1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: Oh hello. 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 2: Welcome to the latest edition of Falcons and Focus. I 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,319 Speaker 2: am Karen Walker, joined by Tory mcelhaney and QB One 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 2: Kirk Cousins. Need some guys starters. We always have to 5 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: give credit where credit is due. As the official ticket 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 2: marketplace of the Falcons and the NFL, Ticketmaster has a 7 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 2: wide selection of tickets available for every game. Whether you're 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: cheering the Falcons at home or a way. Ticketmaster has 9 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: you covered down the Ticketmaster app or find tickets today 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: at ticketmaster dot com slash Falcons. That's ticketmaster dot com 11 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:34,880 Speaker 2: slash Falcons. 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: Great job, thank you. 13 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 2: I read it so fast and I can feel my face. 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 3: Getting in the Ticketmaster studios est exactly, surely, surely do 15 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 3: so now. 16 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: But let's get to the fun parts and my I 17 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: think the first topic is my favorite, Yes, because I 18 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 2: did cover the Saints, so I know the person you 19 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: did this with pretty well from getting to know him. 20 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: You did the magic mic dance to Pony with Cam Jordan. 21 00:00:58,400 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: We need the NFL honors. 22 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I missed that part. You just did it honors 23 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: on stage cameras on I'm assuming it wasn't your idea 24 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 2: or was it wasn't your idea. 25 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 4: I mean, I guess looking back, maybe I wish it 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 4: did it had come from me. No. I was approached 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 4: maybe two weeks before Honors, a week before Honors saying 28 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 4: would you like to go? We can get your tickets. 29 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 4: I said sure, I'd love to go, And then maybe 30 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 4: three days before Honors, it was would you like to 31 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 4: dance it Honors? And I said, okay, now I'm interested. 32 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 4: I need more information, And then as they sent what 33 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 4: the choreography would be, that's when I said, I don't 34 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 4: think so, I don't know I can pull that off. 35 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 4: But they said, let's at least try a rehearsal. So 36 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 4: the day before Cam and I went to rehearsal, and 37 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 4: after rehearsing, I thought this is possible. And then I 38 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 4: spent the next day and a half making sure I 39 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 4: had it at least somewhat dialed in. 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 3: So did they send you like a video and this 41 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 3: is like, hey, this is what it's supposed to look like? 42 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: And what was the process of getting the choreography and 43 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 3: being like, I have to do this? 44 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 4: They sent me a video of professionals Gale and a 45 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 4: female doing all the moves, and there was just a 46 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 4: lot of hip action, and I was thinking this is 47 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 4: gonna be tough. But once I went to rehearsal and 48 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 4: they explained it to me and the professional dancers were there, 49 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 4: I thought, Okay, we can do this, and it turned 50 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 4: out great. It was fun. I knew it was gonna 51 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 4: be funny, you know, kind of the way they were 52 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 4: presenting it and how we did it and even the 53 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 4: outro lines after we finished, and how we presented the award. 54 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 4: I just thought it went well. And yeah, back to 55 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 4: back years now, we sang it Honors. Two years ago, 56 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 4: we danced it honors. This year. Hopefully we're not at 57 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 4: honors anymore. We're playing in the Super Bowl right there's 58 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 4: no honors to attend hopefully, but we'll see where it 59 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 4: goes from here. 60 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 2: Who was a better stage partner, Cam Jordan or Kelly Clarkson? 61 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: Great question? Great question. 62 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 4: Well, Cam, after I signed here, texted me to say, 63 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 4: you know, welcome to the division. I'm coming for you. Basically, 64 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 4: I know that Kelly Clarkson isn't as much of a 65 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 4: hazard to my health Jordan is. So I'm good with 66 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 4: Kelly and would be much safer around her. 67 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 2: This is a much more recent memory and now We're 68 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 2: going to scroll all the way back to like two 69 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 2: years old for you. 70 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: All right, jury did a deep dive. 71 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 2: And found a incredible story. 72 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,399 Speaker 3: Yeah. So I didn't know this about you, and honestly, 73 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 3: I don't know how many people do. 74 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: But when you were nineteen months. 75 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 4: Old, you did do a deep, very very deep dive. 76 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. 77 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 3: Uh, went all the way back, and you're two years 78 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 3: old or around two years old, nineteen months and you're 79 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 3: in the kitchen and accidentally dump a boiling pot of. 80 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: Spaghetti noodles something like that, something hot water, Yeah. 81 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 3: And essentially like severely burned, like and I know, obviously 82 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 3: this is your. 83 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: Two years old. 84 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 4: You don't remember that. 85 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 3: I don't remember, right, Yeah, but spent what two weeks 86 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 3: in the hospital, a year of wearing like a compression jacket. 87 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 4: Yeap. 88 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 3: What did your I guess, Like, what was that story 89 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 3: told to you? 90 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: Like from your parents' perspective? 91 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 4: Yeah? As I got older, it was as you shared. 