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Speaker 1: What's up, Dirty Birds? Welcome back to the Atlanta Falcons

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Speaker 1: podcast Network. I'm your host will McFadden. She's not in

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Speaker 1: the room with me right now, but Tory mclaney is

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Speaker 1: going to be joining me for conversations with the newest

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Speaker 1: members of the Atlanta Falcons. We have conversations with Channing Tyndall,

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Speaker 1: Christian Harris, Chris Williams, Austin Hooper, and Corey Levin coming

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Speaker 1: up for you guys next. We're gonna hear their thoughts

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Speaker 1: on joining the organization, what they bring to the team,

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Speaker 1: and also a little bit of some get to know

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Speaker 1: you personality questions. So we're kind of unmasking these guys.

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Speaker 1: We're getting their thoughts on a few interesting topics, and

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Speaker 1: they're really great conversations, so I hope that you all

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Speaker 1: enjoy them. I had a blast doing them and getting

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Speaker 1: to know the newest members of the Atlanta Falcons. So

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Speaker 1: let's go ahead and get right on into it. This

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Speaker 1: is a massive pleasure I think for Torri and I.

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Speaker 1: We got Channing Tendall, a former Georgia Bulldog, here joining

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Speaker 1: us in the studio. What's up, Channing, Hey, how y'all doing.

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Speaker 2: Nice to see ya.

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Speaker 1: Doing well.

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Speaker 3: How are you doing.

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Speaker 2: I'm doing good. Good back in the city.

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Speaker 4: What can I say?

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Speaker 1: You were good in that red and black You said

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Speaker 1: it like you never left.

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Speaker 3: So tell me a little bit about you finding out

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Speaker 3: that you were coming back to the state of Georgia.

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Speaker 3: How did you find out? What were your thoughts and feelings.

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Speaker 2: I was talking to my agent.

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Speaker 5: My agent was telling me the Falcons was interested, and

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Speaker 5: I was like, oh, I would love to go with

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Speaker 5: Atlanta if I can.

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Speaker 6: Yeah.

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Speaker 5: Then I woke up at nine a m. In the

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Speaker 5: morning and he called me. He said, welcome home, and

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Speaker 5: then I said, rise up.

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Speaker 3: That's great.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I love it.

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Speaker 6: I love it.

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Speaker 3: Do you Okay? So you've played in Mercedes Been Stadium before?

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Speaker 1: Correct?

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Speaker 3: Yes, okay, that's.

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Speaker 1: A home away from from home.

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Speaker 3: I mean yeah, SEC championship games like all of it.

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Speaker 3: So do you have a favorite memory in Mercedes beIN Stadium?

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Speaker 5: Actually, I want to say my first I wasn't my

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Speaker 5: first sack of my college career, but it was my

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Speaker 5: first one that I felt like I really established something.

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Speaker 5: It's actually against two it which is kind of he's

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Speaker 5: here too now, But yeah, it was our first player

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Speaker 5: my first college playoff game, and they put me in

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Speaker 5: by the second time in that entire like do that

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Speaker 5: entire season, and that was my point.

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Speaker 2: That was my that was like you established it, establishing

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Speaker 2: myself as a player. I did like a little coffee

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Speaker 2: for the moment break and then yeah, I made my

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Speaker 2: little sack. So I guess that would be my most

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Speaker 2: memorable moment.

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Speaker 3: So when you see too and you're gonna be like,

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Speaker 3: hey man, remember me.

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Speaker 1: No, No, we've had like maybe you recognize me like this.

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Speaker 2: We had plenty of times together because he was also

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Speaker 2: my quarterback.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, which is kind of where I wanted to

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Speaker 3: go to. Did you work with Craig Ackerman, who's now

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Speaker 3: the special teams coordinator?

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Speaker 2: Yeah? I did.

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Speaker 3: Okay, tell us a little bit about and what he's

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Speaker 3: like as a coach.

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Speaker 5: He is very goofy coach, but yeah he's goofy, but

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Speaker 5: he's very disciplined as well, like he knows what he

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Speaker 5: wants without his players, and then he he he preaches

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Speaker 5: about consistency, so like after every player, he wants every

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Speaker 5: player to come out there rooting for that player whoever

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Speaker 5: made it on kickoff, Like if you have a job

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Speaker 5: on kickoff return, he's going to ask you for the lot.

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Speaker 5: He's looking at every little tipbit of detail a every

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Speaker 5: single player.

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Speaker 2: I can tell you that for a fact about art.

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Speaker 1: So yeah, So what does it take to succeed on

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Speaker 1: special teams like that? That is such a common I

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Speaker 1: feel like talking point around the NFL is, you know,

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Speaker 1: a way to make the roster is special teams. Like

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Speaker 1: what are some qualities that it takes to be a.

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Speaker 5: Great It really comes down to the fundamentals, things that

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Speaker 5: you've been learning all your life, like as a football player,

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Speaker 5: as a fundamentally tackling, closing to the ball, just getting

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Speaker 5: your hands on people, Like it just comes down everybody

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Speaker 5: wants to say like okay, like it's the speed guy

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Speaker 5: or maybe the strongest guy. It's really guys who just

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Speaker 5: based honed down on the things they learned from day one, gotcha.

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Speaker 3: When you were kind of coming into the league, and

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Speaker 3: you know, I think everybody there's a sense of pride

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Speaker 3: that people have in like being able to be a

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Speaker 3: part ofcial teams units because it's the way to make rosters.

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Speaker 3: It's the way to establish establish yourself on a roster

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Speaker 3: when it came for you in your first couple of

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Speaker 3: years in the League kind of what did you take

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Speaker 3: with you in terms of that like mentality in that mindset.

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Speaker 5: Specialty, like you were saying already, like special teams is

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Speaker 5: the way for many guys to make teams, so like

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Speaker 5: specifically with me, like I know with coach Muschamp and

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Speaker 5: Coach Smart, they preached it so much, Like it was

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Speaker 5: so distilled in us about special teams, Like you can't

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Speaker 5: even get onto like specifically me at like a linebacker

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Speaker 5: role or position if you're not on a special teams.

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Speaker 5: So it was almost like mandatory you have to know

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Speaker 5: or have to have a special team's role in order

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Speaker 5: to even think about getting on the field.

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Speaker 2: So like that's how important it is.

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Speaker 1: Like, yeah, Tori, I don't know about you, but when

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Speaker 1: I was at Georgia, I feel like you've got like

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Speaker 1: your clear rivals, right Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn, whatever. But

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Speaker 1: like I always hated South Carolina the most because they

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Speaker 1: were the teams that like was was good with Steve

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Speaker 1: Spurry or there.

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Speaker 6: Right.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, So I'm curious, Channing, like who who did you

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Speaker 1: consider kind of your personal rivals?

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Speaker 2: The great question always Alabima.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, always out Okay, you make a good point. I

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Speaker 3: think it is by era too, because I know when

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Speaker 3: I so, when I was in school, it was like

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Speaker 3: the last couple of years of Mark Rick in the

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Speaker 3: first couple of years of Kirby, and I remember like, yeah,

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Speaker 3: hating Auburn, like Auburn was like the Jordan right all right.

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Speaker 3: But then but then, like you know, moving forth, after

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Speaker 3: I graduated and everything with SEC championships and national championships,

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Speaker 3: like it became Alabama.

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Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean South Carolina was always fun playing home,

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Speaker 5: and then one of the years I was there, I

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Speaker 5: think they beat us.

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Speaker 2: So yeah, I was so distraught that.

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Speaker 1: Rooster or whatever. That was insane to me.

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Speaker 5: But I felt like the most intensity, at least for

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Speaker 5: the years that I was there, has always been Alabima.

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Speaker 3: Okay, that makes sense now speaking of South Carolina, like

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Speaker 3: you and Jalen Walker were talking a little bit before this.

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Speaker 3: Y'all didn't cross paths while y'all are at Georgia, just

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Speaker 3: missed each other. But y'all are from the same general

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Speaker 3: Carolina area. Y'all are Carolina boys through and through. How

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Speaker 3: long have you known of Jalen or even kind of

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Speaker 3: seen him?

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Speaker 1: From Afar?

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Speaker 5: So I met Jalen's father first, because I want to say,

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Speaker 5: Jalen's father was the head coach or maybe assistant coach

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Speaker 5: of the Charlotte forty nine ers, and he had a

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Speaker 5: really good relationship with my high school coach. So I

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Speaker 5: met him, I started talking to him, and then all

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Speaker 5: of a sudden, once my first I want to know,

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Speaker 5: my second year in Georgia, Jalen started coming down.

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Speaker 2: For recruiting visits.

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Speaker 5: So I was like, oh wow, like okay, like this

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Speaker 5: is your son, and so then I kind of like

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Speaker 5: not necessarily take him under my wing, but like was

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Speaker 5: hanging out with him.

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Speaker 2: Seeing where his head was at. And then from that

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Speaker 2: point on, like here we are.

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Speaker 3: For real, crazy full circle moment.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, because he has he always been kind of the

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Speaker 1: the way that he is, like he's together, he's just like.

