1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, fourteen 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Anius Williams. Behind 4 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: every NFL player, in every NFL legend is a great story. 5 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: On this podcast, we have been able to bring these 6 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: stories to you to inform and inspire. In November, Chris 7 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: Carter hosted a roundtable discussion for NFL executives with Ward 8 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: Done and Will Shields. The story from that roundtable were 9 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: incredibly personal and we are able to share them with 10 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: you on this podcast. So let's listen together. So today 11 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: we have two NFL legends. And when you talk about 12 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: excellence on and off the field, that to what these 13 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: guys are. Each were all pros, Each were great locker 14 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: room leaders. I know a bunch of their teammates that 15 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: rant and rave about them. And in a five year span, 16 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: that's my little dog in the background, little Cocoa. But 17 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: in the five years span, all three of us received 18 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,839 Speaker 1: the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. I'm gonna 19 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: introduce these players first. I'm gonna go with a guy 20 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: called w D and through the years I've ribbed him 21 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 1: a little bit. We used to face him twice a year, 22 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: and he used to be a nightmare. That's why God 23 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: made him so short, because he couldn't be a big nightmare. 24 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: He had to be a small nightmare. And trust me, 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: one of the big little men that ever played in 26 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: the game. Three times, a pro bowler, five towns, a 27 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: thousand yard rusher. People just think he was a receiver. No, 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: he was more than that, and the five ten stood 29 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: like Jim Brown, NFL Walter Payton Award winner two thousand four. 30 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: We can say a lot of things about him, but 31 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if I can say anything better than this. 32 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: He's a current minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons, NFL 33 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: Legends coordinator to the Southeast and helping hundreds and hundreds 34 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: of players and people around the country. And that would 35 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: be war done the other player. He comes with accolades 36 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: that a person like myself has nothing respect for. Played 37 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 1: fourteen seasons, w D played twelve seasons. He's a Hall 38 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: of Fame class of two thousand and thirteen. I remember 39 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: when his name was called because I was still crying 40 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: that they had passed me over, and I end up 41 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: getting selected the next year. A consummate Pro twelve times 42 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: in the Pro Bowl of his fourteen seasons, two hundred 43 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: and thirty one starts. That's an NFL record for a guard. 44 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: Just think about it. Walter Payton Man of the Year 45 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: Award winner two thousand and three, NFL Legends, community leader 46 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: and director of Central South. And these are the two 47 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: players that we have hands selected. There's not two layers 48 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: doing out there doing a better job. And what we're 49 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: going to do is have a three part series and 50 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: the first part we're gonna tell our story where we 51 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: came from with the game of football. I'm gonna make 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: it a little bit easier because if you know anything 53 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: about w D and Will, they're not the most talkative 54 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: guys in the world. So for me, Chris carter I 55 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 1: was born and raised in a small town in southwest 56 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: southeast West Ohio, Middletown, Ohio. I've always loved football. I've 57 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: always visualized myself playing in the National Football League. I 58 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: remember being in seventh grade and finishing a test early 59 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: and the teacher told us to put all our materials away, 60 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: and I remember doodling on a piece of paper and 61 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: that was the day that I decided to change my 62 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: name because my name, my real name is gradual Christopher Carter. 63 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: And there was a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals 64 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: and they called him White Lightning and his name was 65 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: Chris Collinsworth and he spelled his name c R I 66 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: F S. And I decided that day, unbeknownst to my 67 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: teacher there in the seventh grade, who called me out 68 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 1: for not I'm putting my head down the desk after 69 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: finishing my test and asked me what I was doing. 