1 00:00:06,026 --> 00:00:09,506 Speaker 1: NFL Explained is a production of the NFL in partnership 2 00:00:09,706 --> 00:00:17,866 Speaker 1: with I Heart Radio. It's a brand new edition of 3 00:00:17,946 --> 00:00:21,106 Speaker 1: the NFL Explained podcast. Mike yam joined by a Super 4 00:00:21,106 --> 00:00:23,426 Speaker 1: Bowl champ. I've been having so much fun with you 5 00:00:23,466 --> 00:00:26,866 Speaker 1: on these shows. In the saddle. You good, I'm excellent. 6 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:31,026 Speaker 1: My Buffalo Bills one week one, my rebuilt Seattle Seahawks 7 00:00:31,066 --> 00:00:34,026 Speaker 1: one week one. So I'm pumped up. Of course you 8 00:00:34,346 --> 00:00:37,426 Speaker 1: should be. You have been the flag bearer for those 9 00:00:37,466 --> 00:00:39,826 Speaker 1: squads on Total Access when I've been able to work 10 00:00:39,826 --> 00:00:41,386 Speaker 1: with you. But look at the end of the day, 11 00:00:41,386 --> 00:00:44,466 Speaker 1: where you're all huge NFL fans, and what we try 12 00:00:44,506 --> 00:00:46,946 Speaker 1: to do on this podcast is really educate people around 13 00:00:46,946 --> 00:00:50,586 Speaker 1: different aspects of the game. Now when you watch on 14 00:00:50,586 --> 00:00:53,026 Speaker 1: a Sunday, there's so many things that are happening, even 15 00:00:53,066 --> 00:00:55,746 Speaker 1: just away from football that I think fans aren't always 16 00:00:55,906 --> 00:00:58,666 Speaker 1: aware of. You got stadium operations, broadcast teams are all 17 00:00:58,706 --> 00:01:01,986 Speaker 1: watching the games, the technology around some of it. M 18 00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:05,226 Speaker 1: Rob though, I think there's another piece that doesn't get 19 00:01:05,346 --> 00:01:08,626 Speaker 1: enough love when we talk about what actually happens on 20 00:01:08,666 --> 00:01:11,386 Speaker 1: the football field. You were on the fifty three man roster, 21 00:01:11,426 --> 00:01:14,866 Speaker 1: You're not necessarily worried about your role, but maybe just 22 00:01:14,906 --> 00:01:16,626 Speaker 1: a little bit, but look at the end of the 23 00:01:16,706 --> 00:01:19,706 Speaker 1: day to get ready. We keep hearing this phrase and 24 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:22,426 Speaker 1: it was big. If anyone watched Hard Knocks with the Lions, 25 00:01:22,546 --> 00:01:25,186 Speaker 1: you know this idea of the practice squad. So today 26 00:01:25,186 --> 00:01:28,866 Speaker 1: on the NFL Explained podcast, we're gonna look at life 27 00:01:28,986 --> 00:01:31,786 Speaker 1: on that practice squad to paint the picture of what 28 00:01:31,906 --> 00:01:33,586 Speaker 1: it's actually like for some of these players in the 29 00:01:33,586 --> 00:01:36,866 Speaker 1: conversations behind the scenes about guys that do still need 30 00:01:36,906 --> 00:01:38,626 Speaker 1: to help out their squad. Well, first of all, I 31 00:01:38,626 --> 00:01:41,866 Speaker 1: want our listeners to understand the fifty three guys or 32 00:01:41,866 --> 00:01:45,146 Speaker 1: the forty six, because that's what's actually eligible to play 33 00:01:45,266 --> 00:01:47,546 Speaker 1: on game day. The forty six plus the third string 34 00:01:47,626 --> 00:01:50,066 Speaker 1: quarterback forty six they go out there that you see 35 00:01:50,106 --> 00:01:52,986 Speaker 1: on television every Sunday. There's a lot more that goes 36 00:01:53,026 --> 00:01:55,266 Speaker 1: into that team taking the field than just those guys 37 00:01:55,306 --> 00:01:57,506 Speaker 1: going to meetings and going on the practice field. There's 38 00:01:57,506 --> 00:02:00,306 Speaker 1: a whole group of guys the practice squad that their 39 00:02:00,506 --> 00:02:04,866 Speaker 1: task which showing the squad the other team. Meaning if 40 00:02:04,986 --> 00:02:08,666 Speaker 1: you're trying to service your defense right, the practice squad 41 00:02:08,666 --> 00:02:12,186 Speaker 1: has to recreate the opponent's offense. And do their plays, 42 00:02:12,346 --> 00:02:15,306 Speaker 1: kind of be their players and give the starting defense 43 00:02:15,346 --> 00:02:18,026 Speaker 1: a good look and vice versa. Right scout defense they 44 00:02:18,066 --> 00:02:20,186 Speaker 1: have to be in the right defense, is the right shelves, 45 00:02:20,266 --> 00:02:24,066 Speaker 1: the right things that the players do. And these practice 46 00:02:24,066 --> 00:02:27,906 Speaker 1: squad players, they're not only the good teams. What they 47 00:02:27,906 --> 00:02:30,346 Speaker 1: do with their practice squad players, they still use the 48 00:02:30,386 --> 00:02:34,826 Speaker 1: same verbage that they use in their schemes offensively and defensively, 49 00:02:34,826 --> 00:02:37,026 Speaker 1: So you provide an element of cross training to it. 50 00:02:37,066 --> 00:02:40,266 Speaker 1: But there hasn't been a Super Bowl champion team that's 51 00:02:40,346 --> 00:02:44,106 Speaker 1: happened throughout history that hadn't had a practice squad. They're 52 00:02:44,186 --> 00:02:46,826 Speaker 1: very important. You actually touched on something that's really important. 53 00:02:46,866 --> 00:02:49,186 Speaker 1: It's something that we will dive deep into. When you've 54 00:02:49,186 --> 00:02:52,106 Speaker 1: mentioned verbage. Now you know, we did have our episode 55 00:02:52,146 --> 00:02:55,186 Speaker 1: about play calling and why that's significant. If you're in 56 00:02:55,186 --> 00:02:57,226 Speaker 1: a practice squad, that doesn't mean you're gonna be playing 57 00:02:57,266 --> 00:03:00,346 Speaker 1: for that team. You might actually end up on another roster. 58 00:03:00,986 --> 00:03:03,466 Speaker 1: There are some rules and regulations around some of that stuff, 59 00:03:03,466 --> 00:03:05,586 Speaker 1: which we'll get to coming up here on this podcast. 60 00:03:05,586 --> 00:03:07,826 Speaker 1: But you touched on an NFL roster. It's made up 61 00:03:07,826 --> 00:03:10,746 Speaker 1: of fifty three spots, but each team can have up 62 00:03:10,786 --> 00:03:13,666 Speaker 1: to sixteen other players on the practice squad. Now that 63 00:03:13,786 --> 00:03:17,386 Speaker 1: number is actually increased from ten in twenty twenty, and 64 00:03:17,386 --> 00:03:19,626 Speaker 1: it was in response to the pandemic, but it was 65 00:03:19,706 --> 00:03:21,786 Speaker 1: voted on by the NFL and the nfl PA to 66 00:03:21,986 --> 00:03:24,186 Speaker 1: keep those expanded rosters, which I think is actually kind 67 00:03:24,226 --> 00:03:28,066 Speaker 1: of level. Means some extra jobs and some less tough 68 00:03:28,146 --> 00:03:30,786 Speaker 1: decisions for teams as they're trying to navigate some of 69 00:03:30,826 --> 00:03:34,106 Speaker 1: those rosters. But right now, of the six team players 70 00:03:34,106 --> 00:03:37,106 Speaker 1: on the practice squad, six of them can have unlimited 71 00:03:37,146 --> 00:03:40,466 Speaker 1: experience in the NFL, and ten players need to have 72 00:03:40,706 --> 00:03:44,066 Speaker 1: two or fewer accrued seasons in the league. In additional 73 00:03:44,106 --> 00:03:47,106 Speaker 1: all that in, the NFL actually randomly selects a division 74 00:03:47,226 --> 00:03:51,506 Speaker 1: each year whose team can each add one additional international 75 00:03:51,546 --> 00:03:54,386 Speaker 1: player to their practice squad as part of the International 76 00:03:54,426 --> 00:03:57,866 Speaker 1: Player Pathway program. Currently, all four teams in the a 77 00:03:57,986 --> 00:04:01,466 Speaker 1: f C South have added international players in accordance with 78 00:04:01,506 --> 00:04:04,066 Speaker 1: the international program, but none have actually made the fifty 79 00:04:04,066 --> 00:04:06,666 Speaker 1: three man