Green Light with Chris Long - Brad Holmes! Nico Collins! Texans & Lions Outlook, Frank Ragnow & CJ Stroud! Zyn, Aaron Rodgers & Las Vegas!

Episode Date: June 13, 2025

Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes and Houston Texans WR Nico Collins joins Chris on Green Light. Brad talks about replacing Ben Johnson, Frank Ragnow's retirement and Dan Campbell's coaching style while Nico covers CJ Stroud, Tank Dell's recovery and the Texans defense. A couple great interviews with Chris and Nate talking ZYNs, Las Vegas and Aaron Rodgers. A great episode to send you into the weekend on a high note. (00:00:00) Intro (00:05:30) The Future of Zyn (00:16:58) Lions GM Brad Holmes Dishes On The Lions Offseason, Frank Ragnow & Replacing Ben Johnson (00:46:50) Nico Collins on the Houston Texans, CJ Stroud & the Texans Defense (01:14:42) Nate's Trip to Las Vegas & Aaron Rodgers Theory Make sure to pre-order Madden 26 at the link below. https://www.ea.com/games/bundles/mvp-bundle/buy Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: ‪[phone]‬ Also, check out our paddling partners at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Appomattox River Company ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. Green Light's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where you can catch all the latest GL action: Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, you just inspired a 40-year-old man because I got a phone number for somebody for Pilates. Because I've been having back problems. Yeah, look, I said I need to get in there. I'm going to lie to you. The first couple weeks, big dog, he won't be like, not for me. Not for me. For him to go out like that, man, it was a gut punch.

Him not being there was definitely felt, we felt that missing piece, man. They got something called Kills on. I believe it. Don't get caught in the Kills on. That's all I got to say. Where is that just so we know so I can stay out of it? Backer Depp in front. Yep.

It's a kill zone. One of my former hill workers, I'll just say that, Earth City, Missouri, Earth City's own. I ain't heard the Earth City in a while, man. You just took me back, dude. I didn't really know that, I knew he had interviewed for Chicago. I was happy for him, man. I mean, he is a hell of a coach, man. Welcome to the Greenlight podcast presented by BetMGM.

If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use Bonus Coke Greenlight, and you'll get up to a $1,500 first bet offer on your, first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code Greenlight. Deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game. If that bet loses, you will receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets. Just make sure you use bonus code Greenlight when you sign up. Welcome to the Greenlight podcast. Hey, it's good to see you all here. Thanks for tapping in two wonderful guests on the show today. We got Lime. GM Brad Holmes.

He gets real about the coaches that Detroit lost and how they replaced them, how him and Dan Campbell are excited to see what they can do this season. That's Calvin Shepard and John Morton in the DC and O.C. roles. He also talks about the Lions draft class, got a couple studs on the team. The Interior and Edge D. Lyman and Frank Ragnow, what his retirement means for the team, what kind of player he was. Brad talks glowingly about Frank. I mean, you all know him because he was on the show last summer.

So a great interview with Brad, and then it's Nico Collins. We talked to the Houston Texans wide receiver about all things Houston, C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell. He gives love to Tank Dell. And also what it's like going against that Texan's defense every week. And especially how excited he is now that they have CJ Gardner Johnson. So a nice little pair of interviews. And we roll with Chris and Nate. They kick things off a little bit of fun.

And then wrap up with Nate's Las Vegas trip. They recap that. and talk a little more Aaron Rogers. Nate has a theory on Aaron Rogers' latest news, so make sure you stay tuned to the end of the show for that. Enjoy it. Thanks for coming by. We've got some great guests for you next week.

We'll see you then. What a big day today. Two guests. Dr. Fax is back in the building. I got Nico Collins. My son would have called him for a solid year playing Madden, Nico Collins. He said, I'm throwing to Nicko Collins.

That's the only person he threw to. So the other day when Nico came on, and now he's older and he knows exactly how to say Nico's name. And he's a fan, both my kids. They got to say what's up to Nico Collins at the beginning of the interview. He's the nicest guy in the world, dude. He's just, you know how some guys you're like, yeah, they're going the extra mile to make sure the kid feels seen and like.

My brother from another mother. What do you mean? We have the same last name. Oh, yeah, that's true. It's a Collins thing. You do the same thing with my kids. Yeah. But he was so cool, man.

Like, what a great guy. you know Houston Houston fans there's a lot of good people on that team dude it just seems like a great organization of course shout out to Everett who hooks us up with all these great guests down there they one of the best media relations departments in the NFL yeah um I need that Dr. Fax jersey Houston yeah speaking of free shit um but also we've got Brad Holmes who is the man Brad Holmes and I go way back. We go back to Earth City, Missouri. You might hear some talk of an Aaron Brockovich situation

in Earth City, Missouri. Bad water. They were, no, they were burying radioactive trash, like, pretty close to our facility. What comes to that? I might find out soon. Maybe you got your Russian ability from that.

I could have used a little bit more of it. A little bit more. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Did they make y'all practice indoors once they heard about it oh hell no oh you're still outside we were up there and our training camp smelled awful dude

oh like it smelled like right smell the trash but like did it was like funny like oh I see what you're saying they're just like the once they burn it like at the landfill but they found out like later on that like you know there was some class action suit that that would come of it if you lived in the area you could Google this

see how that's going I don't know why I'm laughing that's not funny that's kind of crazy well we were just talking about Zen. You were like, oh, it's good to see you use the regular tobacco again. Back to tobacco. I got the free-based negative game. I don't know what it is about Zen

but I think Zen came along right at the same time that I feel like robots and AI got really popular. So I didn't like the correlation with that. So I just feel like Zen is going to be something in like 15, 20 years. You remember those methamephylioma commercials? Yeah. Like you remember those

Like after what? Like if you're watching the price is right. This commercial will probably come on four times during that slot. And I just feel like they're going to have that for Zen. Yeah. They're going to have that for Zen in 10, 15 years and be like, if you, if you use Zen, then's going to be the new asbestos. Yeah.

Zend is the new asbestos. If you were in a fraternity. Yeah. You are lovely. Between the years of 2020 and 2025, listen, you're going to be. brought up AI in six years we're supposed to have ASI artificial super intelligence that's where that's where AI starts to build on itself right like we don't need to stoke the fire anymore the fire just grows so to speak but good news is if you pack a bunch of zins a day you might not even see

2031 because we don't know what's wrong with it I don't most rather know what's wrong with it you ever hear the saying the devil I know that's what I the devil I know is right here I know this devil It's big block letters warning this product can cause gum disease and tooth loss Zen they're like we don't know yet too early so yeah thank you for noticing that I'm still off the Zen wagon and I have not felt better I'm just being honest somebody from Philip Morris is going to is going to smother me with a pillow at night and you're going to be like what the fuck happened to Chris are going to frame my poor wife no because no but I'm just telling them too though right like it's all

They own everything. Yeah. I get it. But what I'm saying is like... You might get a million dollar offer across the table now. The nicotine pouch thing has become a real vessel for these industries, man. Like we're going to get an entire new generation hooked because the last generation was starting to get smart and wise to the fact that cigarettes and chewing tobacco are not good for you.

It's also unsightly. Like it used to be cool to smoke a cigarette. Now the, you know, it's like kind of... It might feel cool for the person. smoking it but I can assure you if you don't smoke cigarettes a person that smokes cigarettes they smell different you know it's like when they walk in the room you're like oh that guy darts right and it's not as cool as it was like back in the madman days or in the 80s we're on to it so the answer was give him these fucking sweet little pillows yeah and tell them there's nothing wrong with it we don't know yet

and I just I'm here to say as somebody who was was all over those things the minute I got off him I started feeling better. And that's going to last me clear until the assassin from Philip Morris double-taps me when I get into my tundra in the morning. Yeah, you remember they tried those stupid little blue sigs, like the blue electric sigs. They were like the first ones. They were like our era. Like they came out.

They were like the first electric cigarettes. And I remember like people who did those like would get shit on so bad. Like you're using an electric cigarette. You're so dumb. and then now fast forward. It's like everyone's a little choo-choo train with these little electric. They were like vates.

They were like just too early for vapes. They looked like little one hitters. Yeah. And the tips will light up blue. Yep. That's so funny. Listen, none of it's cool. Yeah, none of it.

We're all doing the best we can. Yeah. But I will say this. My life has improved since I stops in. And if you're out there listening and you're like, hey, what's been wrong with me the last three to five years? and you're like man the pandemic really fucked everything up like it's not the same it's not the pandemic it's not age it's the fact that you're you're mainlining nicotine salts every day and like you're

addicted and you think there's nothing wrong with it there's there's no there's no boogeyman in the process where you're like if I have too much of this I'm going to get mouth cancer so you just do it as and then you hear people like some guys are like well I heard Tucker Carlson say that nicotine is really good for you. It's a neurotropic. It's a new tropic. It's a new, whatever the fuck you say it. I don't know what you're saying.

I saw on a message board that it's really good for you. It's not. Yo. It's not. These young kids. Oh, anyways. I mean, like, you know, I'm not a quitter, right? So this is a tobacco pod now.

It's a grizzly. Long cut. I love it. Man. Grizzly long cut. Yeah. I'm thinking about switching because Cody has got so much nicotine in it.

Yeah. I'm thinking about becoming like a skull cherry guy in the daytime. Okay. And, you know, save the big buzz for at night. Yeah. Because I'm, you know, have about one and a half a day. Yeah. How does that work?

It's a law of averages. I also want to bring this up. We talked about this right before. A new thing in my life is I'm smoking mids now. Been doing it. I heard somebody else talking about bringing this. back we've been flirting with this thing for a while been doing it read put on the notes chris is smoking mids yeah for the table of contents for the pods i am smoking mids and i'm not

ashamed to say it yeah i hit my guy up and i was like hey you got any mids you think bro yeah i walked into a Porsche dealership and asked for like um you know like a carola serenta yeah a miata i was like bro like that's gonna get me where i need to go so i here's the thought process behind it and i think you could probably ask any of your family members who used to smoke pot back in the day because that's what they called it no refer refer refa pot yeah they used to smoke pot also shout out to uh hugh douglas his uh cannabis company here i like this new marketing chris cannabis that hits just like hugh douglas oh he douglas used to hit a motherfucker but on the topic I like my cannabis to hit like a third corner that doesn't like coming downhill.

