1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: David Garrard lives his life like he played the game. Big, bright, enthusiastic, 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: and willing to drop his shoulder into a linebacker or 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: pick up the microphone and talk to the canvas. In 4 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 1: the introductory conference call on the day he was drafted, 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: the youthful quarterback accidentally challenged the starter, despite the fact 6 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: that Mark Brunelle was a three time pro bowler. That's 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: the way it is with David. What do you want 8 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: to know, what you need him to do? Put him 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: in coach, He's ready to play. This is Perspectives, the 10 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: story of the Jaguars first twenty five seasons as told 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: by the people who built the franchise from the ground up. 12 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: This is David Garrard. Gerrard arrived as a fourth round pick, 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: but love the situation he was in the air, apparent 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: to Brunell, with time to learn the offense and figure 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: out the pro game. He was challenged by the hard 16 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: charging Tom Coughlin, but he knew it would make him better. 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: Everything changed in the flink of an eye. Less than 18 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: a year later, Coughlin was gone and Byron Luckwich was 19 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: the future. What happened, you know? It was? It was 20 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: really interesting because I had just played Byron in the 21 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,559 Speaker 1: g m A C Bowl that ended up being sixty 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: sixty one. We were up thirty to eight at halftime 23 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: and they came back and one in like three overtimes 24 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: or something like that, and I thought, Okay, well, at 25 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: least I'm done with all that. I don't have to 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 1: worry about that anymore. And then the Jacks draft him 27 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: the next year, so now I gotta deal with him 28 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: like longer, and potentially, you know, I don't know who's 29 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: gonna how it's gonna all the shake out because we're 30 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: all here. Am I gonna be odd man out? And 31 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: you know these guys are just gonna battle for one 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: and two? Um, I think, And hopefully I felt like 33 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: I showed them enough to, like, you know, maybe keep 34 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: me around and and see how that works. But the 35 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: dynamics of the quarterback room was really interesting because you know, 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: Mark continue to carry himself and do everything like the 37 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: starter and you know, making Byron go, you know, get 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: coffee and grab my pads and that kind of stuff. 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: It was a little different with me because he made 40 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: me do like thirty times more stuff for him, I think, 41 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: being a first rounder and you know, the franchise kind 42 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: of starting to evolve into this being your team, and 43 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 1: Mark still wanted to get a little bit out of 44 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: him that way. But you know, um, the dynamic was 45 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: still pretty good. You know, Buyron didn't come in and 46 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: and you know, try to push Mark out of the 47 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: room or make him feel like, you know, this is 48 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: gonna be my team here pretty soon. You he came 49 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: in and he learned as much as he could. He 50 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 1: probably felt like he knew a little bit more than 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: you know, um, a rookie comes in with. But you know, 52 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: he was a pretty bright guy. You know, he understood 53 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,519 Speaker 1: the game. Uh, you know, there's still some things you 54 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: gotta learn when you get to the NFL, and and 55 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: and Mark knew all those things. And I was still 56 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: trying to learn some of those things from Mark. But um, 57 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: when I never felt like, man, this is awkward. I 58 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: never felt like, you know, these guys are gonna clash 59 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: at any moment. You know, Mark's a pretty upstanding guy. 60 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: And then Byron being just young, you know himself, he 61 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: knew that he couldn't come in and just start roughling feathers. Now, 62 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: once that year was over with, of course, everything changed, 63 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,839 Speaker 1: and uh, but I was just happy I was still here. 64 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: Though he only had one year with Coughlin, David knew 65 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: instantly how different Jack del Rio was going to be. 66 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: I loved Coughlin. I thought, this is a hard nosed guys, 67 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: gonna let you know exactly how he feels. He's not 68 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: gonna beat around the bush. He's not going to um, 69 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: you know, keep things to himself. And then all of 70 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: a sudden, you don't know why you're not getting playing 71 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: time or you're not here anymore. You know exactly what's 72 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: on his mind. And uh, I remember, um, it's just 73 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,119 Speaker 1: probably halfway through the season and they had brought in 74 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: Kent Graham uh to to to be the backup. He 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: was a little bit more of a veteran presence that 76 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: The story that I got was, if Mark goes down 77 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: for a long period of time, then we're gonna get 78 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: you out there and start grooming you to be the quarterback. 79 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: If he's out for like a game or two, then 80 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: we'll let Kent step in and just feel that time, 81 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: because you know, you need more time on task than then, um, 82 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: you know for a rookie. So I thought, that's cool. 83 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: You know, everything's flying by me anyway. So but uh, 84 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: Tom stops me to halt one day and he says, hey, Dave, uh, 85 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: you know, if you want to get more film study 86 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: and you can, uh you can sleep in my office there. 87 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: I can get a caught and roll it in for you. 88 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: You can sleep right there and watch film all night long. 89 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: And at that moment, I thought, man, if this is 90 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: the NFL, I'm not sure if this is what I 91 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: want to do. If I want to be sleeping in 92 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: my head coach's office all night watching the film. I said, 93 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, a coach, I think about that. I appreciate that. 94 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: And I never got back to him on that one. 95 00:04:54,680 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: And then uh, another one was just just how I 96 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: never had a coach that would just ride players the team, 97 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: like would be on you for everything, not just on 98 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: the field stuff, not just you know, film study stuff. 