1 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: What's going on everybody? John Middlecop three and Out podcast 2 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: back at it again. Uh, got a big show coming up. 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: You've got a couple of things to touch on. Uh, 4 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: the scene around the league. Something Roger Goodell said something 5 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 1: I'd noticed going viral on on Twitter. Had a long 6 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: conversation today with a good friend of mine. Worked with 7 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: him for a year in Philly. We've stayed closed ever since. 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: Then a general manager in the league. Was a GM 9 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 1: of the a f RAN the Senior Bowl for a 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: long time and was the color analyst for Alabama for 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: about eight years. Gotta start working with Bill Belichick, work 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: for Nick Saban. My guy Feel Savage, Uh, who's just awesome. 13 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: Just a just has tons of nuggets and knowledge of football. 14 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: I mean he's been He worked for the best. He 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: worked for Belichick and Nick Saban. Then he was a 16 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: GYM for or excuse me, as assistant GM forever under 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: Ozzi knew something. Then became a GM in the NFL 18 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: with the Cleveland Browns. But and the Middlecoff mail bag 19 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: will probably push off because the interview was kind of 20 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: long until later this week. But my d ms are 21 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: always wide open at John Middlecoff slide up in those 22 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: d M s on Instagram. You can also hit me 23 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: up on Twitter, easiest way to get a hold of me. 24 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 1: But I answer questions on here from Instagram at John Middlecoff. 25 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: But I want to start with something I saw. Roger 26 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: Goodell said, uh that ultimately four preseason games may not 27 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: be necessary. And I know Collins big on this, and 28 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: I'm a big believer in this. That the that the NFL, 29 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: you know, baseball, the baseball drafts going on right now. 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: In my Twitter timeline was full of people. Jeff Passon, 31 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,639 Speaker 1: who covers baseball for uh, ESPN, was tipping the picks. 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even call it tipping the picks because most 33 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: people are not watching MLB network. Uh, I mean I was, 34 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: But I the the ratings are gonna be huge, like 35 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: tipping the picks, like welcome to two thousand nineteen. And 36 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: of course a bunch of baseball media members are furious. 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's hurting the sanctity of the sport. Like, hey, guys, 38 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: get with two thousand nineteen. The market dictates it. You 39 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: ever heard of this thing called Twitter? We want to 40 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 1: know the damn picks immediately. I love it, Baseball, You 41 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: know they don't do well with change. Basketball sometimes is 42 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: the opposite probably of baseball, and change is too fast 43 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: like change the basketball. Adam Silver said today, they're gonna 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,920 Speaker 1: like get rid of the word owner for actual owners, 45 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: you know, the guys that owned the team. The owners. Uh, 46 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: they're a little probably over aggressive football. You're gonna take 47 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: criticism anytime you change, no matter what. Football is probably 48 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: somewhere in the middle. They do a good job of 49 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: just constantly adapting one thing. And people have been on 50 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: this for probably the last five or six years. The 51 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: preseason is a disaster. And the hard part about football 52 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: is like you can't really half asset if you're It's 53 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: why it's in basketball, you can play all off season. 54 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: You can play pick up five on five games. It 55 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: might not be an NBA game, but if you've got 56 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: ten NBA players, you can play the sport. In baseball, 57 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: you can like simulate a b s against a professional pitcher. 58 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: In football, I'm going to uh, if you're listening to this, 59 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: I'm probably at nine or practice on Tuesday. The practices 60 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: in the in the off season are absolutely nothing like 61 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: the sport because you're not in shoulder pads, so you're 62 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: not hitting like that's an essential element, so you can't 63 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: really fake it. And then the problem with football in 64 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: the preseason is and rightfully so, people are so scared 65 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: to play their starters. I mean, Sean McVeigh, I think, 66 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: has been probably the most aggressive the last couple of years, 67 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: has punted on the preseason, has waived the white flag, 68 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: does not even play anyone, doesn't even dress him, does 69 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: not even dress him, and it's worked out pretty well 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: for him. Roger Cadell is kind of acknowledged this is 71 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: not working out. Let me read his quotes. I feel 72 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: that we should be doing. What we should be doing 73 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: is the highest quality, and I'm not sure the preseason 74 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: games meet that level right now. Yeah, no, ship rog, 75 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: I'm not sure talking with coaches at the four preseason 76 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: games is necessary anymore to get ready for the regular 77 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: season to evaluate and developed players. There are only there 78 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: are other ways of doing that. Now I disagree, they're 79 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: a little bit. The only way that you can evaluate, 80 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: you know, the guy from like sixty to ninety on 81 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: your roster, is preseason games because you you can't evaluate 82 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: that much. I guess in training camp you can a little, 83 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: but you're not doing eleven on eleven scrimmage. I would 84 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: imagine a lot of teams don't even do goal line 85 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: drills like hey ones, verse ones, the red zone drills, 86 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: goal line drills like, not a lot of teams are 87 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 1: doing that, So it's really there isn't much place. Yeah, 88 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: I know Odell Beckham's good, or Patrick Mahomes is good, 89 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: or Julian Edelman is good, but I don't know, like 90 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: my seventh round pick relative to my practice squad guy 91 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: from the previous year. There's not that much time to 92 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: evaluate them. But let's call it what it is. The 93 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: NFL and Roger Bede don't really care about that they 94 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: have to get rid of these preseason games. To me, 95 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: i'd probably just do too. Now. The curveball and all 96 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: of this is the next c b A. The players 97 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: because of the explosion and probably the bubble that's about 98 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: to burst in baseball in basketball, the amount those guys 99 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: are gonna get paid. Football players are kind of piste 100 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: off because they go, why don't we get more guaranteed money? 101 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: And I say it all the time, fans benefit from 102 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: the lack of guaranteed money. Can you imagine if an 103 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: NFL team had to sign a contract like Chris Paul 104 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 1: and had him on the books for three more years 105 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: and a a hundred twenty million dollars total, a guy that 106 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: they would cut right now if they could, if it 107 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: would hinder and hurt the NFL, if you had to 108 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: guaranteed money. One players, once they get over thirty, just 109 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: get old so fast. Any moment you snap up a finger, 110 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: a guy can be terrible. And two injuries are just 111 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: a huge element to the sport. I mean, they just 112 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: play a huge role because it's a very violent game. 113 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: But I do think they're gonna be arguments we want 114 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: more guaranteed money. And the one thing that Roger is 115 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: gonna be able to say back, well, we can play 116 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: more games. You guys want more money. And it's clearly 117 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: kind of been an elephant in the room with the owners, 118 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: with the commissioner. The a teen game schedule. Now, you 119 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: could argue that sixteen is probably enough. I personally don't 120 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: need more. I'd be fine with just two preseason games 121 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: and start the season. But if the players are adamant, 122 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: and they never have been before because they always crack, 123 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: because they never stand united well enough. Now, in fairness 124 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: to them, it's hard by unlike the NBA, which has 125 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 1: twelve players a roster. Even baseball has half as many 126 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: people a roster as football. There are so many players, 127 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: so the spectrum of super rich and super low income guys, 128 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: again it's all relative, is really high. There are a 129 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: lot more low income guys than the super rich. Low 130 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 1: income guys kind of need to work, and the super 131 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: rich guys. It's called what it is like. Brady doesn't care. 132 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: He just wants to play. He wants his money. So 133 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,280 Speaker 1: it's kind of a tough happy medium. But I would imagine, 134 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: just seeing the way the NFL has operated over the years, 135 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: four preseason games, probably on his last leg the next 136 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: c b A, the four preseason games will be bye 137 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: bye to me. Now the question will be, I think 138 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: the NFL will be open to doing some more money 139 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: stuff with the player contracts, but eighteen games, and that 140 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: could be a defining moment of Roger Goodell. And if 141 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: you I mean we've all followed Roger Goodell's career, to me, 142 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: his defining attribute as the money comes first. So if 143 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:37,679 Speaker 1: if we lose two preseason games, I'd honestly be shocked 144 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: if they don't add two more regular season games. Okay, 145 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: there's a phenomenon. It's just engulfed social media and I 146 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: love it out. Full disclosure, I was never a great 147 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: beer chuggar. Uh. That wasn't my go to. But this 148 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: thing that David Batieri started kind of exposed Aaron Rodgers 149 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: and then from Matt Stafford to Mahomes to Trabiskie, uh, 150 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: Josh Allen at a softball game, and I think it 151 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: kind of symbolizes something about the NFL. And there's a 152 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: reason that, for multiple reasons, that the NFL dominates in 153 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: terms of interest. One I say it all the time, 154 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: just the nature of the sport you only play once 155 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: a week. But I'm actually from my other podcast interviewing 156 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: Mike McGlinchey this week, and he went viral for something similar. 