1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants. Huttle on Giants 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: dot com. Were on the Giants. Let him in there, 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,120 Speaker 1: let's go. Welcome back to another episode of The Giants 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Total Podcast. I am John Shamall. Thank you for being 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: with us. Our guest today is former Giants offensive lineman 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: Kevin Booth. But first, before we get to Kevin, want 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:18,639 Speaker 1: to remind you if you're listening to this on w 8 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: FN dot com Radio dot com, that's great. We'll go 9 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: to your favorite podcast platform, add us to your feed, subscribe, 10 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: make us part of your favorites, and if you're on 11 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: Apple podcast or iTunes, leave a positive review and help 12 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,639 Speaker 1: the podcast go bigger and better than ever. Let's get 13 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 1: to our guest, and that's Kevin Booth. Kevin is good 14 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: to see a pal, Good to see you. Too, happy 15 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: to be here. Let's start here. How are you doing? 16 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: What are you up to now? Yeah, everything's great. I 17 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: actually work at the league office in Manhattan, so uh. 18 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: I work in football operations, more on the football player pipeline. 19 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: So you think about the progression of a player from 20 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: college up through the pro. So uh, it's been an 21 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,319 Speaker 1: awesome journey. I learned something new every day, and uh 22 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: I been over there now for a few years. I 23 00:00:58,320 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: know you probably miss playing a little bit, But you 24 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: don't missed going out in nine degree weather with full 25 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: pads on, do you not? At all? Not at all? 26 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: I think, uh, you know the things that you missed 27 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,199 Speaker 1: the most, or the locker room, you know, being around 28 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: the guys, and of course the games, and you know, 29 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: especially the winning side of it. But training camp. You know, 30 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: I still get that nervous, anxious feeling whenever July rolls 31 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: around and then a day like today where you know 32 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: it's in the nineties. No, don't miss it at all. Well, 33 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: I'll tell you we are gonna talk about a lot 34 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: of winning here because you're here for a lot of winning. 35 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: But first I want to start with everything started for 36 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: you first guy from Cornell drafting this nineties seven, when 37 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: you were drafted in two thousands and six in the 38 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 1: sixth round by the Raiders. What did you have to 39 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: do in order to prove to people out of a 40 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 1: small program like Cornell that you're NFL material coming out 41 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: of college. Well, you know I think that, Uh, you know, 42 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: I went to a veteran team all be not that 43 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: successful team in Oakland but uh, I think the one 44 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: thing that stood out was just my ability to play 45 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: over and over again, you know, doing the short yardage drills, 46 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: going in for team periods. If somebody needed a break, 47 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: I would hop in. So I kind of showed that, hey, 48 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: this is somebody who's hungry and wants to compete, and uh, 49 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: it ultimately landed with me earning a spot on the 50 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: roster and then playing a majority of that year at 51 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: right guard. Year. What was it like you in the 52 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: draft process leading up to that, Like, were you a 53 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: combine invite? How did that whole thing go down? So? 54 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: I played in the East West Shrine game. I was 55 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: a combine invite, you know, honestly, I the draft prospects 56 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: mel Keiper loved me. I was on ESPN Radio leading 57 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: up to the draft, but actual draft weekend it was 58 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: pretty brutal. Uh. You know, it's one of those things 59 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: where you know I was told, hey, maybe second round, 60 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: maybe third, but definitely by the fourth, you know, and 61 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: to go in the sixth round. It was honestly, it 62 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: was more relief than it was happiness. You know, it 63 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: was Okay, that's finally over. Now I can get on 64 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: with my career. But looking back on it, it was awesome. 65 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: Did you ever get to the point where you were like, 66 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: I'd almost rather not get drafted and pick my spot 67 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: then get picked, or or did you never get to 68 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: that point. I never go out to that point, I think. 