WEBVTT - Phidarian Mathis' Confidence is SKY HIGH + Fred Davis on his career in WASHINGTON | Next Man Up | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | NFL 0:00:00.680 --> 0:00:03.400 Command This Family an extra special episode of the Next 0:00:03.400 --> 0:00:04.120 Man Podcast. 0:00:04.200 --> 0:00:06.800 Hey for Darien Mathis, come in and talk to us 0:00:06.840 --> 0:00:07.240 about the. 0:00:07.200 --> 0:00:09.800 Precious of being the second round thinking how he finally 0:00:10.039 --> 0:00:13.440 feels healthy and ready to go. Then bring on another 0:00:13.480 --> 0:00:16.840 second round. Pick former tight end for the Washington Redskins, 0:00:16.920 --> 0:00:19.680 Fred Davis pulls up and talks about his favorite memories, 0:00:19.880 --> 0:00:22.560 plans for the burden, and goal all that more. Right 0:00:22.600 --> 0:00:25.439 now a Next Man Now. This episode of the Next 0:00:25.480 --> 0:00:28.360 Man Up is brought to you by Cancelo Proud Kioks, 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:29.360 partners of. 0:00:29.200 --> 0:00:30.480 The Washington Commanders. 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:33.199 Now, we know you'd hate waiting in lines for your concession, 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:34.839 but we got something for you. To go to the 0:00:34.920 --> 0:00:37.640 club level of Northwest Stay and find yourself one of 0:00:37.680 --> 0:00:39.440 these cantlop self served kiosks. 0:00:39.680 --> 0:00:41.600 Put your order in and head back to your seat. 0:00:41.720 --> 0:00:43.319 You want miss a minute of the game. That will 0:00:43.320 --> 0:00:44.239 bring the food to. 0:00:44.240 --> 0:00:46.920 You and you can enjoy the game without any lines, 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:48.479 without any hassle. 0:00:48.320 --> 0:00:52.160 And without missing a second of game action. That self 0:00:52.280 --> 0:00:55.680 ordering power by Cancelo see you at the game. Command 0:00:55.760 --> 0:00:57.800 this family. Now let's start to show. 0:01:06.160 --> 0:01:09.399 The man this family for our Next Man Up. Got 0:01:09.400 --> 0:01:12.560 a Bama boy in the building man. Another one, our guy, 0:01:12.600 --> 0:01:14.880 our defensive tackle for Darien maddis Darien. 0:01:14.920 --> 0:01:15.840 How you doing, brother, good? 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:16.640 I'm doing good, Bro. 0:01:16.840 --> 0:01:17.640 I appreciate you. 0:01:17.600 --> 0:01:18.200 For being here. Man. 0:01:18.240 --> 0:01:19.720 We know you busy brun like me, and you have 0:01:19.880 --> 0:01:22.119 never actually got to sit and wrap like like this. 0:01:22.200 --> 0:01:23.920 We did a car sholder as it come out yet, 0:01:24.080 --> 0:01:26.840 but we ain't really got to really really kick it, man. 0:01:26.840 --> 0:01:28.520 So I want to start in the beginning because you 0:01:28.560 --> 0:01:30.120 know we've had to be robb On and like y'all 0:01:30.160 --> 0:01:31.720 Bama boys just different. 0:01:31.720 --> 0:01:34.520 Man, sooning about y'all Bama cats. I want to know 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:35.120 what is it? 0:01:35.200 --> 0:01:37.200 What is it that gets y'all so ready for the 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:38.960 NFL because y'all come in game ready. 0:01:38.959 --> 0:01:40.480 What about Bama does that for y'all? 0:01:40.800 --> 0:01:44.560 I really just say the journey, bro. Like coming in 0:01:44.600 --> 0:01:48.880 as a freshman, I think with Coach Saban, he did 0:01:48.880 --> 0:01:51.400 a good good job was just taking us through the process. 0:01:51.920 --> 0:01:56.160 You know, freshman year, sophomore year. By that time, some 0:01:56.160 --> 0:01:59.640 guys come in ready freshman year, but by your sophomore year, 0:02:00.200 --> 0:02:03.320 junior year, you should be developed, you know, just by 0:02:03.360 --> 0:02:04.680 being in his system. 0:02:04.680 --> 0:02:06.720 Sure, when did you feel fully developed? 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:10.120 H I tell you my junior year for sure, I 0:02:10.120 --> 0:02:13.920 started to develop more, you know, just being around, you know, 0:02:14.000 --> 0:02:17.240 in his presence, you know, learning how to learning how 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:19.440 to become a young young adult, you know, just being 0:02:19.480 --> 0:02:22.160 around his presence. And I think by by time my 0:02:22.240 --> 0:02:26.680 junior year coming around, I was much more so mature, more, 0:02:26.800 --> 0:02:30.040 you know, older, more like understood the game more. And 0:02:30.600 --> 0:02:32.200 I say about that time, for sure. 0:02:32.080 --> 0:02:33.679 And you were a dog in college so much so 0:02:33.880 --> 0:02:36.240 you end up being the second round pick when you 0:02:36.280 --> 0:02:38.920 get drafted in the second round. But Washington, do you 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:41.919 realize the pressures that come with being such a high 0:02:42.000 --> 0:02:43.840 pick in that moment? Uh? 0:02:44.680 --> 0:02:46.640 I say it most definitely was a lot of pressure 0:02:46.720 --> 0:02:48.720 because you know, everybody got. 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:50.880 Their own their own view of you. You know what 0:02:50.880 --> 0:02:51.280 I'm saying. 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:54.600 Some people got high expectations for you, and some people also, 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:57.040 you know, they got their own opinion like, oh he 0:02:57.040 --> 0:02:59.800 shouldn't have been there, woo woo. But at the same time, 0:02:59.800 --> 0:03:01.959 you know, you just got to keep your faith in 0:03:02.040 --> 0:03:05.680 God and just accept the consequences that come with it, 0:03:05.880 --> 0:03:06.600 good or bad. 0:03:06.919 --> 0:03:08.919 When you look back at that, what would you say 0:03:08.960 --> 0:03:11.120 at that point your expectations for yourself. 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:13.440 Was well, really just you know, come out in ball, 0:03:13.639 --> 0:03:15.840 you know my first year, you know, I got you know, 0:03:15.880 --> 0:03:19.520 I ended up getting injured my first game. Then second 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:22.840 year I went through the same process. So really just 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:26.800 it was really I just had I had big hopes. 0:03:26.840 --> 0:03:29.400 You know, I was excited, you know, I was feeling good. 0:03:29.480 --> 0:03:33.320 You know. Then just everything went downhill. So I had 0:03:33.360 --> 0:03:35.080 to just like a whole reset. You know. It was 0:03:35.080 --> 0:03:36.200 a reset for sure. 0:03:36.320 --> 0:03:37.920 And you talk about these big hopes you have, and 0:03:37.920 --> 0:03:39.320 I'm like, let's paint it, man. I think it was 0:03:39.320 --> 0:03:41.520 like the fourth or fifth play of your first game 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:43.400 where you went out and you were out for the season, 0:03:43.400 --> 0:03:45.160 and you have these hot hopes, you have these expectations 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:48.640 for yourself. What goes through your mind when you have 0:03:48.760 --> 0:03:50.720 the injury? They tell you, hey, man, your season's over 0:03:50.760 --> 0:03:52.960 with Man, how do you deal with that moment? 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:53.560 Ah? 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:56.240 Man, it was a lot like just depression. Bro's going 0:03:56.360 --> 0:03:56.640 through that. 0:03:57.320 --> 0:03:57.480 You know. 0:03:57.760 --> 0:04:01.120 I'm I'm more so a I said, popular loner when 0:04:01.120 --> 0:04:05.120 it comes to stuff like that. Uh, I was just depression, Bro. 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:08.720 It was so much built up. Just I stopped coming 0:04:08.760 --> 0:04:11.440 to means I just wanted to be by myself. So 0:04:12.640 --> 0:04:15.080 just after dealing with all that, it was more like, man, 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:17.120 let me get back into it more. You know, I 0:04:17.160 --> 0:04:20.000 started coming back around more, started filling in the presence 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:22.719 of my teammates and stuff like that. So I think 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.679 just being around them they kind of helped me. Brought 0:04:25.680 --> 0:04:27.960 me out of my shell a lot, for sure. 0:04:28.120 --> 0:04:29.960 And when you depress, man, it's hard to even get 0:04:30.000 --> 0:04:32.080 to that point where you go around your teammates again 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:34.440 and let them allow you to get yourself out of 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:36.400 your shell. So how did you get to that point? 0:04:36.440 --> 0:04:38.200 How did you get through this depression and get out 0:04:38.240 --> 0:04:38.880 of that dark place? 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:44.400 Just talking to doctor Robertson, you remember her great, Yeah, 0:04:44.600 --> 0:04:46.320 she kind of helped me get up out of that. 0:04:46.400 --> 0:04:49.200 She's just just talking to her every day, you know, 0:04:49.279 --> 0:04:51.080 we had though it was one on ones where she 0:04:51.600 --> 0:04:53.839 helped me cope with the pain that I was going through, 0:04:54.200 --> 0:04:56.880 you know, all the depression and so just you know, 0:04:56.960 --> 0:04:59.760 being around guys like John bro I think he was 0:04:59.800 --> 0:05:02.000 the and for sure one of the big brothers like 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:05.280 I played that role. Was just encouraging me to do 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:07.800 things better, you know, just you know, take my time. 0:05:08.000 --> 0:05:10.080 Just you're gonna be like, you're gonna be bad, bro, 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:12.920 Just just be patient, be patient, you know. So it's 0:05:12.960 --> 0:05:16.640 just guys like tying and pain and fail. They're just 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:18.520 keeping me keeping my head up, for sure. 0:05:18.680 --> 0:05:20.679 So having that game and those tools in your toolbox 0:05:20.720 --> 0:05:23.640 already after that first injury, then when you get your 0:05:23.720 --> 0:05:27.000 second injury in year two, did it reset again or 0:05:27.040 --> 0:05:28.839 were you already able to kind of deal with it 0:05:28.839 --> 0:05:31.320 because you knew that you had dealt with this before. Uh? 0:05:31.480 --> 0:05:33.440 Nah, I mean it kind of just went back. It's 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:36.520 like dang. It's like, damn, I can't catch a break. 