1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: What's up everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: the Falcons in Focus podcast, brought to you by Ticketmaster, 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: recorded in the Ticketmaster's studios. And we're here. I'm Scott Bear. 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: By the way, why don't introduce myself. That's Tory mclaney, 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: Man of the hour, brand new Atlanta Falcons linebacker, all 6 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: around havoc creator. That's your new Kaden ellis joining the program. Kayden, 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for the time. Man, Thank you. Right. So, anyway, 8 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: we're not gonna start with today or even recently, well 9 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: sort of recently. I want you to take me back 10 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: to New Year's Day twenty twenty three. Well yeah, yeah, no, 11 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: like this New Year's Day. It wasn't a previous New 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: Year's Day. Uh. Saints Eagles Okay, I think you remember 13 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: the score of that one. Eagles are on Cloud nine. 14 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: The Saints come in take care of business there. Um. 15 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: What some people might not know about you is you 16 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: had a relative on the other sideline, right, Christian was playing. 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: Noah is also an Eagle on the He's on the 18 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,119 Speaker 1: NFI list, right, Yes, so that's a huge deal for 19 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: the Saints. Anyway. Yeah, what is that like? Because I 20 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: assume you've sort of played with your brothers on the 21 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: same team or the same schools or watched them play. 22 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: Now you're opposite sidelines. Tell us about that. Oh my gosh, 23 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: first play on defense, I get a sack and I 24 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: just straight for the sign, like where you at. I 25 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: couldn't find him, but looking for you. I know it 26 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: wasn't against you, but it was fun. You know. I 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: was on was still on punt for special teams, and 28 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: so my brother was playing special teams. So he told 29 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: me all week, he was like, you know, yeah, pump return. 30 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: They're not letting me go against you. I'm not gonna 31 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: hold you up or rush against you. That was a 32 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: lie out and he's just it's straight up head on head, 33 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: him and me going at it, and it was a 34 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: lot of fun. It was laughing down the field. Our 35 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: teams are looking at like he's idiots, Like we're in 36 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: the middle of the game, but we're just living a 37 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: childhood dream. So we've seen parents of brothers on opposite sides, 38 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: like in baseball. I think the Nolas just did it 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: where like the parents are wearing jerseys cut and half 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: the How did your parents handle that situation? They were 41 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: rooting hard for the Saints because we needed the win 42 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: and the Eagles didn't. Right there, understanding, Yes, I like 43 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: that a lot. Now you're actually the oldest of twelve? 44 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: Is that correct that we had to check the notes 45 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: a couple of times? Twelve? That is a lot of siblings. 46 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: I only have two other siblings. I cannot imagine twelve. 47 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: What was growing up like? That's the question? What was 48 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: growing up like with that mini siblings? It was just fun? Yeah, 49 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: you know, it was just like it was just fun. 50 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: You know, there's there was always something to do, there 51 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: was always people to hang out with, you know, it 52 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: was it was fun. You know, a little scary because 53 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: you got eleven younger ones looking up to you. Yeah, 54 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: that was always that was always a little tough parents, 55 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes counting me and you know the next 56 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: holds my sister Olivia. But at the end of the day, 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: it was it was fun and just just such a 58 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: such a blessing. Yeah. Now, what type of trouble did 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: y'all get into? Like? What what are the stories from 60 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: childhood where you're like, the parents can't possibly watch all 61 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: of them at once, right, Yeah, So eventually you can 62 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: get into some trouble. I would be honest with you, guys, 63 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: I am like at least always was like a full 64 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: on kind of goody two shoes, Like like I was 65 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: third parent and I caught my siblings doing something, I 66 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: was going to correct it. So you were like you 67 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: were the influence. I was the boring one, right, I 68 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: was boring. But you know at the end of the 69 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: day when there's that many yeah, and at the end 70 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: of it, because there's always like babies in the house, 71 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: and for me, it's like when there's babies around, it's like, no, no, no, 72 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: you can't have those quarters around. You can't be doing this, 73 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: you can't be doing that. Don't jump, you're