1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, fourteen 3 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: year NFL veteran and Hall of famer As Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am As Williams. 5 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: Today our guest is NFL Legend, my former teammate. The 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: set join it and I'll tell you why I say 7 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: the shortly. On addition of playing thirteen seasons in the 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: league and being a Super Bowl champion, also host an 9 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: NFL podcast, The Set join the show. Welcome Seth and there. 10 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: This is a pleasure to be with you, my friend. 11 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you're doing well and I'm looking forward 12 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: to this, uh, this time of chatting with you, my friend. 13 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: We've been doing this podcast over three years, Set, and 14 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: I really haven't had a lot of my teammates that 15 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: I've had the opportunity to be on the podcast, so 16 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: this is special for me. You've had former teammates on 17 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: You just had Randall Cunningham something like on on your show, 18 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: and you've had we were called the Mount rushmore of 19 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: players from the Philadelphia Eagles. What was it like having 20 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: conversations with those guys? Well, It's really interesting because, um, 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: you know, one of the one of the greatest shows 22 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: that I had, I had Randall, I had Ron Jaworski, 23 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: had Donovan McNabb, and I had Michael Vick all on 24 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: the same show. I mean, I came up with the idea, 25 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: you know, okay, if quarterback is the most important position 26 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: on the field, you got you know, the four greatest 27 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: quarterback icons almost you know, in the present day history 28 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: of the of the of the organization. So why not 29 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: have those guys come on. They're all from different errors 30 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: and have them talk about you know, um, their experiences 31 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: being the Philadelphia Eagle, their experienced in the league. And 32 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: let me tell you, my show is supposed to be 33 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: an hour. We went an hour in forty five minutes. 34 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: You know. Once once I got everybody ramped up. I mean, 35 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: they were just firing away and it was so organic. 36 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: I just set back and just let them let them 37 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: go and and it was a phenomenal, phenomenal show. You know, 38 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: it's interesting you had Michael Vicken when you had a 39 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: random cutting him. I would dare say today's young quarterbacks 40 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 1: remind me of those two guys. When it comes down 41 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 1: to Russell Wilson, Carla Murray, we have the hype right 42 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: supposedly at one time impediment and then you had the 43 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: duck flute, as you had John Elways, the mobile guys. 44 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: So justin Herbert, big old guys at are mobile said, 45 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: what would have it been like for you playing today? 46 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 1: What what I called the quarterback? When we were playing, 47 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: I thought the most vulnerable defense was a defense plan 48 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: against a mobile quarterback who not only could run, but 49 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: had the ability to throw the ball. Right. Do you 50 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: think it had been like were you playing during this era? Well, 51 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: it's it always created a problem because you know, sitting 52 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: back watching Randall Cunningham grow and coming to his own 53 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: and then Michael Vick come in and take you know, 54 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: the lead by storm. Those guys were the genesis of 55 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: the you know, the triple threat quarterback, and it would 56 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: have been difficult. I don't know. Sometimes I watched defense 57 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: today and I wonder, how is it possible that you 58 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: can stop these guys? But you know, you know, playing 59 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: on the buddy, we were a pressure defense and we 60 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: were all about applying pressure to the quarterback position. Um, 61 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: the greatest hinders that you have when defensively, when you're 62 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: trying to stop a guy like Colin Murray, Lamar Jackson, 63 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: you know, ad Justin Herbert, these guys that can move 64 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: around and make plays. Is trying to keep these guys 65 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: bottled up and contained, and it's it's it's a tough 66 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: thing to do when you only rushed for because you're 67 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: always gonna have these gaps, you know, in your defensive 68 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: line when you got you know, your alignement, and their 69 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: focus is, you know, getting sacks, getting sacks, getting sacked, 70 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, so tell sometimes they lose the discipline of 71 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: laying integrity and making sure that they keep the quarterback 72 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: in the pocket. And these quarterbacks are smart enough to 73 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: understand the game and know now that you know, hey, 74 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: when I read you know man and man in passing situations, 75 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: when the play breaks down, everybody's got their backs turn. 76 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: Whether you're single high, too high safety, you know, those 77 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: safeties are thirty yards deep, so I'm gonna pick up 78 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: fift twenty yards before the defense can't even react. And 79 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: they're smart enough to understand it. When I read zone 80 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: pre snap that I'm scrambling to buy time. I'm not 81 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: trying to cross the line of scrimmage and get yards 82 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: I'm trying to scramble to buy time for my guys 83 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 1: that uncover and find a hole where I can actually 84 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: complete complete passes. So it's a tough task today, you know, 85 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: no doubt, you know me playing in in today's NFL 86 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: or US playing defensively in today's version of offensive football 87 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: would have been a major, major challenge. And that's what 88 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: I was thinking, because the Patrick Mahomes, de Lamar Jackson, 89 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: these guys Cassette, they will wear out a pass rush. 90 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: So just intriguing to see how we would have played 91 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: in this era. But as you were doing your interview 92 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: with your guys, what were the stories like when you 93 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:42,600 Speaker 1: were talking to Ron Jaworski and and Randall and and 94 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: Michael those guys. It was really interesting in this because 95 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: you had Randall was drafted um I think a year 96 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: or two before me, and he was drafted to be 97 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: the Arab parent to Ron Jaworski, And a lot of 98 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: people don't know my last year, Ron was my first year. 99 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: Rather Ron was on the team. He um was the 100 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: first second down quarterback, but he was trying to implement 101 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: Randall n because the plan was the following year Randall 102 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: was going to