Green Light with Chris Long - Joe Flacco! Joe Mixon! Jayden Reed!

Episode Date: October 18, 2024

Chris Long is joined by a few current NFLers - the Colts' Joe Flacco, the Texans' Joe Mixon and the Packers' Jayden Reed. A great episode with some great stories, enjoy! (00:00) - Intro (3:19) - Joe Flacco on the Indianapolis Colts, Anthony Richardson and Defensive Penalties (29:22) - Joe Mixon on the Houston Texans and Playing with Stefon Diggs and CJ Stroud (48:45) - Jayden Reed on the Green Bay Packers, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks and Growing Up a Bears Fan Want your Green Light Merch so you can look exactly like Chris and the fellas? Hit the website below and get kitted! https://stores.kotisdesign.com/yotehouse/products 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]‬ Send any Talent Search submissions to: [e-mail] Include any video of your talents, takes and bits as well as a little bit about yourself. Love hearing from the Green Light fans. 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. https://paddleva.com/ Green Light Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/user/951jyryv2nu6l4iqz9p81him9?si=17c560d10ff04a9b Spotify Layup Line: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1olmCMKGMEyWwOKaT1Aah3?si=675d445ddb824c42 Green Light Tube YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxWFAA-wuB7osdiAJyLOcw 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

I mean, winning on the road is probably my favorite thing. Oh, dude. When you, when you're going down on a two-minute drive and you can hear the crowd in the background and then all of a sudden you hear nothing and all you hear is the cheering between your sideline and the guys on the field and all the random stuff that you're doing. And, dude, I, I've always said this. I wish that everybody in the world got to experience what it's like to win a game in the NFL. It's just, it's like no other.

As you've heard, we've teamed up with BetMGM this season. We'll be using BetMGM lines to make all our picks and we'll have special offers for you listeners each week. If you all haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code Greenlight and you will get up to $1,500 first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. One, download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code Greenlight. Two, deposit at least $10 and place your first wager on any game.

Three, you will receive up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your bet loses. Just make sure you use bonus code Greenlight when you sign up. Disclaimer, see Betmgm.com for terms 21 and older only. U.S. promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. gambling problem call 1 800 gambler available in the u.s call 8778 h o p e n y or text h o p e n y 4 6379 69 new york call 1 800 next step arizona 1 800 327 5 0 500 massachusetts 1 800 bets off iowa 1 800 9 81 0 0032 3 puerto rico first bet offer for new customers only subject to eligibility requirements rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in seven days in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel.

Don't forget, if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code Greenlight and get your $1,500 first bet offer today. Welcome to the Greenlight podcast. Thanks for jumping into a very special edition of the Greenlight podcast. Guests galore. We've got Joe Flacco, Joe Mixon, and Jane Reed. They'll join Chris today to talk about their respective teams, how well they're doing in the 2024 NFL season.

All great interviews, all. of last and a half. Joe Mixon and Jane Reeder actually playing each other this week. Packers and Texans, week seven, going to be a great battle. Enjoy this quick episode. Make sure you tune back into our preview episode here later today. Check out the interviews on YouTube and catch us live Monday at 2 p.m. Eastern for our week seven reaction show. See you. Bro, the last time I saw you, you said to me at Inside the NFL trial. you said, I don't know, I might go back and play this year. And then you legally with the playoffs, bro.

Talk to me. What the hell's going on? Well, I didn't want to be too definitive with it because it, you know, it's not like I knew. I had to wait a while last year before I actually got signed. I definitely didn't want to be at NFL film doing that. That's for sure. Two years later, you're looking at it. Yeah, dude.

Yeah. Well, it's been fun, man. It's been fun. I was like, I added up the years. It's been 17 years since, is this 17 for you? What year is this for you? 17, yeah. Did you ever think you'd play this long?

You know, I feel like when I was younger, like you have like a 15 year mark in your head for some reason. Like, oh, I'm going to be a quarterback that plays, you know, one place for 15 years. And that's what it's going to be. And I think once you get going, like, for me, it was like, for me, it was like, like, I remember the first couple years, like, oh, man, all right, guys got done year one. Okay, only in year two. And like, once year three ended, it's been like a blur. At some point along the way, I did make up my mind that, you know, I'm playing as long as I can, as long as somebody's willing to let me.

But, man, it's gone by pretty fast. And no, I couldn't have imagined being here. I couldn't imagine what it really would be like either. I mean, it's different when you're almost 40 years old and you're, you're at a lot. in the locker room with a bunch of kids. Yeah, I can't even imagine. I'm like, all right, we're the same draft class. I feel like I stopped playing a long time ago, dude.

And I'm just, I'm so psyched for you to still be slinging it. I saw they zeroed you up at the end of the game last week. And you're still finding away, man. I mean, is it, do you wake up some days and you feel just awful? You know what? Oh, man, it's so hard for me to admit that I feel any different than I did when I was 25 years old. It's always week to week for quarterbacks in general. I feel like some weeks are really bad and some weeks aren't.

I can tell you, though, yeah, it takes me, I get out of my bed, I walk around my bed to head to the bathroom. And usually by the time I'm at the bathroom, I'm standing pretty tall. but the Achilles and the feet and all those things don't quite feel the same. You go through stages, you go through a couple months where they feel great. And then you go through six more months where you're like, all right, I need to walk about 25 yards before I feel like I can actually get as tall as I want. Yeah, what, like I've asked like Brad for this and guys that I was tight with that played quarterback. But I'm interested in what you have to say about it.

Like, what are the hits that hurt the most? The ones that hurt the most are the ones that you can see coming and you can't avoid. You know, you can't get out of the way. The ones where you kind of get hit and you have no idea that it's coming and your body's really loose and, you know, all that. And in my experience, to add to that, it's really the ground that hurts more than the hit itself. That's why when you play on grass, when you get to play on the grass,

stadium at least eight eight nine games a year it definitely can be nicer to your body when you're playing on turf uh for most of the time you know you're going to at some point hit the ground with your hips or something and and it's going to leave these bruises that don't hear that don't don't heal until you know a month into the off season yeah i kind of wonder how you feel about it now the way y'all are taking care of and probably good thing at your age that they're taking care of qbs but when you came in a league like when we came in a league i look back at some of the hits that we made back in the day and they would just be you'd be criminalized like it'd be criminalized like what's how how big of a difference is it like really for you when you drop that i don't think

you're aware of it when you're out there playing like when you're out there on sunday it's really still the same as it's always been you don't you don't have that in your head i mean i did get i did get a roughing the pastor called for in my favor last week and i didn't even think anything of it i think i must have got hit in the face or something you know but ever since we came in the league they really were trying to change those rules i mean every year i feel like they had it's they added something you know oh this is the new strike zone up we're going to make it this now oh you can't even touch the head now you can't do man oh man i um i guess it's it's obviously like the way the league's gone and how important they've promote or at least how much they promoted

the quarterback position i understand where they're coming from but i'm i think i'm i guess i'm kind of old-school the sense that like we all signed up to play football and the effects that it can have on the outcomes of games right at the wrong moments is just so hard to live with. I wish they would go back to just letting guys play a little bit more. I was watching. What game was I watching? It was the Monday night game, I think. They called it roughing the passer on them. And it was just like, man. And it keeps that dread. Whatever. Like, you know, it's whatever. Like, okay, 15-yard penalty, but that keeps the drive alive. Now you go score.