0:05:36.560 --> 0:05:39.680 I'm like, dang, what's going on. It's like, dang, rather 0:05:40.279 --> 0:05:42.080 don't supposed to be here. It's like it's so many 0:05:42.160 --> 0:05:43.760 questions you just go through, you know what I'm saying. 0:05:43.800 --> 0:05:46.599 But then again, you know that just played the role 0:05:46.600 --> 0:05:49.119 of me just getting closer with God. I started getting 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:52.800 closer with God. I just started praying more, just started, 0:05:53.240 --> 0:05:56.440 you know, just give them more time to God. And 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:58.359 then I just say, like, just this shit, I just 0:05:58.400 --> 0:06:00.280 been the health has I ever been, you know what 0:06:00.320 --> 0:06:02.240 I'm saying. I changed my life around a little bit. 0:06:02.360 --> 0:06:04.680 You know, I had to move different, had to you know, 0:06:05.120 --> 0:06:08.039 changed the way I was doing things. And I think 0:06:08.080 --> 0:06:09.679 they played a big role in it, for sure. 0:06:09.800 --> 0:06:11.880 And I mean it's clearly worked out, man, Because it's 0:06:12.000 --> 0:06:15.000 very interesting. You're one of the few holdovers from the 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:17.960 last regime, right Like they came in and they cleaned house, 0:06:18.000 --> 0:06:20.279 but they kept a few guys. They kept those guys 0:06:20.360 --> 0:06:22.680 that they know were dogs. What did it mean to 0:06:22.720 --> 0:06:25.320 you to have that voter confidence from this culture staff 0:06:25.320 --> 0:06:26.920 that did not draft you, this ownership that did not 0:06:27.000 --> 0:06:28.880 draft you, and they say, you know what, we're gonna 0:06:28.920 --> 0:06:29.760 keep you here in ball. 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:32.480 With For sure, it meant a lot because just going 0:06:32.520 --> 0:06:34.520 all the way back to the summertime, Bro, it's just 0:06:34.960 --> 0:06:38.120 all the work report, it's my d line coaches. They 0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:41.680 believed in me so much. They played a big role 0:06:41.720 --> 0:06:43.760 on me just coming out my shell this year. You know, 0:06:44.160 --> 0:06:46.520 I feel like I improved because of them. You know, 0:06:46.839 --> 0:06:49.960 they gave me the confidence that I have now. Just 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:53.160 for them bringing out the confidence, it just it means 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:55.440 a lot, you know what I'm saying? Because I want to, 0:06:55.600 --> 0:06:57.640 don't I say, like two years ago, I want I 0:06:57.680 --> 0:06:59.600 want the same field that I am today, for sure? 0:07:00.160 --> 0:07:02.159 And you keep using the word confidence, man, So I'd 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:04.200 love to hear what your definition of that. When it 0:07:04.240 --> 0:07:05.920 comes to you and the way you play the game, 0:07:06.200 --> 0:07:08.160 you keep seeing you got that confidence back. 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:10.080 Where is your confidence at right now? 0:07:10.480 --> 0:07:10.640 Ah? 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:13.080 Man, it's I ain't like my confidence there, It's like 0:07:13.120 --> 0:07:16.440 it's through the roof. Like you know, two years ago, 0:07:16.480 --> 0:07:19.240 I wouldn't have a confident confidence that I have today 0:07:19.600 --> 0:07:22.920 with my d line coaches, for sure. And confidence to 0:07:23.000 --> 0:07:25.160 me is just knowing you can go out there and 0:07:25.200 --> 0:07:28.960 do your job. You're gonna beyond selfish, you know, put 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:32.560 it on the line for the team and just you know, 0:07:32.720 --> 0:07:35.600 just be a team player and just also just locked 0:07:35.640 --> 0:07:37.600 in on my keys, locked in on the things I 0:07:37.640 --> 0:07:40.760 gotta do, uh to contribute to the team, for sure. 0:07:40.960 --> 0:07:43.080 And being a team player in year three means that 0:07:43.160 --> 0:07:45.320 you're starting to become a veteran yourself, right And you 0:07:45.400 --> 0:07:47.360 got a young guy and Johnny Newton that gets drafted, 0:07:47.400 --> 0:07:49.880 another second round pick comes in, also deals with an 0:07:49.880 --> 0:07:52.640 injury right out the gate. Man, how were you there 0:07:52.640 --> 0:07:54.160 to help him out and kind of talk to him 0:07:54.160 --> 0:07:55.880 because again you lived that same life. 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:58.960 For sure. I was most definitely, most definitely gave him 0:07:59.040 --> 0:08:01.760 advice on you know, the things not to do, you know, 0:08:02.080 --> 0:08:04.600 just like the things I went through. Like I just 0:08:04.600 --> 0:08:07.520 told him, Man, you gotta stay around, don't go often, 0:08:07.640 --> 0:08:09.520 you know, in your own lane, trying to deal with 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:12.840 it by yourself. Most definitely, just stay around with the guys, 0:08:12.920 --> 0:08:15.840 you know, keep coming to means, you know, just stay 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:18.559 stay in the building, you know, keep your presence felt. 0:08:19.120 --> 0:08:21.920 Because when you got people like that in your corner, 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:24.720 like the guys we have on this team, you'll be 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:26.120 you gonna be just fine. 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:28.520 And now he's healthy, and now you guys get to 0:08:28.560 --> 0:08:30.080 line up with each other, and you guys are both 0:08:30.080 --> 0:08:32.680 getting a lot more minutes now that johnsan Allen, you know, 0:08:32.760 --> 0:08:35.679 went down, and you're getting those opportunities, you're getting those reps. Man, 0:08:35.679 --> 0:08:37.960 what has it been like being able to finally be 0:08:38.040 --> 0:08:40.000 on that field, being able to finally show what you 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:40.320 can do. 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:43.440 I feel good, you know, it's a blessing. But I 0:08:43.440 --> 0:08:46.720 also know, you know, guys like well, the the giant 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:50.960 John injury, it kind of helped us out a lot because, 0:08:52.160 --> 0:08:54.360 I mean, we get more snaps, but at the same time, 0:08:55.240 --> 0:08:58.520 we get to show John that we got his back. 0:08:58.559 --> 0:09:01.040 You know, we're not gonna let him down even though 0:09:01.040 --> 0:09:03.840 he gone through that. We had to step up, like 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:05.319 it was a big call for both of us. You 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:07.080 know what I'm saying to step up at this time 0:09:07.120 --> 0:09:10.280 because we really needed John, you know what I'm saying. 0:09:10.320 --> 0:09:13.240 With him going through the injury, it kind of it 0:09:13.280 --> 0:09:15.520 could have been a setback if he wasn't ready, you know, 0:09:15.720 --> 0:09:17.560 it could have been a real setback if we weren't ready. 0:09:17.559 --> 0:09:19.840 And I think d line coach is prepared as well 0:09:19.920 --> 0:09:20.880 to step up, for sure. 0:09:21.280 --> 0:09:23.640 And it sounds like John helped you be prepared as well, 0:09:23.679 --> 0:09:25.480 like you said, like he was a big reason why 0:09:25.600 --> 0:09:27.920 you were able to get through that injury. Have you 0:09:28.040 --> 0:09:30.640 been able to be there for him while he gets 0:09:30.679 --> 0:09:32.400 through this injury, because it's a lot different when you're 0:09:32.600 --> 0:09:34.240 deep in your career and you suffer injury like that 0:09:34.480 --> 0:09:34.840 for sure. 0:09:34.960 --> 0:09:37.600 Like I just I think it was like two days ago, 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:40.240 I was just around him. It was in a lunch room, 0:09:40.280 --> 0:09:43.079 and I remember him telling me this when I was hurt. 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:47.640 He was like, I feel what you eat now he 0:09:47.760 --> 0:09:51.000 was dying and I was like, ah, we had getting 0:09:51.040 --> 0:09:53.160 fat now woking up. 0:09:53.920 --> 0:09:55.080 So I was rounding him. 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:59.240 That And also just like how he was telling me 0:09:59.360 --> 0:10:01.360 when I was young, he was like, man, just stay around, 0:10:01.880 --> 0:10:04.000 and you know, he just had a kid and stuff. 0:10:04.000 --> 0:10:06.640 So I understand that too. But John also still be 0:10:06.640 --> 0:10:09.320 in present. You know, he's still been around, you know, 0:10:09.480 --> 0:10:13.120 just showing his face and just also giving us tips 0:10:13.120 --> 0:10:15.320 and keys on you know, what he see from us 0:10:15.320 --> 0:10:15.959 on film for. 0:10:15.920 --> 0:10:17.600 Sure, and that's got to be so helpful for such 0:10:17.600 --> 0:10:20.040 a young defensive line room. And one someone else has 0:10:20.040 --> 0:10:23.000 got to be helpful. Darryl Tap, that is my favorite 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:25.360 person probably walked around to this building. All you gots 0:10:25.360 --> 0:10:27.480 smile on you frohim. Can you talk about Dryl Tapping 0:10:27.520 --> 0:10:29.240 what you've been able to see from him as a 0:10:29.280 --> 0:10:32.160 defensive line coach and what he's really done for this defense. 0:10:32.360 --> 0:10:34.360 And he done a lot, you know, not just for 0:10:34.400 --> 0:10:36.920 the defense, but I mean not just for the D line, 0:10:36.920 --> 0:10:40.320 but also for this whole defense man. His presence, I think, 0:10:40.440 --> 0:10:43.600 you know, the president that he bring into the into 0:10:43.640 --> 0:10:46.160 that room. Br he uplifted the guys. He give us 0:10:46.200 --> 0:10:49.079 so much confidence in ourselves. You know, I think he 0:10:49.200 --> 0:10:51.600 been a big impact on me for sure, you know 0:10:51.720 --> 0:10:54.839 since he got here, because he just installed instill in 0:10:54.960 --> 0:10:57.160 started Like I know, I lost the confidence in the 0:10:57.160 --> 0:10:59.600 first two years. So it was like when he came 0:10:59.679 --> 0:11:02.040 and like, man, I just want to play, you know, 0:11:02.120 --> 0:11:03.480 he make you want to play for him, you know, 0:11:03.520 --> 0:11:06.720 what I'm saying, He just make you want to like, oh, 0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:08.680 you just want you know the type of coach did 0:11:09.080 --> 0:11:10.000 lay it on the line. 0:11:09.800 --> 0:11:10.360 For, sir. 0:11:10.520 --> 0:11:12.240 He one of those guys that I just laid on 0:11:12.280 --> 0:11:15.760 the line for because I know he giving me so 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:18.480 much tools to use out there on Sunday nights. 