be the starting quarterback and they were 103 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: gonna move on from Jaws. Jaws would play first and 104 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: second down, but he would put Randall in the game 105 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: and on third down. I mean, this happened all year long. 106 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: It was the craziest thing that you'd ever want to see. 107 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: So you knew that Ron felt some type of way 108 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: about that, you know, because he wants to stay on 109 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: the field and convert the third down. But the Randall 110 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: comes on and more times than not, he was gonna 111 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: run and he was gonna scramble, you know, for a 112 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: first down. So the dynamic, you know, of those two 113 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: quarterbacks and what they went through in six was amazing 114 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: to me because under normal circumstances, you know, human nature 115 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: would say that that Ron would still feel some type 116 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: of way about that situation, and how Randall supplanted him. 117 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: And then and then you fast forward to Donovan McNabb 118 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: and Donovan McNabb, you know, having Michael fit come in 119 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: after you know, his off the field issues, and it's 120 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: been documented that Andy Reid and Jeffrey Lourie and Day 121 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: and Joe banner Um the brain stress of the Philadelphia 122 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: was actually when they had a conversation with Donovan about 123 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: bringing in Michael and then how a couple of years later, 124 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: the same thing transpired where Donovan's you know, play begin 125 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: to wane a little bit. He began to have some 126 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: issues and Michael had an opportunity to play, and the 127 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: next thing, you know, Donovan gets traded to the Washington 128 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: you know, football team, and now Michael Vick is now 129 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. I mean, it 130 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: was just it was a phenomenal um interview because of 131 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: those dynamics and then to be able to see the 132 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: respect that all four those guys, even through all of that, 133 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: still half for each other, and how they talked about 134 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: each other, and you know, Randall talked about how Jaws 135 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,119 Speaker 1: helped him and and and and Michael talked about how 136 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: you know, Donovan feeling comfortable enough to to okay him 137 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: coming you know, getting a second chance with the Philadelphia Eagles. 138 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: And then that whole transition of how Randall replaced Jaws 139 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: and how Michael Vick replaced Donovan um to be able 140 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: to have him on and and and see the reverence 141 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: that they you know, still have for each other. You know, 142 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: it was a great thing. How much did you guys 143 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: sense as teammates. That's some the overtones of possibly prejudices 144 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: of an African American quarterback replacing a Caucasian brother, Ron Jaworski. 145 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: Did you guys feel any of that, Oh, you could 146 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: feel it was probable in the city, um, not only 147 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: among the fans, because you gotta remember Ron Zawarski actually quarterback. 148 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: You know, this this Eagle's franchise, you know, to their 149 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: first modern day Super Bowl. So there was a major 150 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: reverence in the city of Philadelphia for for Ron Jaworski, 151 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: even though you know, his his his skills had erode 152 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: it and you know Randall was was gonna be the 153 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,199 Speaker 1: new guy when the shift was made. Among the fans, 154 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: among the media, and even some of the guys on 155 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: the team felt like, you know, that wasn't the move 156 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: to be made, that was you know, so there was 157 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,719 Speaker 1: some animosity there. But you know, it was a situation 158 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: where the Eagles, along with the Cardinals at that time, 159 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: you know, resided in the basement of the NFC East. 160 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: There was a turnover on the roster, so it wasn't 161 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: just a quarterback position, but it was across the board. 162 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: But it was even magnified that much more when you had, 163 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: you know, a Caucasian quarterback whom the city and the 164 00:09:54,640 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 1: media revered being replaced by a scrambling African America and quarterback. 165 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: And it was still not you know, the politically correct 166 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: thing at that time. You know that African American quarterbacks 167 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: would take over those types of positions and and it 168 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: wasn't believed that they could flourish in those in those situations. 169 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: So it also gives us probably the mindset behind coach 170 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: Buddy running right, because some coaches would have been pressured 171 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: not do this. So tell me about Buddy. What what 172 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: was your first experience with coach Buddy Ryan. You know, listen, 173 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: I thought the guy was crazy. Um, I'm a young guy. 174 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,719 Speaker 1: You know when I got drafted by the Eagles and 175 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: I was twenty years old. I was the youngest player 176 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I wasn't even legal when I got drafted. Um. 177 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: You know, you get the training camp and you know, 178 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: Buddy is just custing to everybody out and you know, 179 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: I had never experienced that that type of intensity and 180 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: that type of workload, you know, all of my years 181 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: of playing football. Um, as I look back at it 182 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: now in retrospect, I understand it wholeheartedly because what he 183 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: was doing is he was trying to figure out just 184 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: like when he came to Arizona that first training camp 185 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: was was hell, you know, and what he was trying 186 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 1: to figure out, Okay, who wants to be here and 187 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: who's willing to sacrifice and who's willing to put in 188 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: the work to be here? Because the guys that don't 189 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: want to do the work and the guys that don't 190 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: want to sacrifice, you know, I gotta get those guys 191 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: out of here because in order for me to change 192 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: the culture, I've got to brand guys that are gonna 193 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: buy in to what it is that I'm trying to do. 194 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: And that's what it was like on a daily basis, 195 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: on a daily basis, and for the young guys, because 196 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: I was drafted by him. For the young guys, you 197 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: had to you had to write of passes that you 198 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: had to get through. I didn't even think he knew 199 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: my name because for two years he never called me 200 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: by my name. I was fifty nine. How did your 201 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 1: teammates help twenty years old a rookie? How was it 202 