157 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: He basically went to a San Jose Sharks hockey game 158 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: with all the offensive lineman, pulled the jersey over his face, 159 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: and they basically waterboarded him with beer. It's funny, it's 160 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: it just kind of resonates with the fans because a 161 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: lot of the fans are just beer drinking, fun loving 162 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: normal humans. And I think one thing with the NBA, 163 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: and I kind of have a theory right now, why 164 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: the NBA ratings are down. The sport feels very elitist. 165 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: It's players make an astronomical amount of money, many of 166 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: them talk down to the fans. The league feels like 167 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: super progressive and a little out of touch, almost a 168 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: little extreme. I say it all the time. Most fans 169 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: are not extreme left, are not extreme right. Most humans 170 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: are somewhere in the middle. And they don't really enjoy 171 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: talking about politics. Just talk about sports and hanging out 172 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: and being fun. Well, what do the best NBA players 173 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: right now drink Lebron James always drinks wine. I I 174 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: got news for you. I can't remember the last time 175 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: unless I'm going to like a nice dinner, you want 176 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: to come over and crack open a bottle of wine. 177 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: Like there's a reason that trabisky Josh Allen Mahomes like 178 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: all this stuff is going viral because it's pretty relatable. 179 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: Most people can relate to just slamming some beers. It's fun. 180 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: And I say it all the time about the NFL, 181 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: like the NBA. The Warriors are in my backyard. Even 182 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: their team is somewhat of an outlier. None of the 183 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: none of their core guys, beside Durant, was a top 184 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 1: one or two pick, but it's not like they have 185 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: a bunch of undrafted free agents. The craziest draft pick 186 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: was Draymond Green. I think it was like the third 187 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: pick of the second round. It was an All American 188 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: in college at Michigan State. Steph top seven pick, Clay 189 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: eleven uh Andrea Guadala top ten pick. So yeah, I 190 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: mean they don't have any number one overall picks, but 191 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,559 Speaker 1: their picks are still top ten guys in the NFL. 192 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: Look at the amount of Patriots that are undrafted free 193 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: agents or seventh rounders or six rounders. Look at the 194 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: amount of NFL players that are six seventh undrafted free agents. 195 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: They're not guaranteed anything that like most of us in 196 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: normal walks of life, have to earn our first paycheck. 197 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: At any moment, it can be cut off and taken 198 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: taken away. You notice a lot of first rounders eventually 199 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: kind of get exposed in the NFL because it's about 200 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: more things than just talent, just like all of our 201 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: jobs are. You know, I I sell advertisement for my podcast, 202 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: I gotta be pretty aggressive. I'm working on an NFL 203 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer to get him on the podcast. It 204 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: took me like three text message just to get him 205 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: respond I just kinda I gotta be relentless. I just 206 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: keep wearing him out. He finally responded for the first 207 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: time the day, and basically all he said was, I'm 208 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: super busy right now. Maybe a little later, but I 209 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: just gotta keep going. It's basically like I'm a sales guy. 210 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: That's my lead. Most of you guys can relate. Like 211 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: in the NFL, nothing is guaranteed. As you listen to 212 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: this and met Niners practice, there are several veterans on 213 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: this team. Now the Niners are probably a bad example, 214 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: but all over the NFL right now, guys are kind 215 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: of on edge. They know they have first, second, third 216 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,439 Speaker 1: round picks breathing down their neck. They know they might 217 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: have that second or third year practice squad guy that goddamn, 218 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: this guy looks pretty good. Coaches are kind of liking 219 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 1: this guy. It's a competitive competitive environment now the NBA 220 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: and Major League Baseball is too, But once you sign 221 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: these contracts are kind of on scholarship where the NFL 222 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: does a couple of things one the sport. The competition 223 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: is much more like a real job, like you get 224 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: fired at any moment, most of us are at will employees. 225 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,840 Speaker 1: We're not we don't have a seven year guaranteed deal. 226 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: We can relate to the players, and then the players 227 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: are just kind of normal. Most of them are kind 228 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: of blue collar. Why because the nature of the sport 229 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: has them getting yelled at all the time, so there's 230 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: a humility that comes with it. Now, I'm not saying 231 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: there aren't super cocky guys. There aren't assholes in the sports. Sure, 232 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: there there's that in any company, in any walk of life. 233 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: But for the most part, and having spent a lot 234 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,319 Speaker 1: of time around him, coaches included, people are kind of normal. Now, 235 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: coaches are a little nutty, because if you're gonna be 236 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: a coach, you gotta be a little crazy. But they're 237 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: they're they're pretty normal. They can relate to people, you know, 238 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: to people business where I think the NBA has kind 239 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: of got away from that. Lebron sipping wine in his 240 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: huge mansion Michael Jordan's while he was elite, he kind 241 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: of had some relatable qualities. Love to smoke cigars, love 242 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: to drink, love to gamble. You know, most people will 243 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: be like, yeah, I love to golf, you know, love 244 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: the hoop. His life is pretty basic. Most of our 245 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: lives are pretty basic. And I think these quarterbacks and 246 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: you know a think pieces coming out from just some 247 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: crazy journalist that like, we gotta stop all these players 248 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: from chugging beers. It is a bad look. And then 249 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: you know, seven people will read it because no one 250 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: reads newspapers or the USA Today or whoever what columnists 251 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: would write it. But that's coming. But I love it. 252 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: It's so genius and it's kind of cool how it 253 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: organically happened kind of at the uh you know, I 254 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: mean Aaron Rodgers, the reason this kind of started. He's 255 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: taking some ship and I said, over and over, I 256 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: think he's gonna need to redeem himself. Uh in a 257 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: locker room with some of the guys. Maybe just when 258 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: they're going to summer break. Maybe just bring in like 259 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: a twelve pack of Corps light and they all can 260 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 1: slam them, maybe shotgun him. But he's gonna have to 261 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: do something. But but I think this, this is pretty cool, 262 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: and it's just sometimes you can't This is just I 263 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: think you're gonna see it all summer long, when these 264 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: guys going Fourth of July stuff, they'll be tweeted out 265 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: and It makes them very, very relatable. It's very good 266 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: for the sport because it goes, oh I've done that 267 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: before in college too. That's those guys seem fun. What's 268 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: the first thing you say when you meet it, when 269 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: you meet someone famous, like was it cool? How do 270 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: you act? You'd be like, yeah, I'd like to have 271 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: a beer with that guy. You know. I'd be like 272 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: Mat Stafford, I'd like to slam a beer with that guy. 273 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: I'd like to send in a bar with that guy. 274 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: And that's what the NFL has a lot of u 275 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: and they always have and they definitely do right now. 276 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: That's why the sport, I mean, an element to why 277 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: the sport is just so damn popular that the players 278 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: are relatable. Okay, well, let's get to my next guest, 279 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: former general manager, former Senior Bowl director, former Alabama color 280 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: radio analyst, and former general manager. We're gonna have to 281 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: dive into this of the a F Arizona team. I'm 282 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 1: sure we're gonna talk about that and my my friend, 283 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: most importantly Phil Savage. What's up, Phil, John, I'm well, 284 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: my friend, Uh yeah, too many formers there. I need 285 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: some current stuff to the course. I'm still doing a 286 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: lot of work for serious sex in radio. But yeah, 