1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Man, we are back with another episode of NFL Players Podcasts, 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: and I am honored and the ability to do this 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: job and have this opportunity to meet guys like Mel Blunt, 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: who I had today, Um, I'm absolute force of a 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: dB and somebody who I didn't watch play saw highlights, 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: saw stories. He's like a myth for a lot of 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: So I'm excited Mel to have you. Thanks for joining us, 8 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: and how you doing tell me, tell me where you're 9 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: at and how you're doing well. And first of all, 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: it's a it's an honor. I've seen you play in 11 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: uh Maria, your ability to play that position because you know, 12 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: I know what it takes to be out there on 13 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: the corner. So it's it's good to meet you. And 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: I'm doing great. It's it's been a great journey, um, 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: to be able to play fourteen years in the league 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: and walk away healthy, which is the main thing, and 17 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: to continue, uh doing some things off the field that's uh, 18 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: that's good in the community. So I'm great man. I'm 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: looking forward to sitting here having a chat with you. 20 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: What are some of the things you're doing in the community, 21 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: and you're doing now well great. I'm glad you as 22 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: we are at first, when I, when I retired from 23 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,199 Speaker 1: the National Football League, started the Boys Home in Valdeolia, Georgia, 24 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: whar I was born and raised on a farm, because 25 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: I wanted the kids to experience the same kind of 26 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: upbringing and work ethic that it that goes into living 27 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: on a farm and taking care of animals and learning 28 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: responsibility and things of that nature. So Um started at 29 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: home in eighteen eighty four, which he wasn't born at 30 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: the time, I know. And and so then five years 31 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: later in eight and nine, we built a home outside 32 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: of Pittsburgh, Boards Home. And UH, so we've been doing 33 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: working with young people, UM, trying to create opportunities for him, 34 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: make them better. Uh. And so just recently we just 35 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: got involved with a major company who was a national company, 36 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: Nexus Dealing Systems, which really work with with people, teaching them, 37 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: identifying these people who have sleep apnea, which is a 38 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: major problem. Uh. Basically one out of five Americans, UH 39 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: struggle with sleep disorder. And UH it's really something that 40 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: we're excited about because with us working with kids, we 41 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: find a lot of kids with behavior problems and health problems, 42 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: and it's basically can be traced back and you find 43 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: out and it's really related to sleep, uh disorder, breathing issues. 44 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 1: And so with this Nexus Dealing Systems UH company, their 45 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: national company that is focused in on people who having 46 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: these issues and try and going to get them help. 47 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: So we're excited about that and how that ties into 48 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: the mel Blunt Youth Leadership initiative with young people who 49 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: are in danger and having these issues, you know, with 50 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: the behavior problems and health issues. We want to identify 51 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: those kids and get them help so they can grow 52 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: and develop and be productive citizens. Well, it's funny you 53 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: mentioned you mentioned sleep happy and I know that affects 54 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: a lot of football players, larger people, right, larger human 55 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: beings going out there these old lineman d lineman and 56 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: breathing and trouble you know, sleeping and all that stuff, 57 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: and obviously affects our demographic a ton. Well, you know, 58 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: we've had some of our great players like Reggi White 59 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: uh had that problem and died from and and uh 60 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: Cortess Kennedy. I mean, just to name a couple of guys. 61 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: But it's a major problem. And with the Nexus Dental 62 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: Systems that what we're trying to do is identified and 63 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: make sure people get diagnosed and get help. And the 64 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: other thing is that UH with young people. You know, 65 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: if we can identify these kids, get them help, it's 66 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: going to help them physically, it's going to help with 67 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: the behavior issues. And these are the things that the 68 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: school systems are dealing with now. You know, is especially 69 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: there in the city. You get kids UM a lot 70 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: of behavior problems, and we think that we can help 71 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: these kids by identifying them and getting that problem resolved. 72 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: And so for people who want to learn more about it, UM, 73 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: you know, they can go to UH Nexus, UM deal 74 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: Systems dot com and get information, or they can go 75 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: to dream Sleep dot rest and get information. But that's 76 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 1: just some of the things that I'm involved with. You know, 77 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: I look around logan I've been I retired in eighteen 78 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 1: eighty four and m and I'm really grateful for the 79 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: career that I had in the National Football League. I'm 80 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: for for the National Football League in general, because I 81 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: think it's a lot of it's a great opportunity for 82 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: guys like us who can use that platform to make 83 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: a difference in our communities. UH make a difference on 84 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: the national stage, but more important, we can make a 85 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: difference in our families. And I think if every player 86 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: you know, start with this family to make it better, 87 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: make make changes for and create opportunities, then you know, 88 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: it's just a great tool. In the National Football League, 89 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: with all his problems, you know, we still have something 90 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: that we all should be proud of and try to 91 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: work and protect it. One of the players I played 92 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: with recently retired. The greatest player I played with, Tom Brady, 93 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 1: used to break down a lot of our huddles before 94 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: the game, super Bowl speeches, all that stuff. He was 95 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: a man and he always used to say a lesson 96 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: I would take from Tom Brady. He said, you play 97 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: for that you know that name on the as a team, 98 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: but you also play for that name on the back. 99 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: But I always remember that when you just mentioned that 100 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: players focus on their families and making a difference at home. 101 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: It can change communities, It can change everything you start, 102 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 1: you know right there. Yeah, well, you know, obviously, uh 103 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: we've come. We we witness a lot in the last 104 