1 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,239 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of the Day Pash Podcast. The 2 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals, for the first time since nineteen seventy four, 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: are five and oh. I was two years old the 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: last time. The Cardinals won their first five games of 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: the season, and this one against the forty nine Ers 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: was a lot different than the others. This was a 7 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: battle the Cardinals found a different way to win compared 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,919 Speaker 1: two weeks one through four. If Tennessee was a snapshot 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: of what the Cardinals could become and the Rams potentially 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: what the Cardinals might be. The forty nine Ers game 11 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: was a lot different, but it tells you a lot 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: about where this team is. It's different than what we've 13 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: seen in the past. Kyler Murray's playing like an MVP, 14 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: but the defense is good enough to win you a game. 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: Who better to talk about the five and oh star 16 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: for the Cardinals than general manager Steve Time. He's our 17 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: guest today on the Dave Pash Podcast. Among the subjects 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: will cover the growth and maturation of quarterback Kyler Murray. 19 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 1: The thing I see more now is two things pre 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: snap and post snap. The things he can do with 21 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: his eyes. You start to see him manipulating safeties and 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: defenders where he can look off and locate secondary and 23 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: third options, whereas before it might have been one, two 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: and in run time also talks about what it's like 25 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: to be a general manager day in and day out. 26 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: He'll get into the rookie class and how they're progressing, 27 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: when he first thought Cliff Kingsbury would make a good 28 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: NFL head coach, and what he and Cliff did this 29 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 1: summer with a celebrity musician. You can follow us on 30 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: Twitter at pashpot, where you're presented by bet MGM, the 31 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals and Heila 32 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: River Hotels and Casinos. Without further ado, the general manager 33 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals and two time NFL Executive of 34 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: the Year, Steve Kind. So, Steve, let me start by 35 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: way of a story going back to two thousand and two. 36 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: I feel like Wolf. It was two thousand and two. 37 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: Give me a beat, Steve. So, two thousand and two, 38 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: I get the Arizona Cardinals radio play by play job. 39 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: I'd done the Bills preseason games in two thousand and one, 40 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: so I'd been in an NFL training camp, but this 41 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: was like my first camp as the broadcaster as the guy, 42 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: and I didn't really know anybody other than my broadcast team. 43 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: And I met my first training camp, but I think 44 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: it was the first day. And there's a knock on 45 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: my door my dorm room in Flagstaff, and I turn around. 46 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: I look and it looks like one of the players, 47 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: offensive lineman, Guy bald young, my age, late twenties, and 48 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: it's He says, Hi, my name's Steve Kim. I'm one 49 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: of the scouts here. We have some mutual friends at 50 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: Syracuse and you and I struck up a conversation and 51 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: you said, hey, man, anything you need, any questions about 52 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: any players or whatever, any help I can extend you, 53 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: you let me know. And so I would come up 54 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: to you at training camp and ask you about a 55 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: certain player that you scouted, and you and I struck 56 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 1: up a friendship, and here we are twenty years later. 57 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: You've risen to not only general manager, but two time 58 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: Executive of the Year in the NFL. So the reason 59 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: I tell that story is when I look at five 60 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: and zero and I think of all the people that 61 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: I'm happy is for You're at the top of the list. Man, 62 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: because our friendship and because of what you've been able 63 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: to do with this organization. I know, you got to 64 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: think big picture. You can't get too excited, But how 65 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: does it feel for you to be five and oh? Well, 66 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it obviously feels great. But at the same time, 67 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, I think that when you're in 68 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: the fire, so to speak, you can't enjoy or I 69 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: should say, it's hard to enjoy the process. You know, 70 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: it's always thinking about tomorrow next week, and you really 71 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: don't have a chance to think about I need to 72 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: enjoy this win because you're thinking about the next game 73 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: and we have to win that game. That's a balance 74 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: that I think that all of us struggle with on 75 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: a day to day basis, is, you know, enjoying the 76 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: process and the grind and all those sort of things, 77 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: because when you lose in a national football league, it's 78 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: the end of the world. When you win, you take 79 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: a deep breath and say, okay, one to the next. 80 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: So for me, you know, obviously it's rewarding to be 81 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: five and oh. And to go back to the first 82 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: part of your story, the biggest difference is is now 83 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: you have no hair. I know, and I had like 84 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: almost a fulhead of air back so the twenty years 85 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: is showing up one. I know, bro, I know, man. 86 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: You know last year obviously things started well. This year 87 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: feels different to me? Does it feel and again, I 88 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 1: know you got to kind of stay in the moment, 89 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: but does it feel different to you in terms of 90 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: the energy, the leadership, in the locker room, just the 91 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: vibe overall. Yeah, And I think it's the way I 92 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: see it is. It's a it's an air of confidence, 93 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:59,559 Speaker 1: not cockiness. There's humility in there. Yet at the same time, 94 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: there are enough guys who believe in what we've built, 95 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: you know, the organization, they believe in the leadership. To me, 96 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: that's half the battle, because when you put a team together, 97 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 1: and we've talked about this before, it doesn't matter how 98 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 1: talented you are until they come together and jail as 99 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 1: a team. No different from the year we went to 100 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:18,919 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. I mean, look, we went into the 101 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: East Coast and got trashed twice that I can remember 102 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: for sure, playing in Philadelphia and Philadelphia and New England. 103 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: There we came together late and jailed as a team 104 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: and got hot at the right time. Twenty and fifteen, 105 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: we went to an SC championship, you know, there was 106 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 1: an air of confidence in that locker room. We had 107 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: a talented team and we knew it. Yet we also 108 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: enjoyed the process. We enjoyed each other. And I see 109 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: that in this team. The guys really enjoyed being around 110 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: each other and they sort of view it as a family. 