Green Light with Chris Long - MEGATRON! Calvin Johnson on the Hall of Fame & Growing Cannabis. Mina Kimes on the NFL Coaching Carousel.

Episode Date: January 20, 2021

(01:16) - Welcome. (04:54) - Mina Kimes on NFL Head Coaching Hires. (39:19) - Mina's Conference Championships Preview. (59:34) - Calvin Johnson on Cannabis, Detroit Lions and the Hall of Fame. Sign up for your DraftKings account at https://www.draftkings.com/sportsbook and use promo code : Greenlight 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. http://bit.ly/chalknetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh, I recently tweeted that I hadn't seen. There was like a, what's a movie that, you know, everyone's seen, but you haven't. And I was, I want to say like Christmas Eve. So I was just, you know, it was late. And I tweeted Goodfellas. And let me tell you, if 80. People have seen Goodfellas now. And if generously 80% of your Twitter followers are men between 20 and 40, not a popular thing to say.

A lot of opinions about that. The way I see it, I've seen bad boys. It's basically the opposite, right? Let me tell you. I'm not a popular opinion. Hey, everybody. Greenlight Pod. Your host, Chris Long, you know the deal.

I appreciate you guys. We were number six this week on the Apple podcast charts for sports podcast, man. Usually I joke about this being a moderately successful podcast, but this week it feels like we're kind of objectively very successful. And that's thanks to y'all, the listeners. I want to thank you guys. Maybe you heard me on Lebitard, maybe like Ryan, maybe like, you know, Big Cat. Stick around, you know, like take this ride with us.

Okay, you can be a green light pod hipster, okay, ground floor. And to the real hipsters, the ones that were here, you know, middle of the fall last year, when we just turned the fucking machines on and roll. Really appreciate you guys. And to reward you, we will keep the good guests coming. Today we got a thick pot. We got a jam-pack football pot. Man, this thing is a good one.

Okay, two guests. We had Calvin Johnson, future pro football hall of famer, Mina Kimes, future sports media hall of famer in my book. Nobody I enjoy talking to more than Mina. When she stops by, we have a great time. And today was no exception. We talked about the coaching hires this week. The coaching cycle news is on fire.

We've had a few hirings. We've had a few guys that are getting more interviews. You know, Dan Campbell in Detroit seems like a certainty. I think it is certain by this time when you're hearing this pod. You know, Arthur Smith down in Atlanta, which I find incredibly intriguing. Brandon Staley, who was a big surprise to me, you know, staying in L.A., landing as the Chargers head coach, didn't even have to sell his house, which is wild. We'll talk about all these new hires.

And we'll also talk about the games coming up this week. weekend. Two games that have happened between these respective teams. So which ones will be the most different? Look at Tampa Bay. They have absolutely gotten better since they beat the shit out of the Packers. But were the Packers just that bad that day? And the Chiefs handled their business. The score didn't indicate how lopsided that was when those two teams met earlier in the season in the rain in Buffalo. This game in Arrowhead will it look much different. but Mina and I put our heads together on that, and then we have Calvin on. And Calvin was incredible to talk to just as humble as I figured he would be.

As I said, he's always carried himself with dignity and class. And, you know, one thing about him is to have the intestinal fortitude to walk away from the game in your prime when you're one of the greatest to ever do it is remarkable. So a guy who is much more than the football player, we talk about Detroit, we talk about the hire that they're making right now and Dan Campbell. He's actually played with and under Dan Campbell. So it's quite interesting, actually. I didn't realize that.

We have a lot in common, okay? Well, we have one thing in common. It doesn't go far beyond that, but we spent the bulk of our years playing for bad franchises and organizations that were struggling. So, you know, interesting to hear his perspective there. And after football, cannabis. That's what he's doing now. He's got to grow.

He's got his own bud. It's called primitive. Drop the E at the end. He's living up in Michigan. I'll tell you more about it when you hear Calvin and myself chopping it up in a few minutes. But remarkable dude. So Meena Kimes first and then we've got Calvin. Mina Kimes joins me.

We've got a lot of coaching stuff going on. We have a lot of playoff stuff going on. on, but we also have a lot of big sparkling water going on. Oh. Yeah, exactly. Mina Kimes has been closing in on her white whale in the world of corporate sponsorship. Tell us about the distance closed between you and Spin Drift. Well, I really, I don't think I owe you a commission, but I owe you, like, spiritually,

you were the one who gave me the push I needed to go public with my desire to be a spinfluencer. which is not a thing that Spin Drift says, to be clear. You know, Artis are not endorsements or slang is not. But yeah, so I think it was on your pod. I can't remember when. I talked about how much I love Spindrift and how I would die to be an endorser, anything. I mean, I don't even like, well, we're in talks. So I'm not going to get into.

Yeah, you don't want to mess the bag up here, so to speak. But, yeah, exactly. So other people took notice and have been going at them at social media. It's like, hey, I really love spin drift. And X months later, Spindris reached out. I think it's seven to be exact. But you've been playing the long game. I mean, and I respect you playing the long game because in the beginning, there were bumps in the road.

Even recently, when you thought you were DMing with the Spindrift Wizard of Oz and it was just a bot, you were showing them. DMs. And they were like, whoever was behind the thing, I was kind of discouraged. I was really excited because I thought you were like behind the door. And you're eating there. And then you were like, check this out. And it was like, what flavor do you like? And then they were like, that's sensational.

Spindrift is typing. Well, yeah. I mean, I was basically, I was like, am I DMing with a sentient can of spin drive? I don't know who's behind this. Is this person DMing everyone? And it's like movie her, you know? but um which i haven't seen what yeah which sucks because i love the movie so much or i love the actor so much

you gotta see it it's so good and it ages well too okay especially now i'm sure i didn't spoil it either that's the premise of the movie not no and you didn't judge me too hard so yeah i that's my whole thing is not having seen no judgment i don't know if you know that so i'd never judge people for oh my you know what we need to do my co-host has seen no movies okay you think you really you need to come on and you all need to work out. I think he has a beef with one of your with with one of your takes in game management that he won't let go. He's like I love me in a kines, but she says this one thing. Is it like a going for two down for? Yeah, I think it's going for two. It's one of these.

I try not to be like a dick about those because I feel like, okay, thank you. Because I feel like some people on Twitter are a little aggressive about it. A little aggressive. But then on the broadcasts, they're also terrible about it. Like, I don't know. nerds that I and I try to find the happy medium of being like reasonable you know what I mean but um oh I recently tweeted that I hadn't seen there was like a what's a movie that you know everyone's seen but you haven't and I it was I want to like Christmas Eve so I was just you know it was late and I tweeted goodfellas and let me tell you if 80 people have seen good fellows now and if generously 80% of your Twitter followers are men

between 20 and 40. Not a popular thing to say. A lot of opinions about that. I have some movie takes that people get real riled up about try floating that you don't like remember the Titans out to people or that. The kid's movie. Yeah, you think Hoosiers sucks. Thank you.

Like, Hoosiers. Yes. I mean, I don't love it, but it doesn't suck. Overrated. Overrated. You know how some movies have been talked about so much that they create a false expectation for themselves? And then I'm hard on Hoosiers rather than being like, oh, it's a lifetime movie. Yeah, that's, is, remember the Titans is definitely, well, I mean, you know, Disney,

I would never say anything negative about you. But, um. You looked up. I know. Because I, that's the one, ABC, ESPN is part of the Disney family. I know, but are they like in your, they're in your ceiling? I have a lot of technology in this room right now. That's why I feel about Goodfellas.

Like, the way I see it, I've seen bad boys. It's basically the opposite, right? Let me tell you. Not a popular opinion. Okay, so back to Spindrift. So, yeah, so I turned out I was messaging with a real person. And we got some calls set up. And I feel like I'm on my way to just be, to drown in Spin Drift.

And this is important for me to convey to you because it was, you who taunted me with your water sponsorship. They sent me a ton of flow. Flow sent me a ton of water, but Flo did the equivalent of not calling back after an incredible first night. What happened? That's it? I just haven't had any products since.