roster. To me, it is pretty cool. It's 80 00:04:06,666 --> 00:04:08,626 Speaker 1: one of these big initiatives that the NFL has had, 81 00:04:08,666 --> 00:04:10,266 Speaker 1: and it does open up the door to get some 82 00:04:10,306 --> 00:04:13,666 Speaker 1: of these players who don't necessarily have that college experience 83 00:04:13,746 --> 00:04:17,426 Speaker 1: an opportunity to really thrive and learn how to play. 84 00:04:17,466 --> 00:04:19,826 Speaker 1: But how do these extra players, how do they help 85 00:04:19,986 --> 00:04:24,226 Speaker 1: NFL teams? Well, I'm glad you explained how the practice 86 00:04:24,226 --> 00:04:27,466 Speaker 1: squad rosters are made up. You know, ten of those guys, 87 00:04:27,506 --> 00:04:29,946 Speaker 1: ten of the sixteen or guys that have been on 88 00:04:30,066 --> 00:04:32,986 Speaker 1: NFL rosters for two or less years. Right, that's a 89 00:04:32,986 --> 00:04:35,066 Speaker 1: big deal. That's really with the practice squad as for 90 00:04:35,146 --> 00:04:39,426 Speaker 1: as development. What was added was the six players with 91 00:04:39,546 --> 00:04:42,586 Speaker 1: unlimited experience. And I say that's important because I got 92 00:04:42,626 --> 00:04:44,226 Speaker 1: to a point in my career where I was no 93 00:04:44,266 --> 00:04:48,306 Speaker 1: longer eligible for the practice squad and if sixteen guys 94 00:04:48,306 --> 00:04:50,586 Speaker 1: with that extra six was added when I was, you know, 95 00:04:50,626 --> 00:04:53,666 Speaker 1: thinking about retirement, I may still be playing. Because at 96 00:04:53,666 --> 00:04:56,186 Speaker 1: the end of the day, practice squad ain't a terrible job. 97 00:04:56,386 --> 00:04:58,626 Speaker 1: Like it's not like I tell people all the time. 98 00:04:58,706 --> 00:05:01,466 Speaker 1: If your team is playing away, you may work three 99 00:05:01,546 --> 00:05:05,306 Speaker 1: days that week. You come in Monday, you're watching the 100 00:05:05,346 --> 00:05:08,106 Speaker 1: previous weeks games, so you really didn't have much to 101 00:05:08,146 --> 00:05:10,306 Speaker 1: do with that. You know that that week game, so 102 00:05:10,346 --> 00:05:12,466 Speaker 1: you're not looking at the film with with that type 103 00:05:12,466 --> 00:05:14,866 Speaker 1: of eye where you're evaluating yourself. So you may come 104 00:05:14,866 --> 00:05:17,306 Speaker 1: in get a lift, and then you go home. Tuesdays 105 00:05:17,346 --> 00:05:20,986 Speaker 1: the player's day off, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of those 106 00:05:21,066 --> 00:05:23,626 Speaker 1: days that you work, and if the team is playing away, 107 00:05:23,666 --> 00:05:26,506 Speaker 1: oftentimes they travel on Friday. If they change time zones 108 00:05:26,986 --> 00:05:30,146 Speaker 1: and you don't travel, you stay at home. So you 109 00:05:30,186 --> 00:05:31,746 Speaker 1: get paid. And I know we're gonna go on how 110 00:05:31,786 --> 00:05:33,786 Speaker 1: much these guys get paid every single week. But you're 111 00:05:33,786 --> 00:05:35,866 Speaker 1: gonna get paid X amount of dollars for three days 112 00:05:35,866 --> 00:05:38,266 Speaker 1: of work. It's a pretty good gig. And for me, 113 00:05:38,546 --> 00:05:40,546 Speaker 1: I was on that fifty three man roster and I 114 00:05:40,626 --> 00:05:43,906 Speaker 1: was a fullback, and most rosters, if you have a fullback, 115 00:05:43,946 --> 00:05:46,306 Speaker 1: it's only one, it's only one on the roster. So 116 00:05:47,146 --> 00:05:49,706 Speaker 1: in days and weeks, especially late in the season, Mike, 117 00:05:49,746 --> 00:05:52,466 Speaker 1: where you know, Coach Carroll was trying to take care 118 00:05:52,506 --> 00:05:54,786 Speaker 1: of us right where we went wearing past as much 119 00:05:55,226 --> 00:05:58,426 Speaker 1: I knew, I still had to have a physical job 120 00:05:59,226 --> 00:06:01,786 Speaker 1: during the week. If I did not get my neck 121 00:06:01,826 --> 00:06:05,906 Speaker 1: and my shoulders some type of contact, I would get 122 00:06:05,906 --> 00:06:08,026 Speaker 1: a stinger on Sunday and it would totally mess my 123 00:06:08,066 --> 00:06:10,586 Speaker 1: game up. And so we had a practice squad. Player's 124 00:06:10,666 --> 00:06:13,706 Speaker 1: name was Mike Morgan. Okat he went to sc played 125 00:06:13,706 --> 00:06:16,626 Speaker 1: with Pete Carroll, always been on Pete Carroll's teams, but 126 00:06:16,666 --> 00:06:18,786 Speaker 1: he was one of our practice squad guys. And this 127 00:06:18,826 --> 00:06:20,866 Speaker 1: is what I loved about mikey Mo. We called him 128 00:06:20,866 --> 00:06:24,346 Speaker 1: mikey Mo. Mike would be coming off the field and 129 00:06:24,346 --> 00:06:26,706 Speaker 1: I would say, hey, Mike, look, man, I need you 130 00:06:26,746 --> 00:06:28,746 Speaker 1: to go put on some pads. Bro Like, I know, 131 00:06:28,826 --> 00:06:31,306 Speaker 1: we just practiced for two hours. I know you're tired. 132 00:06:31,346 --> 00:06:33,626 Speaker 1: You're on the show scout team for offense, the Show 133 00:06:33,626 --> 00:06:36,426 Speaker 1: Scout team for defense. You're running on special teams giving 134 00:06:36,506 --> 00:06:38,986 Speaker 1: us the show. You are just as tired as I am. 135 00:06:39,546 --> 00:06:41,466 Speaker 1: But I need to bang, man, I need I need 136 00:06:41,466 --> 00:06:43,786 Speaker 1: this contact. Could you go in, put on your helmet 137 00:06:43,826 --> 00:06:46,426 Speaker 1: and show the pass? And I need about fifteen reps 138 00:06:46,426 --> 00:06:48,906 Speaker 1: of us just running into something a little bit. I 139 00:06:48,986 --> 00:06:52,346 Speaker 1: know it sounds a little weird, but I played fullback. 140 00:06:52,346 --> 00:06:53,786 Speaker 1: That was my job and if I didn't have that 141 00:06:53,866 --> 00:06:55,666 Speaker 1: during the week, I couldn't do my job on Sunday. 142 00:06:55,706 --> 00:07:01,226 Speaker 1: So practice squad players are vital, and oftentimes the championship teams, 143 00:07:01,226 --> 00:07:04,306 Speaker 1: the practice squad guys go above and beyond to make 144 00:07:04,346 --> 00:07:06,386 Speaker 1: sure that their guys are ready to play on Sundays. 145 00:07:06,706 --> 00:07:08,746 Speaker 1: Kind of fascinating to hear something like this because it 146 00:07:08,786 --> 00:07:11,386 Speaker 1: almost sounds like a de facto coach. And hear me 147 00:07:11,426 --> 00:07:12,786 Speaker 1: out on this because you know, I spent a lot 148 00:07:12,786 --> 00:07:15,146 Speaker 1: of time in my career also covering basketball, and you'd 149 00:07:15,186 --> 00:07:17,546 Speaker 1: hear this where basketball player would need to say to 150 00:07:17,586 --> 00:07:19,466 Speaker 1: a coach like, Hey, can we show up six am? 151 00:07:19,506 --> 00:07:20,746 Speaker 1: Can you meet me at the gym? I need someone 152 00:07:20,746 --> 00:07:23,826 Speaker 1: to rebound for me. And look, it's different because most 153 00:07:23,866 --> 00:07:28,266 Speaker 1: coaches aren't gonna trap it up. Look on time at practice. 154 00:07:28,386 --> 00:07:31,226 Speaker 1: I will tell you about that on another episode. I 155 00:07:31,226 --> 00:07:33,706 Speaker 1: actually do want to hear that story. But that's that's 156 00:07:33,746 --> 00:07:36,706 Speaker 1: pretty cool how many of those guys actually embrace it, 157 00:07:36,706 --> 00:07:38,986 Speaker 1: because I got to think from a mental standpoint, most 158 00:07:38,986 --> 00:07:41,626 Speaker 1: of these guys feel like, hey, I can really contribute. 