WEBVTT - Legends in the League Office 0:00:03.320 --> 0:00:07.800 Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 0:00:07.920 --> 0:00:12.960 the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:23.720 team year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Anius Williams. Hello, 0:00:23.760 --> 0:00:26.160 and welcome to the NFL let this podcast. I am 0:00:26.160 --> 0:00:30.040 as Williams. Today we sit down with three NFL legends 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:35.000 to discuss life working as a black man in the 0:00:35.120 --> 0:00:39.320 league office and how they use their NFL platforms to 0:00:39.440 --> 0:00:45.480 inspire change. Our three guests today are Osama Young, safety 0:00:45.600 --> 0:00:50.159 and Super Bowl forty four champions when my native New 0:00:50.280 --> 0:00:54.920 Orleans Saints. That's right, he brought the Super Bowl home 0:00:55.000 --> 0:01:01.440 to my hometown. He also was outstar in a Super 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:10.200 Bowl forty four commercial by his dad at Leroy. He 0:01:10.440 --> 0:01:13.920 is a player engagement manager in the league office. Our 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:19.600 second penelt fullback Darrell Young, not related. I'm starting to 0:01:19.640 --> 0:01:22.360 wonder if you have to be young in order to 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:29.720 work in the league office. He also engagement player relations manager. Lastly, 0:01:29.800 --> 0:01:35.399 we have defensive lineman Darrell Campbell, d C and associate 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:40.399 producer at NFL Films. Gentlemen, I am so excited to 0:01:40.560 --> 0:01:46.560 have you on. Welcome than you. Let's die right in 0:01:47.160 --> 0:01:50.680 on the NFL Legends Podcast. To focus with guests former 0:01:50.760 --> 0:01:56.120 players has always centered around their journey. Probably the most 0:01:56.160 --> 0:02:00.640 critical point along everyone's path has been dealing with transition. 0:02:01.960 --> 0:02:04.400 And if you play in the National Football League or 0:02:04.440 --> 0:02:09.120 have them played, you will transition, and as you guys know, 0:02:09.360 --> 0:02:14.119 not always when you're ready. Can each of you talk 0:02:14.160 --> 0:02:18.000 a little bit about your transition from the gridiron to 0:02:18.080 --> 0:02:21.360 the league office? And that's what the first question? What 0:02:21.400 --> 0:02:23.760 was it like? And how did you get into the 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:29.800 league office? But first talk about the transition from the league. Well, well, 0:02:29.840 --> 0:02:34.359 I'll take I'll take the range first. It was tough 0:02:34.440 --> 0:02:38.600 for me. First off, I got injured, you know, uh 0:02:38.639 --> 0:02:41.400 my my first time getting seriously injured. I fractured a 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:45.720 vertebrae and I bounced back. I came back the next year, 0:02:46.360 --> 0:02:48.760 and the next very next year, I told my knee 0:02:48.800 --> 0:02:50.880 up bad, A c L L C L hand me 0:02:50.919 --> 0:02:54.080 off the bone and I tried to bounce back, but 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:58.040 I couldn't. It was the first time I truly felt 0:02:58.080 --> 0:03:01.960 like my body failed me and my mind couldn't push 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:05.680 me through it. And even though I had thought about 0:03:05.760 --> 0:03:08.280 how I was going to transition and what I was 0:03:08.320 --> 0:03:12.280 going to do after my playing experience, it still was 0:03:12.360 --> 0:03:15.840 tough because mentally I thought I could do it. I 0:03:15.919 --> 0:03:17.440 just knew I could do it. I had done it 0:03:17.520 --> 0:03:21.440 so many other times before. And now it's transitioning into 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:25.120 the league office, and and it wasn't that smooth of it. 0:03:25.200 --> 0:03:27.240 I'm just going to work with the league. I I 0:03:27.280 --> 0:03:30.040 did job shadows, I did internships. I was going to 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:33.640 different places trying to figure it out what specifically, where 0:03:33.720 --> 0:03:37.720 specifically I would land. And I took advantage of the 0:03:37.800 --> 0:03:41.480 Legends Development program and was fortunate to meet the rail 0:03:41.960 --> 0:03:45.320 and several others in the League office. But I landed 0:03:45.320 --> 0:03:49.920 that position, and it's no looking back. So I remember 0:03:49.920 --> 0:03:53.320 a song by the name of the late artists Prince. 0:03:53.600 --> 0:03:57.960 He had the songs uh that Usama that said when 0:03:58.080 --> 0:04:04.200 doves cried, When did that tear drop fall from your eye? 0:04:04.240 --> 0:04:10.240 When you knew it was over? It does criss right there. 0:04:10.280 --> 0:04:14.720 I love it, you know what, I knew it was over. 0:04:14.800 --> 0:04:18.040 And it just so happened that, uh, my dad passed 0:04:18.080 --> 0:04:22.240 away shortly after uh after my my injury. He was 0:04:22.320 --> 0:04:24.159 he was able to see my last game out in 0:04:24.200 --> 0:04:28.960 Oakland at the Coliseum and and he was there with 0:04:29.000 --> 0:04:32.200 me along with along with my my family. We we all, 0:04:32.400 --> 0:04:36.000 we all, we we had those tears, but we knew 0:04:36.000 --> 0:04:38.240 we were going to come back. And guess what. My 0:04:38.360 --> 0:04:42.520 father passed away the next year, you know, during my recovery, 0:04:42.720 --> 0:04:47.400 and then my daughter was born and I said, wow, 0:04:48.080 --> 0:04:51.640 my my life isn't just football anymore. More. The priority 0:04:51.760 --> 0:04:54.800 is now, Hey, let me let me show this baby girl, 0:04:55.400 --> 0:04:59.040 my baby girl. Are you that that I'm able to 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:03.120 do much more than just play football? And how how 0:05:03.200 --> 0:05:05.440 is she going to see me? How? How is she 0:05:05.560 --> 0:05:08.360 gonna see that legacy that I'm going to leave behind 0:05:08.440 --> 0:05:11.760 that my dad left for me and left some huge 0:05:11.920 --> 0:05:14.960 shoes to feel. As you all saw in that commercial, 0:05:16.800 --> 0:05:19.400 it was that was that tier right there. It was. 0:05:19.520 --> 0:05:22.119 It was a tear of joy having a baby girl, 0:05:22.560 --> 0:05:25.599 but it was also you know, those tears are sorrow 0:05:25.800 --> 0:05:28.159 being that, hey, I'm no longer able to play this game, 0:05:28.200 --> 0:05:32.280 which we know eventually what happened most times sooner than 0:05:32.360 --> 0:05:35.880 later for others. How about you, Darrell, What was it 0:05:35.920 --> 0:05:40.000 like what your transition from a grid arm? Oh? Man, 0:05:40.160 --> 0:05:42.880 it was, uh, it was tough. You know. The transition 0:05:42.920 --> 0:05:46.320 really started for me in the Redskins. Well, excuse me. 0:05:47.160 --> 0:05:51.120 I was doing an internship with under Armor and the Redskins. 0:05:51.120 --> 0:05:53.000 I went into Jay's office and said, Hey, what are 0:05:53.000 --> 0:05:55.719 you gonna do. I know you don't value fullbacks right now, 0:05:55.760 --> 0:05:58.039 but you know that's where I've been my career, so 0:05:58.400 --> 0:06:00.200 you know that's what I want to do. And it's said. 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:01.560 He looked me in my eyes and said, we're not 0:06:01.560 --> 0:06:03.599 gonna bring you back. We're gonna allow you to to 0:06:03.680 --> 0:06:06.000 try free agency, and uh, you know, be ready if 0:06:06.040 --> 0:06:07.600 we do bring it back. And I said, Jy, I've 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:09.640 been here in this business long enough to know that 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:11.320 you're not gonna bring me back, so thank you for 0:06:11.360 --> 0:06:14.719 the opportunity in the last seven years. Fast forward, you know, 0:06:14.800 --> 0:06:17.279 the next year I signed in UH Chicago for a 0:06:17.320 --> 0:06:22.200 short Stanton in Carolina and then UH Carolina drafted a 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:24.479 fullback and he's still on the roster now. But I 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:27.120 remember going into the room and they said, hey, you're 0:06:27.160 --> 0:06:29.200 gonna be out starting fullback while I was out looking 0:06:29.200 --> 0:06:31.400 for places come back. An hour later, they cut me 0:06:31.600 --> 0:06:33.120 and I said, you know what, I'm done with this. 0:06:33.279 --> 0:06:36.240 So that day I reached out to Stephen Bone, who 0:06:36.279 --> 0:06:38.800 was in the league office now, and I said, Hey, 0:06:38.800 --> 0:06:41.000 that opportunity that you were speaking on, that you spoke 0:06:41.040 --> 0:06:43.279 so highly on is that's still available and that was 0:06:43.279 --> 0:06:47.599 his Legends Development internship. I applied driving back on that day. 0:06:48.040 --> 0:06:50.039 Literally by the time I got in Maryland, I had 0:06:50.040 --> 0:06:53.400 submitted my resume driving and uh, typing up a resume. 