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: couple of years. Uh, racial and uh, you know, the 105 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: George Floyd incident, all these things. But it's one thing 106 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: about sports that if people really look at it, it 107 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: has done more to bring us together than anything else. 108 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: And I think once we come together, I mean when 109 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: you talk about the locker room, you know, we don't 110 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: look and say, well he's black, he's white. It's can 111 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: he play? Can he help us? And if he can 112 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: help us, then he's a brother, you know, regardless to 113 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: you know where he's from. And so I think sports 114 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: is a great tool that we can use. It's a 115 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: great tool we can learn from because when it when 116 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: it's all said and done, it's about people working together 117 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: and being able to accomplish something that everybody can benefit from. 118 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: So you're known to be mean on the field, or 119 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: your style of play or whatever is your fear defender 120 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: in NFL history, But the philing, the philanthropic the philanthropic 121 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: work that you do in the community, when did that start? 122 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: As I interview people and as I get to be 123 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: around greatness and great players, you start to realize really 124 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: special people are are doing everything on and off the field. 125 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: There special in every aspect of life. And I feel 126 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: like you're one of those people. So when did the 127 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: stuff in the community and all that one did that start? Well, 128 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna take you back a little bit 129 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: in in history. And when I talk about history, I'm 130 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: talking about history as a black man, as a young 131 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: black youth growing up in the South doing segregation. Um, 132 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: I saw my parents, uh in the community. They're doing 133 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: things and working, and anytime there was a problem, Uh, 134 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: black folks would gather at the church because that's all 135 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: we had. We didn't have country clubs or things where 136 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: we could meet and discuss issues. So when you when 137 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: you grew up in an environment like that, that becomes 138 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: a part of you. You know, you see people giving back, 139 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: You see your parents giving back, you see your parents 140 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: working in the community. And uh, so that's what that's 141 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: what I learned. So in the eighteen six or six 142 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: when I finished high school, I couldn't go to Georgia, 143 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: or I couldn't go to Florida and a lot of 144 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: the major white institution. Um, I had to get on 145 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,199 Speaker 1: the bus and go all the way to Southern University 146 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. So when you talk about what 147 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: when did I start this, it was it was a 148 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: part of my DNA because it's something I saw. And 149 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: so you know, kids they see their parents do with things. 150 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: So okay, well that's that's what we're supposed to do. 151 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: And so in eighteen sixty eight, when Dr King was 152 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: shot in Tennessee, I was on campus and I remember 153 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: to this they had vividly the students reacted, and thank 154 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: god that we had a football court said that I 155 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: don't want you all out there in the streets looting, 156 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 1: and you know, because if you do, you're gonna lose 157 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 1: your scholarship. But what we could do was talk and 158 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: lead and explain to these students why they shouldn't do 159 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: this and why we should take a different approach. So 160 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: that all that was a part of, you know, the 161 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: things I had experienced growing up in Georgia, um seeing 162 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: how people do things and and really having a broader 163 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:56,239 Speaker 1: perspective on events and really not reacting so much emotionally 164 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: about things when they happen, but try to think through issues. 165 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: And the one thing I can say about football and 166 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: about sports is I think it helps us to do that. 167 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: It helps us to when something happened, it's not just 168 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: an emotional reaction. You you think through it and you 169 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: figure out the best way to to come up with 170 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: a resolution for it. And and I'm sure you can. 171 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: We can talk a lot about that from the position 172 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: that we play because you expose you out there people. 173 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: Could you know, somebody catch a ball on you. They said, 174 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: that's mel Blunt's fault. And so what I think is 175 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: that you take all these things that you're learned and 176 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:46,040 Speaker 1: every day you use it when situations come up. Is 177 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: that something you learned that a Southern time of your 178 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,679 Speaker 1: experience at the HBCU Southern University, well you know the logan. 179 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: Let me let me say this. UM. I talked about 180 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: growing up doing segregation, and I talked about not have 181 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: an opportunity to play at University of Georgia, Florida. But 182 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: when I looked back, it's the best thing ever happened 183 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: to me, and I wouldn't trade to find up it 184 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: in the world. The experience UM really being around I grew. 185 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,959 Speaker 1: When I finished high school, there were eight kids who 186 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: graduated in my high school class. That's how smaller little 187 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,719 Speaker 1: town in the school was. When I finished, it was 188 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:31,679 Speaker 1: twenty eight seniors. And but when I went to Southern University, 189 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,320 Speaker 1: I they were at that time because of segregation, it 190 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,839 Speaker 1: was like fifteen thousand students on campus. Was the one 191 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: of the largest black institutions in the in the country. 192 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 1: But what happened was he broadened my horizon, my perspective 193 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: of who we were as people. You know, I saw 194 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: a professional um people, you know, whether it was the 195 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,599 Speaker 1: professors on campus or the president of the university or 196 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: some you know professional in the community. And so it 197 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: gave me a broader perspective of who we are as people. 198 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: And so it was a great experience and it's something 199 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: that you know, I wouldn't change for anything. And so 200 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: what I've done, UM, I tried to get that same experience. 201 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 1: All three of my boys went to historical black colleges, graduated, 202 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: gotten their degrees, um doing great things. But and the 203 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 1: reason I bring all this up is because, um, we 204 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: need to be cognance of our history because we've been 205 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: lied to and it hasn't been told. And we and 206 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: you know, we come from a great uh lineage of people. 