1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: team year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Anius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am a niece Williams. 5 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: Today we come to you from St. Petersburg, Florida, the 6 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: home of the East West Shrine Game. I will be 7 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: serving as Legends Captains for this year's game, and I 8 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: am here with the other Legends captains to talk about 9 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: their experiences participating in this all star game. Our group 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: today is pretty incredible. I don't think I've ever caught 11 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: an interception from this guy. Uh, the great Mark Brunell 12 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: out the University of Washington, and I look forward to 13 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: you here about his experiences that we talked about off 14 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,199 Speaker 1: air and also played in this East West phrine Game 15 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: and then the other I'm so glad I never blitzed 16 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: and had to go through his hole going against Kansas City. 17 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: And it's the Great will Shields. I think you played 18 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: with a hundred seasons. Man, how many seasons did you play? 19 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: Only Only thirteen and a half. Only thirteen and a half. Yeah, 20 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 1: out of University of Nebraska that also played in this 21 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: East West PHRINE game. Thank you guys for joining us. 22 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: Mark you played how many seasons? I played? Nineteen? That's 23 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: what I thought. I thought it was a typo. Well, 24 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: there's a difference between being on a roster and actually playing, right, 25 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: So I was on nineteen rosters, but I didn't play 26 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: for nineteen season. I'm trying to be trying to be funny, 27 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: but there's a lot of truth of that. You at 28 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: nineteen training camps, that's exact. Let's not leave out nineteen 29 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: years of paychecks. Yes, well more importantly right now, considering 30 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: our age, nineteen years of getting benefits. Oh well, man, 31 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: so all of us, Well, you guys played in the 32 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: East West PHRINE game. I actually played in the Senior Bowl, 33 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: So I'll talk a little bit about that as well. 34 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: So as you guys here at the East West PHRINE game. 35 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: What goes through your mind? Let's let's say when you 36 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: first decided this is where I'm going talk about it? 37 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: Will Well, first they give you options. You know, you 38 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: get a chance if you get invited first to come here. 39 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: You're going, okay, Uh, what does the East West PHRINE 40 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: game and how does it go? And what does it mean? 41 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: To me as far as trying to get to the 42 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: next level, how do you fit that kind of thing? 43 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: And when I came out, they actually had the three 44 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: big that the East West Shrine, the Hawaii where you 45 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: could go to Hawaiian play, and then they had the 46 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl. At least those were the three that was 47 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: brought up to me, and they were like, well, you 48 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: can pick which ones that you want to go to. 49 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: And I was like, well, you know, how does that 50 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: improve your draft status or not? And it was like, well, 51 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: you're pretty much pigeonhole where you are. You can't you 52 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: can't affect it that much, but you'd have fun while 53 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: you do these different things. And I was like, well, 54 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: I can't go to Hawaii and go to California. At 55 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: that point, I was like, I think I'll take those 56 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: two prepared to going over there at the Senior Bowl. 57 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: So that's how I end up going to the East restaurant. 58 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:19,679 Speaker 1: They were real quick, who are you bouncing this off of? 59 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: When you were making this decision? Actually, you know, our 60 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: pr person came in and actually gave me the breakout 61 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: of these are the three different games, and this is 62 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: how they sort of talented and that kind of stuff. 63 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: At that point, I didn't have an agent yet, so 64 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: I didn't really get a chance to go through and 65 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: ask that question to my agent of which one was better. 66 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: And they were like, well, you know, you get to 67 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: travel Hawaii. They pay for it. And I was like, well, 68 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: I've never been in Hawaii. I don't know if I 69 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: ever be back, so let me get a chance to 70 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: go over there. And then they said what was the 71 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: second one. It's like, well, you could go to this 72 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: one or that one. I was like, well, California sounds 73 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: like a good place to go and interesting. Interesting Mark 74 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: you guys played in the in the game together, Lincoln 75 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: Kennedy and all of these guys were just talking just 76 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: going over the roster. There's quite a few names that 77 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: went on to have good NFL careers. My experience coming 78 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: into this game was a little different than than will. 79 