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:56.960 I don't encourage it, but I did it. Um submitted 0:06:57.000 --> 0:06:59.680 that and three weeks later, you know, got to call that. 0:06:59.800 --> 0:07:01.400 You know, I was chosen for the second round of 0:07:01.440 --> 0:07:03.920 the interviews, so I had a decision to make. San 0:07:03.920 --> 0:07:07.359 Francisco called me. Kyle Uschek got hurt. I was on 0:07:07.440 --> 0:07:10.800 my way to the airport. John Lynch called me and said, 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:13.040 you know what, we had a player could hurt today 0:07:13.120 --> 0:07:14.800 be ready for next week. And I said, with all 0:07:14.880 --> 0:07:17.840 due respect, Mr Lynch, I'm done. So that day the 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:20.000 League office. The next day, the League Office offered me 0:07:20.040 --> 0:07:22.400 the internship, and that was part of it. It was 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:24.840 one of the hardest things I've ever done. And you know, 0:07:24.880 --> 0:07:26.760 talking about crying man, that was in the car Boo 0:07:26.840 --> 0:07:29.200 who and when the rage kids bringing me back, man. 0:07:29.800 --> 0:07:31.440 But that was the first time in my life where 0:07:31.480 --> 0:07:33.840 I felt like I wasn't on it outside of being 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:36.440 cut my first year being on practice squad. But you know, 0:07:36.480 --> 0:07:38.360 I was ended up coming back and being a starter 0:07:38.480 --> 0:07:41.240 for six years after that, so that that that was 0:07:41.280 --> 0:07:43.560 part of the transition. It was hard. It's still hard 0:07:43.640 --> 0:07:46.119 thinking about it, knowing that I think I still can play, 0:07:46.200 --> 0:07:49.280 and even got a call that next season Atlanta wanted 0:07:49.320 --> 0:07:51.640 to bring me in for workout in Tennessee, and uh, 0:07:51.800 --> 0:07:53.240 I just said, you know what, I'm gonna go with 0:07:53.280 --> 0:07:56.240 the career now the experience is over. It's interesting, Durrell, 0:07:56.320 --> 0:07:59.840 you use the word the first time you realize you 0:08:00.000 --> 0:08:04.360 are not wanted versus Okay, my career may be ended. 0:08:04.960 --> 0:08:09.720 But from that psychological standpoint, you said not wanted, how 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:12.360 did you reconcile that, Because there's a different between Okay, 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:15.800 I know I played. Uh I see the right on 0:08:15.800 --> 0:08:19.000 the wall. Uh No one's gonna offer me a job. 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:22.880 It's a whole different psychology from the legend a former player. 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:28.760 When you say I wasn't wanted, how did you surmise that? Honestly, 0:08:29.680 --> 0:08:32.079 I've been playing football since I was six years old. 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:35.199 It was you know, no one ever tells you you're 0:08:35.240 --> 0:08:38.160 done playing, and that's the hardest piece. So dealing with 0:08:38.200 --> 0:08:40.800 that mindset and not feeling wanted, I had to come 0:08:40.840 --> 0:08:43.040 to reality that, you know what, I had my daughter, 0:08:43.200 --> 0:08:45.200 she was three. I had to be in a position 0:08:45.240 --> 0:08:46.880 where I had to take care of my family at 0:08:46.880 --> 0:08:49.120 that time. So that's what encouraged me to be a 0:08:49.160 --> 0:08:50.960 better person each and every day. But it was the 0:08:50.960 --> 0:08:53.200 hardest thing I've ever been through in my life. Talking 0:08:53.240 --> 0:08:56.360 about crying, talking about finances, like all the things that 0:08:56.440 --> 0:08:59.800 you think about. It was. It was. It was different, 0:09:00.000 --> 0:09:02.560 you know, And it's something that I still think about now. 0:09:02.640 --> 0:09:05.120 And when players talk about their transition, them like, I know, 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:07.360 I get it. I don't want to lecture, but this 0:09:07.400 --> 0:09:09.839 is how I dealt with it. So it was. It's 0:09:09.880 --> 0:09:11.600 one of the hardest things. And I'm glad to have 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:14.720 guys like Osama and d C on this on this uh, 0:09:14.800 --> 0:09:17.440 on this podcast with me to to to tell those 0:09:17.440 --> 0:09:20.200 stories and to to uh just look back and say, 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:22.120 you know what, we had the opportunities to do what 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:26.320 we did, and you know what's next. So no, what 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:29.040 about for you, d C? Every time I'm on the 0:09:29.120 --> 0:09:32.599 podcast or you and I converse, it sounds like you 0:09:32.720 --> 0:09:36.839 on top of the world. Tell us about your transition. 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:40.439 I love your enthusiasm. The biggest reason for the enthusiasm 0:09:40.640 --> 0:09:43.640 and this is because I get to, uh, you know, 0:09:44.480 --> 0:09:47.720 be amongst people like just like Darrell said, him and 0:09:47.920 --> 0:09:51.840 Usama and you know, honestly, even you and everybody on 0:09:51.880 --> 0:09:54.880 this podcast. I I derive a great deal of my 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:58.680 energy from the team. When I played, I was a 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:00.720 team guy. Was the Philly one of the bunch. I 0:10:00.800 --> 0:10:02.800 was the one that you know, people look to me 0:10:02.840 --> 0:10:04.960 and say, yo, d C, like you're gonna be right 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:07.960 when the season is over, because you know, you're, yeah, 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:09.800 your boys with your two we come back because you know, 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:13.080 everybody disperses and goes the separate war years after a season. 0:10:13.120 --> 0:10:16.160 And you know, for me, my journey was was one 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:20.040 where um, how can I put it? It was it 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:21.960 was It was a great deal of scratching and clawing. 0:10:22.760 --> 0:10:25.280 Came into the league No. Three toward my A c 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:27.880 L the week before the draft, was slotted to be 0:10:27.920 --> 0:10:30.880 a second third round draft pick, and uh, you know, 0:10:31.000 --> 0:10:35.000 God bless me um by, you know, having Lovey Smith 0:10:35.080 --> 0:10:41.240 come in um with Chicago um and his training staff 0:10:41.320 --> 0:10:44.320 and and and and and the organization rehab me on 0:10:44.360 --> 0:10:47.000 their own time. And then it was just six years 0:10:47.040 --> 0:10:49.840 in the league of scratching and clawing, you know, shuffling 0:10:49.920 --> 0:10:52.640 from the practice squad rosters to the act of roster 0:10:52.760 --> 0:10:55.080 and we all know what this business is like. But 0:10:55.160 --> 0:10:59.080 you know, I, I truly am thankful to God for 0:10:59.280 --> 0:11:02.440 the opportunity's and the teammates that you know, I've I've had, 0:11:02.559 --> 0:11:05.640 you know, the opportunity to be around. My last stint 0:11:05.679 --> 0:11:07.840 in the league was two thousand nine. Got released in 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:11.600 Baltimore early on in that season, picked up in Canada, 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:16.920 went a great Cup with Mark Trustman's Montreal Alouettes, and 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.520 then again I had to deal with you know, like 0:11:19.559 --> 0:11:21.960 you said, d why that that feeling of not being 0:11:21.960 --> 0:11:29.560 wanted anymore? Um? But the mental let down, I guess 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:32.400 from from my perspective, was just that what do I 0:11:32.480 --> 0:11:35.960 do now? Because what do I chase? You know what 0:11:36.000 --> 0:11:38.559 I mean? The passion I had for the game of 0:11:38.600 --> 0:11:42.840 football is still in me. I still want to continue playing, 0:11:42.880 --> 0:11:45.400 but it just kind of seems like, you know, my 0:11:45.480 --> 0:11:48.760 number is up. UM. I called my defensive line coach 0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:53.800 in Montreal, Michael Sinclair's a longtime great NFL defensive end 0:11:54.280 --> 0:11:57.000 for Seattle and a bunch of other teams, and um, 0:11:57.040 --> 0:11:59.079 he told me something really profound. He said, d C, 0:12:00.000 --> 0:12:02.280 You've always taken care of this game. And somebody told 0:12:02.280 --> 0:12:03.680 me this, if you take care of the game, the 0:12:03.679 --> 0:12:06.320 game will take care of you. Um, I suggest that 0:12:06.440 --> 0:12:09.880 you reach out to UH to coach trustman and see 0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:12.199 if there's UH if there might be an opportunity through 0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:14.880 people he knows or you know, I'll be looking on 0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:16.680 on on for your I'll be looking out for you 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:18.960 on my behalf as well. So I wrote him a 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:21.560 long email. I'm talking about pages long, all types of 0:12:21.559 --> 0:12:24.360 stuff in there. Man. I probably was just crying with words, 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:27.400 you know what I mean. And then uh, you know 0:12:27.520 --> 0:12:29.679 Mark Mark hit me back and he said, hey, listen, 0:12:29.679 --> 0:12:31.880 I have a friend and this is the this is 0:12:31.960 --> 0:12:34.520 the cool thing about networking and being around brothers like 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:36.880 you know, Sama and d Y. You know what I mean. 0:12:36.880 --> 0:12:39.360 When when you when you when you're part of a team, 0:12:39.400 --> 0:12:41.960 you know, he said, listen, I got a good friend 0:12:41.960 --> 0:12:44.520 of mine at NFL Films. His name is Greg Cosel. 