I've drank all the alkaline water in North America from that shipment. Have you continued making flow water content? Well, listen, I thought I stumbled into maybe the greatest ad in water history, which would be even flow playing over me unboxing my flow water. you only get one shot at this stuff as she drinks for spin drift yes delicious bubbly it is delicious

not like lacrosse la quox um yeah well so ever since i saw your incredible instagram ad for flow water yeah i've been thinking about like what i'll do with my for spin drift when i get when i get all those spin drifts um like play little spin doctors maybe you know i've my my dream job is um it's not my dream job but you know sunny night football how they're always working like cool musical references to like sometimes the situation or the city and you're like whoa they just played cannonball um i've been thinking about that a lot dude i think they did it the other night i don't remember who they did it for but fox does it a lot lately i feel like i'll be like what and they play some real heady stuff whoever's playing is like i heard they had like widespread

panic on the other night the dudes in no fox fox is a major whoever um does the music for fox is killing it's killing it dude they're in the tv like cheech and shongs that's my dad who it is. For fuck's sake. Sunday night did talking heads the other day because it was a Giants game or something. I was like, fuck, this is. And it's always great because it's only like two seconds. So, you know, you got to really have your ear open.

I'm pulling up your, the message that I got here. And this was a screenshot of your message from Spendrift. You literally, they hit you up. And instead of waiting, in silence, you were like, am I being chill? You wrote in all caps, like immediately as they hit you up. Biggest spin drift fan on earth in all caps. And I was like, you know, you're coming on too strong.

You know, but it worked. It's amazing. I'm so happy for you. I'm so very happy for you. Now I'm kind of, I'm in the backseat looking at you and I got to hit up flow. And I got to play your contract against my water contract. You see how this goes? Maybe there's a lesson in here. like your whole approach of playing it cool and laying back and letting the game come to you. It's not so cool. Yeah, 2021, you got to shoot your shot. If Etchisketz came to you and said, like, let's talk. Are you playing it cool?

How are you carrying that? I mean, sure, but the thing with Spindorf is like, I don't want like hundreds of etches. I mean, if they want to give me money, that's one thing. but like in terms of just sheer like product all like if a dog food company came to me I'd be open I'd be interested in that um because you're a dog yeah just want to clear that like some people have tried it eating dog food I just want to make sure you weren't one of those weird like like a friend no I just I've heard of it story you heard I did actually have a friend in college that got drunk and ate dog food for dares everybody in um okay knew one person who

made dog food. Really? Or cat food. My buddy was more of a dog food guy. Um, I really like corned beef. That's what my dog eats. It's really high quality. I really like corned beef hash.

Um, and sometimes sometimes when I empty out my can of dog food for lady, I look at it. I think it looks like corned beef ash. Um, and Patty's Day every day for that cat. Um, hey. So. So the main thing that I was so strong, we want to talk about coaches, right? Yeah. And this has been an interesting year with the hires.

Some of them have been unexpected. The most fun thing about this time of year now, it's becoming a thing, is like coaches like videos, the selfie videos, the, hey, I now, I'm now responsible for your happiness as a football fan for the next three to five years, possibly. That's a big undertaking. Making a selfie video? Period. Yeah. I mean, I, I'm, it's, I would rather do two hours of first take with no preparation,

just going, you know, toe to toe with Stephen A. Smith, then make a two-minute selfie video in one take and put it out into the world. I have been in my room for three hours doing a three-minute video before. In my room, three hours, you get to the last sentence. and if you're a perfectionist, like, in a weird way, which I'm like kind of am, kind of not. Like, you cannot not. And you're like, I have to add this thing. I can't leave this out.

And you stumble over yourself. Dude, remember when I posted on Instagram? I don't remember this. All my takes in my selfie video, it filled the whole fucking page up. Just this week, a colleague of mine was like, hey, Mina, my friend's daughter is a big fan. You make a video for her. And I honestly did 15 takes. This was for her a fucking nine-year-old girl.

Like, I was scared. But where could be? Hey, I just want to let you know. You can follow your dreams and then something. Fuck. Oh, hey, I just watched you like that. Like, I did so many takes. And I don't know why.

I don't know why. If somebody comes to me and they're the CEO of a foundation, they're like, hey, man, I got two options for you. You could shoot a two-minute selfie video about homelessness or donate a million dollars to cause and live outside for 10 years. I'm probably doing the ladder. It's the hardest thing in the world. But these coaches, they have to, they have to like introduce themselves in one fell swoop.

Who knew what Arthur Smith looked like until a week ago? I did because, but I don't look at these coordinators. These coordinators exist in print to me. Because every time I look at him, I think, okay, every time I see on the sideline, I think, wow, he looks really anonymous. And then I have my second thought, which is he looks like if Mike Leach was chill. Look at his face. Okay, okay.

I did a cut. Okay, PFT, I got to credit him with this because he said it today. He goes, I call him Thickleus Cage because he does look like a low-key Nicholas Cage. And if you know me, I'm obsessed with all things, Nicholas Cage. I had actually simultaneously took a screenshot of his eyes. If you look at the screenshot of the eyes, which I will share right now on the social, you cannot tell me if that's Nick Cajun face off or Arthur Smith dialing up play action. Same eyes, dude.

Same eyes, different faith. How much play action? Just nonstop. Do you think how much is Maddie, Maddie Ice going to love booting out? Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. That man, I mean, yes, okay, I did the thing where we're doing a Zoom and I put up my screen, which is.

No, but Maddie, Maddie Ice, my first thought was like, can he run? Like, you know what I mean? No offense to Maddie Ice. I remember there was a first time he first down. He struggled to pick up in the second New Orleans game last year. And I was like, damn, we're both old, but Matt, I mean, no, I think he did okay with his selfie video, all things considered. He was so, you know what one of the hardest things about it is and all these guys do it

and I do it too is as soon as you hit record, there's like a second delay. He didn't even edit that second delay out because he was trying to see like, is this thing on? Like I've never done this before. You know what I mean? Did you see his video? Yeah, I did and I noticed that. I assumed like a Falcon social person got eyes on it, but...

Well, they're not going to tell the new guy, hey, you look stiff, dude. You look like you've never done this thing before. Yeah, the video, I mean, like, I don't think they were going to be like, dude, you look stiff. But he looked like a deer in the headlights a little bit, but he managed to stick the landing, hit the rise up. I'm just imagining back in the day if coaches had to do this, like Belichick. Can you imagine in some alternate university he has to get at a different job at some point? like hello Miami or hello oh my god I know I'm bill bellichick

you know like a good reason to never like you were talking about like you'd have to be paid a million you'd rather give a million dollars and make a selfie video I might like just stay at a job like a shitty job like if like if I was a coach now I'd be like I don't want to make a video I don't want to buy new gear you forget but especially the video I don't want to do it so moving my family is one thing but yeah they're used to it I'm a coach but that's daily look like a video hostage. Oh, yeah. If you saw his video, he looked like a hostage a little bit, but

that's a charge of the, yeah, well, the, it's charged. The hardest part is over. They are, they've done the video. It's all downhill from here. Arthur Smith, most interesting higher to me, at least. Do you have a most interesting hire so far? Well, the lines one, I was like, the fuck when it happened, because we just hadn't heard any whispers that Dan Campbell, the, um, Saints assistant coach slash Titans coach So that was that kind of like came out of left field But that wasn't super surprising because it's like the lions

The lions are like you know it kind of just felt right Um Solid that was like Robert solid to the Jets super expected Everyone's happy brings you know LaFleur with him like it's I feel like that was like universally

praised and loved unless I'm wrong. Yeah. Or so none of us know what the hell, the hell any of these guys will do say that. Yeah, dude, it's like when people ask me, hey, what should happen in Philly, you know, like, et cetera, et cetera, you know a lot of these coaches. Like, I know Josh McDaniels. I know Duce.

Like, I know two names, but like, I'm not in the interview room. I don't know. And I also don't know what you're prioritizing. Exactly. I would say the charges one to me is the most interesting because everyone assumed, first of all, we all thought Brian Daibel was going to get the job. Yeah. But McDermott's not really letting people interview, I don't think, until they get through the playoffs. Yeah, which, well, didn't they change that rule? Or did that just happen after?

