's been a mentor to me.

0:20:33.440 --> 0:20:35.320
<v Speaker 2>He's been a friend of me. Our families are close,

0:20:36.640 --> 0:20:38.800
<v Speaker 2>you know, I say that other than to say just

0:20:39.119 --> 0:20:43.199
<v Speaker 2>the conversation was easy between Nick and I, and you know,

0:20:43.280 --> 0:20:45.560
<v Speaker 2>so it got to a point where, hey, you know,

0:20:45.640 --> 0:20:49.480
<v Speaker 2>this is this is what we're offering, and you know, Nick,

0:20:49.520 --> 0:20:51.840
<v Speaker 2>I need it to include this. And then Nick can

0:20:51.840 --> 0:20:53.520
<v Speaker 2>tell me, yeah, you know what, I'm not doing that,

0:20:53.680 --> 0:20:56.280
<v Speaker 2>and so I don't take offense to that. I know Nick.

0:20:56.359 --> 0:20:58.480
<v Speaker 2>I have that relationship with Nick, and he can tell me, no,

0:20:58.560 --> 0:21:00.960
<v Speaker 2>I'm not doing that. And so eventually there were some

0:21:01.080 --> 0:21:03.679
<v Speaker 2>back and forth there and the top clock's going, the

0:21:03.720 --> 0:21:06.320
<v Speaker 2>clock's going, and I think it was around I don't know,

0:21:06.440 --> 0:21:10.000
<v Speaker 2>two and a half minutes maybe where you know, we

0:21:10.160 --> 0:21:12.119
<v Speaker 2>got the got the couple of deals written up on

0:21:12.119 --> 0:21:15.760
<v Speaker 2>the board, and a couple of teams, and so then okay, Nick,

0:21:15.840 --> 0:21:18.120
<v Speaker 2>I think we're at a spot where we're close. Here

0:21:18.560 --> 0:21:21.639
<v Speaker 2>it's this and this for this, this and this. Uh

0:21:22.320 --> 0:21:24.600
<v Speaker 2>are you in? Yep? I'm in. I'm in. Okay, great,

0:21:24.640 --> 0:21:26.159
<v Speaker 2>call it in. And so at two two and a

0:21:26.200 --> 0:21:29.280
<v Speaker 2>half minutes, we both hang up the phone and our

0:21:29.320 --> 0:21:32.080
<v Speaker 2>cap guy, Matt Harris, then has to call the league

0:21:32.480 --> 0:21:35.560
<v Speaker 2>and repeat the trade terms of them. On Nick's end,

0:21:35.680 --> 0:21:38.040
<v Speaker 2>their cap guy or whoever is handling trades for them

0:21:38.080 --> 0:21:40.040
<v Speaker 2>has to call the has to call the league and

0:21:40.080 --> 0:21:43.040
<v Speaker 2>turn their pick in or turn turn their the terms

0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:44.640
<v Speaker 2>of the trade. We both have to say the exact

0:21:44.680 --> 0:21:47.119
<v Speaker 2>same trade, so the league knows that nobody's trying to

0:21:47.119 --> 0:21:49.919
<v Speaker 2>pull something here. And then so once that happens, the

0:21:50.080 --> 0:21:53.000
<v Speaker 2>trade becomes official. And now Houston's got to take another

0:21:53.040 --> 0:21:55.840
<v Speaker 2>step and call the player in this case, Will Anderson

0:21:56.200 --> 0:21:58.679
<v Speaker 2>get him on the phone and make sure he's okay.

0:21:59.160 --> 0:22:02.000
<v Speaker 2>And so all that happened, I would say, give or

0:22:02.040 --> 0:22:04.240
<v Speaker 2>take in span a two two and a half minute.

0:22:05.000 --> 0:22:09.600
<v Speaker 2>So it was it was, uh yeah, it was. It

0:22:09.640 --> 0:22:13.040
<v Speaker 2>was intense. It was good. But again I I would

0:22:13.080 --> 0:22:15.119
<v Speaker 2>have to go back and look at the tape. I don't.

0:22:15.280 --> 0:22:17.680
<v Speaker 2>I don't think anybody in our room was panicking. I would,

0:22:17.920 --> 0:22:19.800
<v Speaker 2>you know, football people always got to go back and

0:22:19.800 --> 0:22:21.800
<v Speaker 2>look at the tape. Sorry, right, but I think, you know,

0:22:21.880 --> 0:22:23.399
<v Speaker 2>I think again, I think we had a plan and

0:22:23.720 --> 0:22:25.720
<v Speaker 2>the time was taken, and time was of the essence,

0:22:25.760 --> 0:22:28.400
<v Speaker 2>and but you know we were able to finally get

0:22:28.440 --> 0:22:29.680
<v Speaker 2>and push it across the goal line.