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Speaker 5: Very oh yeah, he's always been a real nice, clip

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Speaker 5: built guy for real. But like I want to say, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

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Speaker 5: he was more. He was quieter when I first met him, though,

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Speaker 5: but like now I I feel like he's comfortable. He's

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Speaker 5: very much into like knowing who he is, and like

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Speaker 5: his character just speaks for himself.

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Speaker 2: His personality is golden.

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Speaker 1: So yeah, we love it all right, we got some.

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Speaker 1: We got some just like random icebreaker questions for you. So,

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Speaker 1: if you could be any animal, okay, what animal would

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Speaker 1: you be?

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Speaker 2: In one.

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Speaker 5: A young me would say cheetah just because I used

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Speaker 5: to love cheatahs. But I would say, now, maybe a panther.

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Speaker 5: I like panthers. How there's apex creatures, how they stand

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Speaker 5: by theirself and live in a jungle for us.

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Speaker 1: Okay, I like it.

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Speaker 3: And this one will wrap up with who is your

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Speaker 3: childhood hero? Who's someone you looked up to growing up?

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Speaker 5: Uh, this is someone I still look forward to this

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Speaker 5: day as my grandfather. That's my childhood hero. He just

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Speaker 5: is like the glue to our family and everything. Even

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Speaker 5: now he's like eighty years old, and you might see

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Speaker 5: him cutting down a tree or like you might see, yeah,

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Speaker 5: you might see him going on top of the roof

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Speaker 5: trying to clean the chimney like so yeah, he's so

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Speaker 5: he's in his older days, but he's never sitting down.

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Speaker 5: He's always doing something to always and making sure everybody

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Speaker 5: in the family's okay. So I try to idolize myself

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Speaker 5: from him.

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Speaker 1: Just real hands on d I y yeah, guy, I

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Speaker 1: love that, all right, well, everybody listening watching, give a

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Speaker 1: round of applause to Channing Tatum or Tyndall. Yeah, but

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Speaker 1: also Channing Tatum. He's great too. Thank you so much

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Speaker 1: for joining us. This is great. Welcome to Atlanta.

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Speaker 2: Thank you appreciate Joe.

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Speaker 1: Very excited to be joined now by the Falcon's newest linebacker,

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Speaker 1: Christian Harris. Christian, thank you so much for taking the

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Speaker 1: time to join join us.

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Speaker 7: I appreciate you all for having me. Man, glad to

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Speaker 7: be here.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, toy you want to, Yeah, kock us off.

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Speaker 3: I am super excited to talk to you because I

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Speaker 3: think you have a really cool story that honestly, even

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Speaker 3: I didn't know. Will and I both went to the

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Speaker 3: University of Georgia, so we know quite a bit about

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Speaker 3: the Alabama Crimson tie.

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Speaker 1: So we like you've ripped our hearts out a couple.

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Speaker 3: Of times to.

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Speaker 7: Be on the same team now, right, exactly.

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Speaker 3: But you're originally from Baton Rouge went to University of Alabama.

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Speaker 3: But something that is really interesting about your story is

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Speaker 3: the position you play in the position that's made you

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Speaker 3: a lot of money in this league is not a

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Speaker 3: position that you started out, And linebacker was not something

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Speaker 3: that you did and really maneuvered to until you were

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Speaker 3: in college, right and freshman year. Can you kind of

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Speaker 3: talk to us a little bit about like that journey

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Speaker 3: for you and how you landed in that position just

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Speaker 3: in general.

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Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean I just well, signing up in high school,

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Speaker 7: I signed up for wide receiver in corner. I was

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Speaker 7: about one eighty five and five ten five or eleven,

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Speaker 7: and then I jumped up to two twenty five, like

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Speaker 7: by my junior year. My senior year, I was two

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Speaker 7: forty and I still was running the four to four.

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Speaker 7: So obviously throughout that whole time, my recruiting process was

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Speaker 7: like I had offers for safety, some for tight end,

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Speaker 7: and then Saban came to me and was talking about linebacker,

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Speaker 7: and I hadn't thought about that one. Yeah, but then

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Speaker 7: you know I started reconsidering it, and the coaches that

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Speaker 7: they had there at the time, it was TODs Lupoi

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Speaker 7: and Pete Golden and those guys like, you know, really

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Speaker 7: explained how they could see me, you know, just transforming

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Speaker 7: my game into being a true linebacker.

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Speaker 2: Obviously I was two forty five, probably.

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Speaker 7: Woudn't go play receiver, so like, yeah, it was just

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Speaker 7: for the purpose of trying to make it to the

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Speaker 7: league because we all were dreaming. You know, That's that's

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Speaker 7: really what it came down to. And you know, I

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Speaker 7: trusted Sabing and the coaches at Bama with my development obviously,

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Speaker 7: with that process. So and I think I, you know,

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Speaker 7: Houston coaches obviously did a great job too. So we're

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Speaker 7: here now.

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Speaker 1: That's that's crazy. Like you talking about your recruiting process,

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Speaker 1: I can imagine that it was like a little bit

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Speaker 1: of a roller coaster, right What what were those interactions

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Speaker 1: conversations like with some of those schools, Like did they

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Speaker 1: initially have you pegged as all right, we see you

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Speaker 1: as as a wide receiver, as a corner or something,

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Speaker 1: and then come back to you later to be like, man,

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Speaker 1: you beefed up, we now view you in this role.

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Speaker 1: Like what was that kind of like? And then the

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Speaker 1: All American game making the switch there was that something

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Speaker 1: that schools wanted to see from you in that game

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Speaker 1: or was that kind of like your decision.

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Speaker 7: Well that right there? Yeah, I would say kind of

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Speaker 7: a little bit of both. Like if I'm going to

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Speaker 7: college to play linebacker, I'm not going to let my

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Speaker 7: first time get in the stands be at practice. Yeah, so.

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Speaker 2: But could you repeat what you said before that?

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Speaker 8: Just like the recruiting process, yeah, sorry, yeah, yeah I

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Speaker 8: remember now Yeah, they listed me as an athlete most schools,

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Speaker 8: so it would be like an open conversation of like what.

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Speaker 2: Do you want to play?

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Speaker 7: Yeah, and I'm like, you already have an idea of

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Speaker 7: what you want me to play, regardless of what I say.

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Speaker 2: So that's how I was able to decipher.

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Speaker 7: The teams between taking out and just trying to realize

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Speaker 7: who's serious who's not. And I mean it's just a

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Speaker 7: lot of the SEC schools started saying linebacker. I was like, okay,

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Speaker 7: I must actually be a linebacker now to so I

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Speaker 7: just went with it.

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Speaker 1: What were kind of like your first thoughts when you

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Speaker 1: stepped onto the field at Alabama and then you know

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Speaker 1: you're competing for a starting role and you earned a

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Speaker 1: starting role as a freshman at a position that you'd

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Speaker 1: never played before, Like what was kind of going through

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Speaker 1: your mind in those first practices?

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Speaker 7: But just tried to calm it down, quiet your mind

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Speaker 7: as much as you can, and just like live in

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Speaker 7: a moment and do the work obviously, you know, like

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Speaker 7: I said, first time doing any other drills, any of

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Speaker 7: the footwork. The how I'm seeing the game is completely

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Speaker 7: different from being on the outside. Now I'm inside looking out,

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Speaker 7: like It's just it was way different. But you know,

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Speaker 7: I think over time it's helped me love the game.

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Speaker 7: I think a lot more in a different way. Not

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Speaker 7: just due to it obviously just because I'm good. I

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Speaker 7: can love football, but understanding how it works, right, it's

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Speaker 7: different from the inside, and you know, you're basically the

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Speaker 7: quarterback of the defense. And I think that's just helped

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Speaker 7: my play tremendously throughout the year since colleague, Like every

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Speaker 7: single year, I've just my mental side has kept growing,

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Speaker 7: getting more familiar with what I'm you know, having to

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Speaker 7: be asked to do. And so yeah, to.

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Speaker 3: That end, what were some things that like maybe in

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Speaker 3: that first year of really transitioning and kind of drinking

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Speaker 3: water out of a fire hydrant with all the information

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Speaker 3: that's coming at you, what are some things that maybe,

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Speaker 3: like you look back on then that really truly set

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Speaker 3: the foundation for who you ultimately became.

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Speaker 2: Like what got me through that?

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Speaker 7: God, my brother, my brother played seven well he's seven

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Speaker 7: years older than me, so he played one year in

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Speaker 7: the league with the Seahawks. He played four years with

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Speaker 7: the Wake for so it's like always been somebody I

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Speaker 7: could use as like, you know, for guidance, and it

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Speaker 7: just helped build my confidence.

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Speaker 2: You know, like if I'm.

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Speaker 7: Giving this opportunity, I obviously must know what to do

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Speaker 7: with it. I just got to figure it out out right. Yeah, So,

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Speaker 7: I mean that's just saw it was. I've just always

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Speaker 7: had the ultimate faith in myself, and that's just all

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Speaker 7: it was.

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Speaker 3: Do you have a favorite Nick Saban story from your

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Speaker 3: time at Alabama? Because I think that he's you know,

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Speaker 3: he's a legendary.