99 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: I'm talking about, Are your socks pulled up like this 100 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: should be? Are your laces laced walking down the hallway 101 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: like they should be? It was everything, and um, at 102 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: times my rookie year, I thought, man, as I was 103 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: going over the Heart Bridge coming into work, thinking I 104 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: don't know if I can do this. This is this 105 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: is tough, you know, because I know that I'm not 106 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: necessarily having um the same kind of joy when I 107 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: was in Pop Warner in high school because I never 108 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 1: had a coach that But now looking back, I could 109 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: see what he was instilling in people and and put 110 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: it in guys, because you know, if you give guys 111 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: an inch, you know, the saying, they'll take a mile, 112 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: you know, And he was not want to give that inch. 113 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: Definitely wasn't given a mile. So but then when um, 114 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: uh coach del Real got here, I thought, Wow, this 115 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: is like a breath of fresh air, you know, because 116 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: he's a he's a former player, guy that I a 117 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: player that I used to watch when I was a kid, 118 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: and uh, he just came in with, Hey, let's have fun, 119 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: let's do our jobs, let's get it done. We're gonna 120 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: have fun at the same time, you know. And that's 121 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of a little bit more of my personality. So 122 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: for me, I thought, well, this is this is beautiful. Okay, 123 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: you know, Byron might be the starter right now, but 124 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: I can come in and still compete and work hard 125 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: under this guy because I feel like he gets what 126 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: I am more about as a as a player and 127 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: what I'm looking for, And um, you know, kind of 128 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: making me feel a little bit more comfortable around here 129 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: and in the facilities. Dave watched and waited and waited, 130 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: and still saw opportunity intact and Bill so much so 131 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: that he signed a contract extension instead of hitting free agency. 132 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: Gard saw something in Jacksonville he couldn't pass up. My 133 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: agent was was talking to me before the Jacks were 134 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: trying to renew me up for I guess it was 135 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: a four year deal and uh, he's like, this is 136 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: good money for backup, but I feel like you could 137 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: go somewhere else and compete, you know, just go into 138 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: free agency that kind of stuff. And I thought, man, 139 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: I'm having the best opportunity to play here because you know, 140 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: Byron hasn't been healthy for a season and I'm playing 141 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: all the time. So I said, no, I like it here. 142 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: My wife likes it here. Um still Florida. So let's 143 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: let's just let's just stick it out here. Let's you know, 144 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: sign this deal. And so I did, and I continue 145 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: to play. I continue to get opportunities to thousand and six. Um, 146 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: I finished the last I want to say, five games, 147 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: five or so games there, and uh, we were, you 148 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: know right there competing and then we you know, had 149 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: a three game slide there at the end. And at 150 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: that point, I thought, oh man, you know, going into 151 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: the next offseason, I hope that they keep me around 152 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: because you know, we didn't finish strong. I didn't play 153 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: my best, and um, I just thought, just come back. 154 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: Just put your head down, compete, work, get in the 155 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: film room, don't relax, you know, do everything. Don't get 156 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: to the point where you're you know, uncomfortable because of 157 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: last year. Let's move forward. And uh and I did, 158 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: and I started to even exude more uh confidence as 159 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: you know, um one of the leaders on the team. 160 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: I knew other guys were not that happy about Byron 161 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: and some of the things that he was doing. So 162 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 1: I said, you know what, don't worry about all that. 163 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: You just handle what you can handle them. So that 164 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: I just wanted to be more of a leader at 165 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 1: that point and not trying to take you know, his job, 166 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 1: you know, from like underneath them where you know, I'm 167 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: trying to be slying the background and I got my 168 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: own group of guys over here I'm trying to lead. 169 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: I mean, just just come off as a leader and 170 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: do your job. And so going into two thousand and 171 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: seven season, I thought, okay, have an opportunity to play 172 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: in the preseason. Byron is the starter. He's playing against 173 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: the ones. I'm playing against the two, so I'm playing 174 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 1: against a bunch of backups. I should be able to 175 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 1: dominate these guys. And when I would get out there, 176 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 1: it would feel like everything was so slow because I 177 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 1: was playing a bunch of backups, And I thought, if 178 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: I could just put the ball where it should be, 179 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: hopefully my guys catch it and make plays. And that's 180 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: how it was turning out. And then we got to 181 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: that Green Bay game and I remember during practice that 182 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: week we were going over certain looks, certain things, and 183 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: the look was exactly like uh coach Cutter had drew 184 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:54,439 Speaker 1: it up. And I thought, man, all I gotta do 185 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: is just make the throw here. And we got like 186 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: a thirty yard game and I was I made a 187 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: few of them, and I thought, Okay, I'm having a 188 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: pretty good game here. I feel good going into this season. 