0:22:29.680 --> 0:22:31.919
<v Speaker 1>First of all, it's fascinating and I think for the

0:22:32.359 --> 0:22:34.320
<v Speaker 1>people that are listening to this that that gives them

0:22:34.320 --> 0:22:36.480
<v Speaker 1>some inside knowledge as to what it's like. And there's

0:22:36.480 --> 0:22:37.840
<v Speaker 1>a lot of stuff you said there that I didn't know.

0:22:37.840 --> 0:22:39.920
<v Speaker 1>I didn't know that you have to actually get Will Anderson,

0:22:40.000 --> 0:22:42.359
<v Speaker 1>the player that's going to get picked, on the phone

0:22:42.400 --> 0:22:44.399
<v Speaker 1>to let him know exactly what's going on. Sure, I

0:22:44.400 --> 0:22:46.760
<v Speaker 1>didn't know how that information was relayed to a guy. Hey,

0:22:46.760 --> 0:22:48.840
<v Speaker 1>you're going to get picked, but the team that is

0:22:48.840 --> 0:22:50.960
<v Speaker 1>picking at number three is no longer picking at number three.

0:22:51.040 --> 0:22:54.480
<v Speaker 2>Correct. Yeah, And that's and and really we are ahead

0:22:54.480 --> 0:22:57.080
<v Speaker 2>of we are what you guys are watching on TV.

0:22:57.680 --> 0:23:00.679
<v Speaker 2>We're ahead of that. And so you know, maybe it

0:23:00.720 --> 0:23:03.359
<v Speaker 2>was different for Will being in the green room, but

0:23:03.680 --> 0:23:07.439
<v Speaker 2>for for most guys like they they they're sitting there

0:23:07.480 --> 0:23:10.080
<v Speaker 2>watching on TV, and we were probably like two picks

0:23:10.080 --> 0:23:12.639
<v Speaker 2>ahead of them. So we call somebody and tell him, hey,

0:23:12.640 --> 0:23:14.239
<v Speaker 2>we're gonna you know, your name is gonna be coming

0:23:14.280 --> 0:23:15.720
<v Speaker 2>across here. It's going to be in a few minutes.

0:23:15.760 --> 0:23:17.040
<v Speaker 2>So there is a little bit of a lag.

0:23:17.040 --> 0:23:21.639
<v Speaker 1>There was Paris Johnson always the guy, meaning if you

0:23:21.680 --> 0:23:23.639
<v Speaker 1>had to pick him at three, would you have? And

0:23:23.720 --> 0:23:26.600
<v Speaker 1>if so, you know him being the guy for you.

0:23:26.960 --> 0:23:29.400
<v Speaker 1>When did you know? When did you guys make the decision, Hey,

0:23:29.400 --> 0:23:30.840
<v Speaker 1>this is the guy we want.

0:23:31.080 --> 0:23:33.400
<v Speaker 2>M Yeah, I mean I think we had. I think

0:23:33.400 --> 0:23:36.000
<v Speaker 2>we had multiple options at various points. I mean, I

0:23:36.000 --> 0:23:39.320
<v Speaker 2>think Paris was in the discussion, you know, wherever we

0:23:39.320 --> 0:23:42.359
<v Speaker 2>were going to end up picking. You know, I think

0:23:42.400 --> 0:23:46.320
<v Speaker 2>for me personally, we we did. We spent a lot

0:23:46.320 --> 0:23:49.600
<v Speaker 2>of time with Paris, starting at the Combine with him.

0:23:49.640 --> 0:23:51.240
<v Speaker 2>We had a formal interview with him there. He was

0:23:51.280 --> 0:23:54.679
<v Speaker 2>a very impressive kid there. But really what solidified it

0:23:54.720 --> 0:23:56.399
<v Speaker 2>for me is when he when Paris came in for

0:23:56.440 --> 0:23:58.800
<v Speaker 2>his thirty visit and he got we had a chance

0:23:58.800 --> 0:24:01.040
<v Speaker 2>to spend the entire day with him and just to

0:24:01.080 --> 0:24:03.680
<v Speaker 2>see the type of kid that he was. And really

0:24:03.720 --> 0:24:06.800
<v Speaker 2>those thirty visits have nothing to do with his ability