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: I got the late ask, meaning you know, they would 80 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: ask quarterbacks, hey, you want to go to the East 81 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: West Shrine game, and I think two or three said no. 82 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: So I got the invite, you know, kind of on 83 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: the tail in kind of like the three days before 84 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: you're supposed to be down there. But I was I 85 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: didn't play a whole lot in college. I started my 86 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: sophomore year and then the last half of my senior 87 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: year due to an injury. Actually Will's Will's incorrect. There 88 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: was four back then, So there was the Senior Bowl, 89 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: which honestly I I didn't. I don't even remember hearing 90 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: that that was an option that clearly didn't get it 91 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: an invite and I and even if I did, I 92 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't have understood the scope of it, how big that was. 93 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: The Japan Bowl existed. It was it was a game 94 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: similar to the East West Shrine Game, and I got 95 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: asked to go to that. I got asked to be 96 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: a part of the East West Shrine Game, which I 97 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: was thrilled about, obviously, And I didn't get an invite 98 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: to the Hula. That's the one that I wanted to, 99 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: the one in Hawaii for obvious reasons you all want 100 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: to go to. But I was thankful, you know, Like 101 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: I mentioned, I didn't. I didn't play a whole lot 102 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: in college, so to get any invite, I was absolutely thrilled. 103 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 1: One of the things when when I'm when I remember 104 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,359 Speaker 1: about the East West Trying game, I really remember the 105 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,679 Speaker 1: philanthropic side. I don't I know that the guys playing 106 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: and it always remember the Shriners. They were always at 107 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: the hospital, so I was always equated the East West 108 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: trying even even the day I could see the Shriners 109 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: in the hospital when one of the players that were 110 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: playing in the game. When you first come in, you 111 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: thinking about the guys in the funny hats Exactly, it 112 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: depends on where you're from. You you've never seen you, yes, 113 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: like what is this about? And you don't ask you 114 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: just exactly it's funny you mentioned that about the hospital. 115 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: I don't remember a lot about the game. I remember 116 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: some of the experiences I had with with some of 117 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: the guys, getting to know them, guys you played againser 118 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: and heard of throughout, you know, throughout their college careers. 119 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: I'm remember going to the hospital and I remember it 120 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 1: like it was yesterday. The one thing that really stood out, 121 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: and and to this day, I remember it vividly. You 122 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: go from room to room and they kind of take you, 123 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: and I remember going to this one room, this young lady, 124 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: beautiful young lady to long brown hair, striking, and she 125 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: was probably a young girl, and it was pretty clear 126 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: that she had lost use of her arms and her legs. 127 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: So I remember sitting down with her, just talking a 128 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: little bit. She had just an incredible perspective, an incredible outlook. 129 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: But the fact that she was in the hospital means 130 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: that you know, it didn't happen a long time before. 131 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: It was a recent injury. And what had happened, guys, 132 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: is that she was she was sunbathing on a roof 133 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: and she fell off the roof and broke her broke 134 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: her back. I remember thinking, what an incredible outlook this 135 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: young lady has. She was positive. She was like, gosh, 136 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: it's a it's a bad thing, but I'm gonna be 137 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: all right. I'm gonna fight through this. I got the 138 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: rest of my life to live. I don't know at 139 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: that time in my life I would have been able 140 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: to to be like that. And I can remember thinking, 141 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 1: Thank goodness, there are people organizations like the Shriners that 142 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: are taking care of tragic circumstances like this young lady 143 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: was going through. I will never forget that. I couldn't 144 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: tell you play from that game. I couldn't tell you 145 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,679 Speaker 1: one play, but I remember that young lady. The Shrine 146 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: just amazing what they do, and there's just countless stories 147 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: after that so it's interested in Mark Will even as 148 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: I listened a story, it's really not hitting me now 149 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: like it's like it's hitting me now then how the 150 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: game of football does more than what we do on 151 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: the field. As we go on, as we talk about 152 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: the the game itself, what did you know Will about 153 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: pro football? At that point? You don't know a lot. 154 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 1: You're really just sort of about the University