1 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Thank you all for tuning into this week's special edition 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: of the NFL Players Podcast. I'm Peanut. So many hosts, 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: and today we got this guy right here, Mr Thomas Davis. Uh. 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: He's just a former NFL All Pro, Nobody Important, Man 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: of the Year. You know what's going on, guy, Peanut punts. 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: What's going on? My guy? How you doing? I'm doing 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: good man? How are you doing? I'm all right, man, 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: I'm all right. Um. Thank you for coming to the show. 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: We appreciate you. Thank you for having me. The fans 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:33,879 Speaker 1: they love it, they love it. So what you're doing 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: right now and I'm just enjoying this retired life. I'm 12 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: working with the Legends community, trying to have an impact 13 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: on that field and that in that space, and just 14 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: trying to do the best job I can in that area. 15 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: All right. So you have a very unique story, and 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: I don't think a lot of people know like the 17 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: upbringing you're from Georgia. Y'all know, y'all just want to 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: or excuse me the college championship, which I dispute, but anyway, 19 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: you have a great story. He's still hating. I'm still hating. 20 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: I'm still hating, But you got you got a great 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: story though. That was one of the things I when 22 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: we were doing our NFL Man of the Year things 23 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: and what I think two thousand eleven twelve, Yeah, and 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: I really got to hear your story and like upbringing, 25 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 1: how you grew up? Can you can you just lessen? 26 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: I want to start right there. I want you to 27 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,480 Speaker 1: just tell me about how how that shaped you and 28 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: who you are today. You know, so I've talked about 29 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 1: it a lot, man, But just growing up in Shelman, Georgia, UM, 30 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: small small town. Everybody knows, everybody is. I think you 31 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: hear this story from a lot of players that have 32 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: gone on and make it to the NFL, But just 33 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: growing up in a small town, man, and you see, 34 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: as a young kid, you understand that there are not 35 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: a whole lot of opportunities. There are not a whole 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: lot of things that are going to be presented to 37 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: you to be able to be successful after you graduate 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: from high school. So if you want to do something 39 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: with your life and you want to be successful and 40 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 1: you want to get out of that area, you have 41 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: to try to get a scholarship. Because obviously my mom 42 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: couldn't pay for me to go to school Um, so 43 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: I knew that I had to do everything in my 44 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: power to earn a scholarship. So I played basketball, I 45 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: played football, and I ran track year round, never left 46 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: school after school was over. Um, just trying to do 47 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: something to earn a scholarship so that I can get 48 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 1: out of the situation that I grew up in. And 49 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: it wasn't really until a coach came and watched me 50 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: practice basketball. My senior year was when I got my 51 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: football scholarship offer. So all up to that point, no 52 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: one had been looking at you, only only smaller schools, 53 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: like I had an offer from Gramlin University, so I'm 54 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: signing on signing day. Those were my two offers, University 55 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: of Georgia and Gramlin University. You got Georgia to look 56 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: at you, and that was the only they were the 57 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: only one. They were the only one. And the only 58 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: reason that happened was because Georgia has just hired a 59 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: new staff and Brian Van Gorder, who was the defensive coordinator, 60 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 1: he was going to another time to see another kid, 61 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: and they held one of the coaches over and they 62 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: told him like, hey, go check out this kid from Randolph. 63 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: Play talked to the coach about him. He didn't know 64 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: that we were gonna be at basketball practice that day, 65 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: so he came in. He sat down with my coach 66 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: and he watched me practice basketball, and like, we see 67 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: this guy coming to gym. We don't know who he is, 68 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: but we just My high school basketball team was one 69 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: of the best in the state. So we just went 70 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: hard all the time and super competitive every single day. 71 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: And that's one of the things that I tell kids 72 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: all the time. You never know who's watching you, right, 73 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: so you always want to have good integrity. You always 74 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: want to do things the right way. For me, it 75 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: showed up that day because what if I had skipped practice, 76 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: What if I was being disrespectful to my coach, what 77 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: if I wasn't doing the things that I'm normally accustomed 78 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: to doing. So I went in after that practice was over, 79 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: We go up. My high school um football coach called 80 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: me over. We go up. He introduced me to the 81 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: guy that was with him. He said, this is Brian 82 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: Van Gorder. He's a defensive coordinator for Georgia. He looks 83 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: at me, he said, I don't know where we will 84 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: play you at, but from what I just saw, the 85 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: athleticism to speed, to change of direction. I'm offer you 86 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: a scholarship right now to come play from me at Georgia. 