1 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, fourteen 3 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Anius Williams. Welcome 4 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: back to the Legends Podcast. I am a Nius Williams. 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: We're here. What Michael Vick talking about his fight against 6 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: recipivism listening. You know, we're gonna we're gonna provide jobs, 7 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: you know, through our housing program. As we build houses 8 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: for inmates to live in, We're gonna hire the fellas 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: to come in and do the wealth in the compentry, 10 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: to do the painting, you know. So we're gonna create 11 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 1: this massive platform. You know, and while you know men 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: and women are in concrated, they can look forward to something. 13 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: You know, they have to work at it, you know, 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: it's it would being Center Bates. But if they qualify, 15 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,639 Speaker 1: if they do everything they need to do, then they 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: can come to be a success story in their own right. 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: So I think that's very important just for the next generation. 18 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: We're also gonna have a youth program, uh, you know, 19 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 1: where we speak at detentions and and try to catch 20 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: the kids earlier before they become a problem and try 21 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: to help stay them and write direction. And you know, 22 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: like I said, it's it's not about me anymore. It's 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: about helping others. You know, my kids got to grow 24 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: up in this world that you know, at times can 25 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: be very intricate, and um, you know, we asked ourselves 26 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: like why, you know, why does this happen? And why 27 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: does that happen? You think some people are crazy? You know, 28 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: it's just sometimes they just don't have no guidance. And uh, 29 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 1: I want to educate as many people as I can. 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 1: I'm want to help as many people as I can, 31 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: but I can't do it by myself. I needed help 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: with others. And if I can affect you know, a 33 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: hundreds of people a year, two hundred people a year 34 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: to give them an opportunity in life, and I can 35 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: do that over a lifetime and that's program to continue 36 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: to carry on. So it's just something that I'm so 37 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: excited about. Man. I just feel like this would be 38 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: my greatest accomplishment in life if I can pull it off. 39 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: And uh, I feel like I'm having the right conversations 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: with the right people who believe in it, who understand it, 41 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, when it's all sitting done, there's 42 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: so many people will be able to say, you know, 43 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: I contributed to something so great. I think we can 44 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: all be proud about it. Michael, When when we're players 45 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: and even current players, my dad makes a statement, he says, 46 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: son is not what people don't know that hurt them, 47 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: it's what they do know. That's not true. When you 48 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: were playing, did you ever have the thought, man, the 49 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: league doesn't really care about us. Are once the teams 50 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: are finished, they don't care. And then you go through 51 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: your challenge and you talked about the support coach Tony Dungeon, 52 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: You talked about Commissioner Roger Goodell's involvement, You talked about 53 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: the teams that also gave you another opportunity. Was that 54 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: a surprise to you, how well supported you were, Michael, 55 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: It wasn't a surprise. It was a surprise of Roger. 56 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: But they will not be honest about this because I 57 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: looked him in his face in a lot about what 58 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: I've been involved in. Um, you know, one because I 59 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: had so much respect to him, and two because I 60 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: was scared. Um then I was young at the time. 61 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: Three But you know, when I came home and I 62 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: had an opportunity to recreate the narrative and and talk 63 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: to um Roger and show him that I was different 64 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 1: than I'm mature. You know, now, I just need an opportunity. 65 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: That's pretty much at all I was asking for. And 66 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, with most people, they just don't have anyone 67 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: that they can turn to it and you know, say, look, 68 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: this just be a crutch for me. Just help me out, 69 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: Just give me one shot. You know that shot never 70 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: comes um. And you know, of course they can't go 71 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: out and create it. UM. But I felt like the 72 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: league really supported me when I came when I came back, 73 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: and for whatever reason, you don't thank God. But yeah, 74 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: it's a lot of guys, maybe eight percent of them 75 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: who retired from the league. Their career is over and 76 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: they just they don't have anything to do, they don't 77 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: have anything to fall back on. I think the league 78 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: does a great job of creating of the programs that 79 