Club Shay Shay - Nightcap - Hour 1: NBA Issues With Achilles Injuries + Jack Jones Joins!

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

TJ Houshmandzadeh & Darren Waller react to the NBA's issues with multiple achilles injuries in the playoffs, Travis Kelce hosting another TE University, and DB Jack Jones joins the show!01:47 - Introduction07:00 - TE University13:00 - NBA Finals26:23 - Jack Jones(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.)#Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart podcast. Well, welcome in to Nightcap. Now, we don't have Unc and Ocho. We got TJ and Rack Wall. That's Darren Waller taking over. We hijacking. We have taken over Nightcap, me and my dog. So we're going to be with y'all for the night.

Barrett Wood is now, you know, the highlights. We're going to talk sports. We're going to talk relationships and everything in between. I don't know if we'll really get to the relationships. We may. I'm a married guy. My dog, I believe he's single. He was once married, so we, we go get married thing.

But with no further ado, I want to introduce, uh, Darren Waller, one of the best tight ends. It's crazy because his story and how he made it to the league, my story and how I made it to the league, it's one of a kind. It's one of a kind. So tell the people a little bit about yourself, your journey. You don't have to get too in depth with it

unless you want to, but very, very inspirational. Now, this ain't what Chad and Shannon be doing. This our version of a nightcap, so let's rock out. Yes, sir. Nah, not blessed to be here, bro. My name is Darren Waller for those of y'all that don't know me. I played eight years in the league. I retired just about a year ago.

Played tight end for Baltimore my first three, four years before I got suspended for a year for drugs, alcohol, all that. Came back into the league, got picked up by the Raiders, which is where my career kind of took off. Had back to back a thousand yard season, just made a Pro Bowl. Ended up my last year with the Giants.

And yeah, it's been a fucking wild ride for me. Like I said, I was drug addict, alcoholic, like full blown, you know what I'm saying? So I'm blessed to be alive, blessed to be, you know, I've had a career that I had and just to be, you know, 32, retired, not having to worry about no bread or nothing like that. I don't know. You got a lot of money. Let them know. I got I got that paper. I ain't worried about that. We are over here. We ain't tripping over lot of money. Let them know. I got that paper. I ain't worried about nothing. We are over here.

We ain't tripping over here. Yeah. Now, now, this is a perfect day, night, whatever you want to call it. So, you know, my boy retired because he on the bigger and better things and bigger and better things. And I want for everybody that's listening,

y'all go get on he gonna tell you a platform or so my boy make music he rapping and he just so happened to be dropping the song today so y'all make sure y'all go stream his music now tell the people how'd you get involved and what made you say damn this music has become therapeutic to me outside of the football realm. What came, what that, how that happened? Yeah, so the music for me, I feel like it really started with learning who my great grandfather was. He was a legendary jazz pianist.

Like old people like be running up on me, like you're Fast Waller's great grandson. And once I really started to learn that, my parents had me and my sister playing piano when we was real little, and I was in like band and shit in middle school. And so I really had a passion for music, but then it's like football kind of started taking off in high school and college and all that. So I wasn't really worried about music for real.

And once I got drafted to the league, I was bored. My rookie year, like when we first got to meet, rookie camp and all that shit, you in the hotel. And so I was like, fuck it, I'm just gonna start right now. I always said I'll start and just see where it went. So that was 2015 I've been putting out projects probably every couple years since And now I really feel like I'm really developing in my sound and shit for real Like I really had some songs that like, you know, people really starting to look like damn like alright

Like I see what you got going on. And yeah, so we put we plug in tonight Nightcap fucked up. Let me get on here today. So we plug in this song Yeah, tell them tell them the song what platform and they go stream that thing. Yeah, it's a song called choose myself I'm dropping tonight at 9 p.m. Pacific midnight Eastern. It's all Spotify Apple music wherever you stream at Search my name Darren Waller. It's gonna be there. It's probably one of songs. I'm most proud of that ever made Or that I ever probably will make so I'm extremely excited for people to to listen to that so go spin that. So, Titan U is taking place this week. Yeah. How many times did you attend? I think I went to the first two, first two or three. Cause I went when it was just like.

It was. Infant stages just getting going. Yeah, it was like 15, 20 guys. It was guys that were like starters on their teams. And then it starts, they got to like, they got to get bigger backing cause it was, it went really well early on. So they had more sponsorships and they started bringing like

dudes who were like a third tied in on their team. Like everybody in the league could come. If you just got drafted, you were undrafted free agent, like wherever you were, there third tied in on their team. Like everybody in the league could come. If you just got drafted, if you were undrafted free agent, like wherever you were, as a couple of dudes from college, like everybody could come. So, and it was, you know, weightlifting, route running,

you know, Kittle and Kelsey, them boys, they get after it too. So they got like night activities going on. So it's actually a really cool event. They do a really good job. They got Greg Olson is there too. So they getting a lot of sponsorship, a lot of money. Bud Light, Bridgestone, like all these big sponsors putting it on. So it's a solid event.

