WEBVTT - Jayden Daniels and Doug Williams | Next Man Up Podcast | Washington Commanders | NFL 0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:01.520 What's Good Command his Family? 0:00:01.560 --> 0:00:03.840 I'm Brian Corple Junior and this is season two of 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:06.560 the Next Man Up Podcast. Jayden Daniels pulls up and 0:00:06.559 --> 0:00:09.160 talks about being named the QB one and what his 0:00:09.240 --> 0:00:10.800 expectations are for this season. 0:00:11.000 --> 0:00:13.280 And then we got a legend in the building. That's right. 0:00:13.360 --> 0:00:15.800 Doug Williams pulls up to talk about Jayden Daniels but 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:17.400 also to talk about giving back to. 0:00:17.360 --> 0:00:19.759 The game that he loves so much. That's all. Now 0:00:20.000 --> 0:00:20.720 our next man. 0:00:20.680 --> 0:00:31.560 Up, What's good Command his Family? 0:00:31.600 --> 0:00:34.000 Brian Copple Junior here, and this is the Next Man 0:00:34.080 --> 0:00:36.240 Up Podcast. We talk to your favorite comand as players. 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:38.640 Not so much about the exit and o's more about 0:00:38.680 --> 0:00:41.239 the player under the helmet. And our next man up 0:00:41.280 --> 0:00:44.120 is no one better than our new names Starr and 0:00:44.200 --> 0:00:45.920 quarterback Rookie Jade and Daniels. 0:00:46.000 --> 0:00:48.800 Jayden good the seed you brother? Yeah, I appreciate you 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:49.199 having you here. 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:49.320 Man. 0:00:49.360 --> 0:00:50.920 We're gonna get right into it because you were just 0:00:51.159 --> 0:00:52.680 named the started man, So I need you to take 0:00:52.720 --> 0:00:53.120 me back there. 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:55.200 Man, where were you at? When did you find out? 0:00:55.280 --> 0:00:55.920 Tell me everything? 0:00:56.400 --> 0:01:00.560 Yeah, it was on Monday. I was chilling the quarterback 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:06.080 room talking with Charlie PR Guy, PR Guy, Charlie PR 0:01:06.160 --> 0:01:10.840 Guy over talking about Lakers and Nick's basketball stuff. Next thing, 0:01:10.840 --> 0:01:13.360 you know, DQ just walked in and he was like, 0:01:13.400 --> 0:01:15.360 I talked to Jayden. From there, we're kind of just 0:01:15.360 --> 0:01:18.360 having a conversation about, you know, my routine and stuff 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:21.560 like that. And then he tried to slide it under there. 0:01:23.560 --> 0:01:25.280 But that's when I found out. 0:01:25.160 --> 0:01:26.360 Yeah, what was that like, man? 0:01:26.360 --> 0:01:28.959 Because it sounds like when Dad quit talks. He's just 0:01:29.000 --> 0:01:31.200 so casual and chill about everything. So like, what was 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:32.760 your first thought when he hit you like just slid 0:01:32.800 --> 0:01:33.039 it in. 0:01:33.000 --> 0:01:37.600 Like okay, like but it didn't really register in my mind. 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:40.160 I was kind of thinking about my routine and stuff 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:42.320 like that. And then from that I was like, oh, 0:01:42.360 --> 0:01:44.920 and then we had a conversation. I was just telling him, 0:01:44.959 --> 0:01:46.320 thank you, appreciate all that. 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:48.960 And when and when that did settle, when you really realize, 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:51.080 like the moment, who was the first person you called 0:01:51.080 --> 0:01:51.760 the shit the news with? 0:01:51.960 --> 0:01:54.880 Yeah, I mean I called my mom, told her first, 0:01:55.120 --> 0:01:58.040 and they called my dad. I told him so it 0:01:58.120 --> 0:02:01.040 was too I told everybody else. Had to keep it 0:02:01.040 --> 0:02:02.840 on the rise until it came out. 