1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, Welcome to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast. 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: This week's guest is Cardinal's Ring of Honor safety Adrian 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: Wilson A dub is currently the vice president of Pro 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: Scouting for the Arizona Cardinals, and he has a big 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: role in the front office. Most Cardinal fans, though, know 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: of Adrian as a great player. Five times in the 7 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,479 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl, three time All Pro, twelve total years with 8 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:35,599 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals, twenty seven interceptions, more than twenty five sacks, 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: and four defensive touchdowns. Part of the two eighteen that 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: went to the Super Bowl, part of the team the 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: following year that went back to the playoffs and beat 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers. Inducted into the Ring of Honor. 13 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: As we mentioned in part of the Personnel Department since 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: twenty fifty. We talked with Adrian about how he got 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: started in this business, what his role is now with 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: the organization. We also live some of his favorite moments 17 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: playing for the Arizona Cardinals, including when he played with 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: the late Pat Tillman and the late Quam Lasseter. We'll 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: also talk about this year's Arizona Cardinals and how they 20 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: compare to that twenty eighteen that went to Super Bowl 21 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: forty three. I think we have a lot of the 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: same characteristics in terms of young guys that got drafted 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: here that are, you know, kind of coming into our 24 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: own now. To me, we have a franchise quarterback and 25 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: Carlin Murray looking back on those championship years that we 26 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 1: had No. Eight, No nine, we want a division. I 27 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: think that you know, it's very similar. We are presented 28 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner or at the 29 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. Sign 30 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: up for BETMGM today using code cards one thousand and 31 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: get your first bet risk free up to one thousand dollars. 32 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: New customer offer paid in free bets. Visit betmgm dot 33 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: com for terms and conditions. Twenty one and over Arizona only, 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem called one eight hundred. Next 35 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: step time out for our conversation with Adrian Wilson. So 36 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: I get a ton of stuff I want to cover 37 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 1: with you, man, but let's start with talking about this team. 38 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: After the wins Sunday in Dallas, how do you feel 39 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: Do you feel confident that this team is back to 40 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: what we saw in September and October or do you 41 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: still need to see more? That's a loaded question. I'm 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: relieved to get back, you know, to winning, getting back 43 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: to kind of how we knew we could play football, 44 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: you know, the past three weeks half being tough, just 45 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: you know, going through a losing streak, you know, knowing 46 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: that we were better than than what we were putting 47 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: on the field, you know, just just really going out 48 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: there and doubling down on some of the things they 49 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: needed to do in terms of, you know, not turning 50 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: the ball over, the penalties and just making clutch plays. 51 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: You know, I think that, you know, that game Sunday 52 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: really put everything in perspective in terms of what we 53 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: were doing in the first part of the season. Let's 54 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: go back to that. Because the Cardinals get off to 55 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: a seven and those start and a lot of people 56 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: nationally that still weren't believing, they still didn't buy in. 57 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: And maybe that's because a lot of people didn't really 58 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: see a lot of the games until the Thursday night 59 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: game against Green Bay. What were some of the things 60 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: early on that you look at and point to and say, 61 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: you know, that's because you've been on great teams. That's 62 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: what a championship team looks like. Well, I think, you know, 63 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: the consistency of of going on the road and winning 64 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: on the road, you know, and the style of how 65 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: we were winning. I think that you know, when teams 66 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: look at us, you know, they look at Kyler, they 67 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: look at you know, Cliff, they look at you know, 68 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: the air raid kind of persona behind the offense, and 69 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: that's not really you know, how our team has built. 70 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: Our team is built to be a physical team. And really, 71 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: you know, that's kind of what we've always hung our 72 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: hat on. Was was that element of our game. I 73 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: like how you said that because I think a lot 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: of people would not assume that when you say built 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: to be a physical team. I know James Connor has 76 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: missed the last couple of games. Hopefully it's back this week, 77 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: if not for the playoffs. When you guys decided to 78 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: bring him in, how much of what you said before 79 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: about being a physical team, how much were you thinking 80 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: about James Connor? It was it was all we thought about. Um. 81 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: I think going into the off season when me and 82 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: Steve sat down, we really you know, sat down and 83 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: really wanted to talk about the guys that we were 84 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: bringing in, you know, what type of people were wanted 85 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: to bring into the building, and whether it was you know, 86 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: Rodney Hudson, whether it was J. J. Watt Um, whether 87 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: it was being able to add Zavian Collins to the 88 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: Mets throughout the draft Um, the defensive line rotation that 89 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: we've had over the past two years, was being able 90 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: to add that defensive line. You know, we wanted to 91 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: be stronger down the middle, and James into that equation 92 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: and then getting Rodney, I think it gave us a 93 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: pretty solid foundation in terms of what we wanted to 94 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 1: be offensively, in terms of just being the physical football team. 95 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 1: I want to get back to this team in the season. 