Is there one thing from your time there that still stays with you today that you got, whether it was from Travis, Greg, George, or just any other tight end that was there that you still remember that helps you on the field and also off the field? I would say just being around like Travis, his energy and just how he approaches route running and just his craft. Like he's real, he's earned the right

to be incredibly creative. Like we see him on TV, he just doing, we'd be like, what the fuck is he doing? But like he's earned the right to do that.. You like, we see him on TV. He just doing, we'd be like, what the fuck is he doing? But like he's earned the right to do that. And he is just like emphasizing, like putting your personality into the routes that you running. Cause a lot of dudes like, you know, like do try and make the team, like whoever it is, they, they run robotic routes and lines on paper.

Whereas, you know, somebody like him, you put in your own flavor, your own sauce on them routes, once you understand the details of them It takes that shit to a whole Another level and you making shit come to life that really might not even have been able to come to life just because of who you Are so I took that away and I was like, yeah You really just got to like stand on who the fuck you are like, I'm gonna cuss on him Can we get let's get into the real? Nuance of route running and coaching in the league. We gonna, we gonna try to keep it a buck here. As you were coming up and I know for myself,

did your tight end coach teach you how to be a better tight end or did he teach you how to be a better football player? And I know those things are married, like, but running around and getting open. Did you learn that on your own, other players or your coach? Cause I'm going to give you my opinion. So for me, yeah. So I grew up, so you got to understand, like I started playing offense in college at Georgia Tech. We were in a triple option.

So we was blocking like 80% of the time for an hour and a go, a hit, a post or something. Or they would be like a play action, a crack post or something like that. But we weren't really getting that kind of route running teaching technique there. Because I mean, that's just one they was asking us to do. I got to Baltimore. I feel like my rookie year, my coach was Bobby Ingram. He played in the league for like a decade. Yeah, yeah, yeah, in Seattle. I feel like he was giving us some game, my rookie year. But then my second year, they moved me to tight end. And it was like at the end of my rookie year,

they were like, yeah, when you get back, we think we're gonna try you at tight end. So I was like, they didn't even tell me nothing for real. I just got on YouTube and was just like, man, let me see what, that was back when Zach Ertz was getting like 120 catches a year, Travis Kelsey, nothing for real. I just got on YouTube and was just like, man, let me see what that was back when Zach Ertz was getting like 120 catches a year, Travis Kelsey, Greg Olson. I was watching Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, like Jimmy Graham.

I was just on YouTube. I was like, I'm just gonna do what they doing. Like, and my tight end coach, like he was an old lineman in the league for a bit. Admirals all the time, bro. That's where I'm trying to go with this is like, when people think the NFL is like the best of the best, best coaches, best players,

but very rarely is a coach, your position coach, gonna get you better at your craft. You gotta do that on your own. No, that's facts. I look at teams now and you talk about like team, they like talk about all the teams gotta develop this player. It might be like maybe five teams that have people,

if that, that have people that can actually develop a player. They begging and hoping that you come in with skills. Ready to go. Yes, yeah. Like, and then I think people don't realize that. You get better on your own. Now they will teach you football. You'll understand the game from a Nexus and those perspective a lot better, but you know,

they're going to give you little technique things here and there. And if it works, they get all the credit. If it don't work, you suck. If it don't work, you suck. If it don't work, you suck. And so I tell all, because I train a lot of guys for the combine receivers and tight ends. And I'm telling them like,

when you get to your team, it's not all the time, but 90% of the time, your coach ain't gonna tell you how to get open. He don't know. Because if you're a receiver, you're a tight end, your coach doesn't know what the if you're a receiver, you're a tight end, your culture's in all of them, what the fuck he know about running around?

He don't watch somebody run around it. Like, it's so that part of it is, at least with the NFL, people, you really have to invest in yourself. Away from the facility and away from the team. And if you don't do that, your career is short lived. And luckily for you, you're able to get on YouTube. And see what the best are doing and translate it,

because some people get on YouTube, watch them. And get out there still fuck it up. They still don't get out there and mess it up because they mind. They just they can't do it. So that that part of it, not many people know about the league. It's get better on your own or watch everybody else playing, be watching T. I'm better than him. You know, he couldn't fuck with me.