0:24:06.800 --> 0:24:08.800
<v Speaker 2>on the field. It's all about the person and how

0:24:08.800 --> 0:24:12.679
<v Speaker 2>he interacts and how smart is he and how mature

0:24:12.720 --> 0:24:16.040
<v Speaker 2>and dependable is he. And so my meeting with Paris,

0:24:16.480 --> 0:24:18.439
<v Speaker 2>my meeting with all the prospects is really at the

0:24:18.480 --> 0:24:20.320
<v Speaker 2>end of the day, after we spent you know, kind

0:24:20.320 --> 0:24:22.200
<v Speaker 2>of put them through the ringer and gone through things,

0:24:22.240 --> 0:24:24.439
<v Speaker 2>and my meeting with Paris, with that was at the

0:24:24.480 --> 0:24:26.639
<v Speaker 2>end of the day, and you know when by the

0:24:26.640 --> 0:24:29.320
<v Speaker 2>time my meeting with him was done, he walked out

0:24:29.400 --> 0:24:31.919
<v Speaker 2>and and I knew that that Paris was made up

0:24:31.920 --> 0:24:34.359
<v Speaker 2>of the type of stuff that we would want to

0:24:34.359 --> 0:24:37.320
<v Speaker 2>add to our program. And you know, you there's but

0:24:37.640 --> 0:24:39.600
<v Speaker 2>there's a lot of people that you can say that about.

0:24:39.640 --> 0:24:42.080
<v Speaker 2>And so sure, I hope that we would get a

0:24:42.119 --> 0:24:45.280
<v Speaker 2>chance to add Paris, and you know, ultimately we did so,

0:24:45.440 --> 0:24:46.399
<v Speaker 2>and we were happy with that.

0:24:46.680 --> 0:24:48.640
<v Speaker 1>So you trade down and then you trade back up

0:24:48.680 --> 0:24:51.640
<v Speaker 1>obviously to make the selection at six to get Paris.

0:24:53.359 --> 0:24:56.160
<v Speaker 1>How did you know when to move back up? Did

0:24:56.200 --> 0:24:58.119
<v Speaker 1>you know when you made the trade with Houston, Hey,

0:24:58.160 --> 0:24:59.960
<v Speaker 1>we're going to move back up. Part of this, dear,

0:25:00.200 --> 0:25:02.360
<v Speaker 1>is we're going to use what we just got or

0:25:02.520 --> 0:25:04.720
<v Speaker 1>some of the other picks we had to move back up.

0:25:05.119 --> 0:25:06.560
<v Speaker 1>And when did you pull that trigger?

0:25:06.760 --> 0:25:11.280
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? That was that was definitely a part of any

0:25:11.359 --> 0:25:14.880
<v Speaker 2>of our trade down discussions, is that we wanted any

0:25:15.000 --> 0:25:18.119
<v Speaker 2>any trade where we were bouncing back or moving back,

0:25:18.480 --> 0:25:22.520
<v Speaker 2>we wanted to have enough currency in that trade to

0:25:22.640 --> 0:25:26.199
<v Speaker 2>claw back up but still come out net positive on

0:25:26.280 --> 0:25:29.240
<v Speaker 2>the first trade. And so didn't know if we were

0:25:29.240 --> 0:25:30.560
<v Speaker 2>going to be able to pull that off like that

0:25:30.680 --> 0:25:33.760
<v Speaker 2>all sounds great, but you need you need the other

0:25:33.800 --> 0:25:35.520
<v Speaker 2>side of the trade to work out as well. And

0:25:35.560 --> 0:25:38.320
<v Speaker 2>so you know, as we were talking through the scenarios

0:25:38.440 --> 0:25:41.080
<v Speaker 2>leading up to the week, we knew that, hey, if

0:25:41.160 --> 0:25:44.120
<v Speaker 2>the further you jump back up, it's going to cost more.

0:25:44.200 --> 0:25:47.000
<v Speaker 2>And so you know, so those were things that that

0:25:47.080 --> 0:25:49.679
<v Speaker 2>we had considered. We were we were ready at We

0:25:50.040 --> 0:25:51.960
<v Speaker 2>made several calls. As soon as we went back to

0:25:52.040 --> 0:25:54.959
<v Speaker 2>number twelve, we immediately made it, started making calls at

0:25:55.240 --> 0:25:59.240
<v Speaker 2>various levels, and you know, we had to wait for

0:25:59.400 --> 0:26:02.520
<v Speaker 2>what the number, the number four pick to go went across,

0:26:02.920 --> 0:26:06.520
<v Speaker 2>and so then we were making calls and finally we

0:26:07.040 --> 0:26:09.439
<v Speaker 2>came to a team that was willing to or that

0:26:09.560 --> 0:26:11.359
<v Speaker 2>was willing to take the deal that we were offering,

0:26:11.800 --> 0:26:14.320
<v Speaker 2>and and then we just went ahead and made that move.