87 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: So you got a scholarship at the University of Georgia 88 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: playing basketball, playing basketball. I played eight different positions in 89 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: high school at at football, so I feel like, I mean, 90 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: you try to show your versatility eight positions. I played 91 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: eight positions, and I'm not talking about I'm not talking 92 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: about over the course of my high school career. I'm 93 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: talking about in every game, you could find me at quarterback, 94 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: at running back, at wide receiver, at tight end, or 95 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: I would play cornerback. I play safety. Like in the 96 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: crazy part about it, I never played linebacker. Did you 97 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: drove the bus? I was a punt returner. I was 98 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: a kick off return I was the punner, and I 99 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: was the kicker, so he was a whole team. I 100 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: literally did everything in high school, and for me, you 101 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: only had no athletes and we had some guys, but 102 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: for me, they didn't play the football. My mindset was 103 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:17,119 Speaker 1: to show that I was capable of doing so many things, 104 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: and in terms, I think that actually ended up hurting 105 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: me as a player because nobody really knew what to 106 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 1: play me yet or what to do with me. So, 107 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: by the graces of God, I was able to take 108 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: that scholarship from the University of Georgia and just run 109 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: with it. Man. I went in as one of the 110 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: last guys given a scholarship, and as the story goes, 111 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,160 Speaker 1: man I was the first guy to be drafted out 112 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: of like thirty guys. So similar story in it since 113 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: my school new coach. My coach called a friend, Hey, 114 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: I got this kid. But you know, they look at 115 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: the film. But then just so happened. I had a 116 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: basketball game. We go to the game, I play, you know, 117 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: don't do this run around change with our right in 118 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: and he was like, yeah, here's your trip. I mean 119 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: I didn't get the scholarship. I guess I was good. 120 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if I was that good. But they're like, yeah, 121 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: I want him to come. He needs to come to 122 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: uh come to our school. We we want I want them, 123 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: I want them. So I ended up going to the school, 124 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: and obviously I committed to Louisiana. But yeah, similar, a 125 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: similar similar Sup. You never told me that, man, Yeah, 126 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: they never never, never never saw me play an actual 127 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 1: game in college football. Who game got me in college? 128 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: But but that just goes to shoulder. Like I try 129 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: to tell parents and kids now play everything, don't just 130 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: don't don't just stick with don't just stick with football. 131 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: I was literally, so I have an AU team in basketball. 132 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: And I was literally having this conversation with a parent 133 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: the other day, like hell bent on having her kid 134 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: played only basketball, but the kid is begging her to 135 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 1: let him play football. And I explained to her playing 136 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: and simple, like, listen, he has a frame that he 137 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: can He can do a lot of things in football. 138 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: He can play tight end, he can be a defensive end, 139 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: he can play linebacker, he can do whatever he wants 140 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: to do. I said, when you look at a basketball draft, 141 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: you got two rounds. That's it, two rounds of kids 142 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: that are going to be drafted each year. I said, 143 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: when you look at the football draft, you got seven rounds. 144 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: That increases your opportunity. Not saying that he's going to 145 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: be drafting in either of those, but odds are if 146 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: you're not extremely tall and extremely skilled as a guard, 147 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: then your chances for getting drafted in the NBA are 148 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: a lot slimmer then it would be in the NFL. 149 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: So I mean, just having that conversation and kind of 150 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: breaking that down to it though, Um, she came to 151 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: the agreement with her son that she's gonna let him 152 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: play football this year. I don't. I don't think as 153 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: a parent that we should make decisions to make our 154 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: kids one dimensional based on how we feel. If these 155 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: kids are begging, then they want to do these things, 156 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: allow him to go out and do it. Right. So 157 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: I won the Man of the Year award, and then 158 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: that very next year, you win the Man of the Award. 