207 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: Our history is rich. Uh that part that we know 208 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: a lot of it hadn't been told, like we said. 209 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: But I think what we're finding out is that this 210 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: younger generation that's coming along, they're curious. They want to 211 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: know more about you know, why why was there slavery 212 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: you know, and why was there segregation? You know? All 213 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: these things, and and why is it that you know 214 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: the National Football League we just witnessed it. What nine 215 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: jobs or eight or nine jobs open? Um, and we 216 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: can't get a black courch hide yet the National Football 217 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: League is seventy plus percent black athletes. UM. And so 218 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: guys like myself, you know who I feel. I came 219 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: into the league in the eighteen seventy. I think what 220 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:56,200 Speaker 1: we did in Pittsburgh, the four championships we want. We 221 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,599 Speaker 1: helped build the league. We helped make the league what 222 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: it is today. And so are you gonna tell me 223 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: that we're good enough to be out there on the 224 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: field and play, but we're not good enough to be 225 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: in management and make decisions that's gonna help um grow 226 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: the league and push it into the next century. And 227 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: and so there again, you don't react emotionally. You work 228 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: through and you you find ways to get ownership to 229 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: see and understand, you know, from our perspective, how we 230 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: see it and how we think that we can continue 231 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: to grow the game. So that's uh, I mean, you're 232 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: you're teaching our sister, You're telling us your story, and 233 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: that's what I'm learning from, and that's what the viewers 234 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: learning is through mel Bonte experiences and that's what your 235 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: kids are learning and my kids hopefully will learn and 236 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: do my experiences and it's being taught every day. Tell 237 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: me about or let's I want to hear a story 238 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 1: about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Like you said, four championships in 239 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: six years. What was your mentality of your mindset coming 240 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: from Southern getting you know, going to the Pittsburgh Steels organization. 241 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 1: We obviously changed a lot of things over there. And yeah, 242 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: you know inteen seventy I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 243 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: But in that draft there was a coin toss between 244 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: the Steelers and the Cleveland Browns because both of those 245 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: teams was coming from the National Football League from the 246 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: National Um Conference, from the NFC over to the a 247 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: f C. So there was a corn toss for the 248 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: first pick. Pittsburgh won the toss. They drafted Tara Branshaw 249 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: first players and and the first player picked in the 250 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: nineteen sevent News Draft was Tara Branshaw. The second player 251 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: was Ron Shanklin, who was a wide receiver from Texas 252 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: UM North Texas State, and then the third player was 253 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: Mel Blunt from Southern University. Well that was in eteen seventy. 254 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: Now you gotta remember what was going on this in 255 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: this country in the sixties, okay, n eighteen, in the 256 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: in the sixties, the civil rights marches and movement. I'm 257 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: at an all black high school, all black college. I 258 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: get drafted by the Pittsburgh Seals. I never played with 259 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: white athletes and never been coached by a white guy. Okay, 260 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: So this was transition for me too, Okay. And so 261 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: but anyway, we come to Pittsburgh. We come to a 262 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: team that the previous year, in the eighteen sixty and 263 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: nine had drafted Joe Green, but they only won one 264 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: game and lost thirteen because they was playing fourteen games 265 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: back then, and so that's why they were able to 266 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: get the number one pick along with the corn Tos. 267 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: So when we got to Pittsburgh, if you were Pittsburgh 268 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 1: Steeler around the city, you were a joke. You didn't 269 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: have no respect because the Steelers was known for bar harpin, 270 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: drinking and going out losing games. You know, it wasn't 271 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: And so Chuck Nol came to the Steelers in eighteen 272 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: sixty nine. He was with Don Shulan Baltimore, and so 273 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: they came to he was the run has hired him 274 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: in the eighteen sixty nine He won one game and 275 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: lost thirteen and so we had a good draft of 276 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 1: something we could build from because we got that quarterback. 277 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: You always need that quarterback. Yeah and uh but anyway, 278 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:48,679 Speaker 1: we changed that situation around. Within four years, we were 279 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl and we won it against the 280 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: Minnesota Vikings. And then the next year we went in 281 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: eighteen seventy five, so seventy x we we didn't win it, uh, 282 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: seven and seven. But then we come back in seven, 283 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: eight and seven, nineteen seven eight and nineteen seven and 284 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: nine and we win the Super Bowl. So we win 285 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: four Super Bowls in six years. Something had a click though, 286 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: right because you got there in the fourth year, Like 287 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 1: you said, when did it click for you guys as 288 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: a team where you're saying, okay, we go from winning 289 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: one game, we should be in the super Bowl. Well, 290 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: there was a draft in nineteen seventy four that put 291 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: us over the top. But from nineteen seventy to seventy four, 292 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: you know, we got Brian Shaw, we got myself, then 293 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: we got Jack Hamm who was a number two picked 294 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 1: from Penn State. But the big guy, in my opinion 295 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,520 Speaker 1: was Franco. When they drafted the Franco, we had the quarterback, 296 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: we had the running back, then we had they built 297 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: that offensive line. And so in nineteen seventy four we 298 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: have a super draft, you know, and out of that 299 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: draft we had I think five guys in the Hall 300 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: of Fame with Dunny Shells, Star wars Land, Swan uh, 301 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: Mike Webster and Jack Hamm all those guys in the 302 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 1: in the Hall of Fame that's out of that one 303 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: draft in the eighteen seven and then we had some 304 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: other role players that was just great players, special teams 305 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: and playing back up uh. And so that kind of 306 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 1: got us over the hump. And that's when we knew 307 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 1: that we had changed the culture and built something special 308 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh. And to this day, I think, and I 309 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 1: don't think, I know that the organization is still benefiting 310 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: from what happened in the seventies because there's a culture 311 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: that has been put in place. Yeah, there's a standard 312 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: and there's a level of the expectation, not just from 313 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: the ownership but from the city itself. Yeah, you know, 314 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: you know our fans are they love you, but they 315 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:07,720 Speaker 1: love you even more when you're win. Oh yeah, they demanded. 