1 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in to the NFL Player's Second 2 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: Acts podcast. I'm Peanut Tillman and I got my boy 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: gand Off the Gray aka rooman Harbor woman. 4 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: Want something? 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: Did you just think of that one? I've never actually 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: heard that one. I just came off the top of 7 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: the Don't I like that one? 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 2: All right? 9 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: I'm's been telling me to rap, so I've been thinking 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: about some raps. So yeah, getting off the Gray. That's 11 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: that's you all weekend, Getting off the Grad. 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: You know what. I appreciate that. 13 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 3: First and foremost, let me thank all of our listeners 14 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 3: and people that always tune in and watch us on YouTube. 15 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 3: Wherever you pick up your podcast, make sure you give 16 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 3: us a five star rating, give us a review, leave 17 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 3: a couple of comments. Be sure to make sure you 18 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 3: always hit that follow button wherever you pick up your podcast, 19 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 3: whether it's Apple Podcast, our Heart Radio. Peanut, who is 20 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: the beautiful guest today? This is a man of many, 21 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 3: many traits. Man. 22 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: Well, let me just read off his bio to you 23 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: real quick around Draft pick twenty eleven Draft dB veteran 24 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: six years in the league. 25 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:07,639 Speaker 4: He now wears many hats. 26 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: A fashion model, personal trainer and he is probably from 27 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: the greatest state in the United States. 28 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 3: Baby, well the fact I mean when you said probably 29 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 3: probably maybe really hey, hey. 30 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 4: Just say it, Aaron Williams, everybody. 31 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. That's a great intro. 32 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: Amazingly everybody knows SEXYT football is is king as it 33 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: pertains a football. It ain't no damn Alabama. I mean well, 34 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: first team All State Dave Campbell. Hey, if you know, 35 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: if you're not from Texas, you don't know about that 36 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: Dave Campbell. Like the Texas high school football the magazine 37 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: covered like it's it's everything to make that subject. Benson 38 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: was the first one to make it, like back in 39 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: like I was ninety nine, So he made it in 40 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: like ninety ninety eight or something like that, like. 41 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 4: It's it's a it's a real it's a real big man. 42 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,279 Speaker 3: The agent Peterson making too, I believe. 43 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: So. Yeah, because he came. 44 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 3: After him was pretty good. 45 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: He did. 46 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: It was like it was like a god, yeah, there 47 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: isn't he really was he was. 48 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: He was like starting like he was him before he 49 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: was him. That's how That's how he was pretty much. Yeah, 50 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: I didn't know that. 51 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 3: So I want to get off on this Aaron because 52 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 3: number one, man, you're a pretty fashionable guy yourself. But 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 3: I went and looked at your LinkedIn profile page and 54 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 3: I want to know have you updated it at all? 55 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,679 Speaker 3: Because like you got a lot on there, Like how 56 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 3: often do you update this thing? You got all kinds. 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: I try to have my people updated for me because 58 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: I'm just always doing other things. Yes, I try to 59 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 2: do as much as possible. I mean, being in football 60 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 2: and we always taught the more you can do, the 61 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 2: more accessible you are. So I try to just stick 62 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: to one thing. I try to do multiple things and 63 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: just in case one thing doesn't work and go on 64 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: to the next. 65 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: So like a jack of all trades, I try to 66 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: be all right. So how many jobs do you have 67 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,239 Speaker 1: right now? I mean I feel like I got two jobs, 68 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: you know, or maybe three jobs right now. I feel 69 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: like you is like you remember that show Living Colors, 70 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:13,679 Speaker 1: Like how many job you? 71 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: God mind? 72 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 4: Not enough? How many jobs you. 73 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: Got right now? Honestly, I have a lot of hobbies. 74 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: I wouldn't consider them jobs because they don't feel like jobs. 75 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: I get paid for them, but I make my own schedule. 76 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: I work with people that I really enjoy being with, 77 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: and I'm not forced to do anything. That's a great 78 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 2: pleasure of being your own boss. 79 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 4: So what's the what's the best job you have right now? 80 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 4: What's the best? 81 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: Definitely definitely training high school, college, and some professional academy. 82 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 2: And I made to the highest level. So I was 83 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: once that kid. They're like, man, I want to be there, 84 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: So I told myself to get back as much as possible. Plus, 85 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 2: my dad is really like big in the community. He 86 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 2: runs a FBU and does the All American Game with NBC. 87 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: So I've been around football camps my whole life, helped 88 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: around the community. Did that same thing when I was 89 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: in Buffalo, so I've been a part of my whole life. 90 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 3: I got a question for you because you're from McNeill, Texas, 91 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 3: like number one, where's that at? So I saw his 92 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 3: population two thousand. Shout out to Thomas me and him 93 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: doing some researches. All right, So tell me about McNeil 94 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 3: and kind of like your upbringing, because you know, you 95 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 3: said your dad was around and really helped coaching and 96 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 3: doing all these other things. But how does he get involved? 97 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 3: How do you guys get involved in such a small 98 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 3: community to all of a sudden be able to be 99 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 3: in such a such a big game or like a 100 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: big way, you know, if that makes anything. 101 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely. So McNeil is actually the high school I 102 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 2: went to, and it's in around Rock, Texas, which is 103 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: a suburb north of Boston, about thirty minutes north of Austin. 104 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 1: I'm loving this conversation with all these Texas towns. This 105 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 1: is making me feel like home, shaking, kind of good 106 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 1: about myself. 107 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: And h predominantly white neighborhood, not really recognized for having 108 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 2: kids come out to make it in sports. It's a real, 109 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 2: real quiet neighborhood until I got there and I started 110 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 2: racing have it, but everyone real good people. My dad 111 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: has always been in love with the game of football. 112 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: He had a stint with the Niners, a little try out, 113 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: didn't really pan out for him. Coached for about fifteen years, 114 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: and then I came into the world. Coached me since 115 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 2: we were I was five, and then my brothers came 116 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: along helped them out, and then we all grew up 117 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 2: did our own thing. I had a brother play a 118 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 2: issue baseball issue, another brother went to UTSA, and then 119 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 2: obviously me went to ut and my little sister commerce softball. 120 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 2: So family, so we've always been busy running around and 121 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: once we got out of the house, my dad was 122 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 2: kind of like, I want to continue to help these 123 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: kids because that's his passion, is helping ca Is get 124 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 2: to the other goal. We've been doing that. We did 125 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: local camps at first, then we started doing state camps, 126 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: and then we nationwide with it. So we're all over 127 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 2: from Cali to Maine, to Vegas, to Florida to Arizona, 128 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 2: every say you could probably think of. We've got a 129 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: lot of kids, a lot of kids. C J. Straw 130 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: was probably one of our kids from FBU, so we 131 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 2: have a lot of kids in the league that came 132 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 2: through us. And it's I'm real proud of my death 133 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 2: for doing that and give me a lie of how 134 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: to really get back to community other than just teaching 135 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: them them kids the techniques are on the field. My 136 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: thing is off the field. I'm a big off the 137 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: field guy because I know what it now feels like 138 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 2: to play football for so long and then it not 139 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: be there no more to try to figure out what's next. 140 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: So I know the struggles of the transition of being 141 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: a part that, and I want kids to understand football 142 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 2: is going to end. 143 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 3: At some point. 