You know, like I like my cannabis to hit like a long snapper. No, say a name. I don't want to say a name. All right, right. I don't want my cannabis hitting like Ed Reed or Sean Taylor or Ryan Clark. I like how you flip that. Okay. I don't need my cannabis hitting like Vantes Burfect.

You know what? You know what 35% cannabis is? It's Vantes Burfic, bro. Like, you just, it's not safe for anybody. Back in the day, people were always like, how did Willie Nelson smoke so long? And I don't want to assume, but I'm pretty sure Willie Nelson was smoking like 10% grass back in the day.

10, 15% grass. I don't know, am I wrong? I would think he probably has someone growing. He probably was growing plants on his bus. So what do you think, like, back in the 60s and 70s, dudes were smoking? Yeah, like, I couldn't imagine it being, Like Bob Marley wasn't smoking 30% or was he?

Well, I would think maybe like, you know, they were the most popular people like back then. So you would think they probably had access to like some really good grass. Maybe so. Maybe so. But but till you're saying, I would say to be safe at the top at the top it would probably be like 25%. In the 1970s, marijuana commonly had a THE content of around 1 to 3%. according to smart approaches to marijuana so that for me that for me if i'm extrapolating what would like the most famous people have yeah they were probably smoking 10 to 15 percent it i could be dead wrong this is me guessing yeah and you know willie when you come on the show willie you can

tell me but yeah i i i just think i just think the 30 something's too much on the regular it's way too much it's way too much that's weekend bud you know 20 25, 22% is way too much. I think that's weekend bud. That is officially weekend bud for me. I can't do it. Since I've had a kid, it's one of those things where I can't indulge at any bud that can potentially like make me take that three hour nap that I'm not supposed to take. Well, the three hour nap's tough.

You know what else is tough for me? The sign that I'm truly high. I'm not high until I'm doing laps around my kitchen at like 11 o'clock at night trying to figure out how to go to bed. Yeah. Like how do I start this five minute routine? I start cleaning. Oh. I start cleaning.

I start doing laundry. I start doing I start doing stuff like at night and like my girl's like, like, what are you doing right now? Yeah. Like why are you trying to do laundry when? Yeah. People are like, how does it affect your family life? It doesn't.

I wait until they go to bed generally. And when they're in bed, like it's just ruining my night like when I'm when I'm this way. There's nobody else is being affected. But the biggest thing is you walk to the room. you're like oh i forgot something out in the kitchen man you want to tell so i go to the room i say oh i forgot i forgot like my my inviseline out in the kitchen go out to the kitchen when you get to the kitchen you realize there's something else you need then you go back to the bedroom didn't get the invisaline go out to get the invisible line grab the invisaline go back say oh my fucking charger is there

go out and get your charger come back to the room oh fuck i didn't take these vitamins they're in fridge that I'm supposed to take before bed like a vitamin supplement or something man I find myself looking for that motherfucker in the washing machine yeah you see what I'm saying like you I'll go in the laundry room and be like why am I in the laundry room so not to make it sound like we're we're just confused all the time but that's kind of the way it goes on a nightly basis that's why smoking mids smoking mids I just grab all the shit I need I walk back to the bedroom I go to bed right smoke a Mids.

Great Afro-Mids. Mids, 2025. All right, so. You get a bed on the floor, though, right? Dude, I was at an adult sleep over the other night and I slept on the floor. Like, live here with no mattress. I heard in a trophy room, right?

Yeah, my buddy has a, well, it was his father-in-law's place, but he's got this, however you feel about this, majestic, if you're into that, room full of, you know like big buck hunter type trophy animals oh hell no yeah you slept in there fuck yeah i took a bunch of mushrooms animal spirits and was like we're going to the trophy room i want to see what what these animals have to say but there were no there were no beds um and so i had to sleep on the floor i slept my aura ring said i said i slept four and a half hours was your were your dreams just like um uh ace ventura when ace ventura too all the noises, you know, when he goes back to, you know,

whoo-woo. No, once I got to sleep, my dreams are pretty good. It just took me a while. I just sleep on the floor sucks. But I do sleep on the floor at home on a mattress. So when it comes to Brad Holmes, the thing I was going to say earlier before we started talking about everything else is Brad is Jack, dude.

Did you see Brad this fall up in the GM suite there looking like he benches 500 pounds, like he's been working out with Dan Campbell? Yeah. I asked him, I said, have you been working out with Dan Campbell? He was like, and this isn't on the interview. He was like, bro, honestly, no, this is unrelated. He goes, I don't even see Dan Campbell lift weights.

Like, Dan Campbell rolls out of bed like that. It's crazy. It's that, all that caffeine he's drinking. It's all the caffeine and all the nicotine. Yep. Um, new genics deal. I don't know. I don't want to doubt my man.

You know, that'd be like, it'd be like, uh, meat and one. one of your heroes finding out that that's not natural what there's nothing wrong with new genics no no nothing wrong with new genics shout at frank thomas um speaking of that remember when kyle used to be here and yeah Kyle do you remember this with Kyle no Kyle was talking about newgenics for a solid like five minutes and he kept calling it eugenics which is a totally different thing and a terrible thing and Kyle was like man Frank Thomas is great for eugenics. What?

The big hurt. Yeah, we got to educate some of the personalities on this show. All right. He also just had a story. I don't know if you saw the story today on his show, but he said that he was playing golf. Kyle. And the guys he was playing with, they were like, hey, you look like an athlete you play. And Kyle was like, yeah, I played in Chicago, played football.

Are you guys a fan of any pro teams? and they were like, oh, we're friends of the Browns. And Kyle said, oh, that sucks for you. And they were like, oh, well, we're the Haslums. We on the team. No. And his buddy, he said his buddy that he was playing with because it was like a two-on-two match. And Kyle said his buddy was like, yo, because he thought that he knew.

Like he recognized these. Oh, my God, Kyle. And so Kyle, Kyle said that he was the whole rest of the round. He was like, man, Cleveland's such a great city. They have this. They have that. Trying to work. Yeah.

Oh, rock and roll hall of fame. and also this are just civil cases that is so great that is so great also i can't wait to put so much money as your door sanders this year i would have been like i would have been like i would have been like man yeah i just this one question what are we thinking with the freddie kitchens thing i mean unbelievable kyle unbelievable that so brad holmes is coming up right now lion's fame I thought they did a really good job last year of just keeping the ship afloat.

There were so many things that went wrong, especially defensively with the injuries. And Brad was working overtime to get the right bodies in the building to be able to compete. And some guys stepped up in big spots. Now eventually it caught up to him. But I thought Dan and him did a great job of crisis management. And now he's got two coordinators to replace, which they've done. And so we ask him about that and more. Enjoy Brad Holmes.

All right, one of my former co-workers, I'll just say that, Earth City, Missouri, Earth City's own, now Detroit Lions GM, Brad Holmes. What's up, Brad? How you doing, man? Good, man. I ain't heard the Earth City in a while, man. You just took me back, dude. I got to keep you humble.

Yeah. You remember the smell from the plants out there. Oh, yeah. No, I know. It was kind of an Aaron Brockovich. I thought we were all going to be part of a class action lawsuit. More on that to come. We'll see.

They had radio. Would they bury radioactive waste up the hill from the field or something? Yeah. It was wild, man. You could smell it as soon as you walked out there. It's like, wow. And you guys are practicing. In August.

Yeah, you're like, you guys are just cooking in it. And I just went upstairs and watched for the balcony. Well, dude, we both found greener pastures, me, retired podcast. You, GM, and really a big driving force of why Detroit has built one of the most physical imposing and quality rosters in the NFL. I just, man, I had so much fun watching you guys last year. And I know there were times where it wasn't probably very fun to hit the curveball. But you guys did a brilliant job fighting through so many injuries, a lot of adversity. What was it like late in the season when you were having to get on the phone and replace people?

it felt like every day. Dude, it was, it was trying. Like, I think I said something about, at my end of the season press, like, I think I told everybody that, you know, that trying to trade for a defensive end was, like, one of the hardest journeys that I've ever experienced,

because nobody wants to give them away. Like, and I'm like, you know, everybody threw out all these top elite past rushers because we lost Aiden Hutchinson. It's like, get this guy, get that guy. And I'm like, man, I'm calling. calling around for like teams like thirds and their force. Right.

And, you know, they were very, right. They're like, look, man, like, you got a lot of football left. And if we get one more hurt and I trade you on, then we're not, now we're down. And so that was hard, man. But, you know, but I want to say it was, I think it was after that Thanksgiving game. Man, like, we had like three more guys going IR, man. Like Malcolm Rodriguez went on IR. I think we can go on an I are.

And I was like, look, man, like, there's nothing else we can do except like poach as many practice squads as possible. Because, you know, that's a little bit better than at least these guys have been practicing. They've been playing, you know, they've got preseason tape. They may have been elevated. So there's some film to watch. And literally we just, I think our pro director, Rob Lomie, he just said, is just Black Friday practice squad shopping and we just I think we poached like three guys from three different practice squads which I don't think that had been done before but we were

just in that situation that you know we were still we we still had enough you know on offense to kind of keep us afloat we just had to kind of kind of keep up with it and Dan knew that and we just had to get aggressive and we just kind of did all we could. And the way it ended was everybody wants to blame injuries and all that. But bottom line is, you know, look, yeah, I know the injuries play a part in it, but, you know, it's just you can't use that as an excuse, you know, because everybody deals with that kind of stuff. And we just got to be better, man. Yeah, I mean, you can't say it. I'll say it from where I sit. I mean, there were a lot of

injuries, man. And I thought your guys battled pretty admirably and reflected, I think, the culture there as well. So I, you know, yeah, it was a next man up. Like, I think that next man up thing is cliche. Sometimes it gets thrown out there. So like, oh, next man up, next man up. But like, it truly, man, like, you talk about, like,

our culture and like what we're all about, man, is looking at adversity in the face and, um, and staring right at it. Um, it truly is a marriage of, of coaching and personnel. When you get into those kind of situation, situations and you get a bunch of new guys, but you have to have really good coaches, which we do, that can get those guys ready to play like this. And so it was, it was, it was, it was very admirable job, our coaching staff to get those guys ready like they did. So speaking in coaching, and I think

this is obviously a barometer for you guys being in a really good place, is when you lose both coordinators, it's because you're doing something right. Now, the challenges that follow are always great. As you prepare for the inevitable, which, you know, I'm sure you guys know, hey, these guys are doing a great job a year out. We might not have these guys in the future. How do you begin to mitigate for those situations? What goes into that process? Yeah.