Nebraska, Nebraska, University, 155 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: don't come home. You gotta realized I was offensive lineman 156 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: at that point, and they weren't recruiting or draft think 157 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: any offensive alignement. They went through it. And I've been 158 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: told the stories, the horror stories about guys that left 159 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: the University of Nebraska went to play in the pros. 160 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: We couldn't pass protect. We could run block really good, 161 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: but we couldn't pass protect. We couldn't. They were telling this, 162 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: I'm too sure the reputation of what you what you 163 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: come from, and that kind of thing. Uh, And it's 164 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: sort of that of, well, you know you're only six too. 165 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,679 Speaker 1: I want to guard that six four or six five 166 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: or you know, you know you run a you know 167 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: you don't run a four nine or four eight for 168 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: a year. Run a five five flat and you know 169 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: those kind of things, and you're always looking they're always 170 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: looking at those other sides of it. So that's what 171 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: you sort of take into perspective of, Yeah, you see 172 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: the intangibles on paper, but they don't know you. They 173 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: don't know your heart, they don't know your soul, they 174 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: don't know what you're made of, they don't know what 175 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: you're thinking when you walk in the room. Now, how 176 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: did you do that at that age, been senior coming 177 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: out of school? How did you shift it? Even though 178 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: this was the reputation. Well, I think the other part 179 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,079 Speaker 1: of it is they didn't realize that already sort of 180 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: messed up the system as it was anyway, because I 181 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: was an Oklahoma kid that went to Nebraska. Right there, 182 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: that tells you there's issues, you know. So so I 183 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: was the first to actually go from the brow to 184 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: Oklahoma to Nebraska to actually make it back to make 185 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: it and play um the second one that I was, 186 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: the second one to commit, the first one to actually 187 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: make it. The first guy that was there actually died 188 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: of leukemia. He committed, and then the he got leukemia 189 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: right after that and he passed, So he never got 190 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: the opportunity to step on campus. And so for me 191 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 1: listening to that and being a part of that and 192 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 1: growing you that that also gives you that perspective of 193 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: being fortunate and lucky. But also on the other hand 194 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: of I was defense most of my career through high 195 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: schools offense and defense, and so I was like a 196 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: defensive guy. I love defense on the other side, but 197 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 1: I knew offenses where I would excel. And so at 198 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: that point, they were producing offensive linemen, they had a 199 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: history of it, they had all the other piece of 200 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,719 Speaker 1: the intangibles that you needed. So I was gonna go 201 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: to the school that was that good for me at 202 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: that point, So I had to make that choice. But 203 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: even more so, it was the education piece that I needed. 204 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: So that's sort of how I made my decisions and 205 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: everything else. So regardless of what they were putting on 206 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: the table is what you could or couldn't do. They 207 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: didn't understand the individuals and and that's where we said 208 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: in the meeting room like this, and I only had 209 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: one team to come in. I was telling you guys 210 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: the story, and I'm telling these guys that, hey, I 211 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: played behind the guy a little bit, but I've never 212 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: not been a starter somewhere somehow, so sooner or later, 213 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: I'm taking somebody's job. It's great And that's one of 214 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: the words I told them, and they just looked at 215 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: me like yeah, and so it sort of sets the 216 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: tone of being able to prove somebody wrong. And I 217 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: want to transfer to you as relates to how did 218 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: this game prepare you for your NFL future? Didn't prepare 219 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: you well. I was one of those players that I 220 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: was looking for any at any opportunity I could to 221 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: play in a bowl game. I was. I was fortunate 222 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: to get an invite to the Combine. At the Combine, 223 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: I had two interviews. One was a quarterback coach from 224 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,719 Speaker 1: from Cleveland, the other one was the Kansas City Chiefs. 225 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: So I knew that I had to do well. Um. 226 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: I think the Combine went fine. Didn't get a lot 227 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: of feedback. You don't get a lot of feedback. I 228 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 1: didn't get a lot of attention. Uh that year, Drew 229 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: Bledsoe was coming out, Rick Meyer was coming out, but 230 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: there was teams. Kansas City was interested, Dallas was interested. 