And then I always feel for the defensive players because not only is that a penalty and not only does it affect the game, but it affects your pockets big time. Big time. And it's just like, it's just this, it's just this like crazy thing. It's just like willy-nilly throwing out 30 grand. And it's like, whoa, that's $30,000.

That part of it is definitely disappointing. Yeah, well, I mean, that's great to hear your old school perspective hasn't changed. It's good. It's not often I have a quarterback on here that's like, we need to get hit harder. Yeah, dude. Well, I guess I have so many things I would ask you about just younger guys,

but I mean, the quarterback play, you know, for the guys coming right out of college. I think, like, us in the media this year, we made a big deal about, oh, scoring's down. It must be the too high coverage. Oh, yada, yada, yeah. It's this, it's that. Do you think part of it just might be.

be the preseason and how hard it is to develop units, like offensive line unit to get on the same page and quarterbacks coming out of college, not having that softer landing zone of like a longer training camp? Or is it the style of playing college the way has changed? Yeah, obviously it's probably a combination of things like the college game probably has changed a little bit, you know, to the to the point where you can get away with not, you know, knowing some football and coming in and playing and then having to deal with that. In my experience, now I'm probably, I probably have a little bit of a skewed experience

because in Baltimore, we always ran a, we had a ton of reps. I always like to tell people, and I don't think I'm exaggerating, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but I know in training camp practices, we would look at a script and there was over 100. I would say like 110 scripted plays for a practice. And now, like a high-end practice probably has 45 reps. You know, like a training camp practice, the longest we're out there is an hour and 45 minutes.

And I don't think, I'm not of the thought. I wasn't back then, you know, and obviously players, I think always find something the bitch about. But I'm not of the thought process that you have to have that kind of practice day in and day out. But there's advantages to run and rep, to having, to repping, you know, to reping all those plays and getting familiar with them and getting better at them. the other thing that we would do back in the day is, you know, if we had a period, every, like let's say we had a training camp practice, two or three periods, we would break into two fields. And I'd get all 10 reps on this field and the backup would get all 10 reps on that field.

And not only is it just me getting all 10 reps and the backup quarterback getting all 10 reps, it's everybody on the team is getting all of those reps. And I do think that reps matter. And obviously you probably have to deal with little injuries here and there. But I also think that that helps you find out. about who the guys are that are willing to kind of push through those things and really become a part of your team. So obviously there's this give and take. I mean, we're strapped up with every known device to mankind when we go out to practice. Do you let them put that at a pole? We got,

we got 30 things on us, man. Listen, the one kind of thing, here's what's funny about me is like, we have a heart rate monitor that we're supposed to strap around our chest. And the funny thing about me is like in the offseason, I'd probably be super interested in wearing that, like seeing what I'm doing my workouts, all this stuff. But, like, I feel like it's the one thing I can rebel against here, so I don't wear it, you know. But the other things that are in my jersey, they're just in my jersey, you know, I have, I think I have two, I have two sensors in my jersey in the back. And it's like, hey, Joe, you need to run 90%.

Like, okay, I actually did that yesterday, but I took my jersey off. And I'll do it again for you today. You know, it's crazy. Dude, when I was in Philly and they really got into it, and you were there in one. I was there, uh, 21, the first half of 21. So Hinks wasn't there, the strength coach was a new guy, but like they, they're really forward thinking in sports science, you know, and I used to like fucking protest putting on the thing that tells you how fast I'm going.

Because I'm like, why would I tell you? I know. How slow I am. Well, that's the thing. That's, that's the other part of it is you know how coaches use this info. They don't bring it up until they want to shit on you. Like, hey, you know, you know why you suck is because in the beginning of the season, you were running 20 miles an hour, and now you're only running 14, you know, or whatever it is, you know, they will only bring it up when it's the negative. And they can always kind of skew the numbers. Like, look at last year's training camp. We ran, you know, 300 miles as a team. And this year, we ran 150 and we have less injuries and we're five and one. And, you know, it's all those things. I'm sure there's a, I'm sure.

Sure there is good uses for it, but I don't, I wouldn't say that we always use it the right way. Not, not for old guys. All right. So speaking of the young guys, man, um, Anthony Richardson seems like a great dude, first off. Like, like the kind of guy that just brightens your day. I don't know if that's, that's accurate. Like, but like, I have fun watching you mentor him. If that makes sense from a distance.

What have you seen? I'm like, I'm nervous about what you've seen. Well, I did see you miced up on the sideline, like everybody else after he threw that, that damn, I mean, he punted the ball 80 yards in the air in the Houston game. Yeah, for sure. And you on the sideline watching this kid and his talent is a lot of fun to me because you had a canon. You still have a cannon. Like for you to say on the sideline, like I've never seen a ball from like that. Yeah.

In a normal situation, like you typically don't have to throw the ball that far. You know, I've always said that, you know, like, oh, you can throw the ball 75, 80 yards. Like, who cares? You're never throwing it more than like 55, you know? But in that instance, man, he put that thing out there almost 70, like in a normal game time situation. It was pretty crazy. And it was way up there, too. Like, it looked like it was like a 90-yard throw. It was a jugs machine. Like, the ball looked like it came out of the jugs machine. Yes. And so I guess my question to you would be like, what does he have to do, take the next step? I think it's great that you're there. And, you know, obviously you've been able to,

to really contribute as you have at every stop, but also the contribution that you make day to day, can you color that in for people? I mean, a lot of people have assumptions of what a veteran quarterback does for a younger quarterback, but what are the things that might surprise people? Listen, for him, I think it's just about getting reps, just like we talked about earlier. You know, I mean, he's the second year and he still hasn't really probably been able to get the amount of reps that you would want to that you can actually learn from. It's those moments that you grow, is, you know, whether it was good or bad, you go back. in the meeting room afterwards and natural conversations happen because of the things that

happened throughout the course of a 40 rep practice. And, you know, for me, it's like, you know, on my end, like, hopefully I can relax him a little bit, help him slow down, not let the game speed up too much because sometimes when you're young, you can get so fast with your feet and you can start moving in the pocket maybe when you don't have to. And obviously he's very athletic and has the ability to do those things very well. So sometimes you can get a little bit out of control with that. So for me, it's just kind of relaxing him a little bit so that he can, you know, have his head on right, and see everything the right way. Do you think that when you're young as a quarterback, is it like the, just the field, the field is moving fast? Yeah, because, listen, I, I just talked about this with somebody

the other day. It's not that everything is so, so much faster than, you know, you're used to. And you can't, deal with how fast the game has gotten at this level it's because you're just have that you're a little bit unsure it's a new offense it's a new team you haven't had reps you haven't had the chance to truly prove it to yourself that you can do it day in day out so your mind speeds things up you know you start you start worrying about the wrong things um when you can just keep it really simple the simpler you can keep it the better you're going to process and the slower things you're going to feel so that's it's kind of always coming back to that Sam Darnold, another young guy that you were around, dude, does that put a smile on your face to see him succeed?