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:20.439 And it seems like this coaching staff is full of 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:22.439 that Sharif, Floyd, Willie Gay. And then you have a 0:11:22.520 --> 0:11:25.160 Joe Wid junior who's being a defensive coordinator for the 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:27.520 first time. Man, show some of the Joe Wid Junior 0:11:27.559 --> 0:11:29.800 because I know his impact on you guys on off 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:30.360 the field. 0:11:30.960 --> 0:11:32.600 Joey, He's doing his thing for sure. 0:11:32.640 --> 0:11:33.360 You know what I'm saying. 0:11:35.400 --> 0:11:37.960 I just everything I say is just like when it 0:11:38.040 --> 0:11:39.280 goes back to confidence. 0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:39.440 Bro. 0:11:39.960 --> 0:11:42.199 They they believe in me so much and I can 0:11:42.240 --> 0:11:45.120 feel it and it just gives me confidence. So just 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:49.800 with Coach Wig, Coach Sharif, Coach Tap and Okay man, 0:11:49.840 --> 0:11:52.720 they give me so much confidence in myself. It's like, damn, 0:11:52.800 --> 0:11:55.240 I ain't really ain't believe in it like that. So 0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:57.240 it's just like it just boosts me up to just 0:11:57.320 --> 0:11:58.920 keep going. You know what I'm saying. They believe in 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:00.920 me so much, and they just give me so much 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:03.520 high praise, you know, even when the other people don't. 0:12:03.559 --> 0:12:05.600 So it's just like I love them for that and 0:12:05.960 --> 0:12:08.880 I'm always gonna appreciate that for just giving my confidence 0:12:08.920 --> 0:12:09.480 back for sure. 0:12:09.520 --> 0:12:10.959 Well you've earned it, bro, You've come out there and 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:12.800 you've earned it. You've heard the coaches say like how 0:12:12.840 --> 0:12:16.480 hard you've worked, and you could have easily signed off, man, 0:12:16.480 --> 0:12:17.880 but you stayed in and you kept grinding. 0:12:17.920 --> 0:12:18.079 Man. 0:12:18.080 --> 0:12:20.199 So last question for you, because you said it. Everybody 0:12:20.280 --> 0:12:23.120 has expectations for you. Everybody has this type of player 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:25.360 that they think you are. But now that you're healthy, 0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:27.320 now that you're feeling good in your confidence is back. 0:12:27.480 --> 0:12:29.520 Looking at camera right there, and tell the fans what 0:12:29.559 --> 0:12:31.480 type of player it's for, Darien Mathis. 0:12:31.840 --> 0:12:33.760 Oh, Man, I'm a doll. You know, It's always been 0:12:33.760 --> 0:12:36.120 in me. You know, it's always been there. It's just 0:12:36.160 --> 0:12:38.199 you know, you know, people have setbacks. 0:12:39.080 --> 0:12:40.040 Well, you know, I'm a doll. 0:12:40.160 --> 0:12:42.480 Bro. You know I'm gonna fill out those gups for 0:12:42.520 --> 0:12:46.520 the all linebackers and I'm just gonna continue to keep improving. 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:48.760 You know, I'm not there. Yeah, I'm not perfect, but 0:12:48.880 --> 0:12:51.120 I'm gonna continue to get better and we're gonna just 0:12:51.160 --> 0:12:53.440 continue to live this defense up week by week. 0:12:53.480 --> 0:12:53.800 For sure. 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:56.320 Hey, brother, we have appreciated having you on man. It's 0:12:56.320 --> 0:12:58.280 been so much fun watching on that field. 0:12:58.160 --> 0:12:58.640 Do your thing. 0:12:58.679 --> 0:13:01.200 The energy you bring, Man, and you bring it means 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:03.199 a lot to us in this fan base for Darien Man, 0:13:03.280 --> 0:13:04.120 I appreciate your. 0:13:03.960 --> 0:13:05.880 Time, brother, so I appreciate it. I appreciate you Man. 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:09.200 This episode of Next Man Up is brought to you 0:13:09.240 --> 0:13:13.120 by Cantlope, Proud Kiosk partner of the Washington Commanders. 0:13:13.160 --> 0:13:14.800 We know you hate waiting in lines. We know you 0:13:14.840 --> 0:13:15.439 do not want to. 0:13:15.360 --> 0:13:18.120 Miss any game action, so we have something for you. 0:13:18.120 --> 0:13:20.520 Go to the club level at Northwest Stadium and find 0:13:20.520 --> 0:13:24.120 one of these self served Cantalope Kiosk and place your order. 0:13:24.200 --> 0:13:26.480 Then head back to your seat. You won't miss any 0:13:26.559 --> 0:13:27.040 of the action. 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:29.640 You will get your food delivered to you so you 0:13:29.679 --> 0:13:33.400 can enjoy watching your Washington Commanders. Cantlope is the Proud 0:13:33.480 --> 0:13:37.040 Kiosk sponsor of the Washington Commanders, making your game days 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:41.079 even more convinced, Next Commanded standing for our Next Man 0:13:41.120 --> 0:13:44.240 that we have somebody very very special drafted in the 0:13:44.320 --> 0:13:47.120 second round as a tight end, went to USC at 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:51.040 Cali Boyd. We got drafted by the Washington Redskins, and 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:53.280 now he's back to show love and talk about his 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:56.199 memories welcoming a tight end Fred Davis for how you doing? 0:13:56.240 --> 0:13:56.480 Brother? 0:13:57.320 --> 0:13:59.120 Good? Good? How you doing? Thank you for having me 0:13:59.160 --> 0:13:59.520 on man. 0:13:59.559 --> 0:14:02.240 Appreciate oh man, you know I always appreciate you all time, 0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:04.960 and it's always great to have, you know, ex Redskins 0:14:05.000 --> 0:14:06.920 come back and talk about the glory days. 0:14:06.960 --> 0:14:07.080 Man. 0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:08.640 So let's let's start from the beginning. Like I said, 0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:09.720 you was a U, a sea cat. 0:14:09.840 --> 0:14:12.440 You bought out so much out there, you got drafted 0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:14.360 in the second round. And back then tight ends weren't 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:17.160 really getting drafted super high was very rare. So getting 0:14:17.200 --> 0:14:19.840 drafted in that second round. Let's go back there, Man, 0:14:20.320 --> 0:14:21.800 what was going through your head? Did you know you 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:23.800 would be drafted so high? Did you know you were 0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:24.560 going to be a Reskin? 0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:27.040 Man? I had no idea. 0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:29.280 And you know what's so funny about that is like 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:32.120 when you're in that process, I mean I didn't know 0:14:32.200 --> 0:14:35.320 that teams take you for visits, other teams take you 0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:37.360 for visits for other teams, and just to play that 0:14:37.480 --> 0:14:38.040 draft game. 0:14:38.120 --> 0:14:38.600 So I got. 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:40.800 I mean, the teams that took me on visits was 0:14:40.840 --> 0:14:45.520 the Saints, the Cowboys, Arizona, and the Jets. So I 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:48.760 had no idea, you know, that I was going to 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:51.560 be drafted to the Redskins. My agent didn't even mention it, 0:14:51.640 --> 0:14:54.480 like even one time. But then again, when I the 0:14:54.520 --> 0:14:57.120 retrospective looking at it, and I know how the draft goes, Now, 0:14:57.720 --> 0:14:59.760 everything is about the best player on the board in 0:14:59.800 --> 0:15:02.320 that moment, So anybody could have a selection of a 0:15:02.400 --> 0:15:04.240 draft pick, but that could change in a matter of 0:15:04.280 --> 0:15:07.080 a moment depending on who's getting drafted before him. So 0:15:07.680 --> 0:15:09.760 I learned that later, like, but then at that moment, no, 0:15:09.840 --> 0:15:12.120 I had no clue. I was coming off of a 0:15:12.200 --> 0:15:16.640 season with the Trojans with Pete Carroll where we had 0:15:16.640 --> 0:15:19.440 already came off of a couple of national championships. We 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:22.920 lost that one to Texas, and then we went to 0:15:22.920 --> 0:15:24.480 the Rose Bowl and we beat Illinois. 0:15:24.520 --> 0:15:26.440 So that was my last game, and after that it was. 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:29.560 Just straight training and getting ready and getting ready for 0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:32.160 the Combine and also like the players meetings and all 0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:35.040 that kind of stuff. So when I went to the 0:15:35.160 --> 0:15:39.359 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, I never met with the Redskins, 0:15:39.400 --> 0:15:42.080 I think even once, So it was definitely a shot 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:43.040 for me. 0:15:43.640 --> 0:15:45.440 I knew that I had a feeling that I. 0:15:45.440 --> 0:15:48.160 Was gonna be one of the players the top two 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:50.680 or three tight ends taken because of I mean, I 0:15:50.720 --> 0:15:52.040 won the Macie Award that year. 0:15:52.320 --> 0:15:54.840 We had a good season, My stats were pretty good, so. 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:56.920 I knew that I was probably I knew I thought 0:15:56.920 --> 0:15:58.280 I had a chance of getting in the end of 0:15:58.320 --> 0:16:00.800 the first round. But you know, coming out, you know, 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:02.960 I think they thought a lot of guys from college. 0:16:03.040 --> 0:16:04.520 I mean, they've drafted a lot of guys in the 0:16:04.520 --> 0:16:06.600 past from the USC, but a lot of the stigmatism 0:16:06.640 --> 0:16:08.400 about us is that were Hollywood and that we like 0:16:08.440 --> 0:16:11.000 to party and all that stuff, which in LA you 0:16:11.000 --> 0:16:12.440 have the option to do a lot of things, you know, 0:16:12.480 --> 0:16:14.160 I mean, it's LA, It's Los Angeles. 