159 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: That night, everything you've gone through, your foundation, it kind 160 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: of was like, like, tell me, tell me how you 161 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: felt in that moment when Goodell called your name and 162 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: you walked up there and you accepted the award and 163 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: your speech was amazing. Man, I was. I was so 164 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 1: shocked because one of the things they had done, like 165 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: in previous years, they would let the person know beforehand 166 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: he was the first year. Yeah, you're the first year. 167 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: They didn't tell anybody anybody, so I had no clue. 168 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:47,559 Speaker 1: We didn't have a clue who Yeah. So and then 169 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: I'm and just just to kind of bounce back to 170 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: the year you wanted. I'm sitting in there listening to 171 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: your speech and I'm emotional, like watching you, I'm like, man, 172 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: I'm just crying. I couldn't imagine I'm sitting here thinking 173 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: like I couldn't imagine being the winner right now, up 174 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: here giving this speech because I'm sitting here like emotional 175 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: crime right now. Then the next year I actually win 176 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: the award and like and I'm like, I'm not gonna cry. 177 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: And this is what I actually did on my wedding 178 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: day too. I told my boys had a bet that 179 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: you know you're gonna get emotionally, you're gonna cry. So 180 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: I literally cut my vioals, like straight to the point 181 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: no tears. And I got heckled for that for years 182 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 1: and years, you know, just sitting on that stage, man, 183 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: and then everything just coming to fruition on. Like you 184 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: don't go out and do this work to try to 185 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: gain the recognition, like none of us do that, but 186 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: to see people taking note to the things that you're doing, 187 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: the difference that you're trying to make in the community, 188 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 1: the spaces that we're trying to make better um for players. Man, 189 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: that that's huge because we know the impact and the 190 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: difference that it's gonna make for our foundation, for the 191 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,680 Speaker 1: kids that we worked with for the communities that we 192 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: serve UM, and it did that for my foundation, like 193 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 1: a lot of people made donations, a lot of people 194 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: volunteer more so it was great. So I know, I 195 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: know what you do, but explain to the people listening 196 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: and watching, like what's your foundation? Explain what they actually do? 197 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: So we we what you actually So we worked with 198 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: underprivileged youth and I'm passionate about that. Like I just 199 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: told you guys, from the way I grew up as 200 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: a young kid, I grew up in a single parent household. 201 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: My mom raised me and my sister, and like literally 202 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: we went through so many different struggles. For my foundation, 203 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to try to even the playing field. I 204 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: know that there are a ton of parents out there 205 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: that are dealing with the same things that we went 206 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: through UM, in particular single moms. So I know that 207 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: there are kids that are going to school that don't 208 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: have school supplies that UM, that are waking up on 209 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: Christmas that don't have Christmas gifts, that are having Thanksgiving, 210 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: that don't have meals or even beyond Thanksgiving, just everyday life. 211 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: You know, they may end up having to miss the 212 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: meal because their mom can't provide for them. So that's 213 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: what we try to do foundation. We try to provide 214 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: those things for those kids. We try to make sure 215 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: that um, when they go to school, everything that the 216 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: other kids that are living in two parent households have, 217 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: we try to make sure that we can provide for 218 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: those kids. And in doing that, you know, we started 219 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: in Charlotte, North Carolina. We moved to Georgia while I 220 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: was from, and then now we're doing in South Carolina 221 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: what Kelly is from as well. For us to be 222 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: able to grow like that and um just have the 223 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,520 Speaker 1: impact and all of those different spaces, man, I just 224 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: think that really speaks to the the body of work 225 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: that we've been able to do with this foundation and 226 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: how we've been able to grow. And now we have 227 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: a separate branch with My Leadership Academy, where we work 228 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: with middle school kids and we're directly impacting their lives 229 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: at the stage that they're in to try to teach 230 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: them how to be productive leaders. So it's been it's 231 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: been great to watch this thing grow since two thousand 232 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: and eight when we started, and since since two thousand 233 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,840 Speaker 1: and eight was with your Leadership Academy. I'm sure those 234 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 1: middle schoolers there there are there are adults now, Is 235 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,719 Speaker 1: there a story can you tell me orry about one 236 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: of the kids that truly got the message As a 237 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: one of the kids, I got the story that went 238 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: through your Leadership Accademy. So I think one of the 239 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: stories that I really looked back on, one of the 240 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: parents came to us and our kids was struggling real 241 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: bad with um just going down the wrong path, getting 242 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: involved with gangs, doing all these other different things, running 243 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: with people that absolutely had no good intentions for him 244 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 1: in his life that would leading him down the path 245 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 1: to destruction. And he came and he became a part 246 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: of the Leadership Academy and like literally man, he he 247 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: literally dove in into everything that we would teach them. 248 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: And his mom still kind of credit us to this 249 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: day to him changing his life around, and to me, 250 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: if we don't have an opportunity to effect or make 251 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: a difference in any other life, to know that we 252 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: were able to help him out, to know that, you know, 253 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 1: he was able to go onto the military, he was 254 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: able to do a lot of other things that his 255 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: mom told us flat out he would never have been 256 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: able to accomplish had he not been a part of 257 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: the Leadership Academy. We've helped out first generation kids that 258 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: have gone to college by providing them with scholarship opportunities 259 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: and to see those kids go on and graduate and 260 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: now they come back and they help us with the 261 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: Leadership Academy. I mean, that's what it's all about for us. Yeah, 262 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: that's um something similar. We we do this. We do 263 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 1: certainly certain things our foundation. We try to provide resources 264 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: to these families while they're while they're in the hospital. 265 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: And one of the one of the hardest things, I think, 266 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: one of the hardest things for a man to do 267 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: is ask for help. I think women they can do it, 268 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: but for for a man, for us, it's hard because 269 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: you are the protector your security, your comfort, your you're 270 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: you're you're the guy who's supposed to take care of everything. 271 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: We have this one of our programs, Tiana Fund, and 272 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: you're really just right whatever you're the worst need or 273 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: the most the basic need, whatever you need, we'll we'll 274 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: call and we try to secure it for you. And 275 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: a lot of the time when you go from two 276 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: incomes to one. Most of the time, you know, whoever 277 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 1: the bread winner is, they keep their job and the 278 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: lower person partner, a spouse, they quit to stay at 279 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: home with the sick child. Well, mortgages, you know, and 280 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: you if you were a really relied on those two incomes, 281 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: you lose one and then the mortgage of the rent, 282 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: the gas to heat electricity. Yeah, stuff starts to get behind. 283 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: And I just remember, um, I remember a dad, and 284 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: we get these we get them all the time, but 285 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: I never get to meet these people. I just I 286 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: just I'm literally just reading these applications. And he pulled 287 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: me aside. I don't know where we were somewhere, maybe 288 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: just walking by, and he was just like, oh man, 289 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: and he coming was like, hey, man, you don't you 290 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: don't know me, but I used your Tiana Fund when 291 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: my my my my daughter, my child, they're in the hospital. Man, 292 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: and I just want to let you know, like, and 293 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: he said he, as a man, it was hard for 294 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 1: me to ask for help because I felt I felt ashamed, 295 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: I felt I was embarrassed like that I couldn't provide 296 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: basic needs for my for my kids. But your your 297 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: your foundation came through in a major way. And man, 298 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: I'm just here to let you know, like as a man, 299 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you on that and I was just 300 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: like like I was, I was. I was blown away, 301 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: really just blown away that. Like, man, I didn't even 302 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: know how blessed this dude. And you were talking about 303 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: like blessings like you you had an opportunity and you 304 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: you seeze that opportunity, but yet you're giving back and 305 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: you're blessing these kids and they go on and they 306 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: bless others and it just continues to grow and grow 307 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: and grow. And that's that's kind of like the beauty 308 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 1: of the blessing. Like it's just it just kind of 309 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: keeps on, man. Yeah, and it just keeps going and 310 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: going and going like that, like that inner drives are 311 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: bunny like, it just doesn't stop. Like that's the that's 312 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: the coolest thing. That's I don't know. I really do 313 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: love your story and I like how I like how 314 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: you tell it. I like what you represent. I don't 315 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: really like the red and the black because you've got 316 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: Georgia colors on. You got red and black on. Sir. 317 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: This isn't no. This this is like and if that's 318 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: not read, this is certainly rare. This is certainly rad. 319 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: But you can't see this. This is an undershure. This 320 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: is what I this is what I'm in, This is 321 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: what I sweating. This is the Jays for you speaking 322 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: to jay'son you were jump man, right, Yes, sir, Tell 323 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: me a story. Tell me a story about Mike. Tell 324 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: me how cool Minke is. Man, he's one of the 325 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: coolest guys you've ever meet. Honestly, Um, one of the 326 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: most competitive guys still to this day. I think I 327 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: might be able to beat him in basketball. Now I 328 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: don't think so. I got a scholarship based on basketball. 