189 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: And uh so then we got back and that was 190 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: the third game. We know, you know, we didn't know 191 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: who was gonna play much in the fourth game, so 192 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: I just thought, you know, I've done what I needed 193 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: to do to at least still be on the team. 194 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: And uh, I remember when they were making those those 195 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: last cuts, you know, even after the fourth game. The 196 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: funny story is is I was in the players lounge sleeping. 197 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: I was just trying to catch up on some rests. 198 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: Been a long last couple of days, and um, like 199 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: somebody came in there and woke me up and said, Dave, 200 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: where you been? Man? Everybody's looking for you. I'm like, 201 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: am I late? You know I shouldn't be late. Hopefully 202 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 1: guys didn't let me just sleeping here through the meeting 203 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: or the start of the meeting. He says, No, they 204 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: named you the starting quarterback. They cut Byron. I'm like, 205 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: make it out here. Of course, it's this cut day. 206 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: Everybody joke around, ha ha ha. So I'm kind of rubbing, 207 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: you know, the um the sleep out of my eye, 208 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: and I'm walking into the main locker room and you know, 209 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: everybody's kind of like a buzz going in there, like 210 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: the world. So I sit down in my locker just 211 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: I think we had about twenty minutes or so for 212 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: the meet and start, and um, more guys come up 213 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: to me, Dave. Man, they're looking for you. They got 214 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: the media that coach wants to talk to you. What 215 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: do you want to talk to me about? He not 216 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: be cutting me out, I'm telling you. He's like, They're like, no, no, 217 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: you're they cut Byron. Look at this locker, this stuff 218 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: is gone. I'm like, are y'all serious? I mean, now 219 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: my heart is just racing. I'm like, y'all see, you 220 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 1: better stop messing with me. So I walked down to 221 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: um to del Rio's office and he sits me down 222 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: in there and he's like, Dabe, yeah, you probably here 223 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: by now, but we're letting Byron go and we're gonna 224 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: name you the starter. You've done everything possible and and 225 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: you know, we're very happy with this decision, but now 226 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: it's time for you to go out and lead this team. 227 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 1: I'm just like, what, alright, let's go. That's exactly what 228 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: I said in my mind, let's go. So turn around, 229 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: he said, I'm gonna I'm gonna cancel our team meeting. 230 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: You get home, go tell Mary everything that's going on. 231 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: I'm sure she's got a bunch of questions for you too. 232 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: And uh, And that's what I did, And it was 233 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: the absolute truth, and it was a miracle year. The 234 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: first game is kind of a big game because it's 235 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: my first one as a starter for the team, and 236 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: it was Tennessee Titans and we lost, and but it 237 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: was like a one lost some minutes. So we were 238 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: competing right there, and I played decent. You know, in 239 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 1: those moments, you gotta kind of check yourself. Okay, I 240 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: played pretty decent. That's not how I normally think about 241 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: things when we lose. But I was like, Okay, wasn't 242 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: my fault that we lost, So hopefully I can still 243 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 1: have this job, you know, the next week. And then 244 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: we win, and then we win and things are looking 245 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: really good, and I think, okay, you know what, I 246 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: am feeling really good about things every week. I feel 247 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: like we've got a chance. And I remember, we get 248 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: up to play the Colts, and I believe it's Thursday night. 249 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: I believe, And uh, I'm thinking, okay, they rarely blitz. 250 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: I got an opportunity here. If I can get the 251 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: ball out of my hands fast enough, because the White 252 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: Freney is coming. If I can get the ball out 253 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: of my hands fast enough, we can make some plays 254 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: because their defense plays pretty soft and we were just 255 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: diving them up, Peyton's coming down. He's diving us up, 256 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: of course, and it's a really good game. And then 257 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: I get hit scrambling to the sideline. Guy grabs my 258 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: ankle to tackle me, and he does, but then he 259 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: keeps rolling with my ankle and I felt things crunching 260 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: in there ended up being a high ankle sprain, and 261 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: I thought, gosh, man, and this can't be happening because 262 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to lose this momentum. Plus, we probably 263 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: could have won this game. And uh, so I was 264 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: out for two games, and um my backup Quinn Gray. 265 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, dude, you can do this. You got this. 266 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 1: You know strong arm, you can get out to this. 267 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: So he won the he won one of the next 268 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: two games, and uh and so then I was able 269 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: to come back against the um the Chargers, which they 270 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: were San Diego Charges at that time, and I just 271 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: right back into a group, you know, and I'm thinking, okay, 272 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm not rusty, I'm not missing much. 273 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: I had a good game there, and I started thinking 274 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: by that point, I started thinking there's some destiny on 275 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: this team right now, because for whatever reason, Gerald Sensiball 276 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 1: he turns to me and and I can't remember the 277 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: actual game that we had just played, but we're in 278 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: our team meeting and he turns around, looks, I got man. 279 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: He says, hey, man, it just it doesn't matter how 280 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: we win. You're just always gonna get us a win, 281 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: aren't you Like, it doesn't matter how you do it, 282 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: We're just always gonna get a win. I said, it's 283 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: what it feels like, It's what it seems like. Yea, 284 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep doing what I can. And he turns 285 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: around and we just go through the rest of the 286 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: team meeting. But that's how it was all year. And 287 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: then when you get to the first Pittsburgh game, I mean, 288 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, okay, I have no clue about Pittsburgh and 289 