70 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: And I kind of did a little crisp thing and said, ah, 71 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: I'm practicing my autograph. She said, what are you practicing 72 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: your autograph for. I said, I'm gonna be in the 73 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: NFL and be famous one day. So the NFL players 74 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: have always, to me, been iconic. They've always been the 75 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: people that when Charles Barkley said, you know, I'm not 76 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: a role model, that wasn't something I ever believed in. 77 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: I remember seeing Lim Swan go up over two defenders 78 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: and catch the football. And there's nothing more that I 79 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: ever wanted to do than to play ballet inside the 80 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: National Football League. And I started playing football when I 81 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: was eight years old. I actually tried to play when 82 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: I was seven, Me and my cousin went down to 83 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: the to the peewee field and tried to doctor up 84 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: my birth certificate and tried to get me to be 85 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: born a year early. And the lady there she was 86 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: a little too wise for that, and she told me 87 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: I need to bring back my mother. So unbeknownst to her, 88 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 1: I came back three and sixty five days later with 89 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: my mother the right birth certificate and signed me up. 90 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: When I was eight years old, the first time I 91 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: touched the ball in in a in a football game, 92 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: I ran seventy yards on an eighteen bootleg for a touchdown, 93 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: and every since then, I've been in love with the game. 94 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: In seven, I was drafted out of Ohio State but 95 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia Eagles, and every since then, through the eighties, 96 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: through the nineties, through the New Millennial and now in 97 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 1: I've been associated either with the league or the league office. 98 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: And it's one of the things I can say I'm very, 99 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: very proud of. And I don't have a college degree, 100 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: but I've been working with the NFL since nineteen seven, 101 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: So for me, I feel like I know the league. 102 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: I feel like I know the stories and um to 103 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 1: have a job to tell the stories of the future, 104 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: of the current, and of the past is a dream 105 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: come true. W D, You're gonna be the next guy's storytelling. 106 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 1: Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you came from. 107 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: Tell us about those brothers and sisters of yours in 108 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: New Orleans and all those people down there to help 109 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,280 Speaker 1: you become a star at Florida State where they paid 110 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: you to go there. Well, you don't have to tell 111 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: that part. We we we know that. I wish they 112 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: would have paid me. I needed the money at the time. 113 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,600 Speaker 1: But I'm work done from I was born in New 114 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: Orleans and Louisiana. Most people think you know from New Orleans. 115 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: I was born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge. 116 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: So one of six. I'm the oldest of six kids, sous, 117 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: two boys, a girl, two boys, a girl, and I 118 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,840 Speaker 1: started playing football when I was seven years old and 119 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: just going outside. We were always outside playing. I was 120 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: the thing from sun up to sundown. So I started 121 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,840 Speaker 1: playing football when I was seven years old. But I 122 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: was the last guy picked because I was really small, fragile. 123 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: Mostly oh, he can't play. So after like the you know, 124 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: second or third game, I started being the first guy 125 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: being picked the play. And you know, my love for 126 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 1: the game was just you know, from day one, I 127 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: love to make people miss. So I started playing football. 128 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: Then I started playing organized football when I was ten 129 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 1: years old, and I believe it or not, I hadn't. 130 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: I didn't lose a game until my uh sophomore year 131 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: of high school. I lost my first game. You know, 132 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: when I was playing little league, we used to have 133 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: a six or nine points a game. We blew everyone out. 134 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: I was just on a really talented team, and honestly, 135 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: I never thought that, you know, I would go and 136 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: play college football, not at a big time college. I 137 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: was just trying to make sure I graduate from high school, 138 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: being the first of my family to do that. And 139 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: believe it or not, I um. I was being recruited 140 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: when I was in high school to play defensive back, 141 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: and I did not want to hit anybody. I wanted 142 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: to make people miss. So I made a deal with 143 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: coach by Me about that if I come, coach, can 144 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: I play running back and it doesn't work out that 145 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: I'll play, I'll move to defensive back. So he gave 146 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: me an opportunity, and I can tell you my first 147 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: week of camp my freshman year. You know, I went 148 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: against the first team defense. The starter he blew he 149 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: heard a uh ankle. The backup blew his knee out. 150 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: The third team guy was in the doghouse. So they 151 