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:04.720 I mean, you had to have been dreaming about that 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:07.680 moment your entire life. Man, So now that you've been there, 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:08.840 now you're on the back end of it, because it's 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:10.840 hard to really be in the moment during those times. 0:02:11.320 --> 0:02:13.120 What was that moment for you, man? What was going 0:02:13.120 --> 0:02:15.200 through your head? Man? What sat in with you? 0:02:15.280 --> 0:02:17.160 Yeah? I don't think it kind of hit me until 0:02:17.160 --> 0:02:20.960 I got home, kind of able to gout in my thoughts. 0:02:21.200 --> 0:02:24.520 But it was a very surreal moment because growing up, 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:28.240 you know, loving the game of football, watching NFL Sunday, 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:31.680 you see one of the thirty two out there, you know, 0:02:31.720 --> 0:02:34.560 playing quarterbacks, so all you drenk the being one and 0:02:35.160 --> 0:02:37.160 and I'm grate the opportunity to be one of those. 0:02:37.400 --> 0:02:40.280 You talk about dreaming of being that starring quarterback. When 0:02:40.280 --> 0:02:42.240 do you think that dream hit when you're like, this 0:02:42.320 --> 0:02:43.440 is what I want to do. I want to be 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:44.280 an NFL player. 0:02:44.360 --> 0:02:47.720 Yeah, it started very young. I want to say, like 0:02:48.960 --> 0:02:51.639 eight nine years old, kind of around the time when 0:02:51.639 --> 0:02:55.760 I started playing football and they got you know, you 0:02:55.919 --> 0:02:57.519 kind of venture off, and then I got it to 0:02:57.600 --> 0:03:00.800 the basketball phase and then kind of like eighth grade, 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:02.799 going to high school is kind of where I was like, Okay, 0:03:03.639 --> 0:03:05.400 I could really do something with this football thing and 0:03:05.400 --> 0:03:08.400 take it very serious. And that's when around the time 0:03:08.440 --> 0:03:10.480 I put that on my wall. You know, I was 0:03:10.480 --> 0:03:13.600 play in the NFL. I didn't know where I get 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:16.040 drafted to. I just knew that I have the opportunity 0:03:16.040 --> 0:03:16.880 to play in the NFL. 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:17.840 And now you're here. 0:03:17.919 --> 0:03:19.760 Man, Now we've seen you for two preseason games, so 0:03:19.800 --> 0:03:20.799 I want to I want to take it back. We're 0:03:20.800 --> 0:03:21.880 going to talk a little bit about the future, but 0:03:21.880 --> 0:03:22.800 I gonn take it back little bit. 0:03:22.840 --> 0:03:23.280 Talk about that. 0:03:23.240 --> 0:03:26.000 First preseason game pull up in the Doug Williams jersey 0:03:26.280 --> 0:03:28.600 going viral. Now, I know you've been asked this before, 0:03:28.639 --> 0:03:30.680 but I really want to know. Why was that so 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:32.600 important for you to take this moment? It's all about you. Now, 0:03:32.600 --> 0:03:34.280 this is your first NFL game, but you took this 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:36.040 moment to pay homage to somebody that's in it before you. 0:03:36.240 --> 0:03:37.240 Was that so important? 0:03:38.040 --> 0:03:40.200 It was actually crazy. I mean, I'm in my closet, 0:03:40.240 --> 0:03:42.440 I'm trying to think about, Okay, what I'm gonnaware. 0:03:42.320 --> 0:03:43.520 Laying out the first day of school. 