0:26:15.440 --> 0:26:19.199
<v Speaker 1>Second round. You take bj Ojalai from LSU, who I

0:26:19.200 --> 0:26:20.800
<v Speaker 1>did not have l s U this year, but had

0:26:20.840 --> 0:26:23.600
<v Speaker 1>them two years ago. So a little familiar with him,

0:26:23.600 --> 0:26:27.600
<v Speaker 1>familiar with his brother. What do you think he can be?

0:26:27.720 --> 0:26:31.000
<v Speaker 1>I think there were some people. Look, you guys got

0:26:31.160 --> 0:26:34.880
<v Speaker 1>praised by everybody in the media for the moves you made.

0:26:34.960 --> 0:26:36.800
<v Speaker 1>There were some people I just remember the time seeing

0:26:36.800 --> 0:26:38.840
<v Speaker 1>it that were a little surprised at the pick. What

0:26:39.640 --> 0:26:41.480
<v Speaker 1>do you think BJ can be and why did you

0:26:41.520 --> 0:26:43.119
<v Speaker 1>guys take him at that spot?

0:26:43.240 --> 0:26:46.399
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? Sure, So you know, with BJ, we saw, you know,

0:26:46.440 --> 0:26:49.120
<v Speaker 2>a player that has played at a high level in

0:26:49.160 --> 0:26:51.040
<v Speaker 2>one of the best conference in the in the country,

0:26:51.080 --> 0:26:55.320
<v Speaker 2>the SEC. We see a guy that has a good

0:26:55.359 --> 0:26:58.879
<v Speaker 2>get off. He's he's fast off the edge, he can bend,

0:26:59.000 --> 0:27:01.800
<v Speaker 2>he can he's got a good mix of speed to power,

0:27:01.840 --> 0:27:05.920
<v Speaker 2>of quickness of counter moves, you know. And the thing

0:27:05.960 --> 0:27:09.359
<v Speaker 2>that the thing that really impressed us about BJ is

0:27:09.480 --> 0:27:11.720
<v Speaker 2>not only meeting with him at the combine, but then

0:27:11.800 --> 0:27:14.879
<v Speaker 2>also you know BJ wears the number eighteen jersey at LSU,

0:27:15.000 --> 0:27:17.360
<v Speaker 2>and the number eighteen jersey is a you know, it's

0:27:17.359 --> 0:27:20.560
<v Speaker 2>a pretty big honor that they give out that the staff,

0:27:20.600 --> 0:27:23.640
<v Speaker 2>the coaches there, they vote on and and really that's

0:27:23.680 --> 0:27:28.200
<v Speaker 2>given to a player that exhibits the top program characteristics,

0:27:28.200 --> 0:27:31.040
<v Speaker 2>not not necessarily the best player, but the best the

0:27:31.080 --> 0:27:33.480
<v Speaker 2>guy that works hard, does things right, that goes about

0:27:33.480 --> 0:27:35.800
<v Speaker 2>things the right way, and that that was really important

0:27:35.840 --> 0:27:38.919
<v Speaker 2>to us. So, you know, not only BJ's ability on

0:27:38.960 --> 0:27:41.120
<v Speaker 2>the field to rush the passer, to set the edge

0:27:41.640 --> 0:27:44.760
<v Speaker 2>to do multiple things in our defense, but also the

0:27:44.840 --> 0:27:47.719
<v Speaker 2>makeup of BJ was really attractive to us at that point.

0:27:48.440 --> 0:27:51.919
<v Speaker 1>John Gains. You, guys, taking the fourth round, how important

0:27:52.040 --> 0:27:54.879
<v Speaker 1>was it for you to really address the offensive line

0:27:54.960 --> 0:27:55.760
<v Speaker 1>in this draft?