329 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,080 Speaker 1: I don't think you're gonna beat him though he's the 330 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: other Go tell he I totally agree he'd go. But 331 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: tell him, I said, I think I might be able 332 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: to score a point or two on them. Um, can 333 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: we could show him this you? We could put this 334 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: clip together. I said it. I said I could score 335 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: on him. I don't think so. I think I could score. 336 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: I get still done too, By the way, so can you. So. 337 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if you noticed, but my I'm retired. 338 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: You still were playing. I was in Carolina, y'all play 339 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: when I met him. Okay, so I'm gonna tell you 340 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: all anyway, I'm in the locker room, I'm with them. 341 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: We're very or whatever. I go back upstairs to the 342 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: tour see was in and one of the guys in 343 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: the elevator was like, hey, Peanut, take this elevator. I 344 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: was like, okay, I get in the elevator. It's MJ 345 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: and like another person. So we're in this elevator and 346 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm freaking out, like dang, this is this is m J. 347 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: So I'm sitting there thinking like, okay, should I say 348 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: something now. I don't want to be that corny dude 349 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 1: and say something now. I'm gonna say this MJ. How 350 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: can I make it not so corny? Well, I happened 351 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: to look down at my shoes and I was like, yes, 352 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: I wore a pair of red of Levins. So I 353 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: look over to him KNA and I said, hey, you 354 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: like the shoes and he kind of chuckled and he 355 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, yeah, I like the shoes. So I 356 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: go in and I try to introduce myself and he's like, 357 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: I know you're a peanut, and I was like, well, 358 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: you know, So at that moment, I was like damn, 359 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: I made it like MJ knew my name and I'm 360 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: rocking your shoes and I look, I got the m 361 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: J T shirt on you could have said it might 362 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: have been the corners thing, but it's he smiled. He 363 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: was thinking like that it was terrible, but he chuckled, 364 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: he eat giggled right, and I gotta I got a 365 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: little chocolate. But what he knew my name? And I 366 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 1: was just like, well, dang, everybody knows. Man. No, See, 367 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: why do y'all do that? Though? I don't think you 368 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: can really understand. I don't, as God is my witness, 369 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:10,680 Speaker 1: I don't. I think I'm just I'm just the most Yeah, 370 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: I just I don't think that I'm really Yeah, like 371 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: when we win and they no, Peanut, it ain't Charles 372 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:20,160 Speaker 1: Tillman like you're peeannut. I am peanut, and I appreciate it, though, 373 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. So you got some linebackers, right, Yes, 374 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: you got the linebackers. Y'all got some drills. What are 375 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: the some of the advice you're gonna give some of 376 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: these guys? Just throughout this comment just finished all the drills. 377 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that's one of the things that I've been 378 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: talking to him about so far. Teams are going to 379 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: be coming through looking for guys that are going to compete. 380 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: They're gonna try to find guys with great leadership qualities. 381 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: So show that in any way that you possibly can. 382 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: While you at this combine. You want to be able 383 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:48,199 Speaker 1: to get out there and show that, hey, I can 384 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: lead a team because linebackers are required to be the 385 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: quarterbacks of the defense. So when you go out there, 386 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: make sure that you know what you're doing for first 387 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: and foremost, that they're explaining the drill. Get into place 388 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: where you can see where you to stand what's going on. 389 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: You can get out you can execute that drill to 390 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: a t. But also when you go out you're going 391 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: through these drills, don't don't try to go out and 392 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: be cool. Go out and act like your your life 393 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: is on the line, like your your your job is 394 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: on the line when you go out here and you're 395 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 1: doing these drills. And that's one of the things that 396 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: you see with kids these days. They try to come 397 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 1: through here and try to be kind of like a 398 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: finesse kind of guy. You know, just ease up towards 399 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: the end of the drill. Man finished through these drills 400 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: hard man. And that's one of the things that I 401 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,000 Speaker 1: want to impress upon them, to make sure that everything 402 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 1: that you do here, you're giving Max effort. Do you 403 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: think that you were the max effort kind of guy? Always, always, 404 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: always um spice dub. Yes. He told me a story 405 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,040 Speaker 1: how he got a scholarship just by running to the 406 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: ball he went to. He went to a football camp 407 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: just just by chance some senior, a senior asking and 408 00:20:58,080 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: go with him to this football camp and I think 409 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: he might have in a junior and he was like okay. 410 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: So they go to this camp and from drill to 411 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,959 Speaker 1: drill to drill to drill, dub sprinted to every single 412 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 1: drill top speed. After he got there the last day, 413 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 1: one of the coaches was like, yo, who is this kid? 414 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: Hey man, what's your name? They talked to him, He's like, 415 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,479 Speaker 1: you want to meet uh Joe? You want to meet 416 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: Joe Pat And he was like, oh yeah, okay, sure 417 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: Like he didn't he didn't know, He didn't have a 418 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: clue what he was doing. He was just being himself. 