1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that you've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: for years. From a Macrew standpoint, I think our sport 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: industry is really forced to look at the business a 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: little bit differently in depth conversations with the leaders in 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Who wants to be the sacrificial lambs 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: that shows up at the first big major sporting event 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: were part of something much bigger than the sport right 10 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: now and the health and safety of our stakeholders that 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: works much important every moment. I think we're all from 12 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: the business respective thinking about the impact that the virus 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: is having across the country against Bloomberg Business of Sports 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch 15 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,279 Speaker 1: and I'm Michael bar Over the next hour, we will 16 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports 17 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: and talk to some of the biggest players in the industry. 18 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: No exception this week, guys, that's for sure, We're gonna 19 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: catch up with Super Bowl winning head coach, of course, 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: with the Baltimore Ravens, Brian Billick. He's an NFL analyst 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: now and a pretty savvy businessman, interested to get his 22 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: perspective on the economics of himself and his career, but 23 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: also the economics of the current NFL. So let's start though, 24 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: by talking about the NFL talk amongst ourselves. They got 25 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: it done. Uh, pretty impressive, Lynchy. Were you surprised? Um? 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: I was not surprised, because I think they've had the 27 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: longest time to prepare for their season, because they strictly 28 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: by the when the calendar when they coned COVID broke 29 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: out in early March, the other two preseason baseball was 30 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: going on, hockey and basketball were just at the tail 31 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: end of their regular seasons, and they had six months 32 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 1: to prepare for it. And it showed too because the 33 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: all the veteran coaches, not only one, but they covered 34 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: Kansas City, Seattle, Patriots, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh. This 35 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: is the business of sports, So I had to throw 36 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: that in there. There you go. Good good? Uh So, 37 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Michael Barr, what do you think of the product on 38 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: the field? Oh, the problem? It was great and and 39 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: I have to tell you I appreciated it. Yes, you 40 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: you heard the crowd noise, and since we know that 41 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: it's piped in, you knew it was piped in, but 42 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: if you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't have known. And 43 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: more importantly, I can hear a lot of the audibles 44 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: now on the field, and sometimes you might need a 45 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: seventh second delay for some of that stuff that was 46 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: on there, which I like, to be honest with you, 47 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: but I thought that was a neat product that I 48 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 1: can hear the audibles. Yeah, absolutely, all right. So I'm 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: guessing that the successful return of the NFL put a 50 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: little bit more pressure, as if there wasn't enough on 51 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: the Big Ten. Speaking of the Big Ten, and before 52 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: we dissect it, I was reminded of a conversation that 53 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: we had just a couple of weeks ago with a 54 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: former Big Ten player talking about a monti tumor who 55 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: went on too a great career with the New York 56 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: Football Giants. Here's what he had to say about his 57 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: former conference. It's just not something to be played with 58 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: And think the Big tenant look look like the smart 59 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 1: responsible conferences, while other ones are gonna look to me 60 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: like they're just in it for you know, there's in 61 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: it for you know, the variety, the money and and coop, 62 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: the hell with the kids, how the how the kids 63 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: are going to be affected by it? And news this 64 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: week that they're coming back end of October and Lynchy, 65 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 1: was this inevitable in your estimation once we had SEC, 66 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: A c C and some of the other big Power 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: five conferences come back and successfully get on the field. Absolutely, 68 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: they're looking around. They're saying, if they could do it, 69 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: why can't we do it? And they didn't have to 70 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: look very far because right down the road in South Bend, Indiana, 71 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: Notre Dame was opening up against Duke and playing college 72 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: football with about fifteen thousand fans in the stadium, and 73 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: everybody was healthy and everybody was safe. And other schools 74 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: that the S, the SEC, and the A c C 75 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: kicked off as well. And remember the it'll be pro 76 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: rated probably, but there's fifty five point six million dollars 77 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: per team lying on the table uncollected if they don't play. Wow. Wow. 78 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: So this is a business at the end of the day, 79 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: bar right. I mean there were economic pressures. Obviously, there 80 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,559 Speaker 1: were pressures from the players. I think it's from a 81 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: I want to get out on the field. I'm seeing 82 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: my buddies. So I went to high school with who 83 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: got recruited to Alabama or Clemson or wherever. But money talks. 