0:27:55.920 --> 0:27:58.080
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, And I think I think line of scrimmage players

0:27:58.080 --> 0:27:59.919
<v Speaker 2>are always going to be important to us. You know,

0:28:00.080 --> 0:28:02.280
<v Speaker 2>I think I think the game, the game starts up

0:28:02.320 --> 0:28:05.399
<v Speaker 2>there on both sides of the ball, and you know,

0:28:05.480 --> 0:28:07.399
<v Speaker 2>so I think I think that was definitely an area

0:28:08.119 --> 0:28:12.800
<v Speaker 2>that that we wanted to address. You know, with John

0:28:12.920 --> 0:28:16.280
<v Speaker 2>an interesting guy. You know, played played mainly guard at

0:28:16.359 --> 0:28:18.280
<v Speaker 2>U C. L A, but also saw time at center.

0:28:19.160 --> 0:28:21.680
<v Speaker 2>And then when when he went to the the All

0:28:21.680 --> 0:28:24.280
<v Speaker 2>Star Game, he played at the East West All Star

0:28:24.320 --> 0:28:26.880
<v Speaker 2>Game that was in Vegas, he he worked even more

0:28:26.920 --> 0:28:29.960
<v Speaker 2>so at center. So, you know, those interior guys that

0:28:29.960 --> 0:28:33.000
<v Speaker 2>that have that versatility to play multiple positions, that's always

0:28:33.000 --> 0:28:36.000
<v Speaker 2>going to be intriguing. And then our ability to meet

0:28:36.040 --> 0:28:38.520
<v Speaker 2>with him, our scouts to meet with him in Las Vegas,

0:28:38.520 --> 0:28:41.200
<v Speaker 2>and then also for us to continue the process through

0:28:41.240 --> 0:28:44.920
<v Speaker 2>the from the combine through the through the Zoom process.

0:28:45.800 --> 0:28:48.080
<v Speaker 2>You know, Zoom has has allowed us to reach out

0:28:48.080 --> 0:28:51.760
<v Speaker 2>and and just logistically be more efficient with our time.

0:28:52.200 --> 0:28:55.160
<v Speaker 2>But John did an extremely good job with our coaches

0:28:55.160 --> 0:28:58.000
<v Speaker 2>on the zoom. Just liked his makeup and his intellect

0:28:58.040 --> 0:29:00.800
<v Speaker 2>and his ability to handle the hand, the center position,

0:29:00.880 --> 0:29:04.080
<v Speaker 2>handle the guard position. You know. So that was attractive

0:29:04.080 --> 0:29:05.360
<v Speaker 2>about Adam John to our group.

0:29:05.600 --> 0:29:07.560
<v Speaker 1>So you look at the quarterback room. Look, no, nobody

0:29:07.560 --> 0:29:09.920
<v Speaker 1>in the NFL is like Kyler. But you know, Colt

0:29:10.000 --> 0:29:13.360
<v Speaker 1>and Kyler are pretty different. They're they're on different ends

0:29:13.360 --> 0:29:15.520
<v Speaker 1>of the spectrum. Where where do you think Clayton Tune,

0:29:15.520 --> 0:29:17.160
<v Speaker 1>who you guys took on the fifth round from Houston?

0:29:18.000 --> 0:29:20.240
<v Speaker 1>Where does he fit there? What did you guys see

0:29:20.240 --> 0:29:22.320
<v Speaker 1>in him that you think? You know, at some point

0:29:22.320 --> 0:29:24.080
<v Speaker 1>if we had to play this kid, we think he

0:29:24.120 --> 0:29:25.440
<v Speaker 1>could go in and win.

0:29:25.800 --> 0:29:27.680
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, I mean, and we'll we'll see how that

0:29:27.680 --> 0:29:29.200
<v Speaker 2>all shakes out. I mean, we got we got a

0:29:29.240 --> 0:29:31.280
<v Speaker 2>long way to go here. We got to get Clayton

0:29:31.320 --> 0:29:34.040
<v Speaker 2>here and and you know, get him, get him in

0:29:34.120 --> 0:29:36.280
<v Speaker 2>doctrine to our offense and and get him in the group.

0:29:36.320 --> 0:29:39.200
<v Speaker 2>But you know, with Clayton, we we did have an

0:29:39.240 --> 0:29:43.160
<v Speaker 2>interesting perspective with him, you know, are he he was

0:29:43.160 --> 0:29:45.360
<v Speaker 2>a participant down at the Senior Bowl this year and

0:29:46.320 --> 0:29:48.960
<v Speaker 2>at the time, are who are our current quarterback coach? Now?

0:29:49.000 --> 0:29:51.280
<v Speaker 2>Is he? Wolfwork was with Cleveland at the time, and

0:29:51.320 --> 0:29:52.920
<v Speaker 2>he had a chance to coach down in the Senior

0:29:52.960 --> 0:29:56.080
<v Speaker 2>Bowl and one of his Clayton, was on his team,

0:29:56.160 --> 0:29:59.360
<v Speaker 2>so we had we had a positive impression. Is he is?