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: the rivalry that they have here. I just know that 290 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: there was a big rivalry and Pittsburgh is pretty dog 291 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: on good. So I'm thinking, where where it's gonna be 292 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: a snowy game, it's gonna be cold, and we're kind 293 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: of built for this. You know, our running game is 294 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: pretty special. Fred Taylor is pretty special. So I thought, 295 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: if I could just not screw things up, we got 296 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: a good chance here, and we're getting that game up 297 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: there and we're doing really well, and I'm thinking, okay, 298 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: it's not like it was just those other games that 299 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: we were doing okay, and we're actually pretty good. And 300 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: of course, just like in the playoff game, a mistake here, 301 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: a mistake here brings them back closer to coming back 302 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: and winning the ball game. But then just a few 303 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: plays down the line and we finished it strong. We 304 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: finished it with a touchdown. And I remember in that game, 305 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: I had to do this special fun play that we 306 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: put in where I would roll out and Dennis North 307 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: cut would run down the sideline and do a couple moves. 308 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: So I needed like ten minutes for him to do 309 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: all these moves, and so I had to like buy 310 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: so much time, got all kinds of time, and he's 311 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: gonna turn and fired the ball looking for Dennis North 312 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: but then I just launched the ball and it floated. 313 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: It seemed like forever, and it came down right into 314 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: his hands. Knock that far reaching and John touchdown fifty 315 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: five yards and the track wards are piling it on 316 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: and I thought, man, this is a lot of fun. 317 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: And we went on to win that game, and then 318 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: we went to the playoffs. In that first game, back 319 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: up there in Pittsburgh, and I thought, can we do 320 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: this again? You know, everybody keeps saying it's hard to 321 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 1: beat one team twice, especially within three weeks, and da 322 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: da da da, And I'm thinking, you're doing right. It 323 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: probably is pretty hard to do that, you know, to 324 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: be the team like that, because they're super motivated. I mean, 325 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: even though you're super motivated, they're really motivated. And it's 326 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: in their place again and it's the playoffs, so we 327 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: get there. I'm just soaking it all in. I'm not 328 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: I'm almost you know in my kawhi Leonard Mote. I'm 329 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: just I'm not too high, I'm not too low. I 330 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: try not to get too excited. That's how I've kind 331 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: of always played ball. And so I'm up there and 332 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, we have a great opportunity. We've got a 333 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: lot of scale players. Uh Mojo starts us off strong, 334 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: bring the ball back down the field, and I'm thinking, man, 335 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: we're gonna do something again here. And then bang bang 336 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: bang more more touchdowns. And of course, like I said, 337 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: in the second half, they started to come back. A 338 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,959 Speaker 1: few mistakes, but on our end, on my end, and 339 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: I remember that last interception I had. I thought, Okay, 340 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: I'm screwing things up here. I've got to somehow bring 341 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: us back here on this drive because if if I don't, 342 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: we might not get the ball back. And I remember 343 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: a third and forever and and I knew Ernest Wolford 344 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 1: had a special route that he had to run. And 345 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: I just had to get the ball up just enough 346 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: to hit him in the hands with it. And we did, 347 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: and it kept the drive going. And I I thought 348 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: to myself, we can just get in field goal range. 349 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,400 Speaker 1: We don't have to even get that close because Scobie 350 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: can boot it. And we got, you know, to that 351 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: almost last possession there, and it's third and two and 352 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: they call it time out. Coach cutters on the sideline 353 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: and he's like, Dave, let's try this pass play. It's 354 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: a real quick pass. Just see if we can get 355 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: the first down. And um, if you like Marcedes in 356 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 1: a flat, get it to him. If you don't, you know, 357 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: just airmail it. And I thought, Coach, is only two yards, 358 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: you know, just call a quarterback drawer or something. I 359 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: can get us two yards. I don't have to put 360 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: the ball in the air, you know, And uh, he said, no, no, 361 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: let's just try it because we we you might have 362 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: something pop, you might have the corner route pop. And 363 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: I was like, God, now you want me throw a 364 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: corner route? So we're in that moment and I didn't 365 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: like it. I think it was Paula Malo or somebody 366 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 1: grabbed Marcedes a little bit and I thought that's just 367 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: too close for comfort. So I just airmailed it. And uh, 368 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: I thought, Okay, now he's gotta give me the ball. 369 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: He's gotta give me this chance. I know I can 370 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: get it, and uh they call the quarterback draw there 371 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: and I tried to sell it as much as possible. 372 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: And James Harrison, he's so crafty, so strong, he snuck 373 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: right inside the cliff Barnes and thank the Lord, Clif 374 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: blocked him so well that it looked like a hold. 375 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: He blocked him so well that I wasn't able to 376 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: sneak through there and get the two yards. And when 377 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: I got through, I was like, oh wow, there's nobody here. 378 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: Oh here's the safety. Okay, let me just protect the 379 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: ball and just get hit and go down. Got the 380 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: first down and then he misses me, so I'm thinking, 381 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: now there's really nobody else here and there's the end zone. 382 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: Let's go score. And so I'm running for the end 383 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: zone and then I said, oh, you know what, I'm 384 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 1: not that fast. He's actually already caught me. So so 385 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 1: he caught me. A few yards later, I go down 386 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,239 Speaker 1: and I'm like, we're in field goal range. Can we 387 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: just bring Scoobie out now? And they're like no, let's 388 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: just you know, eat the clock a little bit. Let's 389 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: try to line the ball up. And I'm like, man, 390 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 1: you guys are taking so many chances. Just bring Scoobie 391 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: out here so we can just kick this thing through 392 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: the field goal, through the uprights. And uh so we do. 393 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: We we light it up. I'm telling everybody a huddle. 