287 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: with the demise of the Alliance of American Football at 288 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: least a month earlier than any of us could have 289 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: ever anticipated, I'm between a signment's right now? Is the 290 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: way I'm charming it. Well, let's let's actually start with 291 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: the a F. Because you know from the outside where 292 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: John middlcoff sits in northern California, and I think a 293 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: lot of people that follow you on social media and 294 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: have heard your name over the years, they go, once 295 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: you left the NFL and you did the Alabama Radio 296 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 1: and you ran the Senior Bowl, and it felt like 297 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: you brought in the Reese's Senior Bowl, it just became 298 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: a little bit more a bigger event the last five 299 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: or six years. When the news came that Phil Savage 300 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: was leaving the Senior Bowl to run an a F team, 301 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: I know I was a little shocked. Was that how 302 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: that decision even kind of take place? Immaterialize? Well, what 303 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: really happened is that the teen Senior Bowl. Bill Polian, 304 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: one of the co founders of the Alliance, was covering 305 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: the event for ESPN, and while he was on the 306 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: ground in January, he reached out to me and said, hey, 307 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: you know, I'd like for you to be one of 308 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: the g MS of of one of our eight teams 309 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: in this new league that I'm gonna be a part of. 310 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: And I said, well, do I have to interview for it? 311 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: And he said, no, you know you don't. And so 312 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: a Hall of Fame executive who offers you a job 313 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: like that, it makes you sit up straight. And so, uh, 314 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: several weeks past we got into the spring and as 315 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: it turned out he had also talked to Rick new 316 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: Heizel about being a coach in the league. Well, Rick 317 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: and I had worked at u c L A together 318 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: years ago in nine stayed in touch with each other. 319 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: We obviously both worked for serious sex in and so 320 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: I tell Bill, hey, I'll do it if Rick is 321 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: the coach, and Rick is telling Bill that, hey, I'll 322 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: do it, it's still savages the GM. So it was 323 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: really a good match and I felt like that, you know, 324 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: in the springtime, I definitely wanted to do it. The 325 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: question would be is there would there be a possibility 326 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: to try to do both, In other words, to the 327 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl in the fall in January and then shift 328 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 1: gears and go to the alliance, and you know, I 329 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: felt like that there was a possibility that that could happen, 330 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: but in reality it just uh was not going to 331 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: work with the leadership quite frankly at the Senior Bowl. 332 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: And so when the fork in the road presented itself, 333 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: I I just felt like, you know, I feel like 334 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: that that my work in Mobile, which is my hometown, 335 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: felt like we had kind of maxed it out from 336 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: where it was when I got there. We had had 337 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: the number one pick in the draft in Baker Mayfield. 338 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: We had Josh Allen go seventh over all, the quarterback 339 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: from Wyoming. Uh. You know, at at different times we 340 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: had ten first rounders one year, we had you know, 341 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: over ninety players drafted one several years and you know, 342 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 1: the sponsors and all those things were in good shape, 343 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: and I just felt like that, you know, maybe this 344 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: would be the time to to to make a move 345 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: like this. And look, I wouldn't have done it just 346 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: for anybody. But when the idea became that first of all, 347 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 1: it was Bill Poland and then secondly it was gonna 348 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: be with Rick, I'm like, you know, I should go 349 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: do this again. My wife was open to it, and 350 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: so at that time We didn't even know which team 351 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: it was going to be. We just knew it would 352 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: be out west, and so ultimately we landed in Phoenix, 353 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: which was Rick's hometown. And I have absolutely zero regrets 354 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: about making the move because it gave me a chance 355 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: to be a GM again, a but be it just 356 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 1: was an unbelievable experience to actually build not only a team, 357 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: but helped put together an entire league, and uh, that 358 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: was something that we had a lot of fun doing. Yeah, 359 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: there were some twists and turns along the way, but uh, 360 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: it was one of the most enjoyable football jobs I've had, 361 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,439 Speaker 1: and from from a pure football sense, it was really 362 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: well done. Unfortunately, the business side of things, unbeknown too 363 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: Bill Poulin and all of us that were on the 364 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: football side, it clearly was was never in a in 365 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: a solid foundation of financial situation to sustain itself, and 366 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: it all came crashing to an end on April the second. Well, 367 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: that was pretty crazy just from a football sense. Like 368 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 1: you said, you got a Hall of Fame guy as 369 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: kind of the overlord of everything. All the coaches and gems, 370 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: which are football people first before business obviously believed in it, 371 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: and then that opening weekend was pretty cool. I know, 372 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: the television ratings were, you know high, and then it 373 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: was clear that we're gonna put you a bunch of guys, 374 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: We're gonna get some NFL shots. And then I remember 375 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: the first time that maybe a story came out the 376 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: league was in financial trouble, and then they had to 377 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: go get the second you know that guy from the 378 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers or whoever the hockey guy was. Is that 379 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: when you first started getting a little nervous or do 380 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: you even think that wasn't even a big deal when 381 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: that happened. Really, there were two different steps. We had 382 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: had many camps in December, and between the week the 383 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: week after Christmas and before New Year, it seemed like 384 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: there was about a three day period where things kind 385 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: of went dark and there were some rumors that hey, 386 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 1: wait a minute, some hotels weren't paid, this, that and 387 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:20,479 Speaker 1: the other. But then we all showed up in training 388 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 1: camp for in San Antonio in January three and it 389 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: was all systems go, and so it was not really 390 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: a thought for any of us throughout the month of January. 391 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 1: We got into February and after the first game, uh, 392 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: the first payroll was gonna be due for the players, 393 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: and it was explained to us that there was just 394 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: a change in the payroll companies that had nothing to 395 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 1: do with the actual finances, and you know, we all 396 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: of us just shrugged our shoulders and felt like, okay, 397 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: that's the deal. Well, then simultaneous to that, it's when 398 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: we find out we're getting a new investor who would 399 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: actually have decision making a authorready over Bill Poland and 400 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: Charlie Ebersol, who were the two co founders. And I 401 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: think that was probably the key moment where everybody was like, Okay, 402 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: we've been putting all this together under the two co founders. 403 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: Now this is a little bit of a variable in 404 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: the in the middle of this. And and really from 405 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: that time on there were some different little rumors along 406 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: the way, but again, John, never to a point where 407 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 1: you felt like we wouldn't at least finish the season. 408 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: Do you think that guys like yourself, New heisl and 409 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: a bunch of people that at the league UH would 410 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 1: have got involved. Obviously polling was important, but Charlie Ebersol, 411 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: who you know, I don't think most people know, but 412 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: they know that last name and older people that name 413 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,160 Speaker 1: means something because of the power of his father, Uh, 414 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: Dick Ebersol. If his name had been Charlie Middlecoff, you know, 415 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: would you have been as comfortable getting in the league 416 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 1: or did you just place a lot of I don't know, 417 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: maybe blind Russ because of how powerful the guy's name was. Yeah, 418 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: I think it really because the name recognition was with 419 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: Bill Polian and then obviously Charlie and the connections his 420 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: dad and family had, the television networks and just again, 421 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: you know, going back to all the combines that we 422 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: did last summer and then the quarterback camp which was 423 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: a quarterback combine in in the fall, and the quarterback 424 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: I watched I watched your guys quarterback draft on CBS 425 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: Sports last Yeah, in Las Vegas. I mean, all of 426 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: that felt is real is anything that I've ever done 427 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: in football. I mean, it was never a thought that, Okay, 428 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: this is a this is really a sinking ship. Because really, 429 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: all along there were there were different times where questions 430 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: were asked, and inevitably it was always said, oh no, 431 