231 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: But I kind of fell a little bit to the 232 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: fifth round. I got a call from a guy named 233 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: Steve Mariucci, who was the quarterback coach for the Green 234 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: Bay Packers, and he was at Cow when I was 235 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: getting recruited out of high school. And he said, Hey, 236 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: we're gonna come work you out. I know you're in Seattle. 237 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be in there. I'm gonna come work he out. 238 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: We're gonna be there. And I said, coach, I appreciate that. 239 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: And I didn't know who Steve Marrucchi was. He was 240 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: just he was just a guy. He said, I remember 241 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: you had of high school, high energy guy. I'm gonna 242 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,719 Speaker 1: meet you here and we're gonna be there. I said, coach, 243 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: Can I ask who we is? He says, well, the 244 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: head coach is going to be there. I had no 245 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: idea who the head coach of the Green Bay Packers was. 246 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: It was Mike Comrid And so we meet it a 247 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: field in Seattle. I'll never forget this. They're out there, 248 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: they take me through a workout. This is how I 249 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: got to the NFL. I reminded. I reminded Mike Comgren 250 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: of Steve Young six, one lefty that could run around, 251 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: and so they drafted me in the fifth in the 252 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 1: fifth round. That was the only reason I got to 253 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 1: the NFL. It had nothing to do with my the 254 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,839 Speaker 1: Japan Bow, the East West Shrine Game, the combine any interviews. 255 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: I had one workout. Coach Homegren didn't tell me this 256 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: till later, said, you know when when I looked at you, 257 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: I saw Steve Young, who he had coached at San 258 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: Francisco and was obviously in the prime of his career. 259 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: And that was my inn because I remember playing in 260 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,319 Speaker 1: this game, and I told you off air, and yes, 261 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: I remember playing this game, getting to the end of it, 262 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: and I thought, well, that didn't help me nice, I 263 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: didn't help me at all. Same same in the Japan Bowl. 264 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: That didn't help me at all. And and so I 265 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 1: had these opportunities. I mean, the one of the best 266 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: things that come out of this game was that was 267 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: the opportunity to play with some guys that that I 268 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: actually still talked to to this day. First thing, for 269 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: you gotta find one person that loves you enough to 270 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: give you that You only need that one, but you 271 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: gotta be ready for that one when they opened the door, 272 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: and that is that big key. So coming here in 273 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: the East is West Rhyan was was really important. It 274 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: was awesome. I got a chance to meet a lot 275 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: of guys that I'll know for the rest of your life. 276 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: You know, the first time you see a Willie Rope 277 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: might be here at this game and you're watching this 278 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: guy walk and you're going, that's him. That's a guy 279 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,719 Speaker 1: that's that can run as fast as he does and 280 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: has all this talent and everything else, and you can 281 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: judge that you'd be like, man, you know, I get 282 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: to sit down to dinner with Lincoln Kennedy, you know, 283 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,640 Speaker 1: we're roommates and talk back and forth, where beforehand you 284 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: always saw him as the enemy, as the other side, 285 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: as the guys you're going against. So you get a 286 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: chance to have that bond. But then within here you 287 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: get to also learn humility and understanding that there's a bigger, 288 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: bigger cause at play that you can always be connected to, 289 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: that could always understand that you are spoiled and fortunate 290 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: to be where you are. And so that's something that 291 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: also sort of you can take with you for the 292 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: rest of the life. And that's that important piece of 293 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 1: sort of bringing yourself down to go and understand that 294 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: there's other things that are happening in life beyond you 295 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,920 Speaker 1: getting to the next level. But you have to do 296 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 1: everything you can possibly to be ready for the next 297 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: left that opportunity to be ready, and and that's and 298 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: that's the key, And it's sort of mentally, get your 299 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: mind back down to grass level of man, this is 300 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: what I need to do. I need to make those 301 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: right decisions. I need to make those right choices. I 302 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: need to do those things so that I can help others, 303 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: for one. But then the other hand, I met a 304 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: lot of great people. I've seen a lot of people 305 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to compete against down the road, but also 306 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: understand where you want to be as we progress. We're 307 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: here as a mentors. So this week, what advice do 308 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: you plan on given to some of these young men 309 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: this week? If I'm looking forward to just just a 310 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: lot of what what you guys are talking about. It's 311 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: not just physical. Coaches don't do that. So we've in here, 312 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: We're going to see some kids out there, what every 313 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: all the weight on his shoulders, thinking this game determines everything. 