0:29:59.400 --> 0:30:01.680
<v Speaker 2>He talked very highly of Clayton coming out of there,

0:30:02.080 --> 0:30:04.760
<v Speaker 2>and you know, Clayton was a highly productive player. And

0:30:05.080 --> 0:30:07.960
<v Speaker 2>you know, I think with a guy like Clayton, you know,

0:30:08.000 --> 0:30:10.520
<v Speaker 2>he's put up good passing numbers and and he's obviously

0:30:10.600 --> 0:30:14.760
<v Speaker 2>got a throwing talent, but it's he's also got good

0:30:14.840 --> 0:30:17.040
<v Speaker 2>athleticism for a for a bigger quarterback. I mean, he

0:30:17.120 --> 0:30:20.160
<v Speaker 2>ran well at the Combine. He ran for I want

0:30:20.160 --> 0:30:22.880
<v Speaker 2>to say, over five hundred yards this year in Houston's offense.

0:30:22.960 --> 0:30:25.000
<v Speaker 2>And so, you know, I think he does bring some

0:30:25.120 --> 0:30:27.680
<v Speaker 2>versatility that he's not just a he's just not a

0:30:27.720 --> 0:30:30.160
<v Speaker 2>pocket passer, that he can do some things outside the pocket,

0:30:30.200 --> 0:30:34.560
<v Speaker 2>play extension, some r P RPO type stuff. So we're

0:30:34.600 --> 0:30:36.800
<v Speaker 2>excited about adding him to our group and we'll see

0:30:36.800 --> 0:30:37.640
<v Speaker 2>where that shakes out.

0:30:37.960 --> 0:30:39.800
<v Speaker 1>Just a few more rapid fire, we'll get you out

0:30:39.800 --> 0:30:43.520
<v Speaker 1>of here. I really appreciate the time money Kyler's recovered.

0:30:43.600 --> 0:30:47.280
<v Speaker 1>You guys have a sense yet of when Kyler's going

0:30:47.320 --> 0:30:48.680
<v Speaker 1>to be available to play?

0:30:49.120 --> 0:30:51.800
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean Kyler's here every day. Kyler's grinding, he's

0:30:51.800 --> 0:30:55.360
<v Speaker 2>working hard, he's getting better, he's improving every day. You know,

0:30:55.480 --> 0:30:57.320
<v Speaker 2>I don't I don't have a timeline. I don't have

0:30:57.360 --> 0:31:00.320
<v Speaker 2>an update on that. You know, Kyler is We're We're

0:31:00.320 --> 0:31:01.960
<v Speaker 2>going to put him out there when he's ready, and

0:31:02.000 --> 0:31:05.240
<v Speaker 2>he'll He's doing everything he can now. He's in meetings,

0:31:05.240 --> 0:31:07.360
<v Speaker 2>he's learned, he's trying to take in the new offense

0:31:07.400 --> 0:31:10.040
<v Speaker 2>and doing what he can on that front. He just

0:31:10.080 --> 0:31:11.680
<v Speaker 2>can't be out on the field right now and he's

0:31:11.760 --> 0:31:13.880
<v Speaker 2>he's just physically not ready to do that. But when

0:31:13.880 --> 0:31:16.000
<v Speaker 2>he I know, he's doing everything he can, and when

0:31:16.040 --> 0:31:17.840
<v Speaker 2>he's ready, we'll get him out there and we're excited

0:31:17.840 --> 0:31:18.760
<v Speaker 2>to get him back out there.

0:31:19.000 --> 0:31:21.120
<v Speaker 1>This obviously is not the first time that you've been

0:31:21.960 --> 0:31:24.520
<v Speaker 1>part of an organization where you've got veteran players that

0:31:24.600 --> 0:31:27.520
<v Speaker 1>are unhappy. They either want to be traded or they

0:31:27.560 --> 0:31:30.480
<v Speaker 1>want a contract extension, or you've got players like d

0:31:30.600 --> 0:31:32.960
<v Speaker 1>Hop that have a huge cap number. I'm talking about

0:31:32.960 --> 0:31:35.920
<v Speaker 1>Buddha and de Hop in particular, Now that you're in

0:31:36.000 --> 0:31:38.560
<v Speaker 1>the chair and you're making the call, how have you

0:31:38.760 --> 0:31:42.320
<v Speaker 1>managed those request slash situations?

