1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Another edition of Driving with Gee. I can't the greatest 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: punter in the National Football League. You can add me 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: all you want to. His name is Michael Dixon. He 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: joins us right now. Man, thank you so much for 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: coming and driving with Gee. Brother, thanks for having me. Yeah, man, Hey, 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: it's a matter of fact. Somebody had just told me. 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: They're like, man, you need to get Michael Dixon in 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: the car. And then I got a note that said, yeah, 9 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: you're gonna be Michael Dixon is gonna be in the 10 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: car and you need to take him. So today, this evening, 11 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: I'm taking you to John Howey's event is called the 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: Taste of Seahawks. It benefits Ben's fun. Are you looking 13 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: forward to this event? Man? Looking forward to it? Another 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 1: couple other guys are gonna be us, right, So it's 15 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: good to just be able to hang out outside the 16 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: football area. Now. One of the things I do before 17 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: I start asking you questions is uh, I like to 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 1: ask about the type of song, any type of song 19 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: to kind of get you feeling a certain type of 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: way and good because some good bye yes and things. 21 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: What you got for us, i'd have to say, doing 22 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: all disturbed by drake, Uh, that song was just like 23 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: I'd listened to that a lot when I was at 24 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: Texas and like when I was like deciding if I 25 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: wanted to leave school early and try for the NFL, 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: and that kind of that was one of the songs 27 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: that I don't know, just just made me feel good 28 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: about my decision and kind of just gave me confidence. 29 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: I don't know if the lyrics say much about that, 30 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 1: but it just let's just had the vibe to it all. 31 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: Let's say, let's say, let's say let's say, let's say 32 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:34,639 Speaker 1: do not disturb by Drake. Well you you was falling 33 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: in this, yeah, all right, starting no listen, just oh okay, okay, 34 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: if Michael Dixon flowing into the facility, flowing like that, okay, 35 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go ahead and confess something before we even 36 00:01:53,160 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: ask even more questions. When the Seahawks trade it, it 37 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: made a move and picked a punter in the fifth round. 38 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: Let me just tell you what I said. I said, Man, 39 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: what a punter in the fifth round? Man, that's crazy. 40 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. Then I saw you. But for the 41 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 1: first half, I said, oh, okay, I just gotta know, man, 42 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: take us back to the very beginning, not when you 43 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: first started playing football, when you first knew and you 44 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: had a bionic leg. Yeah. So I played soccer for 45 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: a couple of years when I was real young, about 46 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: age six, and it kind of even started back then, 47 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: like I had I kicked like a penalty kick, and 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: like my coach was like that was like that was insane, 49 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: Like that was real fast, and he called it the 50 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: head chopper, the head chopper, head chopper, head chopper, okay, 51 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: because it was like so fast. And then I played 52 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: Auzzi Rules and like my first award that I got 53 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: was the Golden Boot, which is like the golden like 54 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: foot because I had a good kick in that sport, right. 55 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 1: And then just for years, like I was just obsessed 56 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: with like the punning aspect in Assy Rules and would 57 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: just go every day up to the school and just 58 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: kick and kick and make up games with my friends 59 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: and just like kick a ball around. So that's why 60 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: I had like a good connection with my foot and 61 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: a good connection to that movement that made learning how 62 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: to punt. So when you let me ask you this, 63 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: when you were punting back home in Australia and you're 64 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: playing all these different games, Yeah, would you ever watch 65 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: NFL games, Uh not really No. I had like Madden, 66 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: like an old Madden, and would just like throw hail 67 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: Mary's and that's that's it. I know. I didn't know 68 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: what defense was. I didn't know the game. I just 69 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: kind of threw the long ball on like super be 70 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: easy setting, but had no I had no idea about 71 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: the game. Really, So you're over there and then I 72 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: want to hear about the first time that somebody said 73 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: to you, hey, it maybe might be a good idea 74 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: for you to go football in the States. Yeah. So, 75 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: like sav Rocca was a guy that I always like 76 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: looked up to. He played American football. He played Australian 77 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: football professionally and always had a big kick in that sport. 