Look, first of all, I give Dan so much credit just for, you know, yeah, you kind of had an idea that being an A.G were going to be gone. but I don't think we were prepared for all of the guys that got poached. And I give Dan so much credit for just staying patient and not just trying to chase and fill and feeling under the gun and under pressure. Like he stayed patient and he was so much on about fit, fit, fit. And he ended up, you know, doing a really nice job and we got some really good coaches. But, you know, there's always news, but we don't, we're not as word about it just because of who we were able to get and who were able to play in. So, like, Calvin Shepherd, man, he's, he's been groomed since 2021, right up under AG, you know, to eventually be in this spot.

So, so we have a lot of confidence in him. And then Johnny Morton, you know, he was with us previously. when really the offense was literally built, you know, in 22. So there's familiarity there. And then, you know, being able to get, you know, a David Shaw, you know, as passing game coordinator, being able to get to Sharr Choice, you know, I saw that. Yeah, man.

The Sharr Choice is my guy, Brad. We, ACC Brothers, 40 years old, both of us. Oh, yeah, that's right. We were in all the same, you know, All-Star stuff and all-American stuff. That's right, man. That was right, man. Like, yeah. No, so Choice, man, he was a great kid.

So we were able to get some really good coaches. So we're not, I know on the on the outside, it looks like, oh, man, like, what are you going to do? But it's not all that much different than what we've been doing. And I do think that, you know, we lost some great coaches, but we were able to. fill those guys in some great ones as well. Well, I think Dan always seems to make it clear that it's about the players. Yes. Right, which underscores, hey, like, listen, we're going to win and lose with the players.

It's not because a coach walked out of here. Yes. Right. Like, I think that emphasis definitely helps. But then on top of that, I think, like, the Aaron Glenn replacement with Calvin Shepard, is it a coincidence that the guy played in the league? Because I feel like you guys have very intentionally filled the coaching staff with former players. And correct me if I'm wrong, I feel like it's.

even more paramount on the defensive side of the ball for whatever reason to have those former players. Can you speak to the importance of that? Yeah, I think it's, I think it's huge. You know, and I didn't really, I didn't really truly feel the impact of it until when we got kind of late in the season, when we first got in 21. And, you know, you get to that point in November, get into December, man. And, you know, that grind, as you know, Chris, like your body isn't feeling the best. And to have somebody like Dan to stand in front of the room and tell the guys that and say, look, I know how you guys are feeling right now.

Like, I know what this is like, man. You just have to respect it, man, because he knows. And he truly, like, he puts the players first and foremost in, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, in all situations. And it's just, it's just a genuine respect. And look, he's got not just him playing and all our other coaches that I played in the NFL,

but, you know, it's all these other great qualities. It's just, you know, just the teaching and the development aspect. It's truly special. But when you know that that guy's been in your shoes at the highest level,

man, it's just the respect factor. and just the willingness to kind of just, you know, run through a wall for a guy just increases. And just like what you said about players first, I never forget the first time, because, you know, I mean,

as you know, like me and Dan didn't even know each other when we got hired. And the first time I had a conversation with them, you know, they had a lot of success on offense with New Orleans and he was part of that staff. And I'm never forget to ask him. I was like,

hey, man, are we going to run something very similar to what you guys in in New Orleans. And he was like, he's like, I don't, it just depends on who we have. He was like, I don't, I just don't know the players that we're going to have yet. So I can't really answer that. And when he said that, it really was like, okay, like this guy, he is putting players first. And so that, that's a good observation by you. Does it, does it matter? I mean, like, with Ben leaving, you know he's going to leave. You know, he's, he's probably the hottest name in football as far as that position is concerned, an offensive head coach on the market. But to go in division, I know you don't take that as like some disrespect, but there's probably a little bit more

massaging in conversation ahead of that. Does Ben come to you guys and say, hey, I want you to know, I'm thinking about taking a job and it's right down the road? Or is it, is it, do you joke about it leading up? Like what, what, how does that go? Yeah, you know, obviously there were, there are multiple jobs that were open that cycle. And so I didn't really know that, I knew he had interviewed for Chicago, but he interviewed for a lot of the other positions too. So I really didn't know really which way was going to go. I was thinking Chicago would have probably been the last destination, but, or I was probably hoping that, you know, probably. But no, I really didn't know that was happening till it actually, you know, so he accepted good job.

And, you know, we had a little talk briefly before he left out. I was happy for him, man. I mean, he's, he is a hell of a coach, man. And, you know, he's, they, they have a really good one up there. But, but, yeah, it's just a little like, man, watch the guy. He must think that quarterback's pretty good. I tend to agree that kid's got a good shot to be pretty good. And I also wonder, the second part of it is like the changing the locks, right?

Like it could be my best friend, but I'm changing the locks when you leave. How hard is that to do? And does the fact that John Morton, when he was with you guys, it had been a couple years. So maybe he's had some different experiences and he'll build the offense differently from like a terminology standpoint or a tendency standpoint. Does that stuff get talked about how do we change the locks? You know, it's not just he's leaving and we got to play him once every couple years. It's twice a year.

Yeah, you know, it's going to be some new wrinkles. But I think in terms of the change the locks, that really comes from Dan in terms of he's looking to evolve it regardless. Anyway. Like regardless. So rather Ben was still here or not, like, you know, he's like, wait, I will say just because John Morton and Ben were. there both in 22 with Dan overseeing the whole thing. I don't see a lot of like wholesale change, but it's going to be some evolution there just because that's how Dan is just regardless. Yeah. Another guy you're replacing not a coach is Frank Ragnow, obviously an amazing player,

more than just a glue guy, a great player, you know, but seem to be a leader as well. And obviously when it comes to the center, that's a big one. What do you look for? when when you're talking about trying to find the next center, what are some inherent traits that you think are really important in a center? Yeah, well, first and foremost, it's intelligence. It's just, it's intelligence, it's personality and communication. I think you have to have that regardless of before you get into size and lateral quickness and all this and, you know, ability to get to the second level and picking up games and all

that stuff, because that you have to do so much from a communication, as you know, Chris, and an intelligence standpoint, and especially like, man, it's hard, man, like, it's a complicated scheme. You have a veteran quarterback that, you know, has a lot of freedom to do a lot of different things. So you have to, you have to stay up to speed, man. So those are the first things I look for when it comes to the center position. But when you go past that, you know, do you have the ability to anchor, you know, because you're right there in the middle, man. And you have so much exotic, you know, games and dogs coming at you.

And so you have to be able to anchor. And then even in the run game, you have to have, there's a level of quickness that you have to have just in terms of not only just at the snap, getting off the ball, but getting up to the second level. And I've always thought at the center position, I would even branch that out to the guards too, interior in general, is that there's just,

there's an instinctual or like there's an understanding of geometry and body positioning when you have to play out in space. So you can't just say like snapping and just run out there to the second level as fast as you can. Well, that's all for not. I don't care how explosive and quick. fast you are getting to the second level, man, if the linebacker just dipping right up under you

and you completely missed a bloss, it didn't matter. So you have to be able to kind of gear down distinctively. So it's a lot of traits, man, that a lot of people say, well, just throw somebody in there at center and all, man, like, you have to have a lot of the intangible qualities first and the mental aptitude first. And then there's a level of physical qualities. You've got to You think Frank's probably fishing right now? If I had to bed, I would, yes, probably so, man. He's, he is the best, man. He is the best.

He literally, when I first got the job, you know, obviously I scouted him coming out. And he was a great player. When I first got the job, he was the first player that had texted me, man, and just reached out and was like, hey, man, congratulations, all this. But he is the all-time warrior, man. and just a great human being. And he's going to be sorely miss, soiling this in a lock him because he fit everything that we were about, man.

So, you know, I don't know if you can just replace him because it's not just the player, it's the person as well. No question. I mean, was it one of those things where you could see the injuries mounting or did you have a feeling? Yeah, you know, he's been through a lot. He's battled a lot, man. And I didn't know really how long it was going to go in terms of, you know,

I mean, eventually, you know, your body sometimes just can't take but so much. And he's got a family too, man. So, you know, when you start talking about long-term view and kids and all that type of stuff, man, like, look, man, I didn't even play in the NFL and I got a bad back. And I'm an old dad with young kids. and I have to watch myself bending over to pick. I'm like, I can't just bend over to pick you. Like, I need to squat down.

I was like, I didn't play in the NFL. So you talk about the grind that those guys have to go to, the grind that you went through, man. Like, that's just, that's different level, man. So I got the utmost respect. But, you know, you had a little bit of a sense that maybe, you know, maybe it might happen. I didn't know if it was going to be this year.

I didn't know if it was going to be next year. But those are things you got to, yeah, think about and try to prepare for. Well, obviously, you're able to add a guy inside on the interior offensive line in the draft. But I was going to ask you about the investment in the interior defensive line, which seems to be a theme for you guys. Yeah. It was Ty League Williams, right? And I'm hearing him touted as being.

like an Aleem McNeil Jr. Yeah. Yeah. There are a lot, a lot of similarities, you know, just the more you dive into his game. The thing about, so Alim, when he came out in 21, he was, he was probably tilted more nose tackle. But you saw this dancing bearing him that there was a three technique inside of him. And now, you know, at this point, he's shed weight. He's got his body right.