314 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: And then Mark brune alibil to put him on the side, 315 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: give him a hug, one of those quarterbacks and say, hey, 316 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: let me tell you something. And then all of a 317 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: sudden now they get a different perspective, they begin to relax, 318 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 1: and then they relaxed they do what they play better. 319 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: So what are some things you you plan to will 320 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: This is one stage of many for the next couple 321 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: of weeks that you get to perform and show what 322 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: you do. Like we said, you need the one good 323 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: workout somewhere in there. You need one person that you 324 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: have to sell on. So at that point you've got 325 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: to bring him in and go, Look, this might not 326 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: be your best performance today, but you do need to 327 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: try to just keep getting better. Forget what happened, move 328 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: on to the next stage, to the next stage, to 329 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: the next stage. Because all you need is one and 330 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: as long as you can do that, then you're fine. Now, 331 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: if you go out there and you have your one shot, 332 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: you think is there And that's the problem. Everybody thinks 333 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: that this is that shot, and you go look, there's 334 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: people that watch millions and millions of film on you 335 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: and tape and everything else. There's somebody out there that 336 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: has you in the back of their mind, that's thinking, 337 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: I got I got a diamond in the rough over 338 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 1: here that I that nobody else knows. I have coaches 339 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: that call me and go, hey, do you have a kid. 340 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: Have you seen a kid that you think is unique, 341 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 1: that's special? And I'll go, yeah, well I saw this 342 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: kid play the other day. He could be this, he 343 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: could be that. So they're always looking for that nuggets. 344 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: Just gonna make sure you're that one that's there and 345 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: you're prepared for when you do get that chance. And 346 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: that's what I'm gonna tell them. I was like, look, 347 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: you're not gonna win every battle. It's not gonna happen 348 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: that way. There's there's gonna be somebody that's more talented, 349 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: more gifted than you, but you've got to make sure 350 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: that they never outwork you. And that's my mentality is 351 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: that you can control. You can I can control. I 352 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: control my own work ethic. As long as I'm ready 353 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: and I'm a million miles an hour and I'm doing 354 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: what i need to do, somebody will notice that. You know, 355 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: that guy doesn't take a break on that play, that 356 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: guy hustles to the ball, that guy does the extra 357 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: things that you need to do. I can all that, 358 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: But when you don't have those intangibles, and you're also 359 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: slow into forty mark, you've high school, you've coached high 360 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: school coach. Do so with this group of young people, 361 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: what would be some advice the best boy, how do 362 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: you get them to listen? You know, if I was 363 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: to offer advice, you know, and hopefully these guys do listen. 364 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 1: They should. I mean, I wish when I was at 365 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: the Shrine game there was a Willie McGuinness, you know, 366 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: I wish there was a will Shields and he is 367 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: what you know, guys that had played the game, what 368 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: a valuable resource. So you hope they listen. I hope 369 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: these guys understand too, you know, not just the exits. 370 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: And I was a million things I could tell them 371 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: in the quarterback position, but understand that throughout this whole 372 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: process that absolutely everything is being evaluated, not just on 373 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: the field, in the lobby, in the meeting room, your 374 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: own discretionary time, what you put on the on this phone. 