78 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: So that's why I like, I thought I could do 79 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: it as well because I had a big kick in 80 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,799 Speaker 1: my sport. And then I had players on my AFL 81 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,559 Speaker 1: team telling me I should try out punting, I should 82 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: play American football, and it was always a joke for 83 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and then when my AFL career 84 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: wasn't going anywhere, I decided that, you know, I want 85 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 1: to give punting a real shot and see see what 86 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: I had to do. Didn't know anything, didn't know college 87 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 1: football existed, but then found out that was a route 88 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: to goa you mean to tell me you really didn't 89 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 1: know that college football existed in twenty fifteen before I 90 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: tried out, Like I didn't know what college football was, 91 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: and then I tried out and would like tried with 92 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: a punting coach in Australia. He explained the whole process 93 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: because I just wanted to see if I could go 94 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: to the NFL. I see if I could somehow whatever 95 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: the pathway was, and college football was the pathway. And 96 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: then when I got to college football, I was like, wow, 97 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: this is insane. I didn't realized college was this big 98 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: and the NFL step above that. So then okay, So 99 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: then you arrive at the University of Texas. You're a longhorn, 100 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: so you're there, right, and so you're at the school, 101 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 1: tell us about the first time. There's some of your teammates, 102 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: so you kick. They probably wouldn't have been impressed because 103 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: my first punt at practice, like it was like hyped 104 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: up for me, and I was getting hype. Hadn't put 105 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: pads on before, so like figured out how to put 106 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: my pads on and everything it was like, man, I 107 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: want to crush it. I want to crush and I 108 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: want to show these guys that I'm good, that it 109 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: was worth getting me from all the way from Australia. 110 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: Then I'm lining up, It's like a live rep gets 111 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: snapped to me. I don't even look at the ball. 112 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: I'm just looking at everyone running at me. I throw 113 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: it on my foot and I just shank it directly 114 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: left off the field onto the road, and everyone was 115 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: just dead silent, and I was just like, oh man, 116 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: And then slowly like improved in the more comfortable. But 117 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: it wasn't evern suck. Oh Man, your favorite moment as 118 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: a Texas Longhorn when you were in college. I mean, look, 119 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna lie to you. Man. You're the first 120 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: punter that makes me like, oh hold up, man, I 121 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: can't go to the bathroom, my man about the punt. 122 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: Let me see what he's about to do. Like I've 123 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: never been excited to see what the punter is gonna do. 124 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 1: I know I'm not alone. I gotta no favorite moment 125 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: as in college. My last game for sure. Um it 126 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: was my first bowl game and uh we wont it. 127 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: I ended up getting like eleven punts. I won the 128 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: MVP as well, so like that was it was just 129 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: a wait, like crazy way to end my college career, 130 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: like getting to win and getting the MVP. The was 131 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: something real. Family. Tell us about some of your family 132 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: members back home. Brother's, sister's family. Yeah, I got an 133 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: older sister, she's um, she's living in Sydney. I got 134 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: mom and stepdad living in Sydney and they try and 135 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: come out for the games. Mum and stepdad came out 136 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: for the first three games this year. And um, I 137 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: got a cousin who's like a brother basically, and he's 138 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: he's punning in Texas now kitty kick. Yeah, he's he's 139 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: getting used to it as well. It's I mean, as 140 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: hard as a freshman coming in, no matter how much 141 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: you prepare in Australia, it's the first time you've ever 142 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: played an American football game, right, But you know he's 143 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: he's feeling comfortable and like he's got a big leg 144 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: on him, so he's gonna do some crazy things. Okay, 145 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: So I mean, yeah, yet a bionic leg foot all 146 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: that stuff. So what has been for you the toughest 147 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: transition from Australia to college football in Texas to now 148 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: the