And now he is a three technique where Tilek actually is probably, when you kind of compare both in coming out, Tileak is probably a little bit more developed than Aline was coming out. So, but there are very similar players because Tilek's got some movement skills in him. He's got quickness. He can move laterally. Ben, he's Stout versus a double team. And not only do they, like, player-wise compare very well, but, like, even personality. That's a good thing.

They're kind of the same, kind of just mild, mild manner, good kids, kind of soft-spoken, smarts, really handled their business. I never forget when we had drafted a lien, you know, I was like, hey, man, you ready to be a line? And he was like, yeah, sure, man. It's all good. Like, man, he really wants him. But then when we gave him, we gave him his contract extension last year. And when he got the deal done, you know, I called him. And I was like, hey, man, congratulations.

Got a guy done. And he sounded like, man, I really appreciate you guys. Believe me. I mean, like, he was, and I told him, I said, I mean, you sound exactly like how you sounded when we drafted you do. Yeah. And Ty League, you know, has very, very similar personality traits. Well, that's great.

And it's probably, Aline probably loves knowing he's the prototype now. Yeah. Yeah. It's pretty flattering. Let's talk about the edges because, and maybe this is a chance for you to get your Brandon Bean on. By that, I mean, it's tell the media that they don't know what the hell they're talking about sometimes where you guys are third in the league in pressure rate last year.

And, you know, it's like it feels like probably every week you're fielding question about, hey, how about another edge rusher, that sort of thing. So, you know, just give me the state of the edge position for you. I think, obviously, a lot of people want to know how Hutchinson's progressing. But I also thought as a side note, and I read something this morning about Big Z possibly coming back, I thought that was one of the most impactful signings of the year on any team. Yeah. Talk about pulling a rabbit out of your hat.

I love his game, and it showed up in Detroit. So what's it look like out on the edge? Yeah, so, you know, Aiden looks great, man. He's been out there in OTAs. Really didn't expect anything else. You never truly, truly know because you don't have a crystal ball. But just knowing how that guy's wired

and how he attacks things and how in tune he is with his body, it did not surprise me. I mean, he's out there. He looks explosive. He's changing direction. I mean, he looks really good, man. And then we brought back Marcus Davenport

on a one year. deal. He was playing really good football for us before he unfortunately got hurt, man. And so hopefully he gets better luck on his side. And so, and he's been out there. And I would say he looks just as good, man. He has been, his body is feeling great. His body looks great, man. And he had a good summer as well in terms of the OTAs. And then, you know, we had, we brought Al-Qaeda back that we signed last year, who locked some good snaps for us, played good football, plays hard, he's physical, he'll set edges, man, he plays with a lot of effort. And then we were able to draft Ahmed Hassanine from boys in the sixth round. And he's just another guy.

He's got some work to do from a developmental standpoint, just like they all do. But he's not some fish out of water, just raw, don't know what he's doing out there. I mean, when you look at his production, he had the most, in terms of Saxon pressures combined the past two years, he had the most production out of all the edge rushers in that class. And just what happens that he plays with his hair on fire as well. So we feel good about where we're at at that position. But, you know, just going back to the interior, though, Chris is, man, you know as well as anybody. Like, man, if you're not good in the middle, I mean, I don't care what you have on the edges and that corner and say,

man, if you're not in the middle, it's hard, man. That's a hard life. And so that's why we were really happy to get Tylene to really. to really fortify that middle, along with DJ Reader still coming back. We're able to get Levi-on-Zeriki back in free agency. And then, you know, while we're having a lien come back, too, we were able to sign Roy Lopez in free agencies. Oh, Roy Lopez.

Yeah. So we feel really good about the middle because if that's not right, man, it's just some long days on defense, man. One more draft question here. I appreciate you sticking with us. Isaac Tesla. I was going to ask you what his skill set was, but then I was watching him on the

St. Brown Brothers podcast. Shout out to those guys. Very good podcasters. Tesla played quarterback back in the day. That seems like something you might like, that your program might like, that maybe this guy can throw the football, can do some tricky shit.

Yeah. No, he's got some versatility to him, man. Definitely. Yeah, he's got versatile. Tell me what his skill set is, man. because you got a possession guy and then you got a big guy or fast guy outside. Yeah, no, he was, he really popped on the radar for me.

Like, I heard about him from our scouts and just said, like, you know, look, this kid's really interesting. And that was, we had a meeting, we had some meetings before the Senior Bowl. And then, then I saw him live at the Senior Bowl. It just saw how long and big he was. and just the way that he was inserting himself in the run game.

And this is not just run game individual drills that they do at the Senior Bowl. This is teen periods. And that just says something to me about what a guy like that at that position and his strain in the run game. And I hadn't seen a guy strain in the run game like that since we drafted St. Brown in 21, just in terms of just my. my subjective view of a receiver block. And I know we're just talking about blocking, but that just says a lot about the player in general.

But after that, man, this guy is just catching every single damn ball with his hands, like everything. Nothing's hitting his body. And so then I go back and I watch the tape. And, you know, his targets were low that year. But he took advantage of all the targets. because, again, every ball is being caught with his hands. And he's tough.

He's tough on the outside. He can stretch it. He's got instincts. And he's a hands catcher. He's big, long, and he can run. So I know a lot of people think that the combine was what his combine performance will put him over the top. But we were a love with that kid well, well before he did what he did at the combine.

Yeah, he's got some traits for sure. and I'd love to see him throw the football at some point. Hey, I appreciate the time so much and look forward to y'all doing it again this year, going out and playing that physical brand of football. And thanks for coming on the show, Brad. Appreciate you having me on, Chris. Always a pleasure, bro. So that was Brad.

And now to the player side of things, Nico Collins, as promised, I thought he was just a super down-to-earth guy, man. like you think about a number one receiver in the league like they're cool they're all too cool like even even the nice ones you're like oh they're so fucking cool man like i don't even know how to talk to this guy he's like a dude he's like a dude's dude and so um you know enjoy nico i am bullish just say it right now on the houston texans this year i really am if you think of just take a moment here you think about how fucking dominant that

defense was at times last year how violent they were um little too violent at times there's something about that in this interview too see if you can spot it um

and and offensively they had big problems up front. Schematically, they had big problems. I think they have the guy at quarterback. I think Nico's great. You're not going to have tank, but some of the rookies are making noise outside. And you had Nick Chubb.

Like quietly, like a lot of people, you probably some people listen are like, oh, fuck, I didn't even know they had Nick Chubb. They got Nick Chubb. You know, how much gas is left in the tank for a guy like that? I don't know. And, uh, and I just think,

I have faith they're going to get it fixed up front. You know, like that team was ahead of schedule in year one. Year two was probably aggression to the mean, and I jumped out of the gym. I'm not going to get off the bandwagon. I think Houston's going to be really good this year, and I think Nico is a big part of it. So enjoy Nico, and then we'll wrap up with a little bit of catch-up. I haven't seen you a while. I'm here with big play, threat, wide receiver.

I mean, every time he touches the ball, it could be a house call. It's probably 15, 20 yards. A lot of fun to watch. Nico Collins joins the show now. Nico, how you doing, man? Doing great, but no, can't complain, man. Just finish up OTAs, year five, flying by.

But it's a blessing, man, to be in this position in a situation. I'm in, man, man, just continue to thank God every day. You just put it a certain way, year five, like that feels like a marker for certain guys where you start feeling like a vet. Do you feel like a vet all of a sudden? and what do wide receivers learn between year one and year five and the NFL? Man, you learn a lot.

But I feel like year five came so fast, man. And like the position I'm in right now, I have no choice but to be a vet, you know. And there's a lot of young playmakers coming in, you know, looking up to me and asking me questions. It kind of put me in a weird position where like, dang, yeah, it's okay. You do look up to me. You do, you know, watch the way I play, you know. And it kind of reminds me, he's like, man, that's how I would. was as I used to look up to Brandon Cooks, Emmadola, Chris Conley, Philip Dorset in my first couple

years, man. And it's crazy how just how time flies, you know, but it's a blessing to be in his position, man. It's a great, you know, be a great role model, you know, for the guys that's coming in, you know, so it's only right by me to lead by example, you know, do the right things, you know, so we all can be on the same page, all be one, one beat, you know. So it's only right for me I come in and do my part. You treat the rookies pretty good, I gather. Yeah, because you need them. That's the way we used to feel like, hey, if this guy didn't want his hair cut, we're not cutting his hair.

Yeah, we're good. We're good. You know, I'll say that because my vets, they treated me well my rookie year. Right. You know, man, they show love. You know, I took him a dinner one time and that was it. You know, nothing crazy for sure. That bill wasn't too bad. It wasn't too bad. It wasn't too bad. It wasn't too bad. It was real slight. The question I had for you with like when you come in as a rookie is, you know, you had some great players to learn from, and you mentioned a few of them. you know, there's nobody really with your body type in most wide receiver rooms. I mean,

you're unique in that way. It's a differentiating factor for you. But when you try to like learn from somebody, is it, is it hard to find a, you know, like a body mechanics role model? Like somebody's like, okay, I can run routes like him. You know, cooks and Dola, they're smaller guys, but great players in their own right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, sir. So I feel like, man, when I started playing football, I kind of out in a lot of my game after Mike Evans. Um, Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones, just though bigger body receivers, you know, like just watching how they move at the line of scrimmage, you know, seeing how they create separation doing the route, you know, so those guys always been studying, like, now I'm Mike Evans, that's my idol, man.

I've been watching Mike Evans since Texas and now when him and Johnny Mansell was just killing Bama, everybody. He's running post routes, man. It's unstoppable, man. And just now just watching Mike Evans, man, he's an underdog, you know what I'm saying, dog too. Like he had one K every single year. you've been in the lead. Like, that's, that's hard, you know. So I feel that that's one guy has always been consistent, you know. I feel like as a receiver, you want to get that one K, you know.