Yeah. But that, and I think that's pretty much league wide. Yeah. Every position, I would say the O line probably get developed the most. The coaches really make them better outside of that. position, I would say the old line probably get developed the most. The coaches really make them better outside of that. Unless you've got an Eric Yarbrough with the Rams, Keenan McCartland with, uh, the Vikings, Sean Jefferson. I don't even know where Sean at now.

Um, but if you don't have one of them coaches, you're in trouble. And if it's a receiver coach that I left you out, I left you out because you don't know what you're doing. Take it personal. Hey, now. You better get your bag deeper on your own. Like, for the young boys that's watching, like, you got to take into account,

you got to find you somebody you can work with in the off season. Like, ask the vets that's around you that's really getting to it. I guarantee you they got somebody, like, you really got to invest in that show on and that's why when I brought up tight end you, we getting better amongst our peers, right? Me and Chad have talked about doing the receiver aspect of tidy and you. They kind of, you know, y'all was our inspiration on doing that.

We going to see where that goes. Now let's get into a it's a couple days old, but man, I'm sure you're an athlete. You watch a lot of NBA, huh? Yeah. What were your thoughts? One, it was a great series. Oh yeah.

But it was the least watched series in however many, seven game series, first seven game series, I believe in nine to 10 years. But people weren't tuned in because it was an Indiana pacer team and an Oklahoma city team, small markets, um, thought on a series. I believe if Hollenberg don't go down. Indiana may win that. And I'm going in a really different tangents here, but the NBA they got to figure this Achilles injury out bro.

Like I don't know what's going on with these dudes. Like so many of them are tearing their Achilles. Is it a lack of strength? Is it a lack of mobility? Is it too many games? Is it too many games at a young age and AAU and the wear and tear is so many variables and, uh, a lot to unpack.

So let's go. Yeah, man. I mean, shoot, starting with the series. Yeah. I mean, I feel like people put so much stress on the markets. And I guess the average person that's tuning in wants to see a LA and a Boston or a New York and whatever. But you look at those two teams and you look at the series that we got, like that's ball being played at its highest level.

You look at the depth on both teams, like the character on both teams. You got so many dudes that are like fine tuned and perfect for their individual roles. Like it just creates that back and forth. I want to see shit go seven. I want to see wars, like, you know what I'm saying? That's what we got.

And with Halibur going down, like he was cooking in that first quarter in that game seven. So it was like, you know what I'm saying? That's what we got. And with Halliburton going down, like he was cooking in that first quarter in that game seven. So it was like that game definitely would have been completely different, at least down to the wire in my eyes, but probably you could make an impact for a pace, but there's wind.

But yeah, Halliburton going down and it's like you got guys going out there with a calf injury. When that calf locks up and you're trying to load up on that back leg, the calf's biomechanically, that calf is taking a lot of that force. Do you have any major injuries when you play? Like make?

No, not lower body. I had a torn labor on my shoulder, but I just rehabbed that in the off season, the final month with it. But yeah, no major injuries for me for real. But that Achilles motherfucker is crazy. Like I was around with Steve Smith senior tore his Achilles and he was trying to rehab it. And it's like one calf was humongous and the other calf was like, like it was like non-existent for a while. And just like the work he had to put in,

I seen Ben Watson tore his Achilles too. So it's like, that's a, that's a major, major. That's like damn near 12 months. Yeah, I don't know when you look at Damien a little, okay, he's a little older. Jason Taylor's young. Halliburton's young. KD tore his at an advanced age, so but shit, KD came back like it wasn't shit, still balling. They just got to figure that out. I don't know.

I don't know what it is. If it's strength, mobility. I don't know what it is, if it's strength and mobility. I don't know, but for Halliburton it sucks because boy was cooking three threes in the first quarter, nine points. I'm like, oh shit. And I picked Oklahoma City to win it, but I found myself rooting for Indiana was kind of weird.

But yeah, man, prayers to him. I hope he recovers. He's probably gonna miss the entirety of next season because it happened so late in the season. But you think Oklahoma City, do you think this is a start of a dynasty considering Alex Caruso is their oldest player at 31. Right. Yeah. I think you just gave like a great detail of just like how young the nucleus of that team is.

And you look at young teams, you think like they could be flashy in a lot of areas, but there might be like some giant holes. They don't have really any holes for real. They're the best defensive team in the league. They got Shay, league MVP, J-Dub as your number two scorer. He's taken over a couple of games in the finals. Chet Hong, Grim-I-D, 20 every now and then. He's a rim protector. You got Harden-Stein setting screens, protecting the rim, catching putbacks and oops and whatnot.