NFL. Uh, the toughest transition would be when I 149 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: first got to Texas, like trying to deal with like 150 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: the time difference because like you can't even face time 151 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: people at the same time. It might be three am 152 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 1: when you have your spare time in the day. So 153 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: that was kind of hard. But then you find out 154 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: a routine that works. But since then, like, how about 155 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: how about the transition from college to the NFL? Will 156 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: spit the toughest just finding a routine. I'm a big, 157 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: like routine guy, so every like every day in college, 158 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: I'd have something that was like specific to that day 159 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: leading up to a game, even if it was something 160 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: real little and stupid, like drinking a certain drink on 161 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: a Wednesday, like it reminded me that it was a Wednesday, 162 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: and it's a couple of days before the game. Now 163 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,439 Speaker 1: I've just like developed my routine and with the Seahawks, 164 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,959 Speaker 1: because you arrive at different times and you wear different 165 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: dress to the games, and you drive yourself to some game. 166 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: So it's all about just getting comfortable with a new routine. 167 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: And now I feel pretty comfortable with it. Okay, So 168 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: let's pretend like it's a home game, You're gonna play 169 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: a CenturyLink field. What would be your routine when you 170 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: wake up on Sunday More, I'll wake up a couple 171 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: hours before breakfast, and I like going on a walk 172 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: around the building, and I started getting so Originally I 173 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: was getting there super early because I was just so eager, 174 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: and I was getting there an hour and an hour 175 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: before the first bus. The early bus would even leave 176 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: the hotel. I was already at the stadium like an 177 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: hour before that. And I realized, like that was not good. 178 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: Even though I was so like eager to do it, 179 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: I'm just instead, I forced myself to wait around in 180 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,840 Speaker 1: the hotel longer and then leave when the late bus leaves. 181 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: So when I get to the stadium, I'm just like 182 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: rushing and like got like a hype energy about me 183 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,559 Speaker 1: instead of kind of getting there and being able to chill. 184 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: So that was one of the things I like doing. Now. 185 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: Do you have a favorite I mean you say your routine? Guy, 186 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: you have a favorite meal? Do you have a favorite drink? 187 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: What are you doing? Yeah, so spaghetti bolonais pre game. 188 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: In college, we used to have like a shot of 189 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: yellow gatorade and we'd have to do like a host 190 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: and cheese it and then we'd have a specific handshake 191 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: and all that. But now I ate by myself because 192 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: it's it's different. It's a different setting in the NFL. 193 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: It's not like college anymore, right, But I still have 194 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: like my chocolate milk and coffee mix that together. No 195 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: whoa woa hold on? Hold on chocolate milk and coffee. Yeah, 196 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: where did that come from? Man? It just happened one 197 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: day in college and it just I just stuck with 198 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,200 Speaker 1: it and have to have to do it now. Wow, 199 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: that's that's one of the things. That's definitely one of 200 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: the routines. Chocolate, milk and coffee. Now, I gotta tell you, 201 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: I got an opportunity to hang out with you guys 202 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: for a little by both you and Tyler Ott for 203 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 1: a minute. Man, that that dude was pretty funny. Yeah, 204 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: that dude. That dude is I mean, I mean I 205 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: don't think I even know anybody from Harvard. Yeah, he's 206 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,599 Speaker 1: the only healthy guy. Yeah, he's definitely. What's that relationship 207 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: like between the two of you, man? Yeah, I mean 208 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: as soon as I go to Inn, he was always um, 209 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not as a rookie. I'm not gonna 210 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: come in and try and joke around too much. Like 211 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,440 Speaker 1: I kind of just wanted to be quiet, be seeing, 212 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: not heard, just kind of do do my things, try 213 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: and help out as much as I can with the 214 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: vets and try and stay out of their head. But 215 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,559 Speaker 1: you know, since we've been on the team together, we 216 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,439 Speaker 1: played some games together, we can joke around a bit 217 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: more now. And he's just been a good mentor for 218 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: me as well. I try and learn as much as 219 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: I can from every different player of every different position, 220 