0:31:42.680 --> 0:31:44.440
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, And I think the key to to to both

0:31:44.480 --> 0:31:48.000
<v Speaker 2>those situations is communication. And both both d Hop and

0:31:48.200 --> 0:31:50.880
<v Speaker 2>Buddha have been great with communicating with me back and

0:31:50.920 --> 0:31:54.760
<v Speaker 2>forth with their you know, their representation. So I think

0:31:54.840 --> 0:31:59.000
<v Speaker 2>you know understanding that that players have opinions and ideas

0:31:59.040 --> 0:32:01.440
<v Speaker 2>and things that go through their head. Hey, that's that's

0:32:01.480 --> 0:32:03.480
<v Speaker 2>human nature. We all have that that that happens for

0:32:03.520 --> 0:32:05.520
<v Speaker 2>all of us. But I think just continuing to have

0:32:05.600 --> 0:32:08.720
<v Speaker 2>those conversations and and keeping them informed and in our

0:32:08.720 --> 0:32:11.040
<v Speaker 2>thought process and and the things that we have going

0:32:11.080 --> 0:32:13.640
<v Speaker 2>on here. I mean, there's it's it's exciting here right now.

0:32:13.680 --> 0:32:15.480
<v Speaker 2>There's a there's a good energy in the building. And

0:32:15.480 --> 0:32:17.480
<v Speaker 2>and you know, I think the guys that are here

0:32:17.480 --> 0:32:19.680
<v Speaker 2>that have been working are seeing that and seeing some

0:32:19.720 --> 0:32:21.680
<v Speaker 2>of the things that we're doing and and some of

0:32:21.720 --> 0:32:24.120
<v Speaker 2>the changes that we made. So so we're excited about that,

0:32:24.240 --> 0:32:25.840
<v Speaker 2>and I think we're just going to continue to keep

0:32:25.880 --> 0:32:27.680
<v Speaker 2>those lines of communication open, all right.

0:32:27.760 --> 0:32:30.960
<v Speaker 1>Last one, Isaiah Simmons, you guys deciding not to pick

0:32:31.040 --> 0:32:32.960
<v Speaker 1>up the option. What all went into that?

0:32:33.520 --> 0:32:35.520
<v Speaker 2>Sure, Yeah, yeah, so you know, I think I think

0:32:35.560 --> 0:32:39.000
<v Speaker 2>those are discussions. You know, I wouldn't read anything other.

0:32:39.080 --> 0:32:41.280
<v Speaker 2>And then you know that that just probably wasn't the

0:32:41.320 --> 0:32:43.520
<v Speaker 2>best decision for us to do right now. Just as

0:32:43.640 --> 0:32:46.440
<v Speaker 2>as a team, you know, we're excited about working with

0:32:46.520 --> 0:32:49.840
<v Speaker 2>Isaiah we and we think he's extremely talented and has

0:32:49.880 --> 0:32:53.400
<v Speaker 2>a lot to offer versatility in our defense. But just

0:32:53.640 --> 0:32:56.000
<v Speaker 2>right now, I think that that the decision to not

0:32:56.000 --> 0:32:58.040
<v Speaker 2>pick up that option right now is just probably the

0:32:58.040 --> 0:32:59.240
<v Speaker 2>best for the team right now.

0:32:59.600 --> 0:33:01.600
<v Speaker 1>Hey, Man, I really appreciate this. I think if you're

0:33:01.800 --> 0:33:03.360
<v Speaker 1>a Cardinal fan, you got a lot out of this

0:33:03.600 --> 0:33:05.080
<v Speaker 1>and you get to know MANI. Awesome for it a

0:33:05.080 --> 0:33:06.720
<v Speaker 1>little bit more so, appreciate you stupping by.

0:33:06.600 --> 0:33:08.560
<v Speaker 2>Man, Dave. Thanks for the time, Appreciate it. Thank you.