69 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: I I vividly remember just laying in my room and 70 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: it's one of those things where I'm around family, and 71 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: then as the pis kind of accumulate, I just kind 72 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: of distanced myself as each round went by, and by 73 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: the end I'm just laying in my bed when I 74 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: finally got the call. And actually I thought I was 75 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: getting drafted by the forty niners. Uh you know, because 76 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: I looked at the TV when the phone rang and 77 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: they were on the clock. But it was Oakland to 78 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:24,639 Speaker 1: pick after them. Well, you still manage to stay in 79 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: the West Coast, so you weren't that Fall wasn't that 80 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: far off in the Bay Area. Now, that was the 81 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: old format of the draft. It was Thursday, Friday night 82 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: Star like a big draft party and everything Saturday. At 83 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: least I did that. But under the old format, I 84 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: think rounds one through three we're in. We're on Saturday, 85 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: so you know Saturday, you know, I told myself, I 86 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't watch the draft because I knew would probably not 87 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: going second round, but maybe third. So I'm not gonna 88 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: watch the draft. But of course I watched every pick, 89 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: So I saw every guard. I saw a couple of 90 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: one double A guys go and well my old Kuiper said, 91 00:03:57,480 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: I was the top one double A offensive live and 92 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: so but you know, all that stuff works itself out 93 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: in the long run. Now you mentioned it. You played 94 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: I think fourteen out of fifteen games or fifteen sixteen 95 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: games for Oakland that year, and you started a bunch 96 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: of games too. Why that divorce happened so quickly? Then, yeah, 97 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: you know it's it's one of those things where we 98 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: went to and fourteen. Uh so that was probably the 99 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: first day. So our our coach, it was Art Shell 100 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: at the time, was let go and we brought in 101 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: a new coach. I think a lot of people know him. 102 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: It was Lane Kiffin was the coach that was brought in. 103 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: And uh he brought in Tom Cable and they went 104 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: to a zone blocking scheme and we signed a free 105 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: agent guard, Cooper Carlisle. Awesome guy, awesome player, And you know, 106 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: it was just kind of the writing was on the 107 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: wall that there may be changing philosophies, but uh, you know, 108 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: the one thing throughout the process, and Mr Davis was there, 109 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: uh throughout the process, and he actually told numerous people 110 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: that they struggled with cutting me at the last cut. 111 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: And I think it was they said I was the 112 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: last cut. I mean it was if if they had 113 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: to turn in your cuts by one pm Pacific, my 114 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: phone ringing, I think at Pacific. So you talk about 115 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: the lowest of lows I was. I was. I knew 116 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna start just because of the change in philosophy, 117 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: but I thought I would make the team. Um. The 118 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: one thing that hurt me was that at the time, 119 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: I'd only played guard. I hadn't had any center experience, 120 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: didn't play any tackle. So you know, I kind of 121 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: put that in the back of my head, especially through 122 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: my years with the Giants. Uh. You know, the more 123 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: you can do, the longer they'll keep you around. Now, 124 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: that process interests me because I feel like once you 125 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: get let go and then you get the cacophony, everyone's 126 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: calling trying to clean people, you don't know where you're going. 127 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: What was that like for you? That was tough? Uh? 128 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: You know. Luckily for me, it was pretty quick. So 129 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: I was cut on a Saturday, and I mean I 130 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: remember being out in the Bay Area with my my wife, 131 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: my girlfriend at the time, Uh, just wondering what's next. 132 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: We don't know. I don't know if I'm gonna get claimed. 133 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: If I'm not claimed, then where do I go? Do 134 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: I go back home and work out and hope for 135 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: a call? And I'll never forget it was the Sunday 136 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: morning my agent called me and says, hey, you're You're 137 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 1: a member of the New York Football Giants and you 138 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: have to be on a plane in about seven hours. So, uh, 139 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: you know that was That was an awesome feeling, knowing 140 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: that I would come back east, obviously with my Florida ties, 141 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: being born in New York, going to Cornell to come 142 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: back to uh the East Coast and to play for 143 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: the Giants was awesome. Uh. I was a little nervous 144 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: at first, though, because all I had heard about was 145 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: this big bad coach over there with the Giants and 146 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: how tough he is, so okay, and then you show 147 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: up here and yeah, they have a pretty good offensive line. Uh. 148 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: These guys they were they had been together for a 149 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: couple of years and they were really starting to figure 150 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: things out. You played one game in two thousand and seven. 