144 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: At some point everyone's different, but it's going to end, 145 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 2: and that's when we're to me. Real life really starts 146 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 2: when football ends. So I try to get ahead of 147 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: the curve with these kids. Understand like, I know you 148 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 2: think this is gonna last forever, but I thought the 149 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 2: same thing and that one injury took me out. So 150 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: have a plan. I always try to give these kids. 151 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: Have a plan B, C, D, because I know A 152 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: is football for these kids. But I'm more worried about 153 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: if that Plan A don't work out, what are you 154 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: gonna do? 155 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: So excuse me, what's been one of the most gratifying 156 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: stories that you've had helping some of these kids. 157 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: I think since you've been doing these camps, I think 158 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: for me, it's always great seeing one of your kids 159 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: to make it to D one, D two, D three, 160 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 2: where wherever they go as far as college wise, and 161 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:39,559 Speaker 2: even the more accomplishment when they make it to the league. 162 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: But for me is when they come to me and say, hey, 163 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: you change my life, You change my perspective, all things, 164 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 2: you changed how I look at life. That's that's a 165 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: real reward for me, because man, that's that's the bigger. 166 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 2: I want people to especial for US athletes. Our mentals 167 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: are so important and it's not talked about a lot 168 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: because as we're put on a high pedestal for such 169 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: a long time, everybody were looked at as idols and whatnot, 170 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 2: and people forget that we're still humans. So for me, 171 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: it's them coming to me and saying, hey, I'm still 172 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,119 Speaker 2: doing great in life after football. Football stuff is all great, 173 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 2: that's athletic ability that you and God can talk about 174 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: and pertain. But when it comes to me, how's your 175 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: mental how your family house? How are you? How are 176 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: you treating others? That's the more important goal for me. 177 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: Well, you, I think you alluded to it a little 178 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: earlier when you were saying that, like we all have 179 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: our transition and that's when life really starts. I know 180 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: I had my little transition, rome you did his, obviously. 181 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: That's why we have this podcast, NFL Player Second Acts, 182 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: and it's really trying to figure out and help players 183 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: and really just listen to them as they tell us 184 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: our stories about their transition. How long did it take 185 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: for you to get adjusted to your new lifestyle once 186 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: you transition. 187 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: After football? I'm still there seven years the league. Now, man, 188 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 2: I say, probably the last year. Yeah, wow, yeah, last year. 189 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: I'm just now started feeling comfortable and not feeling like 190 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: an outsider really in a way. 191 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, and outside of like how like as in like 192 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 3: it's hard to get back to like regular society. Yeah, 193 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 3: like I'm not in society yet, but I'm like in 194 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 3: this weird place, right, Okay. 195 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 2: I consider so my life before I I was a 196 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: football I called the football life. Yeah, because it's totally 197 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: different from the life I'm living now. Football life. I 198 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 2: was handled at a lot of things and rewarded a 199 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 2: lot of things just for my athletic ability. And then 200 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: transitioning to not blinging football no more, I had to 201 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 2: really truly figure out, first of all, who I was, 202 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 2: because I didn't know. I just knew twenty three Aaron 203 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:49,599 Speaker 2: Wims from Roynrock me Neil that was me for the 204 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 2: long sign I saw that was my identity? Did that 205 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 2: go away and be taking them? I had to refigure 206 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 2: out my identity and and see what makes me happy? 207 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 2: How can I give back in any way possible? And 208 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,599 Speaker 2: it took a long time. I'm not gonna lie, it 209 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 2: took a long A lot of bumpy roads and a 210 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: lot of self help and family members helping me, but 211 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: rehab and all that stuff. It definitely got me to 212 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 2: the point now where I'm at and I have to 213 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 2: think football honestly, because it's a mental game. After football. 214 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 2: At that point, everything is you know, everything was schedule 215 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: was made for you, breakfast was made for you, the 216 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 2: regiment was made for you. For me now it was like, 217 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: how do I create my own regimen? How do I 218 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 2: go on day to day? Because the first two and 219 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 2: a half three years I was waking up like, all right, 220 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 2: what do I do now? Now? Lucky for me, I'm 221 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: blessed enough to I made two contracts, two very good contracts, 222 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 2: so the financial side wasn't like worries, which thank god 223 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,839 Speaker 2: because if it was, it would probably be a harder 224 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 2: road for me. But not being able to like know 225 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 2: what I'm going to do the day was very, very 226 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 2: weird for a very long time. It was. It was 227 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: very scary. It was scary because it was fun for 228 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 2: the first two months, and then after the two months 229 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: it was like, well, you don't want to spend money 230 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 2: because you're not really you don't have a job. I 231 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: don't have a job, right now, so I can't really 232 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 2: do what I want without going broke. One of my 233 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: main goals. First thing caught my dad taught me, don't 234 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: go broke. You know that you don't have to keep 235 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 2: up with the joneses we like to call it. And 236 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 2: me adjusting to that to be able to once freely 237 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 2: spend whatever whenever to now looking at my bank account 238 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 2: and what I'm spending and how I'm spending it and 239 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 2: one of my investments, how am I going to do 240 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 2: that when I do put money investments and I don't 241 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 2: have to readjust how I live in life all those 242 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: certain things until I figure out an occupation or something 243 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: and bring income. That took a little while, but my 244 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 2: dad being with the camps brought me in and it 245 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 2: was hard for me to stay be with the game 246 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: still with my whole background story with the football, so 247 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: it took me a long time to be around the game. 248 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 2: But my dad forced me just because he knew this 249 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 2: is what I This is what I know, and I 250 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:22,719 Speaker 2: have a lot of knowledge for it and kids need 251 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: to hear about this. And it took me a while 252 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 2: for my selfish reasons to not want to be there, 253 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 2: but I finally finally kicked it in and decided to 254 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 2: just go for it and try it. 255 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:36,839 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I we read up on one of the 256 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 3: other things you're doing and it's helping lower ranked Yeah, 257 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 3: lower ranked high school student athletes get scholarships. So it's 258 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 3: like a big deal for you. You've talked about how much 259 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 3: you passionately care about the young people that you're helping. 260 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 3: Kind of tell me how you got into that, and 261 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 3: like how's it going, and like how rewarding is it 262 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 3: to see a kid like you said, because you said 263 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 3: that's what you were mostly excited about. It's not about 264 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 3: the fifteen percent that they're going to be all right, 265 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 3: these guys are good athletes, they're gonna make it. But 266 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 3: the ones that come to you after they've been with 267 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 3: you and say, man, like you've changed my heart look 268 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 3: on life, Like I look at things differently. 269 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 2: I like, I like those comments way more because I 270 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 2: have former players or former teammates or teammates that I 271 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 2: call me today and they are struggling and that that 272 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: need help, whether that be financially, whether it be mentally, 273 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: whether it be whatever their situation is, and for for 274 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 2: kids to get ahead of that curve before it hits them. 275 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 2: That's that's a blessing for me because I just say, 276 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 2: that kid a lot of heartache, a lot of pain, 277 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 2: a lot of suffering. Life is going to give us obstacles, obviously, 278 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: But to help that kid acknowledge and see the things 279 00:13:55,760 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 2: that may make made him go down that path before 280 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 2: you know where I got to makes me feel happier, 281 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: just because how I see my journey was it took me, 282 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 2: let's see, seven years. It took me about six years 283 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 2: to really feel kind of like normal. I guess that's 284 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: a prize for me. Man. That's that's saving a life, Honestly, 285 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 2: a lot of a lot of I know, you guys 286 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 2: have a lot of friends who played in the league 287 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: and stories of people, you know what I'm saying. 