419 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: And fast forward a year later, they I think no, no, no, 420 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:39,920 Speaker 1: he said. They offered him a scholarship right then and there. 421 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: That was like you do you want to go to 422 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:43,479 Speaker 1: Penn State? You want to play football? And he was like, 423 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: I got I gotta talk to my mama. First, let 424 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: me let me ask my mama. He literally got a 425 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: football scholarship just from sprinting. He went to some football 426 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 1: camp and to how big of a difference that that 427 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: can make? Right? So imagine when you're trying to get 428 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 1: a job in the NFL what teams are thinking when 429 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: you have a guy that's out here that's giving maximum effort. 430 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: They know that if you're doing this in this setting, 431 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: once we draft you, this is kind of who you are. 432 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: I mean, that's what and that's what you want to display, 433 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: and that's what you want to show team While you're here, 434 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: what was your what was your best drill? While you're 435 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: at the combine? What was your best drill? And then 436 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: were you prepared to like, did someone actually prepare you 437 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: for the combine? I mean you went to Georgia. Y'all 438 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: got all types of top prospects that are yeah prospects, 439 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: players that come out of there. Were you prepared when 440 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: you came here? I was very prepared. Um. I will 441 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: tell this story, and I've been telling this story at 442 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: nausea to anybody that would listen. When I came here 443 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: with that forty time, I ended up running like a 444 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: four four six forty yet to combine faster than you. 445 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: Let me tell the story. You gotta stop talking to 446 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: listen because I was never supposed to run the forty. Here, 447 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: I'll go around to these different rooms and the coaches 448 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: are like, hey, you're supposed to be the number one safety. 449 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: Why aren't you running? Because we had a plan, Me 450 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,199 Speaker 1: and my trainer and my agent. We came up with 451 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: a plan. We're just gonna wait to run that prote 452 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: By the fourth interview room, I go in and they're 453 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: telling me like, listen, why aren't you running? And then 454 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: Brian Van Gordon, who was my defensive corder, he had 455 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: uh he was on the staff with the Jaguars at 456 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: the time, and he was like, hey, poop, why why 457 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: don't you running? Like you know, that's like your strong suit, 458 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: Like I'm fast. I'm like, well, we had a plan. 459 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, forget it, because they now that I 460 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,960 Speaker 1: feel like they're questioning whether or not I'm competitive or not, 461 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: and you know, like I feel like I'm one of 462 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: the most competitive guys ever. So I'm like, forget it, man, 463 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna go ahead and run. Never practiced the 464 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: double line start, you know how you have to have 465 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: both hands, and so I go out, I run a 466 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: four six and I literally to combine, thinking like I 467 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: just cost myself a first round pick. So my agent 468 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,359 Speaker 1: was like, look, that is the reason why you have 469 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 1: your pro day, because you have an opportunity to go 470 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: back and make up and show what you're able to do. 471 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,679 Speaker 1: Just safe. He was like, say, for instance, if you 472 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: go out and you don't run it to combine, and 473 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: now you go to your pro day and then you 474 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: run that time, and now you just stuck with people 475 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: thinking that you're a four six guy. I'm like, Okay, 476 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: that makes sense, and that's what I'm trying to tell 477 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: all these guys. Take advantage of doing all the drills. Here, 478 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,919 Speaker 1: see where you are right now, kind of gaze it, 479 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: and now you go back, you know what you need 480 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: to work on to be better at. If it's not 481 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: a number that you feel like you're capable of producing, 482 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,160 Speaker 1: you can do it again. So for me, I went 483 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: um to our pro day and it just so happened 484 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: to be on my birthday March twenty two is my birthday. 485 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 1: Pro day was on my birthday and I ran a 486 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: four for three both times, both forties. Was a four 487 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: for three, So I'm like, all right, I'm good, but 488 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 1: I just say that to say that because I practiced it. 489 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: We went back and know we wanted to focus in 490 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: on all of the other things first because I was 491 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: coming in with like a risk injury, so I couldn't 492 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,640 Speaker 1: really do the bench at the combine. But I mean 493 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: and then like teams were looking like his shuttle time 494 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: and all of that stuff was like really really good. 495 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,439 Speaker 1: It didn't match up with the forty, so they were 496 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: trying to figure it out. And like my vertical was good, 497 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: all of my other things were good, had to come 498 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: by except for my forty. So I go back from 499 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 1: my forty and I think it just proved and solidified 500 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: um that I was explosive, I was fast, and I 501 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: ended up being a first round pick. What what what number? 