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 1: we're good at for at least three years financially viable. Uh, 432 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: this is all great news. And you know, our job 433 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: was to come in and put the football piece of 434 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: it together there. And unfortunately UH in this situation, there 435 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: apparently wasn't enough checks and balances to make sure that 436 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: the other side of it was really going in the 437 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: right direction. But again from you know, our players, especially 438 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: with the hot shots, and I can't speak for all 439 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: eight teams, but I know for our team, we had 440 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: a really unique situation in Glendale. We we had a 441 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: building at a place called the Thunderbird School of Global 442 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: Management that they had just recently been purchased by a 443 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: small college called Arizona Christian University, so they were basically 444 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: renovating the campus grounds for next fall, and we were 445 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: the only ones on that campus. We had our building, 446 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: which was as good a football building as you would 447 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: ever see, as far as meeting rooms, you know, exos, 448 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: video training area, all that kind, dining hall, and our 449 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: players stayed on campus. Then we practiced at the Cardinal 450 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: State in UH State's farm Stadium. There's some practice fields 451 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: outside of that facility. We dressed in practice there, and 452 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: then our games were at some Devil Stadium, which they 453 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: did a you know, a beautiful job on the fields 454 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,120 Speaker 1: and they welcomed us with with open arms. So from 455 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: our standpoint, I think our players would say, Man, you know, 456 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: this is as close to the NFL as I could 457 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: possibly be without being in the league. So we took 458 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: a lot of pride in terms of the work that 459 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,880 Speaker 1: was done behind the scenes to put all of that together. 460 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 1: And of course I had gone to to the Valley, 461 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: gone out to Phoenix maybe three or four times, you know, 462 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: in August than September, so I was going out there 463 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: about once a month to try and identify and then 464 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: help us get situated in terms of facilities, which was 465 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: probably the biggest challenge of all of it, in terms 466 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: of finding a place to meet, eat, uh dressed and practice. 467 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:55,640 Speaker 1: You know, you wouldn't think of it, but but that's 468 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: probably the toughest thing about trying to get a league started. 469 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 1: When when did you find out it was over? And 470 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: have you ever had any contacts since? With Charlie? We 471 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,159 Speaker 1: had a weekly conference call every Tuesday, and I mean 472 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: it was like clock work, twelve o'clock Central, one o'clock eastern, 473 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: ten o'clock Pacific, every Tuesday, starting really the middle of 474 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: last May. And I would tell you John that if 475 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: you could have eavesdropped on those cop conversations, you would 476 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,399 Speaker 1: have said, man, this thing is totally legit because it 477 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: was player personnel, player personnel rules, game rules, officiating, UH, medical, UH, scenarios. 478 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,399 Speaker 1: I mean, anything that you could think of that you 479 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: would have to be on top of to put a 480 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: league together. It was discussed in those calls and just 481 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: a lot of really competent professional people. And so on 482 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: April the two, which was our Tuesday and our regular 483 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: conference call. Uh, there was obviously some reports overnight on 484 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 1: Monday night that maybe this thing was coming to a close. 485 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: And that's when Bill told us all in that conference 486 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: call that we were to cease operations immediately. And you know, 487 00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,520 Speaker 1: a couple of the teams were practicing that day because 488 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: they had Saturday, a Saturday game, and so they actually 489 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 1: had to physically go out and stop the practice. And 490 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: I know the the San Antonio team, Mike Riley, the 491 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: head coach, there's a good friend of mine. He told 492 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: me afterwards that, he said, Phil, we were on the 493 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: field practicing, and twenty minutes later, our guys were walking 494 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,439 Speaker 1: out of there with garbage bags full of stuff. So 495 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,640 Speaker 1: I said, it ended in twenty minutes for us. Now 496 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:41,120 Speaker 1: our situation, we were not in practice that day because 497 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 1: we had a Sunday game coming up, so our players 498 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: were off and through the you know social media team 499 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 1: works app, we were able to communicate with forty nine 500 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: of our fifty two. Three of our guys had gone 501 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: home for family situations, so forty nine of our players 502 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 1: made it back, and you know, we had a meeting 503 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: and talked through and walked through everything and some of 504 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: the nightmare stories that you heard about other teams, like 505 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 1: guys getting kicked out of the hotel and getting charged 506 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: for something that didn't happen with us, Thank goodness, so 507 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: our guys had somewhat of a smooth transition. They were 508 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: allowed to stay in that dorm, you know, for several 509 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: more days. I think even a couple of guys stay 510 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: for a week or ten days afterwards until they could 511 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: figure out where they were going to go. I mean, 512 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 1: you know how that goes, that the one negative story 513 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: that that one's gonna go viral, not not the positive ones. 514 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 1: But you know, being out here in the Bay Area, 515 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: I got involved in a startup several years ago that 516 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 1: you know, kind of went belly up just all of 517 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: a sudden, it just ends, you know, and I'll be 518 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: the first day. I honestly, I you've been doing this 519 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: longer than me, but I think there it's it sucks, 520 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: but it's it's an incredible experience. You really can't get 521 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:51,280 Speaker 1: it anywhere else. You know, just no, no, you could. 522 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: You couldn't. And you know, like I say, I have 523 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: no regrets about doing it because you know, again, it 524 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: was a lot of fun. With with Rick as our 525 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: head coach. We had a really good staff. You know, 526 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: Nick Aliotte came from Oregon, We had seven really good 527 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: coaches on the staff are players. The thing that I 528 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: found John that was refreshing about it is that that 529 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: every person involved, essentially the coaches, the staff, the players, 530 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 1: all of us had been fired, cut trade and told 531 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: you weren't good enough whatever. Everybody had been through the 532 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: wringer in football, and so now it was just really 533 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: about your loved and passion for the sport and knowing that, Okay, 534 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: this is an opportunity to do something that I really 535 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: enjoy doing. And I thought our players were were hung hungry. 536 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: I thought they were humble, and it was refreshing to 537 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 1: be around guys that really were playing. I mean, look, 538 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: seventy grand is a lot of money for ten weeks, 539 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: but it's not NFL money. And so those guys that 540 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: decided to to, you know, put their hat in the 541 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: ring and and try to play, Uh, they were doing 542 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: it because they really loved the game and they felt like, Okay, 543 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: this is a way for me to to make a living. 544 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: So there's a lot of good ideas that came from 545 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: the league, and obviously the XFL is gonna try to 546 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: take their shot at it next spring. I don't know 547 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: if a spring league is the right approach, or maybe 548 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:22,320 Speaker 1: you try to run run it simultaneous to the NFL. 549 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: It's almost like a true minor league system where players 550 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 1: can get called up and those sorts of things. You know. 551 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: The idea of the Alliance was to do it as 552 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: a spring league. That's what the XFL is gonna do. 553 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: But I'm not sure that that that is really the 554 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: right approach. I'm almost of the mind that doing it 555 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: in the fall simultaneous to all the other football might 556 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 1: be the best the best way to approach it. I mean, 557 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: you've been around football now at the highest level since 558 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: you got hired in the NFL win in the early 559 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: nineties with Belichick and up through this year. You know, 560 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: the a F to say, been still close with a 561 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:04,480 Speaker 1: bunch of people in the NFL. It does feel like 562 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: the the business of the NFL. I mean, I'm someone 563 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: that also worked in the NFL, but now I make 564 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: a living off just talking about it. And because there's 565 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: so many crazy sealation stories, I'm able to do well 566 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: and so many people care. Do you think the I 567 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:20,719 Speaker 1: don't know how to put this, but like the expansion 568 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: of media and the business element of football has has 569 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: impacted or changed the sport or it's still football's football 570 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: and it's just extra noise that the good coaches are 571 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: able to kind of, you know, cancel out. Wow. I 572 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: just think that the popular area of sport, it's gotten 573 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 1: to the point where, you know, a lot of people 574 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,320 Speaker 1: want to play, a lot of people want to coach, 575 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:49,960 Speaker 1: a lot of people want to scout. I mean, John, 576 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 1: when I went to the Browns in I think we 577 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: had like twelve coaches and maybe six scouts. Now you 578 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:58,840 Speaker 1: look at the NFL and like Tampa Bay this year, 579 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: they've got twenty coaches on their roster. How and you 580 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,160 Speaker 1: know in college, I mean you have ten official coaches, 581 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: but then you have really as many analysts almost as 582 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: you want. And so the explosion of people you know 583 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: that are in the game connected to the game, and 584 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: obviously the dollars that are available out there, I think 585 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: that's probably part of the motivation for people wanting to 586 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: get into it. I mean, look, when I started almost 587 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: thirty years ago, you got into it because you love 588 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 1: the sport and you want to coach or you want 589 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:35,840 Speaker 1: to scout or whatever it's gonna be. And you know, 590 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 1: you serve as a grand assistant for a number of years, 591 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: and you don't make a lot of money for about 592 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: six seven years until finally, you know, you get a 593 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 1: real opportunity. And now with the fast track that that 594 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: people are on, not only players but coaches and scouts, 595 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,800 Speaker 1: I mean, look this year, you know, just look at 596 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: the hiring cycle of the coaches this year. You know, 597 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: I would say that twenty years ago, you know, you 598 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: couldn't have gone from being a one year coordinator to 599 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 1: being a head coach. Now, there have been exceptions, I 600 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:10,959 Speaker 1: mean Andy Reid never officially called plays in Green Bay 601 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: before he became the coach at Philadelphia, But you know 602 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Yeah, everything now happened so much faster. 603 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: You know, you draft the rookie quarterback and days gone by, 604 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: you could red shirt or sitting for a year, no worries. 605 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: Now if the guy sits for four weeks, that seems 606 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 1: like a you know, ten years as people are about 607 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,960 Speaker 1: getting quarterbacks on the field. Do you think because you 608 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: you've been around Belichick and saving and I've read your 609 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: book on you know, talk a lot about saving any 610 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: Belichick and just reading the Belichick book, I can say 611 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 1: both those two individuals they both make you know, combined 612 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: probably million dollars between their two salaries, but they did 613 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: not get into football for the money. They got into 614 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: it because they love football. It does feel like a 615 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: lot of coaches now and like you could you can 616 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 1: say the same thing about assistant coaches, just young coaches 617 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: in general, and scouts or in it maybe for the 618 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:09,479 Speaker 1: wrong reasons or do you think still think a lot 619 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: of guys are coaching because they like coaching. I mean 620 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 1: you've seen it. I mean you've seen a ton of 621 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 1: coaches come through Saban's operation the last five six years. 622 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 1: Do you think that's impacted at all the money in 623 00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:25,800 Speaker 1: the sport? John, I have to think that it does. 624 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: I mean, look I want to say that the purity 625 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:31,960 Speaker 1: of it is still there. You know, people finish up 626 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: playing and they decided they want to go into coaching 627 00:33:34,920 --> 00:33:37,200 Speaker 1: or you know, go into scouting. I mean, look, and 628 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: in twenty five years ago, most of your scouts were 629 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: former coaches. You know, they had already spent time in 630 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: the NFL, and then they would bump over to another 631 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: side of the building. Nowadays, you know, these twentysomethings, they're 632 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:54,560 Speaker 1: starting off with the idea that they're going to go 633 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: into scouting. So that's a lot different now than it 634 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,560 Speaker 1: was back then. But I would have have to say 635 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: that the dollars probably are more attractive and if attracted 636 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: more people uh to the to the game. And I'm 637 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,120 Speaker 1: not even I would even restrict it to to football. 638 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: I mean I would when you consider the amount of 639 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:17,360 Speaker 1: coverage that it gets. It's so visible to just the 640 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:20,399 Speaker 1: average person, and then when you when you dig into 641 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,320 Speaker 1: the dollars, I think that you know, obviously people are 642 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: are drawn to it for that reason. But you're right 643 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: about Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. I think certainly there's 644 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 1: gotta be some piece of pride to say, Okay, nobody 645 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 1: makes more money than I do as a coach, but 646 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:41,399 Speaker 1: I don't think that either one have ever focused on 647 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,720 Speaker 1: what they were making. I think at a certain point 648 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,440 Speaker 1: they turned it over to the representative and those guys 649 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,880 Speaker 1: kind of handle that for him, and you know the 650 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: rest of it. Like I say, if you rough Bill 651 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:56,319 Speaker 1: Belichick in the middle of South Dakota at a high 652 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,120 Speaker 1: school and said, hey, you're gonna coach the long snappers 653 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:01,760 Speaker 1: and special teams, he'd do it better than any coach 654 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,200 Speaker 1: in the country for whatever the salary was. If if 655 00:35:05,239 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: you took Nick Saban and said, hey, we're gonna you know, 656 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 1: pay you a hundred drand to be the defensive back 657 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,239 Speaker 1: coach at Duquesne, you know, he would go there and 658 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: do it better than anybody at that level. I'm sure, 659 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: because that's that's just their makeup, that's who they are. 660 00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 1: Who do you think likes football more? Nick or Bill? Wow? 661 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: You know I think that I think Cally. I guess 662 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: how I would separate it. I think Bill may have 663 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: more appreciation for the history of the sport because of 664 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 1: his father and just the fact that you know, he 665 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,399 Speaker 1: just grew up around it at a young age. It's 666 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:46,719 Speaker 1: all he's really ever known and I think that he 667 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 1: has such a respect for the game. Uh. I would 668 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 1: say with Nick Saban, it wouldn't have mattered had he 669 00:35:54,000 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 1: chosen basketball or hockey or another sport. His competitive nay cheer, 670 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: it's really the driving force but behind his success. And 671 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,879 Speaker 1: so I don't think he's really worried about history. He's 672 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: not worried about the future. He's worried about today and 673 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:14,360 Speaker 1: trying to win whatever game is going on that particular day. 674 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:17,280 Speaker 1: Of course, I wrote that book Force and Goal every Day, 675 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:19,839 Speaker 1: and that's that's the sense you have of it when 676 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: you're there. Everybody has a job to do and they're 677 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: expected to be on point every single day. Uh, other 678 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 1: than you know, the few weeks of vacation that they 679 00:36:29,239 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 1: get over the course of a year. Would would you 680 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 1: say Bill Nick might be the most intense football coach? 681 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: Would you say Bill is the smartest when you just 682 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:41,960 Speaker 1: factor in the total package, I mean you saw it. 683 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 1: You saw it from the ground floor when no one 684 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:46,320 Speaker 1: really knew. I mean the people knew who he was 685 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:49,080 Speaker 1: because he had been a coordinator for Parcels, but as 686 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,719 Speaker 1: a first time head coach, and it seems like you 687 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 1: guys still talk about to this day, it was clear 688 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: this guy was just on a different level. Yeah, I 689 00:36:57,960 --> 00:36:59,719 Speaker 1: would say that for both of them. You know, the 690 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:04,640 Speaker 1: foot ball intellect is there. Secondly, uh, the the incredible 691 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 1: work ethic is there. And then thirdly they both have 692 00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: really adjusted with the times. I mean, you know, you 693 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: look at the coaches ages. I mean it's it's Bill Belichick, 694 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:16,400 Speaker 1: Nick Saban, Pete Carroll. There's a handful of guys in 695 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 1: their sixties, but it's a young man's sports. And you know, 696 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: I would say that, you know, one of the differences 697 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: between them is obviously, you know, Nick is like a 698 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,399 Speaker 1: rolling thunderstorm. You know, he's gonna come through and it's 699 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:32,520 Speaker 1: gonna be high winds and thunder and a lot of 700 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: lightning and then it'll be over, you know. Whereas Bill, 701 00:37:36,840 --> 00:37:40,319 Speaker 1: you know, he's more reserved, but you know, his his 702 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:44,719 Speaker 1: ability to say something in a sarcastic way, believe me, 703 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,799 Speaker 1: gets the point across in much the same matter as 704 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,439 Speaker 1: as the same manner as if you say, get chewed 705 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:55,120 Speaker 1: out by Nick Saban. I mean, totally different approaches. But 706 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,560 Speaker 1: you know both of them, uh have a way of 707 00:37:59,560 --> 00:38:03,279 Speaker 1: of mo devating their people, and you know they it 708 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 1: just really goes down back to their to their personality. 