92 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 4: I was playing on the floor of our kitchen. My 93 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 4: mom was nearby. Water was boiling. I reached up and 94 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 4: grabbed the handle, just to grab something or play with something. 95 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 4: I flipped the pot. The boiling water then came out 96 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 4: landed on me. I started screaming. My mom runs over, 97 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 4: pulls my shirt off, and my skin comes off with it. 98 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 4: So she knew we had a problem, so she called 99 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 4: nine one one. They come to the house, take me 100 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 4: to the hospital. I had a fever up to one 101 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 4: O six that they couldn't get an IV in me 102 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 4: because I'm a little baby, which is very difficult. So 103 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 4: my parents had to sign me out of that hospital 104 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 4: to go to a different one where they thought they 105 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 4: had a better chance of getting an IV in me. 106 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 4: And they had to sign a document that said if 107 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 4: he dies on the way from the one hospital the other, 108 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 4: the hospital is not liable. So they went through a 109 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 4: lot of is pretty traumatic for them, obviously, and I 110 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 4: don't remember when they come from in the ambulance to 111 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 4: pick you up and they see what happened, obviously they're 112 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 4: gonna start asking questions to my mom, like is this 113 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 4: a dysfunctional situation? And so my mom can pick up 114 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 4: on that too, and so there's all kinds of stuff 115 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 4: going through your mind. But two weeks in the hospital 116 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 4: they did finally get an IV in me. The fever 117 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 4: came down immediately once they did that. I think the 118 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 4: part they tell me was that in order to treat wounds, 119 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 4: you have to do these baths with warm water and 120 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 4: jets and stuff in order to treat it, and it's 121 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 4: very painful, but it's great for the long term healing. 122 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 4: So I would just scream through it, just scream and scream, 123 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 4: and my parents had to kind of hold me and 124 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 4: rub my back and be there with me. But my 125 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 4: dad says, to this day he wonders if I have 126 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 4: a higher pain threshold because of it. So we talk 127 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 4: about like silver linings, and the blessing in disguise would 128 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 4: be that I became a football player, and certainly there 129 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 4: are a very few days where you feel great, and 130 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 4: so the ability to basically just strap it up, find 131 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 4: a way play through the pain. I wonder sometimes if 132 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 4: that incident helps me as a football player. But it 133 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 4: certainly is quite a story. And to this day I 134 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 4: still have some scars here and here on my arms. 135 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 4: Everything else is pretty good. So the wounds and the 136 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 4: dressings and the compression shirt, all that works. Yeah, you know, 137 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 4: I don't have a bunch of scars on me, but yeah, 138 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 4: it's not something you wish. I was grateful didn't hit 139 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 4: my facetally. Yeah, basically just missed my face, and that 140 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 4: certainly would have been interesting if it had hit my. 141 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 3: Face, right, Yeah, so a part of the story too, 142 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 3: And I think it was your dad that had maybe 143 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 3: said this, But like the doctor said during that year 144 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,039 Speaker 3: of rehabbing, that there was a chance, a pretty high chance, 145 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 3: that you wouldn't have full mobility of your shoulders. 146 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 4: Because that's where the scars are biggest, is my arm right, 147 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,119 Speaker 4: and they're near my shoulders, near my armpit. So they said, 148 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 4: long term, he'll be fine. There might be some cosmetic issues, 149 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 4: but it's where it's located should be an issue. And 150 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 4: then they said, the only thing I can think of 151 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 4: is that his shoulder mobility because of where the scars 152 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 4: are so bad, maybe that limits his shoulder motion in 153 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 4: some way, shape or form. And so it is a 154 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 4: little bit interesting that I'm a throwing athlete. I've been 155 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 4: a throwing athlete for a long time. So we're grateful 156 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 4: that it wasn't an issue. And you know, there's a 157 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 4: lot of prayer and things through the years, and we're 158 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 4: grateful for how it's all panned out. 159 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 3: I mean, your parents are warriors. That's a that's a 160 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: lot to have to deal. 161 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 4: I didn't have an appreciation for a parent perspective, and 162 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 4: then I had kids. My kids get to that age 163 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 4: and you're difficult to imagine them going through that, your 164 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 4: parent going through that. 165 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: So did you avoid pasta with your kids for a 166 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: really long time. 167 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 4: I am a little bit more conscious of boiling water 168 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 4: and the dangers it can be and the handle needs 169 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 4: to be facing away from the you know. But with kids, 170 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 4: I say to my wife, because we have two boys 171 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 4: and they're rambunctious, they're six and five, and I say, 172 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 4: we can plan for every possible disaster, there's still going 173 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,559 Speaker 4: to be something that's hard to know what could happen. 174 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 4: So your pray for protection. Then you've got to live 175 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 4: your life. 176 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. 