96 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: But you talked about sitting down with Steve. You're you're 97 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: heavily in involved in all the decisions here with the 98 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: Cardinals as the vice president of Pro Personnel. And I'm 99 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: curious because there are a lot of players, maybe more 100 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: so in the NBA than the NFL, of your stature, 101 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: guys that are borderline Hall of famers. I mean, you 102 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: are in the Cardinals Ring of Honor. They're only I 103 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: want to get into the Hall of Fame because it's 104 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: only I think six or seven true safeties in the 105 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. I've always felt, maybe a little biased 106 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: that you should be in, and I want to talk 107 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: about that a little bit later. But you were a 108 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: great player who made a lot of money, and a 109 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: lot of guys at your stature they want to go 110 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 1: right to be in a GM or right to be 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: in a head coach. They're not willing to be an assistant, 112 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 1: sent on a bench or get into scouting and travel 113 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: and scout. But you were willing to do that seven 114 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: years ago. Why I don't know. You know, I think 115 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: I love new challenges. I think that, you know, whenever 116 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: I got done planning, I did kind of take a 117 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: step back, and you know, I wanted to kind of 118 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: figure out what I wanted to do. At first, I 119 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 1: thought it was going to be coaching. I was over 120 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: at the high school up my sons high school a 121 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: little bit, you know, just kind of going through the 122 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: process of, you know, what I wanted to do next, 123 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: and m BA and Steve kind of gave me the 124 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: opportunity to come over here that summer and go through 125 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: both sides of it in terms of the coaching side 126 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: and the personnel side. So I ended up, you know, 127 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: falling in love more with the personnel side of it 128 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: all because I had just had my last daughter and 129 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: she was home and I wanted to kind of be 130 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: home and I wanted to be around that whole process 131 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: because really, you know, throughout my whole playing career, we 132 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: had kids and I was never there. So, um, I 133 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: wanted to be home, and you know, I wanted to 134 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: have a set you know, a set schedule where I 135 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: can kind of be there for them. And my first 136 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: year in personnel, I didn't. I didn't put one report 137 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: into the system, not one report. I you know, I 138 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: was picking guys up from the airport, getting their bags 139 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: and stuff from baggage claim, you know, and dropping them 140 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: off at physical runs. You know, I did all the 141 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: grunting work, you know, in terms of, you know, kind 142 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: of what our scouting assistants do now, and you know, 143 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: I think it kind of gave me a foundation of 144 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: how inglorious the job is. You know what I'm saying, 145 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: it's not. It's not a job where you get a 146 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: lot of fanfare and people don't really understand, you know, 147 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: behind the scenes, how much it takes to you know, 148 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: the day to day operations of kind of what we 149 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: do here. I love that story, and I'm not surprised 150 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: knowing you. Look, you've always I'm known you for almost 151 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: two decades. You've always been a confident guy, but you've 152 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: always been humble and you're always very respectful of other 153 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: people's positions in the organization. I know you developed when 154 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: you're playing a really good friendship with Chris Melbourne as 155 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: part of the public relations staff, and you're always great 156 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: in taking care of him because of how he took 157 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: care of you. You always respectful of my job. I 158 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: got him married twice, by the way, you twice you 159 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: were the best man twice. No, I got him married twice. 160 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: So you introduced him, Zach, I got him. Know that, 161 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: all right, put that, let's put that on the ballot. 162 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: But I said that in the Hall of Fame. It's 163 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: part of the resume. But so the fact that you're 164 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: humble enough to accept that position, well, why do you 165 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: think that is? Do you think part of that is? Because? 166 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you weren't the highest recruited guy coming out 167 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: of high school. You were a third round pick. You 168 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: weren't a top ten pick. I mean, people look back, 169 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: I'm sure and look at the draft and say, yeah, 170 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: Adrean Wilson should have been a top ten pick, but 171 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:20,239 Speaker 1: you weren't. Do you think that's one of the reasons 172 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: why it was easy for you to accept that role 173 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: of picking guys up from the airport when you've been 174 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: you know, had the career that you had. Yeah, I 175 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: mean I didn't. You know, I'm just throughout my whole life, 176 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: you know, I kind of just been dedicated and loyal 177 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: to whatever process I'm gonna be a part of. You know, 178 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm not I'm not the type of guy that is 179 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: willing to, you know, skip a step to get ahead 180 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: of somebody else, regardless of you know, kind of who 181 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: I am and what I did on the football field. 182 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: I've always throughout my whole life, I've always especially when 183 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: I was done planning, I wanted that part of my 184 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: career to be over with in terms of my playing career, 185 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: and then once I kind of get into my second career, 186 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: I didn't want my football life to have any impact 187 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: on the move that I was going to make going forward, 188 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: and I wanted to learn every single step along the way. 189 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: You know, It's kind of been my whole process, you know, 190 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: kind of stay dedicated and loyal to the process. You know, 191 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: don't don't skip a step to try to get ahead 192 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: of somebody else who may deserve it more than you 193 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: do at that time. So take me from that first 194 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: year when basically you're a runner what we call in 195 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: our business, where you go and you pick people up 196 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 1: or you go get coffee for people, that's what you're doing. 