84 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: Oh you know who the pressure is on now the 85 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: Pack twelve. Pack twelve is like, oh, sweet merciful, what 86 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: are we gonna do now? Everybody's coming back. We're the 87 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: only ones now not playing. The President of the United 88 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: States like, come on, backed, well, hop in there. Now. 89 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: Remember the reason why they said it and they were 90 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: they canceled the season was because of COVID, So we 91 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: have to keep that in perspective. But now you know 92 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: that there's a lot of pressure on the Pack twelve. Yeah, 93 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: absolute lutely well. And in the world of baseball, no 94 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,119 Speaker 1: bigger money than the hedge fund world and the hedge 95 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: fund world. Ripping a page from the popular television show Billions, 96 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: I feel like Stevie Cohen s a C Capital point 97 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: seventy two, well known to our Bloomberg audience. He is, 98 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: after all, the new owner of the Mets. Lynchy. This is, 99 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: as the kids would say, s mh, I mean, I 100 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: just I can't believe this is where the Mets ended up. Well, 101 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: he's a New York native. I think They're looking for 102 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: somebody that has passion for this team, that has a 103 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: rooting interest as a native New Yorker, that's going to 104 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: spend some money, finally bringing some free agents, get some 105 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: good management. The question is will he get approval from 106 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 1: twenty three out of the thirty owners in Major League Baseball? 107 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: Because he does have a past. He does have a past, 108 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: and that's why I think there were at least a 109 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: few raised eyebrows. Of course, some settlements that he made 110 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: as a as a hedge fund manager. Then again, his 111 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: competition who dropped out ultimately was a former baseball player 112 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,679 Speaker 1: by the name of Alex Rodriguez, who ultimately, as I said, 113 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: didn't go for the deal. So maybe there wasn't a 114 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: perfect solution here. Michael Barr, come on sing to everybody, 115 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: meet the Cohen you know, you get it, you meet them. 116 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: I would have loved to have seen a Rod and 117 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,559 Speaker 1: j Lo up there in the owner's booth. I would 118 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: bring my binoculars to watch them every time if there 119 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: was a game going on, especially j Lo. I'm sorry, 120 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: Mrs Barr don't but yeah, but anyway, it would have 121 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: been exciting. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, but but Steve 122 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: Cohen got it done. What can you say? Yeah, it'll 123 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: be interesting to see and Lynch, your point is exactly right. 124 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: I think the excitement is around somebody who's really going 125 00:06:55,279 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: to invest in the team. And listen, I will say it, 126 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 1: and you can hate tweet me all you want. I'm 127 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: a Braves fan, so I have no love loss for 128 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: the Mets, even though I am a relocated New Yorker 129 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: and I'll just say Chever Jones in any case, Today 130 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: we're speaking with Super Bowl winning head coach NFL analyst 131 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: Brian Billy. Brian, really nice to have you with us. 132 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: You and I were talking before we came on air. 133 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: Last time we saw each other in person Radio Row 134 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: down in Miami. Uh, it seems like a long time ago. Yeah, 135 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: a million years ago, and it begs the question. Will 136 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: be interesting to see what the league does going forward 137 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl this year, as as you know, you know, 138 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: just in Radio Row, which for those who have never 139 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: been there, it's just a convention room, huge convention with 140 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: virtually every radio and TV station in the country, all 141 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: you know, all jammed together in a tight space. It's 142 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: an incredible thing to experience, very efficient for for obviously 143 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: the talent and for the for the stations. But obviously 144 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: that can't go on the NFL experience itself, which goes 145 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: on at the Super Bowl along with a myriad of 146 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: other things. Uh, it's hard to imagine that advertisers are 147 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: going to want to participate in that. I got a 148 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: feeling that the Super Bowl that goes on this year 149 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: is going to be like one we haven't seen it 150 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: in decades. Well, there's no way in the world I'm 151 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: going to let the elephant in the room go by 152 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: Mr super Bowl thirty five winning ring. And I always 153 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: think about that when you were coaching the Ravens and 154 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: you're watching that game. The experience of winning a Super Bowl, 155 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: so many questions I have, But can you take us 156 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: through that, because that has to be something awesome. Well, 157 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: you know, there's a lot of people in the professions. 158 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: I don't know that there's a specific moment that you 159 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: can point to and say, yes, this was the seminal 160 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: moment of your professional career. Well, obviously, when you're in 161 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl as a pro coach, you kind of 162 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: know this is pretty big, you know. And the great 163 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: thing for me personally, I'll say, is that we had 164 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: that game wound up by pretty much the of the 165 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: third quarter, so you had kind of a quarter and 166 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: rather than a game that's going down to the final 167 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: minute you don't know what the outcome is gonna be. 168 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: I had about a quarter and a half to just 169 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: kind of take it all in and look around and going, yeah, 170 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 1: this is this is pretty cool. So yeah, it was 171 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: a pretty special moment. Hey, Brian, this is Mike Lynch 172 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: up in Boston. U. Uh. We've been to a few 173 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: Super Bowls uh here and there over