177 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 2: So you overcame that at such a young age, and 178 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: in an indirect way, it's still how to deal with 179 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 2: your future as a quarterback in high school, college, draft. 180 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: It was just overcoming one thing after another, more so 181 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: people doubting you. 182 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think like something that I was really as 183 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: we're doing our research, it was like a constant theme. 184 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 3: I felt like of the time period from when you're 185 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 3: like fifteen sixteen years old until the time that you're 186 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: twenty four to twenty five, so almost a decade of 187 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 3: your life where it's so much change is happening. Is 188 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: like there was this idea of being underappreciated, undervalued and 189 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 3: almost to a certain sense, and hope, I hope you 190 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 3: don't take offense to this when I say this, but 191 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: almost like a plan B Like I like, because I 192 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 3: was looking and it was like your in your high 193 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 3: school career, like you were set to be on JV 194 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 3: wasn't really like getting a ton of opportunities for varsity, 195 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 3: and then you get that opportunity for college, it's like 196 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 3: we need some other quarterbacks to go some other place 197 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 3: to let Kirk come in here. And then of course 198 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 3: there's the draft and RG three as the number two 199 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 3: overall pick, you're the fourth round. Like it was always 200 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 3: one of those things where it's like Kirk's there, he's 201 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 3: an option for us. So how did that maybe shape 202 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 3: the way that you look at your path even today? 203 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 4: Well, I definitely think it was a blessing in disguise, 204 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 4: again similar to the burns, where I didn't want it 205 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 4: to be that way. I wanted to be the guy 206 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 4: who had all the scholarship offers and the guy that 207 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 4: everyone was telling how great he is, and the high 208 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 4: draft pick and play on the varsity as a freshman. 209 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 4: But that wouldn't have been the best thing for me. 210 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 4: I think it was healthier to have to work your 211 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 4: way through things, to have to earn it, to really 212 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 4: not have anything given to you. And I think there 213 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 4: also is maybe a little less pressure when it's not 214 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 4: expectations tied to things. So for a lot of different reasons, 215 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 4: it was a blessing to not have a bunch of 216 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 4: scholarship offers. They certainly created some unknowns. Totally yeah, going 217 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 4: to college knowing that, Okay, I did end up in 218 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 4: a great spot. I didn't get there as easily as 219 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 4: and I would say that again and again, is that 220 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 4: I got to a great spot. I just didn't get 221 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 4: there as easily. It wasn't a red carpet to get there. 222 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 4: But I did get to a great spot. And I 223 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 4: would say the same about Atlanta, that this is a 224 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 4: great spot. And I'm so happy where we ended up. 225 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 4: And I can't wait to take that next step and 226 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 4: write the next chapter, and hopefully it's a really good chapter, 227 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 4: not only for Kirk Cousins. Before the Atlanta Falcons. 228 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 3: I mean, yeah, I think that's the hope around the 229 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 3: city for sure. For you, there was a quote that 230 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 3: I found from twenty eleven, so this is a long 231 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 3: time ago, but you said there are always going to 232 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 3: be people to prove wrong. How did you kind of 233 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 3: live that quote to a certain extent during that time 234 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 3: in your life. 235 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 4: Well, I've learned since more about what it means to 236 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 4: prove people wrong. I heard a great quote from a 237 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 4: coach two years ago, and he's correct in saying this. 238 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 4: He said, everyone talks about proving people wrong. Think about 239 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,680 Speaker 4: proving people right, and think of the people like your parents, 240 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 4: or a coach or a mentor or teacher who did 241 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 4: believe in you when no one else did. Becus more 242 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 4: on proving them right than on proving someone else wrong. 243 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 4: I remember we were playing at Atlanta in twenty thirteen. 244 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:09,319 Speaker 4: It was my second career starting. Kyle Shanahan, the play 245 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 4: caller for our team, who was in the Georgia Dome, 246 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 4: and he came up to me before kickoff and said, 247 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 4: you're going to play great. You're a great quarterback, You're 248 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 4: going to be special. And this is early in my career, right, 249 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 4: I wasn't I haven't done anything yet, And he was 250 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 4: basically telling me that I have a bright future and 251 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,000 Speaker 4: it's going to show today. And I said to him, well, 252 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 4: I want to prove you right, and he said, you 253 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 4: don't have to prove me right. I know I'm right, 254 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 4: and he walked away. And that'll guess you. Yes, there 255 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: certainly are people on the way when you aren't given 256 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 4: a lot of scholarships and when you aren't a high 257 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 4: draft pick that are going to say I don't think 258 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 4: he can do it. And certainly that puts a chip 259 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 4: on your shoulder. That'll get my blood boiling, and that'll 260 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 4: fire me up. So motivation can come from proving people wrong, 261 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:53,839 Speaker 4: from proving people right. I think it's important though, that 262 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:57,239 Speaker 4: when you get up every morning, you have that why 263 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 4: you and you get to work, and whether you know 264 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 4: you're proving people right or wrong, you're going yeah. 265 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 3: I think that's such a good like juxtaposition of like 266 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 3: where you were from a mentality standpoint in your younger 267 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 3: years to now being so far into your career and 268 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 3: having this more like honestly like positive outlook like I'm 269 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: onet like the people who know me, who believe in me, like, 270 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 3: those are the people that I want to prove right 271 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:22,839 Speaker 3: instead of proving doubt. 