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: really came down to the fifth and six guys, and 152 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: I was going to be this first team defense. I 153 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: got the ball. It was like fifty yards, sixty yards 154 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,320 Speaker 1: on the first team defense, and you know, I had 155 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: another one like that, and after that, it's like he's 156 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: gonna be a running back forever. So I went on 157 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: to have a really good career at Florida State University 158 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: and got drafted in the first round by the time 159 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: Bay Buccaneers. And honestly, I never thought that I would 160 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: play professional football. I didn't think I was big enough, 161 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: like Chris said, I was. I was tiny, you know, 162 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: I was only I went to high school. I was 163 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: a hundred and I would say fifty some hounds. I 164 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: went to Florida State and when I got drafted, I 165 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: was only like a hundred and seventy hundred and seventy 166 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: five pounds. So most people really didn't believe in my 167 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: ability and my skill because I wasn't big. I wasn't 168 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: a prototype. So I kind of defied all the arts, 169 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, I went on to have a 170 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: really great career, a good career. Hopefully one day I 171 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: can you know, be like Chris and Will. But you know, 172 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: I'm just truly blessed. And but for me, I had 173 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to really become a partner of the Atlanta Falcons. 174 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: And that's all because of relationship that I had with 175 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: Mr Author Blank. You know, just having the bond of 176 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: really not focusing on the football field, but really focusing 177 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: on impacting the community and the things that he cared 178 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: about and my passion to helping individuals. Um, he just 179 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: felt I would be a good partner when my playing 180 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: days were over, and that's how it all went down. 181 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 1: So he actually cooked dinner for me a few times 182 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: and took me out to eat. So a billionaire cooking 183 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: dinner at his house. I mean, he actually did that himself. 184 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: So it wasn't you know, I didn't have a made 185 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 1: service to do that. But that's pretty much it my story. 186 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: The next player we have before before Will says a 187 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: few things. Um, I didn't know Will very well before 188 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: we got into the hall, but in our retirement, I 189 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,439 Speaker 1: feel like that I've gotten to know him a lot better, 190 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: but I've been watching him forever and watching his tape 191 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,440 Speaker 1: because one of the guys in Will's career he was 192 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: compared to was Randall McDaniel, and he was the great 193 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: left guard that played for the Minnesota Vikings. So the 194 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: only person that they used to compare him to was 195 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: Will Sealed. So for me, I'd only see Will at 196 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowl and things like that. But I was 197 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: watching you from afar. I know a bunch of your 198 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: teammates and we used to practice against Kansas City there 199 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: in Minnesota. So I wanted to tell you in front 200 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:53,719 Speaker 1: of these people that I've admired you and admired your 201 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: work and how you went about it. So I greatly 202 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: appreciate you being part of the Legends community and sharing 203 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: your story UM with the people. Well, thanks a lot. 204 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Uh. You know, I think what's really 205 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: cool about it is the simple fact that I get 206 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: an opportunity to sit and tell a little bit about 207 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: myself as being you know, we call it the fat 208 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: kid on the block, the guy that gets the block 209 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: and push people around for a living um, which is 210 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: one thing I enjoyed it's pretty cool that I'm actually 211 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: in my office today. So you guys, can you know 212 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: see where I'm from. I'm actually I was born in 213 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: Fort Riley, Kansas, believe it or not, in the Midwest, 214 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: but was raised in lot in Oklahoma, which is Fort Sill. 215 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: I'm an army brat, so, um dad was in the military, 216 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: and so I had that military background from day one. 217 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: And where he basically said, hey, you gotta get up 218 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: early in the morning, get your work in, get your 219 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: work done, make sure it happens. And um, he gave 220 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: us that leadership. He gave us that opportunity to say, hey, 221 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: you've got to do something different. But what was really 222 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: cool about it is that the simple fact that it 223 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: is is growing up in Oklahoma was a little different. Um. 224 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: You know, we're from a smaller town with most people 225 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: called small. You know, we had three high schools and 226 