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: in the locker room? What he may help you get 203 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: through it? Oh? Yeah, well I mean, listen, there was 204 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: a lot of transition. There was a lot of animosity, 205 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: you know, when I got there. We we drafted four 206 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 1: linebackers that year in the draft. Um, there was another 207 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 1: seven or eight veterans that were excuse me, that were 208 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: on the roster. Um. I had some guys telling me 209 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: to go right when I should have been going left, 210 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: you know. But I was fortunate enough to have one guy, um, 211 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: one veteran named Gary Cole. You know, he took all 212 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: the young guys under his wing, and one day, you know, 213 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: he made it pretty clear. He was like, you know, 214 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: you guys, don't think all of y'all gonna make the team. 215 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: You know, a rookies, you know, you you think that 216 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,479 Speaker 1: just because you're drafted that you're gonna make the team. 217 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: You know, we we had no idea what the process 218 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: was like. So he says, not all of you guys 219 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: are gonna make the team, and I'm like, what are 220 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: you talking about? You know, we were all drafted. He 221 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: was like, listen, there are there are seven or other 222 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: eight guys here who have NFL experience. You know the 223 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: majority of those guys gonna play. We're gonna keep you know, 224 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: too deep at each position, but I understand that there's 225 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: gonna be some some spots on this roster for some 226 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: of you guys that can play special teams. And it 227 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: dawned on me at that point in time that that 228 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: is how I was going to make the team, you know, 229 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: So I focused my attention. Yeah, I was still studying. 230 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: I was still preparing because I knew I had to 231 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: learn the defense even though I wasn't getting a lot 232 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: of reps at the linebacker position. But what I quickly 233 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:32,199 Speaker 1: realize is that, you know what, if I can show 234 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: them the type of player that I can be on 235 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: special teams, somehow that might translate in their minds that 236 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: at some point in time down the road an opportunity 237 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: might present it so for me to show them what 238 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: type of linebacker I could be, you know, and sometimes 239 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 1: as young guys, that's how you have to you have 240 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: to approach it. So I'm I'm forever in debt, you know, 241 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: to Gary for not only teaching us how to be professionals, 242 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: because he said, you know, if you're gonna be a professional, 243 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: this is what you do. This is where you go. 244 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: This way you don't go. This is what you do, 245 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: is what you don't think this is how you study, 246 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 1: This is how you prepare. I mean, he gave us 247 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: all the tools that was necessary and he mentored us 248 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: along the way. Um, but I'm forever grateful that I 249 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: had a guy like that, and I'm forever grateful, you know, 250 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: for the opportunity to be able to showcase what I 251 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: could do special teams wise, because had he not and 252 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: he not shed a light on those things for us, 253 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: you know, I wouldn't never, you know, been able to 254 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: enjoy a thirteen year career. I had no idea. You 255 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: mentioned Gary Cobb, and he's worked obviously with the Legends 256 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: community what we're doing this podcast. When I was thinking 257 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: about you, I said Seth was a five too. I 258 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: was thinking of a way to put this a five 259 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: tool linebacker. What are the five tools I was I 260 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: was referencing. You can rush the passer, you can play 261 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: the run, You're very good in coverage, you can intercept 262 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: the ball. In the fifth thing, you can play special teams. 263 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: And now you bring that up that Yarry mentor you 264 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: guys telling you guys, bring it to your attention. Special 265 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: teams will be the way that you're able to get 266 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: on board. And once you were on board. As we said, 267 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: the rest is history. Here's another question I would ask you, said, 268 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: what was it like coming from Philadelphia and Buddy bringing 269 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: what I what I called some of his tested troops 270 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: to Arizona? What was that like? And what was it 271 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: like coming into a culture where we hadn't won a lot? 272 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: But you knew what Buddy was capable of? What was 273 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: that like? Well, it wasn't only the fact that you know, 274 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: I knew what you know, what Buddy could do, and 275 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: I knew what he was like. But we played against 276 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: you guys twice a year, every year, every year, um, 277 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: and it was never a situation all the years that 278 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: we you know that playing against you guys all my 279 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: years in the league wasn't a situation. And you guys 280 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: didn't have talent. It was trying to figure out, Okay, 281 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: why is it that they can't that they can't win? 282 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: So the decision to come was twofold that I know 283 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: that they got talent. And second of all, I know 284 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: I've seen Buddy make the trans the trans the transformation, 285 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: and I believe that he could, you know, do something 286 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: special with the talent that that's there. It was just 287 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: you know, it was. It was a good move. It 288 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: was not only a good career move, a good financial move, 289 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: but it was also an opportunity to try to change, 290 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: to do something special. I'll never forget you, Clyde Simmons 291 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: and the late uh roommate of mine, Andre Water, and 292 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: just the personality and what you guys brought the leadership. 293 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: Hopefully I'll hold back tears because said you didn't know. 294 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: But so Buddy has got the job after my uh 295 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: my third year. So going to my fourth year, I 296 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: was a restrictive free agent and my wife was getting 297 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: her NBA at the University of Illinois, and I was 298 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: considering whether I was gonna go back to Arizona. So 299 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: I told my wife, I said, I don't think I'm 300 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: going back the Arizona Once Buddy got the job, I said, 301 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: because I heard Buddy wasn't a player's coach. Well that's 302 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: not true at all. As you know, I thought I 303 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: was gonna get that over on my wife, and but 304 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: it turned out she says, what are you talking about? 