709 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I've always thought coach Belichick was somewhat of 710 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: a shy person in reality and uh somewhat you know, 711 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,839 Speaker 1: more reserved, whereas you know where Nick is also very 712 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:21,720 Speaker 1: shy and an instrovert, you know in small, small groups, 713 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,799 Speaker 1: but in front of a large crowd, I mean he 714 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 1: can command, you know, person audience where they take in 715 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 1: every word that he says. So it's interesting the contrast 716 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 1: between the two. But like I said at the very beginning, 717 00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 1: the three things the football intellect, the work ethic, and 718 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:42,120 Speaker 1: then the adaptability. To me, that's really what separated those 719 00:38:42,160 --> 00:38:44,600 Speaker 1: two from everybody else. Yeah, for sure. I mean it 720 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 1: was crazy about Savings team coming back this year, as 721 00:38:47,239 --> 00:38:49,120 Speaker 1: you would say, you know, and you'd have a front 722 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: row seat for the majority of his tenure has been 723 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:55,520 Speaker 1: defined by defense. Well, it does feel like this year 724 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: he has the best quarterback over this run coming back 725 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 1: into a and Jerry Judy. I mean, for let's start 726 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 1: with Jerry Judy, I mean, how good is this kid? 727 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:07,719 Speaker 1: Is he? Obviously if the top two guys would be 728 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,120 Speaker 1: Julio and Amari, I guess Calvin Ridley is throwing his 729 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 1: hat in the rain. He's pretty damn good too. Is 730 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:15,000 Speaker 1: this guy at that level? I mean a top five 731 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,279 Speaker 1: pick in this upcoming draft, because that's where I kind 732 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:23,839 Speaker 1: of yeah, Jerry is. You know, he's a slippery when 733 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 1: wet kind of player out in space. I mean he is. 734 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 1: He's quick, he's fast, he's ayegill, he catches the ball. 735 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 1: He's got really good instincts. He understands how to you know, 736 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 1: get open and stay open. Uh, if I were raiding them, 737 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:40,319 Speaker 1: and I mean, look, this is just kind of a 738 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: blind dark throw. But my respect for Julio Jones is 739 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:46,800 Speaker 1: way up there because I saw Julio as a ninth 740 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: grader when he came an eighth grader, actually when he 741 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 1: came to my football camp down here in South Alabama. 742 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:56,040 Speaker 1: You know, he's a phenom. Mean, he's like Sunds is 743 00:39:56,080 --> 00:39:58,439 Speaker 1: an eighth grader. He's better than most every high school 744 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 1: kids there. You know, he lived up to the hike 745 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,880 Speaker 1: every stuff, whether it's been from high school to college, 746 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:07,160 Speaker 1: college to the NFL. And that it's hard to do, 747 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 1: it really is. Uh. And and I think a Mari 748 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:13,600 Speaker 1: Cooper to me, has been the second best receiver that 749 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: Bama produced, even though he went a couple of spots 750 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 1: higher than Julio, but you know that's the year to 751 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:24,120 Speaker 1: year draft value saying, Uh, I thought Calvin Ridley was 752 00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:27,040 Speaker 1: a nice player. Obviously went the first round, but it 753 00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:30,080 Speaker 1: was at the bottom end of the first round to Atlanta. 754 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:32,440 Speaker 1: I thought that was probably about the right spot. And 755 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:36,040 Speaker 1: with Jerry Judy, I would I would say that if 756 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 1: he plays as well as he's capable of this year, 757 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 1: he he would have a chance to be up there 758 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: with a Mari Cooper. I'm not gonna put him in 759 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:48,400 Speaker 1: the Julio category because Julio's a freakish height, weight speed prospect, 760 00:40:48,920 --> 00:40:50,960 Speaker 1: and you know, Judy is probably gonna check in at 761 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:55,680 Speaker 1: like six in that range. So he's just really really skilled. 762 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: But he's he's an excellent player. There's no two ways 763 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 1: about it about the quarterback. I mean, is he a 764 00:41:00,520 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 1: legitimate number one overall guy? You know, John, I think 765 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:09,759 Speaker 1: if you just take two h for what he is, 766 00:41:10,640 --> 00:41:14,200 Speaker 1: which is a guy that's got very good eyes, he's 767 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:19,360 Speaker 1: got a quick release, and he has mobilities. Uh, there's 768 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:22,319 Speaker 1: no reason to think that he wouldn't be a top pick. 769 00:41:22,719 --> 00:41:28,440 Speaker 1: With this caveat. He has not really stayed healthy the 770 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:31,400 Speaker 1: whole time he's been Alabama. He arrived as a midyear, 771 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 1: broke his hands. Uh you know, he ended up backing 772 00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 1: up Jalen Hurts for the for the fall, then got 773 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:42,200 Speaker 1: in obviously and helped BAMMA win the national championship at 774 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 1: the end. Then all the hepe last year, Uh, you know, 775 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:51,400 Speaker 1: the same thing, had another little injury in the spring. Uh, 776 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:53,719 Speaker 1: then got into the season, had an ankle and a 777 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,279 Speaker 1: knee and really wasn't the same player in November and 778 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:00,520 Speaker 1: December that he was in September and our October. And 779 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, to me, that's something that you have to assess, 780 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:08,400 Speaker 1: is ruggedness durability. Uh, you're talking about sixteen to twenty 781 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:11,919 Speaker 1: weeks in the NFL. I mean it is a tough year, 782 00:42:12,719 --> 00:42:15,800 Speaker 1: uh in that league. And does he have the lower 783 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:18,879 Speaker 1: body durability? I mean on the hoof he does? I mean, 784 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:22,320 Speaker 1: you know, he's thick legged. He measured in the spring 785 00:42:22,360 --> 00:42:25,760 Speaker 1: at a shade over six feet and then two hundred 786 00:42:25,800 --> 00:42:28,360 Speaker 1: and thirty pounds, so I think he was up about 787 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 1: ten pounds from where he was last season. So I 788 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:33,520 Speaker 1: don't know if he's can't tried to gain the weight 789 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:35,640 Speaker 1: to give himself a little bit more girth. I don't 790 00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 1: know that, but I mean, look, if a team is 791 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:41,320 Speaker 1: drafted number one and they run sort of a West 792 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: Coast you know, quick rhythm passing game, then I don't 793 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 1: see how he would be you would pass him. If 794 00:42:48,520 --> 00:42:51,560 Speaker 1: the team is more of a play auction passed, you know, 795 00:42:51,680 --> 00:42:54,799 Speaker 1: want to set the guy in the pocket and and 796 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:57,840 Speaker 1: throw from the apex of his drop, then maybe he 797 00:42:58,239 --> 00:43:00,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't be the choice, and a team would you know, 798 00:43:00,520 --> 00:43:03,319 Speaker 1: look at a Justin Herbert or somebody else. But I 799 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:07,239 Speaker 1: mean two is gonna be He's gonna be dissected this year. 800 00:43:08,480 --> 00:43:12,000 Speaker 1: Probably any quarterback we've seen come come through in a while, 801 00:43:12,560 --> 00:43:14,279 Speaker 1: I would agree. There. You you told me something a 802 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:17,799 Speaker 1: while back when Jimbo had Florida State humming, he said 803 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: he recruits an SEC player, but he plays in a 804 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:24,279 Speaker 1: CEC schedule. And now that Florida State has fallen off, 805 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:28,120 Speaker 1: Clemson just picked it up and ran with him. Probably better. Uh, 806 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:30,080 Speaker 1: they're kind of doing the same. I mean, you saw 807 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:34,160 Speaker 1: the draft. They're pumping out Alabama level players and that hell, 808 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 1: they just beat Alabama. Now it was a little freaky 809 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:38,800 Speaker 1: because they had all these guys come back that usually 810 00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,239 Speaker 1: would have gone pro. But you live in Alabama. I 811 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:45,160 Speaker 1: mean you know this program. Well, do you think they've 812 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:47,400 Speaker 1: caught him? Do you think it was just kind of 813 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:50,279 Speaker 1: an outlier season. I know they've beat him before, but 814 00:43:50,360 --> 00:43:52,839 Speaker 1: that game was a coin flip game where where last 815 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:56,640 Speaker 1: year was a blowout? Uh? Do you think you know? 816 00:43:56,680 --> 00:43:58,400 Speaker 1: And I think the big question is one day Saban 817 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:01,400 Speaker 1: is gonna retire. That was when he played at Alabama. 818 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:04,600 Speaker 1: But are we sure that would you want to follow 819 00:44:04,680 --> 00:44:06,279 Speaker 1: Nick Saban when you can just say at Clemson and 820 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:10,400 Speaker 1: make huge cash and guarantee easier road to the playoffs 821 00:44:10,440 --> 00:44:14,480 Speaker 1: every year? I just you know, is Clemson? Would you 822 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:16,360 Speaker 1: say it's caught up to Alabama? And do you have 823 00:44:16,440 --> 00:44:18,759 Speaker 1: picture of Dabo leaving Clemson when it's all said and 824 00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:22,839 Speaker 1: done to replace Nick whenever he retires. Yeah, John lot 825 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:27,759 Speaker 1: to discuss there this spring when Clemson extended Dabbo and 826 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:30,359 Speaker 1: made him a nine million dollar a year coach, I 827 00:44:30,400 --> 00:44:34,839 Speaker 1: thought the way they structured that deal really put put 828 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:38,960 Speaker 1: it put him in a situation where now he doesn't 829 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:42,239 Speaker 1: have to explain to anybody what he's doing. He can 830 00:44:42,280 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 1: stay at Clemson from now until the end of the 831 00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:51,040 Speaker 1: deal or after about six years or so once that 832 00:44:51,160 --> 00:44:55,160 Speaker 1: buyout goes down, then he probably would have the option 833 00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:57,359 Speaker 1: to go back. And what I'm saying is, I think 834 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:01,760 Speaker 1: it bought that new contract extension buys him enough time 835 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:04,440 Speaker 1: for Alabama to see what they're gonna do. You know, 836 00:45:04,480 --> 00:45:06,440 Speaker 1: in other words, is Nick Saban gonna be done in 837 00:45:06,440 --> 00:45:08,279 Speaker 1: the next year or two or is he really gonna 838 00:45:08,320 --> 00:45:12,120 Speaker 1: go another six or seven years? But my my point 839 00:45:12,120 --> 00:45:14,239 Speaker 1: of it is that I think there's enough time in 840 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:18,360 Speaker 1: there that if Nick Saban did step away, somebody else 841 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:22,440 Speaker 1: could go in there and then you could see Dabo 842 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:26,719 Speaker 1: coming back. I don't think there's a snowball's chance uh 843 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:31,160 Speaker 1: in Hades that he follows Nick Saban directly at Alabama 844 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:33,839 Speaker 1: and he may never come back to Alabama. I mean, look, 845 00:45:34,320 --> 00:45:38,080 Speaker 1: he's he's built his own program, he's put his own 846 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:41,919 Speaker 1: name on it. He's beloved there, and you know, it's 847 00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:44,480 Speaker 1: nice to be wanted, And as long as he says 848 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 1: that Clemson and keeps winning, he'll always be wanted and 849 00:45:47,280 --> 00:45:50,000 Speaker 1: he'll be seen as you know, kind of like the 850 00:45:50,320 --> 00:45:54,440 Speaker 1: number one choice to come back uh to Obama. Whereas 851 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, if you actually come back and then it 852 00:45:56,640 --> 00:45:59,040 Speaker 1: doesn't go as well, you you, you know, you tarnish 853 00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:01,759 Speaker 1: your legacy a bit. But I'll say this, I think 854 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:04,200 Speaker 1: the name to keep an eye on for Alabama as 855 00:46:04,239 --> 00:46:08,000 Speaker 1: we move into the future is actually Freddie Kitchens, the 856 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,120 Speaker 1: new coach of the Browns. And the reason I say 857 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:12,680 Speaker 1: that is if you look at the history of Bama 858 00:46:12,760 --> 00:46:16,560 Speaker 1: when when coach Paul bear Bryant retired and then unfortunately 859 00:46:16,640 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 1: passed away, who did they go get? They went got 860 00:46:19,600 --> 00:46:23,480 Speaker 1: Ray Perkins from the New York Giants. Then after Bill 861 00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:27,440 Speaker 1: Curry followed Ray Perkins, and they were looking for a coach. 