0:03:43.520 --> 0:03:45.480 Fel I'm in the closet, thame I want't wear? And 0:03:45.520 --> 0:03:50.000 then I remember fanatics when I went up there for 0:03:50.080 --> 0:03:53.560 Rookie premiere they had they sent me a Doug Williams jersey, 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:57.920 so it's just in my closet. I was like, oh, 0:03:58.160 --> 0:04:01.200 it wasn't like Okay, I knew. I mean what Doug 0:04:01.240 --> 0:04:03.560 did hear, what he meant, what he means to this franchise, 0:04:03.640 --> 0:04:07.200 his organization, and what he means for me being a 0:04:07.240 --> 0:04:10.440 mentor being somebody I could go and talk to that 0:04:10.680 --> 0:04:13.480 looks like me, that that's done it here, so be 0:04:13.520 --> 0:04:15.160 able to go out there and throw on that jersey 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:17.400 and you know, just represent him, especially in the first 0:04:17.440 --> 0:04:19.680 one where I knew a lot of odds are gonna 0:04:19.680 --> 0:04:22.880 be on me, you know, especially walking through for my 0:04:22.960 --> 0:04:25.480 first preseason game, and it just meant a lot to 0:04:25.520 --> 0:04:27.400 pay how much to show him that the respect that 0:04:27.440 --> 0:04:28.000 he deserves. 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:30.120 And not everybody gets to walk into a building with 0:04:30.200 --> 0:04:32.640 guys like Doug Williams, Guys like Santana Mons, these. 0:04:32.520 --> 0:04:35.640 Legends that have stayed here for you, guys, for these players. 0:04:35.720 --> 0:04:37.919 What game have you gotten from Doug Williams leading up 0:04:37.920 --> 0:04:39.640 to that preseason game that made you say, you know what, 0:04:39.760 --> 0:04:41.039 this is a guy I'm gonna be able to talk 0:04:41.040 --> 0:04:42.120 to about anything. 0:04:42.480 --> 0:04:45.400 Man, Just go out there and be me like like 0:04:45.440 --> 0:04:47.080 he tells me all the time, just be you. You 0:04:47.240 --> 0:04:50.800 have to trying to be anybody else, do anything out 0:04:50.800 --> 0:04:53.320 of the ordination. Go out there, play a game. There's 0:04:53.360 --> 0:04:55.320 a reason why he here, is the reason why God 0:04:55.360 --> 0:04:57.800 bless you to be here. So it's kind of the 0:04:57.800 --> 0:05:00.279 biggest main points I take away from talking with him. 0:05:00.400 --> 0:05:02.320 Well, man, you ain't waste no time showing us why 0:05:02.400 --> 0:05:03.680 you belong in that field. 0:05:03.680 --> 0:05:05.960 Man. That first drive very interesting. You know. 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:08.480 Talked to Austin Eckler after that first drive and I 0:05:08.520 --> 0:05:09.880 asked him. I was like, what was he like in 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:11.920 that pocket? And he kind of revealed to us that, 0:05:12.440 --> 0:05:14.520 you know, you you checked out of a play because 0:05:14.560 --> 0:05:16.440 you saw something there and you wanted to make an 0:05:16.440 --> 0:05:18.719 audible and make a play in your own words, because 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:20.320 a lot was made of that, right Dad Quinn talked 0:05:20.320 --> 0:05:22.240 about your own words. Man, what was that moment like 0:05:22.240 --> 0:05:24.280 and what made you say, you know, after this incomplete pass, 0:05:24.400 --> 0:05:27.159 I'm gonna go check it down the field. 0:05:28.480 --> 0:05:30.160 It was kind of crazy because I mean the whole 0:05:30.160 --> 0:05:34.839 week it was like, yeah, nah, it's just I'm like, man, 0:05:35.000 --> 0:05:36.359 I kind of came. I was like, man, just let 0:05:36.400 --> 0:05:39.240 me throw a deep you know, Cliff and DQ and 0:05:39.279 --> 0:05:44.040 all that, you know, kind of nah, like you know, 0:05:44.839 --> 0:05:48.159 so called the screen on third down and it wasn't 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:51.640 the look that I wanted or anybody wanted. So I know, 0:05:52.240 --> 0:05:55.000 over a Cliff's head, He's like, man, he was about 0:05:55.000 --> 0:05:57.320 to check it. Because I'm like I seen him. I'm like, 0:05:57.520 --> 0:05:59.920 oh yeah, I'm about to check it. So I did 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.200 to be able to kind of like, I guess in 0:06:02.200 --> 0:06:04.200 a sense clause like, man, you manifested this in a 0:06:04.240 --> 0:06:07.480 sense you did. I mean, I guess so. But it 0:06:07.640 --> 0:06:10.600 was just funny. That's why I pointed to the sidelines 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:14.080 because I know and they head was like like, now 0:06:14.200 --> 0:06:16.279 we want you to do it, but we're happy about 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:18.160 the result and stuff like that. So it was fun 0:06:18.240 --> 0:06:18.560 I mean. 