0:16:14.160 --> 0:16:17.440 But I feel like with the day of the draft, man, 0:16:17.680 --> 0:16:19.440 I didn't want to go to New York because I 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:20.400 was like, if I'm not going to. 0:16:20.400 --> 0:16:21.960 Get drafted first, I don't want to be sitting there 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:24.240 looking crazy because you've seen those stories. 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:26.120 Of guys just sitting there in the came room and like, man, 0:16:26.160 --> 0:16:29.040 what you doing here? Still? So I just decided to 0:16:29.040 --> 0:16:30.320 be at home with my family. 0:16:30.400 --> 0:16:33.600 We had about one hundred people at my people's house 0:16:34.040 --> 0:16:36.800 and we watched the draft. And whenever you're watching the draft, 0:16:37.080 --> 0:16:39.080 once they get through the first round, it's like, man, 0:16:39.120 --> 0:16:41.840 you don't know when you're gonna get picked, and everybody's 0:16:41.880 --> 0:16:44.120 looking at you, like, man, what's gonna happen. So I 0:16:44.160 --> 0:16:46.440 think when I got that phone call from at the time, 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:49.000 Jim Zorn was a coach head coach and he was here. 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:50.920 I had him for a couple of years. He called 0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:53.920 me and at the forty eight pick I seen I 0:16:54.000 --> 0:16:54.800 went across the TV. 0:16:54.880 --> 0:16:56.240 I was like, oh, man, I was just happy to 0:16:56.280 --> 0:16:57.840 be off the board man at some point, you know. 0:16:57.880 --> 0:16:59.240 I mean, even though it was still kind of early, 0:16:59.400 --> 0:17:01.600 I was a forty eight pick, and then to see 0:17:01.640 --> 0:17:03.680 that my other we got two other picks in that 0:17:03.760 --> 0:17:04.960 second round, and we picked the. 0:17:06.480 --> 0:17:08.280 Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. 0:17:08.440 --> 0:17:11.240 So we picked three third round, I mean, three second 0:17:11.280 --> 0:17:13.160 round picks that day, so it was different. 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.040 We normally don't get that many picks in the second round, 0:17:15.080 --> 0:17:16.719 so it was kind of It's kind of a special 0:17:16.720 --> 0:17:17.520 moment for sure. 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:20.720 And you talk about knowing that you were going to 0:17:20.760 --> 0:17:25.480 be drafted. Right, that takes a moment. Right, it's either 0:17:25.840 --> 0:17:27.520 that year when you were playing and you would see 0:17:27.520 --> 0:17:30.360 that final year, or it's maybe even before then. When 0:17:30.359 --> 0:17:33.000 did you know that you were actually going to make 0:17:33.000 --> 0:17:35.359 it into the NFL and be able to fulfill that dream, 0:17:35.440 --> 0:17:37.919 because I'm sure it happened way before you actually got drafted. 0:17:38.440 --> 0:17:40.919 Yeah, I mean, I think every kid when they leave 0:17:41.000 --> 0:17:43.359 high school, they think, I'm going to the NFL. But 0:17:43.600 --> 0:17:47.040 I think, Mama, where I really knew because you when 0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:49.080 you play on a team like USC or University of 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:52.680 Miami or Alabama, you're going against five star guys every 0:17:52.720 --> 0:17:55.680 day in practice and you're seeing like even your backup 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:57.240 could be a starter somewhere else. 0:17:57.960 --> 0:18:00.080 So the competition level, I just. 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.400 Knew, like, Okay, I mean, we got all these first rounds, 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:04.680 Reggie Bush winning the Heisman. We had like two three 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:07.359 Heisman winners in that five year span, you know what 0:18:07.400 --> 0:18:09.440 I mean. So I just knew I was around the 0:18:09.520 --> 0:18:11.840 right talent and at the time, you know, we're not 0:18:11.920 --> 0:18:12.320 doing that. 0:18:12.280 --> 0:18:14.960 Well right now, but we'll be back. The Trojans we 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:17.560 was like top five team every year, you know that year. 0:18:17.680 --> 0:18:19.520 So for me, I just knew, like I'm in the 0:18:19.560 --> 0:18:22.440 right position to be on the right platform, and then 0:18:22.840 --> 0:18:25.040 also to have these great coaches around me and these 0:18:25.040 --> 0:18:27.879 other great teammates, you know, like the Klay Matthews and 0:18:27.960 --> 0:18:32.679 Dwayne Jerris, Steve Smith, Reggie Bush, Lyndale White's I can 0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:35.199 go on man, Keith River. We had a squad of 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:37.359 guys that went in that first and second round, like 0:18:37.440 --> 0:18:39.920 almost twenty two guys in the last two years. 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:41.800 So I just knew I was in the right position. 0:18:41.840 --> 0:18:44.359 And if I can beat these guys every day, you know, 0:18:44.880 --> 0:18:47.480 you know, winning mar one on ones and play well, 0:18:47.560 --> 0:18:49.119 I just knew, like, okay, I can make it. But 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:53.000 then to answer your question, I would say my sophomore year, 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:55.480 I was seeing that, you know, we don't really use 0:18:55.520 --> 0:18:56.960 a lot of tight end play a lot, you know 0:18:56.960 --> 0:18:57.199 what I mean. 0:18:57.240 --> 0:18:59.359 We're more of a receiver and running back school. The 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:01.720 tight end get love, but he doesn't get that much love. 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:04.760 So I kind of figured, like after I had a 0:19:04.760 --> 0:19:07.399 good game my sophomore year, like, Okay, I mean, I 0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:09.120 know I'm not going to get that many balls because 0:19:09.160 --> 0:19:10.720 we have a lot of receivers. 0:19:10.280 --> 0:19:11.919 Seeing a lot of running, a lot of running game. 0:19:11.960 --> 0:19:14.120 We're gonna use but if I get four or five 0:19:14.160 --> 0:19:16.359 balls a game in this in this in this system, 0:19:16.400 --> 0:19:17.920 in this program, oh, I know I can make it 0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:18.280 for sure. 0:19:18.760 --> 0:19:19.280 And then my. 0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:22.000 Junior year, and of course, and then my senior year 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:24.280 when I want the MAC you word, I definitely knew, like, okay, well, 0:19:24.280 --> 0:19:26.320 they already labeled me the best tight end in the country, 0:19:26.400 --> 0:19:29.399 so and there's never been one at USC and I 0:19:29.400 --> 0:19:31.960 felt pretty special about that and it still hasn't been one. 0:19:32.040 --> 0:19:33.680 So I feel good about that. And I was like, yeah, 0:19:33.680 --> 0:19:35.280 I'm definitely can I'm definitely gonna make it. 0:19:35.280 --> 0:19:37.560 And then after going to the combine and seeing the 0:19:37.560 --> 0:19:39.320 other guys that I had to be in competition with, 0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:40.919 not saying that I thought I was better, but I 0:19:41.040 --> 0:19:45.919 just like, I think I'm better. So I just I 0:19:46.000 --> 0:19:48.480 just knew, like if anything, you know, a lot of 0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:50.600 off the field stuff can kind of get guys in trouble. 0:19:50.720 --> 0:19:52.879 I never got in trouble in college, you know what 0:19:52.880 --> 0:19:53.119 I mean. 0:19:53.160 --> 0:19:55.040 I never felt no drug test, but still you can 0:19:55.080 --> 0:19:58.160 get labeled as a party year or someone that goes out, 0:19:58.359 --> 0:20:01.199 and I feel like, you know, that's the only thing 0:20:01.320 --> 0:20:04.760 that would probably make me go later, is like stuff 0:20:04.760 --> 0:20:07.200 like that, you know, and you. 0:20:07.160 --> 0:20:09.119 Talk about all these things you were able to accomplish 0:20:09.119 --> 0:20:11.280 that you would see. But then again, you're following in 0:20:11.320 --> 0:20:13.800 the footsteps of a ton of dogs. You named a 0:20:13.840 --> 0:20:16.160 bunch of them, and now you're coming to the Redskins 0:20:16.160 --> 0:20:17.960 where you're a second round pick. There's a lot of 0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:19.800 pressure that comes with being that high have a pick, 0:20:20.080 --> 0:20:22.639 especially for a tight end, especially the best tight end 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:24.880 in the nation. Right you already have all these designations 0:20:25.160 --> 0:20:27.560 in the moment. Did you feel that pressure coming here? 0:20:29.280 --> 0:20:31.520 I didn't. I didn't really realize, you know. I mean 0:20:31.560 --> 0:20:32.600 there's a lot of pressure for. 0:20:32.560 --> 0:20:34.240 A third or fourth round pick, you know what I mean, 0:20:34.359 --> 0:20:36.919 first and second or like that's like they go they 0:20:36.920 --> 0:20:39.520 go inside together, like they have expectations of you in 0:20:39.560 --> 0:20:43.119 that first year, maybe to have some progression or do 0:20:43.200 --> 0:20:45.520 something for the team those first year, definitely the second year. 0:20:46.160 --> 0:20:48.920 So for me, I didn't understand that, like the okay, 0:20:48.960 --> 0:20:51.760 they really because this is another thing. When I got drafted, 0:20:51.840 --> 0:20:53.679 I was just like, Okay, what tight ends do we have? 0:20:53.960 --> 0:20:56.679 And I knew Chris Cooley was. I never really watched 0:20:56.680 --> 0:20:58.159 his game, watch this game because I was on the 0:20:58.200 --> 0:21:01.119 West coast more, but I knew who Chris Cooley was, 0:21:01.160 --> 0:21:02.920 and I knew that he was like a pro bowler, 0:21:03.040 --> 0:21:05.240 a tight end, a great tight end. So at first 0:21:05.320 --> 0:21:06.600 I was like, yeah, no, it'd be great to be 0:21:06.600 --> 0:21:08.040 able to learn for something like that. But I just 0:21:08.119 --> 0:21:09.879 was hoping, like, how are they gonna how are we 0:21:09.920 --> 0:21:10.360 gonna play? 0:21:10.480 --> 0:21:10.520 Like? 0:21:10.560 --> 0:21:12.240 Are we gonna play two tight end sets? Are we 0:21:12.280 --> 0:21:15.320 gonna change the formations up? Are we going to like 0:21:15.359 --> 0:21:15.960 share time? 0:21:16.000 --> 0:21:17.320 You know what I mean? I mean it is his 0:21:17.400 --> 0:21:18.479 show still, you know what I mean? 0:21:18.480 --> 0:21:20.760 Because I think of it as like a hierarchy, right, 0:21:20.760 --> 0:21:22.400 because if he's getting paid, he just got a deal 0:21:22.440 --> 0:21:24.160 I think around like a couple of years