197 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: What was the next step for you in the process 198 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 1: of getting to where you are now? The next up, 199 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: you know, my second between my second and third year, 200 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: probably you know, more into that third year, I ended 201 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: up getting around twenty to twenty five schools around the country, 202 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 1: going and you know, getting background on certain college guys, 203 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: of some of the guys some of the schools that 204 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: we had, whether it's the Southeast, you know, out west, 205 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: you know, in the East. So I was basically as 206 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: a quasi national scout for US, just picking up some 207 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: schools that either drew or some of the guys couldn't 208 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: get tom and alone. That way, I was doing pro 209 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: work as well, so I was doing advanced work at 210 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: the same time while I was doing my college job, 211 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 1: and you know, just kind of been on the road 212 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: a lot, getting an experience of being out there getting 213 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: get in the background, just just being able to kind of, 214 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: you know, spare my network of people that I can 215 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: go and get information for. And I did that for 216 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: probably about a year and a half before they ended 217 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: up moving me in house. So as the vice president 218 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 1: of Pro Scouting, I know that's your title, but you're 219 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: doing so much more. So give the fans listening a 220 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: sense of your daily duties, or maybe not just your 221 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: daily duties. What do you do over the course of 222 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: a year in terms of trying to help the organization 223 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 1: to get better. Yeah, you know, it really starts, you know, 224 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: for me and you know July in terms of, you know, 225 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: just being able to see what our roster kind of 226 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: looks like overall based off of what last year was. 227 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: So going into this offseason going into July, you know, 228 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: fredencies over with the draft is over. I'm already ahead 229 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: to the next year in terms of guys that are 230 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: going to be coming up in the draft next year 231 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: and then free agents that are coming up next year 232 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: that are already playing in the league. So my job 233 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: description is a year long kind of process. M Steve 234 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: basically will you know he'll call me in June July, 235 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, when everybody's in, you know, on vacation and stuff, 236 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: and he'll ask me to look at guys. I always 237 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: have to be ready to you know, have a report 238 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: ready for him, regardless of you know, the time to place. 239 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: UM and just kind of stay one step ahead of 240 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: Steve in terms of our roster makeup and just kind 241 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: of where we are overall in the building in terms 242 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: of the college side and the pro side. So you 243 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: talked a bunch about Steve. Come. You two go way back. 244 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: Obviously you both played at NC State. Do you remember 245 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 1: the first time that you met Steve. Yeah, it was 246 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: it was ninety seven when we first met. That was 247 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: he was an assistant coach in NC State. Once I 248 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: first got there, I got there and I got there 249 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: in ninety eight. My first year was in ninety eight, 250 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: but I went in ninety seven to to visit. Um 251 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: I was graduating high school early. UM. So I enrolled 252 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: at NC State in the spring of ninety eight. UM 253 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: So I ended up you know, going down there, you know, 254 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: training really and going to you know, some of my 255 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: classes as a freshman. UM. We ended up you know, 256 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: really having a great relationship throughout that throughout that three 257 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: to four month time and frame before he ended up 258 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: you know, leaving and coming here and being a scout here. Um, 259 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 1: and we just kind of kept in touch and um, 260 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: you know, it kind of started off with you know, 261 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: just weight room stuff, a little bit of you know, 262 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: bands are going back and forth, and the relationship just 263 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: kind of grew, you know, throughout time. Um, I would 264 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: ask him just you know, just simple things just about 265 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: the campus because I didn't know, you know, I didn't 266 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: know anything about the Rolly area and he was there 267 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: for a long time. Um, so places to eat and 268 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: things like that. And again, the relationship just grew over time. 269 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 1: He drafts you, he's part of the scouting staff that 270 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: drafts you here, and twenty years later, you guys are 271 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: still working together. Do you think the relationship works at 272 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: this level for him being the GM and the role 273 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: that you're in because you'll shoot him straight? I mean, 274 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: do you think that that's one of the reasons why? 275 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: Because you guys know each other so well that if 276 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 1: he asks you about a certain player or what you 277 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: think the team should do, you're not gonna just tell 278 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: him what he wants to hear. Yeah, I'm definitely not 279 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: gonna bush him like, that's not I don't know if 280 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,199 Speaker 1: I can say that. It's our podcast, Okay, all right, 281 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: So I don't like like, I don't like, I'm not 282 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna do that to him because I know 283 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: how important a job is to him. But at the 284 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: same time, like I want, like I want us to 285 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: be successful too, Like I don't want to. I don't 286 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: want to be a part of a team where I'm 287 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: not giving everything at all in terms of my evaluation, 288 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 1: you know, me being able to give Steve the right 289 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: information Steve or Michael. You know, if Michael asked me 290 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,599 Speaker 1: a question, like I'm gonna be honest with him and 291 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm I'm not gonna, you know, cut the corner and 292 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: try to tell him something that I think that he 293 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: wants to hear, Like I'm not, I'm not here for that. 294 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: What's been one of the toughest conversations that you and 295 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: Steve have had about a particular player or a decision 296 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: that's been made here that you had a big impact 297 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: on this organization because either a you decided to go 298 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: ahead and make a particular move or because you didn't 299 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: go ahead and pull the trigger on a move. Well, 300 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: I think it's been it's been a year after year 301 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: after year. I think the past three years, whether it 302 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: was us, you know, acquiring DeAndre Hopkins and being able 303 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: to you know, end up giving up a pick um 304 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: to get DeAndre, whether it was you know, last year 305 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: at Rodney Hudson. I remember me and VJ was at 306 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: George's protae and um, they ended up putting out that 307 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: you know, Rodney was going to get released. And the 308 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: whole dynamics of being able to go acquire Rodney and 309 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: what it took to go acquire Rodney was it the 310 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: right move? And I think, you know, any time you 311 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: you know, are in a position where you can get 312 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: the team better, regardless of you know, the assets that 313 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: you have to give up, I think you have to 314 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: be able to take a chance on that, on that player. 