305 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 1: And she you know how wives, I asked questions, probing questions, 306 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: and what it was. I was afraid, I really, I 307 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: really wasn't sure that I could play in the system 308 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: where the cornerback was on the island. So Man, we 309 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 1: my wife and I prayed and we said, well, are 310 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 1: we sensed to go back to Arizona. And I'll never 311 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: forget once I signed. This is when I found out 312 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: the power of a coach and a coach's belief in 313 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: a person. As soon as I went back and I 314 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: signed back, the first person I saw was Rob Ryan 315 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: rexas Uh, one of the twins right to Ron. Rob 316 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: put his arms around me Set when I was in 317 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: the weight room, came up to me. He says, in 318 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: this you will make All Pro You'll lead the league 319 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: in interceptions, You'll make the Pro Bowl. This defense is 320 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: perfectly suited for you because I saw you do it 321 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: at Southern University. And I'm telling you Set, like I said, 322 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: I'm holding it in man, because that was a game changer. 323 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: And that's when I learned the power of coaches speaking 324 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: into players and realizing sometimes when players don't know what 325 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: they're capable of doing, for the coast to verbalize it 326 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: and no doubt about it. Man. That training camp, Uh, 327 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: my trainer, as you know, Mac Newton. It was a 328 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: game change changed my life and I was obviously the 329 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: first year I made the Pro Bowl, first year I 330 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: led the leading interceptions, first year I made All Pro. 331 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: But it was because of your leadership. And I'll never forget. 332 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: I want to put on this podcast. You understood, you're 333 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: in cloude. Understood the connection of not just on the field, 334 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: but off the field. Because when you guys came in, 335 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,120 Speaker 1: you brought us together as a defense. We were even 336 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: at your house and I say, this is a joke, 337 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: and I never forget. You forget, man, we're at so 338 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: we're we're at your house. You remember this, and you 339 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: had a big corn bread and and I never forget. 340 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: So everybody, all the defense out and you're then somewhere. 341 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: We're all sitting around and I went in the kitchen, 342 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: and man, I saw that corn bread was fresh. Nobody 343 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: had tested nobody in the kitchen. I look around and 344 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: I love the inside of the corn bread. Right, So 345 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 1: I go here, I cut the center out, eat it, 346 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: come back and sit down with the rest of the defense. 347 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,119 Speaker 1: Everybody joking. Let's day you. Let's how I know, you 348 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: get know going to kitchen, you come back out the 349 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: kitchen with the pen in your head. We're just asides. 350 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: The corners of the corn bread. Man at the world, 351 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: ask it, who ain't who ain't the center of the 352 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: corn bread? I mean, man, I was so nervous, and 353 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, man, I gotta I gotta show my code. 354 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: Man a second, ready kill somebody. Man. But but it really, 355 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:32,640 Speaker 1: when I think back, those were moments that helped defense 356 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: has become great. It's not just the excellent ols and 357 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: not just the coaching, but it's the camaraderie and players 358 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,479 Speaker 1: getting to know each other on and off the field. 359 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: And I thought you were and Clyde did a tremendous 360 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,479 Speaker 1: job doing that. Why was that important to you? It 361 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: was important because listen, we we learned it in Philadelphia, 362 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 1: you know. I mean we we have one day week, 363 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: you know where we got together as a defense okay, 364 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: and we got together, we went to dinner. And when 365 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: dinner was over, you know, the guys that were married, 366 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: the guys that you know, they went their way, they 367 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: went home, and the guys that was gonna go out 368 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: and you know, while out, they were gonna go out 369 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: and do their thing. But it was important, and but 370 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 1: it instilled in us, you know early on. You know, 371 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: it's hard for a team or a unit to be 372 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 1: successful if you don't know each other, because if you 373 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: don't know each other and you and you don't care 374 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: enough about each other, when you get tired and the 375 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: grind gets gone, you know, then it becomes about you. 376 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,719 Speaker 1: But when you're a unit and you're a brotherhood and 377 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 1: you look at that guy next to you and you're 378 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: tired and you know he's tired, then it becomes bigger 379 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,720 Speaker 1: than just you. You're not playing just for yourself. You're 380 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: playing for that guy is next to you. And you 381 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: know that when you go in the film study on 382 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: Monday morning that thean this guy don't lie and everything 383 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:02,640 Speaker 1: is right there for every about to see. And the accountability. 384 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: The coaches are gonna hold you accountable, but you hold 385 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: each other accountable as teammates. So coming there, yeah, we want. 386 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: I wanted to be successful, you know so, and and 387 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: you know, throughout the first couple of weeks, I didn't 388 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: see you know that camaraderie. So I'm like, okay, let's 389 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: do something to try to bring the entire team together. 