the years. Um 174 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: getting to to the Super Bowl this year without the 175 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: O t A s, without mini camps, without preseason games, 176 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: do you see it being a coach like an Andy Reid, 177 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: A Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, John Harbor, Gary Peyton, Uh, 178 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, Mike Tomlin. Someone who has experience, has an 179 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: experienced system and won't have to go through any of 180 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: the pitfalls of trying to players trying to adjust and 181 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: get to know each other. You know, it's interesting. I 182 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: thought the opening week was really quite representative of of 183 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: the level of play that we'd expect an opening week 184 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: and other I challenge someone to show me the opening 185 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: week in years past versus this year and say there's 186 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 1: a discernible difference. So that tells you that the O 187 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 1: t A, the trainee camps, that the altered way that 188 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: we approached this year, I don't know that it really 189 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: had an adverse effect. Now, clearly those teams that are 190 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: coming together for the first time, just as you alluded 191 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: to Tom Brady down in Tampa Bay Uh, Dallas Cowboys, 192 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy taking over, certainly in Cleveland where you have 193 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: a new coach again, the fifth coach and the fourth 194 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: offense that Baker Mayfields had to go through. Um, certainly 195 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 1: those teams are that that lack of offseason since it's 196 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: your first year, is going to have more of an effect. 197 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: But I think that will diminish as we go forward. Yes, 198 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: to the teams that have the experience, have been together, 199 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: are they going to start faster? Is that an advantage? Yes, 200 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,400 Speaker 1: But as we progress through the year, I don't know 201 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: if it's enough to say, well, it's enough of advantage 202 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: to say clearly that's the way it's going to go down. 203 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 1: Now that the two best teams in the a f 204 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: C are teams that have incredible continuity, You're talking about 205 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: Kid City in Baltimore, both in terms of their coaching staff, 206 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 1: their players, the quarterback position. So yeah, clearly that's an 207 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: advantage compared to some of the other teams that are 208 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: trying to crack into that level, that are having to 209 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: overcome a new system at a time where you really 210 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: didn't have the off season that you traditionally do. All right, So, Brian, 211 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 1: as you watched week one and as people are listening 212 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: to this, we're getting ready for week two, what is different? 213 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: What is different about this product as you are viewing 214 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: it from the perspective of especially a former coach, but 215 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: now someone whose job it is to to talk about 216 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: this and break it down. Well, obviously the biggest difference 217 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: as you watch the game, if I look at it 218 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: as a consumer, it has a different feel for it. 219 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: Although the league, I gotta tell you, I thought they 220 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: did a pretty good job. Obviously, playing in front of 221 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: an empty stadium is a unique experience, and in talking 222 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: with some of the coaches, they did talk about how 223 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: that is a different challenge, keeping the inner your level 224 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: for your players up for it to make it, you know, 225 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: and not feel like just a scrimmage or another practice. 226 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: But from the fans standpoint watching it, you know, the 227 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: way they piped in the music, whether it was the 228 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: television broadcast units that did it or there at the 229 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: stadium themselves, I thought you kind of got used to 230 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: it and it had a pretty normal feel to it 231 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: in terms of the mechanics in the game and the 232 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: players physically. I will tell you this, the coaches said, 233 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: this is the healthiest in general, the healthiest they've ever 234 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: come in to start in the season because of the 235 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: way they ran the offseason. And don't think for a 236 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: second now that the players aren't going to take note 237 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: of that and say, look, we seem to be playing 238 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: in the game at the same level and we're healthier. 239 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: Do we really need that offseason o t Do we 240 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: really need to have preseason games and scrimmages? Why don't 241 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 1: we just kind of continue to do it this way, 242 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: because the players obviously would prefer to do it that 243 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: way and not have to go through the rigors of 244 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: the preseason games and the scrimmages. And it's going to 245 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: be a tough argument for the league to say, oh no, no, 246 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: we need to go back to having preseason games. Coach 247 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 1: big news obviously from the Big Ten, they're going to 248 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: play football and they're gonna try to do it at 249 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: the end of October, and that means all of the 250 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: teams in the Big Ten have to now get into 251 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: football shape within five weeks. Can you give us your 252 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 1: thoughts about that. That has to be tough. Yeah, I 253 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: think that they'll be able to do that because they've 254 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: been conditioning and doing this all along. They didn't know 255 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: if they were going to play, so obviously the coaches 256 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: needed to temper exactly what they're doing. But when you 257 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: think about the NFL season, they had basically six weeks 258 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: prior to which they had no contact with their players, 259 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: that they went through a progression of training. You know, 260 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: there's three types of conditioning as cardio basket and they'll 261 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,959 Speaker 1: be fine that way. There's there's getting into football shape, 262 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: which is the large muscle groups, the hands that glues 263 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: the quad. Uh that that takes a certain amount of orchestration. 