315 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: But if I didn't have the evaluation, and if I 316 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: didn't look at the guy way ahead of time, and 317 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: Steve would have asked me that, then I would have 318 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: man just telling him something that I didn't know. And 319 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: that was That's That's the type of relationship that we 320 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: have is he knows that I'm gonna do the work, 321 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: and he knows that I'm gonna be prepared with whatever 322 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: question that you asked me, because nine times out of 323 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: tend I've already seen the tape. So I think that 324 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: he trusts me with my opinion when it comes to 325 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: us making those types of decisions on players. The decision 326 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: to draft Kyler Murray, I think ten years from now 327 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: people are talking about it now, but ten years from now, 328 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: twenty years from now, it's probably going to be commonplace. 329 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: But you guys were the first to draft a quarterback 330 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: in the first round the year after you draft a 331 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: quarterback in the first round. Take me through that. What 332 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: you recall about making that decision to draft Kyler Murray 333 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: after you had drafted Josh Rosen the previous year. Yeah, 334 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: I think that was a total organization move in terms 335 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: of Michael and Steve sitting down and realizing that A, 336 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: we need to make a change. B it's this quarterback 337 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: the right one. He is he the right fit for 338 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: us moving forward in terms of what our what our 339 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: future holds for the organization. And you know, both those 340 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: answers were, yes, we didn't need to make a change, 341 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: and yes, Kyler murb was going to be the guy. 342 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: But you know, I think you have to be willing 343 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: to admit that you made a mistake. And I think 344 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: that once once we ended up realizing that we did 345 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: do that, then you know, we were all out full 346 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: goal to try to make sure that we can correct 347 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: that mistake. He's one rookie of the year. He's going 348 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: to the Pro Bowl for the second time. He's led 349 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: a team to the playoffs here in year three. He 350 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: obviously has room to grow. We've talked about, you know, 351 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: at age twenty four, still needing to mature. What are 352 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: some of the steps though, that are tangible that you've 353 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: seen him make on the field, in the locker room, 354 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: off the field, that gives you confidence that he's headed 355 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: in the right direction to lead this team to the championship. Yeah. 356 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,719 Speaker 1: I think people really have to understand, Like I mean, 357 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,359 Speaker 1: he's twenty four years old. You know, I can remember 358 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: when I was twenty four years old and coming here. 359 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,639 Speaker 1: When I got here, I was twenty years old, So 360 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: I can understand kind of the maturation that it takes, 361 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: you know, to become a leader, to be able to 362 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: you know, to double down on your preparation, you know, 363 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: just some of the small things that it takes to 364 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: be a good player. Kyler probably did those things in 365 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: high school the way that you know, the way that 366 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: high schools played now as opposed to when I was playing. 367 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: I think now with him, the leadership on the practice 368 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: field been able to hold guys accountable and guys don't 369 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: get pissed that he's yelling at him because of the 370 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 1: way that he leads, you know, he he probably doesn't 371 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,120 Speaker 1: lead like you know, Aaron Rodgers or you know somebody 372 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: else that everybody sees on tv UM. He leads differently. 373 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: You know, he's a he's a different type of quarterback. 374 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: And I think that you know, everybody in this locker 375 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: room has embraced, you know, kind of who he is 376 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: as a person collectively. You know, he's not a guy 377 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: that's gonna be walking around here smiling. You know. I 378 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 1: was like that, you know, so you know, it's just 379 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: one of those things where you know, the team has to, 380 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 1: you know, understand the type of leader that he is. 381 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: I think everybody rallies behind him and he's going to 382 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: continue to mature and he's gonna continue to grow for 383 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: us and win football games for us. You still don't 384 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:37,479 Speaker 1: have a smile on your face me sometimes, I mean 385 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm more happier now than what I was when I 386 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: was playing. I can say that. But see, man, I 387 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: was never afraid of you because I knew you had 388 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: a big heart. But there are a lot of guys 389 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: like you're you have a presence, You're an intimidating guy. 390 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: I'm curious how much interaction do you have with players 391 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: and like how do they when they see you, and 392 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: do you challenge guys talk to them about, hey, you 393 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: need to do this better, or hey you need to 394 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: change this, you need to do this here if you 395 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: really want to be great, or you're not going to 396 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: be here. I'm don't mean to put words in you, 397 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: Like what do you say, what kind of conversations you 398 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: have with players? Yeah, this is my this is my 399 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:15,479 Speaker 1: you know, seventh year in the front office, but this 400 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: is my twenty second, twenty third year you know, kind 401 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: of in this organization. So you know, just being able 402 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: to kind of have the free will to go around 403 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 1: and be who I am. Um, that has always you know, 404 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 1: it's it's it's always been important for Michael and Steve 405 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: to kind of give me that that full rain, to say, hey, 406 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: we're not putting rains on you. You know, you can 407 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: do whatever and say whatever you want to these players. 