272 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 4: I think so. I think it's in the challenge. I 273 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 4: think I've always played well when I have an edge 274 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 4: to me and when I feel doubted. That tends to 275 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 4: be when I'm at my best. Ye, So I never 276 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,200 Speaker 4: want to lose that, and then there will always be 277 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 4: that element. But I don't know this the healthiest to 278 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 4: walk around always feeling like I'm going to show you, Like, 279 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 4: at some point it's probably healthier to just say, hey, 280 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 4: we're good, you know, So you try to find that balance. 281 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 2: It's interesting hearing you say before that you felt less 282 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 2: pressure almost when like you were quote unquote plan B 283 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 2: because I read an entire story about where you are 284 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 2: your own biggest critic. Oh yeah, and you put so 285 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 2: much pressure on yourself And maybe that's because you felt 286 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 2: like you where I hate using the plan no no, 287 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 2: but like for having people wrong. Yeah, proving people wrong, 288 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: that's the way to go with Yeah. Yeah, and I 289 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 2: saw that, like you basically had to have a come 290 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: to Jesus moment almost with your wife where it's like 291 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 2: you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You're in your 292 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: head too much. It's maybe taking you out of the house. 293 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 2: And there was like a quote where you said you 294 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 2: can actually get burnt out and push yourself too hard. Absolutely, 295 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 2: How do you think that was just like maturity with time? 296 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: Like what was that switch in your brain where You're like, 297 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 2: I got to change things because if I keep going 298 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 2: this direction, it's going to end shorter than i'd like 299 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: it to. 300 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 4: Well, I think that's where God provides you a spouse, 301 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: because I think your wife is there as a built 302 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 4: in person to give you that feedback and say, hey, 303 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:44,319 Speaker 4: I know this may have worked for you to this point, 304 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 4: but it probably isn't sustainable. And so she was a 305 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 4: great sounding board too, and still is to this day. 306 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 4: When I come home from work and give her thoughts 307 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 4: on what I'm learning or how I'm going about my business, 308 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 4: she'll have a great perspective of how to handle it. 309 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 4: And I think in that moment she was saying, you know, 310 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 4: there's got to find balance here, and we did. And 311 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 4: I think that I'm kind of wired to be an 312 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 4: improver and there are times where I'm always wanting to 313 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 4: improve something and my wife will laugh because she'll say 314 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,559 Speaker 4: the improver in you wants to keep making that better, 315 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 4: but it's good like it's good, So it leads to 316 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 4: as my dad would say, it leads to tired living 317 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 4: because even when something is really good, I'm wired to say, 318 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: how can we improve it? And I think it's partly 319 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 4: why I'm sitting here talking to you is because as 320 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 4: an improver, you're going to always find ways to get better, 321 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 4: and it enables you to have success in what you do. 322 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 4: But then my wife would say, okay, but what's the 323 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 4: balance with that, and how do we, you know, dial 324 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 4: back that improving when maybe we don't need to. And 325 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 4: so it goes both ways. And you'll hear me say, 326 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 4: you know, life is about balance and trying to find 327 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 4: the middle, not the extremes, and so I try to 328 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 4: live in that middle. 329 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 3: Do you feel like you kind of because it almost 330 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 3: sounds like perfectionist tendencies And I know like we probably 331 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 3: all feel away from time to time, but like, what's 332 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 3: the difference for you? And where was that balance between 333 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 3: like trying to be perfect and trying to be an 334 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: improver and knowing when to stop right. 335 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 4: I think perfectionist is a term that people will use, 336 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 4: but really I think for me, I learned a better 337 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 4: term would just be I'm just trying to improve things. 338 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 4: I don't necessarily want them to be because even once 339 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 4: they're perfect, I'm still you're im That's just how I'm wired. 