159 00:07:41,626 --> 00:07:44,986 Speaker 1: I should be playing on Sundays. And in a lot 160 00:07:45,026 --> 00:07:47,946 Speaker 1: of ways, it's just about getting the dudes who are 161 00:07:48,026 --> 00:07:50,426 Speaker 1: going to be playing ready. Yeah, you know, I'm not 162 00:07:50,466 --> 00:07:52,746 Speaker 1: gonna go and say names. But when I played for 163 00:07:52,786 --> 00:07:55,986 Speaker 1: the San Francisco forty Niners, it just showed a difference 164 00:07:55,986 --> 00:07:58,186 Speaker 1: in the culture of the teams at the time. Now 165 00:07:58,226 --> 00:08:00,226 Speaker 1: this was back in you know, the two thousand nine 166 00:08:00,666 --> 00:08:02,506 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight seasons when I played for the 167 00:08:02,506 --> 00:08:06,106 Speaker 1: San Francisco forty Niners got to the Seahawks. But when 168 00:08:06,146 --> 00:08:08,186 Speaker 1: I was with the forty Niners, we weren't a very 169 00:08:08,186 --> 00:08:11,506 Speaker 1: good football team for four years. Every practice squad guy 170 00:08:11,586 --> 00:08:15,146 Speaker 1: we got, you can tell they were just using the 171 00:08:15,186 --> 00:08:18,346 Speaker 1: practice squad as a mode to get another job somewhere else. 172 00:08:18,386 --> 00:08:20,546 Speaker 1: They didn't really want to be there. They wouldn't want 173 00:08:20,586 --> 00:08:23,026 Speaker 1: to stay after, they wouldn't want to do the extra 174 00:08:23,106 --> 00:08:24,786 Speaker 1: to get us ready. And then as a player, you 175 00:08:24,826 --> 00:08:26,906 Speaker 1: don't want to say, man, I'm gonna go to the 176 00:08:26,946 --> 00:08:29,066 Speaker 1: coach and tell a coach that you you don't want 177 00:08:29,106 --> 00:08:30,466 Speaker 1: to do that. But at the end of the day, 178 00:08:30,746 --> 00:08:33,026 Speaker 1: you sometimes you need practice squad guys to do a 179 00:08:33,066 --> 00:08:36,266 Speaker 1: little bit extra. And yeah, it's a testament to the cultures. 180 00:08:36,386 --> 00:08:38,906 Speaker 1: And when I was in San Francisco before coach Harball 181 00:08:38,986 --> 00:08:42,386 Speaker 1: got there, we had a losing culture and practice square 182 00:08:42,426 --> 00:08:44,546 Speaker 1: guys didn't do the extra. When I got to Seattle, 183 00:08:44,746 --> 00:08:47,146 Speaker 1: it was a testament to what John Snyder and and 184 00:08:47,226 --> 00:08:49,346 Speaker 1: the type of guys that John Snyder and Pete Carroll 185 00:08:49,426 --> 00:08:52,146 Speaker 1: actually brought into the building. There was never a guy 186 00:08:52,186 --> 00:08:54,226 Speaker 1: that turned me down for the extra work. There was 187 00:08:54,266 --> 00:08:56,346 Speaker 1: never a guy that I knew that turned Russell okung 188 00:08:56,466 --> 00:08:59,666 Speaker 1: or somebody offers the lineman down for extra work. So clearly, 189 00:08:59,706 --> 00:09:02,346 Speaker 1: and you alluded to it there, these guys are are 190 00:09:02,386 --> 00:09:05,226 Speaker 1: not doing it for free. They are being compensated. There's 191 00:09:05,226 --> 00:09:07,746 Speaker 1: some rules regulations around some of this stuff, which we'll 192 00:09:07,786 --> 00:09:09,906 Speaker 1: get to, but you have any idea and Rob, what 193 00:09:09,986 --> 00:09:12,266 Speaker 1: some of those checks look like? No, Okay, So when 194 00:09:12,266 --> 00:09:16,226 Speaker 1: I played, I think a practice squad got got about 195 00:09:16,506 --> 00:09:20,746 Speaker 1: nine K for the year. You know what I'm saying. 196 00:09:20,746 --> 00:09:24,226 Speaker 1: And so yeah, so nine d K for sixteen seventeen 197 00:09:24,266 --> 00:09:26,266 Speaker 1: weeks and you only work in three days a week. Man, 198 00:09:26,266 --> 00:09:29,146 Speaker 1: that's a pretty good gig. It's it's not it's not bad. 199 00:09:29,226 --> 00:09:30,866 Speaker 1: It's it's good if you can get it, and especially 200 00:09:30,866 --> 00:09:32,666 Speaker 1: if it leads to a job on a fifty three 201 00:09:32,666 --> 00:09:35,026 Speaker 1: man rosters. So here's what we got for you. As 202 00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:37,666 Speaker 1: far as the weekly paycheck, the c b A actually 203 00:09:37,666 --> 00:09:40,746 Speaker 1: dictates a fixed amount of money for practice squad players, 204 00:09:40,986 --> 00:09:44,546 Speaker 1: but salary guarantees, bonuses and incentives are actually barred from 205 00:09:44,586 --> 00:09:47,746 Speaker 1: being part of practice squad contracts. We should know what 206 00:09:47,786 --> 00:09:50,386 Speaker 1: the salaries. By the way, the practice squad guys do 207 00:09:50,546 --> 00:09:54,026 Speaker 1: not hit the team's salary cap. Rookies and second year 208 00:09:54,066 --> 00:09:56,306 Speaker 1: players who are on the fifty three man roster for 209 00:09:56,386 --> 00:09:59,626 Speaker 1: eight or fewer games as a rookie actually received the 210 00:09:59,706 --> 00:10:04,066 Speaker 1: same weekly pay and for the two season, that's eleven thousand, 211 00:10:04,146 --> 00:10:07,146 Speaker 1: five hundred dollars per week. Now that's going to increase 212 00:10:07,186 --> 00:10:11,386 Speaker 1: each year untill twenty thirty when they could make sixteen thousand, 213 00:10:11,506 --> 00:10:14,186 Speaker 1: seven hundred and fifty dollars a week. Keep hearing about inflation. 214 00:10:14,986 --> 00:10:18,186 Speaker 1: Let's roll here. May see that means of a rookie 215 00:10:18,266 --> 00:10:20,306 Speaker 1: or a player in their second years on the practice 216 00:10:20,306 --> 00:10:23,346 Speaker 1: squad for all eighteen weeks of the NFL season, they'll 217 00:10:23,346 --> 00:10:27,186 Speaker 1: make an annual salary of two hundred and seven thousand dollars, 218 00:10:27,666 --> 00:10:30,226 Speaker 1: which is really not chump chains. That's not bad. That's 219 00:10:30,226 --> 00:10:32,986 Speaker 1: some decent coins there. I know it's on Aaron Rodgers money. 220 00:10:32,986 --> 00:10:35,946 Speaker 1: But the point is like that's still you're you're a 221 00:10:35,946 --> 00:10:38,306 Speaker 1: professional player at that point. If you are a second 222 00:10:38,386 --> 00:10:41,586 Speaker 1: year player and that was on the fifty three man 223 00:10:41,706 --> 00:10:44,026 Speaker 1: roster for eight or more games as a rookie, the 224 00:10:44,066 --> 00:10:46,626 Speaker 1: pay scales a little different each week. There's a minimum 225 00:10:46,906 --> 00:10:49,546 Speaker 1: and a maximum pay scale in twenty two, you can 226 00:10:49,586 --> 00:10:53,106 Speaker 1: be paid a minimum of fifteen thousand, four hundred and 227 00:10:53,266 --> 00:10:56,786 Speaker 1: up to nineteen thousand, nine hundred a week. So it's 228 00:10:56,826 --> 00:10:59,066 Speaker 1: a arrange really over the course of the year of 229 00:10:59,106 --> 00:11:02,226 Speaker 1: two hundred and seventy seven thousand to about three hundred 230 00:11:02,226 --> 00:11:05,386 Speaker 1: and sixty thousand. So once again there's some cash to 231 00:11:05,426 --> 00:11:06,946 Speaker 1: be made for some of these players. It is some 232 00:11:07,026 --> 00:11:09,266 Speaker 1: cash to be made. And what I used to tell 233 00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:11,986 Speaker 1: practice squad guys all the time, it's live bro. This 234 00:11:12,026 --> 00:11:14,426 Speaker 1: is an opportunity for you to save your money and 235 00:11:14,506 --> 00:11:18,066 Speaker 1: invest it right to money principles. Right, save some of 236 00:11:18,066 --> 00:11:20,346 Speaker 1: your money so that you have something for when you 237 00:11:20,146 --> 00:11:22,266 Speaker 1: You never know when your last player is gonna be 238 00:11:22,306 --> 00:11:23,826 Speaker 1: in this league, So save a little bit of that 239 00:11:23,866 --> 00:11:26,466 Speaker 1: money invested so you can grow it. Like there were 240 00:11:26,506 --> 00:11:28,826 Speaker 1: times when I was just listening to with Larry Allen 241 00:11:28,906 --> 00:11:31,066 Speaker 1: when I was in San Francisco, just listening to him 242 00:11:31,186 --> 00:11:33,986 Speaker 1: talk to his financial people, and it helped a lot. 243 00:11:34,066 --> 00:11:36,026 Speaker 1: Helped me get out of the two thousand and eight 244 00:11:36,026 --> 00:11:38,946 Speaker 1: two thous financial crisis and helped me thrive in that 245 00:11:39,106 --> 00:11:42,026 Speaker 1: environment just listening to Big Homie and what he was doing. 