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: everything else. But it was a lot of fun. Um. 227 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 1: The thing of it is is that most people is 228 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: a little unique and different. Is that I am actually 229 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: I call myself a hybrid offensive lineman because I consider myself, um, 230 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: a small man trapped in a big man's body. Uh 231 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: to that point of where I can you know, I 232 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: try to do everything that everybody else could do, and 233 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: so I think that's what sort of made me a 234 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 1: better offensive linement is because when people were doing breakdancing, 235 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: I would do breakdance. And when people were rapping, I 236 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: was wrapping when they were beat box and I was beatboxing. Um. 237 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: Even to the point of where from kindergarten through high 238 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: school I was actually in vocal music and end up 239 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: being an honor choir and jazz choir and show choir 240 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: and doing all the things that were a little out there, 241 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: a little different, but it was something that I enjoyed. Um. 242 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: But also it also gave me a different perspective on 243 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: different things as far as growing up in the community 244 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: and being around different people and different things. Because of 245 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: the military, you've got a chance to know people from 246 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: different walks of life, and that sort of helped me 247 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: sort of broaden my uh I thought pattern of where 248 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. 249 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 1: And it's one of those things when I was getting 250 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: an opportunity to go to college, I didn't know that 251 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: I was actually good enough to go to college because 252 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: I ended up going to a school that we had 253 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: the number one running back in the nation. When I 254 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: was leaving, we had UH the number five dB UH 255 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: in the nation. UM, which is interesting that both, you know, 256 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: we had we had twenty one guys that ended up 257 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: coming from our high school that played in the pros 258 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: and all different levels, and so I was not one 259 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: of those. I was one of those that they were like, 260 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: oh yeah, you might go do vocal music somewhere, you 261 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: might go do something else. But as being the most 262 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 1: talented on the team, I wasn't. UM. But I think 263 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 1: it was the simple fact of wanting to contribute and 264 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: being able to be that guy that wanted to be 265 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: on the field all the time and be a part 266 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: of it that made me a little different. So I 267 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: had to work a little harder to get there, but 268 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: I enjoyed every minute of it because I fell in 269 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: love with the sport and then fell in love with 270 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: the game, and UM, going through high school, we ended 271 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: up winning the state champion ship, and I think that's 272 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: what sort of changed my mindset of Okay, can I 273 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: play at the next level, Can I work at the 274 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: next level? And I was like, oh yeah. I never 275 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: dreamed about playing in the NFL, and I never thought 276 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: that I was gonna get to that level. But I 277 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: actually looked back into it. You know, you get the 278 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 1: old lower books that you get from when you're graduating 279 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: from high school. I wouldn't look back and then actually 280 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: said where are you gonna be in five years? And 281 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: in stays playing in the NFL, which is one of 282 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: those interesting things that you you know, you never think 283 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: you really thought of, but you had to playing in 284 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: the back of your mind. You had a plan in 285 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: the back of your head. Something was telling you that 286 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: you're meant to do something at the next level. So 287 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: I end up playing at the University of Nebraska. UH 288 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: played there for four years. It didn't red Shirt actually 289 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: played as a freshman, and then when I got a 290 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: chance to get into the NFL, it was a third 291 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: round draft pick. I got an opportunity for my first 292 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: year to play with Joe Montana and Marcus Allen, which 293 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: was two cool guys. Actually learned from UH to sit 294 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: there and watch, you know, to sit in the room 295 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: with Marcus Allen and be like, oh, man, I'm studying 296 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: film and Marcus is going, hey, well, what can you 297 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: do with this guy? And I'm like me, you're supposed 298 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: to make me look good? You know, that kind of thing. 