You got Caruso leading, playing defense. Lou Doris a lot down the finish. Like you got dudes come off the bench. Isaiah Joe led the team in three point percentage during the season. It's like, you have so many roles that are covered on that team. It's like, but I mean, that Western Conference

is a motherfucker and teams are going to be coming. So it's a... One team particular down in Texas, actually two, actually damn three. The Rockets gonna be better with KD. They gonna be a fucking problem. Yo. They gonna be a problem.

They got their closer now in KD. When Kyrie come back with the Mavericks, they gonna be a problem. And if Cooper flag, if he can acclimate himself to the NBA game, AD, Cooper flag, they just re-signed Gafford. And then when Kyrie come, they gonna be a problem. And then you got Wimby, Scarpon Castle, the second pick, which probably is going to be Dylan Harper.

They gonna be a problem. I'm a Laker fan, so we damn sure gonna be a problem. At least fingers crossed playing. I hope we have. The Western conference is going to be a blood bath. Go to state as long as Steph and Draymond there, they're going to be a problem. And so a dynasty, when people started throwing that word out there, I don't know Denver with Yolkich and Jamal Murray, they coming back. It just is so much that has to take place

for you to be a dynasty, but they so young that it's like, damn, I don't see why not. Shea gonna put up 28 to 32 average every season as long as he's healthy. Can Chet Hongren, can he take the next step? Right. Can he take the next step offensively defensively? He going to give you a rim protector.

He moves his feet very well to be a big guy and he's real thin, but he not. He not a punk. Like you're not just dogging out like that. Like he looks like he can be dogged out. And it's because he's so thin, you like, mama, take his little ass down. You got dog in Chet Holmgren out. And so from that perspective, they, everybody has an opportunity and a chance to be that. I don't see it taking place.

I just, what the rock is, bro, everybody stay healthy. I don't know how they lose it. You put a lineup of Van Fleet's point guard, KD 611, Jabari Smith, 610, Sangoon 611. And who else we got? Thompson, you get Thompson. Amir Thompson, there we go, 6-7. She won't do with that lineup?

And then you got Tari Easton coming off the bench. This is the crazy part with the Rockets that not many people talk about. One, two, three. The third pick of the draft last year, Reid Shepard, got no burn. The third pick, Cam Whitmore, he come to the Lakers, he playing, he getting big minutes with me, got no burn. And so I look at the Rockets like, I'm impressed if they can stay healthy now, can KD? And he said, it is not my responsibility to lead.

And to a certain degree, and this is what I don't like about sports, and we can tap into this too. Why is it that when you're the best player, they expect you to always be the leader? Sometimes the best player isn't that he don't have that leadership type of personality. The guys ain't following him. Yeah. I think he, I think when he says, I, it's not my job to lead. I think he's saying it's not my job to lead

I think he's saying it's not my job to lead in the traditional way that you think somebody's supposed to be a leader Like as far as being like a Ray Lewis type of lot Sure There's different ways to lead like he can just lead by his example Like I think the biggest jump the Rockets can take is like you get an almond Thompson attached to Katie's hip day in the lab Getting shots up and almond Thompson develops a jump shot. That move might be a league MVP at some point. You know what I'm saying?

Like, so, but yeah, I think there's so many different leadership styles and sports. I'm one of them. I always thought like, damn, like I can't be a leader. Even when I had a C on my chest, I'm like, am I really like a leader if I'm not giving the pregame speech and having everybody ready to jump out of their skin?

But I'm more of the dude that's like the wolf, the wolf leaves from the back of the pack. It's like, we not letting, if I see somebody slipping, I see somebody's confidence dropping, I'm gonna be the first one over there to them, telling them who they really are, telling them to remember who they are, and like keeping their mind, keeping their chest up,

you know what I'm saying? So that's more the leadership style I have. I think that's KD as well, but like, yeah, you don't gotta be that rah-rah, pregame, punch a hole in the wall guy to be a leader Were you were you? Obviously from gathering what you said you wasn't a rah-rah guy during the game No, I'm more so I'm talking like I am right now

Like you can feel like you talk shit to the defense during the game. It took a lot for me to talk shit to somebody Okay, we we a lot for me to talk shit to somebody. Okay. We were a lot different day Like I was not raw raw before the game like before a game. I'm chilling. I'm real calm Like don't come hey, you know how you get in the huddle and everybody walking up fucking head, but you know Like bro, don't have money not here, but I'm not jumping up in the pile before the game I'm not I've never did you ever have you. I'm not, I've never, did you ever, have you ever done this? Hell nah, bro, hell nah. Oh, I never did that one time.