264 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: They'll get to that. But you have to get into 265 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: hitting shape too. That that's a legitimate perspective. How much 266 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: hitting can I get away with on my own team 267 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: so that I show up at the opener ready to 268 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: play what is obviously the very physical and violent game. Um, 269 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 1: and that's the one that challenges you the most. But 270 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: I think, as we just talked about in the NFL, 271 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 1: I think they stepped up to it pretty good. So 272 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:18,319 Speaker 1: I imagine the fight we grampup period for the big ten, 273 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: they'll they'll they'll handle it really well. They've got more 274 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: of a head start than certainly the NFL did. Uh, 275 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: And I think the product will be pretty good. Coach, 276 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: you were talking about consistency with the NFL teams out 277 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: of the gate, and one team that there were a 278 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: lot of question marks up here in New England. How 279 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: would Cam Newton do under a new offense with Belichick 280 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: and Josh McDaniels and your impressions on Cam Newton and 281 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: week one, we were surprised at how efficient he was. No, 282 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: And you've got to know that that New England, of 283 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: all the teams, would adapt to what they had. I mean, 284 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: even when they had Tom Brady. No team was more 285 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: adaptive than the New England Patriots. Even from week to week. 286 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: They come out one week and decide, Okay, we're just 287 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: gonna throw it fifty times because that's what we think 288 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: we have to do to in then the next week 289 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: say we'll know We're gonna run it forty s three 290 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: times because we think we can run and we think 291 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: that's the best way to win. So their system again, 292 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: given the stability of Bill Belichick in twenty years now, 293 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: they their challenge this year now not only is at 294 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: the loss of Tom Brady, an entirely new system around 295 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: a Camp Newton that presents a totally different skill set 296 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: to Tom Brady, but he's had to revamp that defense 297 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: at the same time, it would have been daunting to 298 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: have to do either, but to do both, and obviously 299 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: they started out very well against Money. We'll see how 300 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: they do as they progress during the season, but but 301 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: clearly Cam Newton, what they're seeing is a totally different 302 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: style than what they're used to do with with Tom Brady, 303 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: and Cam Newton ran what fifteen times in the first game. So, coach, 304 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: as you think about the product, and this is where 305 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: I feel like we really value your perspective as a 306 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: coach and analyst and a businessman. I mean, you said it, 307 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: the product on the field is a little bit different. 308 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 1: What do you think that that means in the broader sense, 309 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: when you think about the NFL as something that is consumed, 310 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: it is incredibly popular. Obviously, there's nothing there's no more 311 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: popular sport UH in America or the world. I guess 312 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: the world that it rivals UH soccer or football. UM. 313 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: But that product, how do you think about it, how 314 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: it's sold right now, and how the pandemic may have 315 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:30,200 Speaker 1: changed that? Well, the biggest change and it's interesting, UM 316 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: clearly obviously the fans not being there, but they'll work 317 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: their way through that. UM. But what's the different is 318 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: the fact that there are so many sports going on 319 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: right now because the pandemic. We're starting the US Open 320 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: golf here this week. We just finished with the tennis UM. 321 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: I think last Thursday, was it not the first time 322 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: that we've had seven major sports participating at the same time, NBA, NFL, 323 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: major League Baseball, we had golf, we had tennis, and 324 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: that affected the numbers of the NFL for the first time. 325 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: I mean, you're talking about a Thursday Nited game that 326 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: featured two really good teams, hallmark teams in terms of 327 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: this season, when you're talking about the Houston Texans and 328 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: the Kansas City Chiefs, and I think I think the 329 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: broadcast was down between now. It wasn't because of a 330 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: lack of interest. It was just there were a lot 331 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: of other choices. So that's the biggest challenge to the 332 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: league right now. Who you know, this is the goose 333 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: that laid the golden egg, and it's always been on 334 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 1: the top ratings and forty the top fifty TV shows 335 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: traditionally in a given year will be NFL games. But 336 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: the fact that the you know, the thing about sports 337 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: and what people are drawn to and what marketing people 338 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: are drawn to is it's a point the TV it's 339 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 1: live compared to the other things that are take to replay. 