246 00:11:42,066 --> 00:11:46,346 Speaker 1: So again, save your money and also have an opportunity 247 00:11:46,386 --> 00:11:49,066 Speaker 1: to grow it. How many guys did you play with 248 00:11:49,146 --> 00:11:51,906 Speaker 1: that word? Understood that they probably weren't going to be 249 00:11:51,906 --> 00:11:55,146 Speaker 1: playing on Sundays, but at the same time, knew that 250 00:11:55,186 --> 00:11:57,386 Speaker 1: they had some legs right, like, they had an ability 251 00:11:57,386 --> 00:11:59,066 Speaker 1: to be a practice squad player, and just sort of 252 00:11:59,186 --> 00:12:03,226 Speaker 1: embrace that and knew, this is my path to being 253 00:12:03,266 --> 00:12:06,026 Speaker 1: successful and making some of those connections that you're talking about, 254 00:12:06,106 --> 00:12:08,226 Speaker 1: the ones that you've seen in the National Football They 255 00:12:08,266 --> 00:12:10,986 Speaker 1: actually make it from the practice squad. Actually, you know, 256 00:12:11,186 --> 00:12:13,786 Speaker 1: guys that don't get drafted go to a practice squad, 257 00:12:13,866 --> 00:12:16,906 Speaker 1: get on the active roster, and never go back to 258 00:12:16,946 --> 00:12:19,226 Speaker 1: the practice squad. The reason why they like that is 259 00:12:19,226 --> 00:12:21,466 Speaker 1: because they're cut a little bit differently, they're able to 260 00:12:21,506 --> 00:12:24,746 Speaker 1: get on the practice squad. Understand Look, this doesn't necessarily 261 00:12:24,826 --> 00:12:26,986 Speaker 1: mean that I'm not good enough to play in the 262 00:12:27,066 --> 00:12:30,466 Speaker 1: National Football League. Oftentimes guys are on practice squad because 263 00:12:30,826 --> 00:12:32,666 Speaker 1: of the guy in front of them making a lot 264 00:12:32,706 --> 00:12:35,106 Speaker 1: more money. It's a business decision, but the team wants 265 00:12:35,146 --> 00:12:37,666 Speaker 1: to keep you in their circumforts of influence, so they 266 00:12:37,706 --> 00:12:39,906 Speaker 1: put you on the practice squad, and the guys that 267 00:12:39,946 --> 00:12:50,626 Speaker 1: are enthusiastic about it usually come off on the better side. 268 00:12:51,266 --> 00:12:53,746 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the NFL, explains Mike m and m 269 00:12:53,826 --> 00:12:56,426 Speaker 1: Rob with you. I'm gonna ask you to We had 270 00:12:56,426 --> 00:12:58,626 Speaker 1: just had an episode where we were talking about college 271 00:12:58,666 --> 00:13:02,506 Speaker 1: players and more specifically, which universities do the best job 272 00:13:02,546 --> 00:13:05,026 Speaker 1: of creating NFL talent, which, by the way, it's a muscle. 273 00:13:05,026 --> 00:13:07,946 Speaker 1: Listen to episod haven't you can go and check it out. 274 00:13:08,266 --> 00:13:09,746 Speaker 1: I want you to flash back to your day as 275 00:13:09,746 --> 00:13:11,986 Speaker 1: a Penn State because I've been around this a lot 276 00:13:12,066 --> 00:13:13,586 Speaker 1: and I think it is still one of the coolest 277 00:13:13,586 --> 00:13:16,146 Speaker 1: things that happens in college football, and I think we 278 00:13:16,266 --> 00:13:19,706 Speaker 1: have someone of an equivalent on the NFL side. You 279 00:13:19,746 --> 00:13:22,946 Speaker 1: know that moment when a dude goes from non scholarship 280 00:13:22,946 --> 00:13:25,106 Speaker 1: walk onto all of a sudden getting that scholarship, and 281 00:13:25,226 --> 00:13:29,506 Speaker 1: how the entire team erupts. I would imagine when a 282 00:13:29,546 --> 00:13:31,226 Speaker 1: guy has been on the practice squad and all of 283 00:13:31,266 --> 00:13:33,466 Speaker 1: a sudden gets that call from the general manager and 284 00:13:33,466 --> 00:13:38,226 Speaker 1: he's got an opportunity. It's got a feel kind of similar, right, yeah, man, Well, 285 00:13:38,266 --> 00:13:41,746 Speaker 1: first of all, first of all, when a practice squad 286 00:13:41,746 --> 00:13:45,586 Speaker 1: god gets called up. The first thing and again our 287 00:13:45,586 --> 00:13:49,946 Speaker 1: listeners have to understand, Okay, oftentimes because of injury. Because 288 00:13:49,986 --> 00:13:53,186 Speaker 1: of the way that the NFL weeks go, sometimes these 289 00:13:53,226 --> 00:13:56,066 Speaker 1: guys don't find out until late in the week. Sometimes 290 00:13:56,066 --> 00:13:58,386 Speaker 1: they don't find out till the Thursday or Friday before 291 00:13:58,426 --> 00:14:00,706 Speaker 1: Sunday game. Yeah, they were taking reps through the week 292 00:14:00,746 --> 00:14:04,066 Speaker 1: and they thought it was a chance. But the business 293 00:14:04,106 --> 00:14:07,026 Speaker 1: of football happened, and so now they get their chance. 294 00:14:07,466 --> 00:14:10,106 Speaker 1: First thing happens is they go straight to their locker, 295 00:14:10,306 --> 00:14:13,026 Speaker 1: they get on their phone and they call a mom. Mom, 296 00:14:15,066 --> 00:14:17,746 Speaker 1: guess what. I know. You've been watching our team every 297 00:14:17,746 --> 00:14:20,586 Speaker 1: single week for the last ten weeks, and you haven't 298 00:14:20,586 --> 00:14:22,826 Speaker 1: seen me because I've been sitting next to you or 299 00:14:22,866 --> 00:14:24,946 Speaker 1: I've been on the phone with you. But this week 300 00:14:25,146 --> 00:14:27,346 Speaker 1: you can see me run out of that tunnel. I 301 00:14:27,346 --> 00:14:29,546 Speaker 1: may not get a care, I may not get a play, 302 00:14:29,626 --> 00:14:33,426 Speaker 1: but I will be dressed up. I mean. And what 303 00:14:33,586 --> 00:14:37,626 Speaker 1: happens is, oftentimes in God's family, mama calls the cousins 304 00:14:37,626 --> 00:14:39,986 Speaker 1: and the grandmama said, and you might have a thousand 305 00:14:40,026 --> 00:14:43,746 Speaker 1: people now just from that one call, just from that 306 00:14:43,826 --> 00:14:45,946 Speaker 1: call up from that player. Now have a thousand people 307 00:14:45,946 --> 00:14:48,506 Speaker 1: from one town watching the game. And to me, that's 308 00:14:48,546 --> 00:14:50,546 Speaker 1: the beauty of our game. That's the beauty of football. 309 00:14:50,586 --> 00:14:52,906 Speaker 1: So there's two ways to handle that. One you silence 310 00:14:52,946 --> 00:14:55,706 Speaker 1: your notifications on your phone, or you just walk around 311 00:14:55,706 --> 00:14:58,306 Speaker 1: and you stick that phone up in the air. Good 312 00:14:58,746 --> 00:15:03,146 Speaker 1: keep coming, keep it coming. There is also some financial incentive, 313 00:15:03,386 --> 00:15:06,826 Speaker 1: clearly from from being elevated um the practice squad to 314 00:15:06,866 --> 00:15:09,626 Speaker 1: the active roster. So keep this in mind here three 315 00:15:09,626 --> 00:15:12,346 Speaker 1: times for regular season and an unlimited number of times 316 00:15:12,346 --> 00:15:15,626 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Any player who are elevated from a game, 317 00:15:15,746 --> 00:15:19,466 Speaker 1: they get one seventeen of the minimum salary. Got seventeen 318 00:15:19,506 --> 00:15:21,266 Speaker 1: games that you're gonna be playing, right, We can do 319 00:15:21,306 --> 00:15:23,906 Speaker 1: the math figure that out. Now. The rookie minimum salary 320 00:15:23,986 --> 00:15:26,906 Speaker 1: for the twenty two season is seven hundred and five 321 00:15:26,906 --> 00:15:29,066 