394 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: Whoever he gets the ball, I'm like protected, two hands, protected, 395 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: like it's your baby. We need this. Let's get school 396 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: be out here on the field and we do. The 397 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: defense comes out in place excellent to shut them down. 398 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: And uh I just thought, man, I cannot believe we 399 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: just won a playoff game with me as the starting quarterback. 400 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: I just thought that is super cool. And uh So, then, 401 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: but that's not the end. Now we gotta go play 402 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: those boys up north, the Patriots and I'm thinking, Okay, 403 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: I mean, we've done it all year. We can do 404 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: it again. We can do this if a few things, 405 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: if we can make some plays on defense, if I 406 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 1: can not lose the game like I was doing in 407 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: the second half of the Pittsburgh game, and um, everybody 408 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: doesn't let the moment get too big, and we come out. 409 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 1: We come out fire, We come out making place. We 410 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 1: we had certain design plays that we hadn't not having 411 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: our offense that we designed just for those guys, and 412 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: they were working. I mean, I had this incredible lucky 413 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: play where I'm getting thrown to the ground and I 414 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: just heaved the ball to Matt Jones in the back 415 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,480 Speaker 1: of the end zone and I'm not gonna lie. My 416 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: knee was probably down. They didn't call it, and he 417 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: catches it for a touchdown, and I'm like, there is 418 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: something going on here. We We're gonna go all the 419 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,439 Speaker 1: way if we win this one. And uh. It was 420 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: back and forth the whole game, which I thought was 421 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: really cool because Tom Brady was on fire that game. 422 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: But man, we were still doing things offensively. We had 423 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: a few players get away from us right before the 424 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: half there that kind of put us back and in 425 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: the second half it was just too much to recover from. 426 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: We were still back and forth with him, but they 427 00:22:57,720 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: were just up enough to where we could not get 428 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: over the top. And um, I just thought, Man, this 429 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: is an opportunity that we're gonna get again next year, 430 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: and we're gonna come out and take advantage of it. Man, 431 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: good change some things that two thousand seventeen wasn't super, 432 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: but it was special. They were talented in some spots, 433 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 1: merely tough in others, but it all came together for 434 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: their playoff run and that doesn't happen more often than 435 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:29,160 Speaker 1: it does. Yeah, you know, it was like you said, 436 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 1: it was just so dynamic. Those guys from uh you 437 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: know a little bugs that never say anything to just 438 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: wasp that were just killers, you know, that just would 439 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: just ready to take a hit from from um big 440 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: John Henderson getting slapped before each game and you know, 441 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 1: all this kind of stuff and Baby just ready to 442 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:57,439 Speaker 1: take someone's head off every game, and their personalities in 443 00:23:57,520 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: the locker rooms. You know, it was. It was a 444 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: lot going on and the way that we were still 445 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: able to win through it all, and um, the one 446 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: thing we didn't have a whole lot of drama. You know, 447 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:16,159 Speaker 1: we didn't have the he said, he said, or you know, 448 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,440 Speaker 1: we didn't have those things. You might have had a 449 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: lot of big personalities, but they were all pulling in 450 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 1: the same direction. And who knows how and why things 451 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: you know, turned out the way they did. Like moving 452 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: forward from that, some guys weren't here anymore. Some guys 453 00:24:35,119 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: were injured. I remember going into the first game against 454 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: Tennessee again the next season, first game, and uh, Vince 455 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: Minaway gets hurt right at the beginning of the game, 456 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: not even in the game, before the game ever started, 457 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:56,159 Speaker 1: and that really through our offensive line and myself, you know, 458 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: it really got to us. And then we we made 459 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 1: and plays in that game that you know was just 460 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: terrible and that just kind of have the tones set 461 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,400 Speaker 1: almost for the season. We didn't know that, but that's 462 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: how the season just continued to go. And then I 463 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 1: remember a couple other injuries in that in that year. 464 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: Now you started to get the drama. I believe Mike 465 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: p was having problems with um some of the coaches 466 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: and and uh, you know, guys were talking in the 467 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: locker room and some guys aren't happy and Dale Rio's 468 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: taken away ping pong tables and you know pool tables, 469 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: you know. So it was a lot more drama going 470 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: on in that season than um than we had previous. 471 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: Something else happened in two thousand seven. Gerrard worked for 472 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: the Giant Wars, but he also worked for his family. 