So he's doing something right, you know. So I feel like for me, man, that's one guy I want to be alike. And it was when I first went to the Pro Bowl, this past, obviously, and I got the chance to meet him, man. I ain't a lie. I was, I was a kid. I was a fan, man. I was like, I can't believe I'm standing beside Mike Evans right now, man. So it was a blessing for sure. But man, I feel like just for me, I allow as my game. I try to watch bigger receivers, you know, that kind of move like me, you know, and kind of outline my, I like, I'll analyze my game after the phone, you know, so that's kind of been my idol, my role model forever. Well, Mike's a pretty good one, a good human being, too,

and you definitely earned that meetup with him. So I just wonder for you, like, between years two and three, that's a, it's a time where a lot of players take a big jump and you took a huge jump, man. It felt like you figured some things out. Obviously, CJ is a part of that. Like having a QB like him can allow people to see how great you are. But, you know, what do you attribute the big jump to? Were there any moments where you were like, oh, I just had a revelation. I got to do this different or over time. I feel like, man, my first two years was like not being healthy, not staying on the field. You know, so it's a long season. They're from college. You know, you got the extra the extra season you felt like, you know, 17 games in college used to 12, 15 if you make it that far, you know.

So, but me, it was more just body fatigue, muscles, you know, just seeing how my groins and hamstrings can sustain, you know, 17 games, you know, practices, everything. So I feel like for me, man, it was always those first two years was, you know, groins, you know, hamstrings, a soft tissue injuries, you know, things that can really be preventable, you know, just based off your routine, based off what you're putting inside your body. you know, and just how you take care of your body. You know, so I feel like for me, my first two years, man, was a year to learn, you know, take, you know, advice from Brandon Coobs, Chris Conley, Dola. You know, guys have been around the lead for a minute, you know, that's been successful with their bodies,

you know, just seeing what they're doing after practice, you know, how they're taking care of their bodies and getting ready to prep for the game. And I feel like those, my first two years, that's what I done, you know, I took notes. And leading to my third year, man, I feel like in that off-season, I took a lead, a huge jump.

You know, I was like, I'm worried about my body, my legs, handmys. You know, I want to be able to be on the field with my teammates. You know, I wouldn't be able to be out there, you know, entire time, you know, and working my craft at the same time. So I feel like, man, after that the second year, going to my third, man, I hopped in, you know, Pilates, yoga. You know, trying to do little things, man, really my core, you know, and I've really been sticking to Pilates and yoga entire time.

So I feel like that. That's one thing that worked out for me now and continued to do it, you know. So I feel like as you go, man, you live and learn, you know, I feel like that's what I've been doing. You know, every day I'm just learning different ways, different ways to get better with my game and just craft, you know. So still in that boat right now, just trying to get better every day. No question. Well, you just inspired a 40-year-old man because I got a phone number for somebody for Pilates because I've been having back problems. Yeah, look.

And they said I need to get in there. I've got a lot to you. The first couple weeks, big dog, you wouldn't be like, no. That's for me. I need something to kick my ass a little bit, man. Yeah, it's hard. It's hard. It's with the little muscles.

You've been shaking a reformer. But when you get a thing to go, get their routine, it's going to be easy. I'll let you know how it goes. So, you know, Texans fans, I feel like, and we've had mixing on, we've had different Texans on in the past. And you guys got some great fans. And I know there was so much excitement going into last year. And you guys kind of created that. And maybe the standard was, I wouldn't say it was too high because I think if things went right, you guys would be right where you wanted to be.

You went through a lot of adversity. I just look at that last game as, hey, I know it's disappointing and I know some things went wrong and you left some points on the board on special teams and that sort of thing. But you outgained the Kansas City Chiefs by over 100 yards. You have more first downs. You know, you went on a long third quarter drive that I felt like was the drive of the year. Yeah, for sure. You know, without tank, with everything you'd been through, was there any party walking away from that game? He was like, you don't want to lose a game.

But we are getting there. Yeah, it was every single moment. I feel like every loss we had last year was definitely that feeling. Like, we're right there. Like, we know what it takes to finish the games. We've got to execute and finish. You know, like, for this the last game, KC on the road playoffs, man. Like you said, that third quarter was the make-and-break-for-the-year.

Man, it was 12 to 13. I never get to score 12 to 13. We down in red zone, man. I just feel like we just couldn't move the ball, couldn't score. And we're like, bro, we're right there, you know. So it's always that, I feel like that moment left that hunger, that chip on our shoulder. Like, you know, we got it. Like, we know what it take to get there.

Now, let's get there. Let's finish. I feel like we just not finishing. I feel like we all know that as a team as a unit, man. It's finished. It's going to get to that Lombardi and go and get to that end goal that we want to get to. And I feel like that has been out. approach this entire offseason, man.

Just one thing at a time. You know, just one game in a time, one, you know, do whatever we got to do to get better. You know, it's like one game at a time, one concept of a time, you know, go out there and just have fun, man. And we know with the tape. And I feel like everybody's bought in, locked in right now, man, and competing, you know, competing. I feel like that's really going to separate you at the end, you know, just competing.

But we got all the pieces, man. We're right there. Boy, we just got to finish, you know. So can't wait for the year to start. You know, it's a new slate, new opportunity, new skeleton, man. But same, same division, same opportunities, you know. But, you know, I feel there's a great chance for us to go out here and, you know, improve us right, you know, prove what we're capable of doing.

I know, I know, a couple of wide receivers I might ask you about. But one of them is a guy that's a, I'm just asking, how's he doing? Y'all keep up with Tank probably on a regular basis. He seems like a guy that everybody truly loves in that locker room. and the game before in Kansas City where he got hurt, I felt like that hit, that hit as hard as any injury I've seen on the NFL field. Yeah, that hit home, man, because Taint, man,

that's a special player. You know, he always got this special place. It's an heart. He knew that. You know, he's a playmaker. That was one guy, man. He put the bloods winning tears on that field, man. The best player maker on, you know,

practice field, game field. He out there. He's the best one, man. And for him to go down like that, man, it was tragic, you know, just seeing the way he came back, you know, seeing the, you know, the grind and effort he'd been putting in just to come back on the field with us, man.

And for him to go out like that, man, it was a gut punch. It was. I feel like, man, it was only right for us to go out there and play for him. So we know how much it meant for him to be out there with us, be out there. I know, just running around, laughing with us, just being in the huddle, you know, in the receiver room. You know, there's nothing like your position group, man. And just having that bond, laughed and joke around, man.

You know, him not being there was definitely felt, you know, we felt that missing piece, man. But, you know, but we had to keep going. You know, we had to miss him, miss him dearly every day. But right now, he's on the uprising. His mental good, moving good. You know, he got a smile on his face like he'd been having, man. And I'm glad to see him moving, man. Glad to see him back in the building.

Well, he's been in the building, but just seeing him back, you know, just being back to yourself, getting back to normal again, man. There's no better feeling to seeing, you know, one of your brothers come back, you know, from a tragic injury like that. Well, CJ seemed really tore up about it. And I know I was, you know, like, I know sometimes people are like, quarterbacks aren't supposed to show emotion. I'm like, I'm watching.

I'm like, that's a guy who cares. He cares a lot about his brothers. And he put his helmet on and went back to competing. I just thought that was a real gut check on y'all's part. And, you know, I can't say enough about what CJ looks like as a teammate from the outside looking in. Is it everything you'd imagine and more being on his team? And are the dinners really as good as they said? Yeah, absolutely.

Absolutely. She's the same guy as y'all see from outside looking in from the inside out, man. I just feel like nothing changes about him. You know, he's the same guy every single day, you know, coming in, ready to work, pose. You know, he joke around with you, man. Like to have fun. And most of every, he's going to care about you, you know.

No matter what, he got your back, you know. Like you said, it showed, you know, when the tank went down, man. That's like, you know, that one hurt. Like, that one hurt, like deeply. Everybody felt that, you know, and seven, you know, he showed his emotion, but, you know, that's why he got us, you know, to lift him up. Like, let's go. We got to keep going, bro. You got to get him to finish right now. You understand? So, for us, you know, it hurt. But at the end, at the end of the game, they went to the locker room, you know, we, you know, did what we, you know, talked to him, talk to team, you know, CJ, you know, we all came together as a unit, man. But at that moment, man, it's one of those lives, you got to continue to go, man. But CJ is a great guy. Man, that's one guy you want to have as your quarterback, a leader, a guy that's going to be the guy that's going to be. there for you no matter what have your back and drop downs for you when you need them the most you know

you know getting that play for sure but no man i'm glad cj is our quarterback wouldn't train up or anything man yeah well what's the is it surfing turf like what's going on at his house like i feel like for him there's more tacos tacos okay i've heard rumors about these dinners man i've heard rumors about these dinners what about uh like for you what's your favorite ball you catch from him What's the best ball he throws that you're like, man, he just... A deep ball. He's different. Deep ball.

For sure. It's easy. I don't know. It's a lot of hang time. It's high. The law. It's soft touch. Soft.

It's just like just dropping in your hand. Yeah. That's like any ball he throws, man. It's a soft touch. It's not like a bullet coming. You know, it's not like one of those hard balls that it hurt, that it hurt your hand, you understand? But like, it's a little touch to it.

Yeah. I feel like his deep ball is one of his... I feel like it. And to be able to get to some of the best balls he throws, like to access the deep middle of the field on like a dig route or something, like you guys got to have a little time. Yeah, you do. And obviously there were things going on up front that were tough and you guys were dealing with a lot. Do you feel like looking at it just a little bit, I know it's early in the summer, that you see guys that can step up in the wake of Laramie leaving and off of everything last year? Yes, sir.

