1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: You hear it all the time when guys come and 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: talking you here, but you never really think like all 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: that can happen to me. I was living a dream 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: and everything was starting to come together. How you know, 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: I envisioned it when I came to league, working my 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: way up became a starter, and I really honestly felt 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: like I was just getting started. Woke up, you know, 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: I had butterflies and everything like that, and then I 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: got to locker room, and my locker was in the 10 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: coating locker room, in a small locker room. Well, welcome 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: into the lounge. It's a little bit quieter in the 12 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: lounge today. It's a little less crowded, and that's because 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: Mike decided not to show for the work this week. 14 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: That's all right, that's all right because we have sub 15 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:55,959 Speaker 1: did somebody even better? We got zach Or coming back 16 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: to the podcast. Sack is one of the few returning guests. 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: You did this last year or two years ago during 18 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: your All Pro season, and now you're on the coaching 19 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: side of things. So Zak, thanks for coming back and 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: joining the lounge. No problem. Appreciate having me. It's always 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: a good time talking with with both of you. Guys. 22 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: But now gone and now is as you gard and uh, 23 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: you know it's fun, man, looking forward to having good 24 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: you know, conversation. Yeah. So, you know, for people that 25 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: don't know, you have spent the last year working on 26 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: the coaching side here. After you retired, you came back 27 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: and you worked coaching and personnel. So can you kind 28 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: of give us an update on what you've been up 29 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: to over the course of the last year. I mean, 30 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: I see you every day, but for friends, you know, 31 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: they haven't seen you behind the scenes. Oh man, I 32 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: mean first and foremost, first and foremost. Uh. It's just 33 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: a great opportunity that uh, you know, Mr Bashadi Azik 34 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: News some coach hardball, you know, provided me to come 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: back and stay around the game. So I'm back working 36 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: with the coaching staff. You know defense. I'm a defensive guy. 37 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: I messed with the offensive right exactly. Yeah, So I'm 38 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: working with the with the defensive staff and assisting them 39 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: and you know, anything they need. I'm in all the meetings. 40 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm you know, part of the game planning, uh, playbook, 41 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: drawing up a lot of plays, drawn up, a lot 42 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: of scout cards, and um, you know, helping helping linebackers. 43 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: I'm in the linebacker room, you know, every every day 44 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: with the with the linebackers. You know, if I played 45 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: with a lot of those guys and you know, just 46 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: just in there helping them as much as I can. 47 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: And I think it's good that I can be that. 48 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: I guess mediator in between coaches and player come kind 49 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: of in between. Like I just got done playing, so 50 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: I kind of and have played with a lot of 51 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: these guys that's on the team, so I kind of know, 52 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: you know, how the guys think and how they feel 53 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: about certain you know, situations and certain things, and um, 54 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: you know, now being the being on the coaching side 55 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: and seeing how you know, different perspective from the coaches 56 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: and seeing how they think. Now I feel like I 57 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: kind of you know, relate that back and forth from 58 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: the coaches and players and um, you know, get started 59 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: on my second career. Do you think that players like 60 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: guys you play with, Sayrell Sucks or C. J. Mosley 61 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: and these different guys, so they look at you as 62 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: a coach or do they look at you as a 63 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: friend as a player, Like how do they view you? Um? 64 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 1: Oh know, that's a good question. I think you have 65 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: to ask them. I mean, I don't know. I mean 66 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: I feel like I haven't changed really because even when 67 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: I was playing, I was a kind of guy that 68 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: was vocal, like in in the locker room and in 69 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: the meeting rooms and and you know, with to help 70 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: guys out if if needed, and just always had conversations 71 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: about football X and those. I was able to talk 72 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: to those with those guys. So I don't know how 73 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: they viewed me. But now it's kind of more they 74 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: see me I give, you know, presentations and and things 75 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: like that. So now it's definitely I look more like 76 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: a coach, and I dressed like one. Like sometimes like 77 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: they'll tell, man, you look like a real coach, or 78 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: they hear me say something to be like, oh you're 79 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: coaching for real now, aren't you. So I don't know, 80 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: you have to ask them, but I mean my job 81 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: is just trying to help them, you know, with any 82 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: little thing I can, and um, it helps that those guys, 83 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: I mean, they want to be great. Everybody in this 84 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: building I feel like wants to wants to learn and 85 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: wants to be great, and they feel like if you 86 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: can help them out and in any little thing, you know, um, 87 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: they'll ask you. And even though I'm a young guy 88 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: and I played with those guys, I feel like they 89 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: trust me and they know that I know what I'm 90 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: talking about. They understand they see me up here every day, 91 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: they know I'm with the coaches, they know I'm in 92 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: the meetings, so they feel confident. They have a question, 93 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: they can ask me and I can give. If I 94 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: don't know the answer right then and there, I can definitely, 95 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: you know, get them to answer um as soon as possible. 