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. Does that hold up? Is that for real? Yo? 322 00:15:29,186 --> 00:15:32,666 Speaker 1: That is real? That's the rookie minimum. Do you know 323 00:15:32,746 --> 00:15:34,946 Speaker 1: what the rookie minimum was? What do you got? Home? 324 00:15:35,026 --> 00:15:37,626 Speaker 1: Ye got another when I was in the league, three 325 00:15:37,706 --> 00:15:41,066 Speaker 1: hundred and five thousand dollars. And guess what when I 326 00:15:41,146 --> 00:15:43,146 Speaker 1: first got to the service school for then is the 327 00:15:43,146 --> 00:15:45,306 Speaker 1: big team meeting with all the veterans and stuff there, 328 00:15:45,466 --> 00:15:48,626 Speaker 1: they acted like I got so much money? Like they 329 00:15:48,666 --> 00:15:50,786 Speaker 1: acted like that oh Man. When I was a rookie, 330 00:15:50,786 --> 00:15:53,106 Speaker 1: whee only got a hundred some thousand. And I'm sitting 331 00:15:53,106 --> 00:15:56,386 Speaker 1: there like, Bro Larry Allen, Man, you'll make ten million, 332 00:15:56,546 --> 00:15:59,626 Speaker 1: and you're talking about my two hundred thousand, oh Man, 333 00:15:59,786 --> 00:16:02,746 Speaker 1: seven hundred thousand. Well, now you sound like the old 334 00:16:02,786 --> 00:16:04,906 Speaker 1: man who says, get the ball off my line. So 335 00:16:05,266 --> 00:16:08,186 Speaker 1: just to be fair here, you sound exactly like the 336 00:16:08,306 --> 00:16:10,866 Speaker 1: Vets did when they hear a number like that. So 337 00:16:10,946 --> 00:16:13,946 Speaker 1: the seven thousand dollars that comes out to about forty 338 00:16:14,026 --> 00:16:17,186 Speaker 1: one K when the game is over. So that's that's 339 00:16:17,186 --> 00:16:19,186 Speaker 1: what your game check is, which is not bad. So 340 00:16:19,266 --> 00:16:22,706 Speaker 1: there is some incentive there. I would imagine that I 341 00:16:22,706 --> 00:16:24,986 Speaker 1: would say plays with your head, but it's probably even 342 00:16:25,066 --> 00:16:27,586 Speaker 1: more than that. Like, that's a huge chunk of change. 343 00:16:27,626 --> 00:16:29,146 Speaker 1: I mean, there's people in this country that are making 344 00:16:29,186 --> 00:16:31,746 Speaker 1: forty one k, sadly and trying to survive. You get 345 00:16:31,786 --> 00:16:33,786 Speaker 1: that in the one game check. I'll sign me up, 346 00:16:34,026 --> 00:16:36,706 Speaker 1: sign me up. And again, like I said before, it's 347 00:16:36,746 --> 00:16:39,946 Speaker 1: an opportunity for these guys to inject some capital into 348 00:16:39,946 --> 00:16:42,026 Speaker 1: their life too. Again, I tell people all the time 349 00:16:42,026 --> 00:16:44,866 Speaker 1: when rookies first come into the NFL, that first signing 350 00:16:44,906 --> 00:16:47,866 Speaker 1: bonuses for what you did in college. I mean it 351 00:16:47,946 --> 00:16:50,946 Speaker 1: really is. You haven't proved anything in the National Football 352 00:16:51,026 --> 00:16:53,786 Speaker 1: League to get that extra money quite yet. And for 353 00:16:53,826 --> 00:16:55,746 Speaker 1: a young guy that's been on the practice squad all 354 00:16:55,826 --> 00:16:57,426 Speaker 1: year to get caught up and be able to get 355 00:16:57,466 --> 00:17:00,706 Speaker 1: this financial boost, man, it's pretty cool. And I think 356 00:17:00,746 --> 00:17:02,906 Speaker 1: the NFL does one thing that I think is really 357 00:17:02,946 --> 00:17:04,946 Speaker 1: important for some of these practice squad players, and I 358 00:17:04,946 --> 00:17:08,946 Speaker 1: think it incent to vises teams from sort of grooming 359 00:17:08,946 --> 00:17:11,946 Speaker 1: their own players. It's maybe the best way to think 360 00:17:11,986 --> 00:17:14,026 Speaker 1: about a couple of workarounds for teams who are trying 361 00:17:14,026 --> 00:17:16,706 Speaker 1: to balance that fifty three man roster. How teams can 362 00:17:16,826 --> 00:17:19,626 Speaker 1: elevate up to two players from their practice squad to 363 00:17:19,706 --> 00:17:22,466 Speaker 1: their active roster per week. That allows them to increase 364 00:17:22,506 --> 00:17:26,346 Speaker 1: their roster size from fifty three tote. Okay, you know 365 00:17:26,386 --> 00:17:28,746 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, but m rob, when the game is over, 366 00:17:28,906 --> 00:17:32,306 Speaker 1: players automatically get reverted to the practice squad after getting 367 00:17:32,346 --> 00:17:35,786 Speaker 1: elevated for that game. Now, teams can instead sign practice 368 00:17:35,786 --> 00:17:40,146 Speaker 1: squad players to active roster contracts rather than elevating them 369 00:17:40,426 --> 00:17:42,546 Speaker 1: on a game to game basis. So this allows teams 370 00:17:42,586 --> 00:17:44,866 Speaker 1: to keep their players on their active roster and eligible 371 00:17:44,866 --> 00:17:47,826 Speaker 1: to playing games a little bit longer. But it also 372 00:17:48,146 --> 00:17:51,426 Speaker 1: would subject players to waivers upon release, which is not 373 00:17:51,546 --> 00:17:54,706 Speaker 1: the case with players who are simply elevated for a 374 00:17:54,746 --> 00:17:57,706 Speaker 1: given game. That waiver wire game once again not the 375 00:17:57,746 --> 00:17:59,986 Speaker 1: reference hard knocks, but I think that they do the 376 00:17:59,986 --> 00:18:02,386 Speaker 1: best job of giving everyone a real life glimpse of 377 00:18:02,426 --> 00:18:05,106 Speaker 1: what this actually is. How many times have we seen, Hey, 378 00:18:05,226 --> 00:18:07,106 Speaker 1: we hope this guy is able to clear waiver so 379 00:18:07,146 --> 00:18:08,866 Speaker 1: we can bring him back to the practice squad. And 380 00:18:08,906 --> 00:18:11,306 Speaker 1: that conversation happens all the time. It happens all the time, 381 00:18:11,426 --> 00:18:15,506 Speaker 1: and it's easy for us, especially us here in the media, 382 00:18:15,786 --> 00:18:18,106 Speaker 1: and you know, our fans to sit and say, oh, man, 383 00:18:18,146 --> 00:18:20,586 Speaker 1: you just got waived. They said they want you back. 384 00:18:20,906 --> 00:18:23,186 Speaker 1: Just relax, you'll be fine. Well, first of all, there's 385 00:18:23,226 --> 00:18:26,906 Speaker 1: a financial degradation there. Okay, I could be on the roster, 386 00:18:27,026 --> 00:18:29,346 Speaker 1: but now I'm not. I'm on the practice squad. There's 387 00:18:29,386 --> 00:18:32,626 Speaker 1: a little bit of difference of of pay there. But also, 388 00:18:32,706 --> 00:18:35,666 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, as a player, in 389 00:18:35,706 --> 00:18:38,506 Speaker 1: your mind, you think you're good enough to be on 390 00:18:38,546 --> 00:18:40,906 Speaker 1: the active roster. You think you're good enough for this 391 00:18:40,906 --> 00:18:43,106 Speaker 1: team to win games with. And I ain't gonna lie. 392 00:18:43,106 --> 00:18:45,306 Speaker 1: It is a little bit of a a gut me 393 00:18:45,426 --> 00:18:47,666 Speaker 1: feel like he's knocked down a little bit like, oh man, 394 00:18:47,706 --> 00:18:49,746 Speaker 1: I'm on the practice squad. But again, like I said before, 395 00:18:50,146 --> 00:18:52,546 Speaker 1: the ones who take it in stride, the ones who 396 00:18:52,666 --> 00:18:55,506 Speaker 1: understand that, look, this doesn't define me, This is just 397 00:18:55,706 --> 00:18:59,426 Speaker 1: my situation Temporarily, those guys end up being successful. So 398 00:18:59,466 --> 00:19:01,906 Speaker 1: it's a small fraternity of players that have been able 399 00:19:01,946 --> 00:19:04,586 Speaker 1: to play in the NFL. These are really small circles. 