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:20.440 That's a rookie. How much comfortability does that give you? 0:06:20.520 --> 0:06:22.760 Knowing that even in those moments where you're maybe doing 0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:24.640 something that they said, hey, man, maybe this isn't a 0:06:24.640 --> 0:06:25.920 good idea, but knowing that. 0:06:25.839 --> 0:06:27.280 They still trust you to do the right thing. Man, 0:06:27.279 --> 0:06:28.440 How important is that for rookie? 0:06:28.440 --> 0:06:31.000 Man, that's the biggest thing. Showed me to have my back. 0:06:31.560 --> 0:06:33.640 They trust me and believe in me. So that's a 0:06:33.680 --> 0:06:35.720 huge thing. And that's what they preacher. Yeah. 0:06:35.760 --> 0:06:38.040 And then right after that, man, you go and get 0:06:38.080 --> 0:06:40.720 your first NFL touchdown. And you know a lot of 0:06:40.720 --> 0:06:43.440 people in those moments hit a little silly little dance 0:06:43.880 --> 0:06:46.760 cheer with their teammates, maybe even their coaches, and everybody 0:06:46.800 --> 0:06:48.200 was going crazy. I was on the sideline too. All 0:06:48.200 --> 0:06:50.760 of us are yelling and going crazy. You run past everybody, 0:06:51.040 --> 0:06:53.560 go to the stands, go find your mom and give 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:56.200 it that football. Why was that so important for you 0:06:56.240 --> 0:06:57.360 to do that in that moment? 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:01.880 It was huge? I mean, pregame, she's on the sideline. 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:05.200 I look over and I go over. She like she's 0:07:05.240 --> 0:07:08.680 getting emotional because she like, you know, she seeing me 0:07:08.760 --> 0:07:10.680 this is a dream of mine that now she can 0:07:10.720 --> 0:07:13.040 see it become reality. So I know she get emotional 0:07:13.040 --> 0:07:15.760 and obviously shout out to Terry because I don't know 0:07:15.760 --> 0:07:17.680 what I blacked out so I even had the ball, 0:07:17.760 --> 0:07:20.400 so he gave me the ball first thing I seen 0:07:20.440 --> 0:07:22.160 him right there. So a start of the football, man, 0:07:22.320 --> 0:07:23.040 it meant a lot. 0:07:23.320 --> 0:07:25.920 Yeah, Man, and your mom and your other family there 0:07:26.000 --> 0:07:28.960 every game, role game, home game that's coming up, man, 0:07:29.200 --> 0:07:31.160 training camp, they just show up for you and they 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:33.320 support you. Even though they're not from here, They're not 0:07:33.320 --> 0:07:35.080 from you at all. How important is that to have 0:07:35.120 --> 0:07:37.000 them a part of this journey with you? Man? 0:07:37.040 --> 0:07:41.720 It's huge supports. So there's nothing no matter how good 0:07:41.760 --> 0:07:43.480 I played, no matter how bad I played, Man, they 0:07:43.520 --> 0:07:45.880 gonna still love me the same. They can always support me, 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:48.040 always have my back. So it's huge for them to 0:07:48.040 --> 0:07:49.480 be able to be a part of this journey. 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:50.040 Man. 0:07:50.280 --> 0:07:52.120 And now you're in it. Man, two games in, bro, 0:07:53.040 --> 0:07:54.840 nothing's new for you anymore. Right now you're in it. 0:07:54.880 --> 0:07:56.680 You're gonna have your first NFL game on the road 0:07:56.680 --> 0:08:00.000 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What are you expecting from 0:08:00.120 --> 0:08:03.160 yourself in that first game? Have you set expectations for yourself? 0:08:03.200 --> 0:08:04.600 Or you just going to out there and let it fly? 