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: and he's he makes you feel confident out there, like 221 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: he's very confident in himself. And when I'm out there, 222 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: I know that it's gonna be a good snap and 223 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: I know he's going to do his job. Since you've 224 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: been with the Seahawks, it don't worry you, don't You 225 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: could share this is driving with g Man. We have 226 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: a lot of fun on here and we sometimes we 227 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 1: talk about awkward moments. Yeah, since you've been a Seahawk, 228 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: give us your most awkward moment so far. I don't 229 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 1: have anything like crazy awkward, but I feel like there's 230 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: something a little awkward that I do every day, Like 231 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: I just have my headphones in a lot, so I 232 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: never know if anyone's like saying hey or if they're not, 233 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: like around the building early in the morning, So that's 234 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: always awkward. Sometimes I feel like people are saying hey 235 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: or high or good morning, and I'd never know and 236 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: just kind of say anything that I think that they're saying, 237 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: so I know that I'm answering their things wrong. Like 238 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: if they're saying how you're doing, I'm like, yeah, good morning. 239 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: I bet that happens all the time, right right? Um, well, obviously, 240 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: I mean you now have found out what it's like 241 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: to play a Central League field in front of the 242 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: twelves Allow Stadium, no doubt about it. How is that 243 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: opportunity and experience been for you so far? I mean, 244 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: I love it. The crowd gets me high, but then 245 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: when it's time for me to chill, their chill. So 246 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: they know, they know how to yell and stuff, and 247 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 1: when when our defense is out there, I can get 248 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: hype with them. It feels good. They definitely give a 249 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: lot of energy to the players. And if I ever 250 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: hit a good punt and I hear them yell, I'm like, well, 251 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: that's the biggest thing, Like getting getting the crowd like 252 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: excited over a punt. That makes me feel good. Okay, 253 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: So can we talk about Detroit for a second. Yeah, 254 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: I know you've been asked this. I'm trying to find 255 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: an angle where where there's a special way we can 256 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: discuss Detroit. Somebody get this straight. So you were supposed 257 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: to do one thing, or maybe you misunderstood whatever the 258 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,839 Speaker 1: case might be. Okay, cool, whatever, but you get the punt, 259 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: and then at that moment, what is really going through 260 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: your mind? So if I first get it, I was 261 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: gonna happy to take the safety and I was just 262 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 1: gonna try and soak up as much clock as I could. 263 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: I was kind of running and they came to block it, 264 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: so all their players were kind of behind me at 265 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: this point, like do a couple takes. I was like, 266 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,959 Speaker 1: stuff it, I'm going for it, shot up the sideline 267 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 1: and took a hit, but like didn't really feel the 268 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,959 Speaker 1: hit at all. And I mean, you know, I was 269 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: gonna get it, but I knew it was gonna be close. 270 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: But this is wait, but this is your first like 271 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: this is like, oh my goodness, I'm running in the 272 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: NFL right now? Yeah, are you scared? I was? I 273 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: was happy the whole time. I was like, thank god, 274 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: I went for it, like you're all getting it. I 275 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: was just excited to get it so then I could 276 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: just go to talk to people on the sideline after 277 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: I got it. Now, when you got to the sideline, 278 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: was everybody hugs and cheers. Yeah yeah, everyone everyone is 279 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: crazy and just like including the coaches. Yeah, oh wow, yeah, 280 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: they're like you're crazy, You're man. How about how about 281 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: somebody the Detroit Lions did any and then say anything 282 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: to you when they tackled you. No, they didn't. But 283 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: after the game, Quandre Diggs, who was a Texas guy 284 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: who was just saying, man, you're lucky. I'll wasn't over 285 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: there all would let you up. But yeah, I guess, yes, 286 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: I'm lucky. What's the hardest hit you've ever taken? Both 287 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: college or I mean, you haven't been hitting obviously, really 288 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: that I got hit and I did I did too 289 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: runs in college. One of them got called back. I 290 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: would have got the first down, but there was like 291 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: a holding penalty and that that hit was all right. 