340 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 4: So it's it's just something you always want to be 341 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 4: in tune with and have that like my wife to say, Hey, 342 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 4: I think we're out of balance. We've got to get 343 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 4: back in balance. And so you also try to be 344 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 4: coachable and stay right in the middle. And uh, but 345 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 4: you as someone said to me, they also said when 346 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 4: they brought up this point, they then said, don't forget 347 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 4: being an improver is your superpower. So they said, it's 348 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 4: also a very elite trait that you have to do that, 349 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 4: Captain Kirk. But don't you know, don't let it get 350 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 4: out of hand. 351 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, when you mentioned the improving part, it rang a 352 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 2: bell from that story to where you had a C 353 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 2: minus on a math test. Frame it is it still framed? 354 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 4: Isn't going to be frame office? It's in my home 355 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 4: office framed. Yep. 356 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: It was a wait, why I didn't read this story, Tara. 357 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 4: I took a math quiz in high school. I had 358 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 4: had a full day the day before, and I went 359 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 4: to bed and I knew I had a math quiz 360 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 4: next day, and I thought, should I study or not? 361 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 4: And I thought, no, I'm good, I just don't have 362 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 4: it in me. I can't do it. And took the 363 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 4: quiz and I didn't feel great about it. Got it back. 364 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 4: It was like a C minus or something like that, 365 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 4: and I wasn't used to seeing that on a paper, 366 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 4: and so I thought that was a great lesson to 367 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 4: me that when I didn't put the time in that 368 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 4: I normally would, the results were not what I would 369 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 4: normally want. And it wasn't so much that, you know, 370 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 4: I realized. I thought that I'm good at math, it's 371 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 4: that I didn't put the time in. And when I 372 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 4: don't put the time in, I'm not going to be 373 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 4: very good at math. I thought that was a bit 374 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 4: of a picture of life too, that whatever you want 375 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 4: you have to work for and you can't just expect 376 00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 4: things to happen if you don't. And I then, rather 377 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 4: I initially crump up the paper because I was upset, 378 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 4: and then I was like, you know what, maybe I'll 379 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 4: keep this, and so then I elaminated it and framed 380 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 4: it and still have it and the ink, the red 381 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 4: ink is fading, so you can barely see the markings 382 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 4: in the sea C grade. 383 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: But uh, and you said it's in your office. 384 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, and it's more humorous, honestly, not like a motivational 385 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 4: thing anymore. 386 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 2: At one point it was yeah, at one point it was. 387 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 4: Now it's more like, hey, I've kept it this long. 388 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 4: It's kind of funny to have and we're still talking 389 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 4: about it. But it has a little reminder there. 390 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 2: You always remember the bad ones rather than you do 391 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 2: a bunch of. 392 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 4: Is still the same way that you take the good, 393 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 4: the good plays, the good games, for granted, you just 394 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 4: brush them past, and then the bad throws, the interceptions, 395 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 4: the tough losses you they stick with you a little more. 396 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. 397 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm glad you brought up to uh, your wife 398 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 3: Julie because she is amazing. 399 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: I met her the first Yeah, I really agree. 400 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, say Atlanta native. 401 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 3: Well, I'm gonna I will get there. But I did 402 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 3: meet her in so I'm also a Georgia grad. She's 403 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 3: a Georgia grad. Like we were connecting over red and Black, 404 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 3: like it's all good, but she is your along with 405 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 3: being kind of your best friend, your confidant, all that 406 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,640 Speaker 3: kind of stuff sounding board. She is your connection to Atlanta, 407 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 3: which I think is so interesting and it's like truly 408 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 3: a full circle moment. I know that you spoke about 409 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 3: this in your introductory press conference that like different points 410 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 3: of y'all's life together can be tracked through Atlanta in 411 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 3: the surrounding Atlanta areas. Y'all were married in Roswell, met 412 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 3: in first date Stone Mountain, lived in Atlanta, and for 413 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 3: a time, I believe, if research is correct, y'all lived 414 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 3: with your in laws. Okay, please tell us a little 415 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 3: bit about that. 416 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: And and honestly I'm gonna say why. I love my parents. Mom, Dad, 417 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: If you're watching this, I love you guys. I don't 418 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 1: know if I could do it. 419 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: Absolutely sorry, I love you too. 420 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 4: But I was on my rookie contract. It was basically 421 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 4: year to year and we wanted to get to warmer weather. 422 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 4: We were in Washington, d C. And I thought, I 423 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 4: want to get south for the winter. Julie, we had 424 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 4: just been married, and we looked at options, and I'm 425 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 4: pretty frugal, and so we thought, well, is there a 426 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 4: place we could It'd be silly to just spend rent 427 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 4: in Atlanta. We'd love to go to Atlanta to be 428 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 4: near your family, silly to spend rent. If we could 429 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 4: stay with someone. We actually had a family friend who said, 430 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 4: we're going to Florida for the winter. You could stay 431 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 4: in our house. So we thought, great, that works well. 432 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 4: And then they're like a pipe broke or something and 433 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 4: they're based in flooded and they so they said you 434 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 4: can't stay there. So we quickly pivoted and said, well, 435 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 4: we'll just crash with your parents and in two or 436 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 4: three weeks when they get that pipe problem fixed, we'll 437 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 4: move over there. Well, like two and a half weeks 438 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 4: in we were moved in. We were settled, and it 439 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 4: was working well. And I had said to Julie, I 440 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 4: think I'm good. We can just stay here. We've only 441 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,240 Speaker 4: got like a couple months left of the off season. 