288 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 3: So, dude, I saw that all growing up. I was 289 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: never My kids are shocked when I'm like, I was 290 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: not the best player on my team at any point 291 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 3: besides little league football, And I saw so many better 292 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 3: players than me kind of fall by the wayside, continue 293 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 3: to grow, and then you see them fall by the wayside. 294 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 3: High school, college, NFL, you see talent. Talent is in 295 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 3: abundance on the NFL rosters. It's all about the mental 296 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 3: side of it. Who could be spiritually, emotionally, mentally locked 297 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: in long enough to outlast the people around them and 298 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 3: then also four quarters in the game, and usually those 299 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 3: are the great ones, like those are the great ones. 300 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 3: That's what separates the great from the good, to the 301 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: guys that aren't here anymore. And it's really good that 302 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 3: you're able to talk to these people at a younger 303 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 3: age and kind of tell them, hey, what all pitfalls 304 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 3: are out there? And it comes to better, so much 305 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: better because I'm a I'm a father of four peanut 306 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 3: is as well. But when your dad ain't saying it, 307 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 3: it's come from somebody that actually seems to care about 308 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 3: you or like a mentor, it just really just seeps 309 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 3: in so much better, especially with your experience in your background. 310 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, the mental I think the well, I know the 311 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: mental aspect of it is super serious. And I know 312 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: you had two serious injuries. I know for me when 313 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: I had injuries. You know, you're either talking to your 314 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: your trainer, pops, or there's there's always that one person 315 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: you can kind of call on when you when you 316 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: when you need something. Who was the individual or individuals 317 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: that you leaned on when you had those those two injuries. 318 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 2: I'm always say my family, yeah, but I mean outside 319 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: of that Fred Jackson running back, Yeah, brob me brought 320 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 2: me under under his wing. When I first got this 321 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 2: and I was a I was a kid from Texas 322 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: that came from a winning program, always handed things to me. 323 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 2: Then it get the Buffalo wholly different culture and a 324 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: kid from Texas who's never been outside of Texas, only 325 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 2: knows Texas. But getting up there was a very cultural shock, 326 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 2: and I didn't really didn't know how to really adjust. 327 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 2: I was very segregated, segragated myself from not on purpose 328 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 2: for my team, it was just because I wasn't comfortable 329 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 2: to where I was at. So he brought me in, 330 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 2: showed me how to be professional, showed me how to 331 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 2: be a pro, showed me how to be in the community, 332 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: showed me that it's bigger than just football. And I 333 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 2: ain't gonna lie Without him, I probably have been out 334 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 2: second year in the league. But he saw potential me. 335 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 2: He saw potential he saw I don't know what he saw, 336 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 2: but I thank him every time because, Uh, I'm where 337 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: I'm at today because of his guidance. 338 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 3: You know, my man Smoked Dixon. Gerald Smoked Dixon actually 339 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 3: worked upstairs for Buffy. Yeah, and loved you, raved about 340 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 3: you being a great ball, great tackler. 341 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 4: We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back. 342 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: I want to talk about because he raved about you. 343 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 3: I used to follow you because my boy talked about 344 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 3: you so much. I'm like, I should take this other 345 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 3: safe down. Who's this young cat about to come up 346 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 3: here and do this, that and the other. You're a 347 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 3: baller than you. I saw the first neck injury. Was 348 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 3: that the one with Edelman right where you're diving. It 349 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 3: looked like a great tackle. 350 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: It looked like it, but it's kind of weird. I 351 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: want to talk to you about these things. I feel 352 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: like we can open up about these a little bit 353 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: now because you've been through them, because you had two 354 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: significant neck injuries. 355 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 3: Second one was bogus though, yeah, like number one. How 356 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 3: was the rehab? How do you feel like they happened? 357 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 3: What exactly was the definition of your first neck injury 358 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 3: and your second neck injury? 359 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 2: I couldn't even tell you the men a term of it, yeah, 360 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 2: like so long or whatever, But basically, when I tackled them, 361 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 2: when I came down, you'll see my neck whiplash back. 362 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 2: I have a small from my C five to C seven. 363 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: My vertebrate kind of has a small narrow opening for 364 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 2: my where my nerves are at. So when I tackled 365 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 2: the element and it landed, my whiplash the vertebrate, I 366 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: wouldn't say ruptured, but it like pinched on my nerve 367 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 2: really bad, maybe go partial paralyzed for about a month 368 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: and a half. Oh wow, and then. 369 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 3: Like how far down was paralyzed. 370 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 2: On my whole my whole right side. Wow, the whole 371 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 2: right side was paralyzed. It happened right as soon as 372 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 2: I landed and I try to get up. You'll see 373 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 2: on the film, like if you look back, you'll see 374 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 2: my like trying to roll over, but I can't be 375 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 2: cause my right side it is not really given. 376 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 3: So what is that feeling like? Because I've never had 377 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 3: that feeling? 378 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 2: Yes you have, Yes you have. And it's funny you 379 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 2: say that. Remember those terrible stingers, Yeah, it's that, but 380 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 2: fly or maximized by two and have it stay there 381 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,160 Speaker 2: lingering for a month and a half. 382 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 4: Because the sting is like ah, and then you started 383 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 4: to come. 384 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 2: Now the stingers just stay staying right up here. Have 385 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 2: it go down your leg, down to your toes and 386 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: have that while you're walking every day or trying to walk. 387 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 3: I should have a little bit. It's like when your 388 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 3: legs sleep or something. 389 00:19:22,600 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 2: It's basically like when your leg sleep and you're pinching 390 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 2: and you can't feel. That's exactly how it feels to 391 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:27,360 Speaker 2: be perilous. 392 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: How screened was that When you felt that was like, 393 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: oh man, okay, oh wait a minute. Knowing that you 394 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: just was like, I just made it. I tried to 395 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: make this tackle, but now I can't move. Like, what 396 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: was the first thing that went through your mind? 397 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 2: Oh? 398 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 3: Shit? 399 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 2: Honestly, because I was I remember looking at the sky. 400 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 2: It was a perfect day, blue blue sky. Yeah, and 401 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,959 Speaker 2: you know, normal tackle get up, yeah, and I'm just 402 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 2: like Initially I was like, oh snap, I can't move 403 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 2: and I started freaking out. And then they came to 404 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 2: me and said, don't move. They started poking me, They 405 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 2: started pinching me. Can you feel this? Can you feel that? 406 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 2: I was like, nah, I can't, and then I started 407 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 2: freaking out, and then I would have totally freaked. They 408 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 2: put me in the They put me in the ambulance, 409 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,360 Speaker 2: went back to the hospital, put me on the gurney 410 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 2: and on the table. I think about two hours three 411 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 2: hours that came back. You feel this? Can you feel this? 412 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,719 Speaker 2: I was like, man, I can't feel nothing. So then 413 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:28,360 Speaker 2: I started freaking out, like man, this might be it. 414 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 2: But the warrior in me, I'm sure you guys know, 415 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 2: as being athletes, we get hurt all the time. It's 416 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: it's it's normal everyday thing for us get hurt. All right, 417 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 2: what what injury is it? Okay, I've had this before 418 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 2: about two three months. Okay, bat, what I gotta do 419 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 2: to get back? My first innection was like when can 420 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 2: I get back? Which is really crazy at the time, 421 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 2: but I just thought it was another First of all, 422 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 2: I thought it was just another painful stinger. Yeah, and 423 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 2: I just thought, okay, maybe a couple of weeks, you'll 424 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: be back. A month hit and I was like, okay, 425 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: still not really feeling things. But after a month and 426 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 2: a half I started feeling tinglingess and my feeling started 427 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 2: coming back. And then I had a rough discussion with 428 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: my head trainer right after I got the surgery or no, 429 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: this is after this my second one, so after the 430 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 2: first one, they you know, people were like you sure 431 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 2: you want to come back, and I was like yeah, man, 432 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 2: like just got paid, I got three more years of 433 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 2: my contracts. A little, there's nothing I can be all right, 434 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 2: work my way back six month rehab recovery. Scary recovery, 435 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,680 Speaker 2: by the way, just like I've never felt so scared 436 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 2: for people to be around me because at the time 437 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 2: when I had my surgery, my neck was like loose 438 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 2: because my my neck muscles weren't you know, really Yeah, I. 439 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 3: Was wondering like like did you have a big muscle atrophy? 