375 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: You know. I hope these I hope the guys understand 376 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: it that they need to be themselves, don't be someone 377 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: that you're not. You hope that that we see the 378 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: best version of them during this time because a lot 379 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: of guys have just by just by the stuff. They 380 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,480 Speaker 1: might be great on the field, but just by the 381 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: just the foolishness off the field. Has really heard a 382 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: lot of guys over the years. That would be the 383 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: first thing I tell this quarterbacks. You know, if I'm 384 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 1: a quarterback coach here or I'm a quarterback coach in 385 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,479 Speaker 1: the NFL, I get a chance to be here and 386 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: I happen to be walking down the hall pass their 387 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:39,200 Speaker 1: metia rooms, and this quarterback, you know, when everybody else 388 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: is at the pool, or at the beach, or or 389 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: going to do what they're doing, and this jokers watching 390 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: tape that speaks volumes to me, I think those are 391 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: the Those are the special guys and the guys that 392 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: do extra. Now you mentioned the high school. I can't 393 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: get my high school kids to do extra. They don't 394 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: listen to they listen to me. Listen, they listen to 395 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: me when I tell them, if you don't listen to me, 396 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make you run. But obviously these guys are 397 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: much more mature, and they've got bright futures for every 398 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: moment counts, you know, because this coaching staff listen, they're 399 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: gonna go back to their teams. And I like this one. 400 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,439 Speaker 1: I don't like this one. This one had attitude. This 401 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: one wasn't gonna work this one. You know, he kept 402 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,400 Speaker 1: to himself. You know, they that's why, that's why they're here. 403 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 1: It's obviously for them and and and and I think 404 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 1: it does well for their their careers and their coaching. 405 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: But many this is a firsthand look you know at 406 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: these guys, and and uh so I think that's important. 407 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: These guys have to understand that you know, from from 408 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: now all the way to draft day or the free 409 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 1: agent signing period after the draft, boy, every moment, every 410 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: moment counts, and all of us having the experiences playing 411 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 1: in the league and obviously going through college, Well, why 412 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: is it important for you to be back here and 413 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: to be able to mentor so many young athletes, Well, 414 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: opportunity for for for me to sort of give back 415 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 1: to them and explain to them what do they to 416 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: be a pro. And that's what it is, is being professional, 417 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: getting them early and often to understand what it's like 418 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: to be professional. And sometimes it's not fun, sometimes it's 419 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: not lavish. Sometimes it's just keeping it to where they 420 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: understand that there is an opportunity to change your life 421 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: and you have to take advantage of it. And that's 422 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: the explanation piece of trying to get to them and go, look, 423 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: you can have a great career doing this if you 424 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: just do it the right way. And so me have 425 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 1: an opportunity to come back and share that with them 426 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: that there is the coolest thing ever you know. You know, 427 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: Mark will mention be a professional? Could you share what 428 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: the listeners? What what do we mean when we say 429 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: be a professional? I'll tell you. I'll tell you a 430 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: story about the most professional guy that I've ever been around. 431 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: That's Drew Brees. I was with him for two years. 432 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: Drew Brees did absolutely everything with excellence, because I think 433 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:56,719 Speaker 1: what you do on the field is just as important 434 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: as what you do on the field. You know, being 435 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: a professional isn't just about how much film you study 436 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: or how much time you put in the weight room. 437 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: I think he's doing absolutely everything with excellence. Um, you 438 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: just see Drew do Drew did everything with excellence. Um. 439 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: Obviously he was great on the field. We we see 440 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: that side of his professionalism. He's he's a really good pro. 441 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: What you don't see is the countless hours of the preparation, 442 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: his film study. When everybody's asleep, he's watching film when 443 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: everybody has gone home, he's watching film to the point 444 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: where I can remember on on Fridays. Let'sen, you're wrapping 445 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: up on Friday's and you're out of the building about 446 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 1: one o'clock. And I was his backup, and that joker 447 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: would put in another three hours, and I felt obligated 448 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: to be there because I'm his backup, and I gotta 449 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: be there. Listen, I want to go to dinner. I 450 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: want to you know, I got friends coming in, and 451 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 1: I would always be like, hey, hey, Drew Man, let's 452 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: let's go. Oh, it's like, now, let me watch this 453 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: clip one more time. I said, you've seen this, You've 454 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: watched this, And I would always kind of let's go, 455 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,920 Speaker 1: he said, I have to see this one more time, 456 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 1: and and and this is why it's because and it's 457 