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:07.560 Man, go out there, let it fly. It wouldn't be 0:08:07.600 --> 0:08:10.680 no expectation for me. Try to do everything in my 0:08:10.760 --> 0:08:14.000 power to help lead the team to a win. That's 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:16.560 the main thing, that's the main focus. You know, we 0:08:16.600 --> 0:08:18.320 want to start. I want to know and. 0:08:18.360 --> 0:08:20.280 Everybody talks about I mean even right now I'm sitting 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:22.000 there talking to you, when everybody said it, you're wise 0:08:22.040 --> 0:08:22.720 beyond your years. 0:08:22.720 --> 0:08:22.880 Man. 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:25.080 You talk like somebody that's been here before, not like 0:08:25.120 --> 0:08:27.680 a rookie. But what are those challenges you face so 0:08:27.760 --> 0:08:29.880 far being here and how have you overcome those challenges? 0:08:31.280 --> 0:08:35.120 Yeah, I mean DQ whole staff, even the veterans, they've 0:08:35.120 --> 0:08:37.080 been done a great job, not just for myself but 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:39.480 all the rookies, you know, making this feel as part 0:08:39.480 --> 0:08:41.080 as the team, not making us feel like you know, 0:08:41.240 --> 0:08:45.360 or a rookie. So whether as leadership wise, you know, 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:47.760 picking your spots, knowing what, be able to go out 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:50.080 there and talk to them and be able to just 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:53.800 talk about you know, life and talk about you know, football. 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:56.400 And the main person I mean I talked to others 0:08:56.440 --> 0:08:59.079 outside of markets is Bobby Blackener. You know, me and 0:08:59.160 --> 0:09:01.520 him are from the same area, so you know, we 0:09:01.600 --> 0:09:03.800 have that in common, and as we get to know 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:05.400 each other more, we have a lot of comments. So 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:07.839 be able just to pick his brain about things that 0:09:07.880 --> 0:09:10.080 ain't seen our you know, quarterbacks he's been with his 0:09:10.200 --> 0:09:11.160 career and stuff like that. 0:09:11.520 --> 0:09:13.280 And you both with callie kids like you mentioned Bobby 0:09:13.320 --> 0:09:14.959 wagen Man, you mentioned hoops man. You are Laker fan? 0:09:15.160 --> 0:09:17.040 Yeah for sure, okay, no doubt. And I have to 0:09:17.080 --> 0:09:19.040 ask because man, every time you came out in training camp, 0:09:19.160 --> 0:09:21.040 we had a basketball people with just day. I don't 0:09:21.040 --> 0:09:23.440 think I've ever seen the quarterback warm up with a basketball. Man, 0:09:23.440 --> 0:09:25.400 Where does that come from? And why is that something 0:09:25.400 --> 0:09:26.199 you've added to your game? 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:27.840 Yeah, I mean that's something I've done for a while. 0:09:27.920 --> 0:09:30.920 Is just kind of like tricking your mind. You know, 0:09:30.960 --> 0:09:35.200 obviously a basketball is bigger than a football, as dribble around, basketball, 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:38.559 shoot it, things like that, and then when I pick 0:09:38.600 --> 0:09:40.880 up the footballs and just smaller in my hand, feel 0:09:40.920 --> 0:09:42.200 smaller in my hand, stuff like that. 0:09:42.400 --> 0:09:43.680 So so you hoop a little bit. 0:09:43.760 --> 0:09:45.040 Yeah, I'm better than Bobby Wagener. 0:09:45.360 --> 0:09:47.320 No, I think Bobby everybody that's sat in his chaff 0:09:47.360 --> 0:09:49.200 claimed they are the best command is player. 0:09:49.240 --> 0:09:50.120 But you're gonna take that ground. 0:09:50.120 --> 0:09:51.199 I'm better in Bobby Wagen. 0:09:51.240 --> 0:09:53.000 That's all you care about. Long as you better than Bobby. 0:09:52.920 --> 0:09:55.760 Better than Bobby White? What the information you want to do? 0:09:56.200 --> 0:09:57.960 Well, man, we're gonna let you go. Before we let 0:09:58.000 --> 0:10:00.520 you go, man, you know we all have goals. You've 0:10:00.559 --> 0:10:03.720 achieved a very big goal by getting drafted, by becoming 0:10:03.720 --> 0:10:05.840 a starter, by making into the NFL. 0:10:06.120 --> 0:10:08.080 What is your goal now for this season? 