862 00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:29,439 Speaker 1: Who did they go get? They went and got Gene 863 00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:33,680 Speaker 1: Stallings from the Arizona Cardinals and so uh. And then 864 00:46:34,360 --> 00:46:36,719 Speaker 1: you know the most recent coaching change, They've got Mike 865 00:46:36,760 --> 00:46:39,040 Speaker 1: Shewell in place. He's not doing well. Who did they 866 00:46:39,080 --> 00:46:41,680 Speaker 1: go get? They've got Nick Saban from the Miami Dolphins. 867 00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:45,279 Speaker 1: So that's three coaches in a row who had some 868 00:46:45,360 --> 00:46:48,719 Speaker 1: degree of success over the years that came directly from 869 00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:53,759 Speaker 1: the NFL. And I think you know who knows how 870 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,279 Speaker 1: Freddy Kitchens is gonna do. The expectations are very high. 871 00:46:56,360 --> 00:46:57,880 Speaker 1: They may go on and win the Super Bowl, and 872 00:46:57,920 --> 00:47:00,360 Speaker 1: if they do, maybe he'll stay up there forever. But 873 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 1: I do think that he'll be one of the one 874 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:06,040 Speaker 1: of the top two or three names, regardless of if 875 00:47:06,080 --> 00:47:08,520 Speaker 1: that job were to open in the next couple of 876 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:11,040 Speaker 1: years or eight years from now, I think he'll be 877 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:14,120 Speaker 1: on that list. Yeah, that would that would be pretty crazy. 878 00:47:14,120 --> 00:47:16,479 Speaker 1: And yeah, you've been to Cleveland before. I mean, that's 879 00:47:17,880 --> 00:47:20,440 Speaker 1: the hype on that team right now feels a little 880 00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:23,600 Speaker 1: over zealous, given that they were. I think that Baker 881 00:47:23,640 --> 00:47:26,040 Speaker 1: Mayfield record last year was one in five against winning 882 00:47:26,040 --> 00:47:29,560 Speaker 1: teams that town. I mean, if they don't start, what 883 00:47:29,680 --> 00:47:33,240 Speaker 1: happens Phil? If the brown start one and two, wouldn't 884 00:47:33,239 --> 00:47:35,960 Speaker 1: people start freaking out immediately? I mean, the expectations of 885 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:39,239 Speaker 1: them making the playoffs when they just haven't gone in 886 00:47:39,280 --> 00:47:43,200 Speaker 1: recent memory, it just seemed a little out of whack. Yeah, 887 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:46,520 Speaker 1: the last winning season John was in two thousand and 888 00:47:46,560 --> 00:47:48,360 Speaker 1: seven when I when I was still the gym and 889 00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:51,880 Speaker 1: Romeo Cornell was the head coach. Now we flopped, you know, 890 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:54,239 Speaker 1: the following year in oh eight. But since then they 891 00:47:54,360 --> 00:47:57,040 Speaker 1: haven't even had a winning season. And you know, most 892 00:47:57,080 --> 00:48:00,160 Speaker 1: of the time, people do things in stages, and so 893 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:03,040 Speaker 1: you would think that the next stage really for the 894 00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:06,000 Speaker 1: Browns would be to get to five hundred or nine 895 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:08,719 Speaker 1: and seven and really contend for a playoff berth And 896 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:11,600 Speaker 1: I think look in that division, which that division has 897 00:48:11,640 --> 00:48:15,400 Speaker 1: taken a step back. I think this relative to what 898 00:48:15,520 --> 00:48:18,920 Speaker 1: it's been in years past. I mean I remember since 899 00:48:19,239 --> 00:48:22,480 Speaker 1: one time to one of the writers there in Cleveland, 900 00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:24,520 Speaker 1: you know, years ago, I'm like, you know, the truth 901 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:27,400 Speaker 1: of it is, the Browns are fighting for third place 902 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:32,040 Speaker 1: with Cincinnati as long as Flacco is in Baltimore with 903 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:35,960 Speaker 1: that defense and been big Ben is in Pittsburgh with 904 00:48:36,080 --> 00:48:38,760 Speaker 1: that defense. And they said, well, that might be another decade. 905 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,680 Speaker 1: I'm like exactly, And you know what, it's been a 906 00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:45,759 Speaker 1: decade before. Now there's some cracks in that division where 907 00:48:45,800 --> 00:48:49,080 Speaker 1: maybe the door opens a little further for Cleveland to 908 00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:53,719 Speaker 1: get into the mix. Well, so I'll let you run. Uh. 909 00:48:53,920 --> 00:48:56,520 Speaker 1: You know, you're just just a man with many talents. 910 00:48:56,560 --> 00:48:59,120 Speaker 1: You you've done it all, you know not most football 911 00:48:59,160 --> 00:49:02,000 Speaker 1: people have only done one thing. You have about eight 912 00:49:02,000 --> 00:49:03,840 Speaker 1: million things on your resume. Do you want you to 913 00:49:03,880 --> 00:49:05,680 Speaker 1: call a game? They want you to run a senior ball, 914 00:49:05,719 --> 00:49:08,399 Speaker 1: they want you to run a team. I mean, what 915 00:49:08,440 --> 00:49:12,400 Speaker 1: can't you do? Is my question? Well, I'll tell you 916 00:49:12,440 --> 00:49:16,240 Speaker 1: this John, As you know, in the NFL, when you're GM, 917 00:49:16,280 --> 00:49:19,279 Speaker 1: if you get fired, the likelihood of you getting a 918 00:49:19,320 --> 00:49:22,200 Speaker 1: second opportunity or are few and far between, and there 919 00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:24,319 Speaker 1: are a few out there, John, Why why do you think? 920 00:49:24,320 --> 00:49:26,000 Speaker 1: Why do you think that is? You've always told me 921 00:49:26,040 --> 00:49:31,399 Speaker 1: that and it's true in New York, and I think 922 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:33,640 Speaker 1: you know, really, there's a couple of reasons for it. 923 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:37,480 Speaker 1: A lot of times now when GM openings occur, the 924 00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:41,760 Speaker 1: teams will promote someone from within, like this year Miami 925 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:44,000 Speaker 1: it was Chris Greer, who's already on the scene. There 926 00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:46,640 Speaker 1: in Baltimore it was Eric the cost of taking over 927 00:49:46,719 --> 00:49:50,440 Speaker 1: for Ozzy newsoon uh there, so there's some familiarity with 928 00:49:50,520 --> 00:49:53,799 Speaker 1: an in house candidate. Plus typically it doesn't cost as 929 00:49:53,880 --> 00:49:56,680 Speaker 1: much to promote somebody from within as it does to 930 00:49:56,719 --> 00:50:00,440 Speaker 1: go get a stranger from outside the organization. And then 931 00:50:00,480 --> 00:50:03,440 Speaker 1: I think the other thing too is once you're a GM, 932 00:50:03,640 --> 00:50:06,799 Speaker 1: your record's gonna travel with you, and it's hard to 933 00:50:06,840 --> 00:50:10,719 Speaker 1: sell a GM who has a losing records, uh, to 934 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:14,200 Speaker 1: your city, to your fan base, maybe even to your 935 00:50:14,239 --> 00:50:18,360 Speaker 1: own organization. When in reality we see it happened with 936 00:50:18,440 --> 00:50:21,759 Speaker 1: coaches all the time, and coaches get recycled, you know, 937 00:50:21,840 --> 00:50:24,840 Speaker 1: each and every year, and so for whatever reason in 938 00:50:24,880 --> 00:50:27,800 Speaker 1: the GM world, that doesn't happen. And where I was 939 00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:30,719 Speaker 1: going with that story is that in two thousand nine, 940 00:50:31,440 --> 00:50:33,800 Speaker 1: that spring after I gotten fired from the Browns, I 941 00:50:34,040 --> 00:50:37,080 Speaker 1: told my wife that I said, I just I don't 942 00:50:37,120 --> 00:50:39,799 Speaker 1: know what could happen, but I really don't think it's 943 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:42,720 Speaker 1: a reality that I could get another shot at least 944 00:50:42,800 --> 00:50:45,120 Speaker 1: right now. And I said, I'm gonna try to expand 945 00:50:45,160 --> 00:50:48,799 Speaker 1: my resume in a lot of different directions so that 946 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 1: if one thing dries up, we'll just keep right on 947 00:50:51,480 --> 00:50:55,799 Speaker 1: going with something else. And I never imagined that, you know, 948 00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:57,960 Speaker 1: ten years would passed and I would have had the 949 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:01,279 Speaker 1: opportunity to do some of the things, uh that I've 950 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:03,879 Speaker 1: been able to to do, whether it's you know, work 951 00:51:03,960 --> 00:51:07,600 Speaker 1: for ESPN on the Insiders Show, or call the Alabama 952 00:51:07,640 --> 00:51:10,319 Speaker 1: games at the Color Analysts. I mean, those are all 953 00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:14,040 Speaker 1: things that that I love to do. Working for serious 954 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:17,799 Speaker 1: sakes XM has been you know, just an absolute joy 955 00:51:17,840 --> 00:51:20,920 Speaker 1: to be able to talk about college and pro football 956 00:51:21,200 --> 00:51:24,520 Speaker 1: you know, year round. So all of those kinds of 957 00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:28,080 Speaker 1: things have have been fun and hopefully hopefully people think 958 00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:32,840 Speaker 1: I've been decent at it. I've enjoyed you, Phil, I 959 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:36,480 Speaker 1: can say that. I can say that, does Nick Saban Missia. 960 00:51:36,520 --> 00:51:38,200 Speaker 1: Does he text you every once a while wonder when 961 00:51:38,239 --> 00:51:42,560 Speaker 1: you're coming home? Or he moved on? God hardly he 962 00:51:42,640 --> 00:51:45,560 Speaker 1: moves on. He moves on to the next, to the next, 963 00:51:46,320 --> 00:51:49,840 Speaker 1: the next battle, the next competition, the next h the 964 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:53,200 Speaker 1: next thing that's on the radar. And you know, like 965 00:51:53,280 --> 00:51:56,480 Speaker 1: I said earlier, he he's got an amazing ability to 966 00:51:56,640 --> 00:52:00,439 Speaker 1: segment saying over the course of a calunar a year. 967 00:52:01,120 --> 00:52:05,160 Speaker 1: And as long as those things remain in the proper waterer, uh, 968 00:52:05,200 --> 00:52:08,239 Speaker 1: he's gonna be. He's gonna be on point with most 969 00:52:08,320 --> 00:52:11,000 Speaker 1: everything he does. But you know, Clemson, I mean, we'll 970 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:13,080 Speaker 1: see how Clemson is this year. They lost a lot 971 00:52:13,120 --> 00:52:16,000 Speaker 1: of talent. They still have arguably the best quarterback in 972 00:52:16,640 --> 00:52:20,359 Speaker 1: college and Trevor Lawrence. And you're right though, in terms 973 00:52:20,440 --> 00:52:24,240 Speaker 1: of them accumulating SEC talent playing in a SEC schedule, 974 00:52:24,320 --> 00:52:26,879 Speaker 1: they may not have to be, you know, quite at 975 00:52:26,880 --> 00:52:30,720 Speaker 1: their peak throughout the regular season, like say a Georgia 976 00:52:30,760 --> 00:52:33,719 Speaker 1: or in Alabama or in Auburn would have to be 977 00:52:33,840 --> 00:52:37,920 Speaker 1: l s U. Maybe my gym is also a hotel 978 00:52:38,719 --> 00:52:41,520 Speaker 1: and today there was a guy sitting in a hotel 979 00:52:41,520 --> 00:52:44,440 Speaker 1: and an Auburn polo, and so I'm waiting for a 980 00:52:44,480 --> 00:52:47,319 Speaker 1: coffee and I'm kind of eavesdropping and I hear him 981 00:52:47,400 --> 00:52:50,200 Speaker 1: saying he's on the phone talking about offers, and I 982 00:52:50,280 --> 00:52:52,279 Speaker 1: was like, wow, I bet that's a football coach out 983 00:52:52,280 --> 00:52:55,280 Speaker 1: here Spring recruiting. You know, Dayla sALS right down the street. 984 00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:59,040 Speaker 1: And it's just crazy to me. In these Auburn, Alabama, 985 00:52:59,040 --> 00:53:01,960 Speaker 1: I know, Oklahoma obviously, George, I mean all the big schools. 986 00:53:02,480 --> 00:53:04,640 Speaker 1: It's not just in their backyard. I mean they're going 987 00:53:04,680 --> 00:53:07,240 Speaker 1: all over the country to find players. They just because 988 00:53:07,239 --> 00:53:10,560 Speaker 1: there's no expense that's in their way. So I would 989 00:53:10,600 --> 00:53:14,839 Speaker 1: imagine it was Auburn football out here looking at football players. Yeah, 990 00:53:14,920 --> 00:53:17,359 Speaker 1: there's no no expense. And then the other thing is 991 00:53:18,200 --> 00:53:21,279 Speaker 1: on the other side of it, the players and their families. 