316 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,879 Speaker 1: The standard in Pittsburgh is a dominant defense. And I 317 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 1: think your style of player, we're going to talk about it, 318 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: right to tell me about your style of playing and 319 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: how you your your your approach to the game, and 320 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: how you approach these wide receivers, because I think you 321 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: you change the game of football. Well, when I when 322 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: I came in and I can, I can say this, 323 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: and I think it speaks a lot about organizations, about 324 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: landing in the right place. When I came out of 325 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 1: Southern University, I was basically a man, the man guy 326 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 1: bump and run. I couldn't even tell you what the 327 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: formation looked like because I lined up on that receiver 328 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: and I covered him if he went in motion, whatever 329 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: you did. So I had to learn the game of football. 330 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: I had to learn formations, and I had to learn 331 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: what people do from certain formations. And so I was 332 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: just a physical talent that Thank God that the Steelers were, 333 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: you know, building a program. I mean, if I would 334 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: have went to a team that already had players in place, 335 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: and I probably would have been cut or traded or something. 336 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: But I got I was. I landed in the right 337 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,719 Speaker 1: place and We had the right kind of people around 338 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: me too. You know, players need opportunities to grow and develop. 339 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: And you don't grow unless you make mistakes, you know you. 340 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 1: And so I was able to uh get with an 341 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 1: organization like the Steelers, and uh I was able to 342 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: just develop. And it took time. I didn't really hit 343 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: my stride until my third year, you know. And and 344 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 1: you came in the league shadowing guys man and man, 345 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: which you know, to the viewer means following that top 346 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: receiver that matchup. You want to see that Jalen Ramsey 347 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 1: coming to marches. You were out there covering that top 348 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: guy when you got drafting and found him and a 349 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: man all over. I came into the I came out 350 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: of college doing that. Yeah, when I got to the league, 351 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:13,920 Speaker 1: I had to learn zone defense. I had to learn 352 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,159 Speaker 1: you know, you like I got him. You know, you 353 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: ain't no film, there ain't no playbook to look at. 354 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: I got him and run support and all these all 355 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,439 Speaker 1: these things that require you to play out there on 356 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 1: that corner. I had to learn that. So that, Yeah, 357 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:33,719 Speaker 1: when I when I came into the league, I didn't 358 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: start that was playing fourteen games back then, and I 359 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: started in seven of them. And uh, I never forget, man, 360 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:45,120 Speaker 1: it was you know, if you start half the games, 361 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: you get a five thousand my whole bonus. Man, I 362 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: mean there was a lot of money back there, you know. Shoot, 363 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: so I'm like, man, I got to do something. So 364 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: I was fortunate enough to start and um, but as 365 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: a rookie, I had a good year. I had a 366 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: good year basically because I was I was playing special teams, 367 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: and I was running kickoffs bike and running punts bike 368 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,439 Speaker 1: and so all that was a part of me and 369 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: my contribution to growing and developing and being and making 370 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: a contribution to the to the organization. But and at 371 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: the same time had good coaches who was teaching me 372 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 1: about you know, the formations and what they do out 373 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: of the different formations and and so I'm very grateful 374 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: for that. And I I remember, you know, when you 375 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: when people accomplished names, they don't get that by themselves, 376 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,360 Speaker 1: you know. And and I can honestly say that there 377 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: were so many people who helped me along the way. 378 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 1: And I'm standing on a lot of shoulders of men 379 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: and even women who you know, helped me to get 380 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: to If you would have told me when I left 381 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 1: high school on a great hard bus going to saw 382 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: the university that I would wind up in Caddon, Ohio 383 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 1: and Hall of Fame. It's a man. Super Bowls, yeah, 384 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: for you know, and I never even to win four 385 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: Super Bowls. You know. I don't think any player coming 386 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: into the or leave home going to college saying that 387 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: he's going to go so he can win four super Bowls. 388 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: And and it's just you know, you're just trying to 389 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: you're just trying to get to college and you're just 390 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 1: trying to make sure you make that team and get 391 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: your lesson and and being able to maintain your scholarship. 392 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: And so it's been a great journey. Um. And to me, 393 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 1: icing on the cake was uh in the eighteen seventy 394 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: seven uh when they made the rule change and name 395 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: it the mal Blunt rule because of my place, we're 396 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: going to talk about the rules, and so it's just 397 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 1: been it's been the rules before the Mail Blunt rules. 398 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: What were you allowed to do because you were handsy? 