before that 0:21:25.359 --> 0:21:27.520 for like like thirty or forty million dollars or something 0:21:27.600 --> 0:21:29.600 like that. So I didn't understand it. I just was 0:21:29.640 --> 0:21:31.680 wondering at first, why did they pick me? But then 0:21:31.720 --> 0:21:34.040 I you know, you never know what coaches are thinking 0:21:34.119 --> 0:21:36.560 or what they're gonna use in packages, So I felt 0:21:36.600 --> 0:21:38.679 like maybe they had some cool packages for me and 0:21:38.760 --> 0:21:41.480 Chris to like like playing and be able to play together, 0:21:41.520 --> 0:21:43.639 because I felt like if me and him played together, 0:21:43.720 --> 0:21:45.840 I think we would have definitely been one of the 0:21:45.840 --> 0:21:47.000 best duos for sure. 0:21:47.400 --> 0:21:50.119 What was it like coming into the building when you 0:21:50.119 --> 0:21:51.960 said you have a guy like Chris Cooley there, Like, 0:21:52.000 --> 0:21:54.000 what was that initial thing like like when you come 0:21:54.440 --> 0:21:56.080 you're not you don't know nothing about the DMV, right, 0:21:56.080 --> 0:21:58.120 you're coming here for the first time, but now you're 0:21:58.160 --> 0:22:01.520 also coming in knowing your behind almost in the shadow 0:22:01.720 --> 0:22:04.159 of a tight end that is beloved by the entire team. 0:22:04.440 --> 0:22:06.760 What was that like, what was your guy's relationship, Like, 0:22:06.800 --> 0:22:08.639 what was it like, you know, coming in as a 0:22:08.720 --> 0:22:09.160 rookie year. 0:22:10.520 --> 0:22:12.680 Yeah, it was interesting, man, because just like you said, 0:22:12.800 --> 0:22:14.800 just get into this area and then when you go 0:22:14.880 --> 0:22:17.560 to Ashburn, you don't realize, oh, that's not DC, you 0:22:17.560 --> 0:22:21.199 know what I mean exactly, it's not DC. But no, 0:22:21.760 --> 0:22:23.720 that was different first because you know, he's coming from 0:22:23.840 --> 0:22:25.960 LA and you're living in Landing Down, so it's like 0:22:26.000 --> 0:22:29.919 a big difference. But other than that, coming in, Chris 0:22:30.000 --> 0:22:31.639 was a great guy. You know, he was smart. Like 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:34.119 one thing I've learned about him was like, you know, 0:22:34.119 --> 0:22:37.119 he would help me for sure. He wasn't one of 0:22:37.160 --> 0:22:38.720 those guys to try to, you know, tell you the 0:22:38.760 --> 0:22:40.800 wrong play or you know, if he wasn't gonna help you, 0:22:40.800 --> 0:22:43.240 he wouldn't say nothing at all, which I respected, you know, 0:22:43.280 --> 0:22:45.320 because you want you to do it yourself and learn yourself, 0:22:45.320 --> 0:22:46.920 because a lot of guys get a guy that would 0:22:46.920 --> 0:22:48.520 tell him the wrong shit and have him fuck up 0:22:48.520 --> 0:22:50.600 on purpose because he's a rookie, or you feel like 0:22:50.640 --> 0:22:52.320 he's coming in here to take your position. You know 0:22:52.320 --> 0:22:54.200 what I mean, Because when you get draft a guy, 0:22:54.280 --> 0:22:56.520 draft a guy second round when you probably had other 0:22:56.600 --> 0:22:57.280 needs that year. 0:22:57.760 --> 0:22:59.640 You know what I mean, it's either two things. 0:22:59.640 --> 0:23:02.159 You either trying to replace somebody or trying to trade somebody, 0:23:02.240 --> 0:23:04.040 or it could be a lot of different business position, 0:23:04.920 --> 0:23:07.960 business things that could be going through the team's mind 0:23:07.960 --> 0:23:09.800 at that moment. For me, I just was like, I'm 0:23:09.840 --> 0:23:11.080 just gonna keep my head down and just try to 0:23:11.119 --> 0:23:13.520 be the best I can be, and Chris would help 0:23:13.520 --> 0:23:15.199 me a lot, you know, just watching him, man, he 0:23:15.280 --> 0:23:18.159 was just a smart guy. He knew everybody's position, not 0:23:18.200 --> 0:23:20.280 only the tight end position. He knew what every receiver 0:23:20.400 --> 0:23:22.280 had to do, what the backs had to do. And 0:23:22.359 --> 0:23:24.359 being around a guy like that, most guys just know 0:23:24.480 --> 0:23:26.400 their position and maybe one other position. 0:23:26.800 --> 0:23:28.240 Chris was like a quarterback out. 0:23:28.080 --> 0:23:30.359 There and he knew where to be at all times, 0:23:30.400 --> 0:23:33.160 everywhere to be, and learning that from him was really important, 0:23:33.160 --> 0:23:35.640 and then also learning technique on being a smaller tight 0:23:35.720 --> 0:23:37.639 end that has to block these guys, you know, like 0:23:37.640 --> 0:23:39.920 the d Wears two times a year and these other 0:23:39.960 --> 0:23:42.199 big d ns that are pretty they're pretty big guys, 0:23:42.400 --> 0:23:44.440 so technique would be everything. And I think I learned 0:23:44.480 --> 0:23:46.160 a lot, to be honest with you, a lot about 0:23:46.160 --> 0:23:48.440 blocking from him, because I think I became a pretty 0:23:48.440 --> 0:23:51.720 good blocker at one point for the Redskin because of Chris. 0:23:51.760 --> 0:23:53.879 To be honest, you know, I already had the receiving 0:23:53.960 --> 0:23:56.240 skills down, but the footwork of blocking and being able 0:23:56.240 --> 0:23:57.840 to stay on the guy to get the back through 0:23:57.840 --> 0:23:59.440 the hole and not put your butt in a hole, 0:23:59.480 --> 0:24:01.680 and a lot of from other techniques I definitely learned 0:24:01.680 --> 0:24:02.040 from him. 0:24:02.640 --> 0:24:04.520 And what a guy to learn from when you think 0:24:04.560 --> 0:24:06.320 about being a rookie, Like we have a rookie in 0:24:06.359 --> 0:24:08.320 Ben Sinon right now who's learning from a guy like 0:24:08.440 --> 0:24:10.439 Zach Ertz. So when you think about your rookie year, 0:24:10.520 --> 0:24:12.399 you think about the game Chris Cooley was giving you. 0:24:12.560 --> 0:24:14.160 What is one piece of advice. 0:24:13.840 --> 0:24:16.200 He gave you that you would give to a fellow 0:24:16.280 --> 0:24:17.640 rookie tight end or a younger guy. 0:24:20.000 --> 0:24:23.000 Well, he knew that, you know, every player is anxious 0:24:23.040 --> 0:24:23.359 to play. 0:24:23.400 --> 0:24:24.720 Man, you know what I'm saying, You want to get 0:24:24.720 --> 0:24:26.520 out there, you want to contribute because you got here 0:24:26.520 --> 0:24:28.760 for a reason. He's just saying being patient, you know 0:24:28.760 --> 0:24:30.520 what I mean. Basically just being patient and let the 0:24:30.560 --> 0:24:32.680 game come to you. I think letting the game come 0:24:32.720 --> 0:24:35.240 to you and not getting frustrated. I think it's the 0:24:35.240 --> 0:24:37.680 best advice you can give somebody, because sometimes you try 0:24:37.720 --> 0:24:39.680 to force the game to come out, you know what 0:24:39.680 --> 0:24:41.280 I mean, instead of just letting it come to you 0:24:41.560 --> 0:24:43.879 and just making the plays that you can make. Because 0:24:43.920 --> 0:24:46.440 one thing about office of coordinator, if you're making plays, 0:24:46.440 --> 0:24:47.560 they're going to continue. 0:24:47.240 --> 0:24:49.600 To get you that in that position, or they'll try 0:24:49.640 --> 0:24:50.160 to make ways. 0:24:50.160 --> 0:24:52.000 If a good office coordinator will try to make ways 0:24:52.040 --> 0:24:53.840 so that you touch the ball, you know what I mean. 0:24:53.920 --> 0:24:56.679 So I think that's very simple, just you know, just 0:24:56.800 --> 0:24:59.399 letting the game come to you and actually study in 0:24:59.440 --> 0:25:00.280 film because. 0:25:00.000 --> 0:25:02.080 A lot of guys, you know, when you come from college. 0:25:01.760 --> 0:25:04.560 You study film, but you know, at the quarterback position, 0:25:04.600 --> 0:25:06.520 but the tightening position, you study film, but you don't 0:25:06.560 --> 0:25:08.919 have that much to study when you're like separate like 0:25:08.960 --> 0:25:12.359 fronts and maybe in some coverages, but you can easily 0:25:12.359 --> 0:25:14.080 get away with not studying and still being able to 0:25:14.080 --> 0:25:16.240 play a good football game at tight end. I think 0:25:16.359 --> 0:25:19.600 him he made me realize how important knowing what opponent 0:25:19.640 --> 0:25:22.240 you're going against each week, you know, the different variables 0:25:22.240 --> 0:25:24.040 they can bring because every player is different. You know, 0:25:24.080 --> 0:25:26.200 you might got a guy that is a speed, quick guy, 0:25:26.240 --> 0:25:28.000 you might got a guy that's a power rush guy. 0:25:28.320 --> 0:25:30.560 You know, just the different nuances of the players that 0:25:30.600 --> 0:25:33.200 you can probably go against. I think the studying really 0:25:33.440 --> 0:25:35.760 is the film rooms. That's one of the major ones 0:25:35.800 --> 0:25:39.480 that I feel. I definitely he really put implemented in 0:25:39.520 --> 0:25:41.320 me because I watched how much he knew, you know, 0:25:41.400 --> 0:25:44.120 he could he could see something before the coach see 0:25:44.160 --> 0:25:45.440 it and then go to the coach and be like, hey, 0:25:45.480 --> 0:25:47.199 I'm seeing this look right now. This is what I 0:25:47.200 --> 0:25:48.960 see on the field and stuff like that. Being able 0:25:49.000 --> 0:25:51.200 to do that helps a lot, makes the game easier, 0:25:51.280 --> 0:25:53.119 makes it slower when it's already fast. 0:25:54.000 --> 0:25:55.600 And it didn't take long for you to get comfortable. 0:25:55.600 --> 0:25:57.680 Because I believe in like twenty eleven, you had your 0:25:57.680 --> 0:25:59.720 best year of your career. Of course you were with 0:25:59.760 --> 0:26:02.280 the I believe you got Offensive Player of the Year 0:26:02.280 --> 0:26:04.760 for the Redskins that year too. It's very interesting year 0:26:04.800 --> 0:26:07.399 because you had your trials and tribulations, but then you 0:26:07.480 --> 0:26:10.720 still balled out. You still got that recognition at the end, 0:26:10.760 --> 0:26:13.320 Man talk about that twenty eleven season and what you 0:26:13.400 --> 0:26:15.480 remember from that and what that was like being such 0:26:15.480 --> 0:26:17.960 an integral part of this offense, and so. 0:26:17.960 --> 0:26:21.199 To say you's something else like before that happened, like 0:26:22.200 --> 0:26:24.120 the two thousand and eight season, they didn't know how 0:26:24.119 --> 0:26:25.960 to use both of us, right, And that's one of 0:26:26.000 --> 0:26:27.760 the things that I was worried about, and that kind 0:26:27.760 --> 0:26:29.240 of got me frustrated, right. 0:26:29.680 --> 0:26:31.359 I was really frustrated. 0:26:30.800 --> 0:26:32.880 Because I was like, I know I can play right now, 0:26:32.920 --> 0:26:35.040 I'm doing it in practice. I'm like literally killing our 0:26:35.080 --> 0:26:36.680 first team every day in practice. 0:26:37.200 --> 0:26:38.080 Like Cooley would. 