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: they have getting us ready to transition out of the NFL. 80 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: But do everybody take that serious? No? You know, do 81 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: we feel like sometimes it's just passing time? Yeah, somebody 82 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: be honest. But those are the things that we really 83 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 1: have prepare attention to because it's there force you know, 84 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: we don't always get a coach like Andy Reid, who 85 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: two years later after I retired, invited me to come 86 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: do a coaching internship with the Kansas City teach. So 87 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: that was another opportunity I would have had if I 88 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: hadn't had an opportunity to go and work for Fox 89 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: as an analysts. Um. So yeah, everybody don't get those opportunities. Man, 90 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: That's why you got to create your own. When you 91 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,239 Speaker 1: have your own platform, you guys need to be educating 92 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: themselves and thinking, you know, continue is from now, twenty 93 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 1: years from now, you know, not about you know what's 94 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: happening right there in the short term. Form Were you 95 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: surprised by the falconswa Arthur blinks support even though you 96 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: were no longer playing with the team. Was that a 97 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: surprise to you how much he really came out to support. No, 98 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,559 Speaker 1: it wasn't a surprise because one thing I know about 99 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: Arthur Blinker is that he loves me as as a 100 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: man and as a person. Knew than anything, he loved 101 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: you know, my family, you know, you know, probably my 102 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: wife wanted he you know, he loved me because he 103 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: respect you know, the respect my wife and what we've 104 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: been through and he's been there, you know, every step 105 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: of the way, and so it didn't surprise me where 106 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: he he flew in and brought me my favorite dinner 107 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: from my favorite restaurant, you know, you know stony. Really 108 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: I didn't uh out in Georgia, man, So yeah, I 109 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: mean I was just thankful. And I didn't have a 110 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: dime in my pocket. I had nothing, I had no money. 111 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: I was in ain't grubcy, you know. Of course I 112 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 1: wanted to say, Mr blank, can I borrow a hundred 113 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,799 Speaker 1: thousand dollars please? I need it. I don't have anything. 114 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: But you know, regardless of what I was going through, 115 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: I always believe in myself, and they knew that I 116 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: would come out on the other side better. It was 117 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: just a test, you know. And uh, you know what's 118 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: going back to my prison reform program. It's about trust, 119 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: you know. Can I trust you? Can I trust you 120 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: to go through the proper steps to go through all 121 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: the classes and curriculums they passed to qualify, and we 122 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: come out. We'll be a crunch for you for a year. 123 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: We'll help you out transportation, housing, you know. Can you 124 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: stay the course and and not have an excuse at 125 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: the very end. You know, that's what it's all about. 126 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: So sometimes you got to give people an opportunity, you 127 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: got to mons from and make sure that they fall 128 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 1: in line with what they say that they're gonna commit to. 129 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: And I believe in that as a as an In 130 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: central part of the NFL Letings podcast, it's about our guests, 131 00:06:55,240 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: our guests journey. You've experienced being in concerated. Can can 132 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: you touch and share with us? What was your experience 133 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: like being in prison? Uh? Yeah, I break it down. Um, 134 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: the first month, it was just a lot of pain. 135 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: You think about everything, man, you know, you worked so 136 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: hard for in your life. You think about all the 137 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: people that you let down and you hurt um that 138 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: you may have lied to, and then you look at 139 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: your surroundings and say, okay, well it led to this, 140 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: and then you know, it's just this like outpour of 141 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: feelings and emotions and you know a lot of a 142 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: lot of tears, a lot of crying and for a 143 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: person of you know my statue, Yeah, yeah, I grew 144 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: up in you know, public housing and it was rough, 145 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: but I never had to sell drugs, are doing anything 146 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: to put myself in a vulnerable situation. Where I went 147 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: to prison. So I didn't know what prison life was like. 148 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: I didn't think it was for me. I never thought 149 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: it was for me. So I'm looking at myself in 150 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: a place where it's just unforbidden territory. You know, it's 151 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: like being in the dungeon, you know, when and when 152 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: you when you walk out that dungeon doors like a castle. 153 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, I just had everything I wanted in life, 154 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: and now I'm here confined with you know, I was 155 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: in entirely taken finding by myself, so that made it harder. 