gonna land 74 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: on you know what I mean. So you were a 75 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: stressed kid, no, he was just look at it that. Yeah, 76 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: and it sets you up for like later in life 77 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: because you're now a dad yourself. Yes, yes, two. Wow. 78 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: What was that like to go from being in a 79 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: family like of twelve to now you have a family 80 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: of your own. Oh that's so much fun. Yeah, you know, 81 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's just awesome gootting to see you know, 82 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: your kids grow and just smile, you know, smile about 83 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: silly things, fun things. Things they shouldn't be smiling. It's 84 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: just I just love love getting to watch them grow up. 85 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: It's awesome. So what's the separation between you and your 86 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: youngest sibling? Uh? Sixteen years? Sixteen years? Yeah, okay, yeah, 87 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: so you were almost out of the house kind of 88 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: when ye was born and everything goes to sophomore in 89 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: high school. Yeah, my youngest sister is eleven years younger 90 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: than me, so it's kind of like you don't really 91 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: you were only living in the house with them for 92 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: like maybe a few years, and then you go off 93 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: to college and it's like about I always say I'm 94 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: like a fun aunt as much as I am like 95 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: an uncle. Yeah exactly. And look like your dad played 96 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: in the league, and like we're gonna get to him. Yeah, 97 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: but can we just just apply for your mother for 98 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: sainthood right now? She's amazing. I mean, she's amazing. We 99 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: always think like what does a grocery for all cost to? 100 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: You know, but to keep that many together and look, 101 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: she can be like scoreboard, I got three boys in 102 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: the NFL, and you know what I mean that thinks 103 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: she's done well. Yeah, but I think that that's like, again, 104 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: you know your dad was a pro bowler, you guys 105 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: in the league. But let's not forget about your mom here. 106 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: Oh she's amazing. Yeah, how key was she and keeping 107 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: keeping everything together? I think he's the right word. It's 108 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: just like without her, it just doesn't happen, you know 109 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: what I mean, It just it just doesn't work like 110 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: with without her, it just God knew what he was 111 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: doing when he made that one. She's special, she's amazing. 112 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: I read something where you had joke to that, and 113 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's a joke, maybe you're being 114 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: for real, but you said you said, uh, yeah, no, 115 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: you said that you got your athletic ability from your mom. 116 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: Now that yeah, there you go, Yes I did. Yeah, 117 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: you stand by that. I stand by that. Okay, Yeah 118 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: she was. She was a swimmer at the University of Utah, 119 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: So yeah, she's she's a good athlete. So you know 120 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: she's got the lung capacity, you know, gave us the 121 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: long arms, you know, all that good stuff. So yeah, no, 122 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: she's she's a great athlete. That great books. I mean, 123 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: dad's the defensive tackle. You got some bigger guys in 124 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: the family, Like, let's not forget in order to go 125 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: sideline to sideline. You got to have a little Yeah, 126 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: don't tell him I said that, don't but yeah, So 127 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: now switching to the other parent. Growing up the son 128 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: of Luther ellis right, pro bowler draft pick, you know, 129 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: played in the league. What was it like kind of 130 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: just being around you're in the league now, your brothers are. 131 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: What was it like growing up in that kind of 132 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: NFL type of environment? You know, you don't know any different? 133 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: Remember my dad. I would listen to my dad talking 134 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: to my mom, like when we'd come home from games. 135 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: We're like and this was more after he's done playings 136 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: were a little bit older, but he was still able to, 137 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: you know, go to Detroit and you know, he'd do 138 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: the coin toss or he'd you know, speak before the 139 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 1: game or you know, but we'd be on the field 140 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: with him beforehand and then being the suite with like 141 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: Jam's owners people, you know what I mean. And it 142 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: would just remember he'd get home and he'd be like, 143 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: my mom needn't know I was listening because whatever, little 144 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: kids don't listen anything, and he's just sitting there like 145 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: they just don't understand, like they don't get what they 146 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: were just able to do, you know what I mean. Yeah, 