151 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: What was that process like for you? What was your 152 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: focus that first year with the Giants in terms of 153 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: how they used you and what you were trying to 154 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: do to make Kevin Booth a better player? You know, 155 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: it was awesome, and I think, you know, in terms 156 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: of my development as a player, I thought my experience 157 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: kind of gotten flipped. You know. My first year, I 158 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: was thrown into the fire and I played, didn't really 159 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: know what I was doing and played pretty well for 160 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: just going out there and wing it. But that next year, 161 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: and probably to an extent that two thousand and eight year, 162 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: I learned how to be a professional. And that started 163 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: with obviously with coach Coughlin, and then uh with our 164 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, and then especially those veterans, 165 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: whether it was Chris Snee, Shaun O'Hara, Dave Deal, Kareem Mackenzie, 166 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: rich Soyber, they showed me what it was like to 167 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: be a professional. I was able to learn how to 168 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: watch film, know how to critique myself, see what I 169 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: needed to know out of our our our opposing players, 170 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: um learned how to weight lift, how to just prepare 171 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: and take care of myself. So I thought I really 172 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: got to learn what it was like to be a 173 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: professional years two and three, and I thought that helped me, uh, 174 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, eventually play nine years in the league. Is 175 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: that when you really started to transform your body to 176 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: make you know? I think so it was probably more one. Honestly, 177 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: when we hit the lockout, it was around there. Yeah, yeah, 178 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: I think that that's when it's like you didn't know 179 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: what was going on. Nobody knew how long it would last. Uh, 180 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: you know, try a bunch of different things. But uh, 181 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: you know I thought that, and knowing that I would 182 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: have a pretty significant role with Sean and Richie moving on, 183 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 1: I thought that that was, you know, a big year 184 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: for me in terms of sticking around with the team. Yeah, 185 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: and and and we will get to two thousand eleven. 186 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,119 Speaker 1: As you went through two thousand and seven, the season 187 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: didn't start great. In the middle of the season, people 188 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: trying to fire Tom Coffin and Benji line Manning. I 189 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: remember the back pages of the PA. Yeah, they were 190 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: trying to was a failed experiment. And then go ahead, 191 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: I was gonna say you know, I wondered if I 192 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: was bad luck. You know, I came from a two 193 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: and fourteen team, and I'm thinking, okay, well, the Giant's 194 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: pretty good. And then I come over here and it's 195 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: you know, forty plus points weeks one and two we 196 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: started out owing two. I'm thinking green band. Wow, all right, 197 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: here we go in my end for another two and 198 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: fourteen year here. So yeah, it was. It was definitely 199 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: a wacky year. And it's that new kid in school 200 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: feeling because you know, I missed all the training camp 201 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: with the Giants. But you know, the one thing that 202 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: I quickly realized about the Giants and overall organization is, uh, 203 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: the people or what make the organization. And you know, 204 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: that transition from another team to this team, it took 205 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: a day. You know, I vividly remember pulling up to 206 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: the old Giant Stadium and ironic enough, Dave Gettleman met 207 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: me at the door. He was the first member of 208 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: the organization I met. And then I met coach Coughlin, 209 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: and then I went downstairs and it's Chris Snee and 210 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: Shawn O'Hara finishing weightlifting and letting me know that, hey, 211 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: whatever I needed. So two thousand seven. Did you see 212 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: the team transform from from your point from your point 213 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: of view over the course of the AARRAO see Stagnol's 214 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: first year and that you mentioned struggled alatch, they turned 215 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: it around and then the offense started to click as 216 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: this season when along too, right. Yeah, I think it's 217 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: one of those things that you see the confidence growing 218 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: and you realize that there's a lot of talent on 219 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: this team and and it's a team that's playing well together. 220 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously we we hit that streak in 221 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: the middle of the year and battled throughout the season 222 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: and um, you know, but I think if you were 223 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: to ask anybody on that team those last couple of 224 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: weeks of the regular seasons, when you really realize that 225 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: this is a truly special team that's capable of doing 226 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: something big. So you guys all believed, Oh yeah, yeah, absolutely. 