I think it's his personal preference that he stays focused through at least the, you know, which, whatever you think about that. I think Brian Davel would, he would have, golly, I would have loved that higher. I was pumped. I mean, on paper that made, first of all, Tom Telesco, the GM, the Chargers him, like, no, we other from childhood, apparently. Which makes a big difference in coach. Yeah, apparently John Carroll University mattered more, which is where Brandon Staley and him

went. But, you know, Herbert, exciting, Rob, potentially big arm, athletic quarterback. You see what Daible did with Josh Allen. You see how inventive Daible's been with that offense. Also, how much he's progressed.

Like, we talk a lot about Josh Allen's development as a quarterback and how historically unprecedented it is, but Brian Dable has gotten so much better as a play caller year to year to year. So anyways, all of that made it seem like a sure thing. And I thought

the charges job was the best job for a multitude of reasons. So I was like, this is done. Yeah, to me it was the best job. Best job. Best job chargers, worst job Eagles. No offense to my folks there. That's correct. I mean, like, the Texas would

like a word. Yeah. It's probably worse. because if you're the GM or you're the head coach, you walk in your first day, you don't have a draft pick till late, you got money swept up in guys like Tunsell. You're all out of whack. You have Jack Easterby running the search. You don't feel like,

but Philly, the cap situation is quite opposite of what it is in L.A. And you've got quite a different quarterback situation. You don't know what the hell is going on. I thought Dave would be great in Philly. You know, it doesn't sound like that's the direction they're going because another live arm,

big athletic quarterback. Carson's not as talented or as young or as raw as Josh was, certainly not as malleable. But a guy that you need to like, hey, pump the brakes and throw the fucking ball away sometimes. Like that is what that guy needs. And also he needs a personality in that room that's going to be like, hey, dude, let's break this bad habit.

I know I'm coach number seven, but I'm the one to listen to. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah. I'm a little disappointed for Justin Herbert. And you tell me what you think about this. I just feel like if you have a young quarterback who everybody was like freaking out about his how raw he was how hard and Anthony Lennon those guys did a great job you know to credit them the game management is the problem when you hire a defensive coordinator to run your team he's going to have to hire an offensive coordinator that Herbert is likely going to make look great in three years right right that cycle is going to go on and on and then what you're doing is you're putting that quarterback behind the eight ball. because he has to learn from a new coach and a new scheme every time.

For sure. Yeah. So we don't know yet who's going to be the OC in L.A. Shane Stuyken and Pep Hamilton were there. They seem to be kind of a team now. We were hearing them kind of associated with other spots. I thought maybe they would stay. But there was a report that I think Brandtseley tried to.

He made it, took a pass at a, made a run at Kevin O'Connell with the ran. I wouldn't even correct you. Asterman. But yeah, it's like a big question mark. And I mean, Justin Herbert, I already took Q gel on him so much better than I thought he was in college. And by the way, I'm now like, I have no fucking clue with like those young raw quarterbacks like after Herbert Allen. And there's. I think we just all have to be better in the media.

And I say we, I'm barely a part of it. I have a podcast. So that's 50,000 people. in the media now. But I just feel like everybody, I'm learning this game. And the game is that we yell at everybody when they're wrong. And we puff our chest out when we're right. And at some point with, with these young quarterbacks or young players, like we have to realize that even people have been doing it their whole life, it's 50-50. It's roulette. And even if you get proven right, you might not have known why you were right. Oh, thousand percent that. You know what I'm saying?

So like if now, if you're going to like pull up an old take, I need you to tell me why it was going to work two. You know what I mean? Or else it's just 50-50. And I'm not into skewering people about, oh, you were wrong about. You know who I was really wrong about? Josh Allen, not the quarterback Josh Allen, the defensive end. And he's one of my favorites. I thought he had no shot at living up to his billing. Yeah. He's, yeah, that's a whole. I actually thought he would be better. Yeah, he's a big good. But yeah, no, quarterback evaluation is hard. And then, the like quote unquote smart thing to say right now is it really depends where you land

and the system that's put in place around you, but it's true. It is true. It is true. Josh Allen. So with Herbert, it does, it's concerning. And I, that's, I'm surprised they went defensive for that very reason. I really like Brandon Staley. Like everyone else, I was really impressed by what he did

with the Rams defense, which we can talk about. You've probably talked about it a lot. But like, When you go, like, look at the playoff teams right now. Yes, Sean McDermott is a defensive coach, but he also just happened to land on like a perfect offensive coordinator. How often does that happen? And a coordinator to fix him.

Exactly. And then has a GM who made like really brilliant moves, particularly trading for digs, obviously, but also drafting well. So I don't know. I, and he's been a coordinator for one year. I mean, it's just talk about an assent. Yeah. And the problem is on the way out the door, and I hear tremendous things about him because, you know, I know, like, I still talk to a lot of those guys and they legitimately love him.

And, you know, it's one thing, you know, we're all tearing certain coaches down for their lack of experience and that sort of thing. And there's a whole other conversation about the Rooney rule, which is it's a very valid conversation. It should happen every time around this year until until it's done equitably at the hiring level. But, you know, some of these coaches who are greener, we just pile on them. And you make a call and you're like, this guy's like he's been coaching 20 years. You know, it's like so I think the one thing that sucks for him is on the way out the door, whether this was like a product of the adjustment, who they were playing. That defense looked very average to me with Aaron at 65%.

It changes everything. I, yes. Okay, sorry. Well, no, but it's true. But like it sucks for him because it obviously didn't affect his higher ability. but there is this like question and this is what he's going to be motivated to prove like I don't need Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey to coach a top five defense and I think he's going to have an opportunity with some of the personnel they have there.

Yeah. I mean they've got you know, Bosa and then of course a ton of talent in that secondary. We'll see how Derwin James looks. It's a different system. I mean those players like, you know, three four to four three, but you're right about Donald and it doesn't take away from what we saw from that random. defense during the season. I mean, the, like, complexity and sophistication of that secondary, like, you know,

it's not just, like, having Jalen Ramsey on the field makes everything easier. But holy shit, Darius Williams, like, I liked him. I mean, Ram's preseason like him. But dude was playing with, like, out of his mind. I mean, when you watch, I'm not like a second, I was not an NFL cornerback. And I've only, I'm beginning to understand sort of the nuances of secondary play. and a lot of people have helped me. Shout out, Dominic Foxworth.

But, dude, when you watch the Rams defense, I'm like, whoa, what's going on there? You know, in the secondary, like, oh, like two dudes just passed out, you know. And that's certainly a credit to him. But you're absolutely right. Like, I was really excited to watch the Packers offense against the Rams defense. Yeah. And then, like, five minutes into that game, I was like, oh. He's kind of getting whatever he wants right now.

And then the second drive was like, oh shit, they can't stop the run with a light box. Like the one of the things you hang your hat on in L.A. is like, hey, we can, we can, we can slow whoever down. And we just do with these four badasses up front. But when the head honchos, it's 65%, it changed everything. And that second drive when they gave Williams the ball inside, it was like a steady dose of that. And there was that sequence where they go cut back with Dylan. And then they toss it to Aaron Jones. and he stands on his head and stays up. You were just like, oh, shit, they gave the Packers. Well, they gave Aaron, ironically, everything he needed and pissed him off at the same time.

Like, how do you do that in one fell swoop? These guys are, I don't know if it was intentional, but kind of genius. McCarthy gave him this. When AD went after Jenkins, you know, went at him, I was like, oh, he must be really frustrated now because he knows he can't do everything he's used to accustomed to doing. And the Packers, like, their interior offensive line is already fucking awesome. Yeah.

Like, that's already one of the best trios in the league. And, you know, they lost Bakhtiari, but the inside. And so it's already a great matchup. But then, you know, when you don't have Aaron Donald at 100%, and suddenly you're Green Bay and you already run the football really well. And now, like, they weren't even, like, using misdirection. They were just like, they were just running it up the gut. And I joked about this in the first half, Rogers was averaging, like, negative air yards.

for a time because he didn't have to because no he was just like throwing little darts like okay and then at the end they're like oh okay boom play action action and you were waiting on that play action because i said you're on the play action thing but um yeah it was so you're right about stay like i don't think that it totally undermines everything he did there by any means but it was a reminder that when you have that defense and in that three four when you have a generational talent like Aaron Donald, it makes everything so much easier. And like, he has very talented players in L.A. so that's great.