0:12:44.640 --> 0:12:47.520 I know you're an exo guy. You know you're also 0:12:47.559 --> 0:12:49.360 a tech guy. Used to cut all the highlights and 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:52.040 stuff for the team while I was playing in Montreal. 0:12:52.160 --> 0:12:55.360 It was I've always had an affinity and a knack 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:59.000 for technology, And he said, listen. You know I was 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.000 looking like Kimbo slow ex back then. Man, I had 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:02.680 like a face thro I mean that went from the 0:13:02.720 --> 0:13:04.679 beard all the way around the head. And I mean 0:13:04.720 --> 0:13:06.640 you could you could just see my eyes. It was crazy. 0:13:06.800 --> 0:13:10.360 Um and uh he said, you know, I would suggest, 0:13:11.000 --> 0:13:15.040 you know, doctoring up your appearance. UM. Uh, going to 0:13:15.320 --> 0:13:18.160 you know, NFL films with the shoot suit jacket. Talked 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:20.559 to my friend and UM, you know, see what happens. 0:13:20.559 --> 0:13:24.680 I'm not promised you anything, um, but just see what happened. 0:13:24.679 --> 0:13:27.760 So I came in. The first person I met in 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:31.840 the lower level UH atrium at the front door was 0:13:31.880 --> 0:13:36.200 Steve Sable Um, and he came out. He said, hey, listen, 0:13:36.720 --> 0:13:39.360 are you here for to to talk to someone? And say, yeah, 0:13:39.760 --> 0:13:43.360 I'm here to speak with Greg co Sell for NFL matchup. 0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:46.440 He said, h we'll, we'll, We'll get around to him 0:13:46.520 --> 0:13:49.079 and in the second just come come roll with me. 0:13:49.720 --> 0:13:53.920 So I'm rolling around films with Steve saying when he's 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:56.120 just showing giving me a tour. We eventually end up 0:13:56.120 --> 0:13:59.400 in Greg's Greg's office. Greg's watching all twenty two tape 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:02.319 like he all he does. Legs kicked up on the desk, 0:14:02.840 --> 0:14:05.520 and um, he's picking my my my brain about knowledge. 0:14:05.520 --> 0:14:08.920 And you know, one hour turned the two and it 0:14:08.960 --> 0:14:10.920 seemed to be having a good time. And the next thing, 0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:13.560 you know, you know, a couple of weeks later, says, hey, 0:14:13.640 --> 0:14:16.079 I want you to come in as a seasonal and 0:14:16.160 --> 0:14:18.760 learn and and and that's what I did. And you 0:14:18.800 --> 0:14:22.160 know the rest is history, and I'm on with you. Uh, 0:14:22.320 --> 0:14:24.960 I'm blessed to be on with you fellas. Right now, Dearyl, 0:14:25.040 --> 0:14:28.160 did you know you were walking around with the legendary 0:14:28.640 --> 0:14:32.320 Steve Sable? Oh yeah, with our questions. Well, first once 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.040 he told I saw his face and I was like, 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:37.280 this can't be life right now, like that Steve Sable 0:14:37.360 --> 0:14:39.160 right there, and and and then he was like, yeah, 0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:42.080 come roll with me. I'm like, yep, I'm not. I'm 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:45.120 not gonna say no. Um, and and like he just 0:14:45.320 --> 0:14:48.720 he he's such a brilliant man. I mean from all 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:50.880 the art we have around this place. He I mean, 0:14:50.880 --> 0:14:53.280 he told me a story like how this whole place 0:14:53.320 --> 0:14:56.520 came to be, the old building the current building. Now, 0:14:57.520 --> 0:15:00.440 it was just unbelievable. And and and to this day, 0:15:00.560 --> 0:15:03.560 you know, those are moments with him, I won't forget um. 0:15:03.880 --> 0:15:07.320 I I remember just being you know, my second third 0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:11.360 year editing, even when you know Steve was battling cancer 0:15:11.600 --> 0:15:14.480 and he was you know, uh he had to he 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:16.680 he was relegated to a wheelchair and coming. He would 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:19.960 come in just to watch me edit. He would say 0:15:19.960 --> 0:15:21.680 a couple of things here and there with the strength 0:15:21.680 --> 0:15:24.280 that he had, you know, for suggestions. But he cared 0:15:24.320 --> 0:15:26.800 so much about people, and that's one of the things 0:15:26.840 --> 0:15:29.240 that made me fall in love with this this place, 0:15:29.280 --> 0:15:33.200 and it's it's it also fuels that enthusiasm and fire 0:15:33.320 --> 0:15:36.800 because I love people. You can't do anything without the 0:15:36.800 --> 0:15:40.200 people that you surrounded with your team. Durrell who something. 0:15:40.240 --> 0:15:42.240 I feel the same way about you all boys. I 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:44.560 love you dearly and I'm super proud of what you 0:15:44.600 --> 0:15:46.640 guys are doing at the league office because your boots 0:15:46.640 --> 0:15:49.320 on the ground and you care about all of our 0:15:49.360 --> 0:15:51.720 brothers that's coming off that field to make sure that 0:15:52.160 --> 0:15:54.600 you know there's a place for him. So you know, 0:15:54.680 --> 0:15:56.960 as long as you know God has me in this 0:15:57.000 --> 0:15:59.880 position to be associated with that, you know, I'm all 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:03.360 aways had that energy and ENTHUSIASTM Well, guys, when we 0:16:03.400 --> 0:16:06.120 had the discussion about what we would call former players, 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:08.960 and we end up coming and I'm talking about the 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:14.080 league office come up with the term legend. Well, we 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:17.440 got some kicked back a little bit because the some 0:16:17.520 --> 0:16:19.320 of the Hall of Famers said, well, if you call 0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:23.440 every former player a legend, then what are we And 0:16:23.480 --> 0:16:26.600 what we wanted the Hall of Famers to understand was 0:16:26.800 --> 0:16:29.920 a legend if you're one percent every guy has played 0:16:29.920 --> 0:16:33.280 in the league, one percent of high school players playing 0:16:33.320 --> 0:16:36.360 the league. So no matter how long a guy played, 0:16:36.480 --> 0:16:39.360 if he had made it to the league, he was 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:43.680 a legend wherever he came from. Even though depending on 0:16:43.800 --> 0:16:47.640 the length of the career, that player may not feel 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:52.080 like their legend, but to them back home, they are 0:16:52.120 --> 0:16:56.720 a legend. So d C tell us about those dynamics 0:16:56.840 --> 0:17:01.240 and that psychology actually becoming out the ball getting called 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:05.080 my perspective on it, and you hint it, You hinted 0:17:05.119 --> 0:17:09.119 at it with just my enthusiasm. So my perspective on 0:17:09.200 --> 0:17:16.879 it is where all legends. We all made sacrifices to 0:17:16.920 --> 0:17:19.679 get to this point, to to have careers, regardless of 0:17:19.680 --> 0:17:22.440 the length um but even more than that, and because 0:17:22.480 --> 0:17:25.280 I'm a man of faith, we're all blessed to to 0:17:25.280 --> 0:17:29.520 to be able to say that. And I think that 0:17:30.040 --> 0:17:33.840 in and of itself means a lot. And that is, 0:17:34.680 --> 0:17:40.800 you know, just something that should be cherished, should be respected. UM. 0:17:41.000 --> 0:17:44.560 And I think even when I when I got when 0:17:44.560 --> 0:17:48.760 I signed up for the the NFL Legends community, prior 0:17:48.800 --> 0:17:52.480 to even any projects with respect to this podcast and 0:17:52.480 --> 0:17:55.960 and and other adventures that we do overheit NFL films, UM, 0:17:56.000 --> 0:17:58.520 I was I was star struck because you know, some 0:17:58.600 --> 0:18:01.200 of the guys, like the warren SAPs of the world, 0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:03.320 you know, guys that I studied film on just to 0:18:03.400 --> 0:18:06.760 try to emulate a fraction of what it is that 0:18:06.800 --> 0:18:09.600 he was able to do. Um. You know, I was 0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:12.040 like that, dude is a legend. That does that mean 0:18:12.080 --> 0:18:13.919 I'm a legend? You kind of think about it in 0:18:13.960 --> 0:18:15.960 those tournals. I'm like, man, I just like my career 0:18:16.040 --> 0:18:18.719 was back and forth, our practice squad rosters. I mean, 0:18:18.760 --> 0:18:20.760 can I even you know say that. But at the 0:18:20.840 --> 0:18:24.000 end of the day, Um, we all share common experiences 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:27.520 and and and and honestly it heightens the common bond, 0:18:27.800 --> 0:18:31.159 you know. Um. Again, even to to my brothers on 0:18:31.160 --> 0:18:34.520 this this podcast here d y new Sama, you guys 0:18:34.800 --> 0:18:38.600 had amazing careers. Um. And you know, I've I've watched 0:18:38.640 --> 0:18:41.000 YouTube clips on you guys, highlights on you guys, and 0:18:41.000 --> 0:18:43.840 I'm like, man, it's it means so much to me 0:18:43.880 --> 0:18:45.439 to just say, man, you know what, those are my 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:49.960 brothers through this, through this legends community, through our common 0:18:50.000 --> 0:18:52.680 bond and experiences that we've shared. Regardless of the length 0:18:52.680 --> 0:18:55.080 of career, I can say the that I can with 0:18:55.160 --> 0:18:57.960 conviction state that you guys are my brothers. And that's 0:18:57.960 --> 0:19:00.400 why I'm so excited when I see you. That's why 0:19:00.400 --> 0:19:02.040 I root for you and cheer for you when you 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:05.240 guys are doing things at the League office and you know, um, 0:19:05.320 --> 0:19:08.960 and that's why I always have your backs. Legend. Any 0:19:08.960 --> 0:19:12.680 other term of endemnment that that it might get changed 0:19:12.720 --> 0:19:15.680 to noe makes no no matter to me because it's 0:19:15.720 --> 0:19:19.399 all about that common bond and um the brotherhood. So 0:19:20.160 --> 0:19:22.040 thank you, d seeing who song. I got a different 0:19:22.119 --> 0:19:26.760 question for you and and maybe Durrell. How different is 0:19:26.800 --> 0:19:31.560 that working of the league office versus being on the field. 