440 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 2: Very much so so because after the surgery, when I walk, 441 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 2: you know you when you pop something, it's loose because 442 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 2: it's not That's how my neck felt. So when someone 443 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 2: bumped into me, it felt like my neck was about 444 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 2: to fall on the ground. So I was like, okay, 445 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 2: I'm not moving no more. So I'm gonna say in 446 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: bed for the next two months and just chill. Got 447 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 2: my brace, my neck brace on. It was it was 448 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: a long, long journey, so work back. 449 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 3: Did you ever go out with a neck brace? 450 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,200 Speaker 2: No? I didn't go out at all. Okay, there's no way, Okay, 451 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:33,399 Speaker 2: I didn't go I'm seeing. 452 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 4: I just like, why are you here? Why are you here? 453 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 2: I've seen that. 454 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:42,719 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm sorry. I had to know balid questions. 455 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 2: I'm a god. That's like, if I could make a 456 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 2: way happen, I'm gonna do it. 457 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 4: And you seemed like that, okay. 458 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 2: Now tell him. That's how it was. Someone call my 459 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:54,880 Speaker 2: name and be like, I'd be like, yo, what's up? 460 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 3: You're good? 461 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 2: Okay, you don't need me? All right? Cool? So it 462 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 2: was a lot of weird movie meant for a while. Yeah, 463 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 2: fast forward, right before we get the training camp, worked 464 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 2: them my way up to getting uh well, I felt 465 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 2: like it was one hundred percent first first scrimmage of 466 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 2: the of the year in training camp, my first contact 467 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 2: game since my injury. I'm sweating bullets because I'm excited 468 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,199 Speaker 2: to finally get back and play. Yeah, but in my mind, well, 469 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 2: can I sustain another hit? Yeah? Will I get back 470 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 2: up again? Will I even walk? Now? None of that's 471 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 2: really hitting me at the time, but it started hitting 472 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 2: me when we did the kickoff and then. 473 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 4: First first series of contact. 474 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 2: About to make some contact, I had a sweep to 475 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 2: the right to my side. Runnybody came in and I said, 476 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 2: we're gonna find out we looked out eyed at each 477 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 2: other and I said, here we go. Made contact. It 478 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 2: was a big hit. Got up. 479 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 3: I was like, oh, I can feel myself. 480 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 2: I got excited, confidence, confidence, restore. I'm back. We had 481 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 2: just hired Ed Reid too as as our dB coach. 482 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 2: My mentor guy looked up to for a long time, 483 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 2: gave me the cheek hose of the game. All right, 484 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: perfect situation. And then the second hit happens, and then 485 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: Jarvis Landry Jarvis Lander hit, and that that was a 486 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 2: That was a rude awakening to what I was about 487 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 2: to get myself into. As far as life comes, ah, 488 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,960 Speaker 2: I wanted to go back again. So the draws landing hit. 489 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: I'm knocked out. Two minutes, three minutes, come in, come 490 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 2: back conscious. I'm looking at the sky. I'm telling myself 491 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 2: that I don't get up. This would be my last 492 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 2: play in the NFL. So I said, Aaron, gotta get up, Bro, 493 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: gotta get up. Got up. They're like, do you need 494 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 2: a stretcher? Do you need this to bring the ambulance? 495 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: I said, y'all better not bring the ambulance back out. 496 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 2: They didn't bring it out. I said, I got this 497 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 2: on a walk man, y'all been in the buiness for 498 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 2: a long time. When you've been in the business for 499 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 2: a long time, you kind of know the politics, what 500 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 2: owners are kind of thinking your gms. I got up. 501 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 2: I started walking on the field. Man. I don't know why, 502 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 2: but every sense my smell, my side, my field, it 503 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: heightened like by like ten. I smell the grass I'm 504 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 2: looking at, like the beautiful stadium in Miami, the sky. 505 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 2: I hear the crowd roar, and it was silence. But 506 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 2: then they saw me walk off. It was allowed to applause. 507 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 2: Something hit me bro and said this is my last game. 508 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 2: I don't know what it was. It's just like God 509 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 2: was like, can't can't let you go back anymore, So 510 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 2: walk on the field. I just I told myself, man, 511 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 2: take everything in you have right now, because this will 512 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:52,719 Speaker 2: be the last time we will ever be in a 513 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 2: field with pads on and being a player. I remember 514 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 2: that like significantly, like it was yesterday. And then got 515 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 2: in the locker room, had trainer, assistant trainer, our owner 516 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 2: Terry Fugula, our GM Doug Whaley at the time, our president, 517 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 2: and we're in there. We were in there silent. Yeah, 518 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,120 Speaker 2: all of them came came in there, all of them. 519 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 3: That's how you know how serious that was. The president 520 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 3: come down, owner. 521 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 2: The owner, everybody came down. And when they all came in, 522 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 2: bro I broke down. That's love though it's heck of love. 523 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:35,680 Speaker 2: It's heck love. But I broke down because I knew 524 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: right then and there that was it. That was it 525 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 2: was it. So fast forward, get the surgery. We go 526 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 2: to uh Super Bowl in Houston. Yeah, Doug Whaley our president, 527 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 2: and I'm and the owner. We meet up. You know, 528 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 2: we have a conversation. How do you feel, how do 529 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 2: you rehab going? I'm good, Like I got it. I could. 530 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 2: I can keep going, keep playing. I've been working my 531 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 2: butt off. This is not the first time that's happened. 532 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 2: I'm good. So it's like, okay, like we really want 533 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,479 Speaker 2: you guys to stay here, be here, and we just 534 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: want to look out for your health. And I said, no, 535 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,959 Speaker 2: I'm all good. March rolls around and everybody that's in 536 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 2: the league knows that March is free. It's that dude. 537 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:23,400 Speaker 2: Calendar date, March tenth, nine thirty five am. I got 538 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 2: the call Doug Wayley and man, you're my first big signee. 539 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 2: But unfortunately, we're going to cut you. And I'm like, 540 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,800 Speaker 2: I'm getting ready to go work out. Yeah, And we 541 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 2: had just had a conversation in February the Super Bowl 542 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 2: in Houston. Y'all love me, y'all, y'all wanted me to 543 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 2: come back, and then now y'all telling me I don't 544 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 2: want me. So now my confidence is shattered. And that's 545 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 2: when adult darkness comes in in a dark place, and 546 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 2: then I'm fighting to be on another team. I gave myself. 547 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 2: I'm a guy that gave myself a time, a timeline, 548 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 2: and once that debt, once that period is done, like 549 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 2: we're moving on to the next thing. So I gave 550 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't I'm not a guy that want 551 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 2: that wanted to, like like be around the game and 552 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 2: not on a team. Like I didn't want to just 553 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 2: be active, but not on a team. So I gave 554 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,679 Speaker 2: myself a year. Because I've been around the business for 555 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 2: quite some time, I know how it goes, especially with 556 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 2: my two injuries. Went through the season, season came and gone. 557 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 2: That that's it. No one called I worked out the 558 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 2: whole year. It was the weirdest year of my life 559 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,959 Speaker 2: just to work, just to be working out while watching. 