227 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: I don't think anybody outside of the building believed, but 228 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: unlessure maybe not everybody if you were to ask everybody, 229 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: But uh no, you could see because uh you know, 230 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: we were built for playoff football. We could run the ball, 231 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: we had a defense that could stop the run, and 232 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: then if you had to pass, we could definitely get 233 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: after the pass. And I thought it was the start 234 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: of you know, moving in these defensive ends to the 235 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: inside and causing these mismatches on guards who are used 236 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: to big plotter plotting type of d tackles. And now 237 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: you're getting the Justin tucks inside that's causing a lot 238 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: of trouble. So and then I think, at least from 239 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 1: my point of view, the team that ended two thousand 240 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: and seven was the team that started two thousand and eight. 241 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: And to me, the best giant teams I've ever saw 242 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: was that two thousand eight. We know what happened in sure, 243 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: but number one rushing attack hundred and fifty seven yards 244 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: per game. You guys could do whatever you wanted well 245 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: on both sides of the ball. Yeah, and that that 246 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: that was a fun you know, call it three quarters 247 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: of the season right, Um, just because we knew what 248 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: we were going to do. We can bully teams and 249 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: then if they wanted to bring everybody down in the box, 250 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: we could throw the ball effectively. The defense was playing well. Uh, 251 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 1: it was fun. It was fun, you know when I 252 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:28,599 Speaker 1: think back at that team, I mean even when you 253 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: look at the final four teams that year, Uh, We 254 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: beat all four of them, three of them in their stadium, 255 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: and then the one at home Baltimore, we ran all 256 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,199 Speaker 1: over them, you know, who was supposed to have the 257 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: best defense that year. So it was definitely a fun 258 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: season just to to see us uh, you know, widely 259 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,719 Speaker 1: considered the best team, even though it didn't end the 260 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: right way. Um, it was definitely the best. I'd say, 261 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: probably the most talented and best team I've been on 262 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: during my time with the Giants. And the way you 263 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: played was that just like an offensive lineman's dream, the 264 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: way that team was structured and played. Oh yeah, yeah, 265 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: I mean it's one of those things where whenever we 266 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,439 Speaker 1: came off the field, you know, our offensive line coach 267 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: Pat Flaherty or are O c uh coach Gilbride would 268 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:10,599 Speaker 1: come over, what do you guys want to run? And 269 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 1: it would be power, power power, you know, uh, Bob 270 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: week side Bob, and then an occasional play action you know, 271 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 1: or some sort of bootleg or something just to keep 272 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: the defense honest. But it was a fun year. Um, 273 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: you know, even that that two to three year stretch, 274 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: it was. It was awesome. And you know the funny 275 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: thing about it, people link oh seven and eleven. And 276 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: I understand why, Coffin, that's only four years apart. I 277 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: get it, But those two teams were so much different. 278 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: I talked about you guys the top ranks rushing team 279 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: in owaight right in eleven you were thirty second in 280 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,439 Speaker 1: the league and rushing during the regular season nine yards 281 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: per game. But you want a different way, and and 282 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: it doesn't that speak to just how the organization is 283 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: able to adapt based on and how you were playing. 284 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: I think that you said it perfectly. I think that, uh, 285 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, we we did what we had to do 286 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: to in You know, if you look at the two 287 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: thousand eleven year, Eli is playing great. We have Victor 288 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: Cruz at the peak of his powers, and so so 289 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: was Hakim Nicks. And you know, we're able to throw 290 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: the ball. And I think that, you know, while we 291 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: didn't run the ball, well, I think a part of 292 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,439 Speaker 1: that you have to give the defense. Credit to the 293 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 1: defenses that we played. I think we had developed such 294 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: a reputation of a strong physical football team that going 295 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: into games, I think teams were committed to stopping us 296 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: from running the ball, and then we were able to 297 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: eventually hurt them with the pass, and we became so 298 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: uh became so powerful with the pass that as you 299 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: saw as the season went on and then the playoffs hit, 300 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: We're able to turn around and then start running the 301 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: ball effectively again. And then we started to get that 302 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: balance as we hit our stride into that playoff run 303 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eleven. Yeah, you took the words 304 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: out of my mouth. I was gonna ask you about 305 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: how in the playoffs, one game came on a little bit, 306 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: the defense came on a little bit. It was that 307 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: kind of one of those deals. Was almost like two 308 