Yeah, Joey's great. He's got to stay healthy. And Ingram was hurt this year. So I don't know if that'll help out, you know, like his viability in the market as they look at it. You know, the secondary, the way you look at it, they got a lot of talent there. So I feel like they got all the makings of a really successful team. The thing that sucks for them the most is they are in Kansas City's division. And that ain't changing.

but I think if they can build around Justin, it's going to be a closer duel for years to come than we think. I mean, it already is. So looking at Arthur Smith, who I guess the commonality here, and to a lesser degree with Staley, because you think about defensively, it's not, is there one non-quarterback? I'm trying to figure out how to ask this.

Is there one non-quarterback who has affected the, you know, the perception of what a coach will, do more than Derek Henry has, you know, like skeptics could sit here all day and be like, I just am, I'm gun shy about Arthur Smith because you've got this mutant playing running back that's that just went for 2K and changes the entire game every time he suits up. I don't know that I remember another coach that was trying to sell something that people were more skeptical about over one player that didn't play quarterback. Was Arthur Smith, when did he become coordinator in Tennessee?

He was there with Marriota for like, I think, a year. And I think the thing about Arthur in Tennessee, because I had these same questions, like, what came first to chicken or the egg? Because Derek Henry was not always a scary dude. This is what I always say to people when they're like, oh, Tanna Hill's so dependent on Derek Henry. I'm like, eh, contrary, mon frere.

Did you watch this? Yeah. I mean, they help each other. They help each other. I think this is a situation where everybody helped everybody. Because when you look at, like, when you talk to guys down there, it's like Marriota. Okay, so why weren't they as dominant with Marriota?

Well, obviously, one, Marriota's game wasn't best suited out of the shotgun and in the passing game. And him and Derek Henry did not pair well, which is a real thing. Like, just schematically didn't pair well. It wasn't personal or anything. It was like the perfect storm. You know, you got these two big receivers, these two bigger body receivers. You've got tight ends that want to block.

You've got Tanna Hill who, such a reclamation. and I don't know anybody's brand in the NFL that's done a bigger 180 on the field. Nelson, yeah, dude, Nelson, who might be worth too much in Vegas and they might not be able to resign him now. Crazy. I know, and I love it. I love Nelson. I'm happy for him, yeah. But I can't think of another player.

And I think that's the big question, you know, like, do you think, not only is this like, this is the Russian roulette of guys we never heard of at one point who were on staff in Washington, like, who's going to be one coach too late here? because he was in Washington with Joe Gibbs for two years. Tennessee for 10. Yeah, Tennessee for 10. Like, reminds me at Stefanski was in the building longer than anybody realized. Like, Kevin Stefansky was in there longer than Zimmer. I totally underestimated. I liked the hire because he, I was like, this guy seems competent when he hired him.

Everyone likes him. He's not, you know, he's like a normal coach. He's not like a hard. I like all the Chanahan coaches. Like I like that kind of offense. And I think this is the right fit for this quarterback. Yeah, yeah. But coming out of Minnesota, I was like, that's Kubeiaks offense.

The fuck did Stamansky do. And I was clearly the student surpassed the teacher in many ways based on what we saw of those two offenses this year. I mean, Cleveland has a much better offensive line, which is, of course, fundamental to running that scheme. And they've got the two-headed monster. But still, like, I had no idea. And it really, to me, was a reminder that when it comes to evaluating NFL coaching staffs, often, Philly, you have no idea who's the brains behind any operation and who's running the show and who's good and who deserves credit.

And then all we can do is look at it from the outside and say, that's the scary thing, man. It really is. And when you look at this, this is like kind of a scary situation. Also an interesting note about him, I perked up for a second when I was reading his bio. I had no idea he played at UNC. me and him damn near played each other. Wait, Arthur. Arthur Smith was a walk-on O-Lyman at UNC, bro.

What? Fickles Cage? Nicholas Cage was out there as credit PFT. Is he big? He was 283. He was 283. He went to Georgetown. He doesn't.

I think he's kind of tall. What? Yeah, see, like there's one. Like Dan Rolovsky, unexpected tall guy. Oh, well, that's not. He's crazy tall. He's like a jerk. graph, though.

Yeah, when you see him in the full shots, when you see my wife was in him the other day, she's like, she's a very tall person, huh? Like when they went to the fall, I was like, yeah, dude, he looks like slender man. I mean,

is he like 6-5 or 6-6? He's taller than me. He's got to be. He's just judging him off the set. I mean, he's a big cat. Anyways, Arthur Smith, same way. You'd be shocked.

You'd be shocked. Shockingly tall. Yeah. I get that a lot, actually, by the way, people always tell me I'm taller in real life. How tall are you?

I fucking love. I'm 5-7. You are tall in real life. Yeah, and then usually like if I'm in public or whatever, I'm wearing heel shoes. So I'm like 5-10 plus. So then they think people that are like, what? I think when I see you at like an S-B's party, I'm drunk and I'm just like, I'm not gauging how tall people are.

I don't think I project height energy. High energy. But another thing is a positive for Arthur Smith that's, unorthodox, one of 10 kids. And I had no idea. Also, if you've read this this week, son of a billionaire, have you read that? I knew that. Yeah, but I didn't even think billionaires had 10 kids anymore. That's what I'm saying. Right. What's going on there? Also, the rule of being one of 10 kids is one of the 10 kids has to be exceedingly, like, successful and well known. That's just a rule. And I don't know of any of the other Arthur Smith siblings that have like made it

to the big time. So this is a good hire, I feel like, by the law of one in ten. One and take- Only one in ten can be successful? Well, like, like famous, successful. I'm not talking about successful. I'm talking about famous. And one of ten has to be like really messed up. It's like chickens. Yes. It's the rule of Stephen Adams. Stephen Adams is like one of 20 kids. Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes sense, actually. So I guess the real football question is, who gets the biggest, who's the happiest, Arthur Smith is down there,

besides maybe the obvious Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan's probably very happy. You know I'm like a Matt Ryan Stan, right? Have we talked? Like I irrationally defend him to the ends of the earth. I love Matt Ryan. I love Matt Ryan. I just love him.

And also I've really, I've like loathed watching the Falcons offense the last two years. I've been so angry every time I watch him. So I'm so, I was just so happy for him that they hired a competent offensive coach. I'm just thrilled. It's like a lifeboat for him. And it's also, I think for Julio as well, if you look at what Arthur has done really well up there in Tennessee. After I

texted a buddy and I was like, hey, what do you like about Arthur Smith? He's like, well, you know, he's a grinder and he's a son of a billionaire. I was like, hadn't heard that one yet. Give me something else. And they were like, dude, you know this. I've heard you talk about the red zone. Like, that's what they're great at. that's what you down there you've got this spectacular receiver who's kind of fallen by the wayside a little bit relatively speaking because he can't get the ball in the end zone. You know my theory about this is that Julio Jones struck some sort of like packed with a witch where he's the best wide receiver and ever known between the 20s.

Yeah. And it's like, okay, I'm going to make you a centaur. You're going to be faster than everyone, stronger than everyone, incredible hands. Absolutely. But once you get inside the 20, you are. And I thought this year, the Tennessee, like red zone is not consistent year to year. This is weird. Like when we look for signs that the team is going to regress, one is like, oh, they were like 90% in the red zone.

Yeah, that's not happening. It happened again with Tennessee. So that to me is just speaks to, I mean, look, it helps having Henry and Tannahill, both who are a threat to, you know, having a mobile quarterback, having good offensive line, having good back. But he's a good coach, man. I mean, they do crazy shit down there all the time. He's so good at scheming guys open. So if anyone can help Maddie and Julio, I feel like it would be him. Should be fun.

Should be fun. How about this weekend? Which matchup to you is going to look the most different? Because you've got repeat matchups. And on one side, I guess to answer my own question, Tampa, they're like a totally different team. But does that mean that because they're better, they're going to win 48 to 6? Like, no.

No. No. Green Bafs, that was such a weird. So I went back and watched both these games. Good, me too. I love this. The Green Bay one's like a total aberration, I feel like. Like Tampa just kicked their asses up front.

And Rogers like just went, who was I talking to about this? I was taking a pod earlier today with Sam Monson. And I was like, I don't know, I feel like Sue got in Rogers head or something when you watched it. Because he was killing them. And it was just such an air and characteristic game from what we've seen and from Aaron Rogers. this season. I do think Tampa's defense matches up pretty well with Green Bay because of the speed they have at linebacker.