408 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: And I've you know, I've kind of ran with that 409 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: in terms of it's not a front office versus players thing. 410 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying that we're all in this together. 411 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 1: We all want to see each other succeed. And sometimes 412 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: it takes having hard conversations with guys to you know, 413 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: to to to get them to play at their best 414 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: or what we think is their best, and you know, 415 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: for God to continue to grow, you know, it's not 416 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: so much about the football field, it's about maturing you know, 417 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: in the community, um, you know, just doing stuff on 418 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: a day to day basis that they may not be 419 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: willing to think that they aren't doing. You know, a 420 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: lot of guys think that they're doing everything right and 421 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: sometimes it's not. It's not enough and sometimes they need 422 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: God to tell them that it's not enough. And unfortunately, 423 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: like I'm that guy. So you know, I've had hard 424 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: conversations with these guys for quite some time. Now. Is 425 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 1: there a particular and you don't have to name a player, 426 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: but there's there a particular incident or a conversation and 427 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 1: you can share that may have been uncomfortable for the 428 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: other person. Yeah, I mean, you know it was. It 429 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: was a player here a couple of years ago, and um, 430 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: we had we had an issue here, um in terms 431 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: of you know, him, him wanting to be you know, 432 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: a little bit different than what everybody else was, you know, 433 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: wearing out on a practice field. Um, that player in 434 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: it up going to get a different jersey. I ended 435 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 1: up finding out about it. I went down to his 436 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: locker room, I took the jersey out of his locker. 437 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: Then I proceeded to go outside, and then I told him, 438 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: if you want the jersey, come take it from him, 439 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: and he didn't. So, you know, it's just, you know, 440 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: it's just one of those things where it's not about 441 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: an individual person, you know. And that's that's what you know. 442 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: When I got here, you know, Ronald McKinnon, Um, a 443 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 1: lot of these older veteran guys, Rod Frederickson, Kwanby Lasseter, 444 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: Corey Javis, you know a lot of the older veteran guys, 445 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,679 Speaker 1: you know, like I looked up to those guys, and 446 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,719 Speaker 1: those guys did it the right way, even though we 447 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,120 Speaker 1: weren't a talented team. Um, you know, I came in 448 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: with a bunch of veteran guys that did it the 449 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,240 Speaker 1: right way, and you know, that's kind of what I 450 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 1: want us to be. I wanted us to be a 451 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: team to do it the right way. Along those lines, 452 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 1: what do you recall from that first year with Pat Tillman. 453 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: I recall that, you know, it wasn't easy for me 454 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: because you know, he was you know, he was Pat Chilman, 455 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: and he was all everything, you know, Arizona State, being 456 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: drafted here me knowing that, you know, I got drafted 457 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: the third round. I came to camp late, my contract 458 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: wasn't done. I got here late. They ragged on me 459 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 1: so much, you know, my first couple of weeks that 460 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 1: you know, I didn't know if anybody liked me, So 461 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: I didn't you know, I didn't. I didn't care at 462 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: the time. But at the same time, like it kind 463 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 1: of got me going in the sense of, you know, 464 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: kind of my main streak and kind of like where 465 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: where that came from. It came from, you know, me 466 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: coming in late, me knowing that, hey, I'm gonna have 467 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: to like earn my keep here, and you know, Pat 468 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 1: was probably one of the first ones that that really 469 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: sat me down, and you know, kind of taught me 470 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: the inner workings of a playbook and how you study 471 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 1: and how you take notes and you know, just those 472 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: sorts of things. And you know, he's spent a lot 473 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 1: of time with me, you know, just my first year 474 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: and just just you know, learning how to do a 475 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: lot of things that I didn't know, you know, coming 476 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 1: into into the league. Can you talk about your relationship 477 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: with Kwami last or another former cardinal that was taken 478 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: from us too soon? Yeah, Um, you know when I 479 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: first you know again, when I first got here, Um, 480 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: Kwami and Pat, both those guys were starting here. And 481 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: you know, just being in the room with with both 482 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: those guys, knowing that you know, they played so much football, 483 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 1: and just being able to kind of be a sponge 484 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: you know in the meeting rooms. But then outside of 485 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: the meeting rooms, I gravitated more towards Kwami in terms 486 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: of you know, the off the field stuff, in terms 487 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 1: of you know, being being with his family, UM, seeing 488 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,239 Speaker 1: what type of dad that he was, Um, you know, 489 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: how he interacted with people outside of just football. You 490 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: know that. I think those were things that um impressed 491 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: me in the most about him is the type of 492 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,399 Speaker 1: person that he was the type of father that he was, 493 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: and you know, those are the things that I missed 494 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:00,439 Speaker 1: about him most because he would come over, you know, 495 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: during the holidays, we would play cards, and you know, 496 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: he would talk to my dad, talk to my mom. 497 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:07,199 Speaker 1: You know, it was just like a normal, you know, 498 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 1: regular conversation. And you know, those are probably the things 499 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 1: that I missed most about him. Did Kwami always want 500 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: to talk to you about his contract? Because I remember 501 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: my first year here was two thousand and two and 502 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: I hosted the Big Red Rage with Kwami and it 503 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: was the two of us. It was a Jellies, a 504 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 1: place called Jellies. First of all, nobody we would like 505 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:27,920 Speaker 1: sit at this table, and I think there are people 506 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,239 Speaker 1: that looked at us like what are these guys doing 507 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: over there? There was no fanfare, there wasn't a big stage. 