The crackhead activity, bro. Bro, I never did it one time in my career. I don't know what that shit is like, but guys used to do that all the time. So that, that wasn't me. But when the game started, I don't know what happened to me, bro. Like I would just go crazy. Like I would talk shit to the refs.

I would talk shit to the other team. Like I would listen. I would listen to a lot of Jeezy before the game. And then right before I came out, I would turn on, uh, it's in the air, the DMX version, Phil Collins, the DMX version of that. And I don't know what it was, bro. I would just, like, if I was playing today, I would get thrown out because I would go after refs so much.

But back then, like, I'd never forget one line judge, he called a penalty on one of our linemen. And I looked up at the jumbotron and I didn't think it was home, so I said something to him. This motherfucker was like, fuck you, TJ, the ref. I was like, fuck you. And so we was just going at it. 10 minutes later, he came up to me.

We good. I said, yeah, yeah, we good. Today's game, I'm getting thrown out. I'm getting thrown out. And so that to me, but in a lot of my teammates would tell you like I Let them and I didn't choose to be a leader as you can see. I'm a talker I like to talk and so guys like I'm a lead by example if I feel you not working hard I'm not calling you out in front of everybody. I'm gonna come put my arm around you like, bro

We all dream to get here. And now you acting like it don't matter. Cause if you weren't here, you would be upset, but you taking being here for granted. Yeah. And so, yeah, man, that leadership part, I don't believe it always has to be the quarterback. It always has to be the best player. Jack, you can hear me?

What you just described is leadership. Like, we have a picture of what we think it is, like, in the middle of the huddle, pregame speech. But what you just described is real leadership. How you bring somebody to the side and keep bringing the truth to them. Like, that's leadership. Look, Jack-Jack, can you hear me? Yeah, I can hear you. You can hear me? That's my dog. Look, look, look. Jack, Jack, can you hear me?

Yeah, I can hear you. You can hear me. That's my dog. Look, look, look. So this perfect segue, just so y'all know this Jack Jones. This, I know him as Jack Jack. Um, been knowing this boy since he was 14. Um, seen him go from a, I guess a little boy to a young man, to a grown man with children, I love this boy, Like he my son for real.

Like he a family member, man. Could you hear the conversation? That's Darren Waller. You know who that is, right? Yeah, I know who that is. Yeah, if you did, he would have moshed your little ass, Jack. Hey, he's out your mind. Hey, let me bring you into this conversation

about leadership. What's your take on leadership as far as the best player, the coaching staff wants him to be the leader as opposed to just the locker room determines who the leader is, whether it's the best player or not, or the quarterback, whoever it may be. I think the leader is based on what you do every day and the consistency. You know what I'm saying? You don't get that leader role because you're the best

player or because you're in a certain position. You get that leader role because the work you put in and how you lead the team and how you get the guys to rally along and how you get guys fired up. You know, it's a lot of things to go with that, but I don't think it's position, position based. I don't think that. All right. So we, we, we going to, we going to talk about you and we going to bring the people into, uh, your story. So I'm going to let you tell a bit of it, but Jack, Jack grew up born and raised

I'm gonna let him tell a bit of it, but Jack Jack grew up born and raised Long Beach, California Go ahead and Google a long beach if y'all not familiar with it His family is well known in the long beach in the city of Long Beach From what I was told back in the day It's two families that run Long Beach under Jones's and in, who are the Calhouns? That's what I was telling him. Jones is in the Calhouns, but Jack Jack man in high school, unbelievable on both sides of the ball.

Defense and offense, and I tell people this all the time, and I'm not just saying this because you here and because you know I wouldn't. I don't sugarcoat nothing. This boy, when he was a boy, used to practice so... I'd never seen a kid in high school practice as hard as you. And I think I've told you this plenty of times. Like we used to...

Jack, Jack, slow down. I'd never seen a kid this young practice that hard and love football the way that you loved it in high school. Like it was, we got to tell God, come on bro, go harder. Jack Jack, get out this rep. No, you slow down. He was like that at 14 years old, genuinely loved football. He done had some mishaps in the league.

And I get on the phone with him and I'm like, Jack, come on your situation. I believe you one of the best players in the league. That's not in the league. That should be in the league because you was in a league. You'd be starting on at least 28 of the 32 teams. We know that. I'm a vouch for him for any team that's listening to this. We then had conversations.

Deep conversation is what the last three weeks probably. Just making sure you've got your shit straight. You're a father. You have matured and we all mature at different rates at different times. And they can't expect you to mature on a timeline. You're gonna mature on your timeline. With that being said, kind of take us through going from New England to the Raiders.