111 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: How about Kyler? Because everybody that I've talked to, and 112 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: I'm including fellow broadcasters that call the games that meet 113 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: with Kyler in comparison to last year, the term that 114 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: I'm hearing is night and day in terms of his personality, 115 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: his demeanor, his willingness and kind of owning being the 116 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: franchise quarterback, and how you handle the media, how you 117 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: deal with production meetings, all those things. What are you 118 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 1: seeing in that respect from Kyler with leadership and how 119 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: he is around the team? Yeah, I mean I think it's, 120 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: you know, a natural ownership that he's taken on. And 121 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 1: you know, it's like when I think about a kid 122 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: going to high school and being a freshman, then you 123 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: see him as a junior or senior, and how much 124 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: different is he. I Mean, obviously people mature, they grow up, 125 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: and not that he was immature, but understanding how to 126 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: be a professional what it took on and off the field, 127 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: and I think that's what sometimes we have a hard 128 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: time within his business. You want to draft a guy 129 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: and you want to get him through baggage claim and 130 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: you want to throw them in and instantly they're plug 131 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: in play, and that's just not it. Very few An 132 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: Quambo's very few, Rondale Moore's it's not reality. These guys 133 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: take some time, mostly processing seeing things playing at that speed, 134 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: realizing that everybody around him is that good. And it's 135 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: not as easy as people think. So you know, we 136 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 1: want to be hard on him early on in the 137 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: process and it can be difficult, and he's he's done 138 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: a fantastic job, in my opinion, growing in a lot 139 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 1: of different areas, mostly on the field. When you're looking 140 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: at his ability to see with vision process things. The 141 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: thing I see more now is two things pre snap 142 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: and post snap, the things he can do with his eyes. 143 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: You start to see him manipulating safeties and defenders where 144 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: he can look off and locate secondary and third options, 145 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: whereas before it might have been one, two and in run. 146 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: How about Like I noticed this on Sunday, I watched 147 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: him before the game going down to the defensive players 148 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: saying a word high five in the offensive lineman before 149 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: going out of the field for that last drive, not 150 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: saying that didn't happen last year, but again, I feel 151 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: like I'm seeing more of that. How important is that 152 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: when you scout a quarterback, when you talk with players 153 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: you're thinking of drafting. How much do you have to 154 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: kind of think about how is this going to translate 155 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: in terms of leadership and how a player is around 156 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: his teammates. Yeah, I mean, I think that that's one 157 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: of the hardest things that a talent evaluator has to do. 158 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: You can see all the physical traits on tape, but 159 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: you don't know how a guy is going to play 160 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: and react within your system. You don't know how their 161 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: leadership is going to come off. You don't know whether 162 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: they're a vocal guy, whether they're a guy that likes 163 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: to be out in front of people. Some people just 164 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: like to do their job, and there's nothing wrong with 165 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: that unless you're playing that position. You know, the quarterback 166 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: is the alpha male. He's the guy that everybody looks 167 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: to when things are good when things are bad. So 168 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 1: the guy has got to be able to have thick skin. 169 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 1: He's got to be able to have a short memory, 170 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 1: sort of like a pitcher in baseball, get a home 171 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: home un hit it off you, you can't think about 172 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: it same thing. You throw a pick next play. And 173 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: that's hard to do, especially when there's six five thousand 174 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: people in the stadium and there's millions watching on TV. 175 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: It's not for everybody to say that, Sure, what do 176 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: you think is the next step for him? What do 177 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 1: you as an organization want to see from him the 178 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: rest of the season. I think it's just continued small things. 179 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: Knowing down in distance, understanding little intricacies that you know, 180 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: for example, when you're flushed out of the pocket, that 181 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: you don't take a two yard loss by running out 182 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: of bounds, that you get rid of the ball. Little 183 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: things like that. But it's coming with time. We're continuing 184 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: to see little things that he would not have done 185 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: in the past, which is exactly what we thought. And 186 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: year three, by the time we get to this point, 187 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: which is where most guys, you get to that point 188 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: in their career, you say, year three, you want to 189 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: see them evolve and become the kind of player that 190 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 1: you envisioned. And you look back and I think about 191 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: the things that he did his rookie year and most 192 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: of it was done based off of just pure athleticism 193 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: and talent, which is amazing in itself. Then you look 194 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: at your two and you started to see him ascend 195 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 1: and do different things with us, and is his progression 196 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: Now you're seeing the full compliment of things, which is 197 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,720 Speaker 1: why we're five. And oh, I remember when Russell Wilson 198 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: came out, and I know there was some interest from 199 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals. He ends up going in the third round 200 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:17,559 Speaker 1: and obviously had incredible success. And if Russell Wilson comes 201 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: out today, he's probably the number one pick. But back 202 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: then people were afraid right of size and stature. You 203 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: guys take Kyler Murray number one overall, and it was 204 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: almost as if that triggered the rest of the league 205 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: to say, Yeah, it doesn't matter. This kid's talented. He's 206 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: got a strong arm. We've seen him have success at 207 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: every level. He's always played that way. He's pretty good 208 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: at avoiding hits and not getting injured. Do you feel 209 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: like you guys have set a trend because I mean, 210 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: I'm just doing college games now and we used to 211 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: look at Okay, he's got oh he can make every throw. Oh, 212 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 1: he's got NFL size. We're not even talking about that 213 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: stuff anymore or as much anyway. Yeah, I mean I 214 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: think with the first hick, you know, possibly setting a trend, 215 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: but not you know, in general, I think it's what 216 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: you just said. I think it was Russell Wilson because 217 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: we work in a business that you know, a lot 218 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: of it is surrounded by comps. You know, what was 219 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: a guy's height, weight, and speed at this