473 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:51,960 Speaker 1: In the spring of two thousand and eight, after a 474 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: lifetime of challengers and adversity and illnesses and doubters, David 475 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: earned the kind of life changing check that every player pack, 476 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: every person dreams of. Everything led up to that moment 477 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: in in Pittsburgh, honestly, you know, because we were there 478 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, and like I said, I had had 479 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: a few plays there that sucked and brought the Steelers 480 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,920 Speaker 1: back into the game, and I thought, Man, our opportunity 481 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: to win here is, you know, dwindling. We still got 482 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,479 Speaker 1: a chance. And as long as there's a chance, I'm 483 00:26:25,480 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: going to continue to fight and I'm gonna, uh, you know, 484 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: if I can get the ball in my hands, I'm 485 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: gonna do something to try to help us to win here. 486 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: And then to make that play that run you know, 487 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: kind of almost sealed the deal for a new uh contract, 488 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 1: and I thought, man, I have somehow done this now. 489 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: I know that I was working my butt off and everything, 490 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: and I'm telling you that destiny that was there was 491 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: really just you know, helping me continue to fight through 492 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: a lot of different circumstances that you know, some guys 493 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: would have not been able to make it through. And 494 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: I know my wife, she got me after the game 495 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: and she's like, baby, you did it. You did it. 496 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: You know, you know this contract that you were able 497 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: to go to the next game, like, it can't me 498 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:20,439 Speaker 1: any better. We just had our son earlier in the season. 499 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 1: I mean, everything was just happening positively for us in 500 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:29,119 Speaker 1: that moment. And then to get in the uh Patriots 501 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: game and to not have a setback where um, you know, 502 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 1: I play terrible or I'm I'm just out there. I'm 503 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: actually keeping us in the game. I'm helping us, you 504 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: know with big plays. You know, I'm leading the team. 505 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: I'm giving us a chance to win to really, you know, 506 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,160 Speaker 1: kind of fortify my opportunity to get this new contract 507 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: to help us move on in the playoffs. And I 508 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: thought at that point, it's gotta be a done deal. 509 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: And I remember my agent throughout the offseason was negotiating 510 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 1: with um Paul vance, and you know, he was just like, 511 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,680 Speaker 1: we're getting closer, but there's just some language that we 512 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: gotta work on, and there's this and and that. I'm like, well, 513 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: let me listen in on some of the the contract talks. 514 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: And he's like, you don't want to do that. You 515 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:21,479 Speaker 1: don't want to do that. I'm like, why not? You know? 516 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,639 Speaker 1: They love me this they gotta He's like, it's different 517 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: when you're negotiating. They're going to tell you everything that's 518 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: wrong with your guy, and I gotta tell them everything 519 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 1: that's right with your guy. And so I got to 520 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: listen in on a few little and they were like, 521 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: um my agent was like, hey, we're trying to get 522 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: him up there where Tony Romo is, and you know 523 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 1: he deserves it. Da da da da. You know, he was, 524 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 1: you know, top three with the QBR and all that 525 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 1: kind of stuff this year. And they're like, Tony Romo, 526 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: you think he's as good as Tony Romo? Man, get 527 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,480 Speaker 1: out of here are you saying? And I'm like, oh, wow, 528 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: you know you want me to be your quarter back? Right? 529 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 1: This is what I'm thinking in my mind. And he's like, Dave, 530 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: don't take offense to any of that. That is just 531 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: what they have to do two and you know, so 532 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,400 Speaker 1: I said, okay, you handle it from here on. I 533 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: don't want to listen anymore. And uh. But we eventually 534 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 1: worked it out and got it done, and I was 535 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: just happy to still being able to play here in Jacksonville. 536 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: It you know, it was my team. Um, it's where 537 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: I was drafted. It's the team that believed in me. 538 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: And I love the fans here. I loved everything about it. 539 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: I love that it was a a small market and 540 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: a small team some something that we could make relevant 541 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: because two thousand and seven we were on Sports Center 542 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: just as much as everybody else, because after halfway through 543 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 1: the season, they were like, we got a team down 544 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: here in Jacksonville that's starting to make some noise. And 545 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: I love that. Um, the the small guy, small town 546 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: making it big kind of story. It's just how I 547 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: was brought it up. And we thought the same thing 548 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: at East Carolina. You know, it's hard being a pirate. 549 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: Nobody's gonna respect you. You're gonna have to go out 550 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: there and earn your respect. And so, UM, I thought, 551 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: now my family life, everybody I can I don't have 552 00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 1: to worry about that anymore. I don't have to worry 553 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: about contracts and all that kind of stuff. Now I 554 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: can just move forward and be the leader of this team, 555 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: be the quarterback that they need me to be. And um, 556 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 1: you know, I was happy about that. Most fans and 557 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: most media forget twenty The Jaguars started losing in two 558 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, and for the most part, it continued 559 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: until two thousand and sixteen, with the exception of a 560 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: three and four start turned on a dime in Dallas, 561 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: actually four of them thrown by David against the Cowboys, 562 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: and before you knew it, they were often running. In 563 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: November before the Jaguars could catch their breath, they dripped 564 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,040 Speaker 1: off five wins in six games and sat on the 565 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: very edge of a division title. In late December, they 566 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 1: had a chance to get back on the big stage, 567 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,040 Speaker 1: but stumbled on the stairs. Well, we were eight in 568 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: five and we are heading to Indianapolis, and I'm thinking, 569 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: in my mind, we have an opportunity to go out 570 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 1: here win it in their place, and that would help us. 571 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: That was gonna win the division for us, beating them 