You finally get a coach that believed in you. That same coach that was with us at Long Beach Poly and AP Antonio Pierce and where you are now and what you're looking to accomplish moving forward. Uh, I mean, just the whole situation, it was a, it was a blessing, man, a humbling experience, you know, that's all I got to say in it. I'm blessed to be able to play with AP, you know, a high school coach, a guy who who been watching over me, you know, pretty much, you know, a lot of part, a guy who who been watching over me pretty much a lot of my life.

So that's a blessing. I don't take that for granted. But looking forward, man, I just I just look forward to getting another opportunity and really proving myself, man, just really proving that I've grown and I've learned that the mistakes that I made is they already made. You know what I'm saying? And I don't want to keep making those made, you know what I'm saying? And I don't want to keep making those mistakes. You know what I'm saying? I don't want to be one of those guys looked at as like a bad kid or a bad man or somebody who's uncoachable or somebody who, who, who, who doesn't fit in programs.

I want to be that guy that fits in every program. I want to be the star in my role. Like, you know what I'm saying? And so it's like, I had to go through them times to learn and to understand. And it's like, I went through those times and I'm just ready for the next opportunity just to prove myself and, you know, take full advantage of it. No doubt. Jack, I want to ask you a question because I didn't even, um, but your rookie year was 22, right?

Oh yeah. Yeah. So I was on the Ra your rookie year was 22, right? Oh yeah. Yeah, so I was on the Raiders in 22 and you was on the Patriots and I was out of practice. I had an injury. I remember one day we came into the meeting post-practice into an offensive meeting and everybody was like, man, it's this rookie out there that's talking crazy. That's trying to go at Tay.

Like you think like there's a lot of vets in the league that are not trying to step to Tay. And here you are there's a lot of vets in the league that are not trying to step to Tay and here you are as a rookie, like out there training camp, like what's like, what's up, like trying to compete with the best receiver in the league. You know what I'm saying? Like where does that come from? Like, and tell the people like the type of edge that it takes, especially as a corner and somebody that's like really out there shutting shit down, like you

can't just be out there, Timmy, like hoping you could run with Tay. Like you really got to step out there knowing who you are and what you bring to the table. So like, is that, can that be taught? Can is that, are you born with that? Like speak to that. I mean, I feel like you built that through the work you put in, man.

Honestly, like what TJ said, I was a guy in high school who put in so much work. So I just felt like nobody worked harder than me. You wasn't gonna outwork me I feel like everything I did I was gonna do it better You know I'm saying there if you if you beat me this rep that was just that rep I'm gonna win the whole battle though, you know I'm saying it so when I the monster that I had going up against say was just like I'm not here to

To put my toe in the water, you know, I'm saying I'm trying here to put my toe in the water. You know what I'm saying? I'm trying to go in head first. I'm trying to go in and guard the best receivers week in and week out. That's what I wanted to do. You know what I'm saying? And I believe in my abilities

and I believe I can do that and I will do that. And when I get my opportunity, I'm gonna prove that. Hell yeah. And when I get my opportunity, I'm gonna prove that. Hell yeah. ["Dreams of a New World"] Moving forward, Jack Jones, the person, if you're a general manager, you're a head coach, why should they feel comfortable

signing you on your roster, on their roster, feeling like you may be a liability? What would you tell them if they asked you that? I mean, a liability and which ways do you know? Off the field, personal. On the field? I don't believe anybody has any questions on the field. Jack Jones a baller. To me, everything is off the field.

I know your character. I know who you are. I know the environment you grew up in and that environment is. It's me or you. I'd rather you than me and deal with the consequences. But as we mature, or that ain't always the right way. And you've learned that and you're still learning that. Jack-Jack the person, not the player.

Cause I don't believe there's any question when it pertains to the player. It's the person. I've grown, man. I'm not that same young man I used to be. You know what I'm saying? I got kids. I got my babies depending on me.

You know what I'm saying? I can't just go out here and make the same mistakes or the same decisions I used to make when I was young without kids. You know what I'm saying? So I just kind of feel like my babies, man, they just, they just, they weighing on me a lot more. You know, I'm spending a lot more time with them and it's just like it does mean a lot more to me You know I'm saying, you know, I already love the game

So just the fact that I'm not on the team and I and I can't say like yes I'm in the NFL right now currently today and like it crushes me it hurts like you know I'm saying cuz I love love ball, but man, it's my babies, man. I'm a changed man. And I feel like everybody around me can see that. And you just have to get around me to see that. Now, for real, shit. You talking to somebody that, man,

where people at one point in time in my career try to define me by my character at a certain point, or take a snapshot of who they thought that I was. But that was not the end narrative of my story. After that, it was Pro Bowls, it was the best years of my career, me, you know what I'm saying, having a seat on my chest and people like really respect what I brought to the table, because that who was the true me, that was the real me. So I understand what it's like to go through shit and react in certain ways to whatever it may be in life.