156 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 1: You know, it wasn't in the interaction with anyone, UM 157 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: the whole time, you know, the first sixty days until 158 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: I finally went to leaven Work prison camp, which was 159 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: more so for me. Um, But it's still you know, 160 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: you're locked up with a lot of people and it's 161 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: just you know, too many men together every day. I 162 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: just say that, like it's just too much. Um. You know, 163 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: you gotta find ways to entertain you know, yourself, and 164 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: block out the world because that can drive me crazy. 165 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: So I learned to play chess, I learned to play 166 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: all types of card games. I learned to play dominoes. 167 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: UM found ways. I just spend more time playing chess 168 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: than anything. Once I learned, um, and there was the 169 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: way to just kind of help me, see you, to 170 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: think critically every day, keep my mind off the world 171 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: and you know, but but it's tough, it's not it's 172 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: not the easiest thing to do. Um. You know, as 173 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: a man, you we can handle it. But it's just 174 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: having to deal with knowing that it's freedom on the 175 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: other side, which drives you crazy. And um, depending on 176 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: what you did and make it worse. You see what 177 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: I'm saying, Like, whatever you did to put yourself in 178 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: that situation to be in prison makes it worse. So 179 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: I did what I did. I'm like, wow, I could 180 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: have totally avoided that and the gate that in my life. 181 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: I'm here and and I gotta deal with it. And 182 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure every other man and there goes through 183 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: that door. They should, right, um, if they have some 184 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: type of pride. So it's really weird. It's very weird. 185 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: So while they're were you just Michael or were you 186 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: Michael Vick, depending depending on who walked in the door. 187 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 1: So you know, like do people coming and going? Um, 188 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: So when you're from in our friends walked in their 189 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: funny story, you know, walking I walk in around lunchtime 190 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,599 Speaker 1: and like it's like one of the worst parts of 191 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: the day. It's like a frenzy in in in the 192 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 1: child halls what they call it, and uh, you know, 193 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,079 Speaker 1: walking in. But it's packed on both sides and it's 194 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: really excgregated. It's white side into black side. It's black 195 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 1: sad is full. You know, I gotta you know, I 196 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: wanted to sell the white side. You know, I don't 197 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,839 Speaker 1: see color, you know, I wouldn't And I could just 198 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: see people whispering. You know, I don't know what they're whispering. 199 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 1: I don't know what they're saying. Well he want to 200 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: set with them or I just didn't care. I just 201 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: needed to see, you know, it's my first day and 202 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,719 Speaker 1: I'm a little nervous and this thousand people in the 203 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: you know, in one area, and I'm like, but I 204 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: feel like they were just looking at me as Michael Vick. 205 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: And you know, if I was just a normal you know, 206 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 1: it's the average inmate, you know, without a name and 207 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: just I probably have felt even more comfortable. I was 208 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: uncomfortable because now everybody's like there years and size and 209 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: me up. You know what it is not the biggest 210 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: guy in six ft two pounds. That's Sam. Hey, guys whispering. 211 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: I thought he was bigger than that. How you doing that? 212 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: And he was that that side. I'm good, I'm good. 213 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: You know, Mike Vick up and him Mike Vick the 214 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 1: football player. And then as guys came, you know, and 215 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 1: got to know me, I became Mike. And then you know, 216 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: as I got to know them, you know, as you know, 217 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 1: so everybody came in looking at me like wow, it's 218 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: Mike Vick, and then they got to know me, it 219 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: was like, that's that's just Mike, you know, just like us. 220 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: And I respected that. I appreciated that part of it too, 221 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: because you know, I wasn't I wasn't Mike Victor football 222 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: playing and I was Mike Victor. Man. Wow, I want 223 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: to move to your just just a system, and you 224 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: have some work that you've done with it in Kansas City. 225 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: You've also partnered with the City of Atlanta, the Mayor's office, 226 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: and George's Department of Corrections to make an impact against recidivism. Yeah. 227 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: I talk about the p A T program and its 228 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 1: primary focus, but the focus is the youth reform mentorship 229 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: program you know, to helping juvenile delinquents. You know, that's 230 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: gonna be you know a lot of work and will 231 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: be you know, financially supporting formally and conservating men and women, 232 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: a rental assistance and purchasing properties for families in addition 233 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: to the partying with with private companies to help carry 234 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: out out objectives. I think that's gonna be extremely important. 