572 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:20,040 Speaker 1: at their place. And we had a great game plan. 573 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 1: We were doing everything necessary. We were making plays. You know, 574 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 1: I wasn't blowing anything or always think about what I'm doing, 575 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: of course, but uh, I remember we got to a 576 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: crucial third down. I think it was like third and 577 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: ten or eleven or something like that, and I had 578 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: a pass to one of my receivers. We had a 579 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: play drawn up for him. It was like a corner 580 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: post move. And I got to my step, I got 581 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: to my drop, got to my point. I let the 582 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 1: ball go and I thought, man, this is money. And 583 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: somehow that ball sailed right over his fingertip where he 584 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 1: got a fingertip on it, and the guy picked the 585 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,640 Speaker 1: ball off, and I thought, how was that ball too tall? Well, 586 00:32:07,680 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 1: you go back and look at the film. That's the 587 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: steps weren't all correct for him. I was a little 588 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: fast on my end and in the timing just didn't 589 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: work out. But that was how close we were from 590 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: when in the conference. Basically you know we were. It 591 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: was the division was right there for us, and we 592 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:34,120 Speaker 1: could not pull it off. And and that year did 593 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 1: not have the same destiny kind of feel that we 594 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 1: had earlier. You know, we we we won some games 595 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 1: that we probably shouldn't have won, but we also lost 596 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: a bunch of games that we shouldn't have lost, and 597 00:32:45,280 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: uh and and I did get hurt throughout that that 598 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:52,560 Speaker 1: season a couple of times, and um, I just remember thinking, man, 599 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:57,680 Speaker 1: this is this sucks because um it was it was 600 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: right there for us, and then we just never rebounded 601 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 1: from that. I got hurt playing the Giants and they 602 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,200 Speaker 1: fell out my wrist on a non throwing hand and 603 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 1: it just swoll up like a balloon. I had jammed 604 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: my finger on my throwing hand. In that Colts game. DWIGHTE. 605 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 1: Freney wanted to come in and try to knock the 606 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: ball out of my hand, and my fingers collided with 607 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: his hand and actually attendant popped off, and so my 608 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: hand was jacked up. And the way that we finished 609 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:34,080 Speaker 1: that year was against the Washington Redskins at home, or 610 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: the way I I finished it was our Washington Redskins 611 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: in our last home game started snowing, which was really weird. 612 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: But I could not function as a quarterback, could not 613 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: barely could throw the ball like I wanted to, and um, 614 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: I threw a pick and then I was pulled out 615 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: of the game because I could not function anymore. But 616 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: that was the last throw that I had was a pick, which, um, 617 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: if you go back and look at it, my first 618 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: pass was the picks though the nice good career, they're 619 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 1: sandwiched in between two picks. The near miss in two 620 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: thousand ten would be his swan song. In a twist 621 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 1: of irony, the Jaguars drafted a quarterback in two thousand eleven, 622 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 1: and Guard was cut in September a suddenly and shockingly 623 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: has left which had been four years earlier. Yeah, you know, 624 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,359 Speaker 1: they drafted laying. I just thought, you know what, it's 625 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:26,359 Speaker 1: gonna take him a few years to you know, get 626 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: me out of this spot. I'm gonna, you know, keep 627 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:31,840 Speaker 1: fighting just like I always have, you know. And Uh, 628 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 1: I was feeling pretty good going into training camp. Um, 629 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:39,160 Speaker 1: but I could never get my my rhythm like I 630 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: wanted to. I could never I could. I wasn't making 631 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:45,640 Speaker 1: all of the same plays that I was normally making 632 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 1: in in practice, and something just felt off. And um, 633 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:54,600 Speaker 1: you know, right before I think it was after the 634 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: first game. I'm not sure when I got hurt with 635 00:34:56,520 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 1: my back, but my back and and that was you know, 636 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:01,759 Speaker 1: not trying to blame it on that, but that was 637 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:05,280 Speaker 1: something that was causing me some pain. Over the last 638 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 1: um over two thousand tennesse season and into that training camp. 639 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: You know, my my disc was bulging in my back. 640 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: That was causing me pain down my legs, and um, 641 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:20,439 Speaker 1: I just remember it doesn't matter. I can still run around, 642 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,880 Speaker 1: I can still throw. That shouldn't stop me. My. You 643 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: know I should be you know, able to make my plays. 644 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:29,879 Speaker 1: And um, I missed I think three games that that 645 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,000 Speaker 1: preseason played in the last one ran around fine, showing 646 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:34,840 Speaker 1: that I was healthy enough and that I you know, 647 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 1: going too the year as a starter. What happened was, 648 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: um that you know that week that the the few 649 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 1: days after you finished that last fourth preseason game, you 650 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: get a couple of days off. Well, we had had 651 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 1: a couple of days off that UM weekend. But then 652 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:54,640 Speaker 1: that Monday, we did like a little quick practice, nothing serious, 653 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,800 Speaker 1: I think, just helmets, um, but I could not control 654 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: the ball. I probably had four intercepts and in that 655 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: hour and a half practice, and I thought, man, something's 656 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: not right. But I thought, you know what, put that 657 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:11,880 Speaker 1: behind me. The season starts. You know this week Wednesday, 658 00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:13,919 Speaker 1: we'll be back out here and you know I can 659 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:17,240 Speaker 1: just move forward that way. Well, the luncheon was Tuesday, 660 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 1: and um, in my mind, now that's what basically did 661 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 1: me in that that last practice. Jack must have went 662 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: to bed that night and just thought, there's no way 663 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: I can go out there with this guy. If he 664 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: can't complete simple throws on the practice field, There's no 665 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:36,239 Speaker 1: way I can go. And we've got this young kid here. 666 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: You know, I did this a few years ago where 667 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:41,799 Speaker 1: I got the veteran out of here or you know, 668 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:44,800 Speaker 1: the starter and put the other guy in that was 669 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,239 Speaker 1: kind of unknown, and uh, maybe I can do this again, 670 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: Maybe I can find lightning in a bottle again. And um, 671 00:36:53,640 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 1: of course that didn't work out the way that he 672 00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: thought it, and for me, it just started a a 673 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 1: slew of injuries, you know, over the next few years. 