But man, it's still so much of your story that is gonna be written, man. Don't even think about this time as like ever being an ending or doubting yourself just because you haven't found a home yet, bro. You still got a lot to bring to the table and God's got a lot more in front of you, bro, for real. Right, appreciate it, man.

Yes, sir. Hey, your short career, short career, who's the best receivers that you had to garden and who's one that- Body. No, no, no, no, no. Every person, there's some good players. And who's one that surprised you like, oh shit, he got something to him. I didn't think he was like that.

Uh, you like oh shit he got some to him I didn't think he was like that uh uh that one credit jack jones that's the only one I ain't gonna lie you gotta these boys just keep me I'm gonna keep real man if I'm really in my bag it don't got nothing to do with seeing you what receivers have you covered were you like they good yeah no matter of fact matter of fact speaking of that practice that practice uh that Raider practice in New England I mean when I was in New England it was I don't even remember his name I just remember he was the number 89 and I was talking so much stuff to take I ain't gonna lie that boy came out there and went two for two on me. I was so sick. I... You know, you know who number 89 is?

You know? Back in 22? I think it was, I want to say like, I want to say Cooper maybe. It was like Cooper something or something Cooper. I think. Nah, that was, Mario Cooper at 89, but that was a while ago.

That was before I even got there. Brian Edwards was 89 and 21, but I think he went to the Falcons at some point in time. I don't know. Oh no, maybe his name was Tony. I think Tony, does that sound right? I don't know, bruh. He was at 89 for sure.

For sure. No, bruh, sorry. Sorry, bruh, if you see this, I'm sorry, bruh. Was it Keelin Cole? It was Keel? I think Keelin Cole was 84. I definitely remember Keelin Cole, boy. Yeah, I remember Keelin Cole. And that's my dog.

Oh, man, that's one of a kind, bro. Yeah, yeah. So, Keel, like, I trained guys. He was one of the first guys that I trained when he came out. Yeah, you know, he came out. Yeah. You know, he, he acted now he, he trying to get into Hollywood. He out here with a B bro. He should be doing some comedy skits, bro. Like he a clown for real.

Yeah. So Jack, okay. Nobody gives Jack Jones problems on the field as far as a receiver. Give me corners that you not say model your game after, but you like to watch to try to pick up little things here and there. I mean, all the guys who they say is top corners, like literally Alexander, uh, Jalen Ramsey, um, AJ Terrell. Um, well, I'm missing somebody else on that list. So I'll be watching.

Like Patrick 13 a lot. Um, I think that said, I watched a little bit of Derek Slade. I'm a, I'm a fan of him, but I don't know. I just never really talked in that much. I'm gonna start looking into him a little bit more, but I just watched all the top gods, who they say is the top gods. And, you know, I just, I don't know.

I just try to be that, be better than that. Whatever you want to say. When you look at the situation where, here we sit, June 24th, a lot of training camps begin probably 21 to 27 days out. When that time comes, Jack Jones, I call him Jack Jack, so when you hear me stuttering with that, it's because you know, I'm calling him what we call him and not as by Jackie Jones by his real name.

If you are not signed, you got to let it like, you're gonna still be working like you are signed because my last season, you're gonna still be working like you are, Sam, because my last season, it was a lockout. And I wasn't when the lockout ended, I wanna say it was like either late August or early September, it was just like last minute, bow, 2012 or 2011, whatever it was. And I was working out, but I wasn't really working out.

And I was working out, but I wasn't really working out. So then I started like trying to work out and rush everything and I strain my calf. And then I got signed like four days later, played with a calf that I couldn't burst. Like I couldn't really run. I go about 80% but I can never get to a hundred. And they wouldn't tell me this. I got coaches telling other players like, yeah, man, TJ lost a step. Literally.

And I'm like, bro, my cat is, I can't run. And so I say that to say whether you are on a team or not. And I believe you will and I believe you should be. Boy, you better be working like you on the team because when that opportunity come, they don't care if you've been working out hard. They don't care if, oh, I didn't think I was going to be signed. You know the saying saying you stay ready. You ain't got to get ready.

Ain't got to get ready. It is so my message to you is stay ready mentally. Um, I know your pops is on your ass. I'm on your ass. Pause. But there's no more motivation than the babies you got. If you don't do it for nobody, you do it for them and yourself. Because a talent like you shouldn't be, damn, where I'm gonna sign. And it's Jack

Jones the person, not Jack Jones, the player. Now we gonna leave that. Hey, what you like to do outside of football? I know you be playing video games. I'll beat the fuck out you imagine. I know you be playing, I will beat the fuck out you imagine, but outside of that.