96 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: I'm curious, what's the biggest thing you learned about the 97 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: coaches that you didn't know previously. Maybe it's the hours man, 98 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: First and foremost, it's the hours, oh man. I mean, 99 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: I always have respect for the work that coaches put in, 100 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,919 Speaker 1: just because as a player, I always felt like I 101 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: was prepared for the game. I never felt unprepared for 102 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: a game. So I knew that coaches had to put 103 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: in some work obviously, But uh man, and me and 104 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: the hours and the time and just the different things 105 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: that coaches think about that you don't think about as 106 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: a player is just is amazing to me. As as 107 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: a player, you you get the product when it's finished, 108 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: like when you get the game plan earlier in the week, 109 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: you already have. Everything is already finished to you. Now 110 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: it's just up to you honing in on the game 111 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: plan and studying it. But the coaches, you're working seven 112 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: days a week, twenty four hours around the clock, because 113 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: right after you finished playing on Sunday, you're already preparing 114 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: the game plan for the next for the next opponent. 115 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: And just seeing how the coaches you know, come together, 116 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: what what works, What what worked this week may not 117 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: work the next week, or work worked last time against 118 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: his team may not work this time, or you know, 119 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: maybe you can use something that you use early in 120 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: the season later in the season. Just seeing what all 121 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: how the game plan goes together, man, is just amazing. 122 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: And um just learned. I learned a lot of football. 123 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: I thought I knew a little bit of football, but 124 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 1: I realized I didn't know nothing. Uh, I've learned. I've 125 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: learned a lot from from these coaches. Man. I appreciative 126 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: of them, just, you know, dropping knowledge and let me 127 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: know everything that they know. You know, when you first 128 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: moved into this role, it was sort of he could 129 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: be a little coach, could be a little scout. We're 130 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: not exactly sure which direction is gonna go. But it 131 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: sounds like coaching is what you've really honed it. Yeah, 132 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: coaching is. I think coaching is really just just for me, man, 133 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: just you know, being out there, you know with the 134 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: guys and you know talking, you know, talking with the players, 135 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: being more interactive with the players and everything like that. 136 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: I feel like I feel like that's home with me. 137 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: I just feel you know, with peace and happiness, and 138 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: I feel like that's what it's that's that's my calling 139 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 1: for that. I mean I remember even when you were playing, 140 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: you said that when you were done, you can see 141 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: yourself moving in the coaching. It obviously happened earlier than expected. 142 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: How many times I'm curious last year when you would 143 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: be watching games, at what point did you feel like 144 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: I'm just to coach. I'm sure like the first time 145 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: you went into the game, you went into the season, 146 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,840 Speaker 1: it was the first game and there's just butterflies. You 147 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: probably felt like I would think I should be putting 148 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: the pass on, Like did you feel that? Yeah? I did. 149 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: I did so. I remember the first game in Cincinnati. 150 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, getting on airplane going out there, 151 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: woke up, you know, I had butterflies and everything like that, 152 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: And then got to locker room and my locker was 153 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: in the coaching locker room, in a small locker room 154 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: where you know, it wasn't really know these big lockers 155 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: and everything. I think that's what hit me, like, all right, man, 156 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,360 Speaker 1: you know, you're not about to play with no pads 157 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 1: in your locker. It was just you know, college shirt 158 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: and you know, your your slacks and everything like that. 159 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: So that's when it probably hit me that, you know, man, 160 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: you know, you know you're preparing for a game and 161 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,679 Speaker 1: you're doing everything to get ready for the game, you know, traveling, 162 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: doing all this stuff, but you're not about to go 163 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: out there and hit yeah exactly, you know, never did 164 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: do any of that, you know. And uh so that 165 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: that's probably the first time