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,439 Speaker 1: thousand seven, but in a different way. You have to 309 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: kind of figure out who you war on, how you 310 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: had to win as the season was playing out. You 311 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: know it, when I look back on that season, you know, 312 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: I always here, uh you know, whenever they talk, you know, 313 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: you hear media people talk about the worst Super Bowl 314 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: winning teams, and We're always up there, and I'm like, hey, 315 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: put me at the top of that list any day, right, 316 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: the worst Super Bowl champions. But I mean, if you 317 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: really look back at that season, we were six and 318 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: two at one point. I don't even know what the 319 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: record was of the Patriots winning games at home or 320 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: against NFC teams. But we snapped that streak and we 321 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: you know, we we were hit by the injury bug 322 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: in the middle of that season, and we had a 323 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 1: few tough games where it could have gone either way. 324 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: You know, there was a San Francisco game, the Green 325 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: Bay game. Granted the Saints game wasn't really close, but 326 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: you know, we could have easily been instead of six 327 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: and six, we could have been nine and three or 328 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: ten and two at that point. Um. So I look 329 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: at it as you know that that team wasn't as 330 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: bad per se as that nine and seven record shows, 331 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: and I think it was just a matter of hitting 332 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: and stride though towards the end of the year, and um, 333 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: you know, getting hot. Watching Eli in the fourth quarter 334 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: that year, I think he might have had the best 335 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: fourth quarter season of any quarterback in this day of 336 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,080 Speaker 1: the game. What was the once you got to the playoffs? 337 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: What was the confidence level you guys and as a 338 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: group had heading into those fourth quarters, knowing the way 339 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: Eli was playing, the way he was in those situations, Oh, 340 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: we were extremely confident. I think you look back just 341 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: to our practices and I think it's the way coach 342 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: Coughlin used to structure his practices where uh, Thursday afternoons, 343 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: that last period was two minute drill, you know, and 344 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: he'd give us a scenario and it was once against ones. 345 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: So you're going to go out there against our defensive 346 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: line with O C and Tuck and JPP. No, no, 347 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: it's ones versus ones. And you'd give us a situation. 348 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: We're at the forty five yard line, there's thirty eight 349 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: seconds left and we need a touchdown, and it's it's 350 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: competitive out there. I mean, you know, you can't hit 351 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: the quarterback. So you know, every past player you get 352 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: into defensive line saying, well, we would have had a 353 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: sack there, but uh, you know, it help us, you know, 354 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: because then when we were putting no situations, we're figuring, hey, 355 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: we just went against the best pass rushing defensive line 356 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: we felt in the league. So we had this extreme confidence. 357 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: And Eli was always that even kill personality, you know, 358 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: people always people always give him grief for it. And 359 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: I thought that that was one of his biggest traits, 360 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: is the fact that, you know, he's unflappable. So we 361 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: always had that extreme confidence where we were surprised when 362 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: we didn't score in a two minute drill situation quite frankly. So, 363 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: you know, one of the funny stories that always like 364 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: to tell about Super Bowl forty six is, you know, 365 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: it's back and forth game and clocks running, and I'll 366 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: never forget kind of going out there onto the field, uh, 367 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: for that last drive and kind of glancing up at 368 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 1: the clock and realize that, wow, there's three whatever it was, 369 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: three minutes and forty seconds left and thinking, wow, wait, 370 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: this is the last time we're gonna have the ball. 371 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: But it's just how calm everybody was. There was no 372 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: one was uptight. It was this quiet confidence that yeah, okay, 373 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: we need we need to score or at that point 374 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: it was a field goal, but all right, we need 375 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: at least three. We've done this scenario over and over 376 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: again against our defensive line, so why not do it again. 