God, the whole first quarter was like playing the toss porn. It was Devin White. Yeah. Just like just night. I mean, they ran perimeter runs like four times. And that's what he made such a big difference coming back this week. You know, we talk about New Orleans and losing Kwan and then Devin coming back. It was like the great equalizer in the middle of the field.

Oh, interesting. I just feel like Gronk's a different guy. You know, Gronk looks different running around. A, B, who's hurt, and somehow became like a quiet member of a football team, has looked different. So Tom looks different.

The offense looks different. Who do you actually have winning? You know it's going to be more competitive. I mean, we've kind of inferred that. Yeah. I still lean Green Bay. Or I do lean Green Bay. it is they're the favorite what is it three

four I got it at four because I like Tampa so much I put the mortgage on Tampa Sunday there I mean I was I was like team Brady I thought for a second I thought for a second Brady made one of those witch deals with like where the punch line is he can't beat Drew Breeze I mean Tom Brady didn't find do anything in that game no all he did was just yeah but

Drew Breed did a lot less I know and we're talking earlier about like the I was right and I was wrong. I was like at the beginning of the Saints fans have been going after me because all season I said this defense is elite but at the very end of the season, Breeze is going to do the same thing. He's done the last three years. And as I was watching it, I didn't feel the self like gratification I expected. You felt bad. I just felt bad. It was really hard to watch. The like third turnover I was like, I think that Green Bay is going to win because I think the backers offense is just absolutely rolling right now. I think that

think they're clicking away that Tampa Bay's offense is not. And while I think the Bucks defense is slightly more talented across the board, um, I think that the Packers pass rush seems to be peeking at the right time. How about Roshan Gary coming out of nowhere? Like, yeah. It's the thing about young pass rushers, man, like, especially a kid like him who seemed like he was just kind of,

he had a little bit of like, you know, sometimes we say grown up to do we're talking about a kid who's a shithead. He wasn't it? He just had to mature a little bit, you know, and there is like he's walking in a room where there's a lot of good players and it just takes a year sometimes. It takes two years sometimes. And he has been coming into his own and I love Zedarius Smith.

Like there's an, he's just so consistent. All machine, dude. This is the game where also so the bucks lost. So the whole thing with guys, right? Well, so they lost the guard. So they got like a practice squatter who's been playing guard. Aaron Stini is his name. Yeah.

Well, Stini went to my high school. Cool. Did you know that? What? Really? Yeah, dude. We don't get a lot of guys in the league. Is this another one? So, Aaron, if you're listening, I'm not, now I'm worried it. It's another podcast listener. He doesn't.

It's first start in the playoffs and Tom Brady's yelling at him. He actually did fine. It's just that like, it's just going to be a wild ride when that's the situation. You're kind of thrown in. He had off like a false start or something and Brady was upset. And I don't know if it was Collinsworth who was calling the game. I can't remember. That's the first St. Ann's Bellfield kid that.

ever got yelled at by Tom Brady. I'm proud to say, Tom never yelled at me. He was like Tom Brady doesn't like, you know, he doesn't like the false starts. It's like nobody likes false starts. What quarterback's like, hey, it's okay, man, I don't mind. Yeah, do that again next quarter.

Anyways, this is not the game where you want a backup backup guard, backup guard against fucking Kenny Clark. No. And he had a, he had a really nice game the first time. And the Packers, their pressure rate was, I think, their best all season. So they're coming into their own.

that having been said, I am taking the bucks. I already got the bucks on the books. To me, Green Bay wins the Super Bowl if the bucks are not around at this point. You know, I really think it's that much of a matchup thing. And I could be dead wrong. The conversation we just had about, you know, the media I'm being wrong and right. So don't kill me. But I think Tampa wins this game.

And then on the other side of things, I don't know what to expect. Okay. my theory on Pat is the chokeout theory. I have really substantive reason to believe that... Oh, what happened to him? Carotid artery. He was out. It was weird.

He wasn't concussed. Now, you can get a concussion without hitting your head on the ground, because if you saw it, like, he didn't hit his end on the ground. I think, you know, like when you're looking at that, you're either looking at a situation where his brain hit the front of his skull or whatever. I'm no fucking doctor. But it can happen without hitting your head. And he'll say, I do hear it.

though, that it was a carotid artery thing, I think he's going to be fine. So if he's fine, how do you see this thing play out? So assuming he plays. If he doesn't play, just, you know, don't watch anything as possible, though. I was trying to make Henny Given Sunday happen. And then Mahomes big-timed me with anything as possible. I think Henning-Given Sunday is way better, Pat, Mahom. Patrick, Patrick. Patrick. Sorry, bro. He's fucking, he's a legend. I'm not going to call the wrong name. Hennie given Sunday.

I think Hennie given Sunday is better. I was going to Photoshop him, which for me is just Microsoft pink, because I don't know how he used Photoshop. On to Willie Bean. But then I was like, this might be weird because I'm, you know, and for numerous reasons, I didn't do it. But I'd like to see it. You know, like if you have to share it with somebody, you just show me.

It's totally cool with it. You want to know a fucked up thing after this weekend? Nobody feels worse for me than for Aaron or for Aaron than me because I still see like a rookie. You know, like, even though he's the baddest man on the planet. Oh, when he was crying? He's such a good dude, man. And, you know, like, guys cry after games sometimes. Like, usually you make it to a locker, maybe.

But when I was watching him cry, I was thinking about, I did a background as reporter. I did a story on Jalen Ramsey. And he cried his first year in the league. Do you remember? So Jacksonville was losing to fucking Detroit. And Ramsey was on the sideline just crying. And people were roasting him. And so then I interviewed, I'm like, were you embarrassed?

He's like, no. I mean, I'm not going to do anything. I love him, by the way. He's like, no, he's like, it's not my fault. We were losers and I cared more than everyone else. And I was like, God, I fucking love you. It's the most defensible position. Like, we snuck something.

It was so hurtful to me that I shed tears on the field. But I was like, these two dudes just really gay. Like, and that's why they're amongst like the freaking best player, like, to ever play. To ever play. Yeah, they're unbelievable. So. Ever play.

So I actually like the bills. Oh, I was going to say about Patrick. And this is, I think, a case for the bills. I'm going to decide within like the first. I respect that. You don't have to give me a prediction today. We have all week. Plus, there's weather.

I'm doing, but I'm picking the Chiefs. But I'm also, when I watch the game, I feel like it's one of those games where we're going to know in the first, like the first Chiefs drive. If they'll have a chance because first, I think the Bill's offense matches up really well with the Chiefs events. We can talk about that. but Patrick, so it's to me not just like a one and zero thing

about whether he plays, he heard his foot. And as much as the killer as he is, in pocket, out of pocket, whatever, I can't get out of my mind watching him after he came back from the ankle last year and seeing how much his game was affected by his lack of ability.

Like there was a four or five game stretch. Yeah, last season where everyone I was like, wow, the killer to play Patrick Mahomes as man covered, just like no glasses. Or dislocating his knee. Yeah, really. He can't do Patrick Mahomes things. And like the last time, so when I went back and watched, the last time the bills played the chiefs, they like did not blitz him once. They just sat back there and they were like, run the ball, please.

And I think that's the best approach generally when you play Patrick Mahomes. But if he's gimpy, I think the bill's pass rush, which also was better as a better. season's gone on can get after him a little bit. So we're going to see you really quickly if they can. They sure have. And I love, you're standing for the right people here, Mina, as a pass rusher, because, you know,

Jerry Hughes, you mentioned. Oh, yeah. Jerry Hughes, you mentioned. It's Baltimore. Yo! Who's one of the most underappreciated rushers of the last eight to ten years? What did you think about my theory? It's because he's named Jerry.

So Jerry just don't get any. What if his name was like, If he had like a badass name, like, I don't know. Wolf Blitzer. Wolf Blitzer's a Bill's fan too. See how that works? Oh, shit. I love that.

Okay. So I was like Jerry Hughes needs a cool nickname. And then maybe people would pay more attention to him. But it's crazy because he's been like the only dude in Buffalo forever, just quietly racking up like double digit tax seasons. The bridge between him and how about do you remember, it was one of my favorite rushers was Aaron Schoble. Oh, my God. There was the Aaron Showball, and then there was like a dead period for a couple years with Mario Williams.