508 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: It was just the two of us, and all Kwami 509 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,440 Speaker 1: ever want to do with me was talking about his contract. 510 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 1: My first I don't know if it's my first year 511 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,120 Speaker 1: of my second year when Kwamy got franchise, I wanted 512 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,919 Speaker 1: to say, and he ended up like he was he was. 513 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: I remember in the meeting room because I sat beside 514 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: him and he had turned around and looked at me. 515 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: He was like, don't you ever let them? Do you 516 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: like this? I was like, like, once, you're about to 517 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,239 Speaker 1: make three million dollars. I'm like, that's the most one 518 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: I've ever seen in my life. Right, He's like pissed 519 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: about it. So I'm like, man, I don't know. I 520 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: was like, that was my first like real instance of 521 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: seeing like a veteran, you know, getting franchise Like that 522 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: was the first time me actually like seeing it and 523 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: seeing how pissed he was about it. I was like, 524 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: you about to get a lot of freaking money. You 525 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: pissed about that, and then about five years later you 526 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: were making a lot more than two thousand and eight. 527 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,719 Speaker 1: You guys go to the Super Bowl. I was in 528 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 1: Orlando doing bowl games last week, and because John Madden 529 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: had passed away, John and I have the same agent, 530 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 1: Sandy Montag, and I heard that the game was going 531 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: to be on because John Madden's last broadcast. So I 532 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 1: just got done doing Clemson's bowl game and We're sitting 533 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: at a restaurant after in the games on, so I'm 534 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: forced to watch it, which I really don't want to, 535 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: but it was Madden's last game, so I'm watching it, 536 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: and I knew how many great players they were there 537 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 1: were on the Cardinals that year, but it seems like 538 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: all everybody talks about as well nine and seven didn't have, 539 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: you know, a great season and got hot, but there 540 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: there were some talent on this team and a lot 541 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: of guys that made multiple or Pro Bowls. What do 542 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: you is there like a particular moment that stands out 543 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: above the others about that season or that run for 544 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: you that you'll remember forever. Well, I just you know, 545 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: I think that that team, in particular, especially on defense. 546 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 1: You know, we had a bunch of guys that were, 547 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: you know in their fourth, fifth, sixth year. You know 548 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: that you know, either got drafted here or came here 549 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: from another team that you know, we didn't have a 550 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: lot of experience in terms of winning, but the group 551 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: was so close an age and I think that you know, 552 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: we kind of grew up together throughout that year. And 553 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: then to go back to your point, the following year, 554 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, we ended up going ten and six. You know, 555 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: we ended up getting beat by New Orleans, but you know, 556 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: just us being able to kind of grow together throughout 557 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: that whether it was me and Carlos Me and Darnell 558 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 1: Me and Atreill. You know, it was a lot of 559 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,199 Speaker 1: guys on that team. You know, an Quin, you know, 560 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: a young Larry Fitzgerald. I mean, there was a lot 561 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,160 Speaker 1: of guys, sim Howtower was on that team, Reggie Wells, 562 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: you know a lot of guys that got drafted here 563 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 1: that we kind of grew up together in terms of 564 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: going from a losing kind of franchise to now, you know, 565 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,120 Speaker 1: we ended up knowing what it suks to kind of win, 566 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: and a lot of those guys ended up, you know, 567 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 1: going to other places that ended up getting you know, 568 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: paid a lot of money. But I just remember just 569 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: those relationships. You know, we still have those relationships to 570 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: this day. I went and saw American Underdog with my 571 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: family last weekend. The Kurt Warner story, it's really good. 572 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: It's it's very well done. Sports movies usually get messed up. 573 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: I thought they did a really good job with it. 574 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: And it's it's not about Kurt as a cardinal, but 575 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: Zachary Levi, the actor, to me, like, and I know 576 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 1: Kurt pretty well, Like it's Kurt. Like they did a 577 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: really good job of showing how guys started to kind 578 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:54,720 Speaker 1: of believe in him and follow him. What do you 579 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: remember about that about Kurt's persona, his presence that kind 580 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 1: of brought everybody to get I thought he was tough as, 581 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, I thought that his toughness 582 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:10,199 Speaker 1: far outweighed how smart he was, how accurate he was 583 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: with the football. You know. I think his toughness identified 584 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: with who we wanted to be as a as a team. UM. 585 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 1: And I've always told Kurt this. He he was a 586 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: lot tougher than what people gave him credit for. Um, 587 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 1: even though he's you know, in the Hall of Fame, 588 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: which is deserving. But his toughness and accountability, I think 589 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: to this, to this organization, UM, kind of put us, 590 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,919 Speaker 1: you know, above probably where we should have been at 591 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 1: that time. It gave us a kind of jump start 592 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 1: and a boost, um to to really you know, going 593 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: into you know Ba's era, you know, going into going 594 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: into those eras after Kurt left here. UM, I think 595 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: that really gave us some credibility, and it gave the 596 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,400 Speaker 1: organization a boost. So thirteen years later, you're in a 597 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: different role in the organization. Obviously, how would you can 598 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,480 Speaker 1: pair of the twenty twenty one Arizona Cardinals to the 599 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: twenty eight team that went to the Super Bowl. I 600 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: think we have a lot of the same characteristics in 601 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: terms of young guys that got drafted here that are, 602 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: you know, kind of coming into their own now. To me, 603 00:29:15,880 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: we have a franchise quarterback and Calin Murray. I think 604 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: the defense is young. We have very young pieces. I 605 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:27,000 Speaker 1: think they're dynamic, and I think looking back on those 606 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: championship years that we had in O. Eight No. Nine 607 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 1: we won a division, I think that, you know, it's 608 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: very similar in terms of the Pro Bowl type players 609 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: that we have on this team and just how young 610 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: the team is moving forward. It feels like this is sustainable. 