377 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: Was that especially satisfying for you because that was the 378 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: first year for the Giants where you played a lot 379 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: of games for the nine games that year, you have 380 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 1: a big part of that team in the playoffs. To 381 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: just talk about how your expanded role there probably just 382 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: was really satisfying for you being part of that Super 383 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: Bowl team. Yeah, And I thought that it was, um, 384 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: you know, just the way it was for us that season, 385 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: that the next man up and be willing to do 386 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: more than uh, you know what you signed up to do. 387 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: I I originally was supposed to be a guard. I 388 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: think going into that season, I was quote unquote the 389 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: sixth man, so I would play any of the interior positions, 390 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,400 Speaker 1: and I think out of the nine regular season games 391 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: I started that year, I started six at center I think, 392 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: or maybe it was five. It was three at left 393 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: guard and one at right guard, you know, and then 394 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: throughout the playoff run I played left guard exclusively. Um, 395 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 1: you know. So it is satisfying to me. Super Bowl 396 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: forty six. I think if you were to ask the 397 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: majority of the people that were fortunate enough to be 398 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: on both of those teams, they would say that the 399 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 1: Super Bowl forty two was more meaningful. Obviously given the 400 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: situation in the eighteen to know of the Patriots and everything. 401 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: But you know, just a little secret between me and you, 402 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: super Bowl forty six holds a little bit more weight 403 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 1: for me personally personally because of the fact that I 404 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: was able to start that game and be out there, Um, 405 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: despite the controversial holding penalty that was called on me 406 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: in that game talk about the controversial holding penalty, and so, uh, 407 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: you know, the the Giants loyalists probably remember cursing my 408 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 1: name during that game. It was a critical point. I 409 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: think we were up nine three in the second quarter. Uh, 410 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: not that I remember anything, and uh the third and one, 411 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: you know, we're running the ball quite effectively against them, 412 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: and uh we ran Brandon Jacob's right up the middle 413 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: on a dive play and uh, I held Vince Wilford. 414 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: Allegedly the flag goes out, Brandon ran for about ten 415 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: yards and and uh, you know it was it was 416 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: a debatable play. It looked like Vince might have flopped 417 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: a little bit, and uh, if your hands are inside, 418 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: it shouldn't be called right. Funny side story, I don't know, 419 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if the show still exists, but sound 420 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: Effects on NFL Network had that game miked up and 421 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: they showed that play and the ref walked over to 422 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: Vents and said, hey, that holding penalty and Vince said, oh, 423 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: that was a terrible call. Vince will Folk said that. 424 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: He said that it's it's quoted, it's out there. It 425 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: was a terrible call. But uh, you know, I remember 426 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: I remember thinking about that situation because we're running the ball. 427 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: I mean, if we go down and score and go 428 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 1: up two scores, who knows what happens in the game. 429 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: But we didn't the Patriots get the ball, score before halftime, 430 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 1: get the ball to start the third quarter, and score again. 431 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 1: So you know, it was you know, you could call 432 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: it a twentysothing point swing because we could have been 433 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: up sixteen to three. Instead we're down seventeen nine or whatever. 434 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: The situation was so uh tough game but at that point, 435 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: but it all worked out. Besides the obvious winning the 436 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, is there a moment a player or a 437 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: game that year that just jumped out to you that 438 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: really sticks out in your mind that was either a 439 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: lot of fun, funny, awesome that that that you'll just 440 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,400 Speaker 1: never forget. Well, I'll never forget. Well, I'll say two 441 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: things both. They were both during that run um the 442 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: Jet game Christmas Eve, specifically, uh My Bradshaw's touchdown run. 443 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: I thought that's when the momentum kind of shifted in 444 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: that game, and it was, you know, we had heard 445 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: about how we weren't running the ball well and you know, 446 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: obviously that Rex Ryan defense is one of the toughest 447 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: defenses in the league and to be able to run 448 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: in from about twenty something yards his first touchdown because 449 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: he had the icing uh touchdown run later in the game, 450 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: but that first one where he uh he had a 451 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: tough run. I think he ran over a safety to score. Uh. 452 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:48,959 Speaker 1: So that was probably my first moment that I remember. 