Because it put a smile on my face and I never really met the kid. You know, to get run out of New York like that and you probably, as much as anybody, no context is so important. You know, in judging a player, what's around the player? You know, like seeing Sam Darnold succeed this year was a surprise. Does it make you happy to see that? Of course it does. Yeah. You know, obviously, yeah.

Yeah, context always matters. I mean, you're young. Maybe the team's not quite ready to win yet. You never know what kind of situation you're going in. And when that happens, you can go downhill quickly. Because mentally, when you deal with it week in and week out, where you're just not winning football games and there has to be somebody to blame, man, it can go downhill really quickly.

So I think that the coolest thing about it is that he's been able to fight through that little time period where I can't imagine his confidence was very high. I can't imagine his confidence. Looking back on it, I can't believe he probably can't believe that he was ever in a state of mind that he was in back in those days. So to come through that, you know, and be able to sit on the bench for a little bit and actually gain perspective and come through it, you know, stronger, it's impressive because I don't think that's how it happens with everybody.

So I do think you have to point that out. You know, a lot of guys, when you get in that mindset, you're done. Yeah, you might bounce around on another team or two, but ultimately, you're done. You just can't get that confidence back. So for him to be able to, like, somehow gain perspective and turn that around is pretty impressive. All right. With your sage wisdom and your experience.

you're in the AFC South now, okay, and you're looking around that division. Who is the baddest defender in the division? Like, if you asked offensive coaches who the guy in that division is that strikes fear in coaching staff's heart during a week? It's a tough one. I'm thinking around, like, listen, I can tell you from playing Tennessee last week, that interior defense aliman. uh, Simmons.

Jeffrey Simmons. Yeah, he was, uh, he was definitely a force, you know? And those guys played those guys played good team defense. Like they're doing a good job. Yeah. Yeah, they're doing a good job there. And he, he did seem like a force. Yeah, I would say he's got to be up there. I mean, the Houston's so fast. Yeah. You know, as, as an entire defense. Yeah, listen, I got to play those guys a couple times, obviously at the end of the year last year.

When you get, when you let those guys get rolling and they can pin their ears back and get some confidence, man, they have a lot of juice. They definitely do. and I had more fun watching you in that first game against Houston, I believe it was, when I think Case was starting on the other side. Yeah. I called it the most beautiful game of catch I've ever seen. You and Amari Cooper.

I mean, it was really a game of catch. And y'all didn't have a kicker. I know. Did you ever feel bad like going for it and just continuing to convert? It's crazy that it turned out that way, because that can go so wrong. Oh, you go so wrong, man. You're like looking at your kicker,

running down a kick return and you're like, dude, just stop. You're not getting them. And the worst thing happens. And in that game, it actually benefited us. We went for it on a couple fourth downs. I did throw an unnecessary pick at the end of the half, but I didn't care. It's like I'm in year 16. I'm just here to win football games. Like, I'll throw five picks if I have to. It was, uh, listen, Amari makes it very easy to go out there and kind of sling the ball around. So what do you think it's going to be like seeing him and Josh together? Oh, hopefully it'll be a lot of fun. Listen, I like Amari, and I think he's one hell of a receiver. So hopefully he'll go in there and, you know, hopefully they'll go in there and start

to spin it a little bit. Not, you know, not quite, you know, I don't want them to be too good, obviously. But yeah, I think they'll have some success, obviously. Take me inside real quick, man. Like, why, what happened with you at the end of the year? Because, like, to me, it was a no-brainer to bring you back. Was that your choice, their choice? You know, how did you wind up here?

Because I'm like, bro, you just led that team to the playoffs. Well, listen, I mean, you never know what's going to happen at the end of the year. And, you know, for me, it's like, okay, you know, what are my opportunities going to be? I didn't know what my opportunities may look like. I was just out of football for half a year. But, okay, I came back and played. Hey, is somebody going to actually be, you know, willing to let me go play a few games here? Should I wait around and kind of do the same thing I did last year?

and, you know, listen, things don't work out for whatever reason. And they kind of lead you down other roads for a reason. And listen, I've bounced around now for a while, and it's one of the reasons I'm still in the league. So I think I've kind of just learned to kind of, you know, assume it's for a reason and find the positives in it. But you're older, and then you walk in a new locker room every couple years, and you got to figure out how to get on these young guys levels.

Yeah. You know what? It's honestly been a little bit easier the last couple years walking into these new locker rooms, especially after last year actually actually playing a little bit. Natural conversations come up with guys because they're all looking at me, like wondering what the hell I'm doing still playing football. And they also kind of just think it's cool that I'm doing it. You know, so like being the age that I am, it really does lend itself to to be able to easily kind of break the ice with all your new teammates. There's a lot of conversations. guys want for whatever reason to come up and talk to me and ask me questions about things and joke with me and all those things. So it honestly does make it pretty natural. I think I'm in a

good position with that. I'm so much older than these guys and it's a unique situation and they're curious about it. So and then I've done it a couple times now and what you realize is, man, all these locker rooms are great. And maybe they're a little bit unique and they're, you know, just because obviously there's some different people, but there's also so many different There's so many similarities when you walk into all these different locker rooms. There's the same guys. Yeah, there's the same guy iteration in different locker rooms. There's your rah-rah guy.

There's your vet leader. There's your crazy-ass young guy. No, for sure. You've got them all. Two memories I wanted to ask you about before I let you go, Joe. Number one, and I've always wanted to ask this question, what was it like at the Super Bowl when the lights went out? I didn't think much of it.

I was sitting on the sideline and I was like, I noticed something kind of go out. And I'm like, kind of just like, what the hell is going on? Like, I don't know. Like I, and then you kind of just, I think you might have just assumed like, okay, they'll turn the lights back on in five minutes and we'll get, we'll get going. And then it was however long it was. I don't even know. I didn't have too many thoughts on it, to be honest with you.