I see everybody, man. The entire office is a line. You know, it was there for some new pieces coming. driving a couple of guys, you know, had some guys coming in, you know, from a free agency, man. But I feel like, man, we got the right pieces, man. We've got some guys that's willing to work, you know. Protect seven, protect the offense, man,

get seven times. So he'd go through progression, man, make plays and shine like you do, you know. So I can't wait for us, you know, to come back during camp, get things rolling, man, put the pads on, you know, and get ready to play football, real football, you know. That's the best feeling, you know. But I'm excited for this group, you know, both sides. offense and defense, man.

Like, we got it. We know we got it, you know, because practice is hard. You know, none of the plays working, you know, make a play, don't work. You know, that's how you know. Like, we're really working. We're competing. We getting each other better, man. And that's the way it should be.

One guy they're saying is looking good so far. I know it's just mini-camp and everything. You've been in a league long enough to know how that goes. But Jaden Higgins, I've been reading about him, seeing him, and you got great corners. So if you catch a ball over those guys, Is that something to be excited about, whether it's mini-camp or OTAs or whatever? What have you seen from the young receivers in him in particular?

A lot, man. All of them, man. I feel like those group of gods, man, they're coming in with a mission, you know, to get better, learn, you know, and trying to be a great, you know, valuable to the offense, you know. And Higgins is a dude special. You know, he came out of me with Mike Evans. You know, he can stress the field, tall, lanky, move, quick at the line, goos, hands. Man, dude's nice, man.

It's guys living for him, man. I can't wait, you know, to see when the season. Come, came up, can't be able, can't with the show the field. One of them, man, right there making plays in front of the city and smiling while doing it. You know, just having fun, you know. But the dude's special, man. He got all the tools in the world, for sure. How about Nick Cayley, man?

It's turning the page a little bit offensively with the scheme. And I'm just wondering, what do you think you see a little bit more of generally with Nick or what have you noticed off the bat? Yeah, man. The way he just called plays, man. he just get creative, you know, putting guys in situations to be dispulsive, you know, to make players, you know, he puts you in the right position to go out and just have fun. You know, he's not, he's not going to go out there and do something that's not you, you know what I'm saying?

Like, he can go out there and put you in a great position, man. But his enthusiasm, his personality, man, is, I feel like it's unmatched, man, it's lit, you know, he's up there giving an install. He's, he's juice, you know, he's jumping around, swearing, you know, he's punk, man. Yeah. He's a great guy for sure. I'm glad he's here calling the plays, man. You know, he understands everything. You come back, what you got, you know.

He'll do what you need to do. You know, he'll do whatever it takes, man. That's one guy I just want to win. And you play for a couple coordinators. How hard is it these days in the NFL in a wide receiver room, for instance, to catch up on new terminology? Is that a whole off-season kind of timeline? Man, it's terrible.

Because not going to lie, you know, I think I had maybe three, four different offense coordinator. three different office coordinations I've been here. And every offense is different, different terms, you know. And it's one of those, man. You just got to forget the old terms. Once you program it, it's like, oh, it's a new language, you know. So you got to forget the old language to pick up on a new one.

Sometimes the new one doesn't mean the same thing as the old one. You know, so I feel like, man, it just really just come down to preparation, studying, you know, out through the, after you lead a building, you know, just putting your eyes on the playbook, you know, doing it. scheming through it, you know, do little things you need to. So when that time come on the field, you're ready, you know. But yeah, it's, it's hard, you know, it's hard, man. It's just like going to the next grade, you know, it's just one of those, man.

Just learn the whole new office, new scheme, you know, back to the minor details, you know. So back to the little things, breaking the huddle formations, you know. So that's really how it is. But I feel like now, man, finish up OTAs. I feel like we all caught that, you know, learned, learned the new playbook well, new scheme, little things like that. man. I feel like this offense, man, was, we had a clean, smooth in all spring for sure.

I mean, it was minor hiccups, but it wasn't, nothing crazy, you know, but I feel like, man, we all finished healthy, did good, learn the offense, and I feel like we all getting ready from camp. So talking about, like, one of the best units to watch last year I thought was watching y'all's defense. Oh. The speed they play with at home and the violence they play, I mean, they're violent generally, but I just felt like, did you feel like it kind of, they get sped up in that building. Man, everybody does, especially with our defense, man. I feel like everybody is just the energy they bring, you know what I'm saying? Like it's a swarm mentality. It's that just effortless. You know what I'm saying? It's that just relentless is going out there and just playing fast.

You know, as a defense is playing fast. You know, as an offense, you kind of don't tell yourself, let's slow it down. You know, you know, but I feel like with our defense, man, you got no truth about to play fast. You know, them boys swarming everywhere. He and you, you know, late, you know, matter it being physical man but that's how they are in practice you know so practice how you play you know but man i feel like i got defense got the opportunity to be the best defense in league no question i they by far the way to go top down on stuff is like like somebody who catch the ball in the flats and it's it's like over like that yeah it's just and and the backer shire the having two corners like that petri will knock your head off like they're coming

They got something called the Kills on. I believe it. Don't get caught in the Kills on. That's all I got to say. Where is that just so we know so I can stay out of it? I think it's anything that's linebacker Depp in front. Yep. It's a Kills on.

There's a fence there. There's a fence. I don't know. I'll get caught back in. Yeah. So what do you attribute Stingley's, like for me, a defensive end who doesn't know coverage the way, you know, you do going against these guys. Like, what makes Stingley is great? as he's become patient patient man patient doesn't panic play the ball well great ball skills

i feel like that that's that's what thing is man yeah that's one guy like if you win early it's okay but he doesn't panic because he got to make his speed got the ball talent to go and just make the play i feel like just going is a guy like that every single day and you got no choice but to get better you know he's got he got patient he got ball skills so you got to go meet the ball when the ball's in the air because you know he's gonna try he's gonna run the ride for you know he's gonna go get it. So I feel like, man, that's one guy you want to go against every day. One guy you want to compete with, you know, win a rep, lose a rep, lose all the reps, but you're getting better. You know, I feel like he gets you better at Herman Kamarra, man. They both sides, you know, both

guys are the same, man. They both, you know, after we're done with a rep, good job, boom, we'll go to the side, talk about it, you know, what you did different, with your hands, releases, you know, I feel like it's just having that type of conversation with both for the corners, man. There's no, there's no better feeling, man, because I feel like that's That's the only way we can get better. But, man, I feel like we got the two bests of the DPs, man, in the world. Yeah, it's hard to argue with that. They're nice, though.

It's hard to argue with that. Who do you think the most underrated guy on the defense is? Underrated? Underrated. I feel like Caleb. Yeah? I feel like Caleb. What makes him go?

Man, he's sidelined and sally line. Yeah. Lenthy. You know, he feels like over his head. Dude coming out of knowing. He's wings, man. It's crazy. You know, he's, so as one guy that's underrated.

I like that. I got one for you. I got Petrie. Peach, too. Autry. Autry's a dog. Dog. Autry has 62 career sacks.

That's a lot. Nobody knows how good he is. That's a lot. Yeah. He shows up everywhere he plays, so I was excited to see him join the team. Yeah, yeah, it's true. He didn't play a full season, but that part. Yeah.

I feel like the entire deal line, man. They're nice. Oh, they're great. How about, how about Dimeco, like being a defensive head coach? How does he relate to the offense? You know, like being a defensive guy, I've had offensive head coaches. And, you know, their relationships to our side of the ball might be, hey, we just come in the morning.

I say, how y'all doing? And then I walk out. Yeah, keep pushing. Yeah. I feel like, man, with D'Amico, it's kind of the same. Yeah. You know, he's a defense of the guy. You know, if the offense being the defense, you know,

that period going to go a little longer until, you know, until they get that. You know how that go. But he's a guy, man, that you want to play for it. You know, that's one dude. You will run through a wall for, man. You know, all he coaches is relentless, swarm and just compete. And that's all he wanted to see. You just compete and have fun, you know.

So I feel like as an offense, the thing we can relate to the most men compete. You know, the defense, they swarm. You know, they're everywhere. They're going to compete to the ball. You know, they're going to make sure you don't catch it. They're going to be the last one to finish, rip the ball out. So I feel like for us, as an offense, man, that teaches us. us to finish the plays, you know, through the catch, all the way, you know, finish behind the

defense, you know, you catch the ball in traffic, tup immediately because they come and punching, trying to get the ball on the ground, you know? So, like for us, man, that's sharper than us on the details, like the little things, the minor things, people, you know, tend to forget about, you know, catch and tuck, you know, and like, you know, when the catch and start, ball, they're really loose, fumble, you know, little things like that, man, I feel like, you know, D'Amico tells the offense, man, take care of the ball, compete, you know, have fun, make plays. you know so i feel like that's that's one thing we all as an offense as a union we all can relate to

man just why just compete man that's all he want to see and just play fast you know he want to make play man let him know you know that's one thing he's about man just enjoying the game and i feel that's one thing we all can relate to them all well there's one guy i know that he will let you know when he makes a play and he just joined you all his name c j gardner johnson oh yes sir has he made his presence felt yet in practice and around the building most definitely Most definitely, man. We know what type of guy, CJ is, man. He's a dog.

You know, that whole secondary dogs. And I feel like, man, he's about to get everybody on that same train, man, real quick, real quick. That's a hell of a room. It's a hell of a room. Best defense. Look, I feel like the best defense in the league. How far? Hey, man.

I give it to you. This year they can do it on tape. And I think they're pretty close. I think they're knocking on the doorstep. And you called it. We'll check back and- I feel it, yeah, I feel it. They got the potential to be the best defense in the league.

So I see it from Strins-O-TAs mini-camp. I feel like we don't even have our whole defense here yet. Hey man, I could believe it. So. Last question for you, a fun question. Houston celebrities, who you've been most geeked out to meet? That's a Texans fan in that city? Slim Thug.

Slim Thub, Paul Wall. Who else? Um, Bumby. Bumby. Yeah. Andre Johnson, for sure. Yeah, Andre Johnson seems like the coolest guy in the world. But he's so chill.