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Speaker 7: He is hilarious. I mean, I love It's there's all

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Speaker 7: of them out there. There's plenty of great stories out there,

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Speaker 7: so I can't can't pick I can't pick just one.

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Speaker 3: But he is exactly as advertised as exactly.

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Speaker 1: Speaking of advertisements to you, like when you see Nick

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Speaker 1: Saban on those commercials.

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Speaker 7: Crazy half flat commercials, commercials, all of that, Yeah, it

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Speaker 7: isn't a spa. Yeah, I love it. It's awesome to

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Speaker 7: see him doing this thing. Man.

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Speaker 1: So, like, because you were a relative late comer, I

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Speaker 1: guess to the position, like you talked about kind of

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Speaker 1: still growing and learning the game. Do you feel as though,

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Speaker 1: like when did it click for you? And are you

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Speaker 1: still kind of finding that you're making leaps even now

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Speaker 1: in your career.

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Speaker 7: I heard something like if you don't you get to

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Speaker 7: the point where you stop finding things to get better at,

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Speaker 7: like you're counting your days. So I'm finding new things

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Speaker 7: more so every year, or like just getting more.

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Speaker 2: Comfortable with.

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Speaker 7: I guess just the nature of playing linebacker in the

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Speaker 7: NFL is hard to be specific with it, like, but yeah, I.

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Speaker 3: Want to fast forward a little bit too. I guess

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Speaker 3: it was January twenty twenty four and the Wild Colored

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Speaker 3: Round versus the Cleveland Browns, and that is probably I mean,

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Speaker 3: I don't want to put words in your mouth, but

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Speaker 3: that's probably a game that you'll remember for a very

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Speaker 3: long time. Never forget that game. That was the game

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Speaker 3: in which I wrote it down. You had a pick

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Speaker 3: six and a sack, and you became the first player

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Speaker 3: to have both of those things in a playoff game

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Speaker 3: since I think a few years before when JJ whtt

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Speaker 3: did it? Can you kind of take us back to

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Speaker 3: that game and the feeling of what those moments meant

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Speaker 3: to you at the time.

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Speaker 7: I just liked the big stage, and like, you know,

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Speaker 7: you should approach every game the same and you try to,

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Speaker 7: but I just think, you know, divisional round or wildcard

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Speaker 7: round like whatever, it's like it's just turn up and

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Speaker 7: not a little bit. It's just more excitement and you know,

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Speaker 7: to do those things in that moment, it was amazing.

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Speaker 7: But I'm trying to do it again and again like

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Speaker 7: I was two years ago, as great as it was, like,

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Speaker 7: you know, we're worried about doing it now and again

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Speaker 7: and again. So I think you know I'm gonna take

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Speaker 7: from that is just knowing that you know, I'm that

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Speaker 7: same player and just leave it there and try and

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Speaker 7: recreate it.

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Speaker 1: Well, So yeah, that's what Kevin Stansky wants you to

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Speaker 1: do it again and again. He saw he saw it

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Speaker 1: from the other sideline. Now I need some of that,

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Speaker 1: all right. So being from Baton Rouge were what what

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Speaker 1: is your history with the Falcon Saints rivalry? Did you

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Speaker 1: grow up a Saints fan? You can be honest podcast studio,

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Speaker 1: but but yeah, like what what was your kind of

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Speaker 1: history with this this rivalry? And if you don't have one,

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Speaker 1: that's fine too.

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Speaker 7: Don't have one. I mean I grew up a Saints fan.

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Speaker 7: I'll be honest, but you know, I've also always dreamed

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Speaker 7: of being in the NFL and been presented with this opportunity.

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Speaker 7: I think it's just a full circle moment. I went

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Speaker 7: to Bama, I didn't go to LSU. So it's like,

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Speaker 7: you know, I always betting on myself being put in

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Speaker 7: these environments and being able to flourish. I think it

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Speaker 7: is part of my calling, so too like it.

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Speaker 3: It kind of like adds a little bit of because

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Speaker 3: you being a Saints fan, having been a Saints fan

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Speaker 3: growing up, like you, you understand kind of what this

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Speaker 3: rivalry is. It's one of the best in all of the.

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Speaker 1: Get deep yeah, yeah, deep yeah, But.

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Speaker 3: I think, like, uh, do you think that that's an

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Speaker 3: added kind of bonus for you that like, hey, you know,

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Speaker 3: you you have this history that comes from the other side,

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Speaker 3: but it still is something that you can I.

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Speaker 2: Can't wait to go home and whoop up on them

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Speaker 2: boys for sure.

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Speaker 3: Right answer, that's the correct answer for this podcast.

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Speaker 1: Absolutely bring those brag and rights back to Baton Rouge.

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Speaker 1: I love it awesome. Well, well, Christian, thank you so

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Speaker 1: much for sitting down with us. It was great to

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Speaker 1: meet you. Do we really look forward to seeing it

401
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Speaker 1: on the Red and black. Yes, sir, we are super

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Speaker 1: excited to be joined now by the Falcon's newest defensive tackle,

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Speaker 1: Chris Williams. Thank you, Chris for taking the time to

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Speaker 1: sit down with us.

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Speaker 4: I appreciate y'all having me here. Was good at.

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Speaker 3: Welcome to the A. What excites you about joining this

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Speaker 3: organization and where.

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Speaker 6: It is today?

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Speaker 9: Honestly, just everything about this organization and just the things

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Speaker 9: they're building here, to the defense, the people that's in

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Speaker 9: this building. I just know it's great things coming for

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Speaker 9: this organization.

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Speaker 1: So it has been kind of a trend. I guess

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Speaker 1: all off season is Ian Cunningham and Kevin'sfanski said they

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Speaker 1: want to build through the trenches. Does that excite you?

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Speaker 1: You know, when you see an organization really value the

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Speaker 1: line of scrimmage and how important it is to the game.

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Speaker 9: Yeah, definitely that does excite me because definitely when their

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Speaker 9: emphasis is to build you the trenches and they and

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Speaker 9: you get a call saying you want to have you

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Speaker 9: a part of that too, And I just know everything

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Speaker 9: that I do on the field will help this team exactly.

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Speaker 6: Do that.

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Speaker 3: Now, fact check me a little bit, because you've worked

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Speaker 3: with Nate Alie before Yes with the Colts. Yes, okay,

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Speaker 3: give me your favorite Nate Ollie stories. Working with Nate

427
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Speaker 3: Alie because he's he's very well well loved around here.

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Speaker 3: The Falcons fan base really gravitates towards him and his He.

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Speaker 4: Is a great guy. I say.

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Speaker 9: One of the funniest moments was probably our first year.

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Speaker 9: We had him over at the coats and we're just

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Speaker 9: sitting down and then next to you know, he's like,

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Speaker 9: who has the seat belt? Talking about seatbelt?

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Speaker 4: Who got the.

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Speaker 9: Seatbelt on each chair? So you're looking around, then you

436
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Speaker 9: find a seatbelt attached to your chair. And his main

437
00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,200
Speaker 9: thing was in at tech defensive to take off the seatbelt,

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Speaker 9: just play loose, play fast penetrate, so like every every

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Speaker 9: day you just didn't know if the seatbold is gonna

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Speaker 9: be on your chair. So he would move and it

441
00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,560
Speaker 9: was like a full little blown like seatbelt from an airplane,

442
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,840
Speaker 9: like the attachment and everything. I'm like, where do you

443
00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:05,960
Speaker 9: just find that detached?

444
00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:06,440
Speaker 2: Right?

445
00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,680
Speaker 3: What a piece of automative automative.

446
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:13,879
Speaker 1: There somewhere that's just missing a seat He was on.

447
00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:15,240
Speaker 9: A plane and just took your seat out with you

448
00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,280
Speaker 9: or something, and then it was one more way he

449
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:18,800
Speaker 9: had to say, and I say, like, run through the

450
00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,040
Speaker 9: dark room. And literally you'll come in sometimes to the

451
00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,080
Speaker 9: meaning room and it's just pitched dark, and he's like

452
00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,480
Speaker 9: if you stand there and the plus it's like he's like,

453
00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:26,920
Speaker 9: you're not locked in. You don't really want to do this,

454
00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,800
Speaker 9: so he's he makes it fun. He's great energy. I

455
00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:31,719
Speaker 9: love that guy for real.

456
00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:32,400
Speaker 4: He's cool.

457
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,120
Speaker 1: Where's uh, where's your go to seat on an airplane?

458
00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:38,520
Speaker 1: I'm assuming it's not middle?

459
00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,760
Speaker 9: No, no, it's not the middle. Honestly, it's definitely not

460
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:46,080
Speaker 9: the middle. But I would go window or uh owt sometimes,

461
00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:47,760
Speaker 9: like I like the hour you expect your legs out

462
00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:49,800
Speaker 9: a little bit more. The window you can let your

463
00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:52,000
Speaker 9: head on it. So you know, whatever one is available

464
00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:52,440
Speaker 9: I'm taking.