it really hit me, like 166 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: after I got back up here that you know, you're 167 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: you're a full time you know coach. Now. There were 168 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: so many times last year during games where I would 169 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: feel like I would be watching plays and I would 170 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: sometimes say I wish that on the field right now, 171 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: Like I would be like that he would have made 172 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: that tackle, he would have been had that play. Did 173 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: you would you have those plays like when you're watching film. 174 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: Was it was it hard to basically watch the film 175 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: and say, I'm working on finding ways to help these 176 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: guys improve, these players improved, versus I wish I could 177 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: be that guy making that play, because I made that 178 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: play last year. I mean, I think it was it 179 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: was a little bit of both. I mean, um, you know, 180 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: just the natural I'm still I'm still a competitive guy 181 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: and and things like that. So when when you see stuff, 182 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: sometimes it would be hard not to be like, man, 183 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: you know, I wish I wish I see I see it, 184 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: I see the play happening. I wish I could, you know, 185 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: be right there and do that. But you know, I, 186 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: like I've said before, when I when I got back 187 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: up here, you know, I know, I know that those 188 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: my playing days are behind me now. So now I'm 189 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: looking forward to the next challenge, and which is you know, 190 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: becoming a coach and working working on that. So I 191 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: find more time, way more time. I'm trying to help 192 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: the guys out and seeing little details I can anyway 193 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: I can help, you know, to mean, whether looking at 194 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: the opponent what they're doing, they're looking at what our 195 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 1: own guys are doing, um, and and just learning from 196 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: that and just trying to help our guys anyway. So 197 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 1: I find myself a lot more trying to just look 198 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: at the details and how to help the guys out. 199 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: But every now and then, every now and their competitives 200 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,719 Speaker 1: is like, oh, think they have tried it out? When 201 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: if they would have tried that when I was out there, 202 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 1: you know, but that will probably never leave you. Yeah, 203 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: probably probably sixty years old watching the game talking to 204 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: your kids, I would have made That's exactly, man, exactly, 205 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: I definitely would. I'm just like, I think one thing, 206 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: people that have people that know me just they really 207 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: kind of like how competitive, And I'm I'm really competitive, 208 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: like any little thing I want to I've seen the 209 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: debates that happened up in your in your office exactly 210 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: see me being up there. I think, um, I brought 211 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: some of that competitiveness out of people. You know. Um, 212 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 1: I'm always you know, looking for a challenge and the 213 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: challenge guys and stuff like that. So you know, it's great. 214 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: So I want to go back to basically fourteen months 215 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 1: ago this season, you know, the season ends, um, and 216 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: you find out at the time, just to refresh people 217 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: on this on your story, you find out at the 218 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: time that you have congenital next mine condition that won't 219 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: allow you to play, and so you make the decision 220 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: to retire. I believe it was around January. And and 221 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: then you over the course of time st to get 222 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: some second opinions on that, and and doctor tells you, well, 223 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: you may be it no greater risk than anybody else. 224 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 1: You could probably go and play if if you want. 225 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: You went on some visits and talk to some teams 226 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: and then ended up not getting clear to then ultimately 227 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: made a decision, Okay, I'm going to retire for good. 228 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: So what is going Can you talk about the uncertainty 229 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 1: that like, just the ups and downs, the roller coaster. 230 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: You're retired, You're not, you're trying to play, You're like, 231 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: just how challenging that whole period was. It was? It 232 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: was really challenging. I mean, um, playing in NFLS was 233 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: always been the main a dream of mine and I 234 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: was living I was living a dream. I was living 235 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: a dream and everything was starting to come together, how 236 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: you know, I envisioned it when I came to league, 237 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: working my way up became a starter, and I really 238 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: honestly felt like I was just getting started, like i'd 239 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: just understand how it had a good year, and I 240 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: was I was proud of the way I was able 241 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: to go out with the circumstance how everything happened. But 242 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: I mean I was no where near the player that 243 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: I needed to be and I was on the way 244 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: to being, so that I think that was the most 245 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: you know, frustrating and you know sad part was just 246 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: because I knew that people I knew deep down people 247 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: haven't seen the best of me. I knew I could 248 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: have been a lot better and I knew I was 249 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot better. So you know, when I 250 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: first found out that news, it was it was devastating. 