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:10.240 Be the best version of myself each and every day 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:13.840 no matter the good or the bad ups and the downs. 0:10:14.360 --> 0:10:17.560 Bill go out there and you know, the other players 0:10:17.559 --> 0:10:20.520 could look at me like, Man, Jay's consistent. You know, 0:10:20.559 --> 0:10:23.800 he's consistent with his work as it, you know, with everything. 0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:26.160 How you take care of his body, stuff like that, 0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:28.880 and then try to figure out a way to get 0:10:28.880 --> 0:10:29.760 better each and every day. 0:10:30.120 --> 0:10:31.920 Hey, Jad, and we can't wait to see you improved. Man. 0:10:31.960 --> 0:10:34.679 Congratulations on all your success so far. Man, We're excited 0:10:34.800 --> 0:10:36.599 to see this journey. Appreciate you taking the time with it. 0:10:36.679 --> 0:10:37.360 I appreciate you. 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:40.079 And of course we can't talk to our rookie quarterback 0:10:40.160 --> 0:10:43.840 without bringing in a legend that pioneered the entire game, 0:10:45.360 --> 0:10:49.079 welcoming in former Super Bowl MVP form Super Bowl Champion, 0:10:49.520 --> 0:10:52.680 the first African American quarterback to play in a Super 0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:56.400 Bowl game, a true Washington legend, mister Doug Williams. 0:10:56.400 --> 0:10:58.560 How you doing, sir, I'm going good, real good man. 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:01.719 I appreciate you being here. Man here and we started. 0:11:01.480 --> 0:11:03.920 Off I said it, the first black quarterback to play 0:11:03.920 --> 0:11:07.080 in the Super Bowl. Last season, fourteen of thirty two 0:11:07.160 --> 0:11:08.880 teams started a black quarterback. 0:11:09.160 --> 0:11:11.240 You would a pioneer for that. What is it like 0:11:11.280 --> 0:11:11.920 seeing the league. 0:11:12.200 --> 0:11:15.120 Now, well, I think what has happened the league as 0:11:15.120 --> 0:11:18.280 a whole has involved it's not about the color of 0:11:18.280 --> 0:11:20.800 your skin. It's about who could play. And that's the 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:23.880 part I like about it. You know, anytime doing the playoffs, 0:11:23.880 --> 0:11:26.720 if that was a black quarterback in the playoffs, reporters 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:29.200 will always call me and asking what I think about that. 0:11:29.880 --> 0:11:31.679 Now they don't have to call me to ask me that, 0:11:31.720 --> 0:11:33.640 because the's a chance that it's gonna be one, two, 0:11:33.679 --> 0:11:36.280 maybe three, and sometimes four in the playoff. And I 0:11:36.320 --> 0:11:38.640 think that's the way it should be. You know, don't 0:11:38.679 --> 0:11:41.160 judge somebody about the character they skin, but what they 0:11:41.200 --> 0:11:43.760 can do and what they can do for the team 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:45.680 and for the city and things like that. And I 0:11:45.679 --> 0:11:48.200 think what has happened all these young guys that are 0:11:48.240 --> 0:11:51.640 out there now, you know it's playing football because not 0:11:51.720 --> 0:11:54.240 because they're black, because they can play and they're the 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:56.400 best person that they can put in their position. And 0:11:56.440 --> 0:11:57.640 that's what makes me feel good. 0:11:57.840 --> 0:11:59.320 And it's nice to sit here and look back in 0:11:59.360 --> 0:12:01.800 hindsight because we can say how much has changed. But 0:12:01.840 --> 0:12:04.880 while you were in it, did you feel that the 0:12:04.960 --> 0:12:07.040 league would turn into this because you were in the 0:12:07.080 --> 0:12:09.319 trenches of it being somebody that's done something that's never 0:12:09.360 --> 0:12:10.200 been done before. 