465
00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,399
Speaker 1: Say you're a sleeper on airplanes, yeah.

466
00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,560
Speaker 4: I probably get like thirty minutes wake up.

467
00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,360
Speaker 9: Sometimes it was like one time I had like three

468
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,440
Speaker 9: hours or I must have been tired, but that's probably

469
00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:04,640
Speaker 9: my best sleep ever in to play.

470
00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,199
Speaker 3: I get too anxious on planes. I like can't fully relax, and.

471
00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,080
Speaker 9: So I'm just like definitely when you're taken off and

472
00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,360
Speaker 9: the plane is creaking and I'm like we're not supposed

473
00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:14,399
Speaker 9: to be in the era right now.

474
00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:17,720
Speaker 1: But he kids being like, where's my seatbelts?

475
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:21,280
Speaker 3: Stole a seatbelt?

476
00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,680
Speaker 1: You also spent some time in Cleveland right on their

477
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,840
Speaker 1: practice squad, And one thing we've heard about Kevin Stefanski

478
00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:31,000
Speaker 1: is that he's very into player development. So as a

479
00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,800
Speaker 1: member of his practice squad, like, what kind of what

480
00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,680
Speaker 1: did you see from him actions he took to develop

481
00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,440
Speaker 1: the guys kind of on that part of the roster.

482
00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,479
Speaker 9: I definitely believe I had a great player development when

483
00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,360
Speaker 9: I was with him and Cleveland. One of the things

484
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,399
Speaker 9: that did stand out to me is like in Cleveland,

485
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,320
Speaker 9: as soon as you walked into the building, his office

486
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,040
Speaker 9: is right there, at least in one of them, and

487
00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,879
Speaker 9: he just had a pile of books like by his

488
00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,800
Speaker 9: his desk, and it was a book about confidence and

489
00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,560
Speaker 9: building confidence and too as you could use to help

490
00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,960
Speaker 9: yourself build your confidence and store that energy bank. And

491
00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:05,480
Speaker 9: I think that's one thing that stood out because I

492
00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,480
Speaker 9: actually took the book and read it in an off season.

493
00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:08,280
Speaker 4: And used some of the things.

494
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:09,960
Speaker 9: I actually have it in my notes still too that

495
00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:11,920
Speaker 9: I used to this day, and to this day, I

496
00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,080
Speaker 9: feel like it still helps me like when there's a

497
00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,240
Speaker 9: little dip, I just go back to the tubs and.

498
00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,240
Speaker 3: What are some of to the people, enlighten the people,

499
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:22,680
Speaker 3: What are some of the things that you really like

500
00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,000
Speaker 3: honed in on with that.

501
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,720
Speaker 9: It was like, you take three things you're gonna do today.

502
00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,320
Speaker 9: One of them you gotta think what's your pit, your fall,

503
00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,879
Speaker 9: and then how you could make sure you don't have

504
00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,760
Speaker 9: that fall again. But then you also add a video

505
00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,560
Speaker 9: of something you did into the bank. So it's like

506
00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,919
Speaker 9: now when you're scrolling through it, you just see videos like, oh,

507
00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,640
Speaker 9: I single leg squatted four or five so I could

508
00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,560
Speaker 9: I could throw an old lineman on his back. You know,

509
00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,280
Speaker 9: you know it was like this day I had great

510
00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,800
Speaker 9: one on ones. I was beating these offensive linemens. So

511
00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,280
Speaker 9: it's like you just you know, you just things. You

512
00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:58,920
Speaker 9: just remind yourself who you are for real.

513
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,840
Speaker 7: So one thing, I love that. That's awesome.

514
00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,880
Speaker 1: Do you Uh so you're just a couple of off

515
00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,240
Speaker 1: the wall questions for you. Do you have a personal mantra?

516
00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:08,480
Speaker 2: And if so, what is soon?

517
00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:10,240
Speaker 4: Mantra is forever evolving?

518
00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,200
Speaker 1: Okay, thank you?

519
00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:14,760
Speaker 9: Uh you know, you you're either going if you're not

520
00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,080
Speaker 9: getting better, you're getting worse. But one thing you can

521
00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,520
Speaker 9: always push this forever involvming, no matter what filled you in,

522
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,280
Speaker 9: no matter what you're doing, even if you move into

523
00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,920
Speaker 9: a new phase of life, evolving, evolving for a better

524
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:25,639
Speaker 9: vision of yourself.

525
00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:27,520
Speaker 1: Go again.

526
00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:27,960
Speaker 6: I like this.

527
00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,479
Speaker 1: Okay. Uh, next on the list of what is your

528
00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:33,120
Speaker 1: favorite word?

529
00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:35,080
Speaker 3: Favorite word?

530
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:42,159
Speaker 9: That's different now? Honestly though, my favorite word is unrecognizable.

531
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:46,040
Speaker 9: And I'll say that that actually like sat with me

532
00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,000
Speaker 9: two three years ago actually when I got to Cleveland,

533
00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:54,959
Speaker 9: and I just was like, this is like my thing

534
00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:56,840
Speaker 9: is when I see when people see me, I want

535
00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,960
Speaker 9: them to be like, oh, he's unrecognizable, Like.

536
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,280
Speaker 4: Whatever he whoever he was before, he's not the same

537
00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,439
Speaker 4: person he grew. So that's definitely my favorite word right now.

538
00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:05,200
Speaker 6: I love that.

539
00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,160
Speaker 3: Okay, what's a like an obscure fact about you? What's

540
00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,600
Speaker 3: something that you you love? You hate?

541
00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:11,800
Speaker 1: A pet peeve?

542
00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,400
Speaker 4: What you got one of my pet peeves?

543
00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:20,200
Speaker 1: A small thing that annoys you to just like you know, national.

544
00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:21,560
Speaker 4: I know you girl heard this before.

545
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:26,399
Speaker 3: It's Oh if people are listening to this only in.

546
00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:33,440
Speaker 1: Podcast, they're just like you careful, my sorry dad, My

547
00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,639
Speaker 1: dad is a gum smacker. So like any time in

548
00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,480
Speaker 1: the car with him and stuff. It was just like

549
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,960
Speaker 1: right now, it was tough. If you could live in

550
00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:46,720
Speaker 1: any fictional world, what would it be in.

551
00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,840
Speaker 4: Why fictional world? That's a good one.

552
00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:51,560
Speaker 7: Mm hmm.

553
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:53,440
Speaker 6: G t A.

554
00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:54,840
Speaker 2: I'll just go roofless.

555
00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,560
Speaker 1: Just wow, all right, you're just driving on the sidewalk.

556
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,200
Speaker 9: I'm going to the military base, still in a jet

557
00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,000
Speaker 9: in real life. This trying stuff.

558
00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:05,440
Speaker 4: Can I can I come back to life?

559
00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,400
Speaker 1: Yeah? Sure, yeah, I mean yeah.

560
00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,000
Speaker 9: Would you want to be ruthless fast stars all the time?

561
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,720
Speaker 3: Well, this was so much fun. Thank you so much

562
00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,399
Speaker 3: for sitting down with us. We know you got some

563
00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:20,520
Speaker 3: other things you gotta go do. Gotta go talk to

564
00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,560
Speaker 3: the media. I gotta go take some pictures all that stuff.

565
00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:24,040
Speaker 3: But welcome to Atlanta Fish Thanky.

566
00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:25,440
Speaker 4: I appreciate you guys, Thank you for having me.

567
00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,359
Speaker 1: Thank you, Chris. We've got a reunion on our hands.

568
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,439
Speaker 1: Austin Hooper is back with the Atlanta Falcons, joins us

569
00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:35,480
Speaker 1: now in the podcast studio. Austin, great to see again, buddy.

570
00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:36,680
Speaker 1: How you doing doing great?

571
00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:37,280
Speaker 2: Thanks for having me.

572
00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,640
Speaker 3: The building has changed quite a bit since the last

573
00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:40,119
Speaker 3: time you were here.

574
00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:41,120
Speaker 2: Yes, it has.

575
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:43,680
Speaker 6: Have you gotten the tour yet I got a part

576
00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:47,000
Speaker 6: of the tour already, just the amount of well space

577
00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,480
Speaker 6: I wasn't here the space I got completely renovated.

578
00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:53,199
Speaker 1: It's awesome. It's awesome.

579
00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,240
Speaker 3: Do you uh, what'd you think? Kind of because I

580
00:25:56,280 --> 00:25:59,040
Speaker 3: think it was so this building was so different, like

581
00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,240
Speaker 3: from the last time that you were here in the

582
00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:04,280
Speaker 3: new weight room, a new studio, Like what were your

583
00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:05,960
Speaker 3: thoughts when you walked in? You're like, wait a minute,

584
00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,200
Speaker 3: this is a completely different building.

585
00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:08,160
Speaker 2: Oh, no doubt.

586
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,159
Speaker 6: I mean, first of all, I walked in immediately I

587
00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:12,840
Speaker 6: was trying to find where Kevin Winston's old office was.