292 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: The hits aren't really too bad, Like I don't really 293 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: feel it because I yes, I was just like hyped up. 294 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: I couldn't take more than like five a game. I 295 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: feel like after five, I'd just be out of it. 296 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: You think you could do with Chris Carson and my 297 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: game is didn in between the tackles the big boys, 298 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: and I was just thinking about like sometimes like they 299 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: run and then it gets called back and then like 300 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: the run said they got ten yards left to do 301 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: it again, and that run didn't count for anything. Like 302 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: that just clicked to me the other day. I was like, 303 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: I'd be so angry if that happened, if I just 304 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: ran and took all these hits and it didn't count 305 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: for anything. He said, it just dawned or you like, yeah, yeah, 306 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't like that. No, not at all. So this 307 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: so the first time I saw you kick, like I 308 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: was watching this was at training camp. It's very beginning. 309 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: Like I said, again, I ain't a lot to you. 310 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: I was like, man, why aren't they picking a punter? 311 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: And of course in that day I said, oh, I 312 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 1: see why they picked a punter. Bro You were like 313 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: you had the garbage pale canned things in the corner 314 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: of the end zone and you were kicking balls and 315 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: trying to make them in there. Did you used to 316 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: do this in Australia. No, that was that was just 317 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: meant to be one of the competitions at the end 318 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: of practice like we do on competition Wednesday. We didn't 319 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: end up doing it, but um, I was just like 320 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: practicing and trying to trying to get it in the 321 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: trash can. I got it in right before and no 322 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: one was looking like I was trying to get Coach 323 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: Snider in the look and he wasn't looking. I did 324 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: get one in. Tell us about Coach Schneider. Now, I look, 325 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: the one thing I've known Coach Schneider, and nobody how 326 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: many people will bring up his name because there's special 327 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: teams and special teams don't matter unless something messes up right, 328 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: But I know Coach Schneider was a player. He was 329 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: man oh man, he was the guy. And now I 330 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: mean he still is intense. What's he like as a 331 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: special team's coordinator for you? And he's great. I loved 332 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: um on my pro day he came out and we 333 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: just like connected right away. He's he's got a really 334 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: good energy about him and just like makes me feel 335 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: confident going out there. I know that, uh, I could 336 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: have ended up in a position where I don't, you know, 337 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: click with a lot of coaches and as a rookie 338 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: that would have been really hard. But he's just made 339 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: the whole transition like so easy, made me feel so confident. 340 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: And the same with Pete, you know, they both just 341 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: make you feel confident within yourself. So he'sn't he's a 342 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: great coach. So the drop kick, my uh, I haven't. 343 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: I hadn't seen anybody when I was I'm from Chicago 344 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 1: and my uh my first football coach, Tony Mazzarello may recipes. Um, 345 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,360 Speaker 1: he would drop kick field goals all the time, really 346 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: all the time, and I was just like and I 347 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: used to always try it and I never could do it. 348 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: I mean absolutely never could do it. I mean he 349 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: could drop kick them from thirty and forty yards out easy. Yeah, 350 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: how fucking you drop kick one? Man? My record is 351 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: sixty five, but like not in a game or anything, 352 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: you've kicked you've dropped kicked a sixty five yard field goal? Yeah, no, consistently, 353 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: Like it's yeah, it's maybe hit if I'm if I'm 354 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: feeling good, one out of six from sixty five? Okay, 355 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: how about from not not in a game? We're not 356 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: all my games from let's just say, from forty yards 357 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: out drop kick out of six, how many the kill 358 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: matus four or five? Man bro Okay? So all right, 359 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: So look so I mean, obviously it's a gift you're 360 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: able to kick. What is so for punners right now? 361 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: There's there's some punners right now that are watching this 362 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: right like seriously, I mean they're What are some things 363 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: that you can do to I don't know what to do? 364 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: What are some things you can do to continue being 365 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: able to punt well besides going to the trainers and 366 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: or what. Yeah, I think like the thing with like 367 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: punting and punning coaches, it's like real mechanical, Like they 368 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: try and get your real mechanical n tell you your 369 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: ball drop needs to be like this, or your steps 370 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: are too short, too long, your angles like this. But 371 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: like I just would say, don't get too caught up 372 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: in like the mechanics of everything, just being an athlete. 