I was just like, I think I just kept thinking, okay, they'll be back on soon. Okay, they'll be back on soon. Maybe we should just act like we're stretching out a little bit. Yeah. It wasn't until afterwards when I started to kind of hear from a bunch of people that were at the game. And they had all kinds of crazy things going on in their head. Like, oh, my God. You know, or is there an attack?

You know, what's going on? And none of those things slipped into my head. I was kind of just like, all right, like, I'm sure they'll be back on in a few minutes here. So I was probably just a little naive. And it probably helped me in the situation. Was like Ray Lewis running around like going nuts, like in the dark? in the locker like what's going on like when the half goes longer yeah like and it disrupts the flow of the whole deal was that was that stressful no right right ray was awesome man ray wasn't doing any of that

stuff ray had his couple minutes um but man once that game started he was locked in and loaded dude he was ready to go and no i i don't remember uh anything about uh what he did but i'm sure he was probably doing the same thing i was doing maybe a little bit more intense but yeah we were all just kind of playing the waiting game so damn cool man you got got you that that ring man that was awesome and then and then um you know the second one was and obviously with jacobby's passing like the mile high miracle i mean i'll never forget where i was when that happened as a guy who loves hail mary's yeah i just always love seeing a hell mary was oh my gosh but like take me through that moment and and what Jacobi meant and what kind of guy he was because his passing really touched a lot of people,

I could tell. For good reason, man. You talk about the types of guys that are in locker rooms, like, you want that guy in your locker room. You want him out on the practice field when you're out there going through those long, tough days because he is definitely going to brighten it up. I mean, just dancing and, you know, talking shit, whatever he's doing. I mean, always had a smile on his face.

I feel very fortunate to get to. play with him. That throw, that catch, that game, I've never been more on more of a high after an NFL, after any game in my life than I was after that game. It lasted a long time. Like I was still, I was on the bus, you know, an hour and a half after the game and I was still, like, you know, screaming to people on the phone because we were just so, it was so, there was so much energy in that in that locker room and after that game i mean it really it probably was something that carried us for a couple weeks after that like there was something mentally that when we won that game it's like we're winning you know we're winning the whole thing you know we went to new

england the next week and i don't think we batted in an eye and obviously we had played those guys um a few times you know in the years before that and even that year to get that confidence but there was something that that game did, winning that game did to us that kind of solidified in our minds that we were the team to win it. Yeah, I mean, winning on the road is probably my favorite thing. Dude, when you, when the, when you're going down on a two-minute drive and you can hear the crowd in the background and then all of a sudden you hear nothing and all you hear is the cheering between your sideline and the guys on the field and, and all, the random stuff that you're doing and uh dude i i've always said this like i wish that everybody in the

world got to experience what it what it's like to win a game in the nfl it's just it's like no other such a big deal it's so unbelievable like the feeling that you get man there's going to come a day where i'm not going to obviously be able to do that anymore i'm telling you're going to miss that you're going to miss that you know i i miss it i miss i miss those moments you know the Oh my gosh. Like you're talking about the high for three hours after the game where you're on the, the plane's not taking off. You're waiting on the equipment guys.

You're, but you don't give a shit. Oh, dude. It's just, or getting on the plane, you've been cold, you're beat up. You know,

back when we could have a beer before Heinecky fucked it all up. You know, like, that was, that was what you worked for, bro. That was what we put in it. And you're still putting in the time for that.

So I'm hoping you get to feel a few more. of those man um but joe dude great to see you and um even better see you still on tv uh but we'll be hopefully i maybe there'll be a seat for you in five years when you decided to hang it up uh my my wife will probably be pushing for it and i'll probably be trying to fight back so we'll see we tape in mount laurel bro i know i know come on but thanks for coming on dude congratulations on everything keep keep balling ma'am yeah man yeah man I appreciate it. All right, joining me now.

One of the hardest running backs in the NFL. He doesn't seem to slow down. His name's Joe Mixen, and he is a member of the Houston Texans now. Hoping to see him back soon. Joe, how you feeling, ma'am? Man, I'm feeling good. Bless to be back, and obviously it's a privilege to be on the field, man, with my brother. So I'm thankful.

With the hip-drop tackle, I know you've been frustrated with that whole thing. When you look around the league, do you feel like they made a big deal about it and then just kind of didn't do anything about it in enforcement? Oh, yeah, no doubt. I mean, obviously it was an emphasis of the offseason and this year, and all of a sudden, you know, I believe none have been called. Also, I believe probably about seven of them been fine. And I think they're all around 16,000 when guys like, you know,

Josh Jacobs and certain other people protecting themselves are getting fine, 45,000 when, you know, they're just protecting himself and not emphasis hip drop. So, you know, it's kind of crazy to me, honestly, but, you know, we just hope that obviously that either we figure it out as a whole or, I guess, you know, take it out, however they want, you know, do it. But obviously, it's give or take. You know what I'm saying? If we're getting hip drop, You know, people can't be mad when they're getting cracked back or anything. You know what I'm saying? It's like I said, give or take.

So hopefully things clean up and hopefully we played a game safer. As a runner, could you tell the difference in the past between a guy who was doing it on purpose and a guy who just kind of fell off your back and landed maybe on your legs? I mean, as a defensive lineman, I was never a good enough tackler to do that on purpose. You know what I mean? But there are some backers who I know. who I know when they come in there, they're coming in there with intent. Can you tell the difference?

In terms of the hip drop tackle, bro, like that was probably my second time that I've actually witnessed that. But in terms of it happened to me, that was my first. So I'm not going to sit here and say, dude, like, actually, like, that was his intent to hurt me. You know what I'm saying? I'm sure his intent was to get me down. But on the flip side of it, we also want to protect both sides of the field.

I mean, that's no different between, you know, guys coming through and we got kill shots, but really we're protecting them, you know what I'm saying? I think that it's a, you know, it should go both ways and that thing, you know, and that sort of thing. But obviously, it's a, it's a hard fought game. It's a physical game. And that's the nature of it, man. So like I said, I don't think that it was, that was his intent personally. You know, it just happened.

But at the same time, I mean, if guys are doing that just to, you know, get guys down and doing it on purpose, I mean, that people should handle that. The NFL can handle that. Agreed. All we want in general is a little consistency, I think. So haven't seen you, man, play for a long time. You're a hard runner. I know you guys did a lot of gun run and Centsy. And I couldn't help but notice when you got to Houston.