0:26:37.880 --> 0:26:39.120 Come to me be like, man, I don't know why 0:26:39.160 --> 0:26:41.720 they're not using us in two tight end sets. But 0:26:41.840 --> 0:26:43.560 you know, at that point, you had a coach like 0:26:43.680 --> 0:26:46.600 Jims Oorn no offense to him. He's never been a 0:26:46.640 --> 0:26:48.679 head coach before, and he was taking on a position 0:26:48.800 --> 0:26:51.720 from being a quarterback coach to office Cordinerd now being 0:26:51.720 --> 0:26:54.080 thrown in the head coaching position with a whole bunch 0:26:54.080 --> 0:26:56.160 of guys were different in that time in our team, 0:26:56.200 --> 0:26:58.200 I felt we had a whole bunch of different personalities. 0:26:58.240 --> 0:26:59.719 There's a lot of different personalities. 0:26:59.840 --> 0:27:02.040 I mean, so that first year, I don't know, I 0:27:02.080 --> 0:27:04.479 probably had like a couple hundred yards nothing crazy. But 0:27:04.520 --> 0:27:07.480 then the second year is when I knew I was 0:27:07.520 --> 0:27:10.000 supposed to be here because in two thousand and nine, 0:27:10.600 --> 0:27:12.600 you know, and this is a story that I tell 0:27:12.640 --> 0:27:14.480 people because it helped me a lot. It'd be a 0:27:14.520 --> 0:27:16.240 guy like this on your team sometimes you need to 0:27:16.280 --> 0:27:18.080 listen to. I was with Chris Samuels and me and 0:27:18.119 --> 0:27:22.040 him became really close. Chris Samuel's office Lineman, ten time 0:27:22.080 --> 0:27:24.680 pro bowler. You know, he just seen me one day 0:27:24.680 --> 0:27:26.399 on the sideline pouting and I think a lot of 0:27:26.440 --> 0:27:29.400 guys do this that are young, right, And I would say, 0:27:29.440 --> 0:27:31.119 like I was just out there pouting, like, man, this 0:27:31.200 --> 0:27:33.720 is bullshit, Like I know, I'm supposed to be in here. 0:27:33.760 --> 0:27:36.720 I'm just catching balls and I don't wish no ill will, 0:27:36.760 --> 0:27:38.920 no nobody get hurt or nothing like that. But that game, 0:27:38.960 --> 0:27:40.840 he just said, man, you know one thing about the NFL. 0:27:40.840 --> 0:27:43.240 You gotta stay ready and be ready. Doing this ain't 0:27:43.240 --> 0:27:45.239 gonna help you. Gotta be ready. And stay ready and man, 0:27:45.280 --> 0:27:46.679 when he said that to me, I was like, you 0:27:46.720 --> 0:27:48.880 know what, You're right, I got to be professional and 0:27:48.920 --> 0:27:51.520 even if I'm not getting what I wanted this moment in. 0:27:51.440 --> 0:27:53.359 A selfish way, I still should be a team player, 0:27:53.400 --> 0:27:53.920 you know what I mean. 0:27:54.160 --> 0:27:56.000 And I think I had a realization moment because the 0:27:56.000 --> 0:27:58.399 older guy was telling me that that I respected and 0:27:58.440 --> 0:28:00.800 then not saying I wanted that. But that next play 0:28:00.840 --> 0:28:04.119 that game, Chris Cooley goes down with a broken foot. Right, 0:28:04.240 --> 0:28:07.080 So that two thousand and nine season, I start the 0:28:07.119 --> 0:28:09.320 whole second half of that season and I put up 0:28:09.359 --> 0:28:12.320 like five touchdowns six hundred yards, five hundred yards or 0:28:12.320 --> 0:28:14.879 something like that. For me, that was my breakout. I mean, 0:28:15.000 --> 0:28:16.639 my biggest year was two thy eleven. But for me, 0:28:16.680 --> 0:28:19.080 that was a breakout for me because no one expected it. 0:28:19.119 --> 0:28:20.960 And then I mean, well they expected it from me, 0:28:21.000 --> 0:28:23.320 but the way the season was going, it didn't look 0:28:23.359 --> 0:28:26.680 like they were coming to They weren't kendlon to where 0:28:26.720 --> 0:28:28.280 they were understanding that me and Chris. 0:28:28.080 --> 0:28:29.359 Can both play at the same position. 0:28:29.480 --> 0:28:31.560 It would cause a lot of defensive issues because you 0:28:31.560 --> 0:28:33.080 don't know if you have to have a safety out there, 0:28:33.080 --> 0:28:34.720 a corner out there, and that could change a game. 0:28:35.359 --> 0:28:37.679 But once that happened to me, that was like a 0:28:37.680 --> 0:28:39.800 realization like, Okay, I'm supposed to be here and I 0:28:39.800 --> 0:28:41.800 can make plays against these guys in the league, and 0:28:42.320 --> 0:28:44.000 I could and I could make plays back to back 0:28:44.040 --> 0:28:45.600 weeks if they give me the opportunity. 0:28:45.800 --> 0:28:47.400 So that was a wake up moment for me to 0:28:47.440 --> 0:28:50.400 be honest. And then, as you know, coach Dorn gets 0:28:50.400 --> 0:28:50.800 fired and. 0:28:50.800 --> 0:28:54.200 We have a whole different regime coming in kach Shanahan. 0:28:54.600 --> 0:28:57.720 And it gets me to twenty eleven because that in. 0:28:57.680 --> 0:29:01.080 That moment, Kochhanahan was I mean, he was cleaning house, 0:29:01.120 --> 0:29:02.760 you know what I mean. It didn't matter if he 0:29:02.840 --> 0:29:05.280 was a second round, third round guy, if you didn't 0:29:05.320 --> 0:29:08.240 perform in practice or you didn't play to his expectations 0:29:08.360 --> 0:29:10.320 or was trying to be that type of player. 0:29:10.720 --> 0:29:11.840 Oh, he was getting rid of you. 0:29:11.840 --> 0:29:14.400 You know, I've seen a couple third rounders go second 0:29:14.480 --> 0:29:16.760 round or go even an older. 0:29:16.520 --> 0:29:19.560 First rounder go. So I just knew, like, Okay, this 0:29:19.600 --> 0:29:20.320 is a new regime. 0:29:20.840 --> 0:29:22.880 They probably don't want to they don't They didn't pick me, 0:29:23.040 --> 0:29:24.120 so they probably don't want me here. 0:29:24.160 --> 0:29:25.880 So I'm gonna have to bust my ass every Day. 0:29:26.320 --> 0:29:28.760 And so that season we got Donna McNabb of course 0:29:28.880 --> 0:29:31.520 from the Eagles, But that season is when I feel 0:29:31.520 --> 0:29:34.680 like we first started having really like real stability as 0:29:34.680 --> 0:29:36.960 a team, where there was structure, where there. 0:29:37.000 --> 0:29:39.440 Was you could feel the structure from Shanahan. 0:29:40.200 --> 0:29:43.000 So coming into that twenty eleven season, I mean, they 0:29:43.040 --> 0:29:45.560 got rid of Donovan and we had a quarterback controversy 0:29:45.600 --> 0:29:47.120 with Beck and Rex Grossman. 0:29:47.480 --> 0:29:47.640 And. 0:29:49.200 --> 0:29:51.000 It was just it was a crazy season, man, because 0:29:51.040 --> 0:29:53.280 that training camp I came down. I came in a 0:29:53.280 --> 0:29:55.680 little bit slimmer, more of a receiver south, you know 0:29:55.680 --> 0:29:57.280 what I mean. I lost probably about five or ten 0:29:57.320 --> 0:30:01.680 pounds that first that training camp. They I think the 0:30:01.720 --> 0:30:03.760 coaches knew, like, oh yeah, he's coming in. This is 0:30:03.800 --> 0:30:07.560 like my third this is like this I'm coming into 0:30:07.560 --> 0:30:10.680 my fourth year rush. So I'm at and now I'm 0:30:10.720 --> 0:30:12.040 at this point in my life where I feel like 0:30:12.080 --> 0:30:12.880 I'm a veteran too. 0:30:12.880 --> 0:30:13.040 Now. 0:30:13.080 --> 0:30:15.120 I feel like most guys don't get past four years. 0:30:15.120 --> 0:30:16.880 So if I'm getting to this point, I got to 0:30:16.920 --> 0:30:19.280 start showing people how I need to be here and 0:30:19.400 --> 0:30:21.320 like why I should be one of the top tight 0:30:21.440 --> 0:30:22.560 ends in this league. 0:30:22.920 --> 0:30:26.440 And I feel I can be. I mean this year, 0:30:26.480 --> 0:30:27.200 they didn't. 0:30:27.360 --> 0:30:29.080 You know, this is the same year they cut Chris 0:30:29.120 --> 0:30:32.600 after halfway through the season, which kind of sucked because 0:30:32.600 --> 0:30:34.920 I did want him to be there in this moment. 0:30:34.680 --> 0:30:36.760 Too, But they, I guess they didn't see it happening. 0:30:37.160 --> 0:30:39.000 And I was making plays that year, man, I was 0:30:39.000 --> 0:30:41.520 making a lot of plays in training camp. And then 0:30:41.560 --> 0:30:43.880 when we still had a quarterback controversy a little bit 0:30:43.880 --> 0:30:47.040 because Rex started half the season, Beck started half the season, 0:30:47.680 --> 0:30:48.360 it was, you. 0:30:48.280 --> 0:30:50.600 Know, you can never get really truly truly comfortable. 0:30:50.600 --> 0:30:53.200 But even though with that or without, I mean, I 0:30:53.200 --> 0:30:54.960 put up pretty good numbers in that year. I put 0:30:55.000 --> 0:30:57.560 up probably like eight hundred yards receiving in like six 0:30:57.640 --> 0:31:00.080 or seven touchdowns, and I like missed four games. 0:31:00.240 --> 0:31:01.600 So to me my. 0:31:01.600 --> 0:31:03.800 Projection, I felt like I could have got like least 0:31:03.800 --> 0:31:06.560 eleven hundred twelve hundred yards receiven that year if the 0:31:06.600 --> 0:31:09.240 situation was right. But like I said, I got suspended 0:31:09.240 --> 0:31:11.840 that year. I was having a coming out party that year. 0:31:12.400 --> 0:31:14.520 It's just happened to be that I made a bad choice, 0:31:14.520 --> 0:31:16.000 you know what I mean. And I like to talk 0:31:16.040 --> 0:31:18.240 about that because I think it's important for people to 0:31:18.240 --> 0:31:19.800 hear it. I think that year is the same year 0:31:19.880 --> 0:31:22.600 me and Trent actually got suspended the last four games, 0:31:22.960 --> 0:31:27.400 you know, for smoking marijuana, which in our young minds, 0:31:27.440 --> 0:31:28.960 you know, we just didn't want. 0:31:28.840 --> 0:31:30.080 To do Tour it All shots. 0:31:30.160 --> 0:31:32.120 We didn't want to be stuck on Perkinset, we didn't 0:31:32.120 --> 0:31:33.400 want to be stuck on Xanax. 0:31:33.720 --> 0:31:34.760 We didn't want to because. 0:31:34.520 --> 0:31:36.240 That's what happens to a lot of guys, right, I mean, 0:31:36.320 --> 0:31:37.840 it happens to a lot of guys, and then when 0:31:37.880 --> 0:31:39.719 you get away from it, the team would say it's 0:31:39.760 --> 0:31:41.800 not my fault. But at the end of the day, 0:31:42.160 --> 0:31:45.320 that guy does become addicted to those drugs, and for me, 0:31:45.440 --> 0:31:46.120 I just felt. 0:31:45.880 --> 0:31:47.800 Like, yeah, marijuana kind of helped me relax. 0:31:47.920 --> 0:31:49.680 And you know, as you see now, they're changing the 0:31:49.720 --> 0:31:51.280 rules in the NFL, you know what I mean, They're 0:31:51.320 --> 0:31:54.200 changed me tremendously because what I did before. You're not 0:31:54.240 --> 0:31:55.960 saying I'm still wrong for doing it, because he's breaking 0:31:55.960 --> 0:31:57.160 the rules, is breaking the rules. 