560 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 2: I'm sure you guys, have you ever been on Wahington 561 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 2: watching the game, And he'd be like, dang, he's still 562 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 2: in the league. Dang he got another contract, and. 563 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 4: Then we know you better than ever. 564 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: I'm not hating it, like it was just like my reality. Like, man, 565 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 2: I'm sitting here and this guy's out there playing. So 566 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 2: the season year comes and gone, I'm like, all right, 567 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 2: that's it. The day the next day, New Orleans caused 568 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:14,800 Speaker 2: my agent says, hey, we want Aaron to come in. 569 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 2: You don't have to do no the thing with the 570 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: doctor's physical physical you don't have to work out. We've 571 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 2: seen his game, we respect his game. We want him 572 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 2: two year, fourteen, come on in. Man. I couldn't do it. 573 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 2: I was checked out because once I said the year, 574 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 2: it was a year, yeah, and that year came and gone. 575 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 2: Now I could have been like, oh, they're gonna give 576 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 2: me once. Once you're checked out, you're checked out. And 577 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 2: I love the game, But it was like, do I 578 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 2: continue to be a Warrior? Do I keep continue to 579 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: be a savage? Or do I do I finally look 580 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 2: and say stop, Aaron. You're like you have so much 581 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 2: ahead of your only at that time, I was twenty six. 582 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 2: I was twenty six years old, very young, very young, 583 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 2: And it was like at that time I couldn't see past, 584 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,040 Speaker 2: see myself fifty six years old. I was worried about 585 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 2: the now, especially the money that I was getting. I 586 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: was like, I'm taking care of my family's family's family's family. Yeah, 587 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,640 Speaker 2: so why would I want to give that up? It 588 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 2: took me a long time, but my mind, my heart, 589 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,000 Speaker 2: it just it just wouldn't allow me. 590 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: But to me, that's a savage though right there though, 591 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: like you listening to your body right, like I still 592 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: think you're I still know you're a savage. I think 593 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,959 Speaker 1: you're a savage and courage just by the standpoint of 594 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 1: like you know what, this ain't right, I think I 595 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: need to check out. But look you you got carted offer, 596 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: you got taken off the field four times on a stretcher, right, Like. 597 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 4: It's happened to me once you any any times? 598 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 1: Never you play, you've been playing, you placed, you've been 599 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: playing I think Rome. A lot of y'all don't know thise, 600 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: but Rome started playing four all in like nineteen seventy two. Right, 601 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: this is Benjamin Button body right here. No seriously, you 602 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:07,760 Speaker 1: say that he's been keeping playing a minute. 603 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: I've been watching both of y'all for a long time, 604 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 2: and I respect y'all's game. I remember seeing Ron I'm playing. 605 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:20,480 Speaker 2: He took his helmet off two thousand and eleven, maybe 606 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 2: eleven twelve. So you take your helmet off? I said, oh, no, 607 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,480 Speaker 2: it was it was early. This was when I was college. Yeah, 608 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 2: keeping two thousand and eight, I'm ready to hear thousand 609 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 2: and nine, the build up we were watching, I maybe 610 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 2: take your helmet off. I was like, damn because you 611 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 2: had the gray hair. And yeah, So fast forward when 612 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,040 Speaker 2: I got drafted. I think we played you guys one time. 613 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 2: You did and me being a rookie kid twenty years 614 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 2: old in the league, I'm like, I'm I'm playing. He's 615 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,080 Speaker 2: right here next to me. He's right here next what 616 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 2: all the time? I said, Dany, he still got great hair. 617 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,600 Speaker 4: You don't want to color it, Ryan. Don't he look 618 00:32:03,720 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 4: like a Techmobil player? 619 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 3: He like. 620 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 2: I was like, look that was his Like he was 621 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 2: a throwback. 622 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, my god, I saw room the first Like, dang yo, 623 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 1: this dude is from like tech Mobile, Like he playing 624 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: on an eighty five Bears, like. 625 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:18,560 Speaker 2: I'm so old that he's still playing. Here's just from 626 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 2: twenty five. Yes, so that you see that. 627 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 3: You say, you know, I mean, look, we love to 628 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 3: hear everybody's first time they recognize me because of my 629 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 3: gray hair. It's a thing. 630 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:33,040 Speaker 2: Like damn. 631 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 3: Everybody has this, like random stories like the first time 632 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 3: I saw that Roman Harper was great. 633 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 2: Oh my god. 634 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 3: They all thought I was way older than what I 635 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 3: was peanuts still older than me. 636 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 4: I am, but I don't look it. 637 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,719 Speaker 3: You're correct, but you probably also maybe jing that thing 638 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 3: a little bit. I don't. So it's just part of 639 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 3: the deal. It's just part of the deal. 640 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 4: We're going to take a short break and we'll be 641 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 4: back in a minute. 642 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 3: Aaron, I want to know this because you one of 643 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 3: your job titles is life coach, And if you could 644 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 3: hire a life coach, or if you were a life 645 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 3: coach looking at younger Aaron Williams, what kind of advice 646 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,560 Speaker 3: would you give him to be able to handle his 647 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 3: transition and to kind of kind of walk him through 648 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 3: that whole phase of his life these last six years. 649 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,360 Speaker 2: For sure, one have the right people around you, that's 650 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 2: definitely one of the biggest things. 651 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 3: But how would Aaron know that. How would Aaron know 652 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 3: who the right people around him? 653 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 2: By knowing who you are and knowing your morals and 654 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 2: principles and what you how you want people to perceive 655 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 2: you as a person. I think the ego of my 656 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 2: NFL life trickled into my after football life a little bit, 657 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 2: and I had I was I still had that attitude 658 00:34:05,200 --> 00:34:10,640 Speaker 2: of I'm this, I don't need I'm this. Yeah, And 659 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 2: it had took me a little bit to understand like 660 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 2: that ain't even no more. And the people around me 661 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 2: weren't telling me the right things. 662 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 3: Oh, they were just feeding it. 663 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 2: They were feet into it. Been around a lot of people. 664 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:29,759 Speaker 2: A lot of people have been around me. I've taken 665 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 2: care of a lot of people. It's kind of it 666 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 2: was hard to decipher who was there for me and 667 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 2: who was just there to live the life that I've 668 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 2: been living. And if you open up your eyes a 669 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:44,919 Speaker 2: little and it's to me, it's self care. You'll get 670 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:48,400 Speaker 2: tired of being used after a while. Like at some 671 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 2: point you're you're gonna be like, you know what, I'm good, 672 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 2: I'm done, Like I'm I realized that you needed me 673 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,880 Speaker 2: more than I needed you, so respectfully I'm gonna have 674 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:58,920 Speaker 2: to just it's love, but I'm gonna have to show 675 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:01,359 Speaker 2: my love from a distance. So when I started part 676 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:05,279 Speaker 2: of my parton Ways from the Negative wavelength Vibes, whatever 677 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 2: you want to call it, but I started painting to 678 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 2: the true people that were there for me. And it 679 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:15,919 Speaker 2: took my parents to understand or to help me understand, like, yeah, 680 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,759 Speaker 2: that person wasn't really there for you. Remember when he 681 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 2: did this and that. Yeah, we would try to tell you, 682 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 2: but you just didn't want to You didn't want to 683 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,319 Speaker 2: see it. We had life had to show you because 684 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 2: we tried, and life is your is the best teacher, 685 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 2: and it taught me it's just not the teacher you 686 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:35,000 Speaker 2: want to teach. But it took me. It took life. 687 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 2: Took me a while to see who was there for 688 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 2: me and for me to take to understand and realize 689 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 2: that I had to understand my own self worth and 690 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:48,799 Speaker 2: love for myself. So I got tired of just being 691 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,759 Speaker 2: a nice guy. Sometimes you gotta be like, hey, bro, 692 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:53,640 Speaker 2: I did all I can do for you. Is now 693 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 2: time for you to do yours. Because I had to 694 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 2: do that, no one was there when when I had 695 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 2: my first knick, surgery. My parents were there for me. 696 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 2: One of my friends came by and said, hey, how 697 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 2: are you doing? What you're good? How's your neck? Do 698 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 2: you do anything? It took six months of me to 699 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:09,439 Speaker 2: do that by myself, I mean my parents, but really 700 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 2: by myself, to be like dang, like where are my people? 