251 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: It it was tough, man, and uh, I just had 252 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: just needed a lot of time to myself, and I 253 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 1: felt this felt this emptiness, you know, especially when guys 254 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,959 Speaker 1: started a lot of my friends and everything got started 255 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: reporting back for O T A s and offseason workouts 256 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: and everything like that, and I was already in the 257 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: kind of process of you know, getting treatment and everything 258 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: like that, and uh, for my shoulder and for my neck, 259 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: and then just started to get second opinions and so 260 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: I gotta say, had some other opinions that said that 261 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: the CO genital spine condition wasn't necessarily the main reason 262 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: why I couldn't play. It was necessarily my hernadd disc. 263 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 1: But on the way, my hername disc was gonna heal 264 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: if I had, you know, surgery. But if I had 265 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:04,439 Speaker 1: the surgery, then my congenital spine condition come into play, 266 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,959 Speaker 1: and you know, I couldn't play no more. Obviously after that, 267 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: um so so after after finding out that originally you 268 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: know that I could possibly play again, I just like, man, 269 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: I prayed about it and just think about it, and 270 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't feel like I will honestly 271 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: be able to let this go unless I tried to 272 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: knock on that door that got knocked on, door, knocked 273 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: the door down, don't leave no stone unturned. And I 274 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: feel like it will be something I couldn't you know, 275 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: live with if I just had that on my mind, 276 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: drawing my heart just like, okay, well maybe if I 277 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: could play this and that, so I just like, forget it, man, 278 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 1: I'm gonna try to go see see what's out and 279 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: see if I can or not. And um you know, 280 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: obviously went on some visits and things like that and 281 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: it didn't work out. But what what what what came 282 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: out of that was just a piece of mind. And uh, 283 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: I think that was the biggest thing for me and 284 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: I going into when I said I was gonna try 285 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: to come back and play, I was like, well, you know, 286 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: worst case scenario is I can't play. It's already exactly, 287 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: nothing has changed. The best case scenario is, Okay, you 288 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: can come back and not be at a greater risk 289 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: and you can you know, do what you love to 290 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: do again. So but what came out of it was, 291 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: like I said, a peace of mind, which which was great, 292 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: and I was ready to move forward. Man and um, 293 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: you know, Assi and and this organization gave me a 294 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: great opportunity to come in and learn and and grow 295 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: and get started on my second career. So I like, 296 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: like you said earlier, I always said I wanted to, 297 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, get into coaching and things like that. I 298 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: always wanted to stay around the game even when I 299 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: was done playing, not to get an earlier start. Man. 300 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: And I'm I'm looking at the positive side of it, like, Man, 301 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm I came in, I'm twenty five years old now, 302 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: and I'm I'm learning from one of the best organizations 303 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: you know that's been around and people here great and 304 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: I'm enjoying it every day. I'm having fun and pretty 305 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 1: much they just you know, help me out. I'm grateful 306 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: because I ain't know telling what, you know, where I 307 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: would be at with that. This you'ld early start. You 308 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:02,679 Speaker 1: can be the next Sean McVeigh. But he became a 309 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: head coach at exactly he actually the first guy. Exactly 310 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: he's putting on for the young coaches. Man's putting on 311 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: for the young coaches. What he did was great. Man. 312 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: That that just you know, shows you know, people that 313 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: don't be scared of age, man, you know, so that 314 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: that's great. So yeah, it was. It was. It was 315 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: emotional time, but up and down. But I think by 316 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: the time I got back up here it was it 317 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: was good because I just had a peace of mind 318 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 1: and I was ready to move forward. And you know, 319 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm happy about it. I'm curious when you made the 320 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: decision and say I'll give it a shot. I'll knock 321 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: on that door and see if I have a chance 322 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: to go and play. Was I know you're really close 323 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: to your family, or they saying go for it, or 324 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: were they saying don't Oh no, they were they were 325 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: saying go for it. Man. That My family was like, 326 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: if as long as if you're not at an increased 327 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 1: risk or anything like that, then then go for it 328 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: because they know how much they knew how much I 329 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: love ball, like they know more than anybody, and and 330 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: they knew how it was affecting me and everything like that, 331 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: and they knew they knew how bad I wanted, how 332 