299 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: But to be able to be around those guys and 300 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: learn from them is one of those things that was 301 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: really special. But what it was also special is that 302 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 1: I got a chance to play for Tom Osborne as 303 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: well as other guys that were very community oriented and 304 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: in college. He would actually go, hey, well you need 305 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: to go out and talk to some kids and give 306 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: him a speech. And I said, what, coach, what I'm 307 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: gonna tell him? He goes, tell me a story. Tell 308 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: him about how you got here. Tell him how you 309 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: had to take you know, the S, A T and 310 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: a C T three or four times to get here 311 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: to qualify. But then once you got here, you made 312 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: your your mind up that you were gonna stay and 313 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: you're gonna get it done, and you were gonna do 314 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 1: those things. Tell me you struggle, you know, the part 315 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: of the struggle. And I think that sort of changed 316 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: my mindset to where it made that simple factor look 317 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: at it, that you do have something to contribute, You 318 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: do have something to say, even if you're the guy 319 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: that just pushes people around on a day to day basis. 320 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 1: And I think that sort of changed my mindset of 321 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: what I wanted to do and so then when I 322 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: got to the NFL, I saw we had like seventeen 323 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: guys is that we're actually doing things in the community 324 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: in Kansas City. When I got there, we'd have these 325 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: banners up and and we would have banners all over 326 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: and I was like, what's what's unique about these guys 327 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: compared to everybody else? And I was like, longevity, They're 328 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: here for the long haul. They're willing to put their 329 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: name on the wall and say we're planning, we're gonna stick, 330 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: we're gonna stay, We're gonna make it happen. And so 331 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: then I was like, well, I'm gonna be one of 332 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: those guys. So we we sort of followed suit, and 333 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: they sort of set the tone of what you wanted 334 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: to be and how you wanted to do it at 335 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: a certain level, and it's sort of something you live 336 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: by on a day to day basis. And I think 337 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: that's something that's really special to me, is being able 338 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: to be that person in the room that can try 339 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: to change what everyone else's mindset is and make it better. 340 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: But it's really unique for where I grew up in 341 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: because everybody was sort of close and it sort of 342 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: helped you grow as you sort of go through. So 343 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: that's sort a little bit about my background and where 344 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: I came from, but it's also something now really am 345 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: proud of the simple fact of saying that you know, 346 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: day by day we work to get better and we 347 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: all come from somewhere. Thanks both of you guys for sharing. 348 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: I can tell will through your military background and your 349 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 1: parents upbringing, it made you very, very disciplined, And thank 350 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: you for sharing that because I didn't know that. But 351 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: there's a story about wark Gunn that a lot of 352 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: people don't know. And it was the first thing that 353 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: ever attracted to me him besides his smile, because when 354 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: he smiles, it just lights up the room, and he 355 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: smiles at the weirdest times or the most comfortable, comfortable time. 356 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: He just puts that little smile. And that's the story 357 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 1: about his mother and how it led to him raising 358 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 1: his siblings. So for me, we all are legends, but 359 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: we had parts in the journey where we could have quit. 360 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: And I know, Wark, I want you to share that 361 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: story about your mom and your siblings because I know 362 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 1: that was that was a fork in the road and 363 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: that day I know you could have quit. To the 364 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: people who might not know the story, okay, now, I 365 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: so my senior year of high school, I was I 366 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:58,880 Speaker 1: just turned eighteen years old January fifth, and two days 367 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 1: after my eighteenth birthday. And my mom, who was a 368 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: Battery City police officer at the time, she was working 369 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: extra duty over time to just make extra money, and 370 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: she was gunned down in the line of duties. She 371 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 1: was actually in her police car and a police uniform 372 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: and they were making a routine night deposit at the 373 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: at the bank with the grocery store manager and two 374 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 1: guys just open fired on the police car. So I 375 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: get a call at twelve thirty that night. I said 376 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 1: my mom had been shot, and I was just like, man, 377 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: stopped playing. And it was a friend of a police 378 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,280 Speaker 1: officer who was a friends of the family. It's like, no, 379 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: I'm serious, don't wake anyone up. I'm gonna come and 380 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 1: get you. And uh, we're gonna need to go to 381 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: the hospital. So I got dressed, didn't wake my brothers 382 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 1: and sisters up. So I'm the oldest of six. Um, 383 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: so we drove to the hospital. As soon as I 384 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: get to the hospital, UM, they took me to a 385 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: room and gave me the telephone and told you know, 386 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: it's the police chief. He's on the phone. It's like work, 387 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, We're gonna do everything that we can to 388 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: find these guys and bring the US. I was just like, okay, 389 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: I still have no idea what happened to my mom anything. 390 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: So I hang up the phone. I walked into the 391 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: next room and my mom is just laid on the 392 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: table with police officers surrounding the table. You know, I 393 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: was just like speechless, and in that moment, I really 394 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: couldn't think about myself. I just thought about my five 395 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters, UM, and I just felt like I 396 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: need to go home and be with those guys. So 397 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: I went home UH that night and doing during this time, 398 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: it was doing a college recruiting process, so I was 399 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 1: supposed to go visit the University of Alabama that weekend, 400 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: and I just canceled everything and I was really just 401 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: focused more on my mom and UH and my brothers 402 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: and sisters. So I can tell you in the beginning, 403 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: I thought about just staying home going to l s U. 404 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: But my family in the community really um right around 405 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,239 Speaker 1: me to get me to leave, and knowing that I 406 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: had the support system to help me really support my 407 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters from Afar. So you know, it just 408 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: really growing up and being the oldest and uh, really 409 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 1: having these adult conversations with my mom about her dreams 410 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: and the things that she wanted. Um. You know, I 411 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: knew that she wanted hero own home. I knew that 412 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: her goal was to put us in a state of environment. 413 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: When you were moving around band Rouge. Sometimes we would 414 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: rent an apartment or we would rent a house, and 415 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,360 Speaker 1: we would move to certain places where she's the security 416 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: and we get free rent. That's how we got by 417 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: um for so many years, and I went to probably 418 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: I think four or five schools throughout my throughout my 419 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: time growing up, and she really wanted that stability for us, 420 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: and you know, for me, I was thank god I 421 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: got drafted by Coach Dungee. Uh the Careeers at the time. 422 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: Coach Dungee gathered all the rookies in the room and said, hey, 423 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: you guys gonna live in this community. You want to 424 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: give back and you know, show people you want to 425 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: you care about the community. And you know, I just 426 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: felt I wanted to do something that can reflect with 427 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: my mom. This journey was and you know what she 428 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: sacrificed to life for and I thought about my mom 429 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: and her journey of home ownership. Her dream was thrown 430 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:12,880 Speaker 1: around home and she didn't have that opportunity. So we develop, 431 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: you know, we develop a plan to help single parents, 432 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: single mothers at the time, who would become a first 433 00:21:21,359 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: time homeowners. And that first year I had, honestly, I 434 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: had no idea what I was doing. We did this 435 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 1: program and I was just you know, like handing the 436 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: keys over to a couple of families and you know, 437 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: they were going crazy, and I'm just like, well, there's 438 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: just some keys to a house and so forth, you know. Um. 439 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 1: But later that night I went home and I saw 440 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: the news and I really saw the impact. I can 441 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 1: see the impact from the news coverage, and that's something 442 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: that I wanted to do over and over and over 443 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,400 Speaker 1: again after that. So I went back the next day 444 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:54,959 Speaker 1: and said, we have to do this again. I need 445 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: to go back home to Louisiana. This is where it 446 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: all started. And for me, that was like the fire 447 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 1: that really uh lent my passion to go and help individuals, 448 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: to help people. And I can tell you, you know, 449 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: at eighteen years old, we after losing my mom, the 450 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: city of ben Rouge really taught me what it means 451 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: to care about your neighbor. They wrap their arms around us. 452 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: They raised money. That's how we were able to pay 453 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: bills while I was in college. So they taught me 454 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: what it means to give back and care about your neighbor. 