588
00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,280
Speaker 6: It was right where, Like, okay, that isn't there. I'm like,

589
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,159
Speaker 6: what's this hallway? It's like, this is a trip not

590
00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,680
Speaker 6: go in locker room obviously completely different. Pop over the

591
00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,200
Speaker 6: train room, say what's up to Danny and then that's

592
00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,920
Speaker 6: completely different. Then walk to the caf that's different. I

593
00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,320
Speaker 6: was like, all right, well if the address is the same,

594
00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,520
Speaker 6: but like that, I'm like, Emery's here now, I'm like what,

595
00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,280
Speaker 6: Like where are used to be sitting in traffic going

596
00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:38,520
Speaker 6: down to Buckhead for like an hour to get a scan.

597
00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:43,240
Speaker 6: Now it's like it's right next door he walked money. Unbelievable. Yeah, so,

598
00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,280
Speaker 6: I mean Arthur's done an awesome job.

599
00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,399
Speaker 1: I mean believe Yeah, the amenities they are they are

600
00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,320
Speaker 1: really nice, no doubt. But so it's really interesting, like

601
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,480
Speaker 1: a few reunions for you. But I want to start

602
00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,159
Speaker 1: with Kevin Sfansky. You know, you have the chance to

603
00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,240
Speaker 1: play for in Eveland. What ultimately made you decide to

604
00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,760
Speaker 1: come back and like join back.

605
00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:06,520
Speaker 2: Up with him? Yeah?

606
00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:08,600
Speaker 6: Sure, I mean like you to have the opportunity to

607
00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,600
Speaker 6: play for Kevin for a couple of years in Cleveland.

608
00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:15,399
Speaker 6: So just understanding his style. His philosophy is approach, the

609
00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:17,560
Speaker 6: way how he leads his team, the way how he

610
00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,360
Speaker 6: you know, make sure the entire staff as a whole

611
00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:23,480
Speaker 6: is on the same page and articulating that message of

612
00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,159
Speaker 6: the players. He does a phenomenal job. So once I

613
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,760
Speaker 6: got the opportunity to come back, it's like, all right,

614
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:29,879
Speaker 6: this is pretty easy.

615
00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,720
Speaker 1: You like have had some really interesting if you like

616
00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:37,359
Speaker 1: position coaches, and with Kevin Spansky having a background in

617
00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,639
Speaker 1: a history coaching tight ends like did he give you

618
00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,159
Speaker 1: any wisdom or how hands on was he with with

619
00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,400
Speaker 1: your group while you were there in Cleveland?

620
00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,520
Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean obviously it was play caller, head coach,

621
00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,480
Speaker 6: instrumental in the entire offense from So yeah, he would

622
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,560
Speaker 6: he would pop in there and would have conversations. But

623
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:55,960
Speaker 6: I mean, obviously, I mean most of the time you

624
00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:57,879
Speaker 6: spend with you know, you got to make sure the quarterback,

625
00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,480
Speaker 6: you gotta make sure he got fair, got make sure

626
00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,280
Speaker 6: the trigger man knows knows what he's trying to put

627
00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,440
Speaker 6: on the chessboard. So yeah, I mean he popped in

628
00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,639
Speaker 6: and talked with us, just like he would the receivers

629
00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,720
Speaker 6: or you know, insert position group. So I mean, but

630
00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:12,639
Speaker 6: he also at the same time trusted the guys he

631
00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:15,000
Speaker 6: hired to do a great job of doing.

632
00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:15,400
Speaker 2: That, and they did.

633
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:17,680
Speaker 3: I've had a lot of conversations with him just about

634
00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,080
Speaker 3: the tight end position and his love of it, just

635
00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:24,919
Speaker 3: in general and just from a schematic standpoint. What stands

636
00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:26,879
Speaker 3: out to you the most having played in his system

637
00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:28,399
Speaker 3: and how he utilizes the position.

638
00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:29,720
Speaker 2: Yeah, sure, I mean.

639
00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:33,359
Speaker 6: A lot of bigger people packages, so two tight end

640
00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,479
Speaker 6: plus packages. So I mean, if you play tight end,

641
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,159
Speaker 6: that's great. You know, you've got to be on the

642
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,320
Speaker 6: field more, it's awesome. And then the way how he

643
00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,640
Speaker 6: ties it in like run game mixed with play action,

644
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,240
Speaker 6: and then the vertical concepts that come off of that

645
00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:46,880
Speaker 6: I think are fantastic.

646
00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:50,160
Speaker 1: We were kind of talking a little bit before we

647
00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,320
Speaker 1: press record about, you know, Matt Ryan now no longer

648
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:59,240
Speaker 1: throwing you the ball, like staring out like mister Burns

649
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,080
Speaker 1: through his window at the practice field, watching you all

650
00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:05,920
Speaker 1: just just scheming over there. But no, I what are

651
00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:08,600
Speaker 1: what are like kind of your thoughts on Matt in

652
00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:10,520
Speaker 1: his new role and this new kind.

653
00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:12,160
Speaker 6: Of working Really yeah, I mean, first of all, it's

654
00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:13,800
Speaker 6: a trip. I mean I remember that guy, you know,

655
00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,840
Speaker 6: following him around the off season, getting extra reps with him,

656
00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:21,240
Speaker 6: and obviously playing together for four years and having the

657
00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,680
Speaker 6: success that we had playing together, the connection we had,

658
00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:27,560
Speaker 6: so it's it's wild, man. It's like it's also made

659
00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:30,840
Speaker 6: me feel a little old. I'm like, I'm like, this

660
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:33,640
Speaker 6: man went from being thrown me touchdown, So just now

661
00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,880
Speaker 6: it's like, Hi, mister President's like, no, no, no, you

662
00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:36,640
Speaker 6: know you're still Matt.

663
00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,120
Speaker 2: You're still Matt Love Maddie.

664
00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,760
Speaker 3: That's the thing is like you shared a locker room

665
00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:44,480
Speaker 3: with him, y'all. You talked about sharing off season moments together.

666
00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,160
Speaker 3: I mean, you're in the dog days of training camp together.

667
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:54,160
Speaker 3: He's led so many like important moments in this franchise history,

668
00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:57,320
Speaker 3: and now he's in charge of kind of leading the

669
00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,440
Speaker 3: team in the organization into the next fai of what

670
00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,680
Speaker 3: it could be. When you think back to the times

671
00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,360
Speaker 3: when you're in the huddle with him in a two

672
00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,960
Speaker 3: minute drill, like what stood out to you about like

673
00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,880
Speaker 3: him as a leader that you think translates really well

674
00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,280
Speaker 3: to him now being an executive.

675
00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:18,000
Speaker 6: Extreme ownership and extreme accountability. I mean, that's what he

676
00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,160
Speaker 6: brought to the team. It didn't matter whether you know

677
00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:23,560
Speaker 6: your Juliel or just got pulled up from the practice

678
00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,520
Speaker 6: squad and plane receiver or tight end or insert offensive

679
00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:29,160
Speaker 6: position this week. It's like Matt is going to make

680
00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:32,120
Speaker 6: sure everyone's on the details and make sure everyone is

681
00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:34,440
Speaker 6: treated the same like and held to the same standard.

682
00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:38,680
Speaker 6: So seeing him get this opportunity, I'm sure he's leaning

683
00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:40,800
Speaker 6: upon the same lessons he learned as a player, which

684
00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:42,960
Speaker 6: is ownership and accountability of what you're doing.

685
00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:44,320
Speaker 2: So no brainer.

686
00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,680
Speaker 1: One of the first times that I was like, you

687
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:50,080
Speaker 1: know what I like this Austin Hooper guy, was was

688
00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:53,080
Speaker 1: seeing how you approached your offseason workouts and really seeking

689
00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:55,160
Speaker 1: out Matt to say, hey, let's work together. I want

690
00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,800
Speaker 1: to kind of pick your brain and build that chemistry.

691
00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,400
Speaker 1: Now where you are in your career, how have you evolved,

692
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,520
Speaker 1: How have you changed? How has your approach grown or

693
00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:08,760
Speaker 1: shifted to kind of meet where you are at this point.

694
00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,120
Speaker 6: In your career from twenty one to thirty one, What

695
00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:16,000
Speaker 6: has changed a lot? I think it looks like anything right,

696
00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:16,760
Speaker 6: just like life.

697
00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:18,280
Speaker 2: It's just like experience.

698
00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,640
Speaker 6: You find things that work for you, other things that

699
00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:22,880
Speaker 6: you just discard. You're like, eah, this isn't really serving

700
00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,520
Speaker 6: me or it's not yielding the results compared to how

701
00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:28,040
Speaker 6: much time you put into it. So I think a

702
00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,080
Speaker 6: lot of it's been tankering over the years to kind

703
00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:32,400
Speaker 6: of find a solid routine, a solid way of how

704
00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,640
Speaker 6: to practice, a solid game day routine, a solid off

705
00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:36,520
Speaker 6: season routine.

706
00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,080
Speaker 2: It just goes back to the experience.