340 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: So the fact that they have legitimately for the first time, 341 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: they had to compete with those other entities during this 342 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: time frame, it will be interesting to see going forward 343 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: if other UH entities like the NBA, NHL, Major Baseball 344 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 1: or whatever, just there's seasons to compete with the NFL. 345 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:04,479 Speaker 1: Well before it would be we're not going to compete 346 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: with the NFL. We can't keep up with it. But 347 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: they're showing, well, you know what, maybe we can. It 348 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: would be interesting to see if that changes the landscape 349 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: of when these seasons are going to transpire because of 350 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: the way they think they can compete. You had a 351 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: brilliant career as a coach, You're brilliant as an analyst. 352 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: And many other coaches and players have made that transition 353 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: from the field to the booth. How hard is it 354 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: for you or any coach or any player to make 355 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: that transition from something that you're very passionate about on 356 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: the field to now going to the booth. It was different, 357 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: and you have to recognize that as you make the transition. 358 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: I also opened up a couple of small businesses, uh, 359 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,159 Speaker 1: just just to you know, be a part of the 360 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: community I was in and some of those types of things. Um, 361 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: you find other ways to obviously channel your energies, recognizing 362 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: that you're not going to be able to duplicate what 363 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: you had in a forty year career from me and 364 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: you know, twenty years in the NFL and going to 365 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl like we talked about earlier. Uh, not 366 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: not better, not worse, but just different. And and fortunately 367 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: for me, because of my work with the NFL network 368 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 1: and Fox for a while, I was able to stay 369 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,400 Speaker 1: and I'm able to stay just close enough to the game. 370 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: You know that you can get that. As my Mentorazis 371 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: used to said, I still got that edge. It needs 372 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:30,199 Speaker 1: to be scratched, so to speak, to be around a 373 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: game that I've done around my entire professional life, uh 374 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: all but a little bit at arm's reach and don't 375 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,239 Speaker 1: have to It's not the seven uh grind that it 376 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: was when I was coaching to still be around it 377 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: but then do the other things. But the biggest thing 378 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: is they're recognizing that you need to tap into your 379 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: creative juices, so to speak, but recognizing it's likely not 380 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: going to be duplicated what you did earlier, but still 381 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: worth doing. Coach, who were your favorites in the a 382 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: f C and the NFC as we basically you're just 383 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: starting out on this season right now, Well, we already 384 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: talked about the a f C. And then I think 385 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 1: it's pretty much Kansas City in Baltimore or the lead 386 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:10,800 Speaker 1: horses out of the gate, so to speak. You have 387 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 1: some pretty good teams. I think Houston is still pretty good, 388 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: although they've got a killer schedule to begin with. Tennessee 389 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: looks to be pretty solid h So I think it's 390 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: you know, they're trying to work into that next year, 391 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 1: and then you've got a whole bunch of teams trying 392 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: to get into that next level. The NFC is absolutely 393 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: wide open to me that it's going to be fascinating. 394 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: I could make a case for eight to ten teams 395 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: in the NFC, and particularly with the expanded playoffs format, 396 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,959 Speaker 1: I could make a case for six, seven, eight teams 397 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: to say, yeah, this is a legitimate Super Bowl caliber team. 398 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: You've got some great quarterback play. Uh, particularly when you 399 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: talk to me, got three guaranteed Hall of famers in 400 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: the NFC still playing with Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and 401 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: Drew Brees. You have some great young quarterbacks coming up. Um, 402 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: I just think you could handicap in a lot of 403 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: different ways. But I think it's a wide open shield 404 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: in the NFC. Alright, So, Brian, you touched on this 405 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: a little bit briefly earlier in the conversation. But take 406 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: us through how you choose your kind of business life now, 407 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: how you how it's evolved, how you choose who to 408 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: work with, and what you're up to now. Well, there 409 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: are number opportunities locally where I live. Um, I started 410 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 1: a small boat brokerage business. I love voting on the 411 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: Chesapeake Bay. So Buddy and I started a small brokerage business, 412 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: did a little bit of land development, but the biggest 413 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: one and I'm very proud to seven years ago I 414 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 1: got involved with Bob Roderick and Teddy Monica in New York. 415 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: We're sitting in a hotel and the idea of starting 416 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: a PAD company. Never thought I'd get into that obviously. 