455 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: And from that, the the challenge with Coach Dungee's just 456 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: really just a few of the fires who want to 457 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: go out and impact different communities. There's a lot of 458 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: families that grew up in a single parent household um 459 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: that have the same challenges that my mom had. And 460 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: and today we've been able to now twenty three years, 461 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: help a hundred and eighty four single parent families who 462 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,119 Speaker 1: have become a first time homeowners. And we've also helped 463 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: four single fathers. That was dred eighty four. So this 464 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,879 Speaker 1: is going on twenty three years. We're in you know, 465 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: I make it yelled at, but like fifteen states, twent 466 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: to markets, I think twenty four markets. So we're trying 467 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 1: to expand what we do as an organization that worked 468 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: on charities and our program Homes for Holidays, so uh, 469 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 1: that program is we help single parent families who are 470 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 1: becoming first time homeowners and that's given them five thousand 471 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: dollars down payment, but fully furnishing the house with food, furniture, 472 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 1: Linen's going to TVs, computers, all the way down to 473 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: the toothbrush, and we feel like, uh that we want 474 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: to really go after generational party. The way that I 475 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: grew up, not really having a lot, m being orders 476 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,119 Speaker 1: of six, being outside all day long, coming inside, really 477 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: just going forward the pantry and can goods. I knew 478 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: that a lot of families are struggling, and I think 479 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: my mom at that time was only making thirty six 480 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 1: thousand dollars a year supporting six kids, so not really 481 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: having a lot. I understood, and I understand what it 482 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,239 Speaker 1: means to struggle. So I just feel like, can I 483 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: help other families live a better life, give their kids 484 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: an opportunity to be successful long term? And the program 485 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,399 Speaker 1: over the years have been has been therapy for me 486 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: as well, and it's been life changing and it's something 487 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:10,200 Speaker 1: that I'm proud of. I know a lot of people, um, 488 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: you know, I don't think they really understand the impact 489 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,640 Speaker 1: that has had on my life. But at the same time, 490 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: I know that we've been able to really touch people 491 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: and encourage other individuals to think about not just themselves, 492 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 1: but to give back to other individuals because when you 493 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: help someone, we've been able to pass it along. So 494 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 1: we have really good success stories. We have a good 495 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: success rate of the program. Uh we still have ninety 496 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: two percent success rate of families that are in their 497 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,720 Speaker 1: home or they sold at home and bought another home. 498 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 1: I've had one recipient who's she bought a habitat home, 499 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:44,639 Speaker 1: sold that house, bought another house, and she now and 500 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: she's got to pay raids and bought in another home. 501 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: So we've had kids who you know, breaking the generational party, 502 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: going to college and really starting next sale. So we've 503 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 1: been able to um, you know, change lives to this program. 504 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,720 Speaker 1: And you know, I thank God that I've been able 505 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: to take something that's tried magically altered my life and 506 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,919 Speaker 1: turn them into something positive because I've been a counseling 507 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 1: you know, I've been on the journey, you know since um, 508 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: you know, you know three when I lost my mom. 509 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: And just to think that most people don't know this. 510 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: I didn't start going to counseling into ten years out 511 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: of my mom's death. When I moved to Atlanta and 512 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: that's really helped me overall in my life too, not 513 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 1: be so quiet. And I'm sure Chris and tell you 514 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 1: I used to be so mute. I never talked, I 515 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: didn't smile, I wasn't engaging. I was just a person 516 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 1: that had so much built up on the inside. Is 517 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: that I was? You know, I was looking for the 518 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: outlets to express myself, and counselor really helped me with that. 519 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:53,919 Speaker 1: But through counseling, I was able to grow and I 520 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,959 Speaker 1: had a lot of questions. And the the biggest thing 521 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: I think I did after counselors, I wanted to go 522 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:02,160 Speaker 1: and sit down and face to face with a guy 523 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: who shot and killed my mom. And I end up 524 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: setting up this meeting, going to Angle of prison to 525 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: sit down across from the guy and have a conversation. 