0:19:32.520 --> 0:19:37.240 What does that psychology are? Like? Wow, Wow, that's uh, 0:19:37.280 --> 0:19:40.919 that's everyone. That's an everyone because you know, they both 0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:46.000 take a vast level of commitment. Uh, they both take 0:19:46.080 --> 0:19:50.439 a vast level of of knowledge and understanding. Uh you know, 0:19:50.560 --> 0:19:54.240 one of them beats up your body and your brain, 0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:58.399 and another one is more so just the mental, the 0:19:58.480 --> 0:20:03.520 brain and the social and emotional. But uh uh, I'll 0:20:03.560 --> 0:20:08.320 say that looking at my my NFL experience and you know, 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:12.639 now transitioning and being a legend, just to allude to 0:20:12.680 --> 0:20:17.280 your last question is wild for me because to even 0:20:17.320 --> 0:20:20.000 say myself as a legend, but I like to recognize 0:20:20.040 --> 0:20:22.320 my brothers that are on the line right now and 0:20:22.480 --> 0:20:25.719 others and saying those guys are legends. And then we 0:20:25.760 --> 0:20:30.320 stepped into the the corporate space of the NFL and 0:20:30.359 --> 0:20:35.080 the business side, and we're rookies again. You know, we 0:20:35.200 --> 0:20:38.399 know the game, we know the business of the game 0:20:38.440 --> 0:20:42.200 to an extent, but the corporate side of it, that's 0:20:42.320 --> 0:20:47.000 that's the challenge, you know. I uh, I think the 0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:49.480 other guys on the on the phone as well, we 0:20:49.600 --> 0:20:54.000 all we all had learning experiences when we first stepped in. 0:20:54.080 --> 0:20:57.080 And you know d C mentioned, you know, a cleaning 0:20:57.200 --> 0:20:59.840 up coming in with suit when I first met the 0:21:00.040 --> 0:21:03.200 reil indeed, why we were both suited and booted as well, 0:21:03.920 --> 0:21:08.680 and we were both like, where's the bathroom? The same 0:21:08.720 --> 0:21:11.720 way as the same way you come in and you're 0:21:11.760 --> 0:21:14.000 like looking for the training room. Where's the training room? 0:21:14.160 --> 0:21:16.879 How do I get my ankles taped? You know, and 0:21:16.960 --> 0:21:19.200 you feel you feel like a vet to some degree. 0:21:19.240 --> 0:21:22.600 But then in your first meeting, people aren't listening to you. 0:21:23.320 --> 0:21:26.679 They're not waiting for your ideas. They're not they're not 0:21:26.760 --> 0:21:29.360 they're not waiting for you to provide input. And when 0:21:29.400 --> 0:21:32.919 you do, if it's not heard, you always want to 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:36.840 go back to speaking on the the experience as an 0:21:36.960 --> 0:21:40.639 NFL player to show them, Hey, I do know what 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:45.440 I'm talking about. I have experienced things that that very 0:21:45.480 --> 0:21:48.600 few or if not any of you have experienced it. 0:21:48.840 --> 0:21:52.000 And I and I have some valuable input to display. 0:21:52.240 --> 0:21:56.600 But but still like a rookie like the I say, 0:21:56.640 --> 0:21:59.959 the most of the successful rookies you put in at 0:22:00.000 --> 0:22:03.719 extra time to be successful at your craft. And I 0:22:03.760 --> 0:22:06.639 think that's what all of us have done. You know, 0:22:06.760 --> 0:22:11.159 we we ask questions, we look for mentors. Sometimes the 0:22:11.240 --> 0:22:13.720 mentors come to us. You know, we've been we've been 0:22:13.720 --> 0:22:17.120 blessed to have people and you know, right right right 0:22:17.160 --> 0:22:20.760 and out at our disposal, and say a Troy who 0:22:20.880 --> 0:22:24.600 played the game and transitioned into this space and and 0:22:24.640 --> 0:22:28.160 others throughout the building who who have opened up to us. 0:22:28.480 --> 0:22:31.760 But if we don't take that initiative, or if we 0:22:31.880 --> 0:22:35.600 don't speak on it, that stigma exists as just the 0:22:35.680 --> 0:22:38.280 guys that played the game that are in the building 0:22:38.640 --> 0:22:43.920 and don't necessarily have value correct the role. Who comes 0:22:43.920 --> 0:22:46.480 to you with a quick question, but to you d 0:22:46.560 --> 0:22:49.639 C the end of the veterans make you bring donuts 0:22:49.680 --> 0:22:54.639 when you're a rookie, man, uh, it's it's funny. It's 0:22:54.680 --> 0:22:58.320 funny that you just you should say that, because, um, 0:22:58.600 --> 0:23:01.720 first off, you gotta understand and you know that. And 0:23:01.920 --> 0:23:05.080 to to to Sama's point, when you come in as 0:23:05.080 --> 0:23:08.600 a rookie, the difference that I like to say that 0:23:08.640 --> 0:23:12.719 I've seen on the field with you know, guys like 0:23:12.760 --> 0:23:18.239 Brian Urlacker or um um, Derek Brooks and stuff like that, 0:23:18.280 --> 0:23:20.320 who I have the you know, the fortune to play with. 0:23:21.840 --> 0:23:27.480 They understood the power of taking advantage of every opportunity. 0:23:27.520 --> 0:23:31.160 They understood the power to studying. You know. Usami said, 0:23:31.200 --> 0:23:33.560 you come in and you know you have to ask 0:23:33.600 --> 0:23:36.960 those questions, you have to learn um and and you 0:23:37.000 --> 0:23:39.400 know in some instances you have to go get donuts. 0:23:39.480 --> 0:23:42.400 I mean, it's just one of those things you might 0:23:42.640 --> 0:23:44.240 when you come in, you might have to go get 0:23:44.240 --> 0:23:47.600 the executive producers glasses from you know, Lens Crafters or 0:23:47.680 --> 0:23:49.840 somewhere because he can't do it because he's putting together 0:23:49.880 --> 0:23:51.919 a show. But at the same time, those are the 0:23:52.040 --> 0:23:54.040 those are the lumps that you have to take while 0:23:54.080 --> 0:23:58.280 you retool and reinvent, reinvent yourself and educate yourself to 0:23:58.359 --> 0:24:01.280 the nature of the business so that later on you 0:24:01.320 --> 0:24:05.120 can make strides and you can um, you know, showcase 0:24:05.240 --> 0:24:08.600 your talent within this new space on this new field. 0:24:08.640 --> 0:24:11.640 So yeah, I mean as a rookie, I've I've I've 0:24:11.680 --> 0:24:14.560 done plenty of late nights and studying and you know 0:24:14.680 --> 0:24:18.160 analytics that never got you know, used on the show. 0:24:18.240 --> 0:24:21.520 But you know, uh, now you know I'm in a 0:24:21.560 --> 0:24:24.119 position nowhere. You know, I don't have the title of 0:24:24.119 --> 0:24:26.960 playing the show, but you know I kind of put 0:24:27.000 --> 0:24:30.240 the show together visually, so you know, you just have 0:24:30.359 --> 0:24:34.400 to Your time always comes. Is That's what I'm trying 0:24:34.440 --> 0:24:38.280 to say. Hey, Durrell, did you take advantage of any 0:24:38.320 --> 0:24:41.240 of the NFL programs to help you train for what 0:24:41.320 --> 0:24:44.760 you do? You know what I didn't know about NFL programs. 0:24:44.800 --> 0:24:47.000 I did the p A programs and I did an 0:24:47.040 --> 0:24:49.760 internship at UNDARMED. One of the things that I did 0:24:49.800 --> 0:24:52.760 there was learned how to use Microsoft Outlook. That was 0:24:52.800 --> 0:24:55.240 the best thing that I could have learned during that time, 0:24:55.280 --> 0:24:57.720 but also how to network. But in terms of the 0:24:57.800 --> 0:25:01.159 NFL programs, I was not aware about all the resources 0:25:01.200 --> 0:25:03.080 that were available. And you know, I just got off 0:25:03.080 --> 0:25:05.560 the fielding twenty seven team. But one of the things 0:25:05.640 --> 0:25:07.600 that you know changed up when we came into building, 0:25:07.960 --> 0:25:09.880 Troy said, we want to be intentional and we want 0:25:09.880 --> 0:25:11.640 to have you guys go off to the teams, not 0:25:11.720 --> 0:25:13.760 to not to just be that player rep, but to 0:25:13.840 --> 0:25:17.120 build relationships and talk about the information that's out there 0:25:17.119 --> 0:25:19.919 for players. And then fast forward, we have the Player Portal. 