373 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: If like practice punting and whatever it works, just keep 374 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: doing that and get more consistent with it. Just punt 375 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: a lot and figure out what works for you, and 376 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: you know you some of the tips they give. But 377 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: also like don't get too tied down in all the mechanics. 378 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: Just reps. Yeah, just reps and just work it out 379 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,000 Speaker 1: for yourself. It's not it doesn't need to be super mechanical. 380 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: Like my punning style is completely different from anyone else's. 381 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: It's just what I've worked with and what works for 382 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: me and what what's consistent. You know, like everyone's different, 383 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 1: and do what works for you. Wow. Now when you 384 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: um in the future, in long future, because you've got 385 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: a long NFL career ahead of you. If you weren't 386 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: playing football, what do you think you would be doing. 387 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: I would have got my business degree from Texas UM, 388 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: hopefully starting up some sort of I'd want to create 389 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: something of my own, if it's a business and product 390 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: of service or something i'd want to get. I feel 391 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: like I get really passionate about something that I've created. 392 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: M So I feel that's what i'd be doing right, 393 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: Not too sure of what, but when I put my 394 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: head down and do it, I feel like I figured 395 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: something out and run with it. Right. So, So, since 396 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: you've been in Seattle, off the football field, away from 397 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: practice and things, what does Michael Dixon be doing around town? Man? 398 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 1: Really just chilling in my Really, I bought some normal 399 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: tech boots, like the recovery boots, and I'm chilling them 400 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: for like an hour an hour and a half every day, 401 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: just stuffing YouTube, doing anything, playing Matten and talking to 402 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: people back home as time. Are you better at Madden 403 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: now than you used to be then? I used to be? Yeah, 404 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: it's still pretty bad. I'm just bad at video game. 405 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: I've tried playing Fortnite and just gave up. I didn't 406 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,119 Speaker 1: know how to build the stairs and quit. It's not 407 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: for me, you know what. Now that's the part where 408 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: I see my sons doing that and they running and 409 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: they go, did you give I'm like, wait, how do 410 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,120 Speaker 1: you build the stairs? Man? Mike Davis plays a lot 411 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: of Fortnite, Yeah, I see it. I see only social media. 412 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 1: Ye yeah, I mean I can play like cod stuff. 413 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: But like as soon as the building came in and 414 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: building stairs and all the like traps and stuff, I 415 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: was just like, it's can't do it, not good enough? Right, Well, 416 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: we almost here to your destination. Here has sent you 417 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: link Field and one of the things that I like 418 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: to do towards the end is this is an opportunity 419 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: for you to talk to the fans, a direct message 420 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: to them. You can say whatever it is that you 421 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: would want to say to all the twelves that are 422 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: watching right now. You're up, um, basically just like, thank 423 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: you for accepting me as one of one of your players. 424 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: I know that drafting a punner like you said probably 425 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: would have been in a from the only one. No, 426 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: there was a lot, there was a lot, but you 427 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: know I wanted to. I expected that on you either way. 428 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: If you're gonna draft a punny, you're gonna get some 429 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,879 Speaker 1: sort of questions about it. And since I came on 430 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: on the team, you guys have just been nothing but 431 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: supportive and just showing you love and made me feel 432 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: like I belong. So thank you for that. Ah Well, 433 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: there it is another edition of Driving with g Michael 434 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: Dixon as he's getting ready to join the Taste of 435 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: Seahawks to benefit Ben's fun and man, we got to 436 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: do this again sometime. Brother. Don't don't, don't stay a stranger. Brother, 437 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: Let's do it all right,