0:31:57.200 --> 0:31:59.280 But what I did before would not even get me suspended, 0:31:59.320 --> 0:31:59.520 you know. 0:32:00.080 --> 0:32:02.080 So it's just the right time, in the wrong in 0:32:02.120 --> 0:32:04.160 the wrong moment, and I feel like that mistake kind 0:32:04.160 --> 0:32:05.560 of fucked this up a lot. 0:32:05.640 --> 0:32:06.200 You know what I mean. 0:32:06.120 --> 0:32:08.920 Definitely me, because I'm coming off a year where I 0:32:08.960 --> 0:32:12.440 could be making life change of money again and I 0:32:12.520 --> 0:32:14.800 made a mistake and I put my team in jeopardy 0:32:14.840 --> 0:32:16.560 and I wasn't there for them, to be honest, like, 0:32:16.760 --> 0:32:18.600 in that year, we could have still come probably won 0:32:18.720 --> 0:32:21.360 some more games, you know what I mean. And I 0:32:21.360 --> 0:32:24.320 feel like in my position at that moment, getting guys 0:32:24.360 --> 0:32:26.440 to trust you, like the Shannonhans and all these other 0:32:26.440 --> 0:32:28.960 people like that, shit goes a long way. And I 0:32:28.960 --> 0:32:30.680 feel like in that moment, I kind of messed up 0:32:30.720 --> 0:32:32.640 a little bit. You know, I messed up a lot, actually, 0:32:34.360 --> 0:32:36.800 but I got to come back and regain their confidence 0:32:36.800 --> 0:32:37.640 and come back for. 0:32:37.640 --> 0:32:39.400 Another two years. So I felt good about that. 0:32:40.440 --> 0:32:42.680 And you're going through, like you said, like you're making 0:32:42.680 --> 0:32:44.640 a name for yourself. You're going through this, and then 0:32:44.680 --> 0:32:47.880 you get this four game suspension. You said it yourself. 0:32:47.880 --> 0:32:49.880 You feel like it's slowed down your stat line. 0:32:50.400 --> 0:32:52.920 Yeah, I mean because I was on track to get like, yeah, 0:32:52.960 --> 0:32:56.840 I was a thousand yards, like eleven hundred yards that. 0:32:56.920 --> 0:32:59.320 Year, easily over one thousand yards that year. You will 0:32:59.440 --> 0:32:59.880 fast that. 0:33:01.400 --> 0:33:04.000 With four games left, I mean, the NFL, you can't 0:33:04.040 --> 0:33:05.640 guess because you never know, you could have a bad week. 0:33:05.840 --> 0:33:07.400 The NFL is any given Sunday. 0:33:07.680 --> 0:33:10.160 But the way I felt that year and how I 0:33:10.240 --> 0:33:11.840 was starting to feel towards the end of that year, 0:33:11.920 --> 0:33:14.800 the confidence I was gaining, Yeah. 0:33:14.680 --> 0:33:17.080 It just made me feel like it's possible for sure. 0:33:17.600 --> 0:33:19.560 And early in this interview you had mentioned it. You said, 0:33:19.600 --> 0:33:24.400 guys quickly get labeled. He's a partier, Oh, he's a poethead, 0:33:24.440 --> 0:33:27.080 lay off the weed, and things like that, especially back 0:33:27.120 --> 0:33:30.240 then because it was so different after that first incident, 0:33:30.560 --> 0:33:34.080 Do you feel like you were labeled something like after 0:33:34.160 --> 0:33:36.480 you got into that trouble, do you feel you were 0:33:36.480 --> 0:33:38.640 ever ever going to be able to shake that label 0:33:38.840 --> 0:33:41.040 of a guy that maybe couldn't be relied on or 0:33:41.040 --> 0:33:44.560 a guy that maybe was being irresponsible or breaking the rules. 0:33:45.680 --> 0:33:50.040 Yeah, I did feel like to shake it, you know, 0:33:50.560 --> 0:33:54.480 because the Redskins still wanted the franchise tag me after that, 0:33:54.840 --> 0:33:57.480 so I knew, like, Okay, they see my value. I 0:33:57.520 --> 0:34:00.200 was putting up top five numbers that year, and that 0:34:00.200 --> 0:34:01.640 can kind of feed into your egle too, because you 0:34:01.640 --> 0:34:04.880 don't really sit back and know, like, hey, you don't 0:34:04.880 --> 0:34:06.680 really get too many chances with these people to make 0:34:06.720 --> 0:34:09.440 them trust you, and you gotta have not only that 0:34:09.440 --> 0:34:10.879 if I'm gonna be a top player on my team, 0:34:10.960 --> 0:34:12.960 my teammate should be trusting me too. 0:34:13.560 --> 0:34:13.960 Now, you know. 0:34:14.040 --> 0:34:16.000 And do I feel like there was a label? Of course, 0:34:16.040 --> 0:34:17.640 I think I had a label before that, you know 0:34:17.680 --> 0:34:19.839 what I mean. But that just helped this little fight 0:34:19.920 --> 0:34:20.319 even more. 0:34:20.360 --> 0:34:20.839 You know what I mean. 0:34:21.239 --> 0:34:23.240 He's a younger guy in the league, but he's making 0:34:23.480 --> 0:34:25.280 dumb mistakes, you know what I mean at this point, 0:34:25.360 --> 0:34:26.480 you know what I mean, he should be making He 0:34:26.480 --> 0:34:28.000 shouldn't be making those type of mistakes, you know what 0:34:28.000 --> 0:34:30.919 I mean, those type of choices or decisions. Now when 0:34:31.040 --> 0:34:34.680 you look after the next year, I mean, yeah, I 0:34:34.680 --> 0:34:36.919 mean they probably would have. I probably could have put 0:34:36.920 --> 0:34:38.880 myself on the market. But if I didn't get suspended, 0:34:38.920 --> 0:34:40.719 but I'm still the rest can still have the rights 0:34:40.719 --> 0:34:43.879 to me. So they offered me a franchise deal, and 0:34:43.960 --> 0:34:46.080 of course that's like, well, okay, you're getting top five 0:34:46.080 --> 0:34:47.920 money for one year, but that means that means that's 0:34:47.920 --> 0:34:48.480 a proven deal. 0:34:48.560 --> 0:34:50.440 That means I don't really trust you really, and that. 0:34:50.480 --> 0:34:52.279 Just shows you, like you know what I'm talking about, 0:34:52.280 --> 0:34:54.600 Like you can't get label because now it's like, okay, 0:34:54.600 --> 0:34:56.840 well show me differently and I'll give you what you 0:34:57.000 --> 0:34:58.480 think you want, and then we want to see and 0:34:58.560 --> 0:35:00.680 everything is going to the eyeballs. Be on your course 0:35:00.719 --> 0:35:02.399 because you're an investment. And at the end of the day, 0:35:02.680 --> 0:35:04.080 they don't want to make the wrong choice. And you 0:35:04.120 --> 0:35:05.480 know what I mean, because you get stuck in these 0:35:05.520 --> 0:35:07.719 deals with these guys. Back then, guys weren't doing three 0:35:07.800 --> 0:35:09.680 year deals. You know, if they were doing that now, 0:35:09.800 --> 0:35:11.719 it'd be different, you know what I mean they doing. 0:35:11.840 --> 0:35:14.160 They was doing five year deals, six year deals, you know, 0:35:14.200 --> 0:35:16.560 stuff like that. So the game has changed where now 0:35:16.719 --> 0:35:18.839 a guy you can get them for two or three 0:35:18.880 --> 0:35:20.719 years and then just like, you know what, this wasn't 0:35:20.760 --> 0:35:21.360 the right decision. 0:35:21.400 --> 0:35:23.480 I don't have to stay with this decision. I can 0:35:23.520 --> 0:35:24.560 move on from this decision. 0:35:25.000 --> 0:35:26.720 But the guy might make a little bit more money, 0:35:26.719 --> 0:35:28.960 but still I don't have to stay attached to this person. 0:35:29.760 --> 0:35:32.319 So that year, I think I had Drew Rosenhouse at 0:35:32.320 --> 0:35:33.600 the time, I was in Miami training. 0:35:33.680 --> 0:35:34.879 I was like, you know what, I'm just gonna come 0:35:34.880 --> 0:35:35.799 back train hard as hell. 0:35:35.800 --> 0:35:38.239 I'm gonna you know, you gotta get tested every like 0:35:38.320 --> 0:35:40.960 every like almost every two to three weeks that you 0:35:40.960 --> 0:35:42.600 got to do at the drop of a dime. If 0:35:42.600 --> 0:35:44.319 you're not there in three hours, that would come as 0:35:44.320 --> 0:35:47.040 a suspension, even if I wasn't stuck in traffic. So 0:35:47.120 --> 0:35:49.359 you do have to do things to make yourself seem 0:35:49.400 --> 0:35:51.600 responsible to the league and to your team. So it's 0:35:51.600 --> 0:35:53.640 not like you just get to chill and hang out. No, 0:35:53.800 --> 0:35:55.800 you get tested every you gotta go. You gotta go 0:35:55.880 --> 0:35:58.440 to a therapist every week, you know what I mean. 0:35:58.480 --> 0:36:00.920 So it's things that steps you got to take, and 0:36:00.960 --> 0:36:02.560 you got to continue to do that until you're out 0:36:02.600 --> 0:36:04.640 of the program, which will be a year and a 0:36:04.680 --> 0:36:06.120 half for me at that point. 0:36:06.320 --> 0:36:08.279 So I to ask you a question, Yeah, I knew 0:36:08.320 --> 0:36:08.680 I could. 0:36:08.600 --> 0:36:10.919 Check that situation because I just knew like my team 0:36:11.000 --> 0:36:13.600 value me, you know, talking to the coaches and to 0:36:13.640 --> 0:36:15.920 Bruce Allen at the time. He was telling me like, 0:36:16.120 --> 0:36:18.480 you know, this is a bad choice you made. You 0:36:18.480 --> 0:36:19.880 were one of my favorites. I have a lot of 0:36:19.880 --> 0:36:22.399 hope in you. So that kind of gave me clarity too, 0:36:22.920 --> 0:36:24.440 you know, when you got your head coaches and your 0:36:24.480 --> 0:36:25.200 GM talking to. 0:36:25.160 --> 0:36:25.560 You like that. 0:36:25.760 --> 0:36:27.719 So I knew I could do it, but it just 0:36:27.760 --> 0:36:29.440 it was just really come up to me to come 0:36:29.480 --> 0:36:29.920 down to me. 0:36:30.719 --> 0:36:33.760 And you had a few trials and tribulations in your career, 0:36:34.120 --> 0:36:37.000 you have an achilles injury, you have all of these 0:36:37.040 --> 0:36:40.560 things take place while again you are showing the world 0:36:40.680 --> 0:36:43.279 how how capable you are, how great you are. Do 0:36:43.320 --> 0:36:46.719 you feel that NFL fans at the league that the 0:36:46.760 --> 0:36:49.840 world got to really see how special Fred Davis the 0:36:49.920 --> 0:36:50.759 NFL player was. 0:36:52.360 --> 0:36:53.040 No, I don't think. 0:36:53.360 --> 0:36:55.920 I think I think they seen like pieces of it, 0:36:56.000 --> 0:36:58.080 you know what I mean, Because it all comes down 0:36:58.160 --> 0:37:00.400 to a lot too, you know, I mean even that year, right, 0:37:00.440 --> 0:37:03.319 I tear my achilles. That following year, I mean, in 0:37:03.360 --> 0:37:05.439 those first four games, I got three hundred and fifty 0:37:05.480 --> 0:37:07.520 nine yards. I'm on track now to do that again, 0:37:07.560 --> 0:37:08.680 you know what I mean. It's like you about to 0:37:08.719 --> 0:37:10.840 do the same thing over again. It's like from the 0:37:10.840 --> 0:37:12.399 way we were playing and the way that I felt 0:37:12.400 --> 0:37:15.200 they were trusting me with the offense, and that Giants game, 0:37:15.239 --> 0:37:17.200 I already had about three hundred and fifty nine yards. 