526 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: And the warden when I got there told me, you know, 527 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: he's not going to admit that he did it. And 528 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, I was prepared for that. So 529 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:22,159 Speaker 1: we go in and the first time he comes out 530 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: of my work, I didn't do it. But you know, 531 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 1: I've watched your career, your your brothers and sisters when 532 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: they were in college. I watched them, you know, you 533 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 1: have the other ones in, you know, in middle school, 534 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: they're doing really well. I was like, okay, So when 535 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 1: I was when it was my turn to talk, and 536 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 1: I just said, you know, no matter what you say, 537 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,239 Speaker 1: I came here to forgive you, and yeah, I just 538 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 1: want you to know that I forgive you of what 539 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 1: you've done because your actions affected my life in every aspect. 540 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: It affected me, raised my brothers and sisters that it 541 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: affected me. Putting that responsibility on me it it. I 542 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: didn't want to tell a woman I love her, hold 543 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: her hand, you know. I didn't want to have kids. 544 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 1: I didn't want a lot of things that really messed 545 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: my life up. And you know, it's just I was 546 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: on a journey of forgiveness. But also I wanted to 547 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: take that power back. And that's one of the main 548 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: reasons that I think I went to Angola is to 549 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,840 Speaker 1: really take that power out of his control and really 550 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: bring it back to me so I can work on 551 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: myself internally to grow and to be able to actually 552 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: get on a video call like this and talk in 553 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: front of people without you know, being scared and nervous 554 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: and shine and so forth. So you know, I can 555 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: go on and on on about all the stories of 556 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: my life. You know, I was ricking a year, my 557 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: riking year, but my second year, I moved my three 558 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,479 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters in with me and Temple, and I 559 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 1: had to make sure they put them into school. I 560 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:51,160 Speaker 1: was cooking dinner every night. I was going to PCA 561 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: meetings on Friday nights. I was hanging out with my 562 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters. I would take them out once a 563 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 1: week so they can get to know the city of Tampa, 564 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 1: but wasn't hanging out with any of my teammates. My 565 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: focus wasn't let me build those relationships with my teammates. 566 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: It was more like, I need to make sure my 567 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters okay. So in my life, I just 568 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: over the years, there's been a lot of sacrifice, a 569 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: lot of commitment, not for myself, but for the people 570 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: that I was responsible for. So I'm just I'm blessed 571 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:24,120 Speaker 1: to UH have the ability to actually open up and 572 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, my journal a little bit. So 573 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: I appreciate you guys listening absolutely, and that's why we 574 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 1: have you as one of our leaders. That's one of 575 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: the greatest stories you'll ever hear from one of our Legends. 576 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you shared the counseling part because you're 577 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: giving back. You're giving back. It's also produced fruit, not 578 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: only in twenty two states, but Deshaun Watson and his 579 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,959 Speaker 1: mom were recipients of one of your homes in the 580 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: Georgia area. You'll get her on her feet and her 581 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: confidence and now and now look at him one of 582 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: our leaders over the next ten twenty years around the NFL. 583 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: So thanks for sharing, and w d Um, I really 584 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: appreciate you because when you have stories like that, it 585 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: takes a certain amount inside of you to bring it 586 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: up every time. And people might think that it's easy, 587 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: but I know what you went through inside and even 588 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 1: saying it, and you said it a thousand, thousands of times, 589 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: and every time you do it it means a lot 590 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: to a lot of people. Will You've always been a 591 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: very very special person. Thank you for joining us today, 592 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: Wark and will stories represent the best of the NFL brotherhood. 593 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: We will be back with more stories and discussions with 594 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: NFL players and legends. Thanks for listening in the best 595 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: is yet to come. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. 596 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: To provide feedback or request a topic for discussion, Email 597 00:29:53,400 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 1: us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.