I was like, damn, did he get younger? Like his legs look fresher. You look rejuvenated. And, you know, you were a great. player in Sensey, but with the outside zone, you guys run and being at the home a little bit more, do you notice that as a way that you can get a full head of steam going? Oh, yeah, no doubt. I mean, you know, I had a great career in Sensey and I loved every second there. You know what I'm saying? I went to a Super Bowl, went to back-to-back AFC championship. So I had my fair share

And obviously I wish, you know, I was able to be a part of, you know, where we could have got them the first ring or whatever. But, I mean, I'm here now. I feel like I got something to prove, honestly. And I'm playing like that. And, you know, I got my teammates back in me. I got the staff back in me. Ownership from every, you know, everywhere here, but it's love, like fans, whoever, it's always love. And obviously, it was love like that and since you were, you know, the real fans out there, you know what I'm saying.

But in terms of everybody here, bro, like from top to bottom, it's been a, it's been a hell of a thing. And I'm loving that I'm a part of something and everybody looking at me like, yeah, let's go. It's time to put some work in. And I'm like, man, you already know what time it is. You know what I'm saying? And it's a fun team, man. You had a lot of that team. And we're a very pro Texans podcast because you saw our boy Will Anderson with the green light hat yesterday.

No doubt. He got his three pieces this weekend. He had a little signage on his head there. So we love the Texans. And one of the guys we love is C.J. Stroud. I mean, from the minute he came in the league, what was apparent to me was his pocket presence, his mobility, like the subtle movements in the pocket. And you know who he reminded me of was Joe Burrow. And it was that game last year where they came to y'all's house when you were in Cincinnati.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he played great. I mean, the conversions, the whole thing, and losing really tough DC. Did you see that kind of similarity? Are there similarities you see between Joe and CJ? Yeah. I mean, obviously I've seen Joe Burrow, you know, when he was a rookie and up to his fourth year in a league, I think that Joe grew as a player and when he started noticing the ends and outs of how offense work

and how, you know, he can make things work in terms of extending plays, which he did a lot and had a lot of success of it. And the way, you know, he prepares and things like that to be able to witness and see that be a part of that side, man, it was a, I mean, as a running back, it made my job a whole lot easier, you know what I'm saying? So I think Joe Burroughs a hell of a player, obviously, you know, probably top two in the league of you got, I guess, everybody, love the comparison of him and Pat Mahomes and, you know, CJ Stroud starting to get in that

conversation. So whatever I can do to help CJ become successful, that's what I'm going to do. But in terms of the way that he attacks the week, weekend and week out, you know, he does a lot of things in terms of doing that extra. I see that a lot from him. I think that he has his guys ready to go in terms of everybody on the same page, chemistry, and when things. break down, I think what makes him special is he also knows how to extend the play with his legs and also his arms. So obviously it's a great thing for me. It's a great thing for the team and we just got to keep building on it. No question. One of the guys on your offense that I don't think gets enough credit league wide and I think now people are realizing it is Nico Collins.

Oh yeah, no doubt. Why is it that the dudes don't seem to put him in that in that echelon of you lead receivers when I think he is. I mean, just look at Nico. Like, he don't sit there and he's not a loud guy. You know, he work in silence. But one thing about Nick, he's going to work. You know what I'm saying? He's coming to work each and every day.

He's making guys better around him. He has great attitude, his will and want to. And, you know, when he's on the field, I mean, he turns into a monster, man. I mean, I was, I mean, I was fortunate enough to be a part of, you know, a hell of a receiver in tandem in Cincinnati, you know, hell of a quarterback, you know, position, play over there and Centsy and obviously it's on the flip side over here, man. So, I mean, to go from that to this, it's like, damn, like, yeah, it's a great. You're living right, bro.

Yeah, no, for sure, definitely. I mean, it's like, yeah, it's definitely everything that, you know, I can't ever won as a running back because it makes my job easier, you know what I'm saying? If they want to play A in the box, then we're just going, you know, take you up, top or pick you apart with the guys around. But like I said, with neat, I mean, the, the man comes to work. He's not a loud guy. He's not in the media. He's not saying that, oh, I'm this, I'm not. He's not trying to bring that attention on him. Like, he literally just going to work, head down, getting the numbers and doing everything that he got to do to make his

team better. So, you know, I'm happy to see him, you know, reaping the benefits and the success that he's had. But he's definitely up there, in my opinion. Yeah, he's got he's got to be. I see him running across the middle of the field on a deep over. I'm like, hey, you better get on your on your horse. You better get on in Kawasaki, man. Because his stride, his stride is, is, I mean, you can just tell watch you, he just picks up, he eats up green grass on the other. And the other guy, like the short area quickness guy that you had in digs,

I mean, some of the things you guys have been doing in the red zone with him and, you know, just what's his presence on the team mean? because he got kind of a bad rap, and I've never had a bad dealing with Diggs. I think he's cool. I hate Maryland. As far as guys who went to Maryland, I really fuck with Diggs. Straight up. What's he bring, and what are the particular ways that he can challenge defenses that you play,

adding him in the piece? Yeah, man. Well, I mean, credit to Sloick, man. I mean, he dials it up, bro. He makes sure everybody on the offense eats. And even if somebody on a lower end of touches, you know, don't touch the ball like that, no matter what, he's going to get them involved some way somehow. You know, it might not be to, you know, however, whoever's liking.

But at the end of the day, we've got so many unselfish guys that we're going to do whatever it take, you know, to win a football game. And that's all that matters, you know what I'm saying? And I think that he dials it up well. I think that what digs bring to our offense is definitely something special. I think that's probably what the younger receivers been looking for or, you know, looking to be like, you know, one day. And I think that with tank seeing what Diggs does, how he prepare, how he come to work,

he bring the juice and everything like that. I mean, in terms of the outside narrative for Diggs, it's like I think personally, he's just misunderstood because the guy or the guy that I see each and every day, you know, as a competitor of him trying to be the best football player out there. there. You know, I think he's just misunderstood, man. The guy come to work, great attitude, ready to go, get the guys going, and he brings the juice each and every day. And I felt like I think it was a hell of a tandem by Nick bringing us in of, you know, one being a leader, we've been on, we've been a part of winning teams. And obviously, me and Diggs came here for one job.

And that was to, you know, obviously, you know, be in great position to be able to play in January, February, so obviously that's our mission, that's our goal, and we just going to keep on chipping away. Slowick came on the show, and I asked him who the most underrated Texan was, and he said Dalton Schultz. Who do you think is the most underrated Texan?