Just like he doesn't say much. Man, he just wanted to do. He had to walk by you and won't even. Yeah. Yeah, nah, that's it. Yeah. But yeah, those four, man. You see those guys is at like regular texting events.

You know, those guys really in the city, man, which is a great thing. You know, like any event we have, you know, you're bound to probably run into one of them. you know so it's a great thing for sure so you hit the rodeo yeah i did for the first time it's crazy right because where are you from originally i'm from alabama they have rodeos in alabama no no no the houston rodeo was the first thing i like learned about when i came like i didn't know it was like they really shut down like the whole stadium to have like concerts like the entire month you know fairgrounds and everything it's pretty fun actually i gotta hit that um like a bunch of great country singers um it was dope

My last campaign, I just wanted to go to be Post Malaw, man. It was pretty fun. It was dope. Oh, yeah, yeah. I was on stage going, so he saw a couple of his bangers, man. It was fun. You're a damn Cowboys fan, though. The biggest Cowboys fan.

I think he changed over it. Yeah, well, why don't you pluck a couple of those Cowboys fans, man? Good luck to the, good luck to the Texans, and I appreciate Nico joining us. Thanks so much and have a great year, dude. Yes, sir. I appreciate you a lot, man. Anytime. So anyways, what did, um,

What did I miss while you were gone? Like what, what are you been doing? So my girl took me, since Father's Day is coming up, just in case people listening, you don't know. My girl took me to Vegas on like a secret trip, a surprise trip, I should say, to Vegas for a few days. And it was amazing. Secret trip.

Yeah. It's like a kidnapping. Yeah. Kind of. It was amazing. We went down to Martinsville. We dropped our daughter off. And then we flew out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

And we got to Vegas. We met up with our old quarterback, Peter Laley. Really? Yes. How's he doing? He's doing very well. Peter now is a producer slash musician slash songwriter. and he was with

I don't know some people might know this person I love Maconian Oh no way No idea So I love McCona And is famous for the song Tuesday

It's going up Oh That song And he does Did he do? Did he do? I love to Is that him too?

Yes I like to So the funny thing is So Pete He does He does a lot of like beats or collaborations with I love mcconin so they were all in Vegas together his DJ is um DJ Green Lantern son okay and it was his birthday so we lucked up we went to an event like with them

we got to see I love McCona perform live which was amazing my girl like she's she like that's like her music genre and so like it was amazing for her like we got to see that And then we went to, what club was it? We went to a club the next night, and we got to see two chains perform, and it was absolutely amazing. Like, he didn't go on. This is how I'm realizing I'm getting a little bit old. He didn't go on until, like, 2.30 in the morning. Two chains?

Right. And so, but once this, once this show started, he probably did like 45 minutes and it was just him. And it was like, it was the best thing in Vegas, basically to go in the club as a couple, it's going to be $100. $60 for dudes and 40 for females. So for a $100 concert like in a club, like I felt like I got my money, my money's worth and more because it was just, it was like a really, really good time. So everything in Vegas is great. Last day, you know Vegas, you start thinking, we probably should have left yesterday, kind of like dragging that every time. Like you're waiting, like we took a red eye, so like we had the full day, we had to check out of the hotel.

Like they're not trying to give you a late checkout. So like we like scratched the claw for 11 a.m. checkout because our flight wasn't until 12.30 a.m. That night. And we end up chilling in the sports book, for a long time. I forget we're at, whatever. And that's purgatory right there. Why is that? You want to know what purgatory is like? Not quite hell, not quite heaven. Yes. Yeah. Kind of a mixture of the two. It's the last day in Vegas when all your shit's packed. Yes. And you're

just going through the motions trying to occupy some time. But like that flight that you push back. 12 hours. Terrible. Terrible. 12 hours. You see those people in the airport playing slot machines in the airport? Somebody needs to help them. Yes. That's why. But you, I understand it. I don't understand it. Yo, so we're, so we end up, like, finding a sports book. And if anyone's been, like, a nice sports book, they usually have up front really

comfortable chairs. Yeah. So, and you're able to order food. So we actually ordered sushi from Nobu. And, like, we're chilling these chairs. My girl was able to take a nap. We, I watched the, because the basketball game was on. And in Vegas, the game's on.

at five in the afternoon. I was like taking a nap after I house a bunch of Maguro. Right. In a sports book. Right. Versus the East Coast. Like, it's not 8 o'clock at night. All the games are on in the afternoon in Vegas.

So watch the game. Then, before we leave, we go take videos of the Bellagio fountain to kill time again. Naturally. Naturally, because we wanted to wait until the sun went down a little bit. and then like the water show only starts at like 8 p.m. to a certain time. So after we watched the game, we walked out, we took some videos there, went back to the hotel to get our stuff, then end up going to the airport. Get to the airport.

My girl realizes she doesn't have a debit card, right? Naturally. So go to cancel the debit card. It's Vegas. someone already spent $400. No. Can you tell Juan? Yes.

No, so she got her money back. She got her money back. Shout out Truis. Truis is a good bank. Chiris gave her money back right away. Truis supports our foundation. Oh, look at that. Good folks at Truis.

So we laugh because just from the stuff that the person did, I was like, yo, when you fell asleep at the sports book, that debit card fell out of your pocket. and definitely one of the dudes that was pissed off, losing money on Halliburton, definitely picked your card up, and they were probably a local, and they went to town. I forgot the name of the mall, so they went, they left the casino, they went straight to the mall, a mall that's like 25 minutes away, and they go into a store. To an off-strip mall?

Yes, and they go into a mall, and they go into a shoe store called Sheik, which I looked up and it's basically like the new chain foot locker spent $212. So I'm assuming he bought a pair of J. One pair. And a couple of t-shirts and or socks. When he left there,

he went to a bar and got a drink for $25. Living large. And then after the bar he went to Jack and a box and this is where it gets a little I'm like laughing and he only spends $3.88 at Jack in the box. So I'm like did he get like a milkshake? Like I don't know what the prices are jack in the box if you can get a full meal. Maybe he was drunk off from his drink and he just needed like

a burger or something. This guy was out of cash. He was slam out of cash. No, it's not it's opportunity. It's a crime of opportunity, I feel like. Like, you'll probably. But this guy will get found, no? Like, I don't know. We should find him and have them on the show. I don't think. That should be the condition of not pressing charges.

Have him on the show. Be like, what the fuck did you buy a Jagging? No, what was the $25 drink and what was the $3 order of Jack? I'm going to get it. It did. Wait, last spot, last spot that he goes. And this is why to me, I feel like it was, it was one of the, black dudes that was in the sports book because they went to a jewelry store and they spent

$81 and $81 and that to me as a dude who has his ears pierce that screams that he got some pretty decent stud diamond stud earring how do you know it's not a white guy that like you know like a paul wall type because honestly I think if it was a white guy I think they're taking one big shot and buying something big I don't think you're going to go to four different I think you move a little bit smarter than that. Like, it's just, I don't know. Like, I don't know. Everyone's different. I don't think anybody's moving smart picking up a debit card in order to spend like $300. It's just not moving smart to me. No, no, no, no, it's not. But you'll be very, very surprised how many people do this on a daily. Like, I'm just saying nobody that's in this situation is, is, like, no offense.

Oh, no, yeah, yeah, for sure. It's very, very, because there's a circumstance that got you there. No, yeah, yeah. Where you're in Vegas, you have no money. You're betting on Halliburton. Can I say something real quick about Halliburton? Yeah. You know how everybody's doing the Haleburton Taliban memes? Yeah.

There's a bin Laden documentary out right now, and I saw something from it today. And one of the guys with the U.S. government was talking about how they'd surveil him, and he'd walk in his garden every day, like a lot. And they were like, man, he walked a lot. We called him the Pacer. Bro, out of control. It's all Jim Ursay's fault. God rest his soul.

If Jim, if Jim Ursa didn't die the same day as game one, that shot doesn't go in. That was a Jim Ursay sixth man kind of bounce, dude. You think? Oh, absolutely. That's so far. Absolutely. So you got, you went to the big city and got, you got Jim crotched. Yeah.

You know? But overall. It was a great trip. Box number 10, it's a Jim Crocey song. Reed knows it. Yeah. Oh, y'all man's was out there. Our man.

Who? Which one? Big X? I love Mekkonen. And I wasn't familiar with his game, but... Is that don't touch my truck? Let me tell you, the white cougars, they was going. They was out there crazy.

They were out there. I was not familiar with your game, but listen, let me tell you. No, Kenny Chesney is in our hotel was filled with people going to see this concert. He's an aphrodisiac for women with Salt Life. Bro, like, stickers on the back of their. Bro, I promise you, like, these women, like, it looked like some of these women probably, like, haven't maybe put dresses on, like, in, like, a while. Like, there was dust.

There were, like, mothballs. Maybe that's hate saying that. But I've seen a lot of older couples dressed, dressed to the nines, very, very excited. excited for this show and what who else was out there on cold play and I'm not really I don't know a lot about man I saw cold play a few times back in the day yeah they weren't great live okay no they weren't great surprising to hear yeah yeah they weren't great I've never seen them but I figured that would be a good show the acoustics might have been a little bit off when I saw them at um got some hits though merweather pavilion but Vegas is cool I like Vegas yeah it's a fun time Vegas is cool it's

exciting it was it was hot but it's funny there's a bunch of of money and get your debit cards stolen, spend 10 hours in a fucking metal tube, walk by a bunch of people on the way out playing slots and hanging out in the cigarette gas chamber. The fucking Vegas is just, there's not a tree in sight. Not a tree in sight.

And all that air they pump in the casinos, you know? It's a little too much. Yeah, it's not good. The oxygen is amazing. Yeah, the good oxygen. It is wild. You can walk around there for 48 hours. not go outside.