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: just simple. You guys have heard this. He didn't want 458 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: to let his teammates down. He said, because if I 459 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: if I don't get this, if I miss this, this 460 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: might be the thing that cost us the game. Obviously, 461 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: he's a quarterback and the team rises and falls. So 462 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: his preparation, his weight in the weight room, he didn't 463 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 1: cut corners. I get abs tomorrow. Ah, you know, I'm 464 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: not quite feeling it, maybe I'll just do three sets 465 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: instead of you know, instead of four, And then he 466 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: would go, you know, extra at practice. When practice was over, 467 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: he'd grabbed four or five receivers and throw for another 468 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: twenty minutes, thirty minutes on any throwers that he missed before, 469 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: in the community, his foundation, his family, finding time to 470 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: spend time with his wife and his children. I really 471 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: don't know how he did it all so well. It's fascinating. 472 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: So being a professional, to me is not just tweeting 473 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 1: the right things, playing well, being a team guy. It's 474 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,920 Speaker 1: it's it's it's who you are, it's your very being, 475 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: it's everything. It encompasses your whole life. And I think 476 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,639 Speaker 1: that's how you know most of the great ones are. 477 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,720 Speaker 1: But I'd be surprised if the great ones did everything 478 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 1: as well as Drew Brees. That's a professional. And I 479 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 1: remember thinking watching him like, hey, and this was after 480 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: I you know, they had my time at Jacks felt 481 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: like and I wish i'd shoot I could have. You know, 482 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: you're looking at like godly. That's a fascinating and it's 483 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:42,479 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why he's one of the greatest 484 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: ever at forty years old at forty years old yesterday 485 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: as we wrap up, guys we played what years ago 486 00:23:52,000 --> 00:24:00,360 Speaker 1: in these games right when we look back and see 487 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: the guys that are here, now, what do you think 488 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 1: it's the biggest change today? What the day is that 489 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: you start with the electric leash that you have on yourself, 490 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: the cell phone. Uh, the art of the leash, the leash, 491 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: it's the leash. You know. It's hard because there's so 492 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 1: much information that's given to them. The communication skills are different, um, 493 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: and that's one thing. Trying to communicate down wind or 494 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: what we call it, from one age group to a 495 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 1: different age group. It's it's a different way of doing it. 496 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: I mean to a point now of where you don't 497 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: have playbooks, you have laptops or you have you know, 498 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: I've had you have different things in different ways to 499 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: convey it. And so some of us still need that 500 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: hands on, I need you to tell me, show me, 501 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: walk me through it. And others are like, oh, I 502 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: just I saw it in the video. I got it. 503 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: What value mark you know? I Uh, Washington Redskins came 504 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 1: and played the Jaguars. I got to visit with why 505 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: one of my old quarterback coaches and he's been coaching 506 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 1: for a long time. He played fourteen years as a 507 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,959 Speaker 1: quarterback and he's been coaching ever since. And I said, hey, 508 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: how are you doing? Because every time I see him, 509 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: hey you got another one in, You got another one in. 510 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,360 Speaker 1: He's been doing it, you know, a long time. He said, 511 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,120 Speaker 1: you know what, I don't know. And he's relatively young, 512 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: he's healthy. And I said, what's what's going on? He said, Mark, 513 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: He said the kids are different. He said that that 514 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: the kids are different than they used to be. And uh, 515 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,400 Speaker 1: and I kind of knew what he meant. I said, well, 516 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: we'll elaborate. Tell me. He said, well, and it's not 517 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: not everyone, but there's to Will's point. You know, everyone's 518 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 1: trying to build a brand. You know, they have their 519 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: own brand, Twitter handle and social media and things like that. 520 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: He said, they're hard to coach. They're distracted. The whole 521 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: world revolves around them. It's tough for them to understand 522 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: we and not me, not everyone, but a lot of guys. 523 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: Now where if you had ten draft picks, you know, 524 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,280 Speaker 1: back back in the day, in our time, there might 525 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: have been one or two knuckleheads, you know that needed 526 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: him coaching. He said, now, you know, it's you might 527 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: get six or seven guys that you really have to 528 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: find a way to communicate with and really just trying 529 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: to to to get to a place where you can 530 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: reach them. Said, it's just