The most underrated Texan that, hmm, on the offense or defense? You just pick anybody. Man, I mean. I got an answer. Who? Al Shire. I ain't going to lie. I was probably going to say that, too, but I was like,

I think he gets a little love, you know what I'm saying? He's getting a love. I mean, in my opinion, I definitely think that he's, he's one of them guys. I think somebody that's probably trailing right behind him, believe it or not, is my young hound and Kalen. I think that as safety position, I think he's been coming in, stepping up and making plays. You know, you got the other rookie at corner, which he's been doing the house. hell of a job. Obviously, he battling injuries, but at the same time, I mean, since day one,

those guys came ready to, you know, compete and them guys show up to work each and every day. They're young, coming with great mindset, great attitude, and the way that they, you know, attack the game, I think that they do a hell of a job. So there was great pickups for us, and obviously they're going to keep on making plays. With the defensive ends, you play with some great ones in Sincey. I got a Trey Henderson, Jersey, right over there. I'd get up and show it. But now you've got Will and you got Hunter and, you know, Autry's not even back yet. And just some of the pieces up front, can you speak to how dominant that group can look like at times? Well, we're getting Autry back this week.

He's a dog. When all them boys together. Yeah. Sheesh. I ain't going to lie, bro. Like Will and Danil screaming off the edge. Then you got atry, you know what I'm saying? You got Mario, you got Fatsukasi, them boys, they pushing that pocket. And then we ain't got C. Harris back neither, right? Look, we're going through the gauntlet right now, you know what I'm saying? And at the end of the day, there's no excuses when it come to, you know, this football game. When you line up, it's like, hey, like, you're rolling on who you're rolling with out there and you got to go out there and make it happen. And I think that we've been doing a hell of a job doing that.

But when we get these boys back, especially with Neek back, hey, just know it. Just know it's going to be scary. I promise you that. I get the idea it's maybe, if not the fastest defense in the league. When I watch this defense, I think it's out there.

I mean, you know what? They got some good teams out there that run this specific defense. You know what I'm saying? I think that Green Bay, Green Bay presents a hell of a defense as well. Well, but in terms of like this type of defense, I mean, you got the Niners, you got the jets that got a great defense as well.

But, I mean, the pieces that we got over here, bro, with everybody just lined up in a perfect position and everybody thriving looking good. And when we, you know, put this whole thing together and when everybody get back and everybody healthy, make that push towards the end, you know what I'm saying? I think that we'll be in great position or where we want to be. As we take care of business right now, everything going to be good on the backhand. So we just got to be ready and just got to keep on chipping and laying brick by brick. As far as this weekend's concerned, who are the guys that you can't let wreck the game on that defense?

Well, they have a good young safety over there. Obviously, it got a great corner. And, you know, Jair, you know, Kenny Clark, I think he's a hell of a lot. player. I mean, I've been knowing him since I was in high school. Really? Yeah. Oh, yeah, he's a Cali guy. Yeah, exactly. But he also went to UCLA. I know I know him since that. Okay. Okay. And then you got Gary. You got to make sure you keep Gary away from the quarterback. I don't think people understand he can wreck a game without showing up on the stat sheet. He's been kind of going through a stack slump, but he gets after people. Yeah, very disruptive. I mean,

I mean, me personally, like, we have, you know, great respect for this opponent that we're about to face. I mean, like I said, they're a great defense, great offense. But, I mean, in all reality, bro, like, we are too. So as long as we go out there and play our game, play how we want to play, I think we'll be in great position. And obviously, you know, just take care of the football and try to create turnovers and play complimentary football. We'll be in great shape. I got one more football question for you. And then one non-football question for him.

My football question is Nick Chubb comes back this weekend. Oh, yeah. Is he just one of the most, right? Yes. Is he one of the most universally respected backs? Like if you just walked into every running back room in the NFL and asked him, is he that guy? I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, hey, me and Chub came out of high school together 2014, man.

So I've been knowing I've been knowing Chubb since, you know, back in them high school days. and to obviously, one, know the type of player that he is. I mean, he's capable of a home run at any time. He's going to wear the defense out. And obviously, I think he's very underappreciated as a running back. But, I mean, I think Cleveland, they're doing everything that they can to stick by him. A person like me can appreciate that, you know what I'm saying? And I think that him coming back, I think it's going to do a major,

there's going to be a major difference in our offense. You know what I'm saying? I think that's something that they've been missing. But Chubb is the heart of their team. And, you know, I'm just thankful that my man is back doing what he always wanted to do. I mean, I just love that about him. And I'm definitely one of his biggest supporters in Ruben for him. That's awesome.

And then the other one is how much you're from Cali, you played in CENC, you played in Oklahoma. now you're in Houston, which has a totally, you know, unique culture, music, the whole thing. The new Big X the plug comes out this week, or maybe it was last week. Have you gotten into the Houston music? Have you gotten into Big X the plug? Have you gotten to my guy Max O'Creme? I mean, I ain't going to lie. I mean, they've been really putting me on in the locker room to a lot of these guys.

Who do you listen to then? I'd be on that raw wave, you know what I'm saying? I've been on that raw wave. Obviously, you got the future, you know what I'm saying? Doug, Drake and all that. But other than that, you know what I'm saying? My personal preference be on that rock hype, you know what I'm saying? I got them hits.

But in terms of, you know, the Houston rappers, you know what I'm saying? They've been putting me on in the locker room. It's some pretty good music out there, especially you got Finesse 2 time out there, putting on. I think he from Boma, I believe. leave, you know what I'm saying? I don't, I'm not sure, you know what I'm saying? No, it sounds like you're getting, getting, uh, they're trying to acclimate you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. They try, you know, bring me along, you know, with the culture for sure, but good, man. And that's two

times go crazy. If he from, if he's from Houston, he definitely put it on. No question, no question. We had Maxo on the pod this off season. He came out to Virginia where I live. We spent a couple days. And so he loves the Texans. He'll be at the game with his face painted and shit. So if you get a chance to see him. Oh, yeah, he died hard. He's solid, man. That's awesome, man. Well, excuse me. More than anything, I just wanted to say, man, good luck.

I hope you get back out there 100%. And you've been just a workhorse, man, in this league. So much respect and definitely rooting for the Texans this weekend and beyond, man. So thanks for coming on the show. Yeah, sir. I appreciate you for having me, bro. All right, we got one of the best wide receivers in the game. Yeah, I said it.

I said it. Right, Jaden? We don't hear that a lot. We don't hear that enough. Not really. What's up with that? I mean, I guess I got to make some more noise first. You know what I'm saying?

Got to earn my strikes. No, you just keep doing what you're doing, man. I think people are starting to take note. I wonder, like, during preseason when they were hammering Matt with it, who's your number one receiver? Who's your number one receiver? First off, I don't think it matters with the group you all have. and the attitude that y'all bring to the party,

but also did it kind of bother you that you weren't being thought of that way? No, I never really bothered me. You know, I know you got to earn your respect, you know what I'm saying? So it just really starts with that. I just got to continue to make plays and, you know, the rest of take care of itself. And as long as we win,

and I don't care about, you know, no conversation about, you know, number one receiver or anything like that. So I just care about winning. Do you think guys that do a lot of their work in the slot get kind of typecasts a little bit and not giving the respect they deserve? Because another guy that I think of that way is like I'm a Ross St. Brown. Yeah, no doubt.