390 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: So I'm like, okay, let's do a fish fry at 391 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: the house and bring all the guys together and try 392 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: to figure out a way where, you know, because we 393 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: were new to y'all, to y'all's team, and I'm trying 394 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: to get to know a new and I'm trying to 395 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:37,440 Speaker 1: get to know Eric Hill, and I'm trying to get 396 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:39,719 Speaker 1: to know Eric Swan. I'm trying to get to know 397 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: all these guys because if I don't get to know 398 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: them and they don't get to know me, then how 399 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,479 Speaker 1: do we create the camaraderie that's necessary in order for 400 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: us to win. When you're trying to build a team 401 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: and you're trying to get buy in, if everybody is 402 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: not in it for each other, you have no shot 403 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: whatsoever it went. You know, one of the things about 404 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: Synergy said is those times together. I didn't understand that, 405 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: and that's what you guys modeled and which was so 406 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: important that it really set the foundation for that when 407 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: we were able to finally go in and upset the 408 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: college boys in the division around and lose close game 409 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 1: to Minnesota. But it was just that foundation that you 410 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: guys brought as relates to not just the defense, just 411 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: the mentality of playing and understanding how important it was 412 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,400 Speaker 1: that it wasn't just on the field, but you modeled 413 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 1: how important it was to be together. One thing we've experienced, 414 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,440 Speaker 1: we've lost what we call a legend that played with 415 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: both of us, Qualmi Lasseter, losing Qualmi around last year 416 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: around this time. Still continue to keep Eric in the 417 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: family up in prayer. But you also while playing lost 418 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: the teammate while playing with them, Jerome Brown. What what 419 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: is that like? And how do how have you processed 420 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 1: those things while a player, a teammate, losing Jerome Brown 421 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: and now losing a legend like our fellow teammate Kwamie 422 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: last age you I don't think you ever process it 423 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 1: in this because you know, you know, I I get 424 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 1: I still get choked up, man, because for me, not 425 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,680 Speaker 1: only did I lose Jerome, but I lost Andre Waters, 426 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: I lost West Hopkins, and I lost Reggie White. You know, 427 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: you take it beyond that. You know I was with 428 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: Junior say a week before you know, we lost him. 429 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: We lost Dave Durrison. I mean, there's so many guys 430 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 1: that we've lost, and then you know it hit home again. 431 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: And I was just on this morning on a zoom call. 432 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: This morning, I'm doing initiative with the American Heart Association 433 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,679 Speaker 1: UM and they've got their heartball coming up and they 434 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: had the big fundraise and we were talking about it 435 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: this morning, m about heart disease and heart health and 436 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: things of that nature. And and and Brad ses Matt actually, 437 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: um you know, Brad, he actually um m c the deal. 438 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 1: So we were doing a Q and A and we 439 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: were talking about Kwami and never, you never deal with it, 440 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 1: you never process it because, um you know, last year 441 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: when Kwamie passed away, I was actually in Philly working 442 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: and we were doing the post game show and I 443 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: got a text and it was almost like I needed 444 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: a moment just to step off the set because I 445 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: was in total shop. Um. So you never and when 446 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: you when I'm talking about Kwami, it's like, you know, 447 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 1: Kwamie got drafted, you know, I think the year after 448 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: I got the Arizona, you know, so he was like 449 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 1: one of those guys where that this is my this 450 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 1: is my baby brother man. I mean, it's the guy 451 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: that I helped raise up in the game. And with Jerome, 452 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: it was the same exact way. Jerome came in two 453 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: years after I got the Philadelphia, you know, and I 454 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: can remember and Jerome was supremely talented, you know, supremely 455 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: talented mean, when you're in college, you can get away 456 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: without not working out and not preparing and whatnot. And 457 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: Jerome began to, you know, take on some injuries, and 458 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: I you know, started having a conversation. I'm like, man, 459 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: you got to get yourself you know, you gotta get 460 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: in shape. You gotta get yourself prepared. And he had 461 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: just turned the corner and is I mean I still 462 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 1: have a video and one of my old phones where 463 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: he is actually bicycling. You know, he got on this outfit, 464 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,960 Speaker 1: you know, just cycling outfit. He's like, yeah, I'm getting 465 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,080 Speaker 1: in shape. I just want you to know I'm getting ready. 466 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: And in a matter of weeks, man, he was gone. 467 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:35,719 Speaker 1: And then you got a guy like Kwami who had 468 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,440 Speaker 1: a successful career and had this Kwami last of the 469 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 1: foundation that was doing work with um leukemia because one 470 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: of his kids have it. And it's like, you know, 471 00:26:44,560 --> 00:26:47,399 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you know, and I didn't know, 472 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: but he had he knew he had a heart issue, 473 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,920 Speaker 1: and he made a decision to make the lifestyle changes. 474 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,000 Speaker 1: And one day he's like, oh, I don't even need anymore. 475 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: I'm a vegan. I'm like, what you talk about, man, 476 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: you know, but we don't talk about stuff like that, 477 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 1: you know, and and and the gain. In the world 478 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: of football, we're bred to show no pain and show 479 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,000 Speaker 1: no weakness, you know. So he's not sharing with us 480 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 1: that that's what's going on. I find out afterwards, you know, 481 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: that he really needed a pace maker. But he made 482 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:19,479 Speaker 1: the decision that, you know what, my life is at 483 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,200 Speaker 1: guy's hands on to change some things. I'm gonna change 484 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: how I eat, I'm gonna change how I work out. 485 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: He was in the yoga, he was in the you know, 486 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: getting himself in shape. And when you looked at Kwamie, 487 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 1: he was the picture of health. You would have never 488 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,639 Speaker 1: thought that anything was wrong. And all of a sudden 489 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: he has a massive heart attack and he's gone at 490 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 1: forty nine years old. You never process that. You never 491 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 1: get over. I never get on. I mean, I'm fighting 492 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 1: back the emotions of all of these guys that are 493 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: no longer with us anymore, because it's like, how can 494 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:51,160 Speaker 1: they be gone? How can I lose so many brethren 495 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: in the game, you know, to whatever the issues have been, 496 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: How could they be gone? You know? But you know, 497 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: when the man stairs calls you home, you're going home. 498 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: It is what it is. Kwamie is one of the 499 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,879 Speaker 1: wisest guys I've ever been around in my life, and 500 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:10,639 Speaker 1: just it's it's with and his wisdom. It with always 501 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,640 Speaker 1: included wisdom. And I mean any time I've seen him, 502 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,119 Speaker 