417 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: UH And know that eight years from that point we've 418 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: developed into the number one PAD company in the National 419 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: Football League. It's it's really been gratifying to be a 420 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: part of that. Uh. And it is the number one 421 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: pad coming guys like George Kittle, say Kwan Barkley, Aaron 422 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: Donald where the Pad's programs like Oklahoma, Auburn, Notre Dame, 423 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: Ohio State. UH. I mean, this is a billion dollar 424 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: market globally. Uh And and it's really been left to 425 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: smaller companies. You know a lot of people think that 426 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: the big three Nike, Adidas, and under Armor, UH, they 427 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: don't produce equipment, never have. So you have a lot 428 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: of other companies that have these antslary inputs and and 429 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: particularly in football. Like I said, to go from scratch 430 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: from literally on a piece of paper in a hotel room. 431 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: Eight years ago. UH, we developed the x r D 432 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 1: technology exclusive partnership with it these are basically hand fitted 433 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 1: pads that are the best in the National Football League. 434 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: You know, players have become much more proactive and what 435 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: they put in and on their bodies they are choosing. 436 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: I mean back even the day when I was coaching, 437 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:46,960 Speaker 1: players didn't know what paths they had. You just game 438 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: pads and they warn Now they're being very selectivities are 439 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: basically hand cited pads. Uh, that the best in the business. 440 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 1: So it's been kind of exciting to get into a 441 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,360 Speaker 1: business venture that's so closely related to what I did 442 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: for forty Irrison to see the success of Attack. I'm 443 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: amazed how the business of football has changed from the day. 444 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,440 Speaker 1: And like you said, twenty years ago when you were 445 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 1: coaching in the NFL, and then twenty years from that 446 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty, how everything has changed. You didn't have Twitter, 447 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 1: uh if you wanted to say anything, but unless you 448 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: held a press conference, you had to do it through 449 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: your pr agent. How has this game changed from forty 450 00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: years ago? And are you amazed by it? I am 451 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: amazed by it, but you can't be surprised. I've got 452 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 1: a book up at the end of this month called 453 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: The Q Factor, which is basically about the process of 454 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 1: a vo quarterbacks and how we how we get it 455 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: wrong so often, And it's fascinating when you go back 456 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: and you look at it was really in about the 457 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: mid eight you talked about going back to and then 458 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: eighties is when ESPN approached Commissioner Roselle at the time 459 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: and said they want to televise the draft, and he said, well, 460 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 1: sure you can do it. I don't know who's gonna watch. 461 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: And yet now it has grown into from that to 462 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 1: literally one of the biggest sporting events. NFL draft will 463 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 1: outdraw NBA, Major League Baseball, UH NHL playoff games at 464 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: the time. Let's tell you how big it has gotten 465 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,640 Speaker 1: at a time when we also started the combine. So 466 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: it's interesting that that the interest in the NFL and 467 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: interest in that drafting process coincided with the league making 468 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: a seat change of becoming more organized and consolidating and 469 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:40,120 Speaker 1: its preparation in terms of the evaluation of its players. 470 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: And it's just grown exponentially. Obviously, the analytics and the 471 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: matrix that you use now in terms of acquiring these players, uh, 472 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: the sheer mechanics coaches, teams are now practicing virtually they'll 473 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 1: go into a huge room and they'll put a video 474 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: shot up of a virtual environment where they can Because 475 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 1: every time you put your player on a fee, you 476 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: put them at risk. So if you could repeat the 477 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 1: process in a safer environment where they're not actually exerting 478 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 1: and hitting one another, but can get that virtual almost 479 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 1: simulator type experience to create that that muscle memory and 480 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: that knowledge. I mean, it's incredible how we've advanced from 481 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: back in the ninety the ancient times of the nine 482 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: k eight. Since this is the Business of Sports show, 483 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: I want to go back to these shoulder pads. I'm 484 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: an old quarterback and place kicker from college, and I 485 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:31,520 Speaker 1: just remember when when the seniors graduated, you know, you say, oh, 486 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: so and so had a nice pair of shoulder pads. 487 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: I want to get those next year, and you took 488 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 1: a sharping, you crossed his number out, and you put 489 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 1: your number on and they were yours for a year. 490 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: So you're telling me that pro football players actually have 491 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: custom made shoulder pads. And then when they're done with them, 492 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: what happens reconditioned? Are they just to throw them in 493 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,679 Speaker 1: the in the trash and you just finance. It's not 494 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 1: just pro but it's college and they're available to the 495 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,639 Speaker 1: high school players. Now, that's the biggest thing the advancing technology. 