position? And 220 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: if he didn't have the required size and speed, you know, 221 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: you'd put him in the back side of the board, 222 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: or he would have to be a guy that proved it. 223 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: It certainly wouldn't have been a high draft pick. But 224 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: the fact that Russell Wilson at five ten was able 225 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: to have that kind of success it led you to 226 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: believe that height isn't everything. Because Russell had the compensating 227 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: abilities to so to speak, mask his lack of height, 228 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 1: which is big hand, strong arm, great feet, good vision, 229 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: can make all the throws, has great decision making, placement, 230 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: touches as a as a thrower. And when we studied Kyler, 231 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: that was really what it came down to. Not only that, 232 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: but he had rare and unusual speed, explosiveness, all the 233 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: different traits that you would obviously love to seeing a 234 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: guy who's six foot five, but he wasn't six ft five, 235 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 1: So Canny still do it one hundred percent? In our mind, 236 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: we felt like he could when you built this team, 237 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 1: this particular group, the twenty twenty one version, and you 238 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: knew you had to make some changes after the way 239 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: things ended last year. And I know you've talked about 240 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: this elsewhere, Maybe you can go a little bit more 241 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: in depth here. What was top of mine for you? 242 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: How disappointed were you with last year and health? Fired 243 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: up were you to fix it? And what were your focuses? Well? 244 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: I was probably more fired up than I've ever been 245 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: because I saw what the template looked like and it 246 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: looked like the possibilities were endless. There just needed to 247 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: be some additions to areas where we had concerns, And 248 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: I felt like it probably started with emotional maturity. And 249 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: when I say emotional maturity, I mean that in a 250 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: way where guys have to be able to handle success 251 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: and adversity the same. You know where you're having success 252 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,559 Speaker 1: and you don't get too high if you're having some adversity, 253 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: you have the strength and the metal toughness to battle through. 254 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: It wasn't a pretty game against San fran and you know, 255 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: there were things that weren't clean on tape that we 256 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:12,719 Speaker 1: would like to take back, and our coaches want to 257 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: coach them up, but at the same time, to go 258 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: through some rough patches the game and still be able 259 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: to win that game seventeen to ten. I think is 260 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: says a lot about the character of the men in 261 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: that locker room and that's where it all started. That 262 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 1: and then probably the physicality of this team, both on 263 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: offense and defense, particularly on the offensive line and defensive lines. 264 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: We saw that physicality on Sunday. That was a that 265 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: was a battle and it was like the hit on 266 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: the goal line. I don't know if you could hear 267 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: that in your booth. We could almost hear that hit. Yeah, 268 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: Isaiah Simmons amazing. And the and the collision and that 269 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: sort of thing. And in today's day and age, you know, 270 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: we've obviously tried to take the head out of the 271 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: game and that sort of thing, but there are sometimes 272 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: when you just have to have big collisions and you 273 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: have to have guys willing to, as Wolfe would say, 274 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: stick their face in the fan and and that play 275 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: right there, just to me epitomized a lot of this team, 276 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 1: something as small as that, where we have the ball, 277 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: they have the ball and the you know what two 278 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: or three yard line and obviously a game changing play 279 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: right there in a momentum shifter because of our physicality. 280 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: So you talk about physicality and leadership, the first guy 281 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: that comes to mind is JJ Watt. Can you tell 282 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: us how that went down this summer? I had Michael 283 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: on and he's and I said, it's amazing that that 284 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: didn't get out into the media. The DeAndre Hopkins thing 285 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: didn't get out, And Michael said, yeah, Steve and I 286 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: we talk about that and then we'll let you know, 287 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: coach in when he needs to know what we're thinking 288 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: of doing and get his input. But there's nobody too 289 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: leaked because it's just you and Michael. So now that 290 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: that's in the rear view mirror, how did that deal 291 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 1: come down? And are you starting to see that leadership 292 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: and physicality showing up out of him and how's that 293 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: impact in the team. Yeah, and we got in early, 294 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: you know, and I feel like, you know, when it 295 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: comes to those type of trades, you have to be aggressive, 296 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: yet at the same time, you know, when you have 297 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: a player of JJ's stature or de Hoop stature, and 298 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: you're trying to get something done and you feel like 299 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: you're making some headway, you start to wonder, Man, is 300 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: this is this? Is this a joke? Like are they 301 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: really considering this or are they playing with our heads? 302 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: And in JJ situation, I know he had a bunch 303 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: of other suitors, and so many times I would look 304 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: up at the TV and I would see JJ Watt 305 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: narrows it down to three teams, and I'm thinking, I 306 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 1: just got done talking to his agent. How he didn't 307 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: tell me that, you know? And I'm thinking, you know what, 308 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: either this guy is a master at BS or or 309 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: quite frankly, like this is one of the best secrets 310 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: in the NFL right now. And I'll never forget talking 311 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: to Michael and telling them, you know, we got the 312 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: deal done and the excitement that surrounded it. But JJ's 313 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: agent let me know that JJ wanted to break the 314 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: news and this was the picture that he was gonna post, 315 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: which showed JJ and a Cardinal shirt squatting. And I'll 316 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: never forget thinking to myself, Man, tomorrow at eleven am. 317 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: When he posts this, the Internet is going to literally 318 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 1: break because people are going to be shocked, especially whenever 319 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: John Clayton came out and said it was down to 320 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: three teams and we weren't one of them. I do 321 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: the same thing when I went to ESPN. Steve had 322 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: a big ESPN shirt squat in seven hundred pounds. If 323 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: the Internet were around then it would it would have 324 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: blown up. Continuing with the theme of physicality, James Connor 325 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: five touchdowns in three games, change of pace. When you 326 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: were watching tape on him and trying to make the 327 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: decision with the running back room, what went into that 328 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: decision and how pleased are you with the way he's played? Yeah, 329 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: and you know you look at the big pitcher and 330 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: you say, okay, Well, in the NFL, in today's day 331 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: and age, most teams have a couple backs to compliment 332 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: each other. Team we're playing this week, you know with Cleveland, 333 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: they have two great backs. You know, we love everything 334 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: about Chase Edmonds, but we also look back and we think, okay, 335 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: you look at the game last year when we were 336 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: playing New England and we had the ball right before 337 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: half on the one inch line, and we couldn't pound 338 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: it in something to be said for a bigger back 339 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: that can finish games, that can do the things that 340 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 1: James does. And I don't think most people understand how 341 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 1: big James is until you walk up on him and 342 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: you see that the guy's guys. He's probably six two, 343 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: two hundred and thirty pounds, runs with an attitude, runs 344 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: with the physicality that you look for. And I think 345 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 1: the other thing that's surprising about him is he's niftier 346 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: and a little quicker than you you would anticipate for 347 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: being that size, so he catches people off guar, already 348 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: has soft hands and really feel what we did offensively. 349 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: James Saxon had intimate knowledge of him being his coach 350 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: at one time in Pittsburgh, and then we've brought him 351 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: out here for a visit, spent some time with him 352 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: and really fell in love with the person as well. 353 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: So I thought he was a great fit and to me, 354 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: so far, it's been a really good signing. All Right. 355 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: I want to get back into this team in twenty 356 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: twenty one, but I want to give the fans a 357 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: little bit of insight into what the day in the 358 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: life of a NFL general manager is like, is every 359 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: day different for you? Do you wake up not knowing 360 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: what the day is going to bring. Do you have 361 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,719 Speaker 1: a certain routine as opposed to when you get up, 362 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: when you go to bed? What you do each day? 363 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: Give me a sense of a normal week in season 364 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: for Steve Kin, Well, I'm not proud to tell you this, 365 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: but I'm sort of like a grandpa. I think I 366 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: probably stay up to about nine or nine thirty most nights. 367 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: That being said, I don't sleep well. And again I'm 368 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: not bragging about this, but I like this morning. I 369 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: was up at three thirty. I was here by probably 370 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: four or fifteen. And again that's not the brag. It's 371 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: the fact that I can't sleep, which is unfortunate. So 372 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 1: the bags under my eyes are the telltale sign. So 373 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: I'll come in and you know, it's nice and quiet, 374 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: and here the interesting fact that people wouldn't know. I've 375 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: been in here as early as three forty five am 376 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: and there's always one vehicle out in the parking lot 377 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: and it's a white forward raptor and I've never beat 378 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: Cliff Kingsbury in here. I don't know if the guy sleeps, 379 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: if he's a vampire, or what he is. But that 380 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,959 Speaker 1: guy is in here every morning before I can get here, 381 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: and it's it's amazing. So I'll get in and first 382 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: thing I usually do is the thing that I love 383 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: the most, which is watch film, whether it's college or pro. 384 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: And before you know most people get in the office, 385 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: it gives me a chance to have some meditation time 386 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: I like to call it, which is really just watching tape, 387 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: listening to music whatever it may be, podcasts of years 388 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: and it's refreshing, relaxing. It's what I love to do 389 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: and I unfortunately don't get to do as much as 390 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: I'd like. Then are you on the phone a good 391 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: part of the day? Are you looking at Okay, this 392 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: player got hurt, so now we got to start to 393 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: look at either players that are on the practice squad 394 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: or players that are the roster who have been inactive, 395 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: or we got to look at other teams for trades. Yeah. 396 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: I mean it's constant dialogue and depending on the game, 397 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: you know how many injuries you incurred and what the 398 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: moves that you have to make that week. The practice 399 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 1: squad players that you have to flip. Generally we bring 400 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: in guys on Mondays. They get physicals Tuesday morning. We 401 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: work them out on Tuesday mid morning because that's our 402 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,679 Speaker 1: day off of practice. Then we have to make some 403 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: roster moves. But you know, generally it's constant dialogue all 404 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: day with guys like coach and our scouting department to 405 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: talk about the ready list and players that we want 406 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 1: to bring in for workouts, and the training room staff 407 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,639 Speaker 1: and all those guys with you know, the injuries and 408 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: how long players are going to be out and trying 409 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: to forecast that. So it's constant dialogue, you know, meeting 410 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: with Michael and talking about the team, and you know, 411 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: we have a lot of dialogue on a daily basis. 412 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,479 Speaker 1: Generally probably two or three times we talk about the 413 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: roster and different things with the organization. Again, the thing 414 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: that we have to do that's different from a lot 415 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: of people was planning for the future, not just the present. 416 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: What's on the playlist when you're watching film, what music? 417 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: You know, I'm generally a country music fan. I gotta 418 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: give it to my buddy Blake Shelton, who was a big, 419 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: diehard Cardinal fan, So I gotta give him a little 420 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: shout out. Cliff and I went on tour with him 421 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: for a couple of days this past year, which was 422 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: a lot of fun. Got to see what it's like 423 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: to sleep on a bus, which I don't ever want 424 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: to do again. But it was a nice bus. Though 425 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: it was a nice bus, but those sleeping areas aren't 426 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: made for a guy who's six two and a half 427 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: two hundred and eighty pounds. I would have paid money 428 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: to see you and Cliff like on bunk beds and 429 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: a bus with Blake Shelton. Cliff told me, I think 430 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: it was one day three. He heard me at about 431 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: four am dragging my bag to get off there, giggling 432 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: because I was so delirious. I was ready to go. 433 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: I was like, get me to the Ritz Carlton as 434 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: fast as I can. I told the story about you know, 435 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: you engaging in a conversation with me and initiating that relationship. 