400 00:19:04,666 --> 00:19:07,826 Speaker 1: Coaches who end up with one team and that coaching 401 00:19:07,866 --> 00:19:10,506 Speaker 1: tree from various other spots. You know, everyone's on the 402 00:19:10,506 --> 00:19:13,186 Speaker 1: phone with each other. You know that there's preseason games 403 00:19:13,226 --> 00:19:14,946 Speaker 1: for some of these players who don't make that active 404 00:19:14,946 --> 00:19:17,306 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster. They're on a practice squad, but 405 00:19:17,346 --> 00:19:21,626 Speaker 1: they got film. So what happens when a guy goes 406 00:19:21,666 --> 00:19:23,666 Speaker 1: down and all of a sudden you're in need. You 407 00:19:23,786 --> 00:19:25,826 Speaker 1: might get a call as a practice squad player and 408 00:19:25,906 --> 00:19:28,666 Speaker 1: get your shot. There are plenty of examples that m 409 00:19:28,746 --> 00:19:31,586 Speaker 1: Rod that I know you have practice squad player to 410 00:19:31,826 --> 00:19:34,826 Speaker 1: NFL stardom. We will unveil some of those names coming 411 00:19:34,906 --> 00:19:45,066 Speaker 1: up next on the NFL Explained podcast. Michael Rob' siting 412 00:19:45,146 --> 00:19:48,106 Speaker 1: Mike Yam with you back here on the NFL Explained podcast. Now, 413 00:19:48,146 --> 00:19:50,266 Speaker 1: we touched on this a little bit earlier. Just because 414 00:19:50,386 --> 00:19:52,546 Speaker 1: you're on the Bill's practice squad one week doesn't mean 415 00:19:52,546 --> 00:19:55,106 Speaker 1: you might be playing for I don't know, the Chiefs 416 00:19:55,226 --> 00:19:58,346 Speaker 1: in another week. Yeah, that potentially could happen, But there's 417 00:19:58,386 --> 00:20:01,506 Speaker 1: some rules and regulations around stuff like that. Any practice 418 00:20:01,546 --> 00:20:04,906 Speaker 1: squad player can get signed to another team's fifty three 419 00:20:04,906 --> 00:20:08,706 Speaker 1: man roster, but the CBA bands practice squad players from 420 00:20:08,786 --> 00:20:12,546 Speaker 1: being signed with his team's next opponent later than four 421 00:20:12,586 --> 00:20:16,226 Speaker 1: pm Eastern Time on the sixth day prior to the 422 00:20:16,226 --> 00:20:22,786 Speaker 1: game and no full moon. Sorry, trying to stay with you. Okay, okay, 423 00:20:23,186 --> 00:20:26,946 Speaker 1: that's a lot man specific it is, and and rightfully so, 424 00:20:27,026 --> 00:20:29,106 Speaker 1: because even on bye weeks there's some issues. They're right. 425 00:20:29,146 --> 00:20:32,026 Speaker 1: Practice squad players must sign at least ten days prior 426 00:20:32,066 --> 00:20:35,746 Speaker 1: to the game. After a conference championship game, practice squad 427 00:20:35,786 --> 00:20:39,106 Speaker 1: players on Super Bowl teams may not sign with their 428 00:20:39,266 --> 00:20:42,066 Speaker 1: teams super Bowl opponent. So if you're a practice squad 429 00:20:42,106 --> 00:20:44,586 Speaker 1: player who signs to another fifty three man roster, yeah, 430 00:20:44,586 --> 00:20:47,066 Speaker 1: they're guaranteed three weeks of salary even if they are 431 00:20:47,106 --> 00:20:50,306 Speaker 1: released before then, Yes, I'm me for that. Why would 432 00:20:50,306 --> 00:20:54,026 Speaker 1: a team go after another squad's practice player? Maybe, and 433 00:20:54,106 --> 00:20:56,866 Speaker 1: it has nothing to do with need well, um, so 434 00:20:57,186 --> 00:21:00,186 Speaker 1: I can equate it to Okay, I got cut from 435 00:21:00,186 --> 00:21:03,346 Speaker 1: the San Francisco forty Niners the last week. It cuts 436 00:21:03,386 --> 00:21:06,186 Speaker 1: after the fourth preseason game. That was we had four 437 00:21:06,186 --> 00:21:08,466 Speaker 1: preseason games and was only a week after the fourth 438 00:21:08,466 --> 00:21:12,186 Speaker 1: preseason game to the regular season. I got cut on 439 00:21:12,186 --> 00:21:15,746 Speaker 1: a Saturday. Okay, I had to clear waivers because nobody 440 00:21:15,786 --> 00:21:18,106 Speaker 1: was gonna pick up my rookie salary or whatever. I 441 00:21:18,146 --> 00:21:22,306 Speaker 1: cleared waivers and then the Seattle Seahawks picked me up 442 00:21:22,586 --> 00:21:26,026 Speaker 1: Sunday night. Like Sunday after four I had to clear 443 00:21:26,026 --> 00:21:29,506 Speaker 1: waivers after twenty four hours. The first opponent for the 444 00:21:29,546 --> 00:21:32,666 Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks for the San Francisco forty Niners, it was 445 00:21:32,706 --> 00:21:35,266 Speaker 1: the weirdest thing ever. I had just led a stretch 446 00:21:35,426 --> 00:21:39,186 Speaker 1: six days earlier against Patrick Willison to kill spikes. Now 447 00:21:39,506 --> 00:21:41,986 Speaker 1: wearing a different helmet going up against them and yams, 448 00:21:42,386 --> 00:21:47,146 Speaker 1: it definitely wasn't advantage for the Seahawks. I literally stood 449 00:21:47,186 --> 00:21:49,546 Speaker 1: up in the defensive meeting room. But Gus Bradley, who 450 00:21:49,586 --> 00:21:51,786 Speaker 1: he's the d C for the Colts, I think right now, 451 00:21:52,426 --> 00:21:55,506 Speaker 1: and I gave every signal, I gave every code word 452 00:21:55,626 --> 00:21:58,866 Speaker 1: I gave. I literally was running practice as the d C, 453 00:21:59,666 --> 00:22:02,346 Speaker 1: telling them exactly what was going on. And I remember 454 00:22:02,346 --> 00:22:05,106 Speaker 1: coach Singletary, Mike Singletary, he was in San Fransco, forty 455 00:22:05,186 --> 00:22:08,066 Speaker 1: Niners coach the time. He had a press conference a 456 00:22:08,066 --> 00:22:10,026 Speaker 1: couple of days after I guy released and he said, 457 00:22:10,226 --> 00:22:12,626 Speaker 1: I don't care who Seattle has, they can know our 458 00:22:12,786 --> 00:22:15,626 Speaker 1: entire offense. They still have to stop us. And then 459 00:22:15,666 --> 00:22:19,586 Speaker 1: we went out there and I say all that to say, 460 00:22:19,826 --> 00:22:23,146 Speaker 1: you damn straight. It is a competitive advantage to bring 461 00:22:23,186 --> 00:22:26,786 Speaker 1: somebody's practice squad guy in. They know the offense, they 462 00:22:26,826 --> 00:22:29,586 Speaker 1: know the defense, they know the scheme, they know co words, 463 00:22:29,626 --> 00:22:32,346 Speaker 1: hand signals, all of that. That's why you see, as 464 00:22:32,386 --> 00:22:35,386 Speaker 1: you read earlier, the NFL put all those rules up 465 00:22:35,426 --> 00:22:37,746 Speaker 1: so that you can't just go to your next opponents. 466 00:22:38,186 --> 00:22:40,346 Speaker 1: It's sort of fascinating to me because you even touched 467 00:22:40,386 --> 00:22:42,626 Speaker 1: on that's the top of the show. You're in meetings 468 00:22:42,946 --> 00:22:45,266 Speaker 1: doing everything, You're doing everything is if you're preparing for 469 00:22:45,306 --> 00:22:47,986 Speaker 1: the game, you're doing everything. And to me, if you 470 00:22:48,066 --> 00:22:50,386 Speaker 1: have a quarterback that's on the practice squad. That's a 471 00:22:50,506 --> 00:22:53,626 Speaker 1: very valuable dude. I mean quarterbacks think a little differently, 472 00:22:54,146 --> 00:22:56,106 Speaker 1: and at the end of the day, the practice squad 473 00:22:56,146 --> 00:23:00,346 Speaker 1: quarterback is also in the regular quarterback meeting room hearing 474 00:23:00,386 --> 00:23:03,546 Speaker 1: all the stuff that the starting quarterback is hearing. It's 475 00:23:03,546 --> 00:23:06,906 Speaker 1: pretty it's pretty cool. How many examples you give when 476 00:23:06,906 --> 00:23:09,146 Speaker 1: it's the reverse you were on the roster and the 477 00:23:09,146 --> 00:23:11,546 Speaker 1: team that you were playing for said, you know what, 478 00:23:11,986 --> 00:23:13,666 Speaker 1: by the way, when you said, like clear waivers, you 479 00:23:13,706 --> 00:23:20,186 Speaker 1: know what I'm thinking fantasy football staring at you between 480 00:23:20,346 --> 00:23:24,946 Speaker 1: raivers and fantasy football. Like all of us you know 481 00:23:25,106 --> 00:23:27,906 Speaker 1: at home GMS, we know exactly what that experience. Just like, 482 00:23:28,026 --> 00:23:29,746 Speaker 1: please don't want pick up this dude, Please don't want 483 00:23:29,786 --> 00:23:32,186 Speaker 1: pick up this dude. I need this guy for Sunday. No, 484 00:23:32,466 --> 00:23:35,906 Speaker 1: no signals and inside information. But did that happen frequently 485 00:23:35,986 --> 00:23:38,106 Speaker 1: when you were actually on the roster hearing what was 486 00:23:38,266 --> 00:23:40,626 Speaker 1: coming your way? And no it didn't. It didn't necessary. 