0:25:20.000 --> 0:25:23.160 So we have so many different resources now that allow 0:25:23.200 --> 0:25:25.600 players to engage with the league office that weren't there 0:25:25.680 --> 0:25:28.480 necessarily three years ago, or they were there but we 0:25:28.560 --> 0:25:30.720 just didn't know about them. Well, we know what these 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:35.680 transitions become become obstacles. Were you being three African American 0:25:35.680 --> 0:25:38.479 men in the league officers, Well, what has been your 0:25:38.560 --> 0:25:44.439 experienced with stereotype, stigmas, unconscious bias maybe while working in 0:25:44.480 --> 0:25:55.200 the league office. DC oh Man we we we here. Uh. 0:25:55.680 --> 0:26:01.760 I guess the word the word culture comes to mind 0:26:02.280 --> 0:26:03.720 when I say that. And I don't mean that in 0:26:03.720 --> 0:26:05.680 a negative way. I mean that in a way where 0:26:06.359 --> 0:26:10.359 you have to understand and and and and Oussama d 0:26:10.560 --> 0:26:12.600 y no, you guys can are gonna add into this 0:26:13.320 --> 0:26:16.840 when you get to the league. Right, what's the nine 0:26:16.840 --> 0:26:18.520 times I'll attend. The first thing you have to deal 0:26:18.640 --> 0:26:23.360 with is the the change in speed of the game. Right, 0:26:23.480 --> 0:26:26.920 the things are just moving at such a frantic pace 0:26:26.960 --> 0:26:29.520 and you're trying to catch up right here in the 0:26:29.600 --> 0:26:36.639 NFL films. UM, I believe that the culture here has 0:26:36.680 --> 0:26:41.399 been a certain way for so long, UM. And since 0:26:41.840 --> 0:26:47.080 there isn't very much representation African Americans in particular, UM 0:26:47.359 --> 0:26:52.479 that it's it's an opportunity for for for growth in 0:26:52.480 --> 0:26:56.880 this area. It's an opportunity for a better understanding, UM 0:26:56.920 --> 0:27:00.480 with respect to what you know, UM african Arians go 0:27:00.600 --> 0:27:05.200 through when they do enter spaces like this, and in particular, UM, 0:27:05.359 --> 0:27:08.480 people didn't know me, and they only knew the football 0:27:08.560 --> 0:27:14.480 football side of things, and so my the way people 0:27:14.600 --> 0:27:17.800 looked at me was, hey, you're just a football player, 0:27:18.640 --> 0:27:22.960 UM that's in this space and you know what You're 0:27:22.960 --> 0:27:28.160 gonna go to the place where all football is, which 0:27:28.240 --> 0:27:30.919 is NFL Matchup. It's all about xos is at all 0:27:31.000 --> 0:27:34.360 twenty two footage. That's we feel like, that's comfortable, comfortable 0:27:34.359 --> 0:27:36.160 for you. You go there and you do your thing 0:27:36.280 --> 0:27:39.879 in there. The only problem with that is that is 0:27:39.920 --> 0:27:42.919 not the business of NFL films. The business of NFL 0:27:42.960 --> 0:27:48.600 films is making stories, is making documentaries. Is UM showcasing 0:27:48.640 --> 0:27:53.080 the lives of many NFL football players and put it 0:27:53.080 --> 0:27:55.600 in putting it on the big screen. So the show 0:27:55.640 --> 0:27:58.440 that I was on was was basically an outlier show. 0:27:59.000 --> 0:28:01.000 UM a great show because it's been around for years. 0:28:01.040 --> 0:28:02.280 I know when you know I played the game, I 0:28:02.280 --> 0:28:04.520 would be watching it like game David. You know it's 0:28:04.720 --> 0:28:08.919 NFL Matchup, you Jaws and Hodge and and everybody on 0:28:09.119 --> 0:28:13.359 UM on the set. I saw that dynamic. Um, I 0:28:13.400 --> 0:28:16.119 saw the fact that I was on this show because 0:28:16.720 --> 0:28:19.440 I'm only seen as an athlete, and so that's where 0:28:19.720 --> 0:28:22.800 the athletes are gonna go. What I did and I 0:28:22.800 --> 0:28:25.840 had to the same thing you do in sports. Okay, 0:28:25.880 --> 0:28:28.560 what what are my assets here? If I'm a defensive lima, 0:28:28.560 --> 0:28:30.480 like I mean, I got a pretty sick inside club move. 0:28:30.640 --> 0:28:33.399 Uh my first step is pretty all is pretty good. 0:28:33.680 --> 0:28:35.320 But you know that if if he catch me with 0:28:35.359 --> 0:28:37.040 that arm up, I'm gonna get bammed out the way. 0:28:37.119 --> 0:28:39.160 You know what I'm saying. Right now, everybody's kind of 0:28:39.200 --> 0:28:40.840 looking at me just like an athlete. You know, I 0:28:40.840 --> 0:28:43.840 don't really get too many opportunities. Uh, even though I'm 0:28:43.840 --> 0:28:46.520 waving my hand, and you know, there are a couple 0:28:46.520 --> 0:28:48.880 of things, a couple of talks and discussions I have 0:28:49.000 --> 0:28:51.040 to take on the chin and I know, and if 0:28:51.040 --> 0:28:53.840 I'm being quite frank here, if I was white, nobody 0:28:53.840 --> 0:28:56.239 would be talking to me this way. And you know 0:28:56.280 --> 0:28:58.400 what I did, instead of saying, you know, a getting 0:28:58.400 --> 0:29:02.080 down to myself and saying pretty much f the situation, 0:29:02.640 --> 0:29:06.200 I said, let me let me, let me let me retool. Okay. 0:29:06.920 --> 0:29:10.760 I specialize with technology. I went to school for operating 0:29:10.760 --> 0:29:13.640 systems grad school for operating systems. I was computer science major. 0:29:13.720 --> 0:29:16.600 So really I saw a bunch of systems in here 0:29:17.000 --> 0:29:20.120 that everybody was only utilizing one way. So I said, 0:29:20.120 --> 0:29:22.800 you know what, maybe there's a way for me to 0:29:22.800 --> 0:29:24.880 to get in that way. So I went to the 0:29:24.920 --> 0:29:26.440 tech side of the building. I talked to all the 0:29:26.480 --> 0:29:29.320 engineers I learned about, you know, the inner workings of 0:29:29.360 --> 0:29:32.440 how information is transmitted from the production side to the 0:29:32.480 --> 0:29:34.560 tech side. You know what that started to teach me 0:29:34.600 --> 0:29:37.200 about workflow. And so what I started to do is 0:29:37.240 --> 0:29:41.480 become a master of that. And then once I understood 0:29:41.520 --> 0:29:45.040 that workflow, then I could take that back to the 0:29:45.160 --> 0:29:48.600 editing grounds, the production grounds, and then people would confide 0:29:48.600 --> 0:29:50.440 in me about things they didn't know about, and then 0:29:50.440 --> 0:29:52.840 I would help them. And then I feel like that 0:29:53.160 --> 0:29:58.440 was my end to the story, the story world. And 0:29:58.560 --> 0:30:03.280 I got my first opportunity the with um inside the NFL, 0:30:03.920 --> 0:30:07.800 and then the rest was history. Because then my co workers, 0:30:07.920 --> 0:30:10.400 my teammates said, you know what, he's not just a 0:30:10.400 --> 0:30:14.920 football player. He actually and this is this is quite funny. 0:30:14.960 --> 0:30:17.760 They say, you know what, he can write, he's thoughtful 0:30:17.880 --> 0:30:20.479 and you know he's profound and he can can do 0:30:20.560 --> 0:30:24.120 these things. Now, in my mind, the stigmas and things 0:30:24.160 --> 0:30:28.360 are associated there before I even did anything. But as 0:30:28.400 --> 0:30:31.560 an athlete, what do we do someone? What do we do? 0:30:31.600 --> 0:30:33.560 Do you why? You know, even if they're looking at 0:30:33.560 --> 0:30:35.720 it in a way of color, we have we we've 0:30:35.760 --> 0:30:37.960 always done it. Since we played the game, We adapted, 0:30:38.360 --> 0:30:42.960 we came in, we retooled, we we we reinvented, and 0:30:42.960 --> 0:30:46.240 and then just like the one percent you were talking about, 0:30:46.280 --> 0:30:50.800 it is we we excelled. You know now as brothers 0:30:51.360 --> 0:30:54.560 were part of the Letanis community at NFL Films. Now, 0:30:54.560 --> 0:30:57.920 I'm a I'm an associate producer, and I come to 0:30:58.000 --> 0:31:01.960 work with people I called my teammates, and some of 0:31:02.000 --> 0:31:04.560 them were people back then who said, you know, we'll 0:31:04.600 --> 0:31:07.680 never get a full time job here. That's just that's 0:31:07.680 --> 0:31:10.760 just kind of a little bit of of what what 0:31:10.760 --> 0:31:14.360 what happens? But you know, still keep that enthusiasm, still 0:31:14.440 --> 0:31:17.800 keep that excitement, and and and and and and guess what, 0:31:17.960 --> 0:31:19.760 this is the same people that said, hey, you'll never 0:31:19.800 --> 0:31:22.400 get a job A high five in the hardway, and 0:31:22.440 --> 0:31:25.040 I call them brothers. Hey, d C, d C. I 0:31:25.040 --> 0:31:26.880 want I wanted to add to that, man, because I 0:31:27.400 --> 0:31:30.920 love the fact that you pointed out some uh, some 0:31:31.080 --> 0:31:34.360 very very valid points in terms of you know, being 0:31:34.360 --> 0:31:39.640 black is one thing. Being a former player legend is another. 0:31:40.080 --> 0:31:43.560 You know, you're celebrated for your accomplishments on the field, 0:31:43.640 --> 0:31:46.400 and and that's the main thing, the one thing that's 0:31:46.440 --> 0:31:49.640 cool about the guys on this on this podcast right now, 0:31:50.040 --> 0:31:53.239 is I recognize the fact that y'all a man at 0:31:53.280 --> 0:31:57.000 the year, winners for your respective teams, and Byron was 0:31:57.120 --> 0:32:00.560 a white representatives and and we give back to our 0:32:00.600 --> 0:32:06.120 communities consistent or recognized for all that while playing, you know, 0:32:06.280 --> 0:32:09.200 and and then stepping into the office space. Most people 0:32:09.840 --> 0:32:11.560 don't want to talk about that. They want to talk 0:32:11.600 --> 0:32:14.200 about those on the field accomplishments, which is cool, we 0:32:14.240 --> 0:32:17.240 can celebrate that, but they don't want to know about 0:32:17.320 --> 0:32:22.120 the internships and job shadows and in teaching and philanthropic 0:32:22.200 --> 0:32:25.760 efforts that that you've done, and and all the other 0:32:25.840 --> 0:32:29.360 commitments that you've made to to to at least be 0:32:29.560 --> 0:32:33.640 seen as on the same level of your colleagues. And 0:32:34.120 --> 0:32:36.760 you know me, I'll speak from myself in d wise 0:32:36.840 --> 0:32:40.280 point of view. Being in player engagement, it's one thing 0:32:40.320 --> 0:32:43.360 that we're there and we're we have this dream job. 0:32:44.520 --> 0:32:46.880 We want to be involved in strategy and business. So 0:32:46.920 --> 0:32:49.760 we said, you know what, we gotta get leadership certifications 0:32:49.800 --> 0:32:51.960 and we want to we got to go back to 0:32:52.000 --> 0:32:56.200 school and get our degree, our master's degree, and we 0:32:56.280 --> 0:33:00.600 hire executive coaches, and we take so many different different approaches, 0:33:00.800 --> 0:33:05.040 and again they are still sometimes ignored and which can 0:33:05.080 --> 0:33:09.400 be frustrating, but just like you said, we're always going 0:33:09.440 --> 0:33:11.720 to keep on pushing and that's one of the things 0:33:11.760 --> 0:33:15.120 that like I think make up that less than one 0:33:15.200 --> 0:33:18.080 percent that we keep on bringing back. Like we're all 0:33:18.120 --> 0:33:20.480 about that commitment and we're gonna bring it to the 0:33:20.520 --> 0:33:22.800 field and we're gonna bring it to the office as well. 0:33:22.920 --> 0:33:25.160 I love that, do see it? Love it? Man? And 0:33:27.040 --> 0:33:30.000 would you say the experiences of being in the league 0:33:30.040 --> 0:33:33.440 being African American required, because what DC just talked about 0:33:33.440 --> 0:33:37.440 as well as Usama is it looked like it required patients. 