0:12:10.480 --> 0:12:11.959 Did you see the league turning into this. 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:15.080 No, I don't think anybody could see that, you know, 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:17.440 not at that time, because the way the time was 0:12:17.440 --> 0:12:19.960 back then. Being one of the one of the few 0:12:20.040 --> 0:12:22.160 at that time, James Harris was in the league, but 0:12:22.200 --> 0:12:25.839 he wasn't that starting quarterback. And then Vince Evan came. 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:28.960 He was in Chicago. Matter of fact, Vince and myself 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:32.320 played in the first game that two African American quarterbacks 0:12:32.320 --> 0:12:35.120 ever played in in nineteen seventy nine against the Bears. 0:12:35.600 --> 0:12:37.720 You know, I remember like that one like it was yesterday, 0:12:37.720 --> 0:12:39.040 because it was a big it was a big thing. 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:42.080 It was a big write up. And today times you know, 0:12:42.160 --> 0:12:44.920 that's not a big thing. It's the team. It's not 0:12:44.960 --> 0:12:47.280 the quarterback. It's the team who are playing each other. 0:12:47.520 --> 0:12:49.360 And I think it's good that we've gotten to that 0:12:49.480 --> 0:12:51.800 point because at the end of the day, we all 0:12:51.840 --> 0:12:53.920 got to live here, we all got to play here, 0:12:54.160 --> 0:12:56.240 and everybody got to be respected for what they do. 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:58.600 And mister Doug, it's not just that you're a pioneer 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.600 during the game. After the game, you've dedicated your whole 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:05.520 life to football, helping people, mentoring people, helping the next 0:13:05.559 --> 0:13:08.560 generation come up and be better football players. Why was 0:13:08.600 --> 0:13:10.760 that so important for you to do that after your 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:11.600 playing career. 0:13:12.080 --> 0:13:14.320 Well, you know, I was fortunately growing up number one. 0:13:14.520 --> 0:13:16.760 You know, I had an older brother who was actually 0:13:17.280 --> 0:13:19.800 you know, it's my mentug always be my mentor. And 0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:22.120 he was the one that really got me into playing 0:13:22.120 --> 0:13:25.439 football because football wasn't my first nature. Basketball and baseball 0:13:25.640 --> 0:13:27.800 was what I really wanted to do. And he's just 0:13:27.800 --> 0:13:29.760 so having to be a coach at my high school. 0:13:29.800 --> 0:13:32.280 He was a junior high coach and I was eighth 0:13:32.280 --> 0:13:35.520 grade and he became the junior high football coach, and 0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:37.800 he gave me an ultimatum. He said, I mean you 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:40.680 to play football. Whip him. So I ended up playing football. 0:13:41.800 --> 0:13:43.320 They're so like you made a good decision there. 0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:46.520 Yes, football been good to me. You know, that's the 0:13:46.520 --> 0:13:48.920 good part about it. You know, the four years that 0:13:49.000 --> 0:13:51.559 I was at GRAANDLA State University, nothing like playing at 0:13:51.559 --> 0:13:54.440 Gramlin for coach Edd Robinson. The guys that I played with, 0:13:54.920 --> 0:13:56.480 you know, I had some great guys to play with. 0:13:56.559 --> 0:13:59.480 And being drafted by Tampa, you know, going there for 0:13:59.559 --> 0:14:01.480 five years years and playing and then going to the 0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:04.440 USFL for two and the one coach that was at 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:07.720 Tampa was Joe Gibbs. And then you know he was 0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:10.800 that came to Washington, and after the USFL folders on, 0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:12.720 one other coach called me, and that was Joe Gibbs. 