0:33:10.400 --> 0:33:14.640
<v Speaker 1>Terrific stuff for MANI. My biggest takeaway, and I'm hoping

0:33:14.680 --> 0:33:17.200
<v Speaker 1>this is yours as well, is just how good of

0:33:17.240 --> 0:33:22.840
<v Speaker 1>a guy MANI is very personable, professional, polite, and I

0:33:22.840 --> 0:33:25.920
<v Speaker 1>think for you guys out there and for me as well,

0:33:26.160 --> 0:33:29.960
<v Speaker 1>it's just great to get brought inside that draft room

0:33:30.360 --> 0:33:33.840
<v Speaker 1>and what it's really like when the pressures on the

0:33:33.880 --> 0:33:36.120
<v Speaker 1>clock is ticking, you've got to make a deal. And

0:33:36.160 --> 0:33:40.000
<v Speaker 1>the relationships that these guys have with one another, it's

0:33:40.040 --> 0:33:43.520
<v Speaker 1>a very tight knit community in the scouting world, and

0:33:43.720 --> 0:33:46.160
<v Speaker 1>to be able to make deals with guys you know,

0:33:46.280 --> 0:33:50.160
<v Speaker 1>is very helpful. And because there's honest conversations going on

0:33:50.280 --> 0:33:53.560
<v Speaker 1>about players and draft picks that you can get and

0:33:54.360 --> 0:33:57.200
<v Speaker 1>when you're in that fifteen minute time window and you've

0:33:57.200 --> 0:33:59.960
<v Speaker 1>got to pull the trigger, just the kind of press

0:34:00.320 --> 0:34:02.040
<v Speaker 1>that you're dealing with. And also the fact too, I

0:34:02.080 --> 0:34:05.720
<v Speaker 1>thought was really interesting was that just like us, even

0:34:05.800 --> 0:34:08.800
<v Speaker 1>Moni and the rest of the league wasn't sure exactly

0:34:08.840 --> 0:34:10.600
<v Speaker 1>what Houston was going to do at number two, and

0:34:10.640 --> 0:34:13.279
<v Speaker 1>then how that triggered so many different scenarios for the

0:34:13.320 --> 0:34:17.319
<v Speaker 1>Cardinals and for other teams in the NFL. So great

0:34:17.320 --> 0:34:19.000
<v Speaker 1>to catch up with Mani on a lot of things.

0:34:19.000 --> 0:34:21.360
<v Speaker 1>Hope you really enjoyed that. One of the things we

0:34:21.400 --> 0:34:24.360
<v Speaker 1>didn't get a chance to talk about is the new uniforms.

0:34:24.880 --> 0:34:27.880
<v Speaker 1>And with all the excitement around the Cardinals surrounding the

0:34:27.960 --> 0:34:32.960
<v Speaker 1>draft picks and all the trades, the uniform unveiled was

0:34:33.520 --> 0:34:35.920
<v Speaker 1>recent and was obviously a big story. We're going to

0:34:36.000 --> 0:34:39.040
<v Speaker 1>go behind the scenes with the latest Cardinals flight plan.

0:34:39.560 --> 0:34:42.560
<v Speaker 1>It airs Thursday for the first time at noon on

0:34:42.640 --> 0:34:47.480
<v Speaker 1>the Cardinals YouTube channel. You can go inside what happened

0:34:47.480 --> 0:34:49.840
<v Speaker 1>on that night and also what went into the Cardinals

0:34:49.880 --> 0:34:53.879
<v Speaker 1>making the decision to go with the new uniforms. Really

0:34:53.880 --> 0:34:57.040
<v Speaker 1>good stuff. My favorite the all white. If I had

0:34:57.040 --> 0:34:58.840
<v Speaker 1>to pick, I love them all, but the all white

0:34:58.840 --> 0:35:02.040
<v Speaker 1>to me was was the coolest uniform the Cardinals I

0:35:02.040 --> 0:35:03.960
<v Speaker 1>have ever had. I can't wait to see the Cardinals

0:35:04.520 --> 0:35:07.040
<v Speaker 1>and bust those unis up. Maybe week one, depending on

0:35:07.360 --> 0:35:09.840
<v Speaker 1>the schedule obviously that comes out May eleventh, we'll know

0:35:09.880 --> 0:35:12.560
<v Speaker 1>for sure who the Cardinals are playing week one. We're

0:35:12.560 --> 0:35:15.120
<v Speaker 1>presented by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner of the

0:35:15.120 --> 0:35:18.600
<v Speaker 1>Arizona Cardinals in by Hila River Resorts and Casinos. You

0:35:18.600 --> 0:35:21.399
<v Speaker 1>can follow us on Twitter at pashpod. You can also

0:35:21.520 --> 0:35:23.400
<v Speaker 1>rate us tell us what you think by going to

0:35:23.480 --> 0:35:27.760
<v Speaker 1>your podcast platform. Thanks to you for listening to another

0:35:27.880 --> 0:35:30.400
<v Speaker 1>edition of the Day Pash Podcast, and thanks again to

0:35:30.480 --> 0:35:34.360
<v Speaker 1>our guest, Arizona Cardinals General manager Manias and Forth.