496 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: What we've done at ex Tech Pads is we now 497 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: have a database UH can basically form fit paths to 498 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: even the youngest players in high school based on age, size, position, 499 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: injury history, weight position. Obviously there's a number of factors 500 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: because obviously offensive linement are gonna wear different paths than 501 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: a quarterback, different paths that dB or a wide receiver. UH. 502 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: And again there's a huge difference between the way you're 503 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: going to protect a young player in high school versus 504 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, a veteran in the NFL, just to sheer, 505 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: size and speed of the game. So the technology that 506 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,880 Speaker 1: we talked about in the advancement, I mean correctively, we've 507 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: taken the head out of the game, which we needed 508 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: to do. Everybody's talked about and recognized the concussion protocols, 509 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 1: but in doing so, it puts a higher priority than 510 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: on your shoulder pads. And really they had not changed 511 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: in fourty or fifty years until ex Tech Pads, and 512 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: it's why we're the number one pad in the NFL, 513 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: and they're available to high school players at ti pad 514 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: dot com. It's it's the pad that our young people 515 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: need to be in well. And it's interesting, Coach, to 516 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 1: think about it holistically. As you just discussed, we care 517 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: a lot more and we're much more aware of the 518 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: science around players safety. We're thinking about the mental health 519 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: more and more, and we're also thinking, as you well know, 520 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: more and more of late around social justice. And bar 521 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: was talking earlier about social media and how different it is, 522 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, these decades on in terms of how players 523 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: express themselves. I dare say the NFL, by many accounts, 524 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: was a little bit late to endorsing some of that. 525 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: When it comes to a player player empowerment, What do 526 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: you make of that? What do you make of what 527 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: Commissioner Goodell has said of late and where the league 528 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 1: stands when it comes to allowing players to have a voice. Well, yeah, 529 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: first off, you have to keep in mind that there 530 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:56,399 Speaker 1: are very few environments more diverse than an NFL locker 531 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:03,160 Speaker 1: room politically, too crass, weekly, leigiously, racially, I mean, it's 532 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: it's it's an incredible atmosphere to be in when you 533 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: look at the diversity in that locker group, and so 534 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: you have a lot of perspectives, a lot of people 535 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: who are going to have bring into it a lot 536 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: of of of different experiences, different opinions. I think the 537 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: league had to recognize that as well. That maybe and 538 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: you know, whether they were late to it or not. Again, 539 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 1: the league has been very very protective of the shield, 540 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: so to speak, and to a degree some critically that 541 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: they're very little been very restrictive of the players to 542 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 1: reach outside of the branding of the NFL, whether it 543 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: be what they put on their uniform and how they 544 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: advertise um and and so that was the natural reaction, 545 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: and and and even in something with regards to social 546 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: justice and what the league, like everybody has recognized, No, 547 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: we need to be a little more expansive than that. 548 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: We have to allow the players to use this platform 549 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: to use their voice. The hard thing is again is 550 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: certainly the individual has to have that right, but it 551 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: does have to be done as a collective as well. 552 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: As a coach, that would be my biggest concern. Yes, 553 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: we want to be responsive to our players and their 554 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: right to use their platform to express their opinions and 555 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: what is very important social issues, but it is a 556 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 1: team collective and we have to make sure that those 557 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: individual perspectives don't override the team collective because this is 558 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: a team, it is a group, so we have to 559 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: be respectful that there are going to be different views 560 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: even within these topics, and that we have to we 561 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: can't let that divide us as a team. Yet still 562 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: embraced the right for players to express themselves in the 563 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: way they think is appropriate. So it's it's a lot 564 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: to handle. I think the league, like everybody, is kind 565 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: of working their way through it. I think they've done 566 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:54,200 Speaker 1: an excellent job, not unlike the dealing with the COVID. 567 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: I think they're proving to be an excellent example. The 568 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 1: league is in the way they've addressed and from so 569 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: many resources in creating their COVID protocol to show they 570 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: can be that example to say, yes, we can open up, 571 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: we could do business. Yeah, it takes a lot of focus, 572 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: a lot of time, and a lot of energy, a 573 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 1: lot of money, but we can do this to where 574 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 1: we're respective of of keeping everybody safe, yet we can 575 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: still open up to the business of the country. And 576 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 1: I think the NFL life in the social justice life, 577 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 1: in dealing with the COVID protocol, is proving to be 578 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: kind of a leader in yes, we can't do this. 579 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 1: Brian Billy, thank you so much. Really good to catch 580 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 1: up with you. And here's hoping that we get to 581 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: connect at the Super Bowl in some form or fashion, 582 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: maybe an altered radio row. Who knows. Who knows what 583 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: the future will bring, but looking forward to your analysis 584 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: throughout the season, I think we're all just glad that 585 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 1: there's football again. I'm with you, we'll do it all right, 586 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: So Brian Billy. Good to catch up with him, guys, 587 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 1: And you know Michael Barr, there's nothing like when in 588 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl, obviously, but he has leveraged it, I 589 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: feel like into a pretty successful post NFL career. Oh yeah, 590 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: it's I was listening to him when he was talking 591 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: about his business ventures, and I think what that was 592 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: really important When you step off from the field and 593 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: now you're an analyst, he said, you have to channel 594 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: your energy elsewhere also and in his businesses. Uh. That 595 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 1: seems to be something that is a cog in that 596 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: machinery that keeps Brian Billett going. That a f c rundown. 