707
00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:39,720
Speaker 6: I mean, I've this would be my eleventh year, so

708
00:31:39,760 --> 00:31:42,680
Speaker 6: I've you know, experimented over you know, my first five, six,

709
00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,000
Speaker 6: seven offseasons to kind of really try to find the

710
00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,320
Speaker 6: one that makes most sense with me and where I'm

711
00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,360
Speaker 6: at physically and what I got going on, depending on

712
00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,640
Speaker 6: you know, how long you play a season, and requires

713
00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,920
Speaker 6: you to do certain things at a certain time to

714
00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,400
Speaker 6: ensure that you know you're good to go the following year.

715
00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,480
Speaker 6: So yeah, I think over a decade of doing it,

716
00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,280
Speaker 6: I think I found a pretty decent way to go

717
00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:03,760
Speaker 6: about it.

718
00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:07,920
Speaker 3: I guess the opposite end of that same spectrum is like,

719
00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,160
Speaker 3: you're still like the same guy that you were when

720
00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,200
Speaker 3: you walked in here after being drafted by this organization, Like,

721
00:32:14,280 --> 00:32:17,520
Speaker 3: in what ways are you still the same as that

722
00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:20,520
Speaker 3: guy that first you know, got the call from mister

723
00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:22,200
Speaker 3: Blank that hey, you're coming to be a Falcon.

724
00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:24,520
Speaker 6: Yeah, just like that, I'm super excited to be a

725
00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:28,560
Speaker 6: Falcon again, Like super fired up about that. I mean,

726
00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:31,560
Speaker 6: I still my love for the game, just like I

727
00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:33,520
Speaker 6: did when I was twenty one. But obviously I had

728
00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:34,320
Speaker 6: no idea.

729
00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:35,320
Speaker 2: What I was doing at twenty one.

730
00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:37,480
Speaker 3: It does any of us, Like, no, no, you all.

731
00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,400
Speaker 6: Think you do because you play college football. You're like, oh,

732
00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:41,080
Speaker 6: it's the same game. Then you come here and you're

733
00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:42,960
Speaker 6: just like drinking out of a fire hose for like

734
00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:44,760
Speaker 6: your first year trying to figure it out.

735
00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:46,960
Speaker 1: But yeah, that's a great question.

736
00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,200
Speaker 6: I'll just say, Really, my enthusiasm for coming back to

737
00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:51,479
Speaker 6: being an Atlanta Falcon. I mean, like I've been here

738
00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:54,120
Speaker 6: in the off seasons like this whole time. So being

739
00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,960
Speaker 6: able to just cruise up eighty five not have to

740
00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:59,560
Speaker 6: go to insert city it is pretty sweet. And being

741
00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:02,320
Speaker 6: able to do it with a lot of familiar faces

742
00:33:02,400 --> 00:33:06,160
Speaker 6: at a place I really truly enjoyed, so unbelievable.

743
00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,600
Speaker 1: Do you have anything that like having been away from

744
00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:12,080
Speaker 1: Atlanta that you're dying to get back to a favorite restaurant,

745
00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,000
Speaker 1: a favorite activity like did you miss Piedmont part? Like

746
00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:16,200
Speaker 1: what are what are you looking forward to?

747
00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,160
Speaker 6: I've been here every off season, so I mean I

748
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,360
Speaker 6: still still been here at Umi, still been hitting up shops.

749
00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,240
Speaker 2: I mean people are like, oh, you happy to be back.

750
00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:29,200
Speaker 1: I'm like, I've never been here, literally, I've been here.

751
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:30,920
Speaker 3: Matt was like, I mean I've lived here.

752
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:31,880
Speaker 6: So that's like, I don't know.

753
00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:33,680
Speaker 2: I have three kids born here, Like, I don't know,

754
00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:34,600
Speaker 2: I've been here this whole time.

755
00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,120
Speaker 1: I don't know. So that was you that I saw

756
00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:38,120
Speaker 1: in the belt Line a couple of years Okay, I was.

757
00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:41,360
Speaker 2: With a Gatorade.

758
00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:45,440
Speaker 3: That So when you kind of think about where this

759
00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:49,880
Speaker 3: organization is, it's in a kind of new era in

760
00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:54,000
Speaker 3: a certain sense brand new leadership with Matt and Stefanski

761
00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,760
Speaker 3: and Ian cunning Cunningham coming in as well. What excites

762
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:01,080
Speaker 3: you about where this roster there is, where this organization

763
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:02,200
Speaker 3: is going into twenty six.

764
00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,640
Speaker 6: Yeah, I definitely see a lot of the un the

765
00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:06,920
Speaker 6: enthusiasm being able to be here in the building today,

766
00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,960
Speaker 6: sit down with Matt, sit down with Kevin, meet everyone,

767
00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:12,759
Speaker 6: and just see the excitement enthusiasm that they have for

768
00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:14,440
Speaker 6: this and having the opportunity to work with.

769
00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:16,840
Speaker 4: Much of the.

770
00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,560
Speaker 6: Staff before we with Kevin before obviously played alongside Matt,

771
00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,960
Speaker 6: so understanding what they're about, Like I understand that their

772
00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:26,080
Speaker 6: their missions are going to be aligned and what they

773
00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,319
Speaker 6: want to do, and like speaking on what's already here,

774
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,960
Speaker 6: I mean a lot of talented players already, like tremendous players,

775
00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,279
Speaker 6: So being able to combine that piece with that piece,

776
00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:36,640
Speaker 6: I think could be really exciting.

777
00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:41,640
Speaker 1: Jeff Olbrich was here previously as a Linemackers coach. Yeah,

778
00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,800
Speaker 1: it's awesome having unbelievable unbuilding. And I'm curious, you know,

779
00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:47,880
Speaker 1: like for as much as you can remember and as

780
00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:50,279
Speaker 1: much as you can share, Like when the Patriots and

781
00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:53,160
Speaker 1: the Falcons played last season, what were kind of the

782
00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,600
Speaker 1: impressions of the Jeff Olbrich defense and this Falcons unit

783
00:34:56,719 --> 00:34:58,279
Speaker 1: as you guys were going through kind of that week

784
00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:01,080
Speaker 1: of gameplay, Like what was you game?

785
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:02,560
Speaker 2: It was nuts?

786
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:07,320
Speaker 6: Yeah, right off top, fast and aggressive, I mean, and

787
00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:08,600
Speaker 6: bricks can bring pressure.

788
00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:09,799
Speaker 2: And if you won't have your.

789
00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:13,839
Speaker 6: Tease cross and your eyes dotted and you know your

790
00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,000
Speaker 6: eyes are in the wrong spot if you're setting protection,

791
00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,040
Speaker 6: Brick's going to make sure his boys make you pay.

792
00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:20,520
Speaker 6: So uh, that would be the biggest thing, just like

793
00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:24,640
Speaker 6: his structure of his defense, how he finds the way,

794
00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:28,160
Speaker 6: regardless of the name of the position, the different guys,

795
00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:30,960
Speaker 6: just getting home from the quarterback and just bringing pressure

796
00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:32,680
Speaker 6: and combining that with the athleticism.

797
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:33,920
Speaker 2: You can do that when you have a guy like

798
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:34,920
Speaker 2: aj outside.

799
00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,960
Speaker 6: So, I mean, a lot, a lot of great pieces

800
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,520
Speaker 6: out there already. I'm really excited to be back in

801
00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:43,560
Speaker 6: the building. It's fun to see Brick to bricks and

802
00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,480
Speaker 6: man tackling me at twenty one years old.

803
00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:47,120
Speaker 2: Love that guy.

804
00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,920
Speaker 1: He was like walking around barefoot on yesterday. I was like,

805
00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:55,279
Speaker 1: he's back. He's the one with nature I know. So,

806
00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,080
Speaker 1: like the tight end position is is so nuanced and

807
00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:01,279
Speaker 1: involved and you're in every facet of the offense. Like,

808
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:05,880
Speaker 1: have you seen or felt that position change or evolve

809
00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:08,800
Speaker 1: over the last decade. It feels like the offenses in

810
00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:11,920
Speaker 1: the NFL have shifted from so pass heavy and now

811
00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:14,600
Speaker 1: we're starting to get back to some twelve thirteen packages

812
00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:16,759
Speaker 1: and running the bat. Like, from your perspective, how has

813
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:17,400
Speaker 1: it changed?

814
00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:20,920
Speaker 2: I would say the versatility overall for the position.

815
00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:23,320
Speaker 6: You used to have more like specialists so to speak,

816
00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:25,759
Speaker 6: you know, ten years ago, and now it's like, yeah,

817
00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:27,880
Speaker 6: you can be still be really good at what you do,

818
00:36:28,040 --> 00:36:29,600
Speaker 6: but you have to still be able to do the

819
00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:31,200
Speaker 6: other things as well if you want to be in

820
00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:34,080
Speaker 6: those twelve thirteen personnel sets where you're going out on

821
00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,239
Speaker 6: the field and the defenses and are like, oh, this

822
00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,200
Speaker 6: guy's going to do one of the three things only

823
00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,480
Speaker 6: does you know what I mean? So I would say

824
00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:43,279
Speaker 6: that the position overall evolving to have guys that can,

825
00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,120
Speaker 6: you know, be in multiple buckets so to speak, instead

826
00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:48,120
Speaker 6: of just being the specialist. That's kind of what I've

827
00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:49,439
Speaker 6: seen over the past ten years.