Like players like that, man, like you just got to make plays and, you know, make a respect you. So, yeah, I see what you mean by that. They can definitely be overlooked sometimes. You know, we're in the slot, you know. So we get the ball in different ways and stuff like that. So, yeah. Yeah, it's kind of like the way I look at it is left tackle, right tackle. Back in the day, they used to just talk about left tackles, like all the best tackles are left.

Right. But a lot of the best rushers in the NFL are now left ends. Right. And so a lot of the best right tackles are the best tackles in the game. And so it's just like, you know, it's the same thing with slot guys. And I wonder, do you see the similarities with usage when we talk about Debo Samuel and now kind of the way you're used in that offense? Yeah, no doubt. just like a gadget guy, really, you can be placed anywhere on the field.

As many ways to get the ball in hand, you know, run in the bubble. You can be a deep threat, run underneath routes, you know, run cross the routes. So it's just a lot of different ways to, you know, get the ball in hand. And I can definitely see, you know, that comparison. Do you love getting the ball out of the backfield? Is that kind of something that when your name's called to be counted upon, like, a ball carry out of the backfield, do you get excited about that? I'm like whatever is going to help the team win.

That's what I'm all about. Yeah, yeah. That's what's helping us, you know, keeping the defense on their toes and everything. So, you know, I'm with whatever that's going to help the team succeed. So that's really just my mindset of everything. Do you love, because one thing I love watching is y'all's use of motion. No doubt. And I feel like the play starts before it starts.

You know what I mean? Pre-snap. Pre-snap. the play starts. So if you got a mismatch, that guy's got to deal with you for six seconds now instead of three seconds. Do you look at Matt's offense and say, hey, we are one of the best teams in the league at doing this pre-snap stuff. And what is it about the way he calls and installs the offense that makes it that way? I agree. Yeah, like huge credit to Matt. And, you know, the whole coach and stuff really, you know, they just find great ways to, you know, keep the defense

on their toes on pre-snaps things. Like just, we got so many motions in our offense. Like, I'm sure, like, that's something they really got a game plan on, you know, when we play the opposing team. So, you know, they definitely do a great job. And you can see, you know, the confusion defenses have when we do motions like that, you know, we do behind motions and, you know, everything like that, you know, they just got to stay on their toes in because they never know what they expect at that point.

Like, I can't be getting the ball sometimes. and I can't be, I won't get the ball sometimes. So, you know, you won't know it to expect. So they do a great job with that. Yeah, he's a whiz, man. So I'm on this show inside the NFL with, with Ocho Cinco, who actually, I think, shouted you out. He did.

He did. He tweet this offseason, which, yeah. Well, I mean, Ocho, Bill Belichick, Ryan Clark. And I was talking to Bill this week on set about y'all's game this weekend. Yeah. And he goes, Chris, what do you have to, what do you have to really focus on when you go up to play at Lambo? And I said footwear.

And he said, that's exactly right. Footwear. Do you, how cognizant of that are you as a group, like having the right cleats on up there? And the challenge is your rookie year trying to figure out, like, hey, is it gets colder, this surface is going to change. And how do you use that to your advantage? Man, I think the surface, like, I think it's an advantage for us sometimes because, you know, you really got to get used to our playing field.

But, like, you just can't go out there, you know, one day and not have the right attire. Like, you got to have the right foot where on to be successful, really. So I think that's very important, especially for us. I don't want to give away the secrets. Yeah, no, I don't give the secret. But no doubt. Like, I think that's very important in, you know, being successful and, you know, having the right foot known to, you know, make the right breaks and plants.

Because if you don't got the right cleats on, like, you will be on the ground more to you up. Yeah, because if you don't have the right. y'all fall it might be it might be a pick but if they fall it's going to be six probably that's down and so yeah i figured that works in your favor um one of my favorite players in a league man is romeo dobs and i know he went through a lot the last couple weeks i'm not asking you tell me what he went through but i i know he was going through a lot and to see him go out and make the plays he made sunday how important is he not only to your offense but how important was that to get him the confidence coming back out on the field.

Yeah, no doubt. I just think it was a great, you know, moment for, you know, everybody, you know, just to see him succeed like that. You know, we all cheered him on and, you know, he all welcomed us in. I know you guys seen, like, the hug that he all gave us. He scored the first touchdown. So it was just great seeing him succeed again and, you know, responded to adversity. You know what I mean?

So, you know, that's always important, you know, how, you know, you got to rally around each other through a hard time. So, you know, he did a great job. And, you know, that's a guy that we need in our offense to succeed. So, you know, he made a lot of great plays last Sunday. You know, he's going to continue to do that. Tell me something good about Wixie. He used to not say two words and then they say he's talking more since he got up to the NFL. What's Wixie mean to y'all's team when he's out there? Personally, me, that's my brother. So he means a lot. I think he's a lot. I think he's one of the best separators that, you know, I've seen in person ever. So, you know, and I really mean that, like, you know, he got some routes to him. He got some releases to him, like, explosiveness.

Like, he brings a lot to the table. So, you know, that's another guy that, you know, we needed within our offense. Man, how deep we are, you know, we got a lot of guys that, you know, that you got to plan and game plan for us. And not to sell your guys short, but I did not know Tucker craft could run like that. Oh yeah, yeah. Tung is a dog. Yeah. That was fun, man. And I just, the quarterback you have who, Jordan, he throws a great deep ball. I think it's one of the reasons why you guys damn near lead the league in explosives, but also just the maturity he seems to have, you know, the command of the huddle. And also, I just felt like, because, you know, used to play for the Eagles. I was watching that game very close. I thought y'all, you

season might be over. And I don't mean that as disrespect to y'all, but I thought Jordan might be down for the year. Like, to me, when that happened, I thought he tore something in his knee, not just to be okay to where he can come back, but also to fight back so quickly. What does that say about his toughness and how much does that increase his standing in the locker room if that's possible? Man, that just shows the mindset he has, you know, well, he's willing to sacrifice for his brother. So, you know, he's got the right mindset. And, you know, he wants to go where everybody else want to go. So, you know, he knows what it takes.

He's a great leader. One thing I love about Jordan, man, like, he's the same person to everybody in the locker room. It don't matter who you are. He's going to be the same person to everybody. So, you know, he's a great. I think he's an even better person than teammate, which a lot of people really don't see. But I think all that, the off-the-field things, you know, translates to on the field, which is why we have such a good connection with everybody.