1: it's literally like I'm seeing my brother and like we 503 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: we've seen each other every day. How important is it 504 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 1: said for us two? I don't know if I use 505 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 1: the word check encourage each other when we do see 506 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: each other, how you doing? How you really doing? Is 507 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: there anything that you're going through that we need to know? 508 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: In other words, how would you help legends better help 509 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,239 Speaker 1: each other when we do come together? Well, I mean 510 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: listen that there has to be a mind shift, and 511 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: you know it's already it's underway, but it's it's still 512 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,840 Speaker 1: got a long way to go. The mind shift has 513 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: to be is that you know what I'm your brother, 514 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,280 Speaker 1: and there's nothing that you're going through that I won't 515 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: be here for you for. Okay, a lot of us 516 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: think that sometimes when we're going through things that we 517 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: have to we have to travel this road on our own, because, 518 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,800 Speaker 1: like I said, we've been bred to show no pain, 519 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: to show no weakness. You know, we're like Superman, We'll 520 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: bleed on the inside. We don't ever let you see 521 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: it on the outside. And that's detrimental. Tools that's detrimental 522 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: to all of these guys, you know that we're talking about, 523 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: how do we have those conversations without feeling this sense 524 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: of weakness? How do we get to a point where 525 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: we understand and know that we're not in this life 526 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: you know, by ourselves, we're not in this life alone, 527 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 1: not only as football players, but as human beings, you know, 528 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: as men of God. We're not in this walk alone, 529 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: you know. And until we come to the realization and 530 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: understand that, you know, then that the change and the 531 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: shift doesn't happen. So when we see each other, not 532 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: only is it hey man, how you doing? I remember 533 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: what it was like back in the day. Hey man, 534 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 1: how you doing? You know, how are you really doing? 535 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: Is there any sing that I can do for you? 536 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: And you know, is there anything you want to talk about? 537 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: You know, is there anything that we can converse about? 538 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: You know, how's your family? How's your wife? How's your kids? 539 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,360 Speaker 1: You know? You know, dare I say, you know, what's 540 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: your financial situation? Like, you know, can I be of 541 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: assistance to you in any way, and until we can 542 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: get there, you know, then we're gonna continue to have 543 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: some problems, but that's what needs to happen. And then 544 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: small minute steps we're starting to get there, but it 545 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:32,040 Speaker 1: needs to get there faster because you know, you're talking 546 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: about lives hanging in the balance, and they're also just 547 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 1: through the league and through the Players Association, player care 548 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: their lifelines, So there are numbers. Sometimes guys may not 549 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 1: feel comfortable and they feel better with being able to 550 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: pick up the phone and call somebody. So anybody is 551 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: listening the resources that available to help if a person 552 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: is struggling. Here's a quick question set what advice would 553 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: you give current players who in the locker room with guys? 554 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: Because you mentioned your epiphany came when you turned twenty 555 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,080 Speaker 1: eight years old. You came into the league at twenty, 556 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: so that's eight years later. We'll cause your epiphany, and 557 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 1: what advice do you have to recurrent guys? Well, listen 558 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: to the greatest advice is that when you come to 559 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: the league, you know, whether you're twenty like myself two 560 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 1: years old, is that you know you really don't know anything. 561 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 1: You just don't you're still a child. You know. And 562 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: the tough part about you know, being an NFL player, 563 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 1: you know, the lions share of these young guys who 564 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 1: come into the league that step out of poverty into um, 565 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: you know, wealth right out right out the gate, is 566 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: that there's a dynamic shift that happens in your family structure, 567 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: um because you come from poverty. And I like it. 568 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: I liken it to this. You know, you become your 569 00:31:54,720 --> 00:32:00,040 Speaker 1: mother's husband, your father's brother, and your siblings dad, you know, 570 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 1: and you're thrust into you're thrust into a role that 571 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: you're not prepared for. And then at the other end 572 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: of the spectrum, you got a financial guy, you got 573 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: an agent, and these guys are working for you, you know, 574 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: and some of them are pure in their intentions and 575 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: some of them aren't. Some of them listen, it's all 576 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: about the commission, you know, and then you know, you 577 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 1: might find some guys that that genuinely care about you. 578 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,600 Speaker 1: Educate yourself on as many as many things as you 579 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: possibly can do. Not hire an agent that's not teaching 580 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: you and telling you what the process is, so that 581 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: you know when he goes in and to negotiate for 582 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:42,080 Speaker 1: you what's being said and what's being done. Don't hire 583 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: someone to manage your money that's not willing to teach 584 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: you along the way, because when your career is over 585 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: and you get to the end, if his intentions aren't pure, 586 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: when the commissionable income for him stops, because now the 587 00:32:55,920 --> 00:33:00,239 Speaker 1: salary stops for you, that relationship now ends, and now 588 00:33:00,360 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: you're stuck holding you know, the ransom, the ransom share 589 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: of what you earn with no knowledge about how to 590 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 1: manage it and what to do with and where to 591 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 1: put it, and how to grow it and how to 592 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: share it, you know, so that education pieces like I 593 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: see so many guys they come in at twenty one 594 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 1: years old and they retired thirty one years old, and 595 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: that's ten years of life and they haven't grown whatsoever, 596 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: you know, and then life has to beat them up 597 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: in everywhere it manages imaginable for them to you know, 598 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 1: get to where they need to be, you need to 599 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: continue to grow emotionally, intellectually, more importantly spiritually along the 600 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: way so that by