674 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: And yeah, I had you know, I had warned my 675 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: my body out, you know, I was up until that 676 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,160 Speaker 1: high ankle sprain that I had playing the Colts. That 677 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:16,600 Speaker 1: was the first time I had missed any games since 678 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 1: I played started playing as a Pop Warner kid. I 679 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:23,240 Speaker 1: had never been hurt enough to where I missed any 680 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:27,359 Speaker 1: games in high school and college didn't matter. I didn't 681 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:30,240 Speaker 1: miss I was very durable and the way that I played, 682 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 1: you wouldn't think that. You would think, Okay, he's got 683 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:34,520 Speaker 1: to have had some games missed because the kid runs 684 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,400 Speaker 1: around like he's a fullback. And um, so I just 685 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:40,040 Speaker 1: believe I just wore my body down over time, and 686 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's just part of life. I got 687 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: a call from the Jack's or a text from Jack's 688 00:37:47,719 --> 00:37:51,399 Speaker 1: um secretary. It was like, hey, coach wants to meet 689 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: with you in his office, and I'm thinking, okay, he 690 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:55,799 Speaker 1: wants to go over some stuff for the week and uh, 691 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 1: you know, make sure that we can get some of 692 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,640 Speaker 1: those plays that we had yesterday behind this. Maybe he 693 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: wants to show me on film, like you know, hey, 694 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 1: we can't have this kind of stuff. So I'm walking 695 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: down there in my suit and everything because i'm you know, 696 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:11,879 Speaker 1: still dressed up from the luncheon and him and um 697 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:15,240 Speaker 1: Gene are in there, and I can tell the mood 698 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:17,359 Speaker 1: in the room is just like real somber. I'm like, 699 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 1: what in the world is going on here? He's like, Dave, 700 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:23,400 Speaker 1: you know, um, unfortunately, we're gonna you know, move on 701 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: from you and let you go. And and I was like, 702 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:30,400 Speaker 1: what is he talking about? This can't be real. I 703 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: was like, but we just had the luncheon. You know. 704 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 1: He's like, you know, just for reasons, you know, we 705 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:40,760 Speaker 1: we just didn't do it before. It's not the best 706 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:43,799 Speaker 1: way to do it. I understand that. Not like the 707 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:45,919 Speaker 1: best way to do it. It's clearly not the best 708 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:48,279 Speaker 1: way to do It's the absolutely worst way to do it, 709 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 1: you know. But I said, that's fine, you know, coach, 710 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,759 Speaker 1: don't worry. You know, there won't be any problems or 711 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:55,720 Speaker 1: anything if I see you in the streets or anything. 712 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 1: And I said that, you know, there's not I don't 713 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 1: I don't have any ill will uh towards you anything. Um. 714 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 1: It was definitely a tough time because it was definitely 715 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:09,800 Speaker 1: out of the blue, you know. Um. And I remember 716 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: seeing Dirk in the hallway afterwards and he was, you know, 717 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: you know, he was teary eyed. I was teary eyed, 718 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:17,919 Speaker 1: and he's like, I'm not sure what's going on her day. 719 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 1: But uh, you know, You've always got my support and 720 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:25,080 Speaker 1: I'm always you know, there with you. So true to 721 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:30,360 Speaker 1: his nature, David always happy and optimistic, knows he lived 722 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:34,440 Speaker 1: his dream. You know, just unbelievable because I was a 723 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 1: guy that got drafted from East Carolina, small school, and 724 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 1: I just thought, Okay, I'm not your prototypical quarterback. You know, 725 00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:44,440 Speaker 1: I'm I'm a little on the short side and I'm 726 00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:46,799 Speaker 1: on the bigger side. You know, I'm built more like 727 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:51,360 Speaker 1: a linebacker or a fullback. But I can throw. And um, 728 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,160 Speaker 1: I just thought, if I could just get five or 729 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: six years in the NFL, man, that would be I 730 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: would be happy. H I'm already you know, reaching my 731 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 1: dreams by playing in the NFL, But if I could 732 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:08,360 Speaker 1: just last for five or six years, that would be huge. 733 00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:13,080 Speaker 1: And um, you know, as years go on, I'm thinking, man, 734 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:16,560 Speaker 1: I can do this for a long time. And to 735 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: have the opportunities that I did, even when Mark was 736 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,520 Speaker 1: here and when Byron was the starting quarterback, I was 737 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:26,319 Speaker 1: able to still show my worth and still show that 738 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:30,280 Speaker 1: I can make plays on this in this at this level. 739 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:33,880 Speaker 1: And when you know, I got my opportunities to be 740 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:38,120 Speaker 1: a starter for an extended period of times, I was 741 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:41,040 Speaker 1: able to show that I can make a lot of 742 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:43,040 Speaker 1: plays and I can do a lot of things, and 743 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:49,800 Speaker 1: the fans were always there there supporting me along the way. Um. 744 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:51,920 Speaker 1: It was it was huge. You know. It's something that 745 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:55,239 Speaker 1: always sticks with me and always will stick with me, 746 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,839 Speaker 1: you know, especially with being able to google things. Now 747 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,799 Speaker 1: my kids are always googling stuff and they still can't 748 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,360 Speaker 1: believe that that was me running around out there. You know, Daddy, 749 00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: they can't barely walk up the stairs holding you anymore, 750 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:10,319 Speaker 1: but yeah, that was me running around. Um, it's it's 751 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: pretty special.