a lot harder. The kids 531 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: are a lot harder. They're not bad that he's not. 532 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: He didn't say that the kids are bad. He said, 533 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 1: it's just tougher to get to him. It was. It 534 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:25,400 Speaker 1: was really eye opening because he's in I coach high 535 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: school kids. They're all nuckleheads. He's in it, and he's 536 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: you know, he's been coaching for you know, three decades now, 537 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: and he's seen kind of even change in uh In 538 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: uh In, just in the type of kid that the 539 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: athlete that that he's coaching. What do you feel about 540 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:42,719 Speaker 1: the learning and reading piece. I just want to know 541 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: that as far as understanding the game in itself, the 542 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: game within the game, and being able to read everything 543 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: is not from the sideline, you know. It's it's funny 544 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: you said that I don't have a I don't have 545 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 1: a playbook. One of the reasons is if I gave 546 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: him a playbook, then jokers would lose it and you 547 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: end up, you know, so on else's hands. I'm at 548 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: a high school that's limited as far as size, strength 549 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: and speed. Other than that, we're great and it's the 550 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: best job in the world. I absolutely love it. So 551 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: we're limited to begin with, but probably the most rewarding 552 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: thing because we don't win a lot of games. We're 553 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: not gonna win stay or anything like that, but teaching 554 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 1: the kids the game, having my quarterbacks understand fronts and 555 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:27,919 Speaker 1: coverages and situational football, because you you don't see a 556 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,120 Speaker 1: lot of that, you know, especially you know, you look 557 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 1: at the college game and these quarterbacks are looking to 558 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: getting their marching orders from the sideline, and then they 559 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: come to the East West Shrine game and the quarterback 560 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 1: coach from the Redskins doesn't have a sign up. He's asking, 561 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: you know, I gotta do it. The game has changed 562 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: a lot, and I think that's one of the reasons 563 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: while you're seeing it, I couldn't really only speak to 564 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks. I think it's one of the reasons why 565 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: you're you're seeing a lack of talent and depth at 566 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: the quarterback position because in our time, I was taught listen, 567 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: you gotta know fronts, you gotta know coverages, you gotta 568 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: look at blitz is situational football to minut drill. That 569 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,640 Speaker 1: was all thrown at me. I had to learn all 570 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: of that, you know, And now they're all doing it 571 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: for you on the sidelines. So that's why I brought 572 00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: it up because I remember when I first came, when 573 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: I was in high school, we put the Nebraska offense 574 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:21,119 Speaker 1: and at high school and we had a forty four isso, 575 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: and I remember my first rules rice seam on, left, seam, 576 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,359 Speaker 1: helps center. Those are rules for one play as a guard. 577 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: So I'm going if that's rules for one play as 578 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:32,920 Speaker 1: a guard, what are we teaching him now? So I 579 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 1: gotta got footwork off of each one of those also, 580 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 1: that goes with it. So if we're not going in 581 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: that depth of understanding all of our rules and then 582 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: understanding the foot patterns that go along with it, are 583 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: we limiting ourselves as far as teaching them the full game, 584 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: the full gamut of it, Because now I gotta see 585 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: the defense, know what it is, no what technique and 586 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 1: use it. If I'm looking at a car, I just 587 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: know zone, left, zone right, But how does that fit together? 588 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: They're not learning the game, and that's just that they're 589 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: they're just not learning the game as we learned it 590 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: not even close. Zone right and zone left. It might 591 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: be around, might be a past. You do the same thing. 592 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: You don't got to think about it, you know, and 593 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,719 Speaker 1: those things. Man, I can go on. I have certainly 594 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: the thoughts about it and the way the game is going. 595 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: You're seeing more of the what what's been done in 596 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: college it's now coming to uh the NFL level. But 597 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: still today coaches that still teach teach the techniques, the 598 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: things you're talking about. Those coaches that are still doing 599 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: them today, they are going to win. I want to 600 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: thank you for an incredible podcast. If we listen together 601 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: and work together, we can accomplish incredible things. I am 602 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:49,040 Speaker 1: a Nis Williams. Thanks for listening. This has been the 603 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a topic 604 00:29:53,320 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at NFL dot com. 605 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 1: Un