the time you're done, okay, your 601 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 1: identity is not wrapped up in football, but your identity 602 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 1: is wrapped up in something bigger than than football, and 603 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: you're able to walk away from the game without any 604 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: regrets and have no feelings and no ill will towards 605 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 1: the game about you know what you didn't get out 606 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 1: of the game, and what the and doesn't give you 607 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 1: anymore because the game only owes you the years that 608 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: you play. When you're done, you're done and and and 609 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: that's the fact. So how do you begin to educate 610 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 1: guys um to better themselves and everywhere imaginable as they 611 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: go along? The end goal isn't the money, you know, 612 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,399 Speaker 1: the end goal is your growth and what you're able 613 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,760 Speaker 1: to do with the money, not only for your family, 614 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,959 Speaker 1: but in a in a philanthropic type of way after 615 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:30,320 Speaker 1: you're done. Saith, you wrote a book, did you? You 616 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 1: didn't write a book, but I got a whole bunch 617 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: of information and a whole bunch of I'm serious about 618 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: that because it goes back to what you mentioned at 619 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,240 Speaker 1: a light to you more, I don't love you mentioned 620 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 1: it does for it? But what was that light? Why? Why? 621 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 1: At age? How did you know this? Well? Listen and 622 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:53,960 Speaker 1: there I'm an avid reader. I wish I could turn 623 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: my turn my my laptop round and show you the 624 00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:59,439 Speaker 1: books that I have and I read all the time. 625 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:04,880 Speaker 1: And is always that way. Um, it really wasn't always 626 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 1: that way. I don't know what got me into reading, 627 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:09,320 Speaker 1: but I love to read. So I was reading this 628 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:14,760 Speaker 1: book and the it's called Mindset, and it talks about 629 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,879 Speaker 1: a myriad of things, you know, and I was having 630 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 1: some going through some things with my son, and someone 631 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 1: recommended the book, and the author talked about, um, the 632 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: development of the mind and how as parents we need 633 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: to be patient with our kids because there's a segment 634 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 1: of our brain that doesn't develop until we're like two 635 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,360 Speaker 1: years old, maybe even twenty three years old, where the 636 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 1: things that we're telling our kids they can't even they 637 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,360 Speaker 1: hear it, but they can't even receive, let alone apply it. 638 00:35:47,040 --> 00:35:49,000 Speaker 1: So then it took me back to, you know, when 639 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: I was, when I was young, when I was twenty 640 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:52,960 Speaker 1: years ago. I can remember picking up the phone one 641 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 1: day and calling my mom. I was like Mom, thanks, 642 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:57,719 Speaker 1: She's like, boy, thanks for what I said. Thanks for 643 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:00,520 Speaker 1: not letting me hang out at Charlie's house because you know, 644 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 1: he smoked weed and his mom was never home. Thank 645 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: you for you know, giving me a curfew. Thank you 646 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 1: for having you know, for making me go to church 647 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 1: every Sunday. Thank you you know, for having your finger 648 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: on the pulse of everything that was going on in 649 00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:17,879 Speaker 1: my life. Because had you not done that, I would 650 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 1: never be able to I would never I wouldn't be 651 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 1: where I am today. Okay, So when you talk about 652 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 1: that light, it's about you know, your growth and how 653 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:29,400 Speaker 1: you come to realization of the things you know that 654 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:31,759 Speaker 1: are going on in your life and in your world. 655 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:33,880 Speaker 1: I can't say that it was any one thing, but 656 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:35,560 Speaker 1: I do know by the time, you know, I was 657 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: twenty eight years old, twenty nine years old. You know, 658 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 1: even though you know I was blessed to live my dream, 659 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: there were some things going on in my life that 660 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 1: you know that everybody didn't see. And wasn't you know, 661 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,879 Speaker 1: a party too, But life was beating me up man. 662 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:53,239 Speaker 1: I mean I was divorced and you know, there was 663 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:56,359 Speaker 1: all kinds of things that were going on in my life. 664 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,719 Speaker 1: Um that contributed to the light coming on. And and 665 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 1: you know, how do you share those moments and how 666 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:05,879 Speaker 1: do you get people to understand that those moments are real, 667 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:09,280 Speaker 1: that those moments are coming In the moment of those moments, 668 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 1: what do you do? How do you deal? How do 669 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,360 Speaker 1: you make the ships, how do you make those changes 670 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: in your life. The final part of one cover is 671 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,840 Speaker 1: the set join the show. Now tell me about that. 672 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:24,920 Speaker 1: How did you start a podcast and you're still doing 673 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: work back in Philadelphia with TV. Well, so it started 674 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: after I retired. I wanted to. I felt like I 675 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:36,720 Speaker 1: could go into broadcasting because of, you know, my knowledge 676 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:39,320 Speaker 1: of the game. So the whole first year of the 677 00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,399 Speaker 1: NFL Network was on the air. I was on air, 678 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: you know, and I was hard. I was terribed. Listen. 679 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,520 Speaker 1: There's no fans or buts about it, you know, because 680 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: there's a there's a market difference in theres between you know, 681 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,960 Speaker 1: standing and doing an interview with you know, a reporter 682 00:37:57,080 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 1: at your locker and you being on camera and that 683 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,439 Speaker 1: red light comes on and you know there's a couple 684 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: of million people out there watching you. You know, it's 685 00:38:05,719 --> 00:38:09,560 Speaker 1: it's a massive difference. So that first year went by 686 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: and I actually hated I hated. I did it for 687 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:14,560 Speaker 1: a whole year, but I hated it. I hated the 688 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,840 Speaker 1: business of it. I hated you know, everything about it, 689 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:22,880 Speaker 1: and I really didn't want to be in broadcasting anymore. Um. 690 00:38:23,080 --> 00:38:26,840 Speaker 1: It just so happened that an opportunity presented itself for me. 691 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:30,840 Speaker 1: Um an agent called me when Donovan was leaving Fox. 692 00:38:31,600 --> 00:38:33,879 Speaker 1: This guy wanted to throw my name into the hat 693 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:36,279 Speaker 1: for the job. Well, I didn't get it, and he 694 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:40,360 Speaker 1: connected me with NBC Sports or comcasts in Philadelphia, and 695 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,520 Speaker 1: then I was like, okay, I'll try it. I'm you know, 696 00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:46,760 