But Jerry Hughes has been like one of the most consistent pressure and disruption guys in the league for a long time. And so I loved him getting home on that big stage because he's weighed a long time. You know, like the Kyle Williams farewell, the Jacksonville 10 to 7 game or whatever, nobody was watching that. This was his chance. Like not just the two sacks, the throw he affected that allowed them to get that pick six very next play. Like he just really deserved that. You know what I'm really impressed on the D-line front?

You got through this whole thing without bringing up V-to-A. Let's talk about him. I'm worried, though, because he's coming. I mean, that dude's like, you know, 800 pounds. And he's coming back. And I didn't think he would come back this season. It was fractured and I'm cool, right? I don't remember what it was.

Some kind of injury where I was like 800-pound person should not be walking on that. And you should injure the top part of the chain at some point. not the understanding of human biology and so all of a sudden you start seeing these reports like vina mea has been cleared to return i was like what i was actually really impressed by how the buck's defense is held up without him because talking about like are you one of the best defensive tackles in the game and to potentially have him back against green bay of all teams where you you know first and second down it's so important but i don't know if he'll look a hundred yeah yeah what What's a storyline that you've been tired of this week going into these big games? Which one's overblown? Going into these big games. Let me think. That's on the spot.

So take your time. Yeah. No, generally like, I don't like quarterback first. Like Brady versus Breeze is, or not Breeze, pardon me. Well, that was overborne last week. Yeah, Brady versus Rogers. To me, it's like much more. I don't know.

There's no inner league play like, like, everybody's like he just, his first year in the NFC. I'm like, I just noticed. now. Like I really, I just watched the games. Okay. I don't care that he's never been in the NFC playoffs. So I do, I do think that's a little bit blown out of proportion. I would say that. Just like, yeah, generally with the bucks too, I think. I don't know. There's a lot of, I feel like people put too much emphasis on, like we know kind of who Tom Brady is. If you don't pressure him, he's awesome. Especially at this age. I mean, I don't know who expected a, an MVP candidate. Like

this year. I don't like if you expected an MVP candidate for 17 weeks out of Tom Brady, that's not like you were, you hadn't watched football. It's like he's still a good quarterback who still throws some really nice balls and is a field general and a leader and that type of thing. Even though he yelled at somebody against Chicago, I know people freaked out about that. He's not going to be a guy who carries a team. Like this was supposed to be a dream team. They weren't supposed to win the division. They were supposed to be a wildcar birth. It played out exactly as we thought, and they're here. I don't know, man.

They're just so sloppy. That's the only thing that worries me. On one of their scoring drives last week, there was like, Fournet runs the wrong way on a counter. You have a drop. You have a false start. And then, you know,

you have to burn a time out. Like, Tom is losing his mind down there. You know what I mean? Does anyone run the wrong way on counters more than... Yeah, Leonard Foren... I'm not even like a run game specialist, and especially in real time, but I'm like, you went the wrong way.

I really like Leonard Fournet, because he is the most normal human being. I think he's so funny. He's so hilarious. So he just, he's so every man to me because it seems like he fucks every man shit up. Like he's, 100%.

Undeniably a good player. He had nice hands though in that game in the Saints game. About time somebody catches the ball out of the backfield there. Brady, yeah. Yeah, they're the high variance team. Like, I think with every other team we kind of know what we're getting. The bucks,

that's why I don't think Green Bay wanted to play them. I think they would have, I mean, obviously they got their assets kicked by them in the season, but I think they would much would have rather played New Orleans, even though they would have heated them up. Well, they've got a better defense, but, you know, they know what they're getting. They know breeze's, you know, limitations. Whereas the bucks, the thing you hot at the wrong time on you or they can completely emulate. You know what the bucks need to do is their coaches need to blindfold them and not show them

the play the, the scoreboard. So they don't know what's the first quarter. because they are the worst first quarter offensive football team I've ever seen. The bucks to be as good at their. So, Tampa. I mean, just the identity of like,

I don't want to look the bucks in the eye when I walk by them on the street. That's how I feel about this team. You good, man? Yeah. You guys good? Have you been asleep all? Have you been away all night? Every time they cut to Ariens,

I'm so worried about him. He's just been progressively redder as the season goes along. And I feel like his mask is getting. smaller. He did the old setup. I know. Legitimately didn't know it was him for a couple weeks. I don't know what's going on.

I've been thinking that it's overblown that Kansas City, well, I did not think it was overblown that Kansas City plays everybody close. I was thinking that was a real problem. Am I being, am I falling for the okey doke with that take that, you know, like, I just feel like you're playing Russian roulette here a little bit. Well, I think during the regular, first of all, I think they would have stomped the Browns. if Patrick could stay in. They came out on that first drive.

You had, yeah. I had the over. And I also had Brown's first half. Okay, I don't know if you, did I tell you I had Brown's first half? And that, oh, yes, right, because, gosh, how did you say that to me?

The other day I was talking about something in that game and came up. I can't remember. Oh, no, you said, you said everybody cared about the end zone rule. And I was like, well, some people just cared about the first half plus seven. Yeah, that rule. And the over. But so anyways, after the first drive, the first chiefs drive, I was like,

ha ha ha, ha. They've been messing around all season, like, you know, a dog playing with a bug, like in the bugs the Bugs, the NFL. They're the chiefs. It was me all along. Vincivand. Call an ambulance. I love that guy.

But, um, find that guy. But then, you know, so I think there's a bit of that. But there are problems with the team that explain the close games. I go beyond Andy Reid fucking around and like, you know, having Patrick Mahomes line out wide and run rats. Like there's weird things. Like the defense is deeply flawed. Past defense, not just the run defense, has issues.

Love Chris Jones, but aside from him in that front seven, guys, different games. Sometimes you get Frank Clark, sometimes you don't, you know, linebacking groups kind of mixed too. And then the secondary, aside from, again, Matthews, there's issues. Like you've got Bucker. He's like,

misses extra points random. Like, things like that. He's got, I'm going to miss a big kick name. Some kickers have, some kickers have names that you know that are going to get out of history at some point. He's too handsome.

Is Bucker handsome? Look him up right now. Not that I'm going to really. Get back to me. Somebody's handsome, I guess. But I'm just kind of like, like,

like all women like Leonardo DiCaprio. I could not tell Leonardo DiCaprio. was handsome. Okay, but you're going to look at this picture and you're going to get it immediately. Like he dresses up to get off the plane. I'm like, you're the kicker. Oh, can't be that. Right? I'm like, I mean, this this guy looks like he's 90210.10 handsome, right? But a kicker? This guy. I mean, he'd be on one of the Laguna Beach shows. But he's like slick too. He's wearing like designer clothes walking out. And I'm just, it doesn't, I'm just like this is. Celebrates a lot. You don't want

your kicker looking too slick. is a feeling. By the way, how about fucking Andy Reed? Just compared to all these like cowardly ass punts we had over the last two weeks. Andy Reid's like, oh, Andy Reid's, I'm going to line my backup quarterback and shotgun. Yeah, Stones, yeah. I mean, Jesus, how does that guy walk? Stan's dad balls in the wheelbarrow on South. And then when they showed him like trudging across the field with little weirdo napkin mask, I was just like, God, I fucking love this. He's a legend. They beat, they ran the clock out on the bucks the same way. Sprint right option early in the year, I think.

They finished the Buc team that same way. And they're just so so ballsy. So anyways, Mina Kimes, thank you so very much, dude. Great having you on, as always. Good luck with your bets. Good luck with your spend roof. Thank you. I'll pray for you.

I'm feeling really good about it. Yeah. All right. Take care. Have a good night. Thank you. Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

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And that's code Greenlight for new players to get $257 if McGregor wins by first round knockout for a limited time only at Draft King's Sportsbook. Must be 21 or older in New Jersey, Indiana or Pennsylvania only bonus comprise the first deposit bonus and first bet match. Each up to $500 deposit bonus required 25 times play through. Restrictions apply to see draftkings.com slash sportsbook for details. Gambling problem call 1,800 gambler or in Indiana, 1,809 with it. So as I said, always great talking to Mina. Now, Calvin and I, we talked earlier today from his grow, from his facility, like legal bud heaven, dude.