399 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: You're known for putting your hands on receivers and and 400 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: and disrupting their routes down the field and and being 401 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 1: a defender and get in their way. So what were 402 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: the rules, Well, the rules before before they changing, was 403 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: that you could jam a receiver all the way down 404 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: field as long as the ball wasn't in there, you know. 405 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: And so I was you know, I was six three, 406 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: two hundred and five pounds, I mean, and could run 407 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,239 Speaker 1: physical guy. And so that's what I did. I just 408 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: disrupted man, I mean, And that was my intent, you know. 409 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: And that was the mindset they teach you back that 410 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 1: you got to be like a heat seeking missile. You 411 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: gotta go search and destroy, you know. And so uh 412 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: and then just being at the line of scrimmage, you know, 413 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: I had had when I said had, I'm an old 414 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: guy now, but my reach you know, you you know, 415 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: you're winging span and and that means a lot when 416 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: a guy is coming off the line. If you can, 417 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: you know, if you can cover certain area and then 418 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,719 Speaker 1: slide your feet and get there where you got you know, 419 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: all your your your strength in front of you. Uh, 420 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,240 Speaker 1: it makes a big difference. And and we had guys 421 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: I'm talking about we had. It's always been fast guys 422 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: in the league. You know, they talk about these kids, 423 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:19,160 Speaker 1: not It's always been guys who can run um. And 424 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: the thing about it We didn't throw the ball as 425 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 1: much back then as they do now. Um. You know, 426 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: if you threw the ball twenty times like when I played, 427 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 1: that was a lot because it was about founding the football, 428 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: playing good defense. Um. But yeah, that rule change. And 429 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 1: I tell you to be honest when they when they 430 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: changed the rule, I never forget. We played a Monday 431 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: night game against the Bengals. Paul Brown, who you can 432 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: call him the father of football at whatever, but he was. 433 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 1: He was a great football mine and and the history 434 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: of the game wouldn't be what it is today without 435 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: Paul Brown. Well, he had just he found that the 436 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: Cuncinnati Bengals and he was coaching that team. But we 437 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:09,679 Speaker 1: were playing them on a Monday night and uh, you know, 438 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: Isaac Curtis was a great, great wide receiver, fast guy, 439 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: could run, but I was jamming him and you know 440 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: he was having problems getting off the line. And then 441 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: there was an incident for um, one of their players 442 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,959 Speaker 1: that hit John Stalworth and you know, kind of clothes 443 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:36,320 Speaker 1: lineman or something like that. So the next series, Um 444 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: Trumpet who was a tight end. Ken Anderson was a 445 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,960 Speaker 1: quarter but he comes he runs a rout out into 446 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: the flat. When I'm sitting there, I'm in the cover 447 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 1: two zone, so I'm jamming and receiving them. I'm coming 448 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: off sitting there in the flat. So here comes trump 449 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: Ken Anderson throws the ball while I react to it, 450 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: hits the guy and breaks his jaw. Not intentionally, but 451 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: I'm just reacting to the ball in my shoulder pass 452 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 1: caught him under the tin and and broke his job. 453 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: So don't you know what, I get a ladder from 454 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:11,959 Speaker 1: Pete Roselle. They want to see me in the league office. 455 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: Then yeah, well they didn't find me, but they it 456 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: was a warning. So uh yeah. But the reason Paul 457 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: Brown was on the and I think was the chairman 458 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 1: of the competition committee, and so it set that film 459 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: to the league office. Uh, they got in touch with 460 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: the owners the stealers and said mel Blunt's need he 461 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: needs to come to the League office. So I go 462 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: up there and they running this film back. I mean 463 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: I'm sitting in there with all of the NFL officials, 464 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: director of officiate and the commissioner, uh and some of 465 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: his people. So they in this found back and you know, 466 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:06,719 Speaker 1: back then it was you know, it's like the projectors, 467 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, they run, they stop it and run. I said, 468 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: run it back again. And so I said, if this 469 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: play happens again, I'm gonna react the same way. And 470 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: I said, until you all change the rules, this is 471 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: how I'm gonna play. And I didn't think nothing about it, 472 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: and and and so it was. It was a combination 473 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 1: of footage we looked at with me jamming the guys 474 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: coming out the line of scrimmins and that he had 475 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 1: on trumpy, and I just said, until you all changed 476 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: the rules, that's the way I'm gonna play. And then 477 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 1: they changed, don't you know? They changed and they call 478 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: it the mel Blunt rule. And the mel Blunt rule 479 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: is that the double chucking. I mean, you can't hit 480 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: a guy. You can jam at the line and after 481 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: five and before that rule was you could jam the 482 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,360 Speaker 1: guy all the way down field or anyone if he's 483 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: running this route and the ball hadn't been thrown, you 484 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: could jam him, you know, jamming him. And if you 485 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: weren't covering him, you can jam him and get off. 486 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: And but now after five yards, you know, you can't 487 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: touch the receiver. And but the thing about that they 488 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: changed the rule in nineteen seven to seven, we still 489 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: want two more championships after they changed the rule. So 490 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: it wasn't like he had affected me. Is that they 491 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: wanted to make it better for the offense. They wanted 492 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 1: to open the offense up and Brashaw, Star Wars and 493 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 1: Swan they went absolutely. They ran rabbit through the league, man, 494 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: because they were they were unstoppable. Because of that rule change, 495 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: we still were great. You still want two super Bowls 496 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: out the rule change put some respect on his name. 497 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 1: How how did the DBS feel? How did the other 498 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: guys feel when they put this rule in because of 499 00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: you are named after you, and they're like, come on, man, 500 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: now I can't Now I can't play my game. That's 501 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: a good question. How they to this day and this 502 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: to this date. Man, when these young guys but they said, man, 503 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 1: you the reason we haven't such a hard time. Yeah, 504 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 1: like we gotta clean his name up. But it's tough now, man, 505 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: as you see, it's even it's that times ten. You 506 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: can't touch. When I came to the league ten years 507 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 1: ago and my rookie year, I was fortunate to play 508 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: with a keep to leave and keep was big on 509 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: the low shirt pulls. When the receivers at the top 510 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: of the route, pulling himself through crossing routes, who called 511 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 1: tailpipe technique, will run behind the receiving get a tug, 512 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: and that was big and I was doing that a ton, 513 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: and I learned that from mckeb and I was getting 514 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:40,520 Speaker 1: interceptions off it. And then they kind of re emphasized 515 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: to take that out the low pools and Darrell Grievous 516 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: I played with him my second year I won the 517 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 1: Super Bowl with the row and he was so patient, 518 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: you know from Pittsburgh, UM, so patient the line of 519 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: scrimmage and he would put that off hand on you 520 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: and you'll keep it there, and then they started it. 521 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,080 Speaker 1: You can't keep the hand on him after five. He 522 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: wouldn't double chuck, but he just keeping on in the feeling. 