701 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:17,040 Speaker 2: I'm in my room three days straight in the dark. 702 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 2: I ain't got one phone call. So when things like 703 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:23,800 Speaker 2: that started happen, you start regulating the good and the bad. 704 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,160 Speaker 2: And then once you start regularing the good and the bad, 705 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 2: you have people that are pushing you, influencing you to 706 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 2: do better, to not be stagnant, to take what you 707 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 2: learn in football apply to life. Everything we do in football, 708 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 2: you can apply it to life, showing up to meetings 709 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,520 Speaker 2: on time, plies of life, doing the things you don't 710 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 2: want to do. There have been time I'm sure you 711 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:49,239 Speaker 2: guys woke up and was like, I don't want to 712 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 2: work out today. Yeah you know, but this morning. But 713 00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:58,839 Speaker 2: you knew the results of that, of what would happen 714 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:01,000 Speaker 2: if you didn't work out. So there's a lot of 715 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 2: mental push. A lot of family and friends who were 716 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 2: there for me, loved ones to push me outside the 717 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 2: darkness and into the light. And then it took me 718 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,919 Speaker 2: to want to better myself because a lot of people say, Aaron, 719 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 2: go get help Aaron, you should do this, Aaron, go 720 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 2: be a coach, Aaron, And I know I can do 721 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 2: those things, but in my mom I just don't want 722 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 2: to do it. Like I'm not in that mic right. 723 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 2: My space is just go do it. So I was 724 00:37:28,600 --> 00:37:31,359 Speaker 2: rejecting everything. It took me to be like, you know what, 725 00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 2: bro come on, man, get up the same way you 726 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:36,919 Speaker 2: got up when you hurt your neck the first time 727 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 2: and the second time, the same way we got to 728 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:41,200 Speaker 2: get up, except now we're not in the football field. 729 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:43,799 Speaker 2: We're in real life. We're in our bed, and we're 730 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,279 Speaker 2: in our bed too long. We're getting comfortable in the dark, 731 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,320 Speaker 2: and that's never a good thing, to get comfortable in 732 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 2: the dark. So I had to It was hard, but 733 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 2: I had to push myself. I had to really push 734 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 2: myself to get out of bed to go brush my teeth. 735 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,440 Speaker 2: That's how bad, that's how down I was. I was 736 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 2: willing to smell, disgusting, look bad because I just didn't care. 737 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 2: I didn't have I didn't have I didn't foresee my 738 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 2: future outside of football. But having my parents and the 739 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:14,840 Speaker 2: friends that were there, and my players, my young kids 740 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,920 Speaker 2: that I trained. Now, I know they're young, but they 741 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,279 Speaker 2: taught me. They keep me young, they keep they give 742 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:23,640 Speaker 2: me a good spirit and and they helped me keep 743 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 2: in track by making sure that they're in there in line. 744 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 2: So having those things and then having something to get 745 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 2: you out of the house, having something for you to do, 746 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,320 Speaker 2: whether that be fishing, whether that be doing your LinkedIn 747 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,439 Speaker 2: to get ready for future jobs, whether that be getting 748 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,239 Speaker 2: your resume ready, whatever it may be. It needs to 749 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 2: do something but create in your in your room and 750 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:50,200 Speaker 2: ponder about what you did before, because pondering about the 751 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 2: past ain't gonna get you nowhere. But in the same place. 752 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:55,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think my kids keep me out. 753 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 1: I got too many kids, soccer games and basketball games 754 00:38:59,440 --> 00:38:59,880 Speaker 1: and everything. 755 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 2: I know you got a whole tribe too, I do. 756 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:02,719 Speaker 3: I do. 757 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 2: That's good for us. 758 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,439 Speaker 4: That though I'm a dad uber, I. 759 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:10,680 Speaker 3: Just believed worm a, I'm a duber. I'd actually never 760 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 3: heard that until just no, Yeah, that's what we are. 761 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:14,799 Speaker 2: That's really dope. Though you had to try because for me, 762 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:18,800 Speaker 2: I didn't. I don't have kid or wife or you're lucky. 763 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:21,200 Speaker 3: So it's positive and negatives. 764 00:39:21,280 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 2: It everything. I'm joking. 765 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,200 Speaker 1: But one thing I do want to ask you, though, 766 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:31,400 Speaker 1: is what you played. You've been playing? You played what 767 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:34,239 Speaker 1: twenty five years in the league. I got thirteen, you 768 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: got six? So, uh what was your We all got 769 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 1: our welcome to the NFL moment? Like, what was your 770 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:41,880 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL moment? 771 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:42,760 Speaker 3: Oh? 772 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:48,799 Speaker 2: Man Marion Barber M Yeah that when he was in Chicago. Yeah, okay, yeah, 773 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 2: it's twenty eleven and uh yeah RP and my guy, 774 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:56,319 Speaker 2: I've watched him when he was in Dallas before I 775 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:58,839 Speaker 2: got to the league. Yeah, and just seeing him on TV, 776 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:01,879 Speaker 2: he was looking he was a big dude, but in 777 00:40:01,920 --> 00:40:04,680 Speaker 2: person was another, especially with the dress and all that 778 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,920 Speaker 2: it was. I was like, man, you're you're like crazy 779 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,200 Speaker 2: good at what you do. I think it was like 780 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:16,840 Speaker 2: a it was a power to my side. He jumped 781 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 2: out of the seat. The sea gap left the wide 782 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:22,040 Speaker 2: open hole. Our d n got flushed out outside and 783 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:24,120 Speaker 2: it was mono e mano. I think we're aund like 784 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:29,799 Speaker 2: on the thirteen fourteen yard line and man, I got 785 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:34,560 Speaker 2: trucks so bad. That man truck me so bad. And 786 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:36,360 Speaker 2: I'm like, all right, gotta I gotta prove myself. This 787 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:39,040 Speaker 2: is right before I made the tackle. I looked at 788 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,160 Speaker 2: his eyes. I said, oh, we want to get him 789 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:48,600 Speaker 2: went in there boom, oh snaph. I looked around my eyes. 790 00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:53,319 Speaker 2: I said, oh, I'm in the league. I remember being 791 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:54,000 Speaker 2: social field. 792 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:54,640 Speaker 3: I'm looking up. 793 00:40:54,719 --> 00:40:58,560 Speaker 2: I said, oh, I'm here. I did it. But then 794 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 2: we got back to sidelines. Know the dbs like what happened? 795 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:02,800 Speaker 1: Bro, Why. 796 00:41:04,719 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 2: Y'all know who that man was? Y'all tripping? So that 797 00:41:07,719 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 2: was my That was my welcome to the league moment. 798 00:41:12,719 --> 00:41:16,200 Speaker 2: But my other one was Calvin Johnson getting mossed by 799 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:19,680 Speaker 2: Calvin Johnson was probably one of the most embarrassing. 800 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,440 Speaker 1: Was it one player or was it like two or 801 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: three players? Because he was he was he was notorious. 802 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:26,200 Speaker 1: It was going over seriously. 803 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:28,279 Speaker 2: It was me. It was me and George Wilson on 804 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,960 Speaker 2: that two of us most both of us. 805 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:34,839 Speaker 3: This is that already knew give me that. 806 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:37,520 Speaker 2: And I was in perfect position like I was, yeah, 807 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 2: you thought you. I thought I had it. And then 808 00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:42,000 Speaker 2: I went up and next thing I know, I see 809 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:46,720 Speaker 2: two large and just give me this both of us 810 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:52,560 Speaker 2: and I said, wow, this isn't this isn't college, Like, 811 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:56,720 Speaker 2: you know, there's I was. I was pretty dominant in college, 812 00:41:56,719 --> 00:41:59,520 Speaker 2: so I was like I had winn against the best 813 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 2: I went justin Blackman. Was there a lot of receivers 814 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:09,279 Speaker 2: Big twelve that I can't I can't really remember right 815 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:10,920 Speaker 2: now because I don't even like receivers like that. But 816 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:15,360 Speaker 2: you're good, we don't either. I played against top, top guys. Yeah. 817 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:19,520 Speaker 2: So but when you know, you hear Calvin Johnson, you 818 00:42:19,600 --> 00:42:22,440 Speaker 2: know what to expect, but when it happens to you, 819 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 2: you're like, oh, no, this man is for real. 820 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,520 Speaker 3: No, we all have Calvin Johnson's stories. We you know, 821 00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:32,279 Speaker 3: Peanut played against him the most. But I remember the 822 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:34,880 Speaker 3: first time that I was like, oh wow, yeah he 823 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 3: is different. 824 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:37,399 Speaker 2: He him, Yeah for real. 825 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:40,440 Speaker 3: We were in the I played in My My, My, 826 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:44,120 Speaker 3: My first pro bawl got to play in and he 827 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:45,880 Speaker 3: was out there. You know, he got the best of 828 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:49,040 Speaker 3: the best out there, and I'm looking, I'm like, oh, yeah, 829 00:42:49,080 --> 00:42:51,839 Speaker 3: he's still way better than everybody else. It was like 830 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:57,719 Speaker 3: next level of stuff. His catch, radious, ability able to jump. 831 00:42:57,560 --> 00:43:02,839 Speaker 2: Run, never seen a guy like that, never seen, was 832 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:04,919 Speaker 2: like unheard of at the time. 833 00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 1: So Big too, so Big, never talked, didn't speak, didn't 834 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:13,200 Speaker 1: talk any trash, didn't the nicest even off the field. 