Yo game at all. Hey, do you be playing, do you just play like head to head or you be on franchise shit? I mean, it really depends. I'll be playing all that for real. You play franchise? Yeah.

I'm gonna add you to some leagues, I mean, you gonna get your ass beat. All right, for sure, we gonna see. You play video games or you too grown for that? Nah, once I... It's been a boof being in on a video game. Once I started making music, I just like, video games just kind of just like fell off naturally

You ain't got no art. So How often you in the studio? Oh me You ain't rapping. Yeah, all right talking to mr. Waller The way I gotta change your screen now you you you look like you rapping with with all the jury on like And guys I gotta change the screen. You look like you wrapped him with with all the jury on like No, but she'll be uh, I'll be in the lab I got my engineer he lives in Houston and so I'll fly him out I already to go there for like three four days in a row I'll usually like stock up writing some shit Probably like three four songs by time I go see him probably once a month and then we'll cook up on a spot to get a couple songs

so every time we link up is three four songs that's getting done and Yeah, so I'm not recording every day but I think feel like you know I'm saying I write about real life shit that I'm going through shit that I'm Really experiencing so I'm like I feel like I gotta have life lived in between I can't just be like caved up in a studio thinking I'm about right about some real studio in your house Yeah, I'm in I'm in the I'm in the room right now. Yeah. Yeah, it looked like that's why I asked in the studio I got the acoustics and shit. I got the computer monitor set up right there You know how to play anything else like John's piano or anything? I've been playing piano for about a year now. I know how to play a lot of songs. I got

really got to learn like theory and shit for real but I'm not I ain't no real piano player. I could play you some songs. He asking you to have because all them artists that come up out of Long Beach that's what it is. It's all kind of artists because it's a small city but it's so many people with so much talent. Now you know what Jack not many people know so much talent. Now, you know what, Jack? Not many people know. Let me ask you this. And I just thought about it when we started talking music again. You grew up playing in a Snoop.

You football league. Yeah. How was that, man? Because Long Beach just sent a lot of dudes to the league. And at least for me, Willie McGinnis was one who always made it and was balling, but he was always present at Polly. All season he'd come into Polly.

He retired, he was at Polly three, four days a week. So between Willie Mack and Snoop, how was that plan with the Snoop Youth football team with other guys that are now in the league? Yeah, nah, that's where the competitive nature come from. You know, we've been competing since we was six, seven, eight years old and it was like real competitive. Like we lose games, we crying after we wanna fight.

You know, it feel like we done lost to Super Bowl after a reckless Saturday, like, you know what I'm saying? So, nah, but shout want to fight one, you know It's like we the lost the Super Bowl after a regular Saturday like you know, I said so now but that but shout out to Snoop man Shout out to Willie that they was always there every time they could be you know, cuz they they got a really busy schedule But they definitely helped out a lot of kids and Long Beach and I'm saying putting that league in there putting the teams around And you know some guys take advantage of it putting that league in there, putting the teams around it. You know, some guys take advantage of it. So, one, we appreciate you joining us, man. Thank you.

Now, any of you teams listening? The majority, man, y'all got my number. I done had the same number 25 years. That's how old I am. I done had the same number for 25 years Man, y'all call me. I'm gonna get y'all to real I go now one thing I won't do. I don't lie I ain't gonna lie for him, but I believe in this dude because we all

have lessons and we all have trials and we all have things that we don't like and And we all have trials and we all have things that we don't like. And Darren is a perfect example of that. Had a lot of misfortune early in his life and his career. Got a second, third chance. Boom. We good. And you, Mr. Jack, just made a couple bad decisions. And they not like, oh my God, what was he doing? Passionate. Sometimes that passion works for us and sometimes it works against us.

We got to channel that the right way. So if y'all don't believe he can do it, I'm vouching for him. He can do it because I'm going to be like I said earlier on his ass like back pockets. Oh. Um. You're too good of a player to not be playing on Sunday. But always remember man, the league don't give a fuck if you playing or you ain get your ass rolled over. So just make sure you doing, you holding up your end of the bargain. Stay out of trouble, take care of your babies, take care of yourself, take care of your family. And let these teams know they can trust you.

Nah, for sure, man. I appreciate you, man. I appreciate y'all having me. Love you, dawg. You need something, I'll have me, man. I love you too. I appreciate y'all having me. Sure man. Love you dawg, you need something, I'll let me man. I love you too, alright there. Peace bro. The Volume. This is an iHeart Podcast.