502 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: I felt like sitting there waiting till they to the 503 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: fourteen pick. It literally seemed like it took ten hours. 504 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: It seemed like it took imagine. I was to me 505 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,639 Speaker 1: it was quick because I was I was expected to 506 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: go like third or fourth round, so I was just 507 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 1: like I just happened to be watching, so uh to 508 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: go thirty five was like, oh snap, I was almost 509 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: the first round. I wasn't really supposed to go to 510 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: the third round. That's why you can't. That's why you 511 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: can't sit back and just listen to all these publications. 512 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: I had people calling me. On draft day. Charles Grant 513 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:18,760 Speaker 1: played with the Saints. He was like, man, they just 514 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: talked to me. They told me that we're going to 515 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: draft you. They drafted literally right before the Panthers. They 516 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: were thirteen. So I'm sitting I have this big draft 517 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: party at home without my people. So the Saints get 518 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: on the clock. They're getting ready to draft. My phone 519 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: has the rain yet, But I'm like, okay, Charles has 520 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: told me that they told him they're gonna draft me. 521 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: And with the thirteen pick, the Saints select tackle Jamal 522 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: Brown from Oklahoma. So I'm like, oh god, so I'm 523 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,439 Speaker 1: over here and started sweating now because I don't know 524 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,479 Speaker 1: where I'm going. And then right after that, literally it 525 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: seemed like it took thirty minutes because back then the 526 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: draft process was so long and slow. Yeah, but I mean, 527 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: I'm glad they spent that up for these kids now. 528 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: But it after that, Coach Fox called me here like, man, 529 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 1: we have a ton of teams that are trying to 530 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: trade to try to get you, but we ain't doing it. 531 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: We're gonna draft you. That's what's up. Yeah. I had 532 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: a good, good draft to a good story. I was similar, 533 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:13,399 Speaker 1: didn't have a big part of though. Just at the crib, 534 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 1: you know, phone rings, My stepmom gives me the phone. 535 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: She's all like nervous, house got real quiet, and I'm 536 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: just listening, like yes, yes, yes, And then Jerry Angelo 537 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,400 Speaker 1: was like, congratulations, we're taking you with our next pick. 538 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: You're Chicago Beart and I just remember, like damn, and 539 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: I didn't say nothing, and then it flashed on the 540 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: TV everybody and then everybody went crazy, and I was like, dang, 541 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: all that work paid off. The opportunities, the listening, graduating school, 542 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 1: hard work from running pushing sleds, gassers, listening to all 543 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: the people, the advice I took in like it it 544 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: really uh and it's and it's crazy how you go 545 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: through that in your head and then once the reality 546 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: sit in and then now it's like not a real word. 547 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: Now the real work begins. All that got you to shoot, 548 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 1: Now you really gotta bust your butt to to really 549 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 1: keep your job. And I think that we've had guys 550 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 1: that have had those moments that are going in the 551 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: first round and really felt like, hey, I've made it 552 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: and just kind of forgot the things that they did 553 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:21,640 Speaker 1: to get them to that point. And you can see 554 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: it they enjoyed the process too much. Yeah. Well, look, man, 555 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:30,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate you stopping body my favorite, my favorite people's Um. 556 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 1: I don't like your shirt, but you as my guy 557 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 1: and I love you for you know what don't you 558 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,360 Speaker 1: like about my shirt? Man? Because you're down too far? 559 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: Like look look at that right there. If you're a 560 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,480 Speaker 1: fashion gurule, now I am a fashion group. I don't 561 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 1: want to talk right now. Hey, I'm Peanut Tillman. This 562 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,920 Speaker 1: is Thomas Davis. I'm I need a hat because my 563 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 1: hair I need a hair and cut. But I'm Peanut Tillman. 564 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: This Thomas Davis. He's always messing with me. Uh. Two 565 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen Man in the year, two thousand and four 566 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,239 Speaker 1: team man in here. Two great guys, but I think 567 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: he's better to me because he does way more and 568 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: cooler things than I do. Thank you all for tuning in. 569 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: I appreciate y'all, goodnight, appreciate thanks for joining us. On 570 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: the NFL Players Podcast. Don't forget to subscribe and follow 571 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: at NFL Players podcast on Instagram for the latest players 572 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: stories and to connect with the NFL Players community.