147 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: and it's so true, like we had no idea. It's 148 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: just normal to us, like, yeah, dad plays football. Yeah, 149 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: we go with that. It's like for us, it's just 150 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: going with that to work, you know what I mean, 151 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: nothing different than that. So m you know, getting to 152 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: see now kind of how hard it is to get here, 153 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: getting to see how fans react to you when you 154 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: just sign a shirt, you know what I mean, Like 155 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: just the passion and the love that comes with you know, 156 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: team repping your city. Like it's just it's really special 157 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: now looking back on it and getting to kind of 158 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: really try to take in those moments with a little 159 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: more respect, I guess, you know what I mean. It's 160 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: interesting too. But because you talk about like not knowing 161 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: that it wasn't like quote unquote normal essentially like you 162 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: were your father was drafted in ninety five and you 163 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: were born like a few months later in like July. Right. Yeah, 164 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: the fact that you didn't like all you knew for 165 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: the first what like six seven, eight years of your 166 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: life was like like what you said, my dad plays football, 167 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: it's just ten years. Yeah, until I was ten, Yeah, 168 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: he was playing football. I mean to kind of like 169 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: how has like, you know, being raised in this environment 170 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: kind of like morphed your thinking into kind of being 171 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: in the league yourself. You talk about the respect in 172 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: like understanding it more now that you're older, Like what 173 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: else is there about like this lifestyle that you're like, Oh, 174 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: this actually isn't normal at all, Like this is pretty cool? Oh, 175 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think just you know, as a kid, 176 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: it was kind of like, you know, everyone wants to 177 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: do what their dad does, you know what I mean, 178 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: And so for me it was just kind of like, oh, yeah, 179 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: I'll get the NFL, like I'm playing, you know what 180 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: I mean. And then it bumps in the road and 181 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: you hit things where it's not easy and it doesn't 182 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: just come and doesn't just happen the way you thought 183 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,439 Speaker 1: it would, you know what I mean. And honestly, I 184 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: guess just from then to now it sounds obvious, like 185 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: thinking back on it, but then I didn't realize just 186 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: the amount of work and the amount of effort and 187 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: the amount of call it luck, call it God's blessing 188 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: that has to be like for it to work out, 189 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like it's it's a lot, 190 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: and it's a lot that goes into it, and so 191 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: you know, it's thankful to the King that I'm here 192 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: and just loving the opportunity and loving this second opportunity 193 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: to come play for the Falcons, and it's just it's 194 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,200 Speaker 1: just awesome. Do you have any memories of when you're 195 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: younger and maybe like meeting someone that you're like, oh 196 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: my god, I can't believe I got to meet this person. No, 197 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: Barry Sanders would come to, you know, Bible study with 198 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 1: the fam, and he would always say to the kids like, 199 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: what's my name, what's my name? I don't know? I 200 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: love you know what I mean, you know, kind of 201 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: like quieter guy, and just like the fact that, you know, 202 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: for us, it was just yeah, cool another guy. Cool, 203 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: your dad's co worker, you know what I mean? Yeah, 204 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: you work with my dad. Now, looking back and watching 205 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,000 Speaker 1: his highlights, I'm like, that dude special, you know what 206 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: I mean. There's very few people that have ever been 207 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: able to do what he's able to do like this. 208 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: So looking back, it's like, oh, yeah, I didn't meet 209 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: this guy. Oh yeah, I have a Verry Standards signed helmet. 210 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: But at the moment was just like thanks for the helmet, Dad, 211 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: here you know what I mean. Yeah, it's like I'll 212 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: figure if i'll find it later. Yeah. Yeah. So let's 213 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 1: go back to high school. You you were a quarterback. 214 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: Yeah right, And were you thinking that that was going 215 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: to be your line of working. Yeah, because I I 216 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: read something that's you said that you or maybe you 217 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: didn't say it, I don't know, but someone said that 218 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 1: you wanted to play quarterback in college. Yes, and like 219 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: you had to kind of be talking into playing linebacker. 