436 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 1: And I watch on the field before games how you 437 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 1: interact with other gms like you're friends with them. And 438 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: Frank Kelliender was on last week and he made the 439 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: point because he knows you, and he said, you know, 440 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 1: you almost have to be friends with other general managers 441 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: because you got to do business with them. So how 442 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: does that work? I mean, how much of making deals 443 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,400 Speaker 1: happen is because you've got a relationship with someone other 444 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: deals that get done with gms you don't like. Uh, 445 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know that it's that I don't like. 446 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: It's probably more that I don't have a long term 447 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 1: relationship with, you know. And the one thing that that 448 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: most GMS have that other people don't is growing up 449 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: in the business. A lot of the gms were scouts 450 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: at one time on the road. So for thirteen years 451 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: I spent one hundred and eighty five days on the road, 452 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: traveling from city to city and in many cases being 453 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: away from your family, away from your friends, and you 454 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: sort of become like a nomad. And really the other 455 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 1: people that you spend a lot of time with, And 456 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: I'm talking about eight hours a day in a dark 457 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: film room with John Schneider or you know, Less Need 458 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: or any other GM in the NFL Jason light. And 459 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: you know, as you're spending eight hours with those guys, 460 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,719 Speaker 1: you're in the same room. You know, you're staying at 461 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: the same hotels. You may go to the same place 462 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: to eat for dinner and catch up for a couple 463 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: hours before you go right. Five hours of reports so 464 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: you develop these relationships and then it carries you throughout 465 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: the rest of your life. And it's no different from Listen, 466 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: you have a job to do, which I respect, So 467 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: anything I can do to help you with your job 468 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: is something that's important to me. Now, am I going 469 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: to tell you about the trade I might have just consummated? 470 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,640 Speaker 1: Of course not. You got to know what to obviously 471 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: tell people what not to. No different if I'm doing 472 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: a trade with Howie Roseman or I'm doing a trade 473 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: with Brandon Bean. It helps the process. When you have 474 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: that relationship. You're not going to again give trade secrets, 475 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: but you're going to develop a relationship and just the 476 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: way you communicate certainly helps you. Mentioned Jason, he texted 477 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: Wolf and I during one of the preseason TV games 478 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: and said, I will buy you both a steak dinner 479 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: if you can somehow get on the air that Steve 480 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 1: and I are good buddies. I'm like, does he think 481 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:06,640 Speaker 1: we're amateurs? I looked at Wolf like you didn't think 482 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: we can work this in So of course we show 483 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,320 Speaker 1: you and Michael in the booth and Nurse Michael Bidwell, 484 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: team owner and Arizona Cardinals gym Steve Kim, you know, 485 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 1: congratulations to the Buccaneers, you know, the defending champs, and 486 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: Jason liked their GM. We used to be here and 487 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: it's still good friends with Steve Kim. So like five 488 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: minutes later and Jason Hurd, He's like, dang it, text 489 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: like I'm like, what did you think you would think 490 00:24:29,640 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: after getting the Super Bowl ring that you would need 491 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: the shameless plug anymore? I know you guys are still tight. 492 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: And look, this is someone that I know he was 493 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,800 Speaker 1: in New England prior to coming here, but you know 494 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 1: he's from the Steve Kim tree. Is that rewarding to 495 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: see what Jason is doing down in Tampa? Yeah. I 496 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:47,800 Speaker 1: mean another guy that I grew up in the business 497 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: with and spent a lot of time on the road. Obviously, 498 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. I 499 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: mean talk to him several times a week, you know. 500 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: For me, a guy that you know earned his way 501 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: and has done an unbelievab job and had some rough 502 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: years you know that we all go through in this business. 503 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: It's not easy. And just awfully proud of him. Man, 504 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: he is he has done a fantastic job and in 505 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,439 Speaker 1: this business I think you kind of know who's going 506 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,680 Speaker 1: to be successful. It's not just the player evaluation part. 507 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 1: It's not just understanding how to negotiate contracts, whatever it 508 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: may be. Because there's so many facets to this job. 509 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: People don't understand. It's just getting the big picture and 510 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: understanding people and managing people and having that personality. It's 511 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: it's not for everybody. Obviously, you have to have thick 512 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 1: skin in this business because it's difficult. You're being judged 513 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: on everything you do. There's seventy million people that play 514 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: fantasy football, and sixty nine of them think they're better 515 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: than you. You know, and I get that. It's it's 516 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: a results based business, so getting into it, you have 517 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: to know what you're getting into, and you have to 518 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: be able to look at the big picture and understand 519 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:00,200 Speaker 1: it and respect the process you talked about all those 520 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 1: years on the road working your way up. You really 521 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: don't see it a lot in professional sports, where a 522 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: guy works his way up through the ranks at one 523 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: team and stays with that team, it eventually moves from 524 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 1: a scout to general manager. I think of Eric Spoelstra 525 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: in the NBA, who is a video coordinator with the heat, 526 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: worked his way up, assistant coach, all this successful head coach, 527 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:25,199 Speaker 1: and I think of you being a scout here working 528 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: your way up and eventually becoming the general manager of 529 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: this team. Why do you think that is? Do you 530 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: think because because I'm sure you had opportunities before you 531 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: got the general manager job to look elsewhere. Why do 532 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: you think it is that guys sometimes just look to 533 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: take the first job because it's a GM opportunity. And 534 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: it could be said for coaches too. Sometimes coaches look 535 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: for the first job to leave to try to take 536 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,119 Speaker 1: it rather than waiting for the right job. Yeah, you know. 537 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,200 Speaker 1: I mean I think that's a tough balance because you're 538 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: so goal oriented and you want everything now today's world, 539 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,960 Speaker 1: that's the way we're built. And I think that it's 540 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: it's hard to take a step back and look at 541 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 1: the big pitcher and realize maybe this isn't good and 542 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:10,160 Speaker 1: good for me, or it's not a good fit. It's difficult, 543 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 1: I know that, because you know, it's hard to turn 544 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: down the compensation, and you know, obviously