442 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 4: This will be fine. Your mom and dad are a 443 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 4: great help, they're great people. 444 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: This well in the basement right essentially, And uh. 445 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 4: We kind of share the whole house basically, but yes, 446 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 4: we stay in the basement. And I did not know 447 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 4: that when I said that it would turn into seven 448 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 4: off seasons, but it did, and to this day, so 449 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 4: whenever we visit, we stay there. 450 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: And is it's still the same house. 451 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 4: It's the same house, the house that Julie grew up in, 452 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 4: was born in, and so we are still there. I 453 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 4: thought two to three years ago that, Okay, that'll be 454 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 4: the last off season there, and nope. Last off season 455 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 4: I flew every Sunday night back to Minnesota Frotier's from 456 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 4: their house every Thursday. When Ota finished to Minnesota, I'd 457 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 4: fly back here to Atlanta, spend the weekend here and 458 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 4: in the city, and and then we signed with the Falcons, 459 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,200 Speaker 4: and I drove over here to sign from my inlast house. 460 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 4: I've been staying there now for the last several weeks. 461 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 4: We'll eventually we'll buy our own home. 462 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 3: Right of course, in laws basement said you thought that 463 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 3: once before, and it didn't really happen. 464 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: Right, you just buy their house, you know what. 465 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 4: We've had a lot of conversations. I'm sure housing options 466 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 4: here that one hasn't has been discussed. But I want 467 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 4: to short drive to work. 468 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 3: Yeah no, yeah, it took me an hour and twenty 469 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 3: minutes to get to work today. So I understand you 470 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 3: talk about being frugal. Everybody knows about your van, but 471 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 3: I don't know if Falcons fans do. 472 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, like, so have you parked? 473 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 2: Oh, we surely have mentioned in the van and like 474 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 2: mentioned like what it looks like. 475 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: I was like, that's his, that's his van. 476 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 3: So I want to go back to the og van, 477 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 3: which was your grandma's gmc savannah passenger van that you 478 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 3: bought for five thousand dollars in twenty fourteen. 479 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 4: Research that's exactly right when when. 480 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 3: You rice, I honestly and so I love this so 481 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 3: much because it's like such a unique thing, because I 482 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 3: feel like first purchase contracts. Like a lot of guys 483 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 3: that I talked to, they're like, the thing I want 484 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 3: more than anything is I want a nice car, And 485 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 3: not that your grandma's GMC savannah passenger van was not 486 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:09,719 Speaker 3: a nice car. 487 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: But this story is just so funny to me. How 488 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: long did you have the original one? 489 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 4: Longer than you think. I bought it, like you said, 490 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 4: in fourteen. We took it to games. We got a 491 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 4: lot of use out of it. It was a lot of fun. 492 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 4: There's a TV in there, there's a lot of room. 493 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 4: We obviously would have many family members come to games, 494 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 4: and so to have one car where everyone could fit 495 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 4: was a great deal. I think I either had a 496 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,719 Speaker 4: car go in the shop, or whatever arrangement I had 497 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 4: for a car that year as my daily driver separate 498 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 4: from the van, it fell through, and so I was 499 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,440 Speaker 4: using the van as my daily driver just to get 500 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 4: through that stretch of this football season, and so I 501 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 4: wasn't only driving it to games at that point, I 502 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 4: was then driving it every day to work. And that's 503 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 4: when the story kind of took on its own, its 504 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 4: own deal. But I'm kind of in a similar spot 505 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 4: right now because we road tripped our. 506 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 1: New van now the new White Woman. 507 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, we got that a couple of years ago. 508 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 4: We road tripped that from Michigan down here, and it 509 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 4: was great, you know for the road trip. Now that's 510 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 4: great for a daily drive, But I haven't quite figured 511 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 4: out the car situation here yet. I'm going to figure 512 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 4: that out soon. And so in the meantime, I drive 513 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 4: a van and it's people probably looking me a little 514 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:21,920 Speaker 4: crazy as I pull up and walk into the facility. 515 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,920 Speaker 4: But I promise it won't be my daily driver long term. 516 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: But house tvd R on the checklistee, moving car and 517 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: house becomes a big deal to figure out exactly as 518 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 2: it fell Midwesterner though I can understand the van's purpose 519 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 2: because we drove everywhere, like totally Midwesterners drive everywhere. 