0:33:38.120 --> 0:33:42.320 Can you talk about that drill? Yeah? Absolutely, So you 0:33:42.360 --> 0:33:45.080 know each and every day you know it's a it's 0:33:45.080 --> 0:33:47.440 a new challenge. And you talk about patients. Well, for me, 0:33:47.520 --> 0:33:50.520 being from the practice squad to waiting behind the great 0:33:50.560 --> 0:33:54.120 Mike Sellers to starting in the position to getting cut 0:33:54.520 --> 0:33:56.840 the waiting game was the hardest thing on the field, 0:33:57.160 --> 0:33:58.960 but I learned how to adapt to that is both 0:33:58.960 --> 0:34:01.640 of these gentlemen eluded to. You adapt to that. You 0:34:02.160 --> 0:34:04.600 you you put yourself in a situation where you say, 0:34:04.640 --> 0:34:06.840 you know what, that's not gonna work today, but that 0:34:06.920 --> 0:34:09.240 inside zone, we might come back to that in two weeks. 0:34:09.520 --> 0:34:11.439 You know, like you said, you wait some things out 0:34:11.480 --> 0:34:14.240 and you have your opportunity, but you have to be ready, 0:34:14.440 --> 0:34:17.120 you know, and uh you could. I don't know if 0:34:17.160 --> 0:34:19.400 you're ever you're ever ready, you can prepare for it, 0:34:19.440 --> 0:34:20.960 I should say, I don't know if you're ever ready, 0:34:21.000 --> 0:34:23.399 But when that challenge comes, I know I'm gonna put 0:34:23.480 --> 0:34:26.359 myself in the best situation for that opportunity. So here's 0:34:26.360 --> 0:34:29.600 a here's a fantastic question, all right, being DC, being 0:34:29.640 --> 0:34:33.600 in films, Salmon Durrell being the league office as well, 0:34:34.680 --> 0:34:37.640 how did you guys make the transition as relates to 0:34:38.719 --> 0:34:42.760 the I would say, the etiquette in the locker room 0:34:43.160 --> 0:34:47.400 versus being in corporate and also things said on the field, 0:34:47.600 --> 0:34:50.960 how things are sit in the locker room. Now you 0:34:50.960 --> 0:34:56.520 you're also working with females as well. Tell me about that, DC. 0:34:57.080 --> 0:34:59.560 I think it has a great deal to do with one, 0:34:59.719 --> 0:35:04.960 you know, behavior, corporate behavior um understanding the boundaries that 0:35:05.000 --> 0:35:07.879 have to exist when you're in the corporate space as 0:35:07.920 --> 0:35:11.839 opposed to you know, that natural exchange that you have 0:35:11.880 --> 0:35:15.359 in the locker room, where you know that locker room 0:35:15.400 --> 0:35:18.000 space is comfortable space and you can talk about anything. 0:35:18.600 --> 0:35:22.560 In corporate America, uh, and NFL Films we're a bit 0:35:22.600 --> 0:35:26.240 more reserved and and we stick to our our business, 0:35:26.280 --> 0:35:31.240 which is you know, making stories, um, but also dealing 0:35:31.280 --> 0:35:33.520 with you know, like like females and stuff like that. 0:35:33.600 --> 0:35:36.160 You just you just have to understand that that the 0:35:36.480 --> 0:35:40.200 corporate space takes again back to that point we alluded 0:35:40.200 --> 0:35:42.960 to a great deal of patients to negotiate. I think 0:35:43.000 --> 0:35:47.480 workflow UM is key. Teamwork is key, and then and 0:35:47.480 --> 0:35:51.439 and and understanding that and and having I should also say, 0:35:51.480 --> 0:35:54.799 like an open mind us to say, hey, what it 0:35:54.920 --> 0:35:58.920 is that that I'm suggesting might not be um used, 0:35:59.080 --> 0:36:01.040 what it is that I'm this thing might not be 0:36:01.719 --> 0:36:05.359 put on the forefront of any initiative that might go 0:36:05.440 --> 0:36:08.560 on around here because maybe it's just not time for 0:36:08.600 --> 0:36:11.000 it yet or maybe you know, I have a good 0:36:11.040 --> 0:36:13.520 deal of growth yet to do. And and like to 0:36:13.520 --> 0:36:15.920 that point that I was talking about, you know, you 0:36:16.160 --> 0:36:19.000 can prepare, you can prepare for things. You can prepare 0:36:19.600 --> 0:36:22.160 or you know, to try to prepare for the corporate space. 0:36:22.239 --> 0:36:25.640 But you know, but you can't always be ready for it. 0:36:25.680 --> 0:36:29.319 You can't always be ready for uh those situations that 0:36:29.400 --> 0:36:32.560 come up, um until you're actually in them. And then 0:36:32.680 --> 0:36:35.120 you know what, that's another notch on the belt that 0:36:35.280 --> 0:36:37.319 you know you you praise God that you got through 0:36:37.560 --> 0:36:40.680 and then you're able to act accordingly the next time. 0:36:42.200 --> 0:36:44.799 All of us on the football field is immediate in 0:36:44.960 --> 0:36:48.399 terms of you if you score or get a sack, uh, 0:36:48.520 --> 0:36:54.920 pancake as a blocker, we high five is all. Exuberance 0:36:55.080 --> 0:36:59.280 is excitement, right you get corporate all of a sudden 0:36:59.280 --> 0:37:02.200 you may have just great idea, man and great presentation. 0:37:02.840 --> 0:37:06.440 It was like, okay, we'll all go back to our offices. 0:37:06.960 --> 0:37:09.359 How did you How did you deal with that psychology 0:37:09.560 --> 0:37:14.960 thrill oh man? So for me, it was, uh, it 0:37:15.000 --> 0:37:17.960 was tough, you know. But it's one of the things 0:37:18.000 --> 0:37:21.120 where I started reading more, I started educating myself more. 0:37:21.160 --> 0:37:23.840 I started asking questions. That's what the Solmo mentioned. I 0:37:23.880 --> 0:37:25.960 always told myself, and this is the quote I live 0:37:26.040 --> 0:37:29.200 on in life. Uh. I always told myself, if you know, 0:37:29.239 --> 0:37:31.120 you can't complain about having a lot on your plate 0:37:31.160 --> 0:37:33.520 when your goal was to eat. So regardless of how 0:37:33.600 --> 0:37:35.640 that takes, how how it takes to get there, I'm 0:37:35.680 --> 0:37:43.760 gonna get but it's the truth. I can't complain about 0:37:43.760 --> 0:37:45.480 having a lot on my plate when my goal is 0:37:45.520 --> 0:37:47.719 to eat. That's what I said day one. So how 0:37:47.840 --> 0:37:49.680 it takes to get there, whatever it takes to be 0:37:49.760 --> 0:37:52.160 that captain of that ship, I'm gonna figure out how 0:37:52.160 --> 0:37:54.480 to do that while treating people the right way. Talk 0:37:54.520 --> 0:37:58.480 about office etiquette, talk about ethics, just fairness, integrity, all 0:37:58.520 --> 0:38:00.479 of those things that come into play. You think about 0:38:00.560 --> 0:38:03.000 that as you as you try to get into the position. 0:38:03.040 --> 0:38:05.520 But as as DC alluded to, I'm a servant man, 0:38:05.920 --> 0:38:08.759 so I'm honest to myself, I'm honest the peers around me. 0:38:09.000 --> 0:38:11.480 I'm gonna treat people just like they want to be treated. 0:38:11.520 --> 0:38:13.960 The Golden a little. In addition to focusing on the 0:38:14.080 --> 0:38:18.000 journey and transition with this podcast, the other things with 0:38:18.120 --> 0:38:22.000 all of this, some unrust, social unrest been in the 0:38:22.040 --> 0:38:25.840 positions what you guys are have any new passion has 0:38:25.920 --> 0:38:29.280 been ignited while working under each of your league roles 0:38:29.880 --> 0:38:33.799 and if so, what are they who summer? And you 0:38:33.880 --> 0:38:36.839 know what? Uh? With with all that's going on, it's 0:38:37.000 --> 0:38:40.160 it's been a reminder for me to think about how 0:38:40.200 --> 0:38:42.200 how blessed we are to be in the positions that 0:38:42.280 --> 0:38:46.680 we're in. You know, we we're we're we're working for 0:38:46.800 --> 0:38:50.799 the best, the best professional league out there. And I'm 0:38:50.800 --> 0:38:54.240 biasing saying that because I spent most of my younger 0:38:54.280 --> 0:38:58.960 adult years playing playing in the league. But now I 0:38:59.080 --> 0:39:02.799 understand how much influence and impact we have with the 0:39:02.920 --> 0:39:06.520 NFL and the players that make up this lead provide 0:39:06.560 --> 0:39:09.239 to the communities that that they serve in and that 0:39:09.280 --> 0:39:13.759 there that they were born in. So working in player 0:39:13.800 --> 0:39:17.920 engagement is one thing, but Social Responsibility, the Social Responsibility 0:39:17.960 --> 0:39:22.080 Team and Inspire Change has has provided us an opportunity 0:39:22.120 --> 0:39:25.279 to have a voice in those rooms. Uh, sometimes I 0:39:25.480 --> 0:39:30.000 challenge the group, I challenge others to speak up. We 0:39:30.000 --> 0:39:32.640 we might see something that we know isn't right and 0:39:32.680 --> 0:39:35.239 we don't say anything about it. So it's like, hey, 0:39:35.239 --> 0:39:38.560 we're just as bad as the person that's performing the act. 0:39:39.320 --> 0:39:41.839 And and if we don't speak up about it, if 0:39:41.880 --> 0:39:44.279 we don't say something, if we don't put us, if 0:39:44.280 --> 0:39:47.400 we don't stand for something, we don't stand for anything. 