the fact that 545 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: you get to run your own operation, when maybe that's 546 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: the point is maybe it's not the right situation because 547 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: you don't get to have a final saying something. But 548 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: you know that that's the cool thing about me being 549 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: in this position is to the fact that what you 550 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 1: said has started here. I think myself and Brian Gudakinston 551 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: Green Bay are the only two guys in the NFL 552 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:38,440 Speaker 1: that started off with their organizations at the lowest level, 553 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: being Area Scout and working all the way up the GM. 554 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: But the coolest thing about that for me is I 555 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: don't just wear a cardinal on my polo. I wear 556 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,320 Speaker 1: a cardinal in my heart, man, because this is this 557 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: isn't a job. This is my passion. Our fan base 558 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 1: is my passion. Making the state of Arizona proud, making 559 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,920 Speaker 1: the Bidwell family proud, It's my passion. You know. Somebody said, 560 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: what would be the coolest thing in the world for you? 561 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:05,120 Speaker 1: What would be your ultimate goal for you to envision 562 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: before you retire, And I said, watching Michael bid Will 563 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: hold that Lombardi Trophy that would right then and there, 564 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: But that then we would get there and I'd probably 565 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 1: say I want to see him do it twice then 566 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: three times, so you know, just just making the people 567 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: of Arizona proud, you know, And that's being here so 568 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: long and seeing us go through tough times. That's always 569 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: been sort of what I visualized. And I believe that 570 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: one hundred percent. For fans that may be listening and say, Okay, 571 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,439 Speaker 1: you know Steve, that he's got to say that, Like, 572 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,600 Speaker 1: I believe that because you've even said things over the 573 00:28:37,640 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: years to me, to Wolfe, to others of you really 574 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 1: want to make you guys proud, really want you get 575 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: guys to like what you're seeing. We want to do 576 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: this right. So I believe that that is absolutely from 577 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 1: the heart. I know as a kid, you've talked about 578 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: you thought you'd be a GM someday. Did you think 579 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: after you left NC State you play for a while 580 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 1: and then eventually get into scouting or was this something 581 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: like even in college you had your mindset on well, 582 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: I had dreams of playing in the NFL and having 583 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: an opportunity with the Dolphins. I think when I realized 584 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 1: that I was a try hard guy that you know, 585 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: had limited ability, but the thing that was probably the 586 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 1: best was to get hurt, then to be released, and 587 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: then I had some other opportunities. And I think I 588 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: was smart enough, or at least self perceptive enough to 589 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: realize you know what, let's let's move on to the 590 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: next part of your career, which was great because it 591 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 1: gave me the opportunity to start here at such a 592 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: young age. You know, I started with the Cardinals I 593 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,479 Speaker 1: think at twenty five, and it helped me get my 594 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: career started early and on track. And for about ten years, 595 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: I just had my head down and I worked my 596 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: tail off and had those goals and continually, you know, 597 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: went through the ranks and was elevated to you know, 598 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: National Scout, College Scouting Director and then ultimately Director of 599 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: Player Personnel and then VP of Player Personnel. So the 600 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: great part about that is is I every step of 601 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: the way, and the coolest thing is when you start 602 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: off at such a low level, you learn you know 603 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: how organizations are run, not just you know what it's 604 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 1: like to evaluate a guy at Notre Dame. You understand 605 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: that there's parts of the business. So whether it's picking 606 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: up a guy at the airport or taking him to 607 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: get his physical or running an errand for a coach. 608 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: I mean, there's a lot of different things that come 609 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:25,640 Speaker 1: with this business that people weren't prepared for, and so 610 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: I learned a lot of great lessons along the way. 611 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: You spoke earlier about you and Cliff going on tour 612 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: with Blake Sheldon. So obviously you and Cliff were friends, 613 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 1: and when you hired Cliff as the head coach, there 614 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: were a lot of people that were curious as to 615 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: what you saw. We're starting to see that here obviously 616 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: in year three and I when Cliff was on here. 617 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: You know, I knew Cliff from covering college and I 618 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: remember Brian Greasy and I walking out of a meeting 619 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:55,959 Speaker 1: with Cliff when he was the offensive coordinator at Texas 620 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: A and M. And we both were like, that dude 621 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,160 Speaker 1: is going to be a hit coach. Like that guy 622 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 1: is smart, He's got a great personality, and I think 623 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: people now he seems looser with the media. You're starting 624 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: to see that little bit more. What were some of 625 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: the things that you saw on Cliff and when did 626 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:12,720 Speaker 1: you start to see those things? Does it go back 627 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: to when Manzelle was at A and M. Does it 628 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: go back to Mahomes when he was coaching at Texas Tech, 629 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: Like when did you have an idea that Cliff might 630 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: be a good NFL head coach? Well through through the years, 631 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: exactly what you're saying I mean getting to know him 632 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: and going to scout players, whether it was at Houston 633 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: or A and M or Texas Tech. Just the interaction 634 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,800 Speaker 1: that you would have with him. He always impressed me 635 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: with the way he carried himself, the way he talked 636 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: about the players, the way he coached him when I 637 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: watched him coach on the field. And then I'll never 638 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 1: forget Bruce Arians, myself and Michael flew in to work 639 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: out Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, spent a lot of 640 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: time with Cliff, and all three of us came away 641 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: from that workout thinking, man, this guy he's impressive. You know, 642 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: not just Patrick Mahomes, but Cliff as well and Michael, 643 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: and I said, you know, one day, I think he's 644 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: going to be a good not only head coach in 645 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: college football, but he may have chanced to be a 646 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: good head coach in the NFL. And fast forward started 647 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: to think about how we could be innovative and do 648 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: something some things differently. Sometimes people say, well it's it's 649 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,760 Speaker 1: you know, too early, like Sean McVay was too young 650 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: too early. Sometimes guys have to grow in the business 651 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: and they continually get better and grow within the business. 