523 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: And nowadays you can't touch a guy top of you 524 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: can't touch a guy after five. I think I think 525 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: that right now in the league. It is fascinating UM. 526 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: And to be honest, if I was a defensive bike 527 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: in the league today, with with my skill set that 528 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:26,480 Speaker 1: I had back then, I would love it because you 529 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: gott you get opportunities. Man, you get up. Like I said, 530 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: if they threw the ball twenty times bike in the 531 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: seventies when I played, that was a lot. Yeah, you know, 532 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 1: in eighteen seventy five, I had eleven interceptions. I led 533 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:44,400 Speaker 1: the league and interceptions, and they weren't throwing the ball 534 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: a lot. So my point is, if you're gonna give 535 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 1: me all those opportunities, you know, I'm gonna get me 536 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: some interceptions, you know, some kind of way, because I'm 537 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: gonna be ball hawking. And I think that's what I 538 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 1: like about the game today. I the fact that you 539 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: know you can still see. And I think that I 540 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: think too, is how you being taught to play that position. Now, 541 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: you know, five yards if you can get up in 542 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 1: a guy's face, you can jam a guy within five 543 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: yards and still get off of it. But you just 544 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:21,959 Speaker 1: at the time the one thing you gotta have, in 545 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: my opinion, to play that position. You gotta have speed, 546 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: and then you gotta have good feet, you know. And 547 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: they say defensive backs can't catch, well, I don't believe that. 548 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: I was a wide receiver. I went to college on 549 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:39,080 Speaker 1: as a wide receiver but got switched because we had 550 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: an injury in the secondary, and they asked me if 551 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 1: I would play defense. I said, yeah, I can play defense, 552 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: and they put me on the corner and and against 553 00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 1: Gramblin University, our robbal Re uh Shyke Harris, who was 554 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: the first black to really play in the Morning Day 555 00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 1: area as quarterback, played for Buffalo and then he played 556 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: for the ram Um through the I had three interceptions 557 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:10,279 Speaker 1: as a freshman against our arch Robbery and so that's 558 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:14,400 Speaker 1: that jump started my college career and then coming into 559 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: the league. Uh to be able to continue that. But 560 00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 1: back to the back to this position and what's happening 561 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 1: in today's game. Uh, I see a lot of bad 562 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 1: techniques in man coverage. I mean if if receiver cut 563 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: is split down and you're still gonna line up on 564 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 1: the inside of him, you know he's got all this 565 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: rule out. Just still simple stuff and angles. It's spatial awareness, 566 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:49,320 Speaker 1: right because it is it's a game of angles. Whenever 567 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:51,440 Speaker 1: you break on the ball, you want to break to 568 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:53,879 Speaker 1: the reception and you don't forget about what's that ball 569 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:55,960 Speaker 1: is in the air. You gotta be able to judge 570 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:58,600 Speaker 1: it and and see what's going to the land. If 571 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 1: the receiver is still running, eat you know you you 572 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: tracked the ball. That's when they talk about ball skills 573 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: and you gotta you gotta know where that ball is 574 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 1: coming down at and where that reception area is if 575 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: a guy is running an end route out rude, a 576 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: deep route and all these things. Is is you know, 577 00:35:18,640 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: just about having ball skills and having that ability in 578 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 1: the number one thing in my opinion, after the physical attributes, 579 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: A defensive bake has to have short memory and you 580 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,759 Speaker 1: have to you have to be bold and your own confidence. 581 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:40,839 Speaker 1: You have to believe. I mean, if you go out 582 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 1: there thinking you're gonna get beat, most likely you're gonna 583 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,520 Speaker 1: get beat. But if you're going out there said, man, 584 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: look it's gonna be a dog fact today, you know, 585 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: and I ain't losing, you know. And it's it's about 586 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 1: that mindset really, and and I think of all the positions, 587 00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 1: and I respect every position on the field, but man, 588 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:02,799 Speaker 1: to be a defensive bike, you gotta be special. Yeah, 589 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,760 Speaker 1: you do with like you said, the speed, the feet, 590 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:09,440 Speaker 1: and then the mentality. I compared a lot to boxing 591 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 1: to be in a boxer, because everybody thinks they can fight, 592 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 1: but you have to train, train, train, and at the 593 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 1: end of the day, someone's got to step in that 594 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,520 Speaker 1: ring and you gotta be willing to take those hits. 595 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:22,960 Speaker 1: You gotta be willing to get knocked out sometimes to 596 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: go win that battle, right, you gotta go put your 597 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: foot in the ground and say, damn it. I did 598 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:29,879 Speaker 1: my film study. And if he runs this, he got 599 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 1: this foot up and he and then under center and 600 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a hitch. The first player game, I'm 601 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:35,399 Speaker 1: gonna go get it. And if it's a double move, 602 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: oh well, you know, you gotta know how to how 603 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: to take your bets. Yeah, well, you know, Uh, Logan, 604 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:45,879 Speaker 1: I've seen I've seen you, and it's really an honor 605 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: to be able to sit here and talk to you. 606 00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: And I think you've had a great career, and I 607 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:54,879 Speaker 1: know it's even you know, really you're you're still kind 608 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 1: of at the you know, prim in your career coast 609 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,359 Speaker 1: ten years bad. I mean, you still got so much 610 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,920 Speaker 1: more to gill that you want to because you take 611 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,400 Speaker 1: all that knowledge and experience and you know how to 612 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:13,240 Speaker 1: keep yourself in shape and you know what's expected. So uh, 613 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: I'm looking for some great things out of you up 614 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 1: and I'm claiming your presidents. I got to I gotta deliver. 