0:39:47.600 --> 0:39:50.879 We we started to take an intentional approach to say, look, 0:39:51.000 --> 0:39:54.200 how do we highlight specifically what we stand on, Like 0:39:54.239 --> 0:39:58.040 we're doing so much in these communities, these underserved communities, 0:39:58.200 --> 0:40:01.960 these COVID hot spots, and and but we haven't actually 0:40:02.040 --> 0:40:04.480 put a word on it we haven't actually said anything, 0:40:04.560 --> 0:40:07.040 and now we've got different things, different items going on 0:40:07.160 --> 0:40:10.120 for the players. It takes all of us to end racism. 0:40:10.440 --> 0:40:14.839 Where players are speaking up, we're welcoming that, we're encouraging that, 0:40:15.160 --> 0:40:18.120 and being in those meetings. It's uplifting. At times, it's 0:40:18.120 --> 0:40:23.120 a challenge because oftentimes you know, it's something that's mentioned 0:40:23.160 --> 0:40:26.520 that doesn't necessarily get brought to the forefront, but it's 0:40:26.600 --> 0:40:30.359 still an opportunity to provide input. And I love that. 0:40:30.480 --> 0:40:32.960 I love the fact that I cannot only do that, 0:40:33.000 --> 0:40:35.520 but I can go back to the young leaders that 0:40:35.560 --> 0:40:39.560 I served with my foundation and and and empower them 0:40:39.560 --> 0:40:42.680 through mentorship and talk about some of these initiatives that 0:40:42.719 --> 0:40:44.840 we're doing, and talk about how they have a voice 0:40:44.840 --> 0:40:48.960 as well, and challenge them in the real I don't 0:40:49.000 --> 0:40:50.920 give a scenario. I want you to speak to your 0:40:50.960 --> 0:40:54.160 experience in the league office. A lot of times people 0:40:54.200 --> 0:40:57.279 refer to things as prejudice, in other words, prejudice within 0:40:57.280 --> 0:41:02.440 the corporation, unconscious bias. Would each of you guys start 0:41:02.440 --> 0:41:08.960 with Darrell say, I found when you don't have proper 0:41:09.000 --> 0:41:15.560 representation at the table, there is just many times things 0:41:15.600 --> 0:41:18.040 you don't even think about because you don't have somebody 0:41:18.040 --> 0:41:21.560 that represents something that may not be on your radar 0:41:21.880 --> 0:41:24.880 or it may not be something you're literally conscious of. 0:41:25.400 --> 0:41:28.640 How important has it been being in the league office 0:41:29.200 --> 0:41:32.480 to be that voice as an African American to have 0:41:32.680 --> 0:41:37.359 that that that that too to share in the room 0:41:37.600 --> 0:41:41.920 our perspective not that you represent all African Americans, but 0:41:42.160 --> 0:41:47.759 you represent African and African American. Does that make sense? Drill? Yeah? 0:41:47.840 --> 0:41:51.280 It does. Yea. You ask a great question, and I think, uh, 0:41:51.520 --> 0:41:54.640 to be honest with you, I haven't been to the 0:41:54.640 --> 0:41:57.600 table too many times in those situations, but when asked, 0:41:57.840 --> 0:42:00.520 I feel like we've had had some out comes where 0:42:00.520 --> 0:42:02.279 we can say, Okay, we've made we moved the needle 0:42:02.280 --> 0:42:03.880 a little bit, and not saying that people in the 0:42:03.960 --> 0:42:06.560 room haven't done it, but it's just speaking from a 0:42:06.600 --> 0:42:09.920 player perspective, speaking from an African American perspective, you know 0:42:09.920 --> 0:42:11.920 you're gonna you're gonna bring something different to the table. 0:42:12.000 --> 0:42:14.400 So but it comes back to that strategy piece, and 0:42:14.440 --> 0:42:16.359 I think we've been doing a better job, you know, 0:42:16.440 --> 0:42:19.359 since the George Floyd's situation in terms okay, what do 0:42:19.400 --> 0:42:21.880 you all think? What can we do? And I'm not 0:42:21.880 --> 0:42:24.360 gonna say we shied away from before, but it wasn't 0:42:24.400 --> 0:42:26.960 like that until the world had to pause and say, 0:42:27.000 --> 0:42:29.200 look what just happened. What do we need to do 0:42:29.239 --> 0:42:32.319 to address these issues in the workplace? And we've been 0:42:32.360 --> 0:42:34.719 part of these conversations, and you know, Osama has been 0:42:34.800 --> 0:42:36.400 leading a charge to be honest with these one of 0:42:36.400 --> 0:42:38.839 those guys who his boots on the ground, he's been 0:42:38.880 --> 0:42:41.600 doing it. Art McAfee has been doing it. Now things 0:42:41.680 --> 0:42:44.040 are coming back full circle. Okay. You know you talk 0:42:44.120 --> 0:42:46.440 about voting education, what we were doing that with Fritz 0:42:46.440 --> 0:42:49.680 Pollard the past few years, but people weren't taking advantage 0:42:49.680 --> 0:42:51.680 of it because you know, it may not have been 0:42:51.680 --> 0:42:54.359 important at the time. But now we're seeing, Like I said, 0:42:54.400 --> 0:42:56.400 because of COVID, the world had to slow down, and 0:42:56.440 --> 0:42:58.480 it was good for us all. But now having to 0:42:58.520 --> 0:43:00.919 see at the table, I feel like not saying that 0:43:00.960 --> 0:43:04.160 I specifically contributed to it, but there would have been 0:43:04.239 --> 0:43:06.279 some instances well I felt like I've added value to 0:43:06.360 --> 0:43:09.439 it some how. Have you spoken up after the death 0:43:09.480 --> 0:43:13.000 of George Floyd? You guys have spoken out frankly to 0:43:13.040 --> 0:43:16.440 your co workers about your own personal experience. Tell me 0:43:16.480 --> 0:43:21.879 about that wow, you know, you know it was it 0:43:21.960 --> 0:43:24.560 was tough. It was tough for me. And just listening 0:43:24.640 --> 0:43:28.520 to d Y, you know you hear that humility. He 0:43:28.520 --> 0:43:31.200 He's like, nah, I didn't have a lot. Man. I'll 0:43:31.239 --> 0:43:33.319 be straight up on the mic right now. Yes, you have, 0:43:34.000 --> 0:43:36.719 you have you You've challenged me, You've pushed me to 0:43:36.760 --> 0:43:39.640 speak up, and I think others have followed the lead. 0:43:40.560 --> 0:43:43.560 Uh with with with our voice when it comes to 0:43:44.280 --> 0:43:47.240 you know, after George Floyd as d what I mentioned, 0:43:48.040 --> 0:43:51.480 this has just been going on for so long, and 0:43:51.480 --> 0:43:55.880 and when when we had our our staff meeting, I 0:43:55.960 --> 0:43:58.880 had to share an experience that I had when I 0:43:58.920 --> 0:44:02.919 was a child and I was I was handcuffed, and 0:44:03.040 --> 0:44:06.160 I know for a fact, looking back at it, how 0:44:06.440 --> 0:44:09.400 how hurt I was, how hopeless I felt at that 0:44:09.480 --> 0:44:14.600 given moment. And I can't imagine imagine having a knee 0:44:14.640 --> 0:44:19.719 on my neck, being choked, suffocated and fighting for my 0:44:19.800 --> 0:44:23.560 life and and begging for my grandmother or my mother 0:44:24.000 --> 0:44:26.520 or I can't imagine it. So I said, man, I 0:44:27.040 --> 0:44:29.719 can't remain mum on this call. And at first I 0:44:29.760 --> 0:44:31.759 wasn't going to say anything that I said, you know what, 0:44:31.800 --> 0:44:34.400 I'm gonna write and I wrote, wrote, wrote, I wrote 0:44:34.400 --> 0:44:38.200 out what I what I experienced, and I shared it 0:44:38.280 --> 0:44:42.759 with my my, my team and player Engagement and and 0:44:43.239 --> 0:44:48.760 f CM Football Communication and Marketing, and they were receiving. 0:44:48.800 --> 0:44:52.760 They were receptive of it. They listened and immediately I, 0:44:52.760 --> 0:44:55.799 I mean, I started crying. But other people you could 0:44:55.800 --> 0:44:57.839 see the hurt, you can see the hanks, you can 0:44:57.880 --> 0:45:00.680 see the surprise. And for me, that was a reminder 0:45:00.760 --> 0:45:04.040 that tag on they really had no clue that the 0:45:04.160 --> 0:45:07.080 other black people on this call, our other black team members, 0:45:07.120 --> 0:45:10.919 several of them have similar stories. And when we got 0:45:10.960 --> 0:45:14.680 on our all league meeting, I had to do it again, 0:45:14.800 --> 0:45:18.080 which was even tougher for me to bring myself back 0:45:18.120 --> 0:45:22.640 to that point and do it again for probably five 0:45:22.760 --> 0:45:25.319 hundred to a thousand people that I don't know, that 0:45:25.400 --> 0:45:28.600 have never met me. And in the response from it, 0:45:28.640 --> 0:45:32.360 with several emails, a few texts, calls, you know, people 0:45:32.440 --> 0:45:35.319 checking in and everything, And in my response to that was, 0:45:35.480 --> 0:45:39.360 I thank you. Let's do the work. Now we've got 0:45:39.400 --> 0:45:42.279 a job to do. And and since you do know, 0:45:42.400 --> 0:45:46.120 and since we can't hide, we can't hide anymore. And 0:45:46.200 --> 0:45:51.799 now it's it's evident that their injustices throughout our entire community, 0:45:51.840 --> 0:45:54.960 our society. We've got to do something about it. And 0:45:55.120 --> 0:45:58.480 stepping up, speaking up about it is one thing. Changing 0:45:58.560 --> 0:46:03.800 laws is another, as locating is another. Providing support, that's 0:46:03.960 --> 0:46:07.759 that's that's major. So uh I was fortunate to have 0:46:07.920 --> 0:46:11.480 that platform, and uh I was encouraged by my colleagues 0:46:11.520 --> 0:46:14.320 and everything, and and now we're at a point where 0:46:14.600 --> 0:46:16.839 I think we are seeing change. But we've got a 0:46:16.880 --> 0:46:19.279 lot of work to do when it comes to diversity, 0:46:19.280 --> 0:46:21.759 when it comes to equality, when it comes to so 0:46:21.840 --> 0:46:25.840 much in our communities, d C and and really Darrell, 0:46:26.280 --> 0:46:28.680 uh some any of you guys can answer this question 0:46:29.640 --> 0:46:32.760 when all of us for players, there are a number 0:46:32.760 --> 0:46:37.440 of legends and current players, I think the league is 0:46:37.480 --> 0:46:44.640 against them. How have you from your prospective scene, how 0:46:44.719 --> 0:46:49.200 much work and how the league really does care for 0:46:49.400 --> 0:46:53.200 the player and for the legends. I do not believe 0:46:53.280 --> 0:46:55.560 that the league is against players. I don't. I don't. 0:46:55.640 --> 0:46:58.319 I don't believe that's I don't think that's the thing. 