611 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 1: You talked, I'm glad you brought it up to the 612 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: twenty nine team because at that point there hadn't been 613 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: many teams that lost the Super Bowl and then went 614 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: to the playoffs. The next year. You guys went to 615 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: the playoffs, won a game, you lose in New Orleans 616 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 1: to a team that you know had a juggernaut offense, 617 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: ended up winning the Super Bowl. Do you feel like 618 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: this if Tyler continues to play the ways playing and 619 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: stays healthy, is this sustainable for a significant period of 620 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: time made up. Do you think, yeah, because I think 621 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: that we as an organization and and and I think 622 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: the players downstairs feel like that we are good. And 623 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:20,239 Speaker 1: I think that's a totally different feeling than you know, 624 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: back in oh eight, you know, when we were just 625 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,920 Speaker 1: getting to that point of getting good players in the door. Now, 626 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 1: I think, as a whole organizationally, like, we know we're good, 627 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: and we know that we have good people in the 628 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: front office. We know we have good players downstairs. And 629 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: now it's all about just continuing to add players into 630 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: the mix, add the right type of people to the 631 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: locker room downstairs. You know, I think there's a there's 632 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: a certain addish that you know, yes, you can draft 633 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 1: talented players, but they have to be the right type 634 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 1: of person. You know, it has to be, you know, 635 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 1: the type of person that you're trying to build your 636 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: organization around. It has to be it has to be 637 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: the right person. In your career, you had twenty seven interceptions, 638 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 1: twenty five and a half sacks, four touchdowns. Those are 639 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: great numbers. There are eighteen safeties in the Hall of Fame, 640 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 1: six in the modern era. That are safeties, not safety 641 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: slash corners. Although you did play corner some as well. 642 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 1: Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson, Brian Dawkins, Kenny Easley, who did 643 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: not play very long. He had that one year he 644 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 1: had ten picks. I think he only played seven years. 645 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: John Lynch, who did not have as many sacks as 646 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: you did. I think he may have had half the 647 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 1: number of sacks you have, but he won a Super Bowl. 648 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: And Ed Reid. Do you think you should be in 649 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,760 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame? Yeah, I think there's an argument 650 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: that can be made when you look at you know, 651 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: Troy Polamalu, and you look at his numbers. If you're 652 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: basing it just solely off of numbers, they're very comparable, 653 00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 1: even though mine are a bit better than his. You know, 654 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: he played on number one defense is pretty much his 655 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,800 Speaker 1: whole career. When I look at my career and I 656 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: look at where it started to where it ended, the 657 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 1: type of people that we ended up getting into the 658 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:17,880 Speaker 1: building in terms of guys on defense, it took us 659 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: a while to get to that point where we had 660 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 1: good players. And you know, playing in Arizona, you don't 661 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: really get a lot of the fanfare and you don't 662 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: get the recognition that you probably deserve. You know, I 663 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,560 Speaker 1: probably missed out on three or four you know, Pro Bowls, 664 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: just based off of where I played at. But in 665 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: terms of changing the way that the safety position was played, 666 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: I think I was a big part of that in 667 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 1: terms of how the modern days safety is deployed now. 668 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,200 Speaker 1: But again, you know, I don't have a vote. You know, 669 00:32:50,240 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 1: you don't have a vote. It's just one of those 670 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 1: things where you know, I think, you know, people like 671 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: Jim Trotter, people that you know look at the game 672 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: every single Sunday will understand the type impact that I 673 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: had every Sunday that I played. I think if the 674 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: Cardinals win Super Bowl forty three, I think your chances 675 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: improve because it would have been one of the most 676 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 1: historic Super Bowl runs in the history of the sport, 677 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,959 Speaker 1: and you were a big face of that team. It 678 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: will be interesting as time goes on to see if 679 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: more guys get in. But I don't think there's any 680 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 1: question the way you played the position, the numbers you 681 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: put up, those are numbers that are Hall of Fame 682 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: worthy in my opinion. In terms of your future in 683 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: this job, do you want to be a general manager? 684 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 1: Is that ultimately the goal? Or are you great just 685 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 1: staying in Arizona in the position you're in. Yeah, I 686 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 1: think it's a little bit of both. You know. I think, 687 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,959 Speaker 1: you know, obviously, you do this job to get you know, 688 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: any job, really, you do it to try to get 689 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: to the highest point that you can possibly get to, 690 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, being a head coach in the 691 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: National Football League or been a general manager. I think 692 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 1: when I got into this business, I got into the 693 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: business first to learn it. Secondly to be dedicated and 694 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:10,879 Speaker 1: lawyer to this franchise, but also I want to see 695 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 1: us win the super Bowl while I'm here. I think 696 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 1: that's you know, that's ultimately, that's that's what I want, 697 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: you know, in my career is to bring a Super 698 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: Bowl to this organization, to the bid with a family, 699 00:34:22,040 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 1: into the community of Arizona. But when you do this 700 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 1: job and you do it right, I think you do 701 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,000 Speaker 1: get opportunities to be a general manager in the league 702 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,319 Speaker 1: and you have to go interview, you have to do 703 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: all those sorts of things, and you know you have 704 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 1: to you know, you have to do things the right way. 705 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 1: And I think that ultimately, you know, one day I 706 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: think that had happened for me. A few more we'll 707 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:44,280 Speaker 1: get you out of here. Mentioned earlier Kwami and Pat Tillman. 