Speaker 1: I know the business is like, but I was ready 697 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:49,959 Speaker 1: at that time to actually do it, and I really 698 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:53,040 Speaker 1: over the years, I've gotten pretty good at it. So 699 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,320 Speaker 1: what I wanted to do is like, I want to 700 00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 1: do my own podcast. It's one thing to do a 701 00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:01,960 Speaker 1: show directors in your ibat telling you, you know, we're 702 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 1: gonna talk about this, We're gonna go to break here, 703 00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,600 Speaker 1: you know, cut you know all of that. I wanted 704 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:10,040 Speaker 1: to do a show that was mine, that I could control, 705 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 1: that I could talk about what I wanted to, that 706 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:14,399 Speaker 1: I could bring my guests on, that I could talk 707 00:39:14,440 --> 00:39:18,399 Speaker 1: about all the things in the game that I wanted 708 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 1: to talk to that time wouldn't allow me to do. 709 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,840 Speaker 1: And my duties on the pre and post game for 710 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:27,640 Speaker 1: NBC Sports Philly for the Eagles. Two years ago, I 711 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 1: actually started my own podcast. It didn't grow. The season 712 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:33,960 Speaker 1: was over. I made the mistake of stopping as soon 713 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:36,799 Speaker 1: as the season was over. You know, so you can't 714 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:38,520 Speaker 1: do that. If you're gonna do a podcast, you gotta 715 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:41,520 Speaker 1: do a podcast every week because people want the content, 716 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:45,680 Speaker 1: they want the information. So I decided this offseason, in 717 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,759 Speaker 1: the midst of the pandemic, I decided, Okay, I'm gonna 718 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:51,080 Speaker 1: do a podcast. Okay. The first couple of shows I 719 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:54,480 Speaker 1: had on Charles Barkley, you know, I had people like that. 720 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:57,840 Speaker 1: And then when this Zoom thing hit, I turned to 721 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 1: my team, I'm like, we got to do zoom. That's 722 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 1: the way to go, you know. So then we started 723 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,719 Speaker 1: to do the Zoom and realizing that I could have 724 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:10,200 Speaker 1: multiple people on at at at the same time. You know, 725 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:12,560 Speaker 1: one of my first Zoom shows was the show where 726 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: I had the four quarterbacks on. So I had the 727 00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:17,840 Speaker 1: four quarterbacks on, I had Harold Carmichael, Who's just who's 728 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:22,799 Speaker 1: going into the Hall of Fame this year, Mike, That's 729 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:25,000 Speaker 1: where should we get that out? Harold cale Michael? Right, 730 00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 1: So I had those I had, you know. So my 731 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:33,200 Speaker 1: thing was, Okay, I want to get the top players 732 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:37,320 Speaker 1: at every position on the podcast, um and do a 733 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:40,239 Speaker 1: show and have those guys interact and because they're from 734 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:43,440 Speaker 1: different eras and um, and that was the genesis of 735 00:40:43,719 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 1: you know. So now UM, I do it every Tuesday 736 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,880 Speaker 1: from seven thirty, seven thirty to eight thirty and on 737 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:54,880 Speaker 1: YouTube Facebook Live. UM. You know, we do giveaways. And 738 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:57,720 Speaker 1: I'm about to implement you know, a chalk talk segment 739 00:40:57,800 --> 00:40:59,680 Speaker 1: into it, you know, in the next couple of weeks. 740 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:03,160 Speaker 1: And I think that you know, while it's it's good 741 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 1: to you know service you know the Philly market because 742 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: I work in that market, in order for me to 743 00:41:08,840 --> 00:41:10,920 Speaker 1: really make this thing grow, I think I'm gonna have 744 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:15,879 Speaker 1: to expand it and start talking more overall, NFL said, 745 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 1: this has been outstanding, the synergy here and and listening 746 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,000 Speaker 1: to you man, and let's continue to get the word 747 00:41:25,080 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 1: out for guys to genuinely when we see each other, 748 00:41:29,360 --> 00:41:33,399 Speaker 1: connect and ask questions and even make sure we keep 749 00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 1: on our person that number for the lifeline because sometimes 750 00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:40,279 Speaker 1: just guys being able to call somebody even if they 751 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,479 Speaker 1: don't know who they are, because they may not feel 752 00:41:42,480 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: comfortable telling us everything right and listen, there are a 753 00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:51,440 Speaker 1: lot of resources that are available to retire players, um, 754 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:56,960 Speaker 1: you know, and you know the PA alumni associations, you know, 755 00:41:57,120 --> 00:41:58,879 Speaker 1: they try to do the best job that they can. 756 00:41:59,400 --> 00:42:01,400 Speaker 1: The legend they try to do the best job they 757 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,040 Speaker 1: can to get that information out, but sometimes the information 758 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:07,400 Speaker 1: just doesn't get out, you know, and sometimes you know, 759 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,760 Speaker 1: these guys are suffering through things and they're like nobody cares. 760 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:14,080 Speaker 1: You know, there's there's not a voice. You know too, 761 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:16,640 Speaker 1: that there's not an ear from my voice, there's not 762 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:20,120 Speaker 1: a shoulder for me lean on. You know. We've got 763 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 1: to figure out a way, you know, to ensure that 764 00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:27,640 Speaker 1: every single guy who is an NFL Brethren that he 765 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:31,319 Speaker 1: understands and knows what these resources are and where they 766 00:42:31,360 --> 00:42:34,439 Speaker 1: are and how to access it. You know, because even 767 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 1: I listen, I've been, I've been. This is my twenty 768 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:40,720 Speaker 1: first year of retirement and news and I'm still learning 769 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:45,120 Speaker 1: and figuring out what resources are available to me, you know, 770 00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:47,719 Speaker 1: and how my life can be enhanced by some of 771 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:50,359 Speaker 1: these resources. So for some of these guys who who 772 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 1: are experiencing you know, helplessness and hopelessness, you know, there 773 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:57,200 Speaker 1: is hope that is available, but if they don't know 774 00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:00,200 Speaker 1: about it, they can't access it, they can't hear in 775 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: this situation around, they can't get the help that they need. 776 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 1: And we need to figure out a better way of 777 00:43:05,719 --> 00:43:08,000 Speaker 1: getting this information to all of these guys so that 778 00:43:08,239 --> 00:43:10,600 Speaker 1: you know, so that they can turn their lives around 779 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:13,879 Speaker 1: and have you know, productive lives and and extend their 780 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:17,600 Speaker 1: their lives from a health perspective as well. And one 781 00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:20,799 Speaker 1: of the things Tracy Pearlman, Troy Vincent and the entire 782 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:25,760 Speaker 1: Legends directors and coordinators and these guys throughout the region. 783 00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:29,759 Speaker 1: So just a matter of reaching out that this has 784 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:34,239 Speaker 1: been great. This has been fantastic, Thanks for joining us, 785 00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 1: and the best is yet to come. Man, you got 786 00:43:37,239 --> 00:43:43,440 Speaker 1: my friend. Anytime. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. 787 00:43:43,920 --> 00:43:47,400 Speaker 1: To provide feedback or request the topic for discussion, email 788 00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:50,000 Speaker 1: us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.