He took me around. It looked like the Pineapple Express basement, you know, without the secretive aspect. And he's somebody who seems really passionate about it. So one of the things that comes with that is there's a lot of buzzing. There's a lot of machinery. There's a lot of noises in the background. So bear with us. But this is like, this is 60 minutes shit.

This is like, I feel like a correspondent. I'm talking to one of the greatest players of all time at his grow facility. It was cool. So sit back, relax, and enjoy Calvin Johnson. Josh Brown for a 54-yard attempt. Ryan Neal to snap. Donnie Jones will put it down. It will come from the right hash.

Snap is back. It's a fake to hand it to Donnie. He throws down the field. Daniel Fells, 25, 20, being chased, 15, 10, 5. Touchdown, Bigfellow. Daniel Fels breaks the tackle, goes in from 36. And I do believe that might be Josh Brown's first ever touchdown pass in the NFL. So I want to take you back, Memory Lane here. 2009, week 9, November 1st. Do you remember losing because of a fake field goal at home against the Rams? Because we went one in 15 and had we lost that game to you guys, we would have been 016 the year after you guys went 0 in 16. We went on the Daniel Fells fake field goal, a 38-yard touchdown.

Wow, I should remember that vividly. You just have you just- I should remember that vividly. I have to go look this out. I really got to go look at you. You just have terrible memories just buried. deep. You just suppressed it all. That's what you do. You bury those

things. You know? You put the shell around it. There is a stressful element of being on losing football teams for a long time. Your adrenaline is just zapped. When I went to see a doctor after I retired, they were like, dude, you're just fried. Like, you've been obviously stressed.

Like, your neurology has changed because of the stress that losing put on you. Not just the stress of playing football, but the losing, man. I mean, yeah, it's all kind of stress you know, the stress of, you know, the weight of the team on your shoulders, the stress of losing, you know, putting everything that you got into it and not seeing the fruit of your labor, you know, all that.

That's 100%. I'm not going to make this all about how bad the lions are, but I do want to ask you, if you could change one thing in Detroit that you think was like the butterfly effect organizationally, what would it be? Was it a hire? Was it, you know, letting one player go? Was it, or just like a lot of bad teams, just a bunch of stuff?

I think that usually it's just borne down to the culture of the team. Yeah. You really, and that starts at the top. And that's, and I, I, I cross over to what we're doing here in cannabis because it's all about building a team and having the culture so that, you know, everybody, and everybody can, can speak their mind and have a place and feel, and feel, feel like they have a place to grow within. But at the same time, we hold everybody passionately accountable, you know, and when everybody

sees that, everybody's treated, fairly treated the same and has high expectations, you know, we can grow together. Yeah. I also think to a degree, and I've said this before, like when I got lucky and made it out and got on good teams, like one of the hardest things for me was expecting to win. Like, you know, like when we were down 283 in the Super Bowl, people are always like, you just, you had to know. You looked around the locker and saw Tom Brady.

You had to know, like, all that bullshit. It's not true because when you've spent a decade in an environment like that, you learn to think like a loser. Even if you're not a loser, you handle your business. individually, you're going to win your matchup. But as far as the things you can't control around you, you are conditioned to think, what's going to go wrong next? You're laughing as I think you

know what I'm talking about. It's so funny, like you say, I mean, there's an individual aspect to this sport, you know, it's a point of you to be the best that you can be to help your team. You know, and you're doing that, you know, you're helping your team, but at the same time, you know, being conditioned to lose, you're almost like,

oh, shoot, you know, you might be winning by 10 points in the fourth quarter, you're like, oh, shoot. You can feel it. You know, you're like, oh, shoot here something's coming like there's something about you all you just have that that that angst there always you know and it's you kind of never yeah you're right man when you when you lose a lot it's always there it's always there and i and i don't know if you read these articles i read an article this week that said Detroit was going to get this thing right this time around okay i've read that article for 15 years right i'm sure you have with with every hire and i know it's hard because like listen

we're judging certain coaches like and they're walking into situations that are really messed I don't think Detroit's that far off. What do you think of the Dan Campbell talk at this point on Tuesday, mid-afternoon, early afternoon? Man, you know, I don't want to put all that on Dan, but I mean, this is what he's going into. I hope that if they do hire Dan, I really hope that they do get the right because I'm a fan of Dan. I play with Dan. I know what he brings. Personally, I've seen him in the trenches.

And, you know, I've seen him as a coach. You know, I know that the players will gravitate to somebody that has been in their shoes. And it wasn't that long ago that he was there, you know. So for him to elevate to where he has now, you know, speech volumes about himself. And I wish him much success. Knowing him having played with him, haven't seen him coach, what's like one quality you might think that will,

yeah, I think a lot of times people don't understand that certain qualities are disqualifiers for coaches, like poor communicators, you know, not being straight up, like little things like that. What's one quality that will make Dan Campbell work? I think that, you know, 100% what you said, communication, you know, not being straight up with your players yet. You can lose a guy like that. And I'm hoping that Dan Campbell, that Dan, if he's supposed that he brings that to the table.

But I think that, you know, his, one, his perseverance, I mean, he's been there on 16. You know, we're on that same field. He's, I've seen him grind through injuries, you know, and still come back and continue to play through those injuries just to help his team. He even have to be out there, you know. I mean, a lot of guys, they have injuries. They won't be out there, but that's just how, you know, that prior generation we were raised. We were raised, and you just go out there and just grind it out no matter what you got, you know, holding you down.

And he was that guy out there with one, with one arm, you know, playing tight end, you know, in the NFL. So, and I saw that. When they blocked, when they blocked? Yeah, exactly. When they used to. It means even harder when he got to block guys like you. He doesn't even harder. So, you know, that's, that's what

I saw from him, the perseverance, the grind, the guts, all of that. So that's why I think that the guys will respect the heck out of him. I just hope that he puts a good squad of coaches around it. Yeah, that's the key, right? I mean, delegating and knowing how to delegate,

because I feel like some of these really good coaches can't get out of their own way and hire guys that will cover their bases. I think that's one of the biggest mindfucks of coaching. The higher you rise in the coaching ranks, your ego probably gets bigger, but you need to delegate more. So you know who could block his ass off was Pedigrew?

Because he had long arms, okay? Some people didn't respect his blocking ability, bro, but as a short-armed defensive end, I hated playing that guy. Random aside. Okay, so one thing I noticed about you and I really respect this, man, and we never really talk,

so I never got to tell you, but there's a lot of people, you have a great case to be bitter as fuck, and you have a great case to wear that on your sleeve, and you have a great case to hate the lions and all this stuff. Like, you're so chill about hating the lions. You're so at peace with who, you know what I mean?

Like, and I aspire to be the same way about my regrets as a player things that happened to me that I didn't have any control over like the organization you played on that sort of thing like one how do you do that is it easier because

you've won individually at everything you've done and I'm not trying to make that seem easy but also do you ever consider like what about all the dudes that got fucked over in organizations like ours and never got the success and the financial security that you got

and that I got to a much lesser degree but you know what I mean I mean 100% dude I can't even a lot I mean all of that I mean that success that security you know that plays a part in it

you know I've been able to you know create a platform where I'm able to do other things and obviously that's not at the top of my mind yeah I mean I'm not going to go back to anybody that that came in dug in my pockets for no reason really I mean far about I might see where they're coming from but you just don't do that to your best player

you know especially you just don't do that especially when you're coming for what they came for It's more petty at that point. You know what I'm saying? So, I mean, for me, you know, like I said, I got other things focused on. I got a family. Yeah.

I got a whole business, you know, that we're trying to run. We got all these things going on. And, I mean, yeah, of course I love to go back and help the lines and give my, you know, opinion and expertise to the guys that are coming. Because I was just like, I talk to those guys anyway, you know, but I love to be able to do that for those guys. And like I do with everybody else where these college kids, high school kids, guys in the league everywhere else, you know. But they don't deserve that right now.