235 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: So those you know programs that already exist to reacy 236 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: grant some months also to ever see you know, whatever 237 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: help from us that they may need. Um, we don't 238 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: want to reinvent the weather what they are already doing. 239 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: We just want to kind of fall in line. Um, 240 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: you know, using you know, like I said, the local agencies, 241 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: state referrals, you know, the prison boroughs to help us 242 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: out a lot in the transitional programs. But I plan 243 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: on this program, you know, starting out in Atlanta. UM, 244 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: if you're starting to Landing and Virginia my hometown where 245 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: I've been. UM, and that direct connection with a prison 246 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,599 Speaker 1: woar and and and the prison counselor who's kind of 247 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: helping me put the program together and telling me exactly 248 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: what's needed. UM, that's how I found out about the 249 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: house and the transportation part and uh, you know, just 250 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: still crazy. You know, this whole program where it's it's 251 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: a lot of moving parts, and yes we have to 252 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,319 Speaker 1: scale it down, um, but I'm excited with where we 253 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: at right now because you know, I just know, like 254 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: I said, man, it's nothing better than helping people and 255 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: the people who don't have an opportunity. And look, as 256 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: long as you know the crames and I'm gonna be honest, 257 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: like the crimes just getting be crazy at what they committed. 258 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's people who just need a second chance 259 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: because you know they might have had you an notterication 260 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: with somebody or the you know, it might have been 261 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: shot lifting or quarter to als for whatever reason. You 262 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: know that. I don't mean they don't deserve a second chance, 263 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: you know. I think it's up to the prison systems 264 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: to evaluate these people and make sure that these people 265 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: are you know, consciously aware of what they what they 266 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: did and how to prevent it moving forward, and not 267 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: that someone is better out there from on the other side. 268 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: So to be able to do this, I just continue 269 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: to tell everybody is to be one of the greatest 270 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: accomplishments that I ever be involved in. Uh, you know, 271 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: as we pull this off, so you know, and it's 272 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: not about me. I think that's what makes it even 273 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: more special. As we wind down, I want to highlight 274 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: a couple of things that I know you've been doing 275 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: your efforts to get back at a player level. Talk 276 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: about being a mentor to younger players. Why is this 277 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: so important to you? Yeah, I look at this next 278 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: generation of quarterbacks, man, you know, they're all just so special. Man. 279 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: They you know, it's it's a mixed bag. They all 280 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 1: look different. You know, some look the same, some something different, 281 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: but you know they have that ultimate respect for you know, 282 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: the ones that came before, and they let it be 283 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: known and they're not afraid to say it. And it's 284 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: showing in the game and showing in the growth of 285 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: the game. Like Lamar has a coach that coach league 286 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: in Philadelphia. When I came back the year I bought 287 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: I wanted to comeback player of the Year. His name 288 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: is James Urban and James had me in Philadelphia and 289 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: he got Lamar in Baltimore and he you know, he 290 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: we talked about Lament and before he even stepped on 291 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: the field, and he just told me about all his 292 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: qualities and how he is the person. And I just 293 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: listening and you're like, you've got all the qualities that 294 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: you have. And man, Lamar has spoke a lot when 295 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: he was in college. You know, we used to have 296 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:41,479 Speaker 1: long conversations. Um. Yeah, we used to have long conversations 297 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: just about the game. And he was asking the questions 298 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: and like, well we'll just talked for a long time. 299 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: He was going through trying to pick an agent and 300 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: what he should do, and people were trying to you know, 301 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: so that whole little and I'm just using that as 302 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: an example. But Lamar listened to everything that I said, 303 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: and I didn't have to say anything. I don't have 304 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: to anything else tol him. Now, you know, he's a 305 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: growing young man and he has to go through his experiences. 