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: bad I wanted to play. So that was like, man, 333 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: you know, go after it. I mean, what what do 334 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: you have to lose? You already can't play, so just 335 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: go ahead and you know, try to see what you 336 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: trying to see if you can, and if not, then 337 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: you know it's you know, it's time to let it go. 338 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: And honestly feel like that's what it did for me. 339 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: So probably if if a team had said we're comfortable 340 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: with this, you would have played. Oh yeah, for sure. 341 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: I would have definitely been out there, man, No, no 342 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: second guesses. I've definitely been out there. H So how 343 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: much time goes past from the time you'd make the decision, Okay, 344 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: teams are gonna clear me I'm not I'm not playing. 345 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: You know, you come to that realization and you make 346 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: decision that my playing career is over. How much time 347 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: passes from then? So whoever the Ravens calls you and says, 348 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: what do you think about coming back here in this role? Um? Well, 349 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: I think I think it was like late July when 350 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: it when the second time it came out, I was like, 351 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not you know, I'm done for good. 352 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: But I guess I kind of knew. Um. I went 353 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: on some visits like early July, late June, so I 354 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: guess I kind of knew probably the middle of July, 355 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: and I kind of took a couple of weeks and 356 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: just like just the kind of process and just sitting 357 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: and reflecting everything, just be like all right, man, I'm 358 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: ready to go. And then um, you know I said 359 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: I wasn't coming back, and you know, I'm gonna stay 360 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: retired and I'm done. And I actually actually hit up 361 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: Oasy we had talked earlier after the first I actually 362 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: hit Izzie up and I I was like, hey, man, you know, 363 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: I'm ready to come up here and and get started 364 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: if the opportunity is stood there. And he was like, great, 365 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 1: I'll get back in contact with you. And I remember 366 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: like two weeks later, I was I was back up 367 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: here so it was. It was great, man. It was. 368 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: I remember at at your retirement press conference here, um, 369 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: you know, which was like it was a sad day, 370 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: you know for what we're talking about, but you were 371 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: so optimistic. And I remember talking to actually Wink at 372 00:16:54,920 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: the time and he was basically saying, I hope that 373 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: we find a way to get him here to coach, 374 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: and he would be a great coach. I saw it. 375 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: He was a coach on the field. I love his attitude. 376 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 1: And that was you know, that was one person who 377 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: said it, but I think that that was the sentiment 378 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: that like everybody in the organization had just the way 379 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: you carried yourself. Your story is an undrafted guy that 380 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,920 Speaker 1: that found success, had a great attitude, treated everybody the 381 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: right way. And I feel like, you know, some of 382 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: that stuff goes understated, but I think you're an example 383 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: of of why it's so important. Um. Did you have 384 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: a sense then that you know, Okay, even though the 385 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: playing career is done, I can probably make the transition 386 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: into this coaching realm. Like even all the way back 387 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: in January of two thousand, I guess seventeen that that 388 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: could be an option. Oh yeah, I definitely felt that way. 389 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: I like, like I said, I always knew that that's 390 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,400 Speaker 1: something that I wanted to wanted to get into, and 391 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 1: that the main thing with me is I think I've 392 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: had I had great coaches ever since I've grown up, 393 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: Like from when I played little league ball, through middle 394 00:17:55,880 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: school through uh, you know, high school, college. I can 395 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 1: say I can name coaches that I've learned something from 396 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:07,480 Speaker 1: at each level and just the impact they've had on 397 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: me just not only on the field, but in my life. 398 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that's what That's something that I said, I 399 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: always want to do and want to give back, you know, 400 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: just you know, to the game of football and to 401 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: the you know, the community as well. So, um, at 402 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: that moment, I knew that's something I want to I 403 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: want to do, and um now I felt like I 404 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: learned a lot and I felt like I'm able to 405 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: pick up you know, football information, you know, quickly, and 406 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: I just want to be able to you know, give 407 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: back to the game. And I always felt like, you know, 408 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: that was you know, that's something I always would do, 409 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: you know after I played so all right, right at 410 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: that moment, I definitely I definitely knew, and um, you know, 411 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: I'm glad that the organization kind of felt the same way. 412 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,959 Speaker 1: I think the biggest change with you since you finished 413 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: playing is how much weight you've lost. Man, I'm down, shoot, 414 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,560 Speaker 1: I'm fighting. I'm fighting the state two. Really, I'm kind 415 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: of I'm kind of over there now, I'm like two tins. 416 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 1: So I've lost. I lost a good twenty pounds. Like 417 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: it will, it'll be crazy. I always when I was playing, 418 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: I'll come into camp and like to thirty to thirty five, 419 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,959 Speaker 1: and I mean I couldn't keep weight on. I couldn't 420 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: keep weight on. So I used to have to like 421 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: down protein shakes and you know, do all types of 422 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,400 Speaker 1: stuff just to try to maintain my weight and still 423 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: be a struggle. So now you know, I don't have 424 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: to do that, So I don't. I don't have to 425 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: you know, eat the extra meals or eat the or 426 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: drink their extra protein shakes. So yeah, now I'm like 427 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: I got real, real skinny. Like when I first got 428 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 1: done playing, I mean I was barely two hundred pounds. Yeah, 429 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,360 Speaker 1: and you know, my little brothers and everything was like man, 430 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, I feel like I'm bigger and stronger. You know, 431 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: I had to hit that. I had to try to 432 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: you know, figure out the way to put their weight 433 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: on and hit the gym a little bit. But yeah, 434 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 1: I'm definitely like, look a look different. So you had 435 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: to when you were playing, you had to just eat meals, 436 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: eat eat to try to keep weight on and to 437 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: try to make your I mean, and you were already 438 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: for the position of the NFL a smaller guy, so 439 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: you basically had to try to say, all right, I 440 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: need to pack on pounds to keep myself you know, 441 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: durable exactly because if I if I didn't, I mean, 442 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 1: with all the running around and and and you know, 443 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: wearing the pads and everything I could, I could easily 444 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: been like to tin around. So I definitely knew that 445 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: that was one thing I had to do. I had 446 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 1: to find a way to keep weight on because it's 447 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: no fun, you know, being lightened, having those linemen coming 448 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: to hit you and everything exactly. Hit those running backs, 449 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: I mean those running back running backs nowadays two thirty. 450 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,239 Speaker 1: So it's like, man, you gotta have you know, some 451 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: type of you know it. It's good to have heart 452 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: and courage, but you have to have a little a 453 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 1: little weight behind you, you know, to last a little bit. 454 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,400 Speaker 1: Um you mentioned your brother. So you're the oldest. You've 455 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: got two younger brothers. Yeah, I'm the second old Yeah. 456 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: Your seconds. So you've got two brothers coming up the pipeline. 457 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: Um one just graduated from TCU and went undrafted. Yeah, 458 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: it's crazy. The NFL has no love for the order love. Man, 459 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,160 Speaker 1: We're just gonna prove them wrong. They don't understand, don't. 460 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is. I was productive in college. 461 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: He was productive in college. Four your starter. Um, it's 462 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 1: all good. Like we talked about told him, I said, 463 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: it just makes it, It just makes it better. I 464 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: guess this is just gonna be. You know your story, 465 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 1: and and I guess our stories. You know, undrafted guys 466 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 1: that go around and and make teams and do great things. 467 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: And he's on the Bears. So we're gonna see him. 468 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: You're probably gonna be which side are you gonna be 469 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: watching during that Hall of Fame game, because you're supposed 470 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: to be watching the Ravens side. But I have a 471 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: feeling it might be paying a little more intension to 472 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: the defensive side for the Bank. That's good. The good thing. 473 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: The good thing is is that when our defense out there, 474 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: I'll be locked in on our defen we'll make our 475 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 1: adjustments on the sideline and do we gotta do. And 476 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: I definitely will be locked in on the Bears defense 477 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: going again to offense just because just just because it's 478 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: it's football. I love football, but I mean it's my 479 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: little brother man. I mean, I'm I'm a biggest fan 480 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: of him and that's family right there. And just to 481 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: be able to see him in his first NFL game, 482 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: his first NFL game, that I'll be there on the sideline, 483 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: on the on posing sideline, but I'll be able to 484 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: see it live at best seat in the house. I mean, 485 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: it couldn't ask anything better. If if I see, you know, 486 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: if he gets a pick on Lamar Jackson stuff and 487 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 1: I see someone going crazy on our sidelines share, Yeah, 488 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. But I don't know, you 489 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,879 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. See, I definitely wish I definitely 490 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: wish him the best, you know what I mean. I 491 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: definitely wish him the best, and now wiside guys the best. 492 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: So it'll be fun, you know, either way, it'll be 493 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: a learning experience for somebody, you know what I mean. So, 494 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: but I definitely hope he does well, and uh, I'll 495 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: let you out of here on this. I mean a 496 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: lot of times players talk about and it sounds cliche. Um, 497 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,919 Speaker 1: you talk about how you know the game can be 498 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: short lived and every player can be your last. Like 499 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 1: you can throw every cliche out there in the books, like, 500 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 1: but you're actually an example of like when you finished 501 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 1: the season in two thousand sixteen, you did not expect 502 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: that to be your last game. And is that something 503 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: that you talked to your brothers about, you talked to 504 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: the team about, because you are kind of the shining 505 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: example of that story. Yeah, I mean, I definitely let 506 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: guys know that. I mean because you as a football 507 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: player growing up, you hear it all the time when 508 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: guys come and talk you here and you and just 509 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 1: anything else in life, but you never really think, like 510 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:14,400 Speaker 1: all that can happen to me, you know what I mean, 511 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: Or you know it can, but it's not something that 512 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: you really think about. You're like, Okay, yeah, I've heard 513 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 1: that before. I'm gonna play hard this and that, whatever 514 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: the case may be. But until it happens to you, 515 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: you have a whole different perspective about it. And um, 516 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: and I feel like I can let guys know that 517 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: and just be like, man, look I had everything going 518 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: for me this and now how do you want to 519 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: be remembered? What do you want your last play, your 520 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 1: last game, or what everybody wanted to look what he 521 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: wanted to look like, because nothing is really guaranteed, nothing 522 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 1: is promised. And then I think when guys see me, 523 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: like or guys I came in with, and they're like, man, 524 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: this was only twenty five. Like I'm sitting there looking 525 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: at him like nothing looks really wrong with him, but 526 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: he can't he can't play. And I feel like, you know, 527 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: just telling my story and just you know, talking with 528 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: guys want one or whatever the case, maybe it kind 529 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: of opens their eyes up a little bit and just 530 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: be like, man, you know, I really do. You know, 531 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,440 Speaker 1: never know what can happen, and then it's always perfect 532 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: examples of it. Like I mean, you see, you know 533 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: the unfortunate situation with Shades here. I mean, this dude, 534 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: a great players balling out this this this year was 535 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: gonna be a pro bowler. I mean it was a 536 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl, was a Pro Bowl. I mean doing great 537 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: things for him, I mean killed us in our first game, 538 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: and you know, look at look at that. So it's 539 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: always gonna be examples of that. And you know, guys 540 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: just have to take that and listen to it man 541 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: and and go after just because you don't want to 542 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: be you don't want to you don't ever want to 543 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: have regrets. And that's one thing that I can say 544 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: that I don't. I don't have any regrets. Like Man, 545 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: I wish I would have worked harder, I wish you 546 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: would have done you know, a little thing different. I 547 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: honestly felt like that year I let you know everything out. 548 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: I put everything into everything I had into it into 549 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: the game. And that's one thing I can hang my 550 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: head on. Zach enjoy watching your area, look forward to 551 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: watching the next chapter of it. So big thanks to 552 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,879 Speaker 1: zach or for joining me today. Just one of my 553 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: favorite guys that I've ever covered. You know, a lot 554 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: of people ask who are your favorite players that you've 555 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,640 Speaker 1: ever covered over the course of your career, and zach 556 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: or Is is absolutely one of those guys. Smart player, 557 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: worked crazy hard, undrafted player who made it to the 558 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: biggest stage and played at the highest level and and 559 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: did it the right way. So he's somebody you know. 560 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: His story is certainly is sad in the sense that 561 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 1: I feel like he was robbed of certainly financial riches, 562 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: of of continuing his NFL career. But he had a 563 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: lot of good football left in him and it's unfortunate 564 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: that he didn't get to to see that. But I 565 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: love his attitude. He's got the right outlook, um, he's 566 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: looking forward to what he's able to do on the 567 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: coaching side, and I think that he's somebody that we're 568 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: gonna be seeing in the NFL for for many years 569 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 1: to come, even if it's on the sidelines instead of 570 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: on the field. So big thanks to him for joining 571 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: me here today. And Ryan will be back next week. 572 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: One week off, but he'll be back next week. We're 573 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: saving up some emails that you guys have said to 574 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: us at the lounge at Ravens at NFL dot net. 575 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: We will read some of those next week when Make 576 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: actually gets back here and shows up to work, so 577 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: I look forward to that. So thanks for listening, everyone, 578 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: and we will talk with you again next week.