220 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: I'd be more than talked into. I was to Utah 221 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: and I went to Utah camp. I went to Utah 222 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 1: State camp and they were like, will you switch? They 223 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: want to put me in safety? Will you switch? No? 224 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 1: I will not. I am not. I am going to 225 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: play quarter because I was kind of stubborn in it, 226 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: like I was like to me honestly, like it felt 227 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: like I would have failed if I didn't accomplish that 228 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: because I set that as a goal and I wanted 229 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: to do it, you know what I mean. And so 230 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: when finally colleges didn't come calling, eventually, I had to 231 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: be like, Okay, I'll play a different position. And I'm thankful. 232 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: I am, you know, I'm thankful I get to play linebacker. 233 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: It's it's kind of worked out for so thankful now, 234 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, I was. I was adamant I'm playing quarterback 235 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: and I could not throw, But I was adam I'm 236 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: playing quarterback. Honestly, it's a nice little detail. Maybe, Yeah, no, 237 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: I love it, like I'm gonna do this and I 238 00:11:57,840 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: may not be that great at it, but I'm gonna 239 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: do it. Sure he's gonna do it. Yeah, So yeah, 240 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: it took some more than just convincing. It took failing 241 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: to move. Sometimes we learn our best lessons through failure. Yes, yes, 242 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 1: that's rad. There you go, so good usage of the 243 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: word um. So Tory dug this up that as you 244 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: were transitioning to the defensive side, you and your dad 245 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: would have like skype calls and that he was like like, 246 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: help you like accelerate the progress, Like what were those? 247 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: So he was? He would go, oh, you guys did 248 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: some good digging. This is like a freshman year of college, 249 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: small town Idaho newspaper digging. He um he was chaplain 250 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: for the Broncos and I was um or might have 251 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: been even been before that. He was in Utah then 252 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: want to be chaplain Bronchos? For those. He spent two 253 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: years doing that while I was two years without him 254 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,319 Speaker 1: or my brother at Idaho, And yeah, I would like 255 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 1: it was my first spring ball and I started off 256 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: horribly horribly, like awful, like playing so bad, like like 257 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: not knowing what to do none of it. And yeah 258 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: he would he because obviously coaches over there would help me. 259 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,599 Speaker 1: But um, getting to have my dad's opinion on it. 260 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: We would skype and I was like, show him the plays, 261 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like what do I need 262 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: to do different? Someone was pretty embarrassing, but I was like, 263 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: Dad helped me, you know what I mean? And um, yeah, 264 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: he helped me. Helped me grow a lot obviously, and 265 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: he had when I was younger. But again I was 266 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: trying to play quarterback the whole time, and so getting to, 267 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: you know, get a little bit of coaching points from 268 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: him after each practice was really helpful. Yeah. What was 269 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: maybe something he said to you or like a lesson 270 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: or one of those like early lessons of watching in 271 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: those like mini film sessions with him that you still 272 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: to this day you think back on here, like it's 273 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,839 Speaker 1: a good thing I learned that hands hands hands, he 274 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: told me. I still don't believe him. But he told 275 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 1: me when when he was and when he got to college, 276 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: and because at first he went as a tight end 277 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 1: and basketball player to play Utah, he got offers for 278 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: both and he's gonna do both. Then he ended up 279 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: getting shifted to D line and just did amazing. So 280 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: I never played basketball. And he told me that when he, 281 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: you know, started to play D line, he would go 282 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: to like the corner of his room and do a 283 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: thousand hand strikes every night and every morning, and he 284 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: would do a thousand. So when I was getting cooked, 285 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: he told me that, So I started trying to do 286 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: a thousand. Yeah, I never got two thousand, and there's 287 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: no way he'd got to go a thousand, and I 288 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: do not believe it. But I would do five hundred 289 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: at night and in the morning and m and it 290 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: helped me. That's um one of the best traits I have. 291 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: I think when you look around the league at linebacker, 292 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: I have one