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:15.040 And that's why I'm here today. And uh, you know, 0:14:15.080 --> 0:14:19.160 I'm thankful for Coach Gibbs and the blessing that's been 0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:21.680 restored up on me. And you talk about the spiritual guy, 0:14:22.200 --> 0:14:24.840 nobody's more spiritual than Coach Gills. For what he told 0:14:24.840 --> 0:14:28.560 me in nineteen eighty seven, right after preseason, what do 0:14:28.640 --> 0:14:31.960 he tell you? You know, I've been traded. Nineteen eighty seven, 0:14:32.000 --> 0:14:34.400 we went to la we played a preseason game against 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:36.720 the Rams. We came here. I had a pretty good game, 0:14:37.360 --> 0:14:40.080 and we got off the air plane at Duter's Airport. 0:14:40.160 --> 0:14:42.040 Him and Bobby Beth was at the bottom of the 0:14:42.040 --> 0:14:45.520 steps and he told me say, hey, you know, we 0:14:45.600 --> 0:14:48.120 made a deal for you. We traded you to the Raiders. 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:50.360 And I said, oh, coach, thank you. You know I'm 0:14:50.400 --> 0:14:53.320 talking about the Raiders. They you know, I think every 0:14:53.720 --> 0:14:56.240 little kid growing up was a Raider fan. They I 0:14:56.360 --> 0:14:58.400 was onely one that admitted or not. It was somethingbody 0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:02.120 that seven black so so coach, thank you, coach, and uh, 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:04.360 he said, look, come by the office about eleven thirty 0:15:04.360 --> 0:15:06.520 and we'll sit down. We'll talk about it. And I 0:15:06.600 --> 0:15:09.240 went to the apartment and packed my bags, call everybody 0:15:09.280 --> 0:15:11.240 in Zach Louisiana and told him I was gonna be 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:14.040 a Raider. And uh, when I came over to the office, 0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:15.560 you know, I went to his office. If you know 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:18.880 Coach Gibbs, he might not do it at this stage, 0:15:18.920 --> 0:15:20.360 but he had this funny laugh. 0:15:20.440 --> 0:15:20.600 You know. 0:15:20.680 --> 0:15:22.840 He looked at me and he's he said, ha, ha, 0:15:23.200 --> 0:15:26.760 changed my mind. And I said, Coach, I said, you 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:29.760 can't change your mind. And at that time he snapped 0:15:29.800 --> 0:15:32.440 at me. He said, hey, I don't work for the Raiders. 0:15:32.520 --> 0:15:35.080 I worked for the Washington Redskin. So I just sat 0:15:35.120 --> 0:15:37.640 back in my chair. And then he told me this 0:15:37.640 --> 0:15:39.960 this un is God true. He said, look, I got 0:15:39.960 --> 0:15:42.840 a feeling. And coach Coach Gibbs, one of them guys 0:15:42.840 --> 0:15:45.240 you played with, Coach Gibb, you always have a gut feeling. 0:15:45.840 --> 0:15:47.160 And he said, I got a feeling. He said, I 0:15:47.160 --> 0:15:49.800 got a feeling that somewhere along this line this year, 0:15:50.280 --> 0:15:51.720 you know, you're gonna come in here and we're gonna 0:15:51.720 --> 0:15:54.120 win this thing. At that time, it didn't mean nothing 0:15:54.120 --> 0:15:55.880 to me. You got to understand that he just bust 0:15:55.960 --> 0:15:56.800 my bubble. 0:15:57.240 --> 0:15:59.560 Because you in your head you were going to it wasn't. 0:15:59.440 --> 0:16:01.080 What's gonna happen at the end of the year. I wouldn't. 0:16:01.080 --> 0:16:03.800 Look that's too far away, you know. But but there 0:16:03.840 --> 0:16:05.520 wasn't nothing I can do. I got out the chair, 0:16:05.560 --> 0:16:08.160 went downstairs, and whatever meeting I had to go to, 0:16:08.240 --> 0:16:10.880 went to the meeting. And you know, at the end 0:16:10.920 --> 0:16:13.000 of the year, everything came true. You know, I met 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:15.520