520 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, totally, no, and especially even living in Atlanta, Like 521 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 4: if we go down to Hilton Head or three A, 522 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 4: even down to Orlando where my parents live, we'll actually 523 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 4: absolutely fire up the van and go. You know, those 524 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 4: five six hours drives is perfect. 525 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 3: Now you have kids too, so it's like everybody has 526 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 3: a little bit more space. I know, like our family 527 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 3: road trips, it would be like three of us in 528 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 3: the backseat, just like all crammed together, so they have 529 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 3: room for activities. 530 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:02,640 Speaker 1: That's good. 531 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 2: This seems like the perfect note to start our rapid fire. 532 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,439 Speaker 2: We do this with every person when it comes to 533 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 2: this podcast, and we'll ask you five questions back and forth. 534 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 2: You don't necessarily have to answer. 535 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: Really fast, but we got right. Yeah, okay. 536 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 2: Favorite player growing. 537 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 4: Up Peyton Manning. 538 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: Very nice, very nice. Eighteen. That makes sense. Did you 539 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: think about that a little bit? 540 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 4: There were other reasons to switch eighteen, but I wasn't 541 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 4: disappointed that it was a number. 542 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: Peyton war at Kyle Pitts. I will say, I think 543 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: it's great. It's so fun. Who Okay, favorite play of 544 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: your entire career. 545 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 4: This is a tough question. 546 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: It's really tough. 547 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,120 Speaker 4: I've been asked it and I don't have a great 548 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 4: answer yet, because most memorable play for people listening is 549 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 4: not your favorite, right, So hail Mary's plays that were lucky, 550 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 4: not as an improver, as a perfectionist. Ones that were 551 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 4: lucky don't really make me happy, but it's fun for fans. 552 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 4: So favorite play for me would probably be Man, it's. 553 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:11,640 Speaker 1: Hard to break it up into like an entire career. 554 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 2: I hope it's like a high school one. 555 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 4: Well, I definitely have high school if you want one. 556 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 4: I mean Week three at the high school senior season 557 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 4: against Greenville, we went to overtime, fourth and twenty two. 558 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 4: We threw ball into the end zone that was caught. 559 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 4: We were then down by one. We decided to go 560 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 4: for two to win the game, and we got the 561 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 4: two point conversion and the fans rush the field. And 562 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 4: I tell people that playing in front of seventy thousand 563 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 4: fans and millions more on TV, the rush, that that 564 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 4: is the great moments you have. They're all great, but 565 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,320 Speaker 4: I promise you that overtime win against Greenville two thousand 566 00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 4: and six is absolutely at the same level as far 567 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 4: as an adrenaline rush. So I tell people anytime I 568 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 4: talk to high school football players, I say, if you 569 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 4: go on and play at the highest levels, it does 570 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 4: not get better than Friday night under the lights in 571 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 4: front one of your hometown and your friends and your community. 572 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 4: That's as good as it gets. And I tell everybody 573 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:06,639 Speaker 4: that who plays high school football. 574 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 3: You'd be surprised how many guys sit in this chair 575 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:11,879 Speaker 3: and say a high school football memory. And like, my 576 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 3: dad has been a high school football coach for years, 577 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 3: just recently got back into it. So it's like that 578 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 3: was my where I grew up and where my personal 579 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 3: foundation is. And so it's like I always love hearing 580 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 3: guys tell stories from your high school. 581 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 4: It really is. 582 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:26,880 Speaker 1: It's like that in your core. 583 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 3: It's like you can talk about the big moments, the 584 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,719 Speaker 3: shiniest moments, the craziest moments, but sometimes it's something as 585 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 3: simple as winning a game on a Friday night. 586 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,520 Speaker 2: It's the most innocent level of football. Now, especially with nil. 587 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, it's so good, all right, Next one, Taran, 588 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 3: what is what superpower. 589 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 2: Do you want? But I know you kind of answered that. 590 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 4: Earlier with the improver I want to be able to teleport. Okay, 591 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 4: good one teleport it matters to me. 592 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: Then you can't have the band, you should take it 593 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 1: with you. 594 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,440 Speaker 4: I teleport the van. Commute to Flower Branch would be 595 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 4: very easy. Family and friends would be that much easier. 596 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 2: The van would be a luxury. Then, yeah, like you 597 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 2: can't teleport everywhere, it'd be special, save on gas. 598 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:12,280 Speaker 1: I love it all right. 599 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,719 Speaker 3: Having spent many off seasons in Atlanta, do you have 600 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 3: a favorite like Atlanta memory? 601 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 4: I love this. I can't wait right, I can't say 602 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 4: you're Atlanta memory. I'm trying to think of all the 603 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 4: places I've gone to. My first date was at Stone Mountain. 