992 00:53:21,719 --> 00:53:25,279 Speaker 1: They're more familiar with teams and programs on the other 993 00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:28,080 Speaker 1: side of the country than they've ever been before because 994 00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:32,359 Speaker 1: of television and because of social media, and you know, 995 00:53:32,400 --> 00:53:35,120 Speaker 1: obviously these coaches move around a lot. So sometimes the 996 00:53:35,160 --> 00:53:37,040 Speaker 1: guy will go from the East coast to the West 997 00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:40,520 Speaker 1: coast or the opposite direction, and you know, he'll bring 998 00:53:40,560 --> 00:53:43,279 Speaker 1: a pocket full of players with him because of the 999 00:53:43,320 --> 00:53:46,839 Speaker 1: relationships that he built at his previous school. So yeah, 1000 00:53:46,920 --> 00:53:50,279 Speaker 1: everything's wide open now in that regard. And I want 1001 00:53:50,280 --> 00:53:53,319 Speaker 1: to say this past year for Bama, Now this is 1002 00:53:53,560 --> 00:53:56,759 Speaker 1: quite a departure from the seventies and eighties, but I 1003 00:53:56,840 --> 00:53:59,440 Speaker 1: want to say this year of like they're starting twenty two, 1004 00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:03,799 Speaker 1: it's like fifteen sixteen of their starters were from out 1005 00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:07,160 Speaker 1: of out of state. They they definitely have subscribed to 1006 00:54:07,840 --> 00:54:11,399 Speaker 1: to the the idea of national recruiting. But I will 1007 00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:15,319 Speaker 1: say this when when you say that, when when you 1008 00:54:15,360 --> 00:54:17,759 Speaker 1: get to the iron Ball. One of the concerns that 1009 00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:21,480 Speaker 1: Nick Sabans always had is that when Alabama gets to 1010 00:54:21,520 --> 00:54:25,520 Speaker 1: that Auburn game, those those the kids now don't realize 1011 00:54:25,520 --> 00:54:28,200 Speaker 1: what a huge rivalry it is. They thank l. S. 1012 00:54:28,280 --> 00:54:31,040 Speaker 1: Hughes the team they have to beat. And the truth 1013 00:54:31,080 --> 00:54:33,160 Speaker 1: of it is is that the iron Ball means more 1014 00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:34,880 Speaker 1: to more people in this part of the country than 1015 00:54:34,920 --> 00:54:37,719 Speaker 1: any other game. But sometimes these players come from other 1016 00:54:37,760 --> 00:54:40,040 Speaker 1: parts of the country and they don't grasp that until 1017 00:54:40,080 --> 00:54:43,000 Speaker 1: they get into it. Well, because as a California guy, 1018 00:54:43,040 --> 00:54:45,040 Speaker 1: if you asked me, I mean, I know the iron 1019 00:54:45,040 --> 00:54:47,400 Speaker 1: Ball is a big deal. But what's the Alabama's biggest 1020 00:54:47,440 --> 00:54:50,000 Speaker 1: game every year? I'm like, well, L s ugh, you know, 1021 00:54:50,000 --> 00:54:53,880 Speaker 1: because's always the you know, five o'clock game on ESPN. 1022 00:54:53,920 --> 00:54:56,560 Speaker 1: It's just a big deal. You know, it always feels 1023 00:54:56,560 --> 00:54:59,879 Speaker 1: the biggest because he usually has national championship implications too, 1024 00:55:00,120 --> 00:55:02,160 Speaker 1: not that the Auburn ball the iron ball doesn't, but 1025 00:55:02,800 --> 00:55:04,920 Speaker 1: the L. S U game maybe is a little more sexy, 1026 00:55:05,000 --> 00:55:09,399 Speaker 1: at least for US outsiders. Uh, that's what it feels like. Yeah, 1027 00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:12,279 Speaker 1: and you know L s U obviously for a good 1028 00:55:12,320 --> 00:55:16,160 Speaker 1: stretch of time there has been you know the game. 1029 00:55:16,239 --> 00:55:18,160 Speaker 1: In other words, the winner of that game had a 1030 00:55:18,239 --> 00:55:21,440 Speaker 1: chance to go on to the BCS or perhaps the 1031 00:55:21,560 --> 00:55:24,440 Speaker 1: NCC title game, which would lead to the playoffs. So 1032 00:55:25,160 --> 00:55:27,840 Speaker 1: that's kind of the first big hurdle for both schools. 1033 00:55:27,880 --> 00:55:30,640 Speaker 1: And then you know, for Alabama when they if they 1034 00:55:30,680 --> 00:55:34,320 Speaker 1: clear L s U, then the attention turns to Auburn. 1035 00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:37,239 Speaker 1: But it is kind of an interesting dynamic the way 1036 00:55:37,239 --> 00:55:41,040 Speaker 1: that college recruiting, how much it's changed. And I've said this, John, 1037 00:55:41,080 --> 00:55:43,239 Speaker 1: and I know you want to wrap up, but you know, 1038 00:55:43,360 --> 00:55:46,000 Speaker 1: while Nick Saban's gonna go down is maybe the greatest 1039 00:55:46,120 --> 00:55:49,319 Speaker 1: college coach in the history of the sport. His his 1040 00:55:49,600 --> 00:55:55,640 Speaker 1: most influential contribution to the sport is has nothing to 1041 00:55:55,680 --> 00:55:58,120 Speaker 1: do with xs and oaths. It has all to do 1042 00:55:58,200 --> 00:56:00,719 Speaker 1: with the recruiting of the Jimmy's and the Joe and 1043 00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:03,760 Speaker 1: you look at it. When he came to Alabama, nobody 1044 00:56:03,760 --> 00:56:08,000 Speaker 1: else had player personnel departments. Now they do. Now they 1045 00:56:08,040 --> 00:56:12,959 Speaker 1: have literally staff or student assistance grad assistance analysts, people 1046 00:56:13,040 --> 00:56:16,439 Speaker 1: that are assigned to those ten coaches to help put 1047 00:56:16,480 --> 00:56:22,080 Speaker 1: these recruiting classes together via the evaluations, via the communication, 1048 00:56:22,680 --> 00:56:26,239 Speaker 1: and uh, they just now every major school in the 1049 00:56:26,280 --> 00:56:30,480 Speaker 1: country has a player personnel department. As a matter of fact, 1050 00:56:30,560 --> 00:56:33,359 Speaker 1: last week, I've been hosting a Scout school for each 1051 00:56:33,400 --> 00:56:36,560 Speaker 1: of the last six years, and we had kids come 1052 00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:39,239 Speaker 1: in from as far away as Oregon and you see 1053 00:56:39,320 --> 00:56:42,160 Speaker 1: Davis who as close as Two Lane and Florida and 1054 00:56:42,200 --> 00:56:46,480 Speaker 1: South Carolina and Alabama, and all those people that came 1055 00:56:46,880 --> 00:56:49,759 Speaker 1: to the school last week, they would not even have 1056 00:56:49,880 --> 00:56:52,680 Speaker 1: been they would even have had a job, you know, 1057 00:56:52,880 --> 00:56:56,200 Speaker 1: ten twelve years ago. But now with the advent of 1058 00:56:56,239 --> 00:57:01,160 Speaker 1: these player personnel departments in college, there's just a huge 1059 00:57:01,719 --> 00:57:04,000 Speaker 1: amount of people that are involved in terms of the 1060 00:57:04,000 --> 00:57:07,120 Speaker 1: evaluations and then the recruitment of these of these high 1061 00:57:07,160 --> 00:57:09,520 Speaker 1: school players. Well, what's funny. I had Drew hill On 1062 00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:12,319 Speaker 1: from Oklahoma that I used to working with at Fresno State. 1063 00:57:12,480 --> 00:57:14,840 Speaker 1: I think you know him, he now is you know, 1064 00:57:14,880 --> 00:57:16,920 Speaker 1: he came there with Bob Stoops and then he's he 1065 00:57:17,000 --> 00:57:19,640 Speaker 1: stayed with Lincoln and he has multiple people that work 1066 00:57:19,760 --> 00:57:22,400 Speaker 1: under him. He's only in charge of recruiting him and 1067 00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:25,480 Speaker 1: Lincoln just deal with the eighty five scholarships. He's basically 1068 00:57:25,520 --> 00:57:28,360 Speaker 1: acts as like I guess the head coach is the GM, 1069 00:57:28,480 --> 00:57:30,960 Speaker 1: but he's like the assistant GM, you know, just in 1070 00:57:31,040 --> 00:57:34,720 Speaker 1: charge of every offer they make, every every coach that 1071 00:57:34,760 --> 00:57:37,720 Speaker 1: goes out spring recruiting. Uh. Like you said, I mean 1072 00:57:37,720 --> 00:57:40,520 Speaker 1: that he Saving come and he once interviewed with Saving. 1073 00:57:40,560 --> 00:57:44,040 Speaker 1: I mean completely changed the game. And every single major 1074 00:57:44,120 --> 00:57:46,560 Speaker 1: program that has you know, that's trying to win a 1075 00:57:46,640 --> 00:57:51,640 Speaker 1: national championship has basically copied them. And rightfully so yeah, 1076 00:57:51,680 --> 00:57:54,040 Speaker 1: I mean it's it's fascinating and a lot of it 1077 00:57:54,320 --> 00:57:58,560 Speaker 1: the guys that you know have gotten their start at Alabama, Uh, 1078 00:57:58,600 --> 00:58:01,760 Speaker 1: and then you know, spun off them there to other colleges. 1079 00:58:01,880 --> 00:58:06,000 Speaker 1: But uh, I'm really this is a totally different subject. 1080 00:58:06,040 --> 00:58:08,439 Speaker 1: But this little Scout school, we started it five years ago, 1081 00:58:08,600 --> 00:58:11,040 Speaker 1: and you know, just in the last five years, we've 1082 00:58:11,040 --> 00:58:15,960 Speaker 1: had sixteen attendees come through that are now scattered across 1083 00:58:16,040 --> 00:58:19,600 Speaker 1: twelve different NFL teams. So, you know, guys came in 1084 00:58:19,680 --> 00:58:21,720 Speaker 1: here with the hopes that hey, I'm in college, but 1085 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:25,040 Speaker 1: I ultimately want to jump to the NFL, and sixteen 1086 00:58:25,080 --> 00:58:26,800 Speaker 1: of them have been able to do that over the 1087 00:58:26,840 --> 00:58:29,960 Speaker 1: last five years. So it seems to be a program 1088 00:58:29,960 --> 00:58:32,320 Speaker 1: that works, especially for the ones that try to apply. 1089 00:58:32,960 --> 00:58:34,760 Speaker 1: You know what, what we teach them, well, I get 1090 00:58:34,800 --> 00:58:36,520 Speaker 1: this all the time, and I know you probably get 1091 00:58:36,520 --> 00:58:38,320 Speaker 1: it ten times more than me. How do I get 1092 00:58:38,360 --> 00:58:40,520 Speaker 1: into football? How do I get into football? And I 1093 00:58:40,560 --> 00:58:43,640 Speaker 1: got in as a graduate assistant on the recruiting side. 1094 00:58:43,680 --> 00:58:46,120 Speaker 1: I know you did on the coaching side. But now 1095 00:58:46,160 --> 00:58:49,320 Speaker 1: there are so many opportunities all these guys that major programs. 1096 00:58:49,320 --> 00:58:52,640 Speaker 1: If you're just a student, these programs, they're just you 1097 00:58:52,720 --> 00:58:55,400 Speaker 1: go in there and cut tape that they have opportunities. 1098 00:58:55,480 --> 00:58:56,960 Speaker 1: You just need to go in and ask. Now, they 1099 00:58:57,000 --> 00:58:59,640 Speaker 1: may not pay off the bat, but it will lead 1100 00:58:59,680 --> 00:59:01,920 Speaker 1: to other things because there's never been more jobs in 1101 00:59:02,040 --> 00:59:05,840 Speaker 1: college football on the recruiting side, which is basically scouting. 1102 00:59:06,160 --> 00:59:08,160 Speaker 1: And then that always kind of is the is the 1103 00:59:08,240 --> 00:59:10,760 Speaker 1: bridge that leads you to the NFL. I mean that's 1104 00:59:10,800 --> 00:59:13,640 Speaker 1: kind of the the catalyst that most people in the 1105 00:59:13,720 --> 00:59:18,200 Speaker 1: NFL started in college in some form of fashion. Yeah, John, 1106 00:59:18,400 --> 00:59:21,360 Speaker 1: we had twenty participants, and I would say a third 1107 00:59:21,440 --> 00:59:24,840 Speaker 1: of them, maybe even half just cycling through it in 1108 00:59:24,920 --> 00:59:29,959 Speaker 1: my head real quick. They are all undergrads. In other words, 1109 00:59:29,960 --> 00:59:33,000 Speaker 1: they can walking in there with you know, their program 1110 00:59:33,080 --> 00:59:37,480 Speaker 1: shirt on, but their undergrads already working towards the career 1111 00:59:38,040 --> 00:59:43,040 Speaker 1: and player personnel. So, uh, these these guys are, you know, 1112 00:59:43,120 --> 00:59:45,720 Speaker 1: jumping on that horse very early, which is so so 1113 00:59:45,800 --> 00:59:49,280 Speaker 1: different than it used to be because in the old days, 1114 00:59:49,320 --> 00:59:51,240 Speaker 1: you had to at least spend some time in coaching 1115 00:59:51,280 --> 00:59:54,160 Speaker 1: before you even thought about going into scouting. And now 1116 00:59:54,280 --> 00:59:57,320 Speaker 1: people can start off and scouting without ever coaching it down. 1117 00:59:57,440 --> 01:00:01,600 Speaker 1: So the opportunities are definitely there. Thanks again, Phil, and Uh, 1118 01:00:02,000 --> 01:00:06,720 Speaker 1: I guess you're probably headed to dinner. Enjoyed dinner, John, 1119 01:00:06,760 --> 01:00:10,040 Speaker 1: I am. My wife's got a big project she's started 1120 01:00:10,080 --> 01:00:15,920 Speaker 1: in arts and uh music festival and workshop and uh, 1121 01:00:15,960 --> 01:00:18,200 Speaker 1: it's all this week. It's actually been over the last 1122 01:00:18,280 --> 01:00:21,880 Speaker 1: ten days. So she has some world class singers and 1123 01:00:22,000 --> 01:00:25,080 Speaker 1: actors and actresses from New York and across the country 1124 01:00:25,120 --> 01:00:29,280 Speaker 1: that have descended to Lower Alabama and they're going to 1125 01:00:29,360 --> 01:00:31,240 Speaker 1: have a number of shows this week. So I'm gonna 1126 01:00:31,240 --> 01:00:34,400 Speaker 1: get changed and go do that. But man, I'm happy 1127 01:00:34,440 --> 01:00:37,120 Speaker 1: and proud of everything you've done. It's just been fun 1128 01:00:37,160 --> 01:00:41,920 Speaker 1: to watch you've developed this media uh profession that you 1129 01:00:42,000 --> 01:00:45,840 Speaker 1: have and obviously grow your company as much as you have. Thanks. Phil, 1130 01:00:45,880 --> 01:00:49,160 Speaker 1: really appreciated and uh any first round draft picks and 1131 01:00:49,200 --> 01:00:54,040 Speaker 1: the musicians or some seconds or thirds or I'll tell 1132 01:00:54,040 --> 01:00:56,280 Speaker 1: you what. Now, some of these people, I mean, this 1133 01:00:56,360 --> 01:00:59,640 Speaker 1: is like legit talent. It'll bring it tear, It'll bring 1134 01:00:59,640 --> 01:01:01,720 Speaker 1: a tear or to your eye. You've been to Broadway show, 1135 01:01:01,760 --> 01:01:03,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure like if you go to a really good 1136 01:01:03,840 --> 01:01:07,800 Speaker 1: one and they are like really, you know, really gifted. 1137 01:01:08,520 --> 01:01:11,440 Speaker 1: It's just amazing some of the talent that the people have. 1138 01:01:11,680 --> 01:01:14,480 Speaker 1: So I admire what they do. It's it's not my world, 1139 01:01:14,520 --> 01:01:17,720 Speaker 1: but I definitely recognize their ability. We'll have a good night, Phil, 1140 01:01:17,840 --> 01:01:20,960 Speaker 1: talk to you soon. Okay, John, thank you, Bull. I appreciate. 1141 01:01:22,240 --> 01:01:24,640 Speaker 1: We'll hope you guys enjoyed that and uh, I told 1142 01:01:24,640 --> 01:01:26,520 Speaker 1: a little white lie there. I've I've never been to 1143 01:01:26,560 --> 01:01:29,440 Speaker 1: a Broadway show, but you know, you just gotta go 1144 01:01:29,440 --> 01:01:32,640 Speaker 1: with the flow sometimes. Be back on Friday. Middlecoff mail 1145 01:01:32,680 --> 01:01:36,640 Speaker 1: bad questions at John Middlecoff on Instagram. Get up in 1146 01:01:36,680 --> 01:01:39,920 Speaker 1: there if I'll answer some of your man manually this 1147 01:01:39,960 --> 01:01:43,520 Speaker 1: week and uh see a little later this week. Some 1148 01:01:43,560 --> 01:01:45,960 Speaker 1: mandatory minicamps going around the league. I'm sure we'll get 1149 01:01:46,000 --> 01:01:47,880 Speaker 1: some good stories of the week goes on, and uh, 1150 01:01:47,880 --> 01:01:49,880 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoyed it, see it, talk to you soon. 1151 01:02:01,080 --> 01:02:01,120 Speaker 1: S