306 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 1: The only thing I never wanted these guys to do 307 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: was you know, screw up their opportunity. Like I used 308 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: myself as an example because I had the greatest platform, 309 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: and then you know, I felt I failed from grace. 310 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: You know, so nothing's more important than your family and 311 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: what you work so hard to become in your life, 312 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: and those guys being you know, faces of franchises and 313 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: quarterbacks in the National Football League. You know, every man 314 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: can't say that. You know, it's only it's only about realistically. 315 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: Maybe in the history of the sport, make five six 316 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: thousand people say they ever lined up behind the senate 317 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: in the National Football League. That might be on a 318 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: little bit on the hut side, but you know that 319 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: means a lot, and cherish that and don't take it 320 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: for granted. This is a great opportunity. So I try 321 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: to mentor them as much as I can on what 322 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: not to do, because I can always praise him on 323 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: what they're doing right. You know, if I see something wrong, 324 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: then maybe if I can say something without them, you know, 325 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: taking it with a form of disrespect, then you know 326 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: it's signed up a great young man. As we close 327 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: it out, one of the things that we've had guest 328 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: speakers to the podcast, let's talk about their commitment to 329 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 1: community service as a legacy building. And I would say, 330 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: for you, why is that important? I believe in. I 331 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: just believe an opportunity. I just believe that people don't 332 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: get it. Some people just don't care. I can go 333 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: back home in the city of newper News, where I'm 334 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: from and I can see a lot of people that 335 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: you know, just need a little help, you know, they 336 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: just needed a little bit um. You know, when I 337 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: got so much and I got a lot, and I 338 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: looked at these people and I'm like, if we can 339 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: just help implement um you know, the Boys and Girls 340 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: Club direct centers down here, refurbish them. And I did 341 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: one last year while took the Boys and Girls Club 342 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: where I grew up, and I just you know, refurbished 343 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: the whole thing, you know, put computer labs in there, 344 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: and put a game room and there, just made a 345 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: place where kids can come and just get off the street. 346 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 1: You know. I know how important that was to me. 347 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: And I did it, and I did it last year 348 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: with the help of you know, Fox and a couple 349 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: of responses, and that felt really good. And when I 350 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: did that, I was like, you know, I want to 351 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,479 Speaker 1: do more, but I wanted to do more with a purpose, 352 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: you know, a bigger purpose, because I know adults, men 353 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: and women can help the kids that they're raising, the 354 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: kids in the community, you know, generations to come spread 355 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: the word. But I just like that. I just like 356 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 1: to help people. Man. And uh. After doing so many 357 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: football camps and meeting so many kids and watching them 358 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: grow up and go off to college, have an impact 359 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: in their life, and you know, being able to do 360 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving giveaways and Christmas drive toy drives and still have 361 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: people come up to me and say, I appreciate it 362 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: when you did that. You know, years ago you gave 363 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 1: me my first bike and I gave me this, and 364 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, that's really cool. I want to continue 365 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: to do that for the next twenty thirty years and 366 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: as long as I wanted earth, That's what I always do. 367 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: You know, it's not about me anymore. I do my part, 368 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: you know, God to bless me if I could bless others, 369 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: and that's ah. You know that's the longest short over 370 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: the needs, you know, helping out the community is trying 371 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: to rebuild, help people. Well, we're looking forward to seeing 372 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: the continued work that you're doing to confront the recidivism 373 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: and to continue to inspire change. Michael, this has been 374 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: an amazing the podcast. Thank you so much for joining us, 375 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening in, and the best is yet to come. 376 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: You can't said they're better. Thank you, and ladies, I 377 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Man. You won't respect all right, this has 378 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: been the NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request 379 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 1: the topic for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at 380 00:19:58,119 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: nfl dot com.