828
00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,320
Speaker 3: Personally, I just feel like y'all have and I know

829
00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,560
Speaker 3: this is day one for you literally just signed ink

830
00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:56,960
Speaker 3: on dotted line, buts right, I feel as though, like

831
00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,280
Speaker 3: this unit at this position, group with you, Kyle Pitts,

832
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,680
Speaker 3: Charlie Warner, Like even within versatility, you all have like

833
00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:06,560
Speaker 3: your own special set of skills and you're in your

834
00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:09,840
Speaker 3: own lane to work in. Like what excites you about

835
00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:12,640
Speaker 3: working with these guys working in that room specifically?

836
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:15,040
Speaker 6: Yeah, being able to be around these guys for years

837
00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:17,080
Speaker 6: and getting to know them, so being able to be

838
00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,839
Speaker 6: in the same room as them and play alongside them

839
00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,759
Speaker 6: on the field is awesome. So, I mean, all both

840
00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:25,920
Speaker 6: those guys are super talented, have a ton of respect

841
00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:27,600
Speaker 6: for both of them, so I'm really looking forward to

842
00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:28,319
Speaker 6: being in that room.

843
00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:29,399
Speaker 2: Cool.

844
00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:32,440
Speaker 1: I don't think I've got anything anything else for them, No,

845
00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:34,600
Speaker 1: I love it was great.

846
00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:37,000
Speaker 3: It was great to catch up with y'all. Like, see

847
00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:38,920
Speaker 3: where you are now, thirty one.

848
00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,719
Speaker 1: I know we'll go twenty nine to twenty nine. I'll

849
00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:46,840
Speaker 1: look it up the second year of twenty nine. Yeah, sorry,

850
00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:49,880
Speaker 1: secret awesome. We thank you so much for sitting down

851
00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:51,759
Speaker 1: with us. Thank you blast to catch up with you again.

852
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:53,799
Speaker 1: And you know we got many more days to come, right,

853
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:54,719
Speaker 1: That's right, A ton of fun.

854
00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:55,040
Speaker 2: Thank you.

855
00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:57,960
Speaker 1: I'm really excited to be sitting down now. With Corey Levin,

856
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,320
Speaker 1: the Falcon's newest offensive lineman. Welcome to Atlanta.

857
00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:03,400
Speaker 2: Good to be here, man, Great to be here.

858
00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:08,239
Speaker 1: So you worked with Bill Callahan in Tennessee. What can

859
00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:10,800
Speaker 1: you tell me about kind of him as a coach

860
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,239
Speaker 1: and and just what he's going to bring to the group.

861
00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:16,680
Speaker 2: Well, first off, I mean, he's uh, he's one of

862
00:38:16,719 --> 00:38:19,239
Speaker 2: the best so line coaches you can you can get,

863
00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:24,759
Speaker 2: you know what I mean. He's uh, he's very intentional

864
00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:29,960
Speaker 2: with everything he does. He's you know, very technical. Technique

865
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,359
Speaker 2: and things like that. They matter a lot obviously as

866
00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,640
Speaker 2: well as like finishing and playing hard with effort. But

867
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,960
Speaker 2: techniqu's a big thing with him. But really he's just

868
00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:43,239
Speaker 2: he's got so much knowledge. He's got probably more things

869
00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,520
Speaker 2: he's forgot at this point than he knows, you know

870
00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:48,800
Speaker 2: what I mean. He knows that much football, and he

871
00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,040
Speaker 2: does a good job of teaching you the game. Even

872
00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:55,560
Speaker 2: in later years in your career, Like I am, he's

873
00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:59,200
Speaker 2: still teaching me things, giving me tips, tricks like that.

874
00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,280
Speaker 2: He's just he's honestly legendary.

875
00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:02,880
Speaker 4: That's what it is.

876
00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,240
Speaker 1: I think I was looking it up. It's like he's

877
00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:07,960
Speaker 1: coached for like forty five years or something, which is

878
00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,520
Speaker 1: that you say, like you're in the later years. He's like, man,

879
00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:14,000
Speaker 1: that was I've had like three four of those like

880
00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:15,640
Speaker 1: lengths of year kids exactly.

881
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:22,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, he's many systems, many different techniques anything. He knows

882
00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:24,680
Speaker 2: them all, so and he'll help you use him to

883
00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:25,800
Speaker 2: your advantage. That's what.

884
00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:28,719
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's what I kind of am so excited to see.

885
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:32,120
Speaker 1: And having him now with the organization is like the

886
00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:34,480
Speaker 1: game is so cyclical, right, and I feel like we're

887
00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:37,640
Speaker 1: even in a period now where you're seeing the transition

888
00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,640
Speaker 1: with more of the cover two cover fours away from

889
00:39:40,719 --> 00:39:43,480
Speaker 1: passing game, getting a little bit bigger, twelve personnel, thirteen

890
00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:46,280
Speaker 1: personnel like that type of stuff. So I'm really excited

891
00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,839
Speaker 1: to see just what he's going to bring schematically, Yeah,

892
00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:51,120
Speaker 1: ideas that he can have, he's.

893
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:54,440
Speaker 2: Got them all. He's got the whole rolodex of schemes,

894
00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,840
Speaker 2: and he knows how to do him well and he

895
00:39:56,920 --> 00:39:58,359
Speaker 2: knows what bodies to put where.

896
00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:03,239
Speaker 1: So, like you said, stuff, So you're from Georgia, did

897
00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:04,279
Speaker 1: you grow up a Falcons fan?

898
00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:08,480
Speaker 2: I so, being from the South, I was more of

899
00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:10,719
Speaker 2: a college football fan. Okay, you know what I mean.

900
00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:12,920
Speaker 2: And I might upset some people here. I was not

901
00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:18,120
Speaker 2: a Georgia Bulldog fan. Everybody in my family besides myself,

902
00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:22,000
Speaker 2: was from Miami, so I grew up a Miami Hurricane fan. Okay,

903
00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:26,080
Speaker 2: And honestly, it's it's kind of crazy. On Sundays, we

904
00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:29,400
Speaker 2: weren't really watching football that much, but if I did

905
00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,520
Speaker 2: watch a game, it was the Atlanta Falcons because that's

906
00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:32,359
Speaker 2: who came on the TV.

907
00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:36,920
Speaker 1: So yeah, well that's that's awesome. I was going back,

908
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:39,640
Speaker 1: and I believe it was last off season training camp

909
00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,319
Speaker 1: when you called yourself a glue guy in the locker room.

910
00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,120
Speaker 1: Why what do you what's your presence in the locker room?

911
00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:48,600
Speaker 1: What kind of vibes are are you bringing? And why

912
00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:50,759
Speaker 1: do you value being in that role?

913
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:56,200
Speaker 2: So, I mean, over the years in Tennessee, there's lots

914
00:40:56,239 --> 00:40:59,080
Speaker 2: of great locker rooms. I mean, we had guys like

915
00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:02,440
Speaker 2: Taylor Lawan, Will Compton. Those guys, you know, they make

916
00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:04,239
Speaker 2: it easy to show up to work. So when you

917
00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,960
Speaker 2: hang around those guys, eventually, you know, you kind of

918
00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,200
Speaker 2: find yourself in the spot that they were when they're

919
00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:14,440
Speaker 2: no longer there trying to teach guys like, hey, this

920
00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:16,720
Speaker 2: is how we do things, and here this is building whatever,

921
00:41:17,719 --> 00:41:20,640
Speaker 2: and really just trying to connect with everyone from rookies

922
00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:24,919
Speaker 2: to year twelve and beyond guys. And then I think

923
00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:29,920
Speaker 2: being from the Atlanta, Georgia area kind of just growing up,

924
00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:34,640
Speaker 2: I just had friends from all different racist cultures things

925
00:41:34,760 --> 00:41:37,160
Speaker 2: like that. Yeah, and I think that also helped me,

926
00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:39,440
Speaker 2: you know, just kind of be able to relate with

927
00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:41,560
Speaker 2: anybody that I have a conversation.

928
00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:43,120
Speaker 1: With, kind of like just a melting pop mentality.

929
00:41:43,239 --> 00:41:45,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, absolutely so.

930
00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:49,879
Speaker 1: Joint practices last year here in Flowery Branch, What did

931
00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:52,360
Speaker 1: you learn about the Falcons defense? What were kind of

932
00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,560
Speaker 1: your impressions of Jeff Ulbrick's group.

933
00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:59,520
Speaker 2: So it kind of just re solidified my thought. I

934
00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:02,440
Speaker 2: was with the Jets in twenty one when Brick was

935
00:42:02,560 --> 00:42:05,759
Speaker 2: up there as the decordinator, So I was kind of

936
00:42:06,040 --> 00:42:08,480
Speaker 2: telling guys before we even got here, like, Hey, they're

937
00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:10,439
Speaker 2: just gonna they're gonna come off the ball. They're gonna

938
00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:12,800
Speaker 2: you know, there's just gonna be no holds far just

939
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:16,800
Speaker 2: trying to wreck everything. And they did that. It was

940
00:42:17,160 --> 00:42:21,040
Speaker 2: a great competition in those practices. I had to remember

941
00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:24,040
Speaker 2: how hot it was in Atlanta. Again, it's been fourteen

942
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,600
Speaker 2: years since I lived here, So that was all fun.