You know, Jordan does a great job of, you know, distributing the ball to everybody and, you know, keeping everybody involved off the field as well. So he's just a great leader and a great guy, like overall. Dude, you know what I noticed when I came up to Green Bay was how damn hard it is to jump into that, into the stands up there? I did it. I did it.

Now, I didn't stretch or anything and I'm a little bit older. But we were out on the field. Your guy gave us a tour. And I jumped up and I said damn you guys that's some dangerous shit. It's higher than you think. Like once you really get live and you see it live like it's way higher than you think. What did you think the first time you you sized that thing up in real time? I really surprised myself.

Like I made it with one jump. Like I didn't have to lift myself or pull myself up. So yeah, I was kind of proud of myself. But it's definitely higher than you think though. When you come down from there, you smell like beer. Yes, I got beer pouring on me the last time I Limbo League was the coach game. We scored. Yeah.

Got some beer poured on me. It smelled like beer the rest of the game. It's all good, though. That means you scored. It's all good. That's a good thing. How about, did you grow up outside Chicago? I grew up in the inner city, but when I got to high school, I went to high school in

the suburban area. Okay. Was it neighbor middle? Yeah. Yeah. So how, did you grow up a bear's fan? I did grow up a bear's fan. So how hard?

it to get the hate on for your childhood team? I mean, it's over now, so we ain't really worried about it. I never been to a Bears game growing up. Like, my first time in Soldier Field was when we played the Bears. So I think I'm kind of good on that. Yeah, I grew up a Panthers fan. We went down to play there. I got in a fight, got ejected.

They threw out me. And I was like, man, they hate me in this way. I used to come here when I was a kid, paint my phone. face and shit. Yeah. You know, but I just wondered because you're in division with the Bears and being a Chicago guy. Right.

Talk to me about Nixon, man. I mean, this guy doesn't get enough credit as a returner. No doubt. Or the snaps he gets out on the field. So what does he bring to you guys as a defense? For sure, he brings a lot to the table. Like, speed, change the direction. Like, a lot of that, he don't get enough credit where, you know, he's placed on a, on a

a lot of, you know, places on the field, like, kind of like I am. You know, he's played outside. Yeah. He's playing inside. Returning kicks, returning punts. You can tell, like, they scared him. They don't even want to kick the ball to him, you know what I'm saying? For a good reason.

Last weekend was the most returns he's had all year. So, you know, he brings a lot to the table, and that just shows, you know, about how the opponent, you know, game playing them. And you can see that on Sundays. It's like they don't even kick him the ball. he's done a great job, you know, on the outside since he's been there. So he's just going to keep continuing building and, you know, just showing how diversity is. Is there a slot corner in the league that you think is just far and away the guy, you know,

like when you watch a guy on tape or you've played against? I want to say the McDuffie guy from Kansas City. He was pretty good. We played him last year. That's the guy that pops up. I might have quit, so. He was a really good player. Yeah, that felt like such a big game for y'all.

No doubt. It did. You know, I don't know if you. Prime time. Yeah, I don't know if you get in the locker room after that game and you're like, hey, we're pretty good. Oh, yeah, for sure. You know?

But we expected that. You know, that's always the standard for us, you know. No question. You could tell. How's about Houston, man? You know, to me, they're one of the fastest defenses in the league. what do you think is the most important thing you have to worry about when you play these guys? Man, you just got to play a full game with those guys, man.

Like, they fly around, they play physical. You know, we got to take away like pre-snap penalties. You know, really, we just can't beat ourselves. That's the most important thing in keys to victory. So, yeah, they got a really good team over there, you know. They fly around on defense. They're physical. And, yeah, we just got to play a full game with minimum mistakes.

So, yeah. All right, this is a fun one for you. Maybe you remember this, but it's one of my favorite memories of last year. Did you know Jair Alexander was from Charlotte before that game? I did. Yeah, I did. For sure. And that was one of the funniest damn press conferences.

I have seen. Is that dude just comedy all day? He's the same guy every day. He's going to make you laugh every day. He's going to make you laugh every day. You speak to him. Oh, that's so good. Yeah.

And how about those guys up front, man? Because I think they've been getting a lot of heat because they're not getting sacks. But when I look at Kenny Clark and Rashon and Preston and those guys and when Devante gets back, like that's one of the best groups in the league, how important is it to have that group, whether or not they're getting home. I know they're affecting the game. Yeah, I mean, those guys, you know, create habit, you know.

As you seen like last week, you know, ball ops, you know, they're punching the ball out. getting turnovers, you know, that's very important. The stack monitors, man, we need those guys, and, you know, they do a great job. They're great leaders, you know what I'm saying? Like, they set the example every day in the locker room. So, you know, those are guys I look up to, you know, great players. And, you know, they definitely, you know, they definitely some game changers.

So we definitely need those guys, you know, to win on Sundays. There's some big bullies, man. Oh, for sure. It's good to have a group like that in the building. No doubt. Who runs the building? Who runs the position group in your building that runs the building? Position group.

I want to say the wildhouse bring a little bit of everything, man. Yeah, you got, yeah. You know, we bully, we'll make you laugh here and there. We're going to make your smile here and there, you know what I'm saying? Like, we're going to bring everything to the table. Yeah, yeah. All right, well, I got one more for you here. The all whites this weekend.

Are you for it? Is this something you're excited about? Because I think it's going to look pretty damn good. Oh, yeah. I agree. I'm always hoping the new opportunities and different stuff. I like drip too, so I think it's going to be a good look. Y'all got some of the best uniforms in the league.

Yeah, for sure. Period. And you were you at Michigan State? Yep, Michigan State. Those are pretty damn good looking uniforms. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we got some nice unions. You play with Coleman, right?

Yeah, I play with you. When I interview Josh, he told me he's got the best body control of anybody's been around. Yeah, his body control is really good. Yeah, ball skills as well. Yeah. That's what's really good about his men. All right, last one. What are your personal goals?

I know what the team goals are. But does Jaden Reed think about a number or, you know, some sort of. personal milestone that you're chasing year after year? Yeah, really, number one is the Super Bowl. Really, like, that's just been a dream that I always dreamed about. You know, I just remember, you know, being young and watching it on TV and everything. That's always been a dream. Really, you know, everybody wants to crack a thousand yards.

So, you know, that's another personal goal. But other than that, man, I just want to win. I just looked, you're at, what, almost 1,200 for your career. Yeah. I think that that thousand yard season's coming real soon, man. Oh, yeah. If you're not already in the middle of it. So, hey, congrats on everything.

Tell Wixie, I said, what's up? Yep. And good luck this weekend, man. Thanks for coming on the show. Appreciate it. Appreciate you having you.