604 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 4: It's obviously a great memory. I absolutely love playing golf 605 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 4: in Atlanta is so great for golf. I remember the 606 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 4: first time I ever played Eastlake, I thought this is 607 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 4: so cool. Playing Peach Tree, playing Atlanta Athletic Club like 608 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 4: really fun golf courses. Remember the first time I ate 609 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 4: at the Varsity? I remember, uh. I have a great 610 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,159 Speaker 4: memories of going down to the Georgia Dome and seeing 611 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 4: the Falcon's last two games ever at the Georgia Dome 612 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,280 Speaker 4: and those playoff wins I had teammates on the team, 613 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 4: friends that were coaches of that team, and I remember 614 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 4: driving home from them beating the Packers and and just 615 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 4: being I played for Washington at that time, but just 616 00:28:08,359 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 4: being happy for all these people I knew who worked 617 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 4: for the Falcons that they were going to the Super Bowl, 618 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 4: and that was a great memory. You know. I get 619 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 4: up on Saturday mornings with my boys in the off 620 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 4: season and we'll go get donuts down the street there 621 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 4: in Alfaretta, and that's a great memory for me. So well, 622 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 4: there's a lot of memories. You know. I still haven't 623 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:30,199 Speaker 4: been to Georgia Aquarium, so that's a. 624 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: Most to do that. 625 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:36,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. I love the Jimmy Carter Museum, the Presidential Museum. 626 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 4: I love it. I went there one day by myself 627 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 4: because my wife wasn't really wanting to go, and I 628 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 4: was like, I know this isn't really your thing, but 629 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 4: I really want to do this. And I got up 630 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 4: on a Saturday morning and just drove over there and 631 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 4: walked through it and just ate it up. And I 632 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 4: love that I was myself because I could take my time, 633 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 4: I could read everything. 634 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, they do a farmer's market over there sometimes, so 635 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 3: if that's if that's your thing. 636 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: I get. I've gone to it a few times. It's 637 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: really and. 638 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 4: I've been over some of the Doctor King historical stuff, 639 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 4: you know, the church and where he grew up, and 640 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 4: I want to see more of that. I think that 641 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 4: would be really cool now that we have more time 642 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,719 Speaker 4: being here. So looking forward to all that Atlanta has 643 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 4: to offer, and not just Atlanta, but like the greld 644 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 4: State of Georgia and the Southeast. So I'm looking forward. 645 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 2: To him, last, but not least, as the author of 646 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 2: Game Changer, Faith Football and Finding your Way. What is 647 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,520 Speaker 2: the best advice you would give to someone writing a book? 648 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: As as writers ourselves, we would. 649 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 2: Love some advice. 650 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 4: It sounds like readers too, with how much research we 651 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 4: have done a lot. Well, you want to get the 652 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 4: right publishing company for important, you want to have a 653 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 4: great partner there. And then I just think you want 654 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 4: to be honest and tell your story or whatever you 655 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 4: have to say. And I think you got to understand 656 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 4: it's a lot of work. It was a lot lot 657 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 4: more than I realized. I agreed to do it, and 658 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 4: I'm glad we did it, but it was a lot 659 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 4: of work. And if you're willing to put the work in. 660 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 4: I think it'll be a very enriching experience, and my expectation, 661 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 4: my goal is that our journey here with the Falcons 662 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 4: would be strong enough, powerful enough, positive enough. Another chance 663 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 4: to write a book. You know, you can't really be 664 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 4: writing books unless you're winning football games. So I'm excited 665 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 4: about hopefully winning a lot of games and being able 666 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 4: to write another one. Love it. 667 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 2: Those are a rapid fire. This has been a blast. 668 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, this has been such a great conversation with me on. 669 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. Everyone listening in can find all of 670 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 2: the podcasts on the Atlanta Falcons podcast network. I need 671 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 2: to remember these things to say. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple, 672 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:37,320 Speaker 2: and really anywhere you can find your podcast. And then 673 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 2: obviously watch QB one on Sundays and then any other 674 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 2: day of the week apparently since now there's a Wednesday game. 675 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, whenever. 676 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,760 Speaker 4: I've played on every day of the week except Tuesday 677 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 4: and Wednesday. So okay, hey, if we get that Christmas. 678 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 1: Game, do you want the Christmas game? 679 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 4: I played on a Christmas Day on Friday, so I've 680 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 4: had to do it before. I've played on Thanksgiving many 681 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 4: times at some point I've just agree to the fact 682 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,920 Speaker 4: that look from August to February, I just don't really 683 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 4: have a life. Ye. 684 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: Same for us, the. 685 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 4: Way it's going to be, and whether it's Christmas, Thanksgiving, Friday, Sunday, 686 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 4: it is what it is. 687 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: Schedule release comes out in May. Everybody be on the 688 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: lookout for it. 689 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 4: Thanks so much, Thanks for having on, Thanks for the 690 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 4: research you did. It means a lot that you would 691 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 4: look into it that much and appreciate your researching my story. 692 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 4: Of course,