835 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:15,520 Speaker 2: I talked to him outside the outside of the game. 836 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:20,279 Speaker 2: Nicest person you'll ever meet, even nicest person between those 837 00:43:20,280 --> 00:43:23,200 Speaker 2: white lines. Like he'll do the dirtiest thing to you, 838 00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:25,960 Speaker 2: like as far as like one hand catch or or 839 00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:29,319 Speaker 2: taking over your head, but won't say anything. He'd like, 840 00:43:29,320 --> 00:43:34,280 Speaker 2: hey go tryl you know this, very subtle comments, good try, 841 00:43:34,320 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 2: good play. But yeah, it was. It was really cool 842 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:41,799 Speaker 2: and it's a it's such a blessing man to see 843 00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:45,600 Speaker 2: guys like you and Tilman. I grew up watching on TV, 844 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:48,400 Speaker 2: and I was like emulating in my high school days 845 00:43:48,960 --> 00:43:51,720 Speaker 2: punch out king right here, like I was in practice. 846 00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:54,200 Speaker 2: Like people got mad at me because they got tired 847 00:43:54,239 --> 00:43:57,040 Speaker 2: of me punching, punching them me too, but I was like, man, 848 00:43:57,200 --> 00:43:59,640 Speaker 2: this this great is doing it, and look what's happened. 849 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:03,560 Speaker 2: So I was punching and so like watching you guys 850 00:44:03,640 --> 00:44:05,600 Speaker 2: and then being able to be on the same field, 851 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:07,439 Speaker 2: man is Honestly, I wanted to say to you guys, 852 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 2: it's such an honor to share a feel with you guys, 853 00:44:10,080 --> 00:44:12,200 Speaker 2: because you guys have been great role models for me. 854 00:44:12,719 --> 00:44:16,520 Speaker 2: You showed nothing but positive outlooks of how to be 855 00:44:17,160 --> 00:44:22,239 Speaker 2: a dB one and then two after after football, I 856 00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:25,279 Speaker 2: followed you on the FBI, right, yes, sir, followed. I 857 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:29,480 Speaker 2: followed you guys, and to see you guys from being 858 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:32,360 Speaker 2: great football players to just being great men, great husbands, 859 00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 2: great fathers, That's that's what I look for. And I 860 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:40,320 Speaker 2: want to thank you guys because a lot of I 861 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:44,680 Speaker 2: was fortunate to have my dad, and when my dad 862 00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:48,200 Speaker 2: wasn't there, you guys were the ones that I was like, well, 863 00:44:48,239 --> 00:44:50,759 Speaker 2: how can I get to that? So thank you for 864 00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:53,239 Speaker 2: being good role model to me, even though you don't 865 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:57,359 Speaker 2: never knew or noticed that. I was watching you guys 866 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:02,759 Speaker 2: from a distance. Guys do that and just the way 867 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:05,719 Speaker 2: you got guys carry yourselves made me want to move 868 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:08,360 Speaker 2: the same way. And I got compliments from that. And 869 00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 2: I thank you guys because I learned from you guys 870 00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:13,839 Speaker 2: and my peers that helped me through the way as well. 871 00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:19,080 Speaker 3: So, oh, dude, that's ultimate. Thank you. Yeah, peenup receiving that, 872 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:20,799 Speaker 3: that's a big thing for him. We've worked on this 873 00:45:20,840 --> 00:45:25,080 Speaker 3: since the podcast. He's gotten better at receiving compliments. And 874 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:29,880 Speaker 3: I didn't see that coming from you, So I appreciate that. 875 00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:32,359 Speaker 3: That's that is awesome to hear, and not only that, 876 00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:34,319 Speaker 3: but it's going to pay it forward to the next 877 00:45:34,320 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 3: generation as well, because everything that you're doing in your 878 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:40,680 Speaker 3: communities that you're serving. I got one last football question 879 00:45:40,719 --> 00:45:44,080 Speaker 3: and then we'll probably finish up on a fun question too, 880 00:45:44,120 --> 00:45:49,160 Speaker 3: And for me, it's that number one what made playing 881 00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:54,920 Speaker 3: in Buffalo special and number two being from Texas like 882 00:45:55,120 --> 00:45:58,200 Speaker 3: me being in Alabama. Like I remember, Buffalo called me 883 00:45:58,320 --> 00:46:00,880 Speaker 3: and I was like, nah, bro, I can't do it. 884 00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:03,600 Speaker 3: Like I can't, I can't do it. I didn't they 885 00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:09,000 Speaker 3: called you, Yeah, Like nah, it's just not Yeah. 886 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:10,000 Speaker 4: I can't. 887 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:11,359 Speaker 3: I don't think I'm first of all, I don't think 888 00:46:11,360 --> 00:46:13,120 Speaker 3: my family's going to go up here, and I don't 889 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:14,600 Speaker 3: think I can deal with the cold. So how did 890 00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:15,000 Speaker 3: you do it? 891 00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:17,000 Speaker 2: Well? First of all, I didn't know where Buffalo was 892 00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:17,600 Speaker 2: when I got drafted. 893 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:18,239 Speaker 3: Okay, there it is. 894 00:46:18,440 --> 00:46:21,720 Speaker 2: So when I got there because during the draft process, 895 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:23,839 Speaker 2: I didn't talk to nothing, not one person from from 896 00:46:23,840 --> 00:46:26,359 Speaker 2: the Bill staff. So to get drafted by then was 897 00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:30,120 Speaker 2: completely different. But getting there, like I said, kid from 898 00:46:30,120 --> 00:46:34,920 Speaker 2: Texas with different culture shock, It took me about a 899 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:38,040 Speaker 2: year and a half to really start to get into things, 900 00:46:38,440 --> 00:46:40,320 Speaker 2: give it a chance to be would. 901 00:46:40,120 --> 00:46:40,960 Speaker 3: You do that first year? 902 00:46:41,239 --> 00:46:43,040 Speaker 4: Just did you wear sleeves in the game? 903 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:46,200 Speaker 2: Nah, I'm proud to say that, and that that's a 904 00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:50,160 Speaker 2: that's a that's an old school yes, Like I'm old 905 00:46:50,160 --> 00:46:52,839 Speaker 2: school general. I'm y'all's generation to call you guys all 906 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:57,480 Speaker 2: or anything, but like I grew up learning from you 907 00:46:57,600 --> 00:47:01,120 Speaker 2: guys of like we don't show weakness, Like we don't 908 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:03,120 Speaker 2: show the other team that were cold and we can't 909 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:06,120 Speaker 2: keep up with them. So my teammates got mad at 910 00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:07,960 Speaker 2: me because I did the same thing, like we ain't 911 00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:09,680 Speaker 2: wearning sleeves out there. I had a lot of guys 912 00:47:09,719 --> 00:47:13,600 Speaker 2: from Florida, Louisiana and Cali that wanted were sleeves. I'm like, nah, man, 913 00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:16,880 Speaker 2: this is a mental thing. So I was more of 914 00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:25,000 Speaker 2: the old school regiment. But Buffalo was It's a similarity 915 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:27,960 Speaker 2: between Texas a little bit as far as the football side, 916 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:30,600 Speaker 2: and then you have the blue collar city that I 917 00:47:30,640 --> 00:47:35,560 Speaker 2: have never been witnessed before. I come from Austin somewhat 918 00:47:35,600 --> 00:47:38,440 Speaker 2: a big city, kind of created city, and then Buffalo 919 00:47:38,440 --> 00:47:42,000 Speaker 2: where there's like not really anything really going on, but 920 00:47:42,760 --> 00:47:46,360 Speaker 2: the people there are so amazing. They work hard for 921 00:47:46,440 --> 00:47:51,120 Speaker 2: what they have. They love their bills like no other. There. 922 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:54,439 Speaker 2: You guys may notice our fan base is the number 923 00:47:54,480 --> 00:47:56,880 Speaker 2: one fan base I know. There may be the Cowboys or. 924 00:48:00,520 --> 00:48:02,600 Speaker 4: Jump I can break this market. 925 00:48:03,840 --> 00:48:07,040 Speaker 2: It's crazy and they light on fire. They do a 926 00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:08,040 Speaker 2: lot of crazy things. 927 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:10,759 Speaker 4: It's like they're a college town exactly. 928 00:48:11,239 --> 00:48:14,600 Speaker 2: That's what and that's what. It reminded me of being 929 00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:18,720 Speaker 2: at ut for a while. And when I got outside 930 00:48:18,760 --> 00:48:21,920 Speaker 2: my ways and started actually playing good and then just 931 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:25,480 Speaker 2: getting with the with the people in the community, I realized, Man, 932 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:30,200 Speaker 2: this place is actually like really amazing and it's not 933 00:48:30,280 --> 00:48:32,840 Speaker 2: the glitten gamer glamour. You ain't gonna go to a 934 00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,360 Speaker 2: red carpet one weekend and then a basketball game the 935 00:48:35,360 --> 00:48:40,200 Speaker 2: next weekend. It's just you find people that you that 936 00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:42,840 Speaker 2: mold what you believe in, and you stick around and 937 00:48:42,840 --> 00:48:45,040 Speaker 2: hang out and then they introduce you to someone else, 938 00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:48,319 Speaker 2: and they introduce you someone else. And the fact that 939 00:48:48,480 --> 00:48:52,560 Speaker 2: they were respectful enough for me to like invite me 940 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:56,960 Speaker 2: to like their company dinners or their family dinners just 941 00:48:57,000 --> 00:49:00,640 Speaker 2: out of love. I was like, cool, this is this 942 00:49:00,719 --> 00:49:03,200 Speaker 2: is great. But then to be like, hey, invite your 943 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:06,920 Speaker 2: teammates as well, like not just to be around me, 944 00:49:07,120 --> 00:49:10,440 Speaker 2: They wanted to be just around us, like the team. 945 00:49:11,280 --> 00:49:13,279 Speaker 2: And I felt like that was really special because other 946 00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:17,560 Speaker 2: other teams don't have those type of fan bases where 947 00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:20,280 Speaker 2: they show a lot of love. They may be crazy 948 00:49:20,280 --> 00:49:21,960 Speaker 2: about you on the field, but when it comes off 949 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:24,960 Speaker 2: the field, it may be a little different. Bill's Mafia 950 00:49:25,040 --> 00:49:26,759 Speaker 2: now they gonna know you, like a lot of people 951 00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:28,840 Speaker 2: don't recognize you because we have our helmets on. But 952 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:31,040 Speaker 2: Bill's Mafia gonna know you. Once a Bill, always a Bill. 953 00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:33,719 Speaker 2: That's That's one of the things. So I gave it 954 00:49:33,760 --> 00:49:36,200 Speaker 2: a chance, and people treated me like, like I said, 955 00:49:36,200 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 2: if I was their own. So I just ran with 956 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:39,799 Speaker 2: it and just kept going. 957 00:49:39,920 --> 00:49:42,960 Speaker 3: So all right, now, fun question, So are you still 958 00:49:42,960 --> 00:49:43,680 Speaker 3: horseback riding? 959 00:49:44,440 --> 00:49:47,799 Speaker 2: Man I still do horseback ride, having horseback ride, rode 960 00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,640 Speaker 2: in Manute just because of the neck in the back. 961 00:49:50,760 --> 00:49:52,200 Speaker 3: I mean, you got some great pictures out there on 962 00:49:52,200 --> 00:49:54,560 Speaker 3: the internet, great pictures. 963 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:58,440 Speaker 2: I still got my five horses out there. I haven't 964 00:49:58,480 --> 00:50:01,200 Speaker 2: haven't really rodeoed the much that like I used to. 965 00:50:01,520 --> 00:50:03,759 Speaker 3: You have five horses, what are their names? You got names? 966 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:04,040 Speaker 2: Yeah? 967 00:50:04,040 --> 00:50:08,600 Speaker 1: I got got Dallas, I got bo At, least some 968 00:50:08,640 --> 00:50:09,759 Speaker 1: of there's Cisco in there. 