943
00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:30,920
Speaker 2: But yeah, the d line, they were fired up and

944
00:42:31,160 --> 00:42:34,239
Speaker 2: those linebackers were running all over the place. But good

945
00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:37,239
Speaker 2: defense and it's fun to have that competition to get

946
00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:38,080
Speaker 2: better with every day.

947
00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:43,160
Speaker 1: You're joining kind of a veteran offensive line or a

948
00:42:43,239 --> 00:42:47,000
Speaker 1: group that's been together for a little bit. What is

949
00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:49,680
Speaker 1: kind of your mindset coming in into this group and

950
00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:51,520
Speaker 1: you know, what do you know about kind of your

951
00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:52,320
Speaker 1: new teammates.

952
00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:56,560
Speaker 2: Well, mindset coming in is just you know, proved of

953
00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:59,840
Speaker 2: these guys that they can depend on me if needed.

954
00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:04,759
Speaker 2: And I'm a hard worker. You know, I'm not really

955
00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:07,000
Speaker 2: like a crazy dude, like you're not going to have

956
00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:08,719
Speaker 2: to I'm not a wild card. You're not going to

957
00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:12,640
Speaker 2: have to worry about me. But as far as coming

958
00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:15,480
Speaker 2: into the group that you know, they've had this cohesion

959
00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:19,200
Speaker 2: and whatnot. Like I said, just if opportunity is given,

960
00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:21,879
Speaker 2: just answering the bell and that's how you're inn trust

961
00:43:21,960 --> 00:43:24,400
Speaker 2: in this league is knowing what to do and actually

962
00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:27,399
Speaker 2: going out and doing it. So if that opportunity to rise,

963
00:43:27,520 --> 00:43:32,840
Speaker 2: is capitalizing on that And yeah, basically just you know,

964
00:43:33,000 --> 00:43:36,160
Speaker 2: trying to trying to meet some new guys and all

965
00:43:36,320 --> 00:43:38,640
Speaker 2: we all have the same goal. No matter who you are,

966
00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:41,200
Speaker 2: what team you are, you have the same goal every year,

967
00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:45,000
Speaker 2: whether that's with the team going to the Super Bowl

968
00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:48,000
Speaker 2: or personally, you know, trying to have the best year

969
00:43:48,040 --> 00:43:49,920
Speaker 2: of your career. So we're all trying to do that.

970
00:43:50,080 --> 00:43:51,479
Speaker 2: We're all trying to do the same thing.

971
00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:54,200
Speaker 1: Absolutely, all right. We got a couple of just kind

972
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,680
Speaker 1: of like fun off the wall questions for you. So,

973
00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:00,960
Speaker 1: what what's a small thing that annoys you to like

974
00:44:01,440 --> 00:44:02,840
Speaker 1: an irrational degree.

975
00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:07,680
Speaker 2: H Sometimes when I can hear people eating, that's that's crazy.

976
00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:11,040
Speaker 2: We just kind of bothersome sometimes had.

977
00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:14,040
Speaker 1: The same answer earlier. Yeah, channing tend to I think

978
00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:16,319
Speaker 1: it was it was kind of like smacking gum, right,

979
00:44:16,520 --> 00:44:17,839
Speaker 1: like that type of sound.

980
00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:20,319
Speaker 2: I think there's actually a condition for that and why

981
00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:22,680
Speaker 2: it annoys you. It's not just like you're a mean person,

982
00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:24,200
Speaker 2: like it's actually a thing.

983
00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:28,279
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's it is an incredibly annoying sound. Who was

984
00:44:28,320 --> 00:44:29,120
Speaker 1: your childhood hero?

985
00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:33,840
Speaker 2: So I grew up a Miami Hurricane fan and football.

986
00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:36,920
Speaker 2: It was Ed Reid because he was a superhero on

987
00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:41,040
Speaker 2: the field. But my dad he coached me all throughout

988
00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:46,279
Speaker 2: Little League and the GFL, the Gwynette Football League, and yeah,

989
00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:48,920
Speaker 2: just I always looked up to him and he's just

990
00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:49,359
Speaker 2: the best.

991
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:53,040
Speaker 1: That's I don't want to sidestep your dad. But going

992
00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,280
Speaker 1: back to ed Reed, did you watch like the thirty

993
00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:59,239
Speaker 1: for thirty like the U and yeah, oh yeah, man,

994
00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:01,920
Speaker 1: that that clip of him like in that game when

995
00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:04,600
Speaker 1: he's hurt. Yes, it's like, man, I'm hurt, dog, don't

996
00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:07,040
Speaker 1: ask me if I'm all right? Like, oh god, that's yeah.

997
00:45:07,239 --> 00:45:08,520
Speaker 1: It just gets you fired up.

998
00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:11,200
Speaker 2: Like the guy played the game in such a way

999
00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:13,560
Speaker 2: that no matter who you are, you gotta respect it.

1000
00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:18,279
Speaker 2: I mean, he's an absolute legend. And obviously I'm not

1001
00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:22,440
Speaker 2: a safety, but you know, try to play with a

1002
00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:25,319
Speaker 2: little bit of you know it tenacity that that he did,

1003
00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:26,040
Speaker 2: you know what I mean?

1004
00:45:26,239 --> 00:45:30,000
Speaker 1: Yeah? Absolutely. If you could be any animal, what animal

1005
00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:30,360
Speaker 1: would it be?

1006
00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:33,239
Speaker 4: Oh, I've thought about this one in a while.

1007
00:45:33,600 --> 00:45:37,600
Speaker 2: I'd probably be some type of bird. Let's say a falcon.

1008
00:45:37,840 --> 00:45:40,000
Speaker 2: But that's that's a good I think it would be

1009
00:45:40,040 --> 00:45:40,839
Speaker 2: pretty sweet to fly.

1010
00:45:41,719 --> 00:45:44,080
Speaker 1: Yeah, it would all right. Last one, do you have

1011
00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:45,200
Speaker 1: a personal mantra?

1012
00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:52,960
Speaker 2: A personal mantra? Usually it's just I kind of say

1013
00:45:52,960 --> 00:45:54,759
Speaker 2: it in the weight room. I'll say if it's my

1014
00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:57,640
Speaker 2: last set, I'll say last set, best set, or last

1015
00:45:57,719 --> 00:45:59,239
Speaker 2: rap best rapa something like that.

1016
00:45:59,520 --> 00:45:59,880
Speaker 6: I like that.

1017
00:46:00,200 --> 00:46:02,800
Speaker 2: Just say you're always finishing your best.

1018
00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:05,759
Speaker 1: And a strong Yeah. Yeah. I went to Uga and

1019
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:07,920
Speaker 1: Mark Rick's thing. While I was there was always finished

1020
00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:08,239
Speaker 1: the drill.

1021
00:46:08,360 --> 00:46:09,279
Speaker 4: Yeah, finish the drill.

1022
00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:10,480
Speaker 1: I love that.

1023
00:46:10,760 --> 00:46:11,799
Speaker 2: I grew up here in that too.

1024
00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:12,520
Speaker 1: Yeah.

1025
00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:13,800
Speaker 2: Twenty minutes for Mathoms.

1026
00:46:14,040 --> 00:46:16,759
Speaker 1: Heck yeah, Corey. Thank you so much for sitting down.

1027
00:46:16,800 --> 00:46:17,560
Speaker 1: It was great to meet you.

1028
00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:18,280
Speaker 2: Absolutely.

1029
00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:19,279
Speaker 1: I appreciate your time.

1030
00:46:19,480 --> 00:46:20,000
Speaker 2: Thank you will.

1031
00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:23,240
Speaker 1: Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode.

1032
00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:26,120
Speaker 1: I really hope you enjoyed it. Those were great chats,

1033
00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:29,120
Speaker 1: great guys. It seems like a good group in free

1034
00:46:29,160 --> 00:46:31,360
Speaker 1: agency that the Falcons brought in. And we will be

1035
00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:35,439
Speaker 1: back next Friday talking about what the Falcons have done

1036
00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:37,520
Speaker 1: in free agency, maybe where they go from here. We

1037
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:40,279
Speaker 1: still have the drafts coming up, still have a few

1038
00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:42,759
Speaker 1: more weeks of free agency. You know, some signings can

1039
00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:45,560
Speaker 1: always trickle in here and there, so we'll talk about

1040
00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:47,719
Speaker 1: the state of the roster, where the Falcons can go

1041
00:46:48,640 --> 00:46:51,759
Speaker 1: and much more so. Please keep an eye on the feed.

1042
00:46:51,880 --> 00:46:54,600
Speaker 1: We will be back on Friday to bring you a

1043
00:46:54,640 --> 00:46:56,200
Speaker 1: little bit more Falcons football.