0:46:58.440 --> 0:47:03.800 What I'm encouraged by is durrell a new Sama speaking 0:47:03.880 --> 0:47:08.080 up because their work, they're them being boots on the 0:47:08.120 --> 0:47:12.440 ground has a direct effect on you know, me over 0:47:12.480 --> 0:47:14.600 here to NFL Films, and I'm not in the league office, 0:47:14.640 --> 0:47:17.080 but this is NFL Films. Is one of the three 0:47:17.160 --> 0:47:19.719 league officers, L A and Y and then us out 0:47:19.760 --> 0:47:23.359 here there. There aren't very many black folks here. I mean, 0:47:23.400 --> 0:47:27.240 I'm not gonna get into the numbers, but they just aren't. Um. 0:47:27.400 --> 0:47:29.840 And even more than that, I'm the only former player 0:47:29.840 --> 0:47:34.760 in the building. So when I come in every morning 0:47:34.840 --> 0:47:39.080 and before COVID times, eb Hard Press wanted to see 0:47:39.120 --> 0:47:42.040 another black person in the building and a couple of 0:47:42.320 --> 0:47:45.000 I could go to three days without seeing somebody. But 0:47:45.160 --> 0:47:48.839 now because of it's it's it's a direct correlation with 0:47:48.880 --> 0:47:51.200 what it is that do saman d y do with 0:47:51.239 --> 0:47:54.319 player engagement and with making sure that you know, we're 0:47:54.320 --> 0:47:58.040 talking about these issues. I see I've seen an uptick 0:47:58.400 --> 0:48:01.680 in you know, African Americans and black people and people 0:48:01.719 --> 0:48:05.399 of color color through our internship program. I've seen um 0:48:05.680 --> 0:48:08.800 more talks and discussions that the Black Engagement Network is 0:48:08.840 --> 0:48:12.720 having with leadership here. There is anyone who's African American 0:48:12.719 --> 0:48:16.279 on our leadership uh committee. UM. But again, you know, 0:48:16.440 --> 0:48:19.360 I'm encouraged that as long as these conversations and discussions 0:48:19.360 --> 0:48:22.720 continue to happen because of what d Y does and 0:48:22.719 --> 0:48:25.520 and the new Sama do that you know at some 0:48:25.600 --> 0:48:28.279 point that will change. It has has changed the game 0:48:28.320 --> 0:48:30.560 for me. I've seen Howard Barbieri, who is a former 0:48:30.840 --> 0:48:33.080 you know, offensive lineman for the Giants. He's come through 0:48:33.120 --> 0:48:36.440 here over the last few years. Um Um Chris Wilson, 0:48:36.440 --> 0:48:39.680 who's the second round draft pick for uh KNSA City Chiefs. 0:48:39.719 --> 0:48:42.520 He's he's here right now on his second stint um 0:48:42.560 --> 0:48:44.520 as a seasonal. And I hope he gets full time, 0:48:44.760 --> 0:48:48.319 a full time gig because he's um an independent filmmaker 0:48:48.760 --> 0:48:51.640 and you know he's that's that's his life, that's what 0:48:51.680 --> 0:48:54.600 he's been doing. I mean, I'm starting to see change 0:48:54.760 --> 0:48:56.640 because of what it is that these brothers are doing. 0:48:56.719 --> 0:48:59.560 So when when people say that, hey, the league is 0:48:59.600 --> 0:49:02.800 against this or anything like that, ay, I looked to 0:49:02.880 --> 0:49:04.400 my left and all right, I see d Wy and 0:49:04.400 --> 0:49:07.320 do something. I say, Na, it's not because these brothers 0:49:07.320 --> 0:49:10.200 are making change that I that I feel directly every 0:49:10.200 --> 0:49:12.840 time you know, we have a meeting or a discussion 0:49:13.000 --> 0:49:15.879 or you know, I come out my office and I see, 0:49:15.920 --> 0:49:17.600 you know, the things are changing. The people like me 0:49:17.719 --> 0:49:20.480 in the building, I like the time man, and that too. 0:49:20.480 --> 0:49:23.120 It needs because I'm wouna be honest man. When I 0:49:23.160 --> 0:49:24.600 was on the field, I said, the league don't care 0:49:24.640 --> 0:49:26.440 about us, man, they sent me a fine letter. How 0:49:26.480 --> 0:49:28.839 they're gonna send me a fine for twenty two and 0:49:28.880 --> 0:49:31.200 care about me? But that was a young being not 0:49:31.440 --> 0:49:33.640 understanding that. I also didn't get off the couch to 0:49:33.680 --> 0:49:36.160 go vote in those PA meetings to make a difference. 0:49:36.480 --> 0:49:40.040 So now I understand that things are negotiating one, but 0:49:40.160 --> 0:49:42.400 two being in this space in the league office and 0:49:42.400 --> 0:49:45.080 the resources that are there. But when you can go 0:49:45.120 --> 0:49:47.160 back to school for free, when you can you have 0:49:47.200 --> 0:49:49.440 all these resources and benefits, I think it's about the 0:49:49.440 --> 0:49:51.520 player now, and now we have to start looking at 0:49:51.560 --> 0:49:54.719 ourselves and evaluating are we putting ourselves in the best 0:49:54.719 --> 0:49:57.759 situation as players? Not when it not when we're in 0:49:57.880 --> 0:50:01.440 times of need. But while I'll while that check works 0:50:01.440 --> 0:50:04.240 on Instagram and we verified when people respond to you, 0:50:04.320 --> 0:50:06.520 what are you doing to better yourself during that time? 0:50:06.719 --> 0:50:08.640 And that's what we do. The challenge players. I don't 0:50:08.719 --> 0:50:11.120 question you, I'm just challenging you to be better than 0:50:11.120 --> 0:50:14.000 you were yesterday, to be better than you were today today. 0:50:14.360 --> 0:50:16.919 Now I don't feel bad because I know, God, there's 0:50:16.960 --> 0:50:20.160 so many opportunities. There's so many resources. We're meeting players 0:50:20.200 --> 0:50:22.920 where they are in terms of social media, face to 0:50:23.000 --> 0:50:26.440 face interactions. We have transition coaches, we have the Legends community, 0:50:26.680 --> 0:50:29.040 we have you know, player engagement. There's so many different 0:50:29.040 --> 0:50:31.600 avenues now that it's just an excuse at this point 0:50:31.640 --> 0:50:33.839 if you don't utilize the resources that are there for you. 0:50:35.160 --> 0:50:38.279 It's outstanding. As we calls out, I want to talk 0:50:38.320 --> 0:50:42.239 about the future, uh from the grid, our journey as 0:50:42.280 --> 0:50:46.760 African men, and a corporate meta fold to your unique 0:50:46.760 --> 0:50:52.200 perspective on inspired change succinctly and quickly touch on what's 0:50:52.320 --> 0:50:55.280 next to your journey the lead and make a difference 0:50:55.280 --> 0:51:01.120 in the league office DC uh is I can possibly 0:51:01.120 --> 0:51:03.400 put it. I'm just going to continue to put my 0:51:03.440 --> 0:51:06.480 passion in people and my faith and God that uh, 0:51:06.520 --> 0:51:09.239 you know, things will change. And as long as I'm 0:51:09.280 --> 0:51:11.400 surrounded by brothers like the RelA New Sama and we 0:51:11.440 --> 0:51:19.640 all are like minded, that's gonna happen. Sama. Uh. My 0:51:19.760 --> 0:51:23.280 mission is to continue to be a servant to others 0:51:23.680 --> 0:51:26.680 and and take on more of a mentorship role to 0:51:26.840 --> 0:51:30.320 those that are new and looking to make a career 0:51:30.360 --> 0:51:35.360 here but outside of that. I want to continue to inspire, 0:51:35.800 --> 0:51:38.439 inspire the ones that are on the field right now 0:51:38.480 --> 0:51:42.040 and those that are looking up to them, but remind 0:51:42.080 --> 0:51:45.160 them that football is only a fraction of who they are. 0:51:46.239 --> 0:51:48.280 I don't want them to fall into a dark space. 0:51:48.320 --> 0:51:50.000 I don't want them to feel as though they're not 0:51:50.080 --> 0:51:53.799 supported and from the league. I know that we can 0:51:53.840 --> 0:51:57.360 do that through player engagement, through the Legends community, continue 0:51:57.400 --> 0:52:02.840 to serve and continue to mentor and provide support. Durrell, Yeah, 0:52:02.920 --> 0:52:04.560 I have to agree with that, man. There was some 0:52:04.640 --> 0:52:08.520 strong statements right there. I uh, you know what, I'm 0:52:08.520 --> 0:52:12.440 gonna have to steal that inspiring, inspiring, uh and motivate. 0:52:12.520 --> 0:52:14.400 You know, in my community. Now, I look at the 0:52:14.600 --> 0:52:17.640 graduation rate and when I would graduate from high school, 0:52:18.640 --> 0:52:20.239 not much has changed. So what am I going to 0:52:20.320 --> 0:52:22.919 do to activate there? But showing them that that's hope 0:52:22.960 --> 0:52:24.560 that you don't have to go down the line of 0:52:24.920 --> 0:52:27.640 you know, selling drugs and education has got me the 0:52:27.680 --> 0:52:31.400 same amount of money without doing time. So uh, you 0:52:31.400 --> 0:52:32.840 know that's one of the things that you know I 0:52:32.880 --> 0:52:37.360 want to do is inspire others, serve, give back and uh, 0:52:37.640 --> 0:52:39.360 you know it just continue to be the person that 0:52:39.719 --> 0:52:41.520 I seen myself when I said I was gonna do 0:52:41.560 --> 0:52:45.680 this thing. Durrell O, Sama the Lion and d C. 0:52:46.760 --> 0:52:50.239 This has been amazing podcast. Thank you so much for 0:52:50.360 --> 0:52:55.640 joining us, Thanks for listening to the best is yet 0:52:55.719 --> 0:53:03.160 to company. I appreciate it. Appreciate it. H This has 0:53:03.160 --> 0:53:07.240 been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request 0:53:07.280 --> 0:53:10.680 a topic for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at 0:53:10.800 --> 0:53:12.440 NFL dot com, m