969 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:15,320 Speaker 2: I know Cisco, Cisco in there, Ivy, Rudolph or Rudy. 970 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:19,040 Speaker 2: I call it Rudy, And I know I'm forgetting one. 971 00:50:19,120 --> 00:50:21,840 Speaker 2: We just got it though, okay, so but yeah, it 972 00:50:21,960 --> 00:50:27,520 Speaker 2: keeps me busy. He's my mind clear for sure. The 973 00:50:27,560 --> 00:50:28,959 Speaker 2: connection with the horse is just. 974 00:50:28,880 --> 00:50:30,880 Speaker 3: Like everybody talks about that you own a horse, you 975 00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:31,640 Speaker 3: have like this connection. 976 00:50:31,680 --> 00:50:36,399 Speaker 2: Connection, man, It teach you how do you? Energy is real? 977 00:50:36,640 --> 00:50:38,640 Speaker 2: Energy is real like when you walk. When you walk 978 00:50:38,680 --> 00:50:41,200 Speaker 2: into a room, people are either going to notice you 979 00:50:41,320 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 2: or they're not. And it's just off the energy you 980 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:48,239 Speaker 2: bring off. And I learned that from horses. I communicate 981 00:50:48,239 --> 00:50:51,839 Speaker 2: through a horse just by hepathically, just like energy. And 982 00:50:51,880 --> 00:50:54,920 Speaker 2: just if I come off and they know I'm sad 983 00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:57,719 Speaker 2: or frustrated or mad about something, they can sense it. 984 00:50:58,560 --> 00:51:01,480 Speaker 2: If I'm happy and create and just want to be free, 985 00:51:01,640 --> 00:51:04,280 Speaker 2: they can sense that. So if I'm sad and the frustrated, 986 00:51:04,320 --> 00:51:06,479 Speaker 2: it's gonna be long day writing because he's gonna feel 987 00:51:06,480 --> 00:51:09,200 Speaker 2: that same tension for loose and having a great time. 988 00:51:09,520 --> 00:51:11,400 Speaker 2: It's it's one of the most peaceful things you can 989 00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:13,400 Speaker 2: be a part of. But it taught me how to 990 00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:19,200 Speaker 2: regulate and how to maneuver in certain spaces and really 991 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:24,040 Speaker 2: just present yourself with with confidence and everything. So horses 992 00:51:24,080 --> 00:51:25,359 Speaker 2: definitely keep you busy. Yeah. 993 00:51:25,480 --> 00:51:28,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, you seem like you've had or I know, you've 994 00:51:28,280 --> 00:51:31,920 Speaker 1: had a pretty successful life and your upbringing with mom, dad, parents, 995 00:51:33,320 --> 00:51:36,759 Speaker 1: of your family, who would you say is on your 996 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:40,720 Speaker 1: personal mount rushmore so helping you get to where you are. 997 00:51:40,600 --> 00:51:41,279 Speaker 3: In life right now? 998 00:51:43,160 --> 00:51:44,640 Speaker 2: Mm hm, outside of my family. 999 00:51:45,160 --> 00:51:47,160 Speaker 1: Just it could be family, It could be it could 1000 00:51:47,200 --> 00:51:51,759 Speaker 1: be anybody. It's your personal mount rushmore of four people. 1001 00:51:51,560 --> 00:51:53,799 Speaker 2: Oh for sure, Mom and Dad one and two off 1002 00:51:53,800 --> 00:51:58,560 Speaker 2: the back, off the rip. Fred Jackson will be number three. 1003 00:51:59,120 --> 00:52:00,719 Speaker 3: All right, now, you gotta tell me why you can't 1004 00:52:00,760 --> 00:52:02,240 Speaker 3: just name drop keep it moving. 1005 00:52:03,840 --> 00:52:06,520 Speaker 2: Mom and Dad is altusly for obvious reasons. They've been 1006 00:52:06,520 --> 00:52:09,359 Speaker 2: there since day one. So injury injury. 1007 00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:12,839 Speaker 3: You said a little bit about Fred earlier, you talked about. 1008 00:52:14,160 --> 00:52:17,840 Speaker 2: Fred. Fred's been been with me through my ups and 1009 00:52:17,960 --> 00:52:22,640 Speaker 2: downs life. Uh, He's been with me to the good 1010 00:52:22,640 --> 00:52:24,480 Speaker 2: and the bad and the ugly and it's still with 1011 00:52:24,520 --> 00:52:26,920 Speaker 2: me to this day. Talked to me yesterday actually, So 1012 00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:30,920 Speaker 2: he was never one of those vets that only vetted 1013 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:33,839 Speaker 2: you in the locker room. He was one of those 1014 00:52:33,880 --> 00:52:36,239 Speaker 2: vets that checked up on you and make sure you 1015 00:52:36,280 --> 00:52:37,960 Speaker 2: things were good and make sure you were on the 1016 00:52:38,080 --> 00:52:40,640 Speaker 2: right path. There have been times where I veered off 1017 00:52:40,760 --> 00:52:43,360 Speaker 2: and he grabbed me and brought me back. If it 1018 00:52:43,400 --> 00:52:46,040 Speaker 2: wasn't for him, I wouldn't have my second contract if 1019 00:52:46,040 --> 00:52:48,080 Speaker 2: it wasn't for him. I wouldn't have the love of 1020 00:52:48,120 --> 00:52:50,680 Speaker 2: Bill's Mafia. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have 1021 00:52:51,320 --> 00:52:57,640 Speaker 2: the confidence of of of trying new things when I 1022 00:52:57,680 --> 00:53:01,360 Speaker 2: don't have any interest of doing it. He taught me like, 1023 00:53:02,520 --> 00:53:04,239 Speaker 2: you never know until you try. He was one of 1024 00:53:04,239 --> 00:53:10,359 Speaker 2: those guys that told me that there's been times where well, 1025 00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:13,120 Speaker 2: I've gotten he's gotten late night phone calls while because 1026 00:53:13,160 --> 00:53:16,759 Speaker 2: I was out partying and doing crazy things. And he 1027 00:53:16,880 --> 00:53:18,680 Speaker 2: was never the one to just hang up the phone 1028 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:20,879 Speaker 2: and be like, well he's a grown man, let him 1029 00:53:20,920 --> 00:53:23,680 Speaker 2: do his own decisions. He'd wake up. I'm talking about 1030 00:53:23,680 --> 00:53:26,279 Speaker 2: this man has man. I'm supposed to know this one 1031 00:53:26,280 --> 00:53:30,560 Speaker 2: two three, five kids, four or five kids and a 1032 00:53:30,600 --> 00:53:34,799 Speaker 2: wife left them to come save me and the time 1033 00:53:34,840 --> 00:53:38,399 Speaker 2: of need where I needed him. And you don't get 1034 00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:40,399 Speaker 2: a lot of guys that you don't grow up with 1035 00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:44,520 Speaker 2: or you just met because of work to have that 1036 00:53:44,560 --> 00:53:49,480 Speaker 2: type of love and care for you. So I will 1037 00:53:49,520 --> 00:53:51,839 Speaker 2: always be into debt with Fred no matter. There's nothing 1038 00:53:51,920 --> 00:53:54,719 Speaker 2: anyone could say bad about Fred to me because I'm 1039 00:53:54,719 --> 00:53:57,640 Speaker 2: here now because of partially what he taught me. And 1040 00:53:57,640 --> 00:54:01,759 Speaker 2: and just like your kids get on your nerves, I 1041 00:54:01,800 --> 00:54:04,200 Speaker 2: got on his nerves, but he never gave up on me. Yeah, 1042 00:54:04,600 --> 00:54:12,640 Speaker 2: so that for sure, Fred will be number three. I'm 1043 00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:15,840 Speaker 2: gonna say my head trainer, Sean Sean Gibson will be 1044 00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:20,480 Speaker 2: number four because I hate like I don't want to 1045 00:54:20,520 --> 00:54:24,720 Speaker 2: choke up, but he was the reason why I I'm 1046 00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:30,160 Speaker 2: able to walk, I'm able to have a clearer mind. 1047 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:33,120 Speaker 2: He's the one that sat me down. He's the only 1048 00:54:33,160 --> 00:54:35,920 Speaker 2: person besides my mom and dad to sit me down 1049 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,360 Speaker 2: and say, hey, you're a grateful a player, You're a 1050 00:54:39,360 --> 00:54:42,239 Speaker 2: great person. I am not talking to you from a 1051 00:54:42,239 --> 00:54:45,920 Speaker 2: head trainer standpoint. Remove the head trainer helmet. This is 1052 00:54:45,960 --> 00:54:48,839 Speaker 2: a man, a friend, a person that loves you. You 1053 00:54:48,960 --> 00:54:52,440 Speaker 2: need to stop playing the game. It was hard for 1054 00:54:52,480 --> 00:54:53,080 Speaker 2: me to hear that. 1055 00:54:53,080 --> 00:54:54,600 Speaker 3: I couldn't imagine. I couldn't either. 1056 00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:57,400 Speaker 2: It was a guy that wanted me. He knew my goals. 1057 00:54:57,480 --> 00:55:00,560 Speaker 2: I want to be pro bowler, all pro super Bowl, 1058 00:55:00,600 --> 00:55:04,759 Speaker 2: all this stuff. He knew that I worked hard, but 1059 00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:07,840 Speaker 2: he also knew I had so much ahead of me. 1060 00:55:08,200 --> 00:55:12,160 Speaker 2: Yea No one in that facility said, Aaron, you might 1061 00:55:12,200 --> 00:55:14,840 Speaker 2: need to stop playing this game for your health reasons only, 1062 00:55:15,080 --> 00:55:17,239 Speaker 2: not that like call anybody out. I'm not trying to 1063 00:55:17,239 --> 00:55:20,040 Speaker 2: call anybody out or anything, but say in the fact, 1064 00:55:20,280 --> 00:55:23,600 Speaker 2: this man took off the badge of being a bill 1065 00:55:23,719 --> 00:55:28,560 Speaker 2: staff member and put his own personal being love and 1066 00:55:28,600 --> 00:55:31,359 Speaker 2: care for me and saying I love you enough too 1067 00:55:31,480 --> 00:55:33,600 Speaker 2: much to allow you to want to go back on 1068 00:55:33,640 --> 00:55:39,840 Speaker 2: that field and for me to be like, potentially carry 1069 00:55:39,840 --> 00:55:42,719 Speaker 2: you off and may not walk again, potentially carry you 1070 00:55:42,760 --> 00:55:45,799 Speaker 2: off and tell your family members he's no longer here 1071 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:48,279 Speaker 2: with us because of a hit or because of this, 1072 00:55:48,320 --> 00:55:50,960 Speaker 2: because of that, he loved me enough to sit me 1073 00:55:51,000 --> 00:55:54,960 Speaker 2: down and say you're more than what you are now. 1074 00:55:55,840 --> 00:55:58,480 Speaker 2: And it took someone outside and my family members to 1075 00:55:58,520 --> 00:56:02,520 Speaker 2: tell me. Because when your son Dad tells me, it's 1076 00:56:02,520 --> 00:56:05,040 Speaker 2: all the time, but it doesn't register like that. For 1077 00:56:05,080 --> 00:56:07,279 Speaker 2: whatever reason, I don't know why it doesn't when you're 1078 00:56:07,239 --> 00:56:10,520 Speaker 2: here from someone that sees you outside of what your 1079 00:56:10,560 --> 00:56:13,920 Speaker 2: parents see you, You're like, oh crap, someone outside my 1080 00:56:13,960 --> 00:56:15,960 Speaker 2: parents just telling me the same thing. I might want 1081 00:56:15,960 --> 00:56:20,880 Speaker 2: to listen. So Mom, Dad, Fred Jackson, Sean Gibson, my 1082 00:56:20,920 --> 00:56:21,600 Speaker 2: Mount Rushmore. 1083 00:56:22,560 --> 00:56:26,439 Speaker 3: Dude, that was great. Almost teared up right there then, 1084 00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:28,720 Speaker 3: and I cry a lot all the time. 1085 00:56:29,520 --> 00:56:32,279 Speaker 2: I started being I started just accepting it's okay to 1086 00:56:33,239 --> 00:56:35,080 Speaker 2: let emotions be emotions. 1087 00:56:35,360 --> 00:56:38,600 Speaker 3: I think it's it. I did and look, man, I 1088 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:41,399 Speaker 3: because I was laughing so hard. But you know me, though, 1089 00:56:41,719 --> 00:56:45,120 Speaker 3: I think you have a real full day whenever you're 1090 00:56:45,160 --> 00:56:46,480 Speaker 3: able to laugh and cry. 1091 00:56:46,320 --> 00:56:49,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely in the same day, absolutely. 1092 00:56:49,200 --> 00:56:52,920 Speaker 1: Full blown, absolute circle of life. I'm still waiting. I 1093 00:56:52,960 --> 00:56:55,120 Speaker 1: think my crying is just from this oil I put 1094 00:56:55,200 --> 00:56:57,880 Speaker 1: on my face my eye. So that's kind of why 1095 00:56:57,920 --> 00:57:01,680 Speaker 1: I'm tearing up right now. It's getting irritate. Well, Aaron Man, 1096 00:57:02,360 --> 00:57:04,440 Speaker 1: thank you, man. Appreciate that. Mank you guys for having 1097 00:57:04,520 --> 00:57:05,560 Speaker 1: me this beautiful story. 1098 00:57:05,560 --> 00:57:07,600 Speaker 3: Man, I'm glad we got to hear that. Man, than 1099 00:57:07,680 --> 00:57:10,840 Speaker 3: you got to see each other's faces. And definitely without 1100 00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:14,400 Speaker 3: the helmet on, you got great hair. Peanut hairs, all right, 1101 00:57:15,360 --> 00:57:16,760 Speaker 3: I mean the great waves is popping. 1102 00:57:16,800 --> 00:57:18,080 Speaker 2: We're good. I appreciate you it. 1103 00:57:18,080 --> 00:57:20,760 Speaker 3: Thanks man, appreciate it that but hey, first of all, 1104 00:57:20,880 --> 00:57:22,280 Speaker 3: let me get this out of here the right way 1105 00:57:22,800 --> 00:57:25,320 Speaker 3: for all of our listeners and everybody that always tunes in. Man, 1106 00:57:25,360 --> 00:57:27,280 Speaker 3: make sure you give us a five star rating, give 1107 00:57:27,360 --> 00:57:30,640 Speaker 3: us a review, hit follow, leave a couple of comments. Please, 1108 00:57:30,920 --> 00:57:32,240 Speaker 3: you know, tell a friend to tell a friend to 1109 00:57:32,280 --> 00:57:34,240 Speaker 3: do what Peanut, tell a friend there we go, tell 1110 00:57:34,280 --> 00:57:36,640 Speaker 3: a friend. Man, wherever you pick up your podcast, whether 1111 00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:41,320 Speaker 3: this Apple podcast, iHeartRadio app, please please continue to follow. 1112 00:57:41,360 --> 00:57:41,520 Speaker 2: Man. 1113 00:57:41,520 --> 00:57:44,800 Speaker 3: We're telling great stories, really allowing people like Aaron Williams 1114 00:57:44,880 --> 00:57:47,720 Speaker 3: himself to open up and tell his side of the 1115 00:57:47,760 --> 00:57:50,400 Speaker 3: story of his transition and what all we're doing and 1116 00:57:50,480 --> 00:57:52,360 Speaker 3: now in our second act. Man, it's been great to 1117 00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:53,560 Speaker 3: hear another side of it. 1118 00:57:53,840 --> 00:57:54,840 Speaker 2: Thank you guys for having me. Man. 1119 00:57:55,040 --> 00:57:59,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, Man, Hey, Peanut getting off the gray that's Aaron 1120 00:58:00,200 --> 00:58:00,840 Speaker 1: NFL player. 1121 00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:03,160 Speaker 4: Second act podcasts we out