615 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:21,799 Speaker 1: I love it. It's a lifestyle, you know how it is. 616 00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:24,480 Speaker 1: I'm running all year around. I'm a guy I came 617 00:37:24,520 --> 00:37:27,920 Speaker 1: in the league, UH played for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, 618 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 1: and it was all about he wanted smart, tough football 619 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: players who were versatile. I've started games in the slot. 620 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:35,800 Speaker 1: I've covered some of the best slot receivers. I started 621 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: on a perimeter, covering some top receivers in the Super Bowls, 622 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:42,799 Speaker 1: a f C Championships. Playing when you have Brady on 623 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 1: the other side, you got to deliver on your side. 624 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,439 Speaker 1: And then now and with the Giants, I think last 625 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:51,400 Speaker 1: year I played snaps at outside corner, slot corner, strong safety, 626 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,880 Speaker 1: and free sake. So it just about being a dB. 627 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:56,000 Speaker 1: Doesn't matter what position I line up at. I gotta 628 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,680 Speaker 1: go get the ball, tap of the ball. No, my 629 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:01,160 Speaker 1: angles know who I'm covering. The tight ends are receivers nowadays, 630 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:04,799 Speaker 1: the slot receivers are receivers. The outside receivers. I mean, 631 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: these guys are running routes from all over right. It's 632 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:10,919 Speaker 1: It's interesting to me because a narrative you might hear 633 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:13,960 Speaker 1: from guys in the get in the game now is like, oh, 634 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:15,919 Speaker 1: you know, they're taking the physicality out of the game. 635 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 1: It's all about offense and the mel blunts and uh 636 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: Ronnie Harrison's and these guys, they won't even be able 637 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: to play today's game because it's all about hitting and jamming. 638 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:27,920 Speaker 1: And you're saying you were thriving today's game because you 639 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,239 Speaker 1: have more ops, you have more passes on your way. Well, 640 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,840 Speaker 1: what I'm saying is if you're an athlete, right, you 641 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 1: can play an in area. That's my opinion. And I 642 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:41,840 Speaker 1: know I know that if I was playing today, I 643 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,520 Speaker 1: would be I would probably be even better because I 644 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: would there's there's there are more balls in the area 645 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,359 Speaker 1: now than they were a time when I play. And 646 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:57,400 Speaker 1: if you if you an athlete, you got ball skills 647 00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: which I had, if you can catch the ball, if 648 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: you can on all these things that it takes to 649 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,120 Speaker 1: play out there in that position, I would love it. Uh. 650 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:10,000 Speaker 1: You know, it's really football now, man. I mean I 651 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:12,880 Speaker 1: look at it's almost like seven on seven. You know, 652 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:16,239 Speaker 1: the quarterback don't even line up on the center of 653 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 1: the mode because he knows he's getting the ball and 654 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 1: he's throwing it. You just gotta figure out where he's, 655 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: where he's going with it, and where he's going with 656 00:39:23,760 --> 00:39:28,000 Speaker 1: your receiver is gonna tell you basically what's going on, 657 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: and so I find it. I find it fascinating, but 658 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 1: I also find it very interesting. Like I was talking 659 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:41,000 Speaker 1: about how guys play today, you know, a lot of 660 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:44,000 Speaker 1: guys are beat before the ball is snap just by 661 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:48,680 Speaker 1: where they're lining up at and and so you gotta 662 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:51,600 Speaker 1: be smart. I think that's when you talk about playing 663 00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 1: for guys like Bill Belichick, he wants smart guys. You 664 00:39:55,200 --> 00:39:59,279 Speaker 1: have to be able to take that game plan and 665 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:01,720 Speaker 1: then you gotta be able to put your own spin 666 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:05,880 Speaker 1: on it based on your ability, you know. And and 667 00:40:05,920 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: it's it's obvious that everybody don't have the same amount 668 00:40:09,080 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 1: of talent. I mean that's a given. Everyone's talented, but 669 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,960 Speaker 1: those dudes who are, yeah, there's different levels. And so 670 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:20,360 Speaker 1: the great players are going always find ways to make plays, 671 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,879 Speaker 1: uh that that's gonna flip the game. And there that's 672 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,160 Speaker 1: the balance of doing what you're asking coach you do, 673 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 1: but still doing it your way. Because the coaches could 674 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:32,200 Speaker 1: do it, they wouldn't be coaching. They will be playing, 675 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:34,719 Speaker 1: all right, So obviously the coaches can't do it. They 676 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: drafted you or brought you in and saw your talents 677 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:39,600 Speaker 1: to you. It's always a balance of being yourself and 678 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 1: fitting in the scheme. And then the other thing is 679 00:40:43,239 --> 00:40:48,760 Speaker 1: there are reason guys are backups. Yeah, bench players talking 680 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 1: like starters. I hate it every every reason. Some guys 681 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:58,480 Speaker 1: started nothing, even starting every since it's differing for the 682 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:01,400 Speaker 1: nine years straight, difference in how it. But it doesn't 683 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:04,360 Speaker 1: mean that backup guy is not an asset to your team. 684 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 1: It's just that you know, got a guy here can 685 00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:10,280 Speaker 1: do it better. It's consistency to right, you talk about 686 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:12,680 Speaker 1: going out there in dB. It's highs and lows like 687 00:41:12,719 --> 00:41:15,920 Speaker 1: a baseball pitcher, right, And there's slumps and there's some days. 688 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:17,680 Speaker 1: But you still got to feel like you're the baddest 689 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:20,840 Speaker 1: man of planet every week to consistently perform at a 690 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: high level. But you know, the thing I like to 691 00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:28,600 Speaker 1: about the game is that you can't be bad too often. Yeah, 692 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:32,080 Speaker 1: if you do that, somebody else, they can put somebody 693 00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,239 Speaker 1: else in. Like I said, if you can't do the job, 694 00:41:34,320 --> 00:41:37,160 Speaker 1: we got somebody here who can. And and I think 695 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:40,359 Speaker 1: that's what made great teams is that you always got 696 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,799 Speaker 1: somebody pushing you. Competition, You always you have the competition, 697 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:49,239 Speaker 1: and and that in itself can create a good environment, 698 00:41:49,440 --> 00:41:53,279 Speaker 1: a good atmoshere great places, the great franchises. They keep 699 00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:56,480 Speaker 1: the competition in the building and the players embrace it. 700 00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 1: In New England, it was every day every year felt 701 00:42:00,239 --> 00:42:03,399 Speaker 1: like they drafted somebody to take my job. They brought 702 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:05,359 Speaker 1: a guy in. Everybody wanted to go to New England, 703 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 1: especially event to get a ring and I'm gonna come 704 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:09,560 Speaker 1: in and I play, and they think I'm gonna take 705 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 1: less money. They gotta be on the sacrifice because you 706 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 1: think you're gonna coming and start right away. And I've 707 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,680 Speaker 1: seen Hall of Fame players coming to be on the 708 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:21,640 Speaker 1: twos and camp because they weren't playing the best that week. 709 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,520 Speaker 1: So it was all about competition. I was what I 710 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:27,799 Speaker 1: was bred into in this league. Yeah, and I