No, not realize it. No, not at all. Yeah. There were times where me and Reed were there one time we weren't sure if we were

outside or inside. Seriously. Yeah, it was like some real... We went to the... No, but also too, bro, like I forget, like, is, bro,

don't do this anymore either. Hold on. Buffets are amazing. Did you go to the frog waterfall? No. It was sold out. That's what I'm going to bring up. But the buffet,

but the buffet... Did you not, do you have Google? He puts in the group. group text what's the name of the restaurant in the win with the frog yeah and you know like I'm like well I tried I googled it I asked like fucking um chat GPT gave me the wrong answer well I'm at a stoplight I'm like bro like why are you not to be to be fair to be fair of all people in that group chat that question probably wasn't directed to you I wasn't expecting you to be like oh I can't remember

the name of that restaurant it's it's something on the lake yeah it's not it's not something on the lake it's not there is a lake there's a giant frog who sings frank sinatra you want to put money on it i'll put like lake of dreams lake of dreams lake that's also not the name of the restaurant i don't think it is yeah that's the name of the restaurant we had a great night there that one it was we did is that the one with the water yes yes yeah yeah frog i wanted to go see that that's the best thing about Vegas yeah the shows no that's what i'm saying like we have to go see more shows out there like be adults like you know yeah be adults yeah yeah i wanted to review um a piece of content

that i saw we know tom sagora right he's hooked us up with tickets to shows i love tom great guy bert's awesome too like bert super nice guy um and you know i used to watch two bears one cave and all that stuff and i think they're funny so tom friend of the podcast dude friend of the program yeah yeah tom's been on the show um He's coming out with this kind of skit deal. And it's like the, who's the comedian from Michigan? He's the Lions fan. Tim Robinson.

He has his, I think you should leave or whatever that is. And it's funny as hell it's a bunch of skits. Segura comes out with this thing called Bad Thoughts. And I smoked some weekend weed the other night and decided to watch it. And doing something like that. like this i feel like is a big risk like you're going from being a stand-up comic a podcaster to being an actor essentially in your own skits that you probably presumably written um and you're taking a big swing at it like there's going to be some that people are like i don't find that funny

at all um and it's probably hit hit or miss for some people i thought the hit rate was incredible and the the topics were unbelievable. Like you said you couldn't get through all of it. Where did you stop? So I fell asleep and I don't know exactly where I fell asleep, but I got through a few skits and I can't say like just like not to like spoil. Like I guess spoil or if you are going to go watch and maybe skip this part. But the whole him being an assassin and like them narrating and being like, yeah, no women, no kids.

And then boom. Yeah, he accidentally kills a kid, a woman. A woman. I only have two rules. And that immediately like it did make me laugh. But you know my thing, bro. I don't care about the gay jokes. But some stuff, it's just like I just feel like white humor and black humor.

A little bit different. There's a spectrum where it's like, uh, right. It's one thing to joke about something, but like the whole like virtual thing, like he's sucking the dick. Yeah. And that whole thing.

I just like, he's got the VR glasses on. This is a little much. But, but I can say that skit still like it still was funny. Did you get to the Massimo one? The guy who was, um,

this Italian guy, he was like, he was basically like a new caretaker at an old folks home. y'all haven't seen this dude that that's the funniest fucking skit i mean period like like like basically he turns out like they're like how is this guy all of a sudden all the old folks at this old old folks home look like they've they've lost 20 years like you know they've gained 20 years like they're the glow is back like they're they're all happy and the guy running the old folks home is like what's been going on and then he walks in on on tom sagura getting his ass eaten by some old woman

Yeah. And basically he's, he's just fucking all the people. Oh, that's the one with the toilet thing? That one? What happened with the toilet? No,

no, that's not the toilet one. That was also crazy. Bro, but eventually they like kick him out. And at one point, somebody's like, since Massimo's been gone,

they're not even eating. They haven't eaten in two weeks. Like, they're all depressed. And so he comes back, gets one of them pregnant, and has to, skip town but I thought it was like the most hilarious skit and then also like there was the one

where he was a disgruntled coffee shop you know a customer and he kills everybody in the coffee shop and because they got his order wrong and the police are huddled around him at 10 p.m. And they find out that it's him that caused all this carnage like and it was gory too. Like there's some gory parts and the thing. And at the end of it they find his receipt and the fact that he he asked for, for a little bit of milk and they fucked his order up and they're like, you can go. It just was like everything was hilarious.

I thought Tom did a great job. Definitely watch that, grab some weekend weed. Yeah, I'm not thinking about it. That one, I think they were in jail trying to escape. Yeah. And the guy was like conning people. Yeah. Tell them like we have to both sit on this toilet and shit.

They weren't in jail. It was like an alien invasion. Oh yeah. And the way to. the way to escape was to take a shit at the same time in a toilet. Yeah, to open a portal. But, like, you had to sit on each other. This is a really good sell for bad thoughts.

It is three. The average is three rating on reviews, three out of five. But the only reviews are fives or one. Yes. You either get or you don't get it. One-star review said, you remember that this was the idea of a comedian. and he used to be hilarious

and started shitting on his own fans once he lost a little bit of weight and had more money than he knew what to do with. And then a five star. This show is bananas. Truly never seen anything like it. It's crude, silly, and unhinged. Not to mention it looks fantastic.

Dude, it's a great show. You got to watch it. You got to watch it. So you also had a take you wanted to share. Oh, this is about to be... Can I have a lighter? This is about to be the best... One of the best years ever.

for no other than Aaron Rogers. Why? For one, showed up to, is it voluntary or is it mandatory minicamp? Minicamp is mandatory. Okay, it's mandatory, but a lot of times stars don't show up,

including him. That was a big deal last year, correct? Yeah, he was missing a lot of stuff last year. We didn't have to litigate. So, so yeah, new team. You want a good first impression. You're trying to win a job. But he shows up with a ring on his fingers.

Yeah. Congratulations to him. Congrats, Aaron. He got married in the offseason. That's right. And as someone who's divorced, first year of marriage, not always easy. Yeah. So my prediction is Aaron Rogers is probably going to spend the most time he's ever spent

in his life. at the facility. And a quarterback spending that much time at the facility, it's only gonna equal better results. I think there's certain positions that it's better to be married. This is one of them. I think it is.

If it's going well. Yeah, yeah, you want a stable situation. You don't wanna be a wild horse. The wild horse positions are more like, you know, D-Lyman or corners or, yeah, like mostly defensive players, you know? Yeah. But I like your, I like, I like the thought.

Like, yeah, maybe this is. And it's a double-edged store too. Like he might really be in love. And like, like you said, it might be something, hey, coming home to a nice home-cooked meal and doing all that. Yeah. That might equal better results. Yeah. It's, it is a little, it's interesting that we don't know who it is.

Been a couple months is what he said. Yeah. Like, oh, look at that ring on your finger. Yeah. Been a couple months. I hate if anybody cooked up any conspiracy theories. That would be funny. But I do, I do marry to the game.

I want him to be happy, man. What if he came out and said, I'm married to the game? That'd be the biggest punchline ever on the McAfee show. Would you be mad or would you just be like, yeah? I'd actually be kind of impressed. That'd be a pretty funny thing to do. It'd be a pretty funny thing to do. That's why I showed up to mini kid because I'm married to the game.

That'd be my favorite Aaron Rogers content moment. No, but I just think Aaron Rogers, man, last shot, you know, it's on a decline. Everyone's talking bad. You left a bad taste in people's mouth. I think he, if anyone can turn it around and you got someone like D.K. Metcalf, you can kind of throw the ball up to. And I just feel like that's a great organization down there to be in. And as a whole, that organization kind of like they have their backs against the wall. So, like, I'm excited to see what happens.

And it'll be another year of everyone early. talking about how Tomlin is not going to make it through the season. The Steelers aren't going to do anything. And I just feel like the Steelers are probably going to be, like, formidable this year. And not going to be easy win. I guess the thought is it might catapult them into an echelon right above where they were last year, right? Where they can win a playoff game, you know, like they compete. They might be able to play complimentary football better.

I'm not sold on the supporting cast, right? Like, like, I'm just not offensively at this point. And, you know, it's also a big leap of faith to think it, you know, second year off in Achilles, usually that's better. But we base that stereotype off of guys doing it at 28, 30 years old, 31 years old, where it's like it's a little bit more uncharted territory with the guy coming off in Achilles in his 40s. Right. And so I worry about that and I worry about if he does succeed in leveling them up,

they're only further away from being able to draft the heir apparent because that is what's happening on the horizon. They have a ton of picks next year. And obviously, you talk about purgatory, organizational purgatory to me is consistently putting a bandaid on an open wound. And, you know, obviously as football players, we don't mind it when you show up to camp with a quarterback. as opposed to not having a quarterback, but it's not always the long-term fix. And sometimes it's like kicking the can down the road. And so I worry about that.

You know, do I think he can still have his moments? Yeah, he had him last year. Yeah. Like he had moments last year where I was like, damn, he can really still sling it. Still sling it. But he wasn't moving around real well. And it doesn't take a lot of big chances.

Play action has got to be a big part of what they do, you know, with Arthur Smith. and I'm just not sure that he's going to be able to get all the footwork down that's going to be demanded of him in that offense without Arthur changing things a lot. But I do think Mike Tomlin and him, that's a strong personality. And that's a good thing, right? And I'm hoping that as a football fan, he might say, hey, this is really my last shot.

Like, look where I am. I'm Aaron Rogers, and I had to wait for them to pass on the Matt Stafford thing to pass them by and they investigated Justin Fields before me. And so I like that that's a very real situation where you're like, hey, taking some inventory. Maybe I'm not in the prime of my career anymore. I got to I got to try to be a little different this year. Like to me, I just want to see him have fun and I don't want to see a bunch of the stuff on the field bleed into his weekly spots on McAfee. That to me is like, hey, pedal whatever conspiracies you want, but as a football fan, if we're talking football um i just i think it's a lot more fun when he's happy and uh and there's no tension that's

whatever he's been the last no what i need to see discount double check i need to i need to i need to see the discount double check yeah yeah yeah show us that you're having fun out there right yeah yeah yeah yeah could do that last year was some BS do that it was some BS you don't often get more fun once you get married though and that's a worry Ugh. You know?