652 00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 1: Just like a scout or GM would and felt like 653 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: he would be a great fit. What's the biggest difference 654 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 1: you've seen in him here in year three compared to 655 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:37,720 Speaker 1: years one and two. I would say the comfort level 656 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: of being himself, letting his personality come out, and not 657 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: being as guarded, and not guarded in a bad way, 658 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: guarded in a way where you know you're the head 659 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 1: coach of an NFL team. Sometimes there are guys who 660 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: are almost as old as you, or if they're not, 661 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 1: they're as old as you, and that can be tough, 662 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: especially with guys that are, you know, future Hall of 663 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:00,400 Speaker 1: famers Larry Fitzgerald, guys like that, and now you're looking 664 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 1: him in the face and you're telling them what to 665 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: do and and you're trying to coach them up, so 666 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: you're trying to build credibility with those type of players. 667 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: So I just think that again, just coming into his 668 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 1: own being more comfortable with not only the players but 669 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: his own staff. And I think he's We've put together 670 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:20,600 Speaker 1: a really good coaching staff here that I've loved watching 671 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 1: and working with daily. Just the way they've developed players. 672 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 1: We're having a lot of young players that are having success. 673 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 1: Guys in their first three years. You know, we make 674 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: a big deal out of the leaders we brought in, 675 00:33:32,160 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: the Rodney Hudson's, the AJ Greens, the JJ Watts's. That's 676 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 1: great and it's been exactly what this organization needed in 677 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 1: my opinion. But to have success being a five and 678 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: O team, you have to have guys in the first 679 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: three four years that their contracts have success. Guys like 680 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: Jayalen Thompson, Chase Edmonds, Kyler Murray, Christian Kirk. Go down 681 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: the list of the guys who were young Isaiah Simmons 682 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: who were having success. You got to hit on those guys. 683 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: What's the biggest difference with Isaiah? We talked about the 684 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: big hit he's flashing. He had the pick last year 685 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 1: against Seattle. He's obviously playing more. Is he just more comfortable? 686 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: Is he more physical? Is he playing more physically or 687 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:16,560 Speaker 1: relying on his instincts more this year? I think comfort 688 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 1: and confidence both because you take a guy who played 689 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: at a number of different positions in college, then you're 690 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: asking him to do some different things in the NFL. 691 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: And we didn't have an offseason. Covid struck. It was 692 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 1: tough one everybody. He didn't have an off season. He 693 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: didn't took him a little while to get it like 694 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,560 Speaker 1: it does most young guys. Then he has a full offseason, 695 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: and then he gains confidence. When he gained confidence, now 696 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, he can play full speed, play 697 00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: with your eyes. Now that's where we're reaping the benefits. 698 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: We're seeing a guy that's playing full speed, playing physical, 699 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 1: and trusting his eyes. Let's talk about a few of 700 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: the rookies saving Collins. I think it was Game four 701 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: against the Rams. He only played four snap so played 702 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:01,520 Speaker 1: much more on Sunday. Is he what you thought and 703 00:35:01,600 --> 00:35:03,600 Speaker 1: hoped he would be or is it still too early 704 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 1: to say that? Yeah? No, and I think that like 705 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:09,760 Speaker 1: the Rams game, I think the personnel and the offensive 706 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 1: scheme dictated some of our personnel yesterday. I know he 707 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: played forty some snaps and again made some mistakes yesterday, 708 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: but also made some big plays and has been physical, 709 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: has played downhill and has played fast, all the things 710 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 1: that we thought he would do. But then there's some 711 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: of the same mistakes that we thought would happen and 712 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 1: will always happen for young players. So he's on the 713 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: right track. He's exactly I think where we thought he 714 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 1: would potentially be. And the only way he's going to 715 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 1: get better is through experience and through snaps Marco Wilson, 716 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: First of all, do you see him back against Cleveland? 717 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: And then second, this guy looks like an absolute stud, 718 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 1: like nothing phases him. How did you guys know that? Yeah, 719 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: I think there's a good chance for sure. And he 720 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: is a guy that you know, as soon as he 721 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 1: came in, everything he did, you know, you start to 722 00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 1: think to yourself, well, a fourth round pick, even though 723 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 1: we traded up, we loved him. But at the same time, like, 724 00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:05,440 Speaker 1: are my eyes deceiving me? How every day is he 725 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: stacking together practices where he looks like he looks you know, 726 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: where he's going against Hop and aj and Ron Dale 727 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,360 Speaker 1: and he's having success. And then you know, we gained 728 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 1: confidence in him, and he showed that he had the 729 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 1: maturity level and the football acumen that you get excited about. 730 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:25,560 Speaker 1: And he just continued to gain confidence with the coaching 731 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: staff through with the personnel staff. Throw him out there 732 00:36:28,719 --> 00:36:31,279 Speaker 1: week one and guy doesn't miss a beat and has 733 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:34,360 Speaker 1: been excellent. A of a lot of credit goes to 734 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,640 Speaker 1: our scouting staff and those guys for you know, once 735 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:40,399 Speaker 1: we get past the first couple rounds. To me, once 736 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 1: you get the rounds four through seven, that's where your 737 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: scouting staff has to shine because most players have some 738 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 1: type of holes at that point, and you have to 739 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: find something that you believe in that you can fight 740 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: for that even though this player may be missing certain traits, 741 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,240 Speaker 1: they make up for with other things and other strengths 742 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:58,920 Speaker 1: that you think are going to be make him a 743 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: good pro. I'm sure the evaluation process on Rondale Moore 744 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: was relatively simple when you were just watching tape, because 745 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: he flashed on tape like I've got Iowa Purdue this 746 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 1: week three thirty Eastern, twelve thirty in ABC. Sorry I 747 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,200 Speaker 1: had to throw that out there. But when he was 748 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:18,319 Speaker 1: at Perdue twenty eighteen, you made that incredible year. And 749 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:23,399 Speaker 1: then there's injuries, then there's COVID. Was the decision tough 750 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:27,080 Speaker 1: to take Rondale Moore where you did, no, because I 751 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:29,440 Speaker 1: think he would have gone higher if he didn't have 752 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 1: some of the soft tissue issues and we didn't have 753 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 1: COVID and we had a larger template to evaluate. I 754 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:40,720 Speaker 1: just think the guy, the things that he did on tape, 755 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: his explosiveness, his ability to create mismatches how electric he 756 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:47,880 Speaker 1: is with the ball in his hands. To me, it 757 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,600 Speaker 1: was something that as soon as you saw him, you 758 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:54,359 Speaker 1: envisioned him now in this offense and the different things 759 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 1: that Cliff lakes to do. Man, I thought that the 760 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: possibilities were endless. I know some other teams at the 761 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 1: top of round two that were very serious about taking 762 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,319 Speaker 1: him up there. So for him to slide into where 763 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,880 Speaker 1: we took him into, we thought it was a no brainer. 