453 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 1: The second is that NFC championship game, uh against San Francisco. Honestly, 454 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,719 Speaker 1: I have never played a tougher game in my life. Uh. 455 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: You know how I talked earlier about how our offensive 456 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: line coach are offensive coordinator will come over and say 457 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: what plays do you guys want to run? And we'd say, bower, 458 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: we want to run downhill, downhill. By about the third 459 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 1: or fourth quarter of that game, they come over to 460 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: us and ask what plays do you guys want to run? 461 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: And we're like, I don't know. Uh, you know, call 462 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,959 Speaker 1: whatever you want. We'll try. We'll try. Give it a shot, 463 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: a shot justin justin, Yeah, we're good. Yeah. They were 464 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: my Brooks on the end. Uh. They had a big 465 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: d tackle Isaac spa Waga. I mean it was a tough, 466 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: physical game. That was toughest game, and I could remember 467 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: looking over at Dave Boss and Chris Snee kind of 468 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: like we're all just you know, we're just like, I 469 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: don't know, I don't know how we're gonna pull this out. 470 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: You know, we're gonna keep fighting, but uh, we don't know. 471 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: It's it was definitely a tough, tough game and one 472 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: that I'll always remember. You men, and when you got here, 473 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 1: all you knew about the Giants was that did a 474 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 1: really tough head coach? Did that match what you found? 475 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: Or was Tom Coughing a little bit different than what 476 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: you thought coming in. He's you know, people always think 477 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: that he's this big tough guy. Now he is. He's awesome. 478 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: The one thing about him is he's completely fair and transparent, 479 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,600 Speaker 1: so there's no gray area. It's black or white. And 480 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: the one thing that you know, took a little while 481 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: to get used to, but that I really have grown 482 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 1: to appreciate is passing him in the halls, and he'd 483 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: always have something to kind of jab you with, you know, 484 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: something there's it's never just hey, everything's great, you know it. 485 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: So it's I'll give you a quick example of you know, 486 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 1: played a pretty good game, or we're on a good 487 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: winning streak, and he passed him in the morning on 488 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: a Monday after a big win. Hey, coach, how are 489 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: you doing? You know? Never better? Right, And he's saying 490 00:22:56,359 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: that to me, never better, Okay, never better, coach. I'm 491 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,479 Speaker 1: not sore or anything or hired. Never better. But then 492 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: he'd walked by you, and then he'd kind of turned 493 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: back and say, Hey, Boothy, are we're gonna block a 494 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 1: three technique this year? Or what you got the quarterback 495 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: running for his life? You know, I mean, that's that's 496 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: the kind of stuff you'd get me thinking, Wow, well, 497 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: I thought we played pretty well last game, but you know, 498 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:18,719 Speaker 1: just that, you know, just to keep you on your 499 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: toes every time you walked by them, so you were 500 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: never comfortable. You always knew there was room to improve. 501 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: And I thought that's why we were ultimately so successful. 502 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: He would chide anybody that had asked him a question 503 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,120 Speaker 1: the media if they asked him if he was comfortable 504 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 1: with everything, So he literally would stop the middle of 505 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: the question. He goes, I'm never comfortable, never never, and 506 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: and we were never comfortable either. A final question, And 507 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: I asked this question last was I feel like I 508 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: after I asked you you might have to kill me. 509 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: I read you were a member of the very oh exclusive, 510 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: I don't know what you're talking about Quill and Dagger society. 511 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: So when do you guys have the meetings to like 512 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 1: run the global economy and you know, run into an 513 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: a stule affairs and is our way to get invited 514 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: to those meetings? Uh? Nobody's invited. Uh these meetings, these 515 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: alleged meetings that you talk about, they don't happen frequently. No, 516 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: it's it's it's essentially an honor society. Um, you know 517 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: something I take tremendous pride in and a lot of prestigious, 518 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: much more well qualified, more qualified people than me are 519 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: members of that society. So I'm extremely honored. Uh, you know, 520 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: and Cornell always holds a special place in my heart, 521 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: much like the New York Giants, and you know, to 522 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: be a part of that society means a lot. Kevin, 523 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: great stuff, man, appreciate always great, always great being here. 524 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 1: That's Kevin Booth, former Giants offensive one. It again, thanks 525 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: for joining us on the Giant Subtle podcast, and again 526 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 1: if you're listening on Giants dot com with the Giants Moblap, 527 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: we appreciate it. But it's easier for you, better for us. 528 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,440 Speaker 1: Go to your favorite podcast platform, subscribe, make us part 529 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: of your favorites, put us in your feed, and, if 530 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 1: you're on iTunes Rapple Podcast, leave a positive review for 531 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: Kevin Booth. I'm John Schmilt. Thanks for joining us on 532 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: this episode of the Giant Subtle Podcast. Adios.