597 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 1: Though Lynchy may hurt for some of our fans they're 598 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:46,200 Speaker 1: in the Bay State. I did not hear the mention 599 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,800 Speaker 1: of the Patriots Belichick. I did not hear any mention 600 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 1: of them at all. I was going to interject, but 601 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: you know, he had the floor and uh, I did 602 00:31:55,040 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 1: not have the gavel. Yeah, pretty interesting. Interesting, And he's 603 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: got Tennessee. He's talking about all these other teams, and 604 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: I don't know, as long as Belichick's around, I just 605 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: don't see how you count them out. Now. You know, 606 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 1: there's still fifteen games to go, and I don't think 607 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: you'd be annointing Kim Newton is the m v P 608 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: just yet. But you know, Bill Belichick takes what he 609 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: has and he's he's darn efficient with what he has. 610 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: And he was with Kim Newton in week number one. Well, 611 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: who knows, maybe old habits die hard. If once he 612 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: coached the once he coached the Ravens, you may there 613 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: may be some subconscious things going on there. But also 614 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,440 Speaker 1: interesting to hear him talk about I think the tough 615 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: line that the NFL has to walk, and and his 616 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: point about the innate diversity I think of in NFL 617 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: locker room and the differences of opinions and backgrounds and 618 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: and all of that, and that ultimately it is about 619 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 1: the team and kind of balancing the individual and the 620 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: collective not easy. And and listen, if you're a head coach, 621 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 1: especially in the NFL, you understand that balance well absolutely, 622 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: and and and in football, more than any other sport, 623 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: the coach makes the rules. It is. It is sort of. 624 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: It's not a democracy in football because the coaches. But 625 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 1: when it's come to social justice, the coaches I think 626 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: have been smart. They've yielded to the will and the 627 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: wishes of the team collectively as a whole. And most 628 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: obvious example of that is who comes out for the 629 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: national anthem, who stays in the locker room for the 630 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 1: national anthem? I would stare, say, five years ago, the 631 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,719 Speaker 1: coach given order, we're all going out down at all, 632 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: We're going to be on the sideline, and you're gonna 633 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: do what I say, and that and and that's that, 634 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: and that's final, because I'm the coach. And I think 635 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: in the coaches have yielded that decision to the captains, 636 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: to the team and the majority of the team. And 637 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,000 Speaker 1: I think it's a good and positive thing. I agree 638 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 1: with you Mondros. It feels better to be number one 639 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 1: than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 640 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:54,200 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three in a 641 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 1: row numbers in a good time. When I first started 642 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: wearing the number, I would just have the Bloomberg business 643 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 1: of sports, the number of the week. Now Michael Barr 644 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: has the Gavil. Here we go, everybuddy. Well, listen, we 645 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:13,640 Speaker 1: talked about the sale of the Mets going to Steve Cohen. 646 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,359 Speaker 1: But let's see if you can rehab this memory here. 647 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 1: About less than a year ago, the Kansas City Royals 648 00:34:22,400 --> 00:34:27,479 Speaker 1: were sold to energy founder John Sherman for how much 649 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,320 Speaker 1: was it? I think it was less than a billion, 650 00:34:30,480 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 1: wasn't it. We're gonna use the prices, right, Yeah, they 651 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: right the closest without going over because Moses, without going 652 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 1: over the typebreaker, I'm gonna say, right on the nose. 653 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 1: One billion. Oh you get the bonus too many? It 654 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,960 Speaker 1: was a billion dollars man. Oh well, at least I 655 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:59,040 Speaker 1: did I feel like I didn't totally embarrass myself. That's 656 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: all I'm going for at this point, I'm going for 657 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: not embarrassing. Well done, lunchy, nice job. That was good man. 658 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: Now you're going to and it correct me if I'm wrong. 659 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,759 Speaker 1: Isn't just to bring it all together? Mr Mahomes is 660 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 1: part of that ownership group, now, isn't I believe you're 661 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:22,359 Speaker 1: right there exactly investing in the local community as it were. 662 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: All right, you've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports. 663 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:26,640 Speaker 1: We are here each and every week for you at 664 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,280 Speaker 1: the same time, plus online wherever you get your podcast. 665 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: Catch those Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Jason Kelly. Find 666 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:36,040 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News ding Ding Ding 667 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 1: Ding Ding and the winner this week I've been embarrassed 668 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: in the past. You can follow me at Lynchy w CDB. 669 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: By the way, I followed Lynchy when he was in 670 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 1: his football days. I called him Sexy Lynchy. I like 671 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:52,400 Speaker 1: Michael Barr on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. You listening 672 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:55,680 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio around world.