764 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,160 Speaker 1: And then just after taking him and seeing how mature 765 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,799 Speaker 1: he is and how articulate and smart he is as 766 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 1: a football player, it's been really rewarding a couple more 767 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:19,360 Speaker 1: We'll get you out of here because I know you 768 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 1: have a job to do. More shameless self promotion I did. 769 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 1: I'm doing a few Thursday night games for Westwood one. 770 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 1: I did the Houston game a few weeks ago. And 771 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:31,040 Speaker 1: you know, David Johnson's barely playing and he was part 772 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:33,359 Speaker 1: of obviously the trade to get DeAndre Hopkins, and I 773 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 1: still am in shock sometimes that he's here. Like you 774 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:40,799 Speaker 1: talked about JJ Watt when you were kind of going 775 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:43,640 Speaker 1: through the process, and you had to kind of like, 776 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:46,520 Speaker 1: it's j J Watt really considering coming to the Cardinals 777 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:48,600 Speaker 1: and when the blue check I had to look at 778 00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 1: the blue check mark when Schefter tweeted it out because 779 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:53,279 Speaker 1: I was at the gym, I was like, we got 780 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:56,400 Speaker 1: DeAndre that DeAndre Hopkins? Like is there another like a 781 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,800 Speaker 1: kid from a small school. It was like undrafted somewhere. 782 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:02,879 Speaker 1: How did you guys get DeAndre Hopkins? Because this guy, 783 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:05,719 Speaker 1: to me is still the best receiver in football. You know, 784 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:08,319 Speaker 1: you just have to do your due diligence and make 785 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:11,359 Speaker 1: the calls. And I'll never forget, you know, I talked 786 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:14,719 Speaker 1: for weeks with Bill O'Brien and we finally came to 787 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:17,160 Speaker 1: an agreement on a deal. It was right around the 788 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 1: time and free agency, and I'll never forget. We had 789 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: the deal greed upon and then COVID struck, And all 790 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 1: deals are finalized based on, you know, both players passing 791 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:36,200 Speaker 1: contingent on passing and physical So the fact that COVID struck, 792 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 1: we weren't able to get both of those players physicals. 793 00:39:40,840 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: So we must have gone, I don't know, another two 794 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:49,280 Speaker 1: months without having the knowledge of whether you know, hop 795 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:54,040 Speaker 1: and David would pass the respective physicals, and so that 796 00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:57,040 Speaker 1: that was alarming and needless to say, we were on 797 00:39:57,160 --> 00:39:59,960 Speaker 1: pins and needles to make sure that everything was fine. 798 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,160 Speaker 1: But there was obviously a sigh of relief when they 799 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 1: both passed and we were able to finalize everything. And 800 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, he's just been he's been phenomenal. I mean, 801 00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:14,920 Speaker 1: the guy is competitive a teammates love him. Obviously, you 802 00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:17,520 Speaker 1: guys have seen enough of him to realize that when 803 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:21,080 Speaker 1: game's on the line, given the ball, and it doesn't 804 00:40:21,080 --> 00:40:22,960 Speaker 1: matter whether he's covered or not, he's going to come 805 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:26,960 Speaker 1: down with it. So he's a guy that just having 806 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:30,400 Speaker 1: him on the team, the way he carries himself, the 807 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 1: way he competes, he to me, confidence permeates to the 808 00:40:34,719 --> 00:40:37,080 Speaker 1: locker room when they think about number ten. I have 809 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: to ask you this as the last question, otherwise I'm 810 00:40:40,080 --> 00:40:42,319 Speaker 1: sure I would get people saying you're not doing your job. 811 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,160 Speaker 1: No one's talking about Larry Fitzgerald right now because the 812 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:47,960 Speaker 1: Cardinals are five, and oh, where do things stand with 813 00:40:48,040 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: fits like, in your mind, is he retired or is 814 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: it you know, there's there's a door open for conversation 815 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:57,799 Speaker 1: at some point in the future for him to play again. Yeah, 816 00:40:57,880 --> 00:41:01,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess he hasn't announced any retirement, so 817 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:03,840 Speaker 1: I don't know. That. I mean, that's a question that 818 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 1: I think he would have to answer. I know, prior 819 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 1: to the season, way back probably last year, you know, 820 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,479 Speaker 1: we knew that the salary cap would would come down, 821 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:16,000 Speaker 1: and you know, we communicated and I let him know, 822 00:41:16,280 --> 00:41:18,640 Speaker 1: listen and be helpful the sooner than later if you 823 00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:21,600 Speaker 1: let me know what you're gonna do because of you know, 824 00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: the salary cap and trying to plan and forecasts for 825 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 1: future things. So he you know, we were on the 826 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:29,319 Speaker 1: same page. And that's the way it's been every year. 827 00:41:29,360 --> 00:41:32,399 Speaker 1: You know, last several years, he's done one one year 828 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:36,719 Speaker 1: contracts and we got him done relatively easy. So you know, 829 00:41:36,760 --> 00:41:39,240 Speaker 1: the ball was in his court. And just you know, again, 830 00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:41,320 Speaker 1: I know he's got a lot of things on his 831 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: plate and he's having a lot of success with different 832 00:41:44,800 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: you know things in his life, whether it's the Suns 833 00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:50,560 Speaker 1: and different business opportunities. So like I said, you know, 834 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:53,040 Speaker 1: we miss him obviously. It's great in the locker room, 835 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 1: great on the field. Guy's a consummate pro and one 836 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:58,520 Speaker 1: of my favorite people in the world, no question. Hey Steve, 837 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:00,360 Speaker 1: thanks so much for the time. Man really apreciate you 838 00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:05,360 Speaker 1: doing this. Probably thanks Man, appreciate it. Always great to 839 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:08,399 Speaker 1: catch up with. Steve Kin been with the organization since 840 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:12,440 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety nine. Took over the general manager position in 841 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen, two time NFL Executive of the Year and 842 00:42:17,719 --> 00:42:21,320 Speaker 1: the GM of the only unbeaten team left in professional 843 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:25,320 Speaker 1: football at five and zero. Great stuff on Kyler Murray 844 00:42:25,520 --> 00:42:28,440 Speaker 1: and how he's matured as a leader and also some 845 00:42:28,520 --> 00:42:31,440 Speaker 1: of the things he's doing on the field that we 846 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:36,319 Speaker 1: didn't see in years one and two. Also Steve's breakdown 847 00:42:36,600 --> 00:42:40,560 Speaker 1: of the rookie class, how they're maturing, where J. J. 848 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: Watt's leadership is showing up, and al Cliff Kingsbury has 849 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:49,320 Speaker 1: grown in year three. Appreciate Steve's time. I want to 850 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,480 Speaker 1: remind you that we are presented by BETMGM, the official 851 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:55,640 Speaker 1: sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals and Hila River 852 00:42:55,719 --> 00:42:59,640 Speaker 1: Hotels and Casinos. Next week we'll talk with another general manager, 853 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 1: the g M of the Phoenix Suns, James Jones will 854 00:43:03,120 --> 00:43:05,960 Speaker 1: join the Dave Pash Podcast. Thanks to Steve time, and 855 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,640 Speaker 1: we'll talk to you Sunday from Cleveland when the Cardinals 856 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:09,480 Speaker 1: face the Browns.