think, uh, 711 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:31,160 Speaker 1: I think Belichick, man, you gotta admire what what he's 712 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,560 Speaker 1: been able to do up there, and also how the 713 00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:37,120 Speaker 1: players have embraced it because it's a culture that's been 714 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:40,520 Speaker 1: put in place and guys know when they go there 715 00:42:41,080 --> 00:42:44,759 Speaker 1: what it is, what's expected, and you know, and it's 716 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,560 Speaker 1: a great thing and that's what great organizations do. It's 717 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:50,480 Speaker 1: the same in Pittsburgh. I mean, you know, I admire 718 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:53,319 Speaker 1: what Mike Tomlin has done. You know, even though now 719 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:56,319 Speaker 1: you know, we gotta we gotta find a quarterback. But 720 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,720 Speaker 1: he has done a great job, never had a losing season, 721 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: and that and itself goes back to our problem that 722 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:06,440 Speaker 1: we're dealing with the day. That's why more African Americans 723 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:15,200 Speaker 1: should have Yeah, so let's let's tell me about the 724 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:18,120 Speaker 1: corners today, because there was an error in the nineties 725 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,799 Speaker 1: where the corners got shorter. And you're a tall guy, right, 726 00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:24,279 Speaker 1: and then the corners seemed that got shorter. Now they're like, 727 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:27,879 Speaker 1: this guy's six to this guy's got long arms. Put 728 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:30,320 Speaker 1: him in a this type of scheme, he'll be great. 729 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:34,759 Speaker 1: But you were, you were that size years ago. So 730 00:43:34,840 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 1: were you like the first one that big? Or or 731 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 1: how do you how do you feel about the cornerback 732 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 1: and the side of a cornerback? It doesn't matter. I 733 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:45,840 Speaker 1: think it matters. I think it matters. I spoke of 734 00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:50,600 Speaker 1: it earlier about your wingspan. Uh. You know, how are 735 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,799 Speaker 1: you gonna cover a five three or five four guy 736 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:57,319 Speaker 1: gonna cover mudcap out there and Seattle? Yeah, I mean 737 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:01,520 Speaker 1: if you got big receivers. Uh, and and there's a 738 00:44:01,600 --> 00:44:04,520 Speaker 1: lot of big receivers Evans and Tampa Bay. I mean, 739 00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:07,360 Speaker 1: just you can go around the league and find guys 740 00:44:07,360 --> 00:44:10,160 Speaker 1: who are out there running rob's catching balls that are 741 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:15,560 Speaker 1: six three or taller. Uh So you gotta have people 742 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:18,160 Speaker 1: to match up. And that's what the game it's about. 743 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,719 Speaker 1: It's about how you match up with people. And uh 744 00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:25,080 Speaker 1: I think, uh, I think here, I think they're looking 745 00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:28,160 Speaker 1: for those guys. I think they're there are a lot 746 00:44:28,200 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 1: of them out there. You know that I'm a five 747 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:35,080 Speaker 1: eleven guy. And the counter to that is, well, you 748 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:38,800 Speaker 1: got these Cooper cups, you got these Tyreek Hills, you 749 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:42,839 Speaker 1: got these receivers five nine. Can the six ft three 750 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:46,960 Speaker 1: corner change direction with these? With these shorter, shifting receivers 751 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:50,000 Speaker 1: in the slot out the slot? Well, it goes back 752 00:44:50,040 --> 00:44:54,960 Speaker 1: to the ability. I mean that you don't you you 753 00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:57,719 Speaker 1: won't just draft the guy called seats tall. Yeah, he's 754 00:44:57,800 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 1: got to have something. He's to be able to do 755 00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:04,880 Speaker 1: something because your height is just a that's an asset 756 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:08,000 Speaker 1: for you, but you gotta be And then we talked 757 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:13,759 Speaker 1: about it earlier. I think the number one talent attribute 758 00:45:13,880 --> 00:45:17,360 Speaker 1: in my opinion, it's speed. You know, you gotta have 759 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:19,520 Speaker 1: a guy that can run. But you know, if you 760 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:21,799 Speaker 1: if you six three and runs of four or five, 761 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:23,560 Speaker 1: well you. You're not gonna be out there on the 762 00:45:23,560 --> 00:45:26,520 Speaker 1: corner trying to cover nobody, you know. But if you's 763 00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:28,960 Speaker 1: six three and you can run a four three or 764 00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:32,000 Speaker 1: four or four, you know, then you've got an opportunity 765 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 1: to be special. And so when you talk about the shift, 766 00:45:37,239 --> 00:45:43,280 Speaker 1: the receivers, the Cooper Cups, um Tyreek Hills, all these kids, 767 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:46,760 Speaker 1: Uh yeah, I mean that's a different that's a different 768 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:51,279 Speaker 1: kind of challenge. But if you've got defensive bikes that 769 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:55,920 Speaker 1: can run, and if you've got defensive bikes that are physical, um, 770 00:45:55,960 --> 00:45:59,120 Speaker 1: you know, you can you can offset some of that stuff. 771 00:45:59,560 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 1: And and even if you've got guys who can cover 772 00:46:03,480 --> 00:46:08,320 Speaker 1: and that can run, football is the ultimate team sport. 773 00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:11,320 Speaker 1: If you don't have somebody up front putting pressure on 774 00:46:11,360 --> 00:46:14,080 Speaker 1: the quarterback, I don't care how good you are. You know, 775 00:46:14,200 --> 00:46:17,480 Speaker 1: So all these things and that's why, in my opinion, 776 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:21,680 Speaker 1: football is such such an awesome sport. And that's why 777 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:25,359 Speaker 1: people love because everybody. You can get ten guys doing 778 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:28,839 Speaker 1: their job, and one guy doesn't do his job, then 779 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:33,920 Speaker 1: you got a bad place. Yeah, and and so uh 780 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:38,080 Speaker 1: the game of football is uh so ingrained, and so 781 00:46:38,239 --> 00:46:42,600 Speaker 1: our societtend but sometimes I wonder if people are really 782 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:45,879 Speaker 1: learning from the game. The game can teach you. You You 783 00:46:45,880 --> 00:46:47,560 Speaker 1: can watch the game and teach you a whole lot 784 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:51,080 Speaker 1: just about life and about society, about how we all 785 00:46:51,120 --> 00:46:54,520 Speaker 1: should work together, and how it's so important that this 786 00:46:54,560 --> 00:46:57,759 Speaker 1: guy be successful, so you can be successful adversity to 787 00:46:58,040 --> 00:47:02,920 Speaker 1: every game, and and and don't care what part of 788 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:05,359 Speaker 1: the country you come from, what you look like, you 789 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:10,399 Speaker 1: knows it's happened us all. And so that's how that's 790 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:13,239 Speaker 1: why I think as Americans will fell and we're not 791 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:17,480 Speaker 1: taking what we were seeing and learning from sports how 792 00:47:17,600 --> 00:47:19,960 Speaker 1: it can help us in society and I it can 793 00:47:20,000 --> 00:47:26,280 Speaker 1: help us um um create a better society for generations 794 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:30,680 Speaker 1: to come. Wow. Powerful, I really appreciate you, man, I 795 00:47:30,680 --> 00:47:33,359 Speaker 1: really appreciate this conversation today. He took a lot from 796 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,680 Speaker 1: you and mel Blunt, Stamp and state and he would 797 00:47:36,719 --> 00:47:40,600 Speaker 1: dominate in today's error. And I believe it's a six 798 00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:43,759 Speaker 1: three running a four three. But I don't fall off trees. Man, 799 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:45,600 Speaker 1: that's a rare. That's a hall of famers. So I 800 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:47,719 Speaker 1: really appreciate your presence. Man, I learned a lot from me. 801 00:47:47,800 --> 00:47:49,960 Speaker 1: He thanks, he logan, It's been a pleasure. Man, you're 802 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:52,840 Speaker 1: a great player and good luck and you man. Appreciate 803 00:47:52,920 --> 00:48:01,359 Speaker 1: and bless you awesome. Thanks for joining us on the 804 00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:05,359 Speaker 1: NFL Players Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and follow at 805 00:48:05,480 --> 00:48:09,360 Speaker 1: NFL Players Podcast on Instagram for the latest players stories 806 00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:13,440 Speaker 1: and to connect with the NFL Players community. H