487 00:23:40,626 --> 00:23:42,306 Speaker 1: So you're saying, if like we had a guy that 488 00:23:42,386 --> 00:23:44,746 Speaker 1: we knew our opponent or somebody we're going to play 489 00:23:44,786 --> 00:23:47,186 Speaker 1: in a couple of weeks, took that guy off of 490 00:23:47,266 --> 00:23:49,546 Speaker 1: all practice squad. Yeah, there were a couple of times. 491 00:23:49,546 --> 00:23:52,666 Speaker 1: I can't necessarily remember where it made a difference because 492 00:23:52,906 --> 00:23:54,546 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, especially when I was 493 00:23:54,586 --> 00:23:58,226 Speaker 1: with the Seattle Seahawks. Pete he's a psychology major man, 494 00:23:58,306 --> 00:23:59,986 Speaker 1: so he was one of those guys he never really 495 00:24:00,026 --> 00:24:02,226 Speaker 1: cared what the other team was doing. It was literally 496 00:24:02,266 --> 00:24:06,066 Speaker 1: always about what we did, so we couldn't cared less 497 00:24:06,106 --> 00:24:09,306 Speaker 1: what they knew. Uh, did you text Coach Singletary or 498 00:24:09,466 --> 00:24:12,466 Speaker 1: call him after? I wanted to, but I wouldn't. At Petty, 499 00:24:12,746 --> 00:24:14,106 Speaker 1: I knew I was going to be in the media 500 00:24:14,146 --> 00:24:15,546 Speaker 1: one day, and I knew I was gonna have to 501 00:24:15,626 --> 00:24:20,546 Speaker 1: keep that relationship with coaching, even though even though he 502 00:24:20,666 --> 00:24:23,266 Speaker 1: cut me, so you know that, you know there's something there. 503 00:24:23,306 --> 00:24:25,346 Speaker 1: And we did a podcast a couple of years ago together, 504 00:24:25,386 --> 00:24:27,906 Speaker 1: one of the podcasts on here on NFL Network, and 505 00:24:28,226 --> 00:24:30,106 Speaker 1: he kept it real. Yeah, Mike, I cut you, So 506 00:24:30,146 --> 00:24:32,266 Speaker 1: what what're you gonna do about it? I'm like nothing, 507 00:24:32,346 --> 00:24:35,626 Speaker 1: It's all good, Coach, I love you, you know. Speaking 508 00:24:35,626 --> 00:24:38,626 Speaker 1: of those cut situations, can I tell you how? And 509 00:24:39,026 --> 00:24:41,586 Speaker 1: I would imagine if they went really bad hard knocks 510 00:24:41,586 --> 00:24:44,786 Speaker 1: with steal But over the years, just watching these dudes 511 00:24:44,826 --> 00:24:47,986 Speaker 1: get cut a the amount of gratitude that they have 512 00:24:48,106 --> 00:24:51,626 Speaker 1: for that experience and not they don't. It doesn't come 513 00:24:51,626 --> 00:24:53,706 Speaker 1: across like they're salty about it, like I'd be so 514 00:24:53,826 --> 00:24:56,106 Speaker 1: pissed and I would be petty about it. I'm not 515 00:24:56,146 --> 00:24:58,546 Speaker 1: gonna lie like I would be, forget petty about it. 516 00:24:58,666 --> 00:25:01,346 Speaker 1: What I've learned about the young person now, First of all, 517 00:25:01,626 --> 00:25:03,466 Speaker 1: they used the word love a little bit more than 518 00:25:03,466 --> 00:25:06,226 Speaker 1: what we did in our generation. They understand things. They 519 00:25:06,266 --> 00:25:10,026 Speaker 1: accept everybody and who who they are. Um. But these 520 00:25:10,026 --> 00:25:12,186 Speaker 1: young people, you know, when I came into the league, 521 00:25:12,226 --> 00:25:15,866 Speaker 1: we always wanted security. Security was obviously financially, but we 522 00:25:15,946 --> 00:25:18,426 Speaker 1: also wanted long term deals when we wanted to know 523 00:25:18,506 --> 00:25:20,106 Speaker 1: I could be with this team for four or five 524 00:25:20,186 --> 00:25:23,066 Speaker 1: years or whatever. These kids don't care. You know, They're 525 00:25:23,106 --> 00:25:24,906 Speaker 1: okay with I can play here this year, I can 526 00:25:24,986 --> 00:25:27,306 Speaker 1: play their next year. You know. I hope some schools 527 00:25:27,306 --> 00:25:30,706 Speaker 1: in the recruiting process and kids love to be recruited 528 00:25:30,786 --> 00:25:34,386 Speaker 1: the process of it. They don't necessarily like making a decision. 529 00:25:34,866 --> 00:25:38,306 Speaker 1: They like to be courted, They like to be flown 530 00:25:38,466 --> 00:25:41,666 Speaker 1: places and all that. It's the same with practice squad players. 531 00:25:41,866 --> 00:25:44,506 Speaker 1: Kind of interesting now. Earlier here on the podcast, I 532 00:25:44,586 --> 00:25:47,386 Speaker 1: made reference to dudes who are practice squad players that 533 00:25:47,426 --> 00:25:50,266 Speaker 1: all of a sudden found some success in the NFL. 534 00:25:50,266 --> 00:25:55,786 Speaker 1: I got some names. What's that? Uh? James Harrison? People 535 00:25:55,946 --> 00:26:00,306 Speaker 1: almost broke my hip, Mike at a Pro Bowl. You 536 00:26:00,386 --> 00:26:02,466 Speaker 1: won't even hit like that at a Pro Bowl. It's 537 00:26:02,506 --> 00:26:06,186 Speaker 1: like return, I'm gonna kick off from jogging down. We 538 00:26:06,346 --> 00:26:08,866 Speaker 1: hit a little bit or whatever, and I'm like, man, 539 00:26:08,906 --> 00:26:10,946 Speaker 1: good job. He was like, yeah, good job. Been robbed. Man. 540 00:26:10,986 --> 00:26:12,586 Speaker 1: I got a lot of respect for you. And he 541 00:26:12,666 --> 00:26:16,586 Speaker 1: slapped me on my ass bro and my hill on 542 00:26:16,626 --> 00:26:20,146 Speaker 1: my left side. But I almost couldn't play no more. 543 00:26:20,946 --> 00:26:25,226 Speaker 1: He's that strong, seriously, But I'm not making that up, Okay, 544 00:26:24,906 --> 00:26:28,306 Speaker 1: can I This is probably inside baseball. I don't know 545 00:26:28,306 --> 00:26:30,066 Speaker 1: if it's gonna get added out of the podcast. I'm 546 00:26:30,066 --> 00:26:32,386 Speaker 1: gonna tell this story anyway. It reminds me of what 547 00:26:32,506 --> 00:26:36,506 Speaker 1: you and I just went through on Total Access. Jason 548 00:26:36,506 --> 00:26:41,986 Speaker 1: Peters another guy. Yeah, Danny would have Tony Richardson to god. 549 00:26:42,186 --> 00:26:46,066 Speaker 1: Smith is another name. I'll throw one your way. Arian 550 00:26:46,146 --> 00:26:51,546 Speaker 1: Foster and Foster dude might have been the best outside 551 00:26:51,626 --> 00:26:56,106 Speaker 1: zone runner of this generation. Really, I mean, it's beautiful 552 00:26:56,106 --> 00:26:59,786 Speaker 1: as poetry emotion. Oh my goodness, Gary Kubiak outside zone offense. 