of the if not the best block 293 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: destruction in my opinion, with my hands. And you know, 294 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: that's something that has carried me since playing at Idaho 295 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: and getting cooked in spring ball and then you you know, 296 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: kind of eventually turned into an NFL Draft pack, and 297 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: it's always fascinating to me. There are so many different 298 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: ways to make it in this league. Some are maybe 299 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: easier if you're the first overall pick, and some are 300 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: harder if you're a seventh round pick and you have 301 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: to and you have to earn every little thing. And 302 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: to see what you did from again, like from the outside, 303 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: I'm sure that you're working hard and earning respect and 304 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: all these things in practice, but to see what you 305 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: did last season, I mean, it's pretty incredible by any metric, right, 306 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: But to get to that point, you know, you're you're 307 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: working on special teams, you're grinding, you know, like, what 308 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: was that process? Like what was there a level of 309 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: self belief like just give me a chance down there 310 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 1: for three downs when we can do this thing? Like 311 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: what was that mental journey like for you from you 312 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: get in and you're earning it to now you're doing 313 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: it and it's going really well, Yeah, it was hard. 314 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: You know. You guess my wife, she probably he's complained 315 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: a lot, you know what I mean? But and I 316 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 1: had moments where my linebacker coach, Coach Hodges could tell 317 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: you also he can't maybe complained, but talk to me 318 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: a lot about this. Um. You know, people like Trey Hendrickson, 319 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: who was a great player, be like, dude, you should 320 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: just move the defensive end, put on some weight, and 321 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: go pass rush. Because that was something that I was 322 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: able to do since I got to the Saints. But 323 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: some of the other stuff that took time developing and learning. 324 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: And you know, Coach Hodges, I'm really thankful that I 325 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: was able to play under him these last four years 326 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: because we had four years he's assistant, but Mike Nolan 327 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: as well, because he really helped me develop as an 328 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: off ball linebacker, which was something that was was tough 329 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: for me to do and something that maybe my dad 330 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: couldn't help me quite as much with because at the 331 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: end of the day, he was he played in the trenches, 332 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: tight one yard gap, so some of the stuff was 333 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: a little different. And so having to learn how to 334 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: see the offense, how to read and diagnose the plays quickly, 335 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: how to you know, footwork and really the eyes like 336 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: all that was was tough and so you know, it 337 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: took a lot of time, a lot of conversations about 338 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: maybe I should just go be past rusher, Maybe I 339 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: should do this, Maybe I should ask for a trade 340 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: and go to three to four team maybe I should 341 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, all these things, m I's thankful. 342 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: You know, at the end of the day, it would 343 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 1: always you know, we pray and God always just gave 344 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: me a piece, you know, like a piece about it 345 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: that now you're where you're supposed to be, You're where 346 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: your family is supposed to be. You know, I'm getting 347 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: you guys ready for something, for more things down the road. 348 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: And um, I was able to continue working, continue sharpening skills, 349 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: making the weaknesses not a weakness, and making my strengths 350 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: even better. And then when I was given the opportunity 351 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: to go out there and play every down, it came together. Yeah, 352 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: it all came together in a furious Tasmanian Devils and 353 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 1: eleven starts type of worldway. Yeah, I mean there are 354 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: worse things. Yeah, I mean, so I didn't I knew 355 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: about you, but I watched I watched a lot of fun, 356 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: a lot of Kaden Ellis film the last time, and 357 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: it's like it's like a heat seeking missile through the 358 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: cap and the running back just like I don't know 359 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: if he ever sees you coming. I feel like you 360 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: and Troy Anderson are going to get along, so well, yeah, 361 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: I agree exactly. Yeah, y'all are kind of cut from 362 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: the same clock thing. Okay, we are wrapping up because 363 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: you've been talking for probably an hour and a half 364 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: at this point. Same with some of the other girls. 