708 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 1: There have been a lot of great safeties that have 709 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 1: played for the Cardinals, obviously yourself, Hall of Famer Larry Wilson. 710 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 1: What about Buddha Baker, how have you seen Buddha develop 711 00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:55,800 Speaker 1: and what do you think we'll be saying about Buddha 712 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 1: ten years from now? Yeah, when we first when we 713 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: first drafted Buddha, I remember going to University of Washington 714 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 1: and and you know, going to you know, look at 715 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: look at some of his tape with Jimmy Lake and um, 716 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, just talking to Jimmy Lake about him. Brian 717 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:14,399 Speaker 1: Murphy at the time, Um, Sidney Jones was there, Kevin King. 718 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: They had a lot of guys that were you know, 719 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:21,759 Speaker 1: draft eligible guys um in that secondary, and Buddha was 720 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:24,839 Speaker 1: the one guy when you turn the tape on, he 721 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: was one hundred miles per hour, like no fear. And 722 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:33,320 Speaker 1: I remember I remember to this day calling Steve and saying, 723 00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: this kid, Budda Baker. He's not tyring by any by 724 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 1: any stretch, but in terms of how you want to 725 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: build a defense and how you want to build a 726 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: secondary like he was, he was the building block in 727 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 1: terms of us kind of starting over in the secondary 728 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: and building around his skill set. When you say not 729 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 1: like Tyran, because Tyrn has ridiculous instincts for the ball, 730 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: and you just it's so rare that it's unfair to 731 00:36:03,120 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: compare anybody to that. Is that kind of what you 732 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:07,560 Speaker 1: were thinking. I don't want to put words in your mouth. Yeah, 733 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,279 Speaker 1: I just think that overall, I thought that, you know, 734 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:13,279 Speaker 1: in terms of, you know, how we wanted us to 735 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: be moving forward as a as a secondary and as 736 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 1: a back endum, tyring skill set was, you know, was 737 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: crazy as compared to a lot of guys that were 738 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:26,400 Speaker 1: playing now, you know, his ability to play nickel, to 739 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 1: play back deep, you know, to play corner sometimes like 740 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: it was just one of those things where you're not 741 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: going to find a guy as talented as Tiring, but 742 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: you can have a guy like Buddha Baker that plays 743 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:42,440 Speaker 1: with the physicality, the toughness, the energy, the motor and 744 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,719 Speaker 1: you can build around that and it's and it's and 745 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:48,720 Speaker 1: it's something that's very very addictive. Guys around him would 746 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:51,040 Speaker 1: want to play for him. I think that's that's one 747 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 1: of the things that you know, on my report, I remembresented, 748 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:55,359 Speaker 1: like guys are going to want to play for him 749 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,360 Speaker 1: because of how he plays the game. Do you have 750 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:01,919 Speaker 1: any sort of rivalry with Ron Wolflee given that both 751 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: you both wore the number twenty four? Because when I 752 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,840 Speaker 1: think of the number twenty four and like what looks 753 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 1: good on a on a Arizona Cardinal, I think of 754 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 1: Adrian Wilson. The last thing I think. The last thing 755 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: I think of as a fifty nine year old Ron 756 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:18,520 Speaker 1: Wolfley over there gorge and hotdogs during a broadcast putting 757 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:21,280 Speaker 1: on a number twenty four jersey. Yeah. Man, I've always 758 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 1: I've always sold Ron. I always told him that. You know, 759 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:27,399 Speaker 1: whenever you got done playing twenty wearing twenty four, they 760 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 1: gave it back out. Well I got done playing with it. 761 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: They haven't given it back out all right, so they had, 762 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:34,719 Speaker 1: you know, they had a chance to give it to 763 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 1: another guy. He ended up wearing it. But again, you know, 764 00:37:39,239 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 1: it's just one of those things where nobody's will work 765 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:44,040 Speaker 1: since I warn it. So it's been a long time, 766 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:47,279 Speaker 1: so I don't think we'll see anybody wearing twenty four again. 767 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 1: Appreciate the time, and it's been great. Thanks so much. 768 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 1: Best to Luck rest of the season. I appreciate it. 769 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:59,759 Speaker 1: Thank you. One of the all time great Cardinals, Adrian Wilson, 770 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:04,280 Speaker 1: five time Pro bowler, three time All Pro, spent twelve 771 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,440 Speaker 1: years with the organization. He's back and as you just 772 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 1: heard him say, he wants to be part of a 773 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:13,920 Speaker 1: Super Bowl champion. Also has a desire if the opportunity 774 00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:17,360 Speaker 1: comes along, to be a general manager. And just listening 775 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:22,400 Speaker 1: to Adrian and talking about his role and what he 776 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 1: thought of Buddha Baker coming out, what he thought of 777 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:28,560 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray, you clearly can tell that Adrian does his 778 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: homework when it comes to player evaluation. He obviously has 779 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 1: Steve Kim's ear, and I would not be shocked given 780 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:38,239 Speaker 1: the fact that Adrian is a former player and that 781 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:40,719 Speaker 1: he worked his way up. He wasn't afraid to start 782 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:43,880 Speaker 1: out as basically a gopher picking guys up at the airport, 783 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,640 Speaker 1: getting people coffee, that he's willing to put in the 784 00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:49,359 Speaker 1: time to do what it takes to be a successful 785 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,840 Speaker 1: general manager in the National Football League. We are presented 786 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:55,080 Speaker 1: by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the 787 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. He 788 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 1: can follow us on Twitter at pashpod. Thanks again to 789 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:06,239 Speaker 1: Cardinal legend Adrian Wilson. Big one for Arizona Sunday. The 790 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:08,720 Speaker 1: Cardinals still have a chance to win the NFC West. 791 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:11,800 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you then when the Cardinals face the Seahawks. 792 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:14,239 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening to this week's edition of the 793 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:15,360 Speaker 1: Dave Pash Podcast