553 00:26:59,906 --> 00:27:02,466 Speaker 1: It's literally with Kyle Shanahan and what they do now. 554 00:27:03,586 --> 00:27:07,426 Speaker 1: Arian Foster as the general manager of Yammers Boys, which 555 00:27:07,466 --> 00:27:10,426 Speaker 1: that's my fantasy squad. He he was, he was to 556 00:27:10,506 --> 00:27:13,466 Speaker 1: do that really helped me out in a master too. 557 00:27:13,586 --> 00:27:16,106 Speaker 1: You know, I got a fas that's my guy. Hey. 558 00:27:16,106 --> 00:27:18,426 Speaker 1: One other thing, and I don't know if I brought this. 559 00:27:18,426 --> 00:27:20,026 Speaker 1: I probably should have brought this up because we're talking 560 00:27:20,026 --> 00:27:23,186 Speaker 1: about compensation. You mentioned the guys that helped you out 561 00:27:23,186 --> 00:27:25,946 Speaker 1: on the practice squad any like, did you guys do 562 00:27:25,986 --> 00:27:28,426 Speaker 1: stuff because we always hear about, you know, quarterbacks like 563 00:27:28,506 --> 00:27:31,266 Speaker 1: purchasing Rolex Is for their offensive lineman or you know, 564 00:27:31,266 --> 00:27:34,386 Speaker 1: however stories like that, anything come to mind. Well, we 565 00:27:34,386 --> 00:27:36,746 Speaker 1: we would always if you had a practice squad guy 566 00:27:36,986 --> 00:27:39,386 Speaker 1: in your group. So if we were running backs and 567 00:27:39,426 --> 00:27:41,666 Speaker 1: we had an extra guy, an extra practice squad guy 568 00:27:41,706 --> 00:27:44,266 Speaker 1: in our group, we would always take our fine money 569 00:27:44,306 --> 00:27:47,386 Speaker 1: because I mean as a runner, literally, if you take 570 00:27:47,586 --> 00:27:50,946 Speaker 1: a six inch step when your toes are wrong, it's 571 00:27:50,946 --> 00:27:55,226 Speaker 1: a twenty dollar fine. Like if you fumble inside the 572 00:27:55,306 --> 00:27:57,866 Speaker 1: tin yard line, that's a critical phone. That's different than 573 00:27:57,906 --> 00:28:01,266 Speaker 1: a fumble inside and between the things like it's crazy. 574 00:28:01,266 --> 00:28:04,346 Speaker 1: It's five dollars when it's it's all if you If 575 00:28:04,546 --> 00:28:07,426 Speaker 1: the guy you're blocking sacks the quarterback, that's another fire. 576 00:28:07,946 --> 00:28:10,146 Speaker 1: So at the end of the year, this you know, 577 00:28:10,226 --> 00:28:14,386 Speaker 1: during Christmas time, this pot of money, it's few grant. Okay, 578 00:28:14,506 --> 00:28:17,386 Speaker 1: we would always take that money and have a boy's 579 00:28:17,506 --> 00:28:20,986 Speaker 1: night out with my practice squad guy. Ask them what 580 00:28:21,146 --> 00:28:23,466 Speaker 1: is it that you just gotta have for Christmas, whether 581 00:28:23,506 --> 00:28:25,146 Speaker 1: it's a four wheel or whatever the case may be, 582 00:28:25,546 --> 00:28:26,866 Speaker 1: and we just go get it for him. If we 583 00:28:26,906 --> 00:28:30,426 Speaker 1: didn't have a practice squad guy in our meeting room, 584 00:28:30,506 --> 00:28:33,466 Speaker 1: oftentimes there's a practice squad guy in the offensive linement room, 585 00:28:33,746 --> 00:28:36,026 Speaker 1: and so you go do that for that guy. Any 586 00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:39,306 Speaker 1: memorable moment, guy's face just lights up, like because we 587 00:28:39,306 --> 00:28:41,466 Speaker 1: don't actually legit. I don't know if I've seen those 588 00:28:41,466 --> 00:28:44,426 Speaker 1: on social media, like fe like social media thing. Well, 589 00:28:44,426 --> 00:28:46,346 Speaker 1: because a lot of times guys keep that in the 590 00:28:46,346 --> 00:28:50,706 Speaker 1: house because again, this is the practice squad guy. People 591 00:28:50,706 --> 00:28:55,186 Speaker 1: don't always understand how important they are to a championship team. 592 00:28:55,226 --> 00:28:57,306 Speaker 1: That's why I'm glad we had this episode about it, 593 00:28:57,346 --> 00:29:01,066 Speaker 1: because these guys get the starters ready and so you 594 00:29:01,106 --> 00:29:02,946 Speaker 1: don't I don't I don't think they would post it, 595 00:29:02,946 --> 00:29:04,626 Speaker 1: and they may look at it as a negative, But 596 00:29:04,666 --> 00:29:06,946 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, these guys get us, right. Uh. 597 00:29:07,066 --> 00:29:10,426 Speaker 1: I can't think of an individual necessary moment, but I 598 00:29:10,506 --> 00:29:13,866 Speaker 1: think there was one in Seattle. For get the offensive 599 00:29:13,906 --> 00:29:15,826 Speaker 1: lineman name off the top of my head. He didn't 600 00:29:15,826 --> 00:29:17,826 Speaker 1: play much after that year. I think it was during 601 00:29:17,826 --> 00:29:21,186 Speaker 1: the season, and we got him a four wheeler. We 602 00:29:21,266 --> 00:29:24,826 Speaker 1: got him some bottles of champagne, and this dude thought 603 00:29:25,026 --> 00:29:27,506 Speaker 1: that he had won the lotter. We cried and everything. 604 00:29:27,546 --> 00:29:29,266 Speaker 1: He called his mom or whatever it was. It was 605 00:29:29,306 --> 00:29:32,666 Speaker 1: a pretty cool deal. That's awesome. Those are those moments, right, 606 00:29:32,706 --> 00:29:35,786 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's the equivalent of the you're you're 607 00:29:35,866 --> 00:29:39,186 Speaker 1: on scholarship. There you go, that's what that is. One 608 00:29:39,266 --> 00:29:41,906 Speaker 1: last thing here and you've experienced this. Your super Bowl 609 00:29:41,986 --> 00:29:44,306 Speaker 1: champ you get in that rank, your practice squad. Guy, 610 00:29:44,466 --> 00:29:48,506 Speaker 1: Do they get the ring? The short answer is yes, 611 00:29:48,826 --> 00:29:51,906 Speaker 1: they do get the ring. The teams have the ability 612 00:29:52,106 --> 00:29:55,826 Speaker 1: to give them rings of lesser value. No, man, I 613 00:29:55,826 --> 00:29:57,866 Speaker 1: don't know. I know. I know the Super Bowl forty 614 00:29:57,906 --> 00:30:01,506 Speaker 1: eight winner that we were everybody got the same ring. 615 00:30:01,586 --> 00:30:03,706 Speaker 1: And actually I was a part of the committee that 616 00:30:03,746 --> 00:30:06,506 Speaker 1: Pete put together to helped design the ring and we 617 00:30:06,626 --> 00:30:09,306 Speaker 1: actually you know that that that subject came up and 618 00:30:09,386 --> 00:30:12,466 Speaker 1: we actually was like, oh, hell no, no, these guys 619 00:30:12,466 --> 00:30:15,306 Speaker 1: are players like us. Yeah, And once again that's the 620 00:30:15,306 --> 00:30:17,426 Speaker 1: teams have the option. Not every team, to your point, 621 00:30:17,466 --> 00:30:20,106 Speaker 1: has to go down that path. Similar in appearance is 622 00:30:20,146 --> 00:30:27,906 Speaker 1: the phrase that people would use, you know, you can't, 623 00:30:28,026 --> 00:30:30,786 Speaker 1: you can't do it, you can't do it. Um. Look, 624 00:30:31,066 --> 00:30:33,546 Speaker 1: I know we've gotten some messages about this podcast. I 625 00:30:33,546 --> 00:30:35,306 Speaker 1: have had an absolute blast doing it with you. It's 626 00:30:35,306 --> 00:30:37,826 Speaker 1: been a ton of fun. If you have some topics, 627 00:30:37,826 --> 00:30:40,346 Speaker 1: some questions, I'm keeping tabs. I don't know if you 628 00:30:40,386 --> 00:30:44,026 Speaker 1: realize that anytime someone tweets me with a question, I 629 00:30:44,066 --> 00:30:46,266 Speaker 1: copy and paste it because we do these mouth bag 630 00:30:46,306 --> 00:30:49,426 Speaker 1: episodes every once in a while at Real Mike Rob 631 00:30:49,666 --> 00:30:51,826 Speaker 1: at Mike Underscore a game, if you have a question 632 00:30:51,866 --> 00:30:54,186 Speaker 1: fired off to us, will look, we have a whole 633 00:30:54,186 --> 00:30:55,906 Speaker 1: research team here. You think I know all the stuff 634 00:30:55,946 --> 00:30:58,706 Speaker 1: that I just sent this podcast kidding me Like, no, 635 00:30:58,906 --> 00:31:01,946 Speaker 1: I don't all your stories. Like that's that's your life, 636 00:31:01,986 --> 00:31:03,706 Speaker 1: So you've got to go and do it. But I 637 00:31:03,706 --> 00:31:07,466 Speaker 1: always appreciate you guys following the show, sharing the show, 638 00:31:07,506 --> 00:31:10,146 Speaker 1: and more importantly just checking us out whenever you can. 639 00:31:10,306 --> 00:31:12,906 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening. That, of course, is life on the 640 00:31:12,946 --> 00:31:14,346 Speaker 1: Practice Squad Export