365 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: You know, we all get paid to do. There are 366 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: worse jobs to have, that is for sure. But in 367 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: the podcast we always do a rapid fire. So are 368 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: you like nervous about this or let's go? Okay? You ready? 369 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 1: All right? What was your favorite play of your career? 370 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: Immediately pressure on oh man and you can go. I think, 371 00:18:53,080 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: I think, oh college to yeah, and it was probably um. 372 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: I had Brandon and you one on one in the slot. 373 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: He had an option route on me, and for the 374 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: longest time, one of the reasons the Saints wouldn't put 375 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: me on the field was because of open space coverage. 376 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: And I got him. You know, he's an amazing player, 377 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: and you know, we'll run it back sometime, I'm sure, 378 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: and maybe we'll get the best me next time. My 379 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: best not to let it happened, but I got him 380 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: on that play, and Da, the defensive coordinator, came up 381 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 1: to me right after like that time on the sideline 382 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 1: was just like that was awesome, you know what I mean? 383 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:34,120 Speaker 1: And that's me. It was just like yeah, like yeah, yeah, 384 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: that's me. It's like come on, you know, like we 385 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: can like we got this. Yeah, so can we take 386 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: a small small pause? Sure you actually sacked Troy Anderson 387 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: the quarterback? Oh yeah, because he was playing quarterback. Yeah, 388 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: we got a second a half on him going. I 389 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: think so the film Frank Bush your new position coach. 390 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: He will definitely find the film. There's no doubt about. 391 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: He will absolutely run that into the ground. I'm very 392 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 1: excited for this. From the college highlights, We'll find it. 393 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 1: Choys was running on us for like a hundred something 394 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: yards right, Yeah, yeah, they won the game. Is there 395 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: a TV show, a movie, something that you you and 396 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: your wife Binge love right now? My wife doesn't like 397 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 1: watching TV sho like watches nothing. I mean I love 398 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: Pokemon simple, I'm sorry. Oh my gosh, I'm gonna tell 399 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: my son that is Yeah. I love it, love it. 400 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 1: Your kids win his Pokemon for Halloween. He win his 401 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 1: ash two years ago, the Pikachu this time. Yeah, good one. 402 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: I knew I was doing something right, Okay. Favorite player 403 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 1: growing up, Luther Ellis. I mean, gotta be, has to be. 404 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: There's no other options. I can't say him. I would 405 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: say Von Miller. Okay, another really good one. I want 406 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: to tell your dad. Okay, if I can't say oh yeah, yeah, 407 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: if you can't say him, very key, yeah, don't cut 408 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: that out of the sippet you had to. Or if 409 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: you could pick a superpower as a superhero, what would 410 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: it be. I think it's like like Wolverine. Oh right, 411 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. That's a really interesting answer. 412 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: I would like that a lot. Yeah, because you can 413 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: get into some trouble and then pop right back and 414 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: you're good. You know what I mean exactly. That is 415 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: a true linebacker answer if I've ever heard heard it, 416 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: like just you're just hitting people all the time. I'm fine, 417 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: I keep going yeah, yeah, um, okay, last one, okay, um, 418 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: would you rather fight one one? I am one horse 419 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: sized duck or one hundred duck size horses, A hundred 420 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 1: duck sized horses. Birds are mean, Birds are mean, and 421 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: ducks are the worst. A normal size and I don't 422 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: want anything to do with it, let alone a horse 423 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: sized duck. I think, get me fast that. Yeah, I 424 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: know that's scary. You should talk to cow Pits about 425 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,480 Speaker 1: his disdain for ducks. He's scared to death of them. Yeah, 426 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: when when you meet when you meet him, when you're 427 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: out on the field running around during Yeah, he's gonna 428 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: get Please I know. Please please do that and report 429 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: back and right only, and please please please all of 430 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,480 Speaker 1: you listening, please rate, review, subscribe to the Atlanta Falcons 431 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: podcast network. I'm Scott, that's Tory, that's Kaden. Thank you 432 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: so much for joining the Falcons in Focus podcast presented 433 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: by Ticketmaster. This was a freaking awesome episode. I hope 434 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: you all enjoyed it too. Kaden, thank you so much 435 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 1: for the time. I can't wait to see you in 436 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: red and black. Let's go