0:37:17.200 --> 0:37:20.120 It's only game four. I'm the leading receiver on our team. 0:37:20.160 --> 0:37:22.200 And we got some greats on our team. We got Pierre, 0:37:22.239 --> 0:37:25.200 we got Santana, you know what I mean, And I 0:37:25.280 --> 0:37:27.200 just felt like, man on this path. 0:37:27.239 --> 0:37:27.479 Boy. 0:37:28.360 --> 0:37:30.239 Even if I didn't get that thousand before, I put 0:37:30.320 --> 0:37:31.920 up eight, and then if I put up a thousand 0:37:31.960 --> 0:37:33.640 this year, that's that's that's putting in a couple of 0:37:33.680 --> 0:37:36.120 years back to back. That's pretty you know, top five 0:37:36.200 --> 0:37:38.319 in the in the league at that moment. But that 0:37:38.400 --> 0:37:40.440 kind of that set me back, man, really really bad, 0:37:40.480 --> 0:37:42.360 you know, because I didn't expect that. You know, you 0:37:42.440 --> 0:37:44.759 never do expect that. Again, I didn't even I didn't 0:37:44.760 --> 0:37:46.480 even know I tore my killies until I went in 0:37:46.480 --> 0:37:48.760 the back. I mean, it just feels like somebody kicked you. 0:37:48.760 --> 0:37:49.400 You don't even know. 0:37:50.040 --> 0:37:52.839 And yeah, man, it was a big setback because the 0:37:52.840 --> 0:37:56.000 partest thing about an injury, depending on injury, is just 0:37:56.080 --> 0:37:58.959 the time out, you know, the mental the mental part 0:37:58.960 --> 0:38:01.239 of it, because you can as physical strong as you want, 0:38:01.239 --> 0:38:02.920 but the mental shit beat you up. Am I gonna 0:38:02.920 --> 0:38:04.440 be the same player when I come back? And am 0:38:04.440 --> 0:38:06.759 I gonna feel the same? Am I gonna be the same? 0:38:06.880 --> 0:38:07.000 Like? 0:38:07.040 --> 0:38:07.799 It's just a lot of. 0:38:07.760 --> 0:38:09.879 Things that a lot of things that negative that get 0:38:09.880 --> 0:38:11.400 in your head and you got to try to be 0:38:11.440 --> 0:38:14.040 positive about And I don't think that a lot some 0:38:14.040 --> 0:38:16.360 people are good at handling it. Some others are not 0:38:16.440 --> 0:38:16.799 as well. 0:38:16.840 --> 0:38:18.319 I don't think. I think I handled it well. 0:38:18.360 --> 0:38:20.120 But I think the mental part is sitting out because 0:38:20.120 --> 0:38:22.040 I'm a I have to I like to be on 0:38:22.120 --> 0:38:23.640 the move. I like to be a part of things, 0:38:23.760 --> 0:38:26.680 So to have to sit out it probably pretty. 0:38:26.400 --> 0:38:27.319 It beat me up pretty mental. 0:38:27.360 --> 0:38:29.240 It's pretty much mentally, And I think for guys getting 0:38:29.280 --> 0:38:31.239 hurt that's the hardest thing because it's not just about 0:38:31.239 --> 0:38:33.520 getting back, it's really about the mental aspect of it. 0:38:34.800 --> 0:38:37.799 And how do you get over that hurdle? Because again, 0:38:37.800 --> 0:38:39.440 you're going through all these things. But now, I mean, 0:38:39.480 --> 0:38:41.799 you clearly got through, right, you're a businessman. Now you've 0:38:41.840 --> 0:38:43.840 moved on with your life. You still had, you know, 0:38:43.920 --> 0:38:46.160 a great career in the NFL. But how did you 0:38:46.239 --> 0:38:48.719 get over those mental hurders? Because there's people listening going 0:38:48.760 --> 0:38:51.000 through their own life hurdles right that don't even have 0:38:51.080 --> 0:38:51.920 to do with football. 0:38:52.120 --> 0:38:53.640 How did Fred Davis get through that? 0:38:55.200 --> 0:38:57.560 Man? To be honest, just getting back to my basics. 0:38:57.600 --> 0:38:59.560 Really, you know, when you have a lot of yes 0:38:59.640 --> 0:39:02.800 man you or friends or people from the outside telling 0:39:02.800 --> 0:39:04.560 you what you think you should do. I think I 0:39:04.640 --> 0:39:06.680 just took a little break from just like what I 0:39:06.719 --> 0:39:09.080 normally did, because I mean when I go out and parties, 0:39:09.080 --> 0:39:11.480 and yeah, I will go out parties sometimes drink some times. 0:39:11.560 --> 0:39:13.279 But then when you do a little bit too much 0:39:13.280 --> 0:39:15.719 where you're doing it without even thinking about having fun, 0:39:15.760 --> 0:39:18.600 you're just out here just coasting where you're just like, okay, 0:39:18.680 --> 0:39:19.640 I just want a distraction. 0:39:19.760 --> 0:39:21.040 That's when it becomes a problem. 0:39:21.320 --> 0:39:23.439 And I think just me having a time to really 0:39:23.440 --> 0:39:25.959 sit down and be quiet with myself instead. 0:39:25.600 --> 0:39:28.520 Of not no family members, not no friends. 0:39:28.640 --> 0:39:30.959 None of that, just me and my own thoughts really 0:39:31.040 --> 0:39:33.319 and just understanding what I truly want to do, and 0:39:33.920 --> 0:39:36.600 you know, understanding where I'm at in my life and 0:39:36.280 --> 0:39:39.560 how I got here and just appreciate it, because sometimes 0:39:39.400 --> 0:39:42.160 this moves so fast you don't get a time to 0:39:42.200 --> 0:39:44.120 really appreciate it. You go from being drafted to next 0:39:44.160 --> 0:39:46.400 year you're on a team to now you got to 0:39:46.400 --> 0:39:48.000 get ready for the season, and you barely had a 0:39:48.040 --> 0:39:49.799 rookie off season because you're a rookie, so. 0:39:50.239 --> 0:39:52.040 It's like you don't really get to slow down. 0:39:52.400 --> 0:39:54.120 And then when you put your own life on top 0:39:54.160 --> 0:39:55.799 of that, where you're not slowing down, you don't really 0:39:55.800 --> 0:39:57.440 get to sit back and appreciate the moment in the 0:39:57.480 --> 0:39:59.799 hand and see what's really going on until it's too 0:39:59.840 --> 0:40:02.960 late or to something tragic happens or maybe a mistake. 0:40:03.440 --> 0:40:06.120 But I feel like just having that time to yourself 0:40:06.160 --> 0:40:07.400 to really process. 0:40:06.960 --> 0:40:08.919 Your thoughts and really understand who you are and where 0:40:08.960 --> 0:40:10.560 you want to be at or what you want to do, 0:40:10.640 --> 0:40:12.319 even in this league, because if you don't have a 0:40:12.360 --> 0:40:14.839 plan and you're just out here just like, oh, I'm 0:40:14.880 --> 0:40:16.719 just gonna let whatever comes to me come to me, 0:40:17.160 --> 0:40:20.040 it doesn't work. I've seen it with other guys, Like 0:40:20.080 --> 0:40:22.040 I said, I've seen guys make two hundred million the broken. 0:40:22.080 --> 0:40:23.919 I've seen guys with a million dollars still got money. 0:40:23.920 --> 0:40:26.000 It's how you treat it with a plan. So to me, 0:40:26.360 --> 0:40:28.719 I think that's the most important thing for. 0:40:28.880 --> 0:40:31.680 We appreciate your insight and your game, man, and now 0:40:31.680 --> 0:40:34.239 we're in a season where things are looking great. Now 0:40:34.239 --> 0:40:36.400 this is we're recording this before the Dallas game. However, 0:40:36.440 --> 0:40:38.600 this will be coming out after the Dallas game, so 0:40:38.600 --> 0:40:39.240 we won't talk. 0:40:39.080 --> 0:40:40.000 About that game so much. 0:40:40.000 --> 0:40:42.440 However, you did say you will be at the game, 0:40:42.600 --> 0:40:44.239 so just talk to me what it means. Because you 0:40:44.280 --> 0:40:46.799 stay close to DC, like Cali and DC, Like those 0:40:46.800 --> 0:40:49.400 are your two homes, and what does it mean for 0:40:49.440 --> 0:40:51.440 you when you come back to that field, come back 0:40:51.480 --> 0:40:54.600 to that environment, be around these amazing fans that cheer 0:40:54.600 --> 0:40:55.279 for you for so long. 0:40:55.320 --> 0:40:57.480 Man, how excited are you to be back at the crib. 0:40:58.120 --> 0:41:01.080 I'm just excited because you know, we have we haven't 0:41:01.120 --> 0:41:03.000 really had a lot of hope in the past years, 0:41:03.000 --> 0:41:04.120 you know what I mean. I've been a part of 0:41:04.160 --> 0:41:06.000 some of those teams where we started out six and 0:41:06.080 --> 0:41:08.640 oh and then the tail off at the end, or 0:41:08.680 --> 0:41:10.879 started out really bad and win a few at the end. 0:41:11.440 --> 0:41:12.719 I'm just happy to see the. 0:41:12.600 --> 0:41:14.560 Fans, you know, because last time we went to playoffs 0:41:14.560 --> 0:41:17.520 in twenty fourteen and I was there for that, and the 0:41:17.640 --> 0:41:19.759 energy there was crazy, Like they just want to win 0:41:19.840 --> 0:41:21.160 so bad, you know what I mean. It's been so 0:41:21.320 --> 0:41:24.400 long and it's due, you know. I'm just happy to 0:41:24.400 --> 0:41:26.120 see when I go there, just the energy, you feel, 0:41:26.120 --> 0:41:28.240 the love, You feel that you can tell they're excited 0:41:28.280 --> 0:41:29.040 about the season. 0:41:30.280 --> 0:41:31.719 You just see you can feel the energy, you know 0:41:31.760 --> 0:41:32.080 what I mean. 0:41:32.200 --> 0:41:34.239 Like just even with the players, you know, they look 0:41:34.360 --> 0:41:36.480 like they believe that they could win, which is always 0:41:36.480 --> 0:41:39.080 important and it gives hopes to the fans and to 0:41:39.080 --> 0:41:41.920 see that we have more people in our stadium that 0:41:42.000 --> 0:41:44.040 are our fans and the other teams fans. 0:41:44.160 --> 0:41:45.640 That's the most important. 0:41:45.160 --> 0:41:47.800 Thing because that for a little bit there we're starting 0:41:47.800 --> 0:41:49.439 to tail off in the end. But now our fan 0:41:49.600 --> 0:41:52.279 our fan base is starting to come back. And there's 0:41:52.280 --> 0:41:55.880 nothing like a Redskins slash Commanders fan. But the Commanders, 0:41:55.920 --> 0:41:57.480 there's nothing like that, you know what. I mean to 0:41:57.520 --> 0:41:59.880 see those because they love their team, they love for 0:42:00.480 --> 0:42:03.040 and just to go to the stadium and you know, 0:42:03.120 --> 0:42:05.040 like I said, to beat these teams and to have 0:42:05.120 --> 0:42:07.160 the season that Jaden Daiels was having. 0:42:07.040 --> 0:42:09.680 And Terry scary Terry and Arts. 0:42:09.520 --> 0:42:12.000 The tight end, and then the running game and Robinson 0:42:12.040 --> 0:42:13.720 and that defense is playing pretty well. 0:42:14.080 --> 0:42:15.799 I just think it's a great thing and it's fun. 0:42:16.200 --> 0:42:17.680 It's fun to watch and it's fun to be a 0:42:17.719 --> 0:42:18.000 part of. 0:42:18.880 --> 0:42:21.480 There is no better place to be on a football 0:42:21.520 --> 0:42:24.359 Sunday than the DMV. Fred Davis, thank you so much 0:42:24.400 --> 0:42:25.000 for joining us. 0:42:25.000 --> 0:42:25.239 Man. 0:42:25.480 --> 0:42:28.200 Appreciate your testimony and just being so honest with us. 0:42:28.200 --> 0:42:28.319 Man. 0:42:28.320 --> 0:42:29.640 We got to have you back on off for like 0:42:29.880 --> 0:42:31.719 you know, we and you could dive into a lot 0:42:31.760 --> 0:42:34.279 more things but for Fred, I appreciate your time. 0:42:34.320 --> 0:42:34.560 Brother. 0:42:35.560 --> 0:42:37.240 Definitely be back brother for sure. 0:42:37.920 --> 0:42:40.719 For sure for show. Yes, Sir, Commanders family, this is 0:42:40.760 --> 0:42:41.799 our Next Man Up. 0:42:42.200 --> 0:42:45.759 Tight End played his whole career with the Redskins, My guy, 0:42:46.040 --> 0:42:46.640 Fred Davis. 0:42:46.680 --> 0:42:48.080 Appreciate you, brother, Thank. 0:42:47.960 --> 0:42:49.680 You, brother, appreciate it man. Thanks for having. 0:42:49.480 --> 0:42:52.720 Me command this family. I hope you've enjoyed this episode 0:42:52.800 --> 0:42:53.799 of Next Man Up. Now. 0:42:53.800 --> 0:42:55.480 If you want to catch our old episodes, you can 0:42:55.560 --> 0:42:58.640 on the Commander's YouTube page or stream the audio wherever 0:42:58.760 --> 0:43:01.120 you get your podcasts. I am Brian Cople Junior and 0:43:01.120 --> 0:43:03.240 this is Next Man Up. Catch you on next Friday. 0:43:03.360 --> 0:43:06.560 Cancelope is the proud Kiosk partner of the Washington Commanders, 0:43:06.760 --> 0:43:09.239 making your game day experience more convenient,