I mean, honestly, you know, I mean, for what will happen, it just doesn't make sense for me to go back and do anything for somebody that's done that for me. So who was a guy in Detroit that you felt like Detroit ate up and spit out that could have been a lot better somewhere else? Man. Yeah, you're like, how much time do you have? We got a lot of runners. I mean, I think about, we had a lot of running bats coming through there, you know. that I felt like really have some juice, you know, but maybe, man, I got some playtime because

maybe there are somebody else in front of them, you know, you got a job at best, you got a Reggie Bush, you know, you got those guys that they're highly coveted. Yeah. You know, so it's hard to get PT in front of those guys because, I mean, they're paid so much to be on the field, you know, but we had like, you know, Deo Riddick of Notre Dame. Yeah. Man, I mean, I mean, New had juice, but he just didn't get to see the field as much easier. But when he saw the field, I felt like he performed.

But, you know, he saw the field, more so on special teams. and oftentimes gets a third down back coming out of the back to the catch with the ball. But, you know, I mean, I ain't gonna go down the list, man. I feel like I'm dogging the news out. No, I know. Yeah, yeah, no.

But I look back and I think about guys that people have never heard of in St. Louis. And I'm like, if he, and this is the only time I ever feel jealousy. When I see a kid get drafted to a good team in a good environment, I'm like, fuck you, man. Like, no, I'm happy for you.

But fuck you. Like Antoine Winfield Jr. Great player. Love watching him play. He's been, like, he plays like a 10-year vet. He also walked in the perfect situation to bring that out. And I think that, like, people underestimate when you're drafted to a bad team sometimes,

the forces around you, it's not automatic that you're going to succeed. Like you, you'd succeed anywhere. But there's a lot of people that are in the middle that might could use the bump from being on a good team, you know. I mean, sorry, let's speak about, you know,

and go back to Winfield Jr. You know, for instance, like, if you are, you're a DB and you have a great

offensive line, or defensive line, you're forcing that quarterback to get some errand, grows out and get that ball out, you know, quicker. So,

you know, you're not covering as long, but if your opposite line isn't as good, then you're exposed. How about Matt Stafford? Because I love Matt Stafford. I know you,

you've got a lot of respect for Matt. And if he plays in Green Bay, and this is not a slight on Aaron, because he's the best, quarterback I've ever seen. Well, Brady's the goat. But if Matt Stafford plays in Green Bay and Aaron plays in Detroit, do

either of them have rings? Man. You know, man? I got you good on that one. Man, why are you so mean? Yeah. You put me out here like this, man. No, I put it like this. I mean, yeah, Brady, you go, you know, for sure.

But I've never seen it. I mean, I was fortunate enough to be able to watch Aaron Rogers twice. you know, play against him personally twice a year, you know. So being able to see what this guy can do and see him do it now and evolve and have so few. And if any mistakes as a quarterback to be able to use your legs as a quarterback to help your team, you know.

I mean, he's just so freaking savvy. I mean, honestly, you know, if Brady didn't have all the reins, I mean, in my mind would be one of the best to play the game. Yeah. I mean, he only has one Super Bowl, but, I mean, he has a Super Bowl, shoot. If he was in Detroit, we would have, I mean, you think yeah yeah yeah yeah you never know he's that one there's so it's so rare to have a quarterback that can that can carry even a dysfunctional franchise like there's only a couple of those

guys right yeah and he's just one of them that you probably plug him in anywhere he's going to have him in the playoffs perennially but the staffer is one to make you great i mean he's he's quarterback kind of like through the same respect that uh as um as aaron he could reach anybody on the field at any place, anytime. You know, it has a rocket. You know, he has the one best arms. He's not the best arm in the league. And it'd be nice to see him get to a good situation.

I mean, you assume with a new coach coming in, they're going to want to get their own quarterback and all that. So it'll be nice to see him, you know, get to a nice situation, see if he can get him where it. If you could wave a wand, I just thought of this, because I kind of like to see him in Washington, and I'm not asking you to say that this is where you think he should go or anything. But have you ever fantasized for your buddy about him being somewhere competent?

Yeah, I saw him in Dallas, just him being a Texas kid. Yeah. You know, I saw him be in a Dallas. I mean, maybe even Houston. I don't know, but probably Dallas would be a nice of fit. How about the Hall of Fame? You've been really, again, chill. I don't know if it's because you spend half the day in a grow,

and you have your own business and you're so chill about everything. But you're, again, very chill about the Hall of Fame, dude. And I admire that. So you as somebody who's most certainly going to put that jacket on one day, hopefully soon. So give me one guy that should be in, but you fear will not get in, maybe at your position. Like, an Anquan Bolden for me is like, I would love to see Anquan get the respect he deserves, but I just don't know because they don't take all the things that he did into account maybe.

You know, like, I mean, looking at the totality of Anquan Bowden, I mean, he's the most consistent throughout his career. Yeah. I mean, once he stepped in to throughout, I mean, he's been the shoulder for the Baltimore. to lean on Arizona, you know. He was huge, especially, you know, before Larry, when Larry came in out there, man, he was big. I mean, he's like another one of those guys that, you know,

that you take, that you see, that you grow and watch and that you want to take something from him to emulate and put into your game, you know. So he was one of those guys that I definitely admire for sure and deserves that. What about how we judge receivers now because the numbers are different, even from when you played, Like when we got in a league

I told people They'd run power counter Zone Like it was smash mouth It was play action Like there was more time To sack the quarterback Now it's like

Every thing the game is just exploding And wide receivers The numbers are going to be inflated now So how do Should we judge this era of receivers I mean you gotta look at numbers But I mean

You got to look at the time The era It's so many things to look into I mean it's so hard To save with your team right You could be on you could be in a team that like you say all they do is run shotgun

like one of these college teams all they do they're in the shotgun they all they spread four or five wide all the time and all they do is throw the ball I mean yeah you would expect to have to play the numbers but I mean we haven't seen that win too many Super Bowls I don't think either at the same time

you gotta have that running game that's in there. Who do you like this weekend man like in those two games real quick with the you know I kind of like kind of like Tampa and at this point

I kind of like the bills. Okay. I like the bills. Really, because I'm most proud of, I'm really proud of, I watched the digs, you know, grow up in value with Minnesota and evolved, man, and help that team, you know, go to where they are now. You know, that's beautiful to see them, see those guys blow up. I would love to see the bills because I think it would be upset.

I'm always looking at, I always love to see the other underdogs. I know you do. I'm sure you do. And I grew up, man. I like Green Bay, man. I love a game on the other game. So that might answer a question I was going to ask you, if you could play like a small wide receiver,

if they just shrunk you and you were like 5-10 and you could be anybody, would Stefan Diggs be the guy in today's game? Yeah, I love Stefan. He's wiggly. He's very elusive, man. And he does great tracking the ball, great ball skills.

I mean, yeah, I mean, I love hotball too, but he's a larger frame. But yeah. Yeah, Stefan Digg. he's like kind of a badass which I like about him like he he he competes like hard dude he's just always fiery I like that about him yeah um who do you enjoy watching the most though is that is is it is it is it is it Dhop or is it D'Shaun or is somebody under the radar that people don't don't give enough credit to now who do I like watching the most oh man any of the guys I've

come in contact with over the years I'm I'm a big fan of if I met you and your cool do you know So, you know, I love, like, D.K. I love watching that kid. Oh, he's great. I love watching, I love watching Devanti Adams. You know, like the same thing is at Diggs. You know, I watched him grow up in Green Bay, watching those guys evolve into, you know, the top receivers in the league.

You know, I'm a fan of the game, man. I'm a fan of the game, a fan of the players and fan of people that I meet more so. So, I mean, seeing Sue play with Tampa Bay. You know, that's crazy. What a career. You almost forget he was down. Yeah. Listen, I'm with you because people always ask you, do you root for your old teams, that sort of thing?

I do, but I really root for players, like people you know. It's a relationship-driven business. So now you're in the cannabis business, man. Like, you know, we're interviewing you. You're in your grow there. Like, it looks like quite the facility. Tell me about what's going on right now. And how can somebody get some primitive in their hands?

Yeah, man. So beautiful time for us right now. We're about hopefully like a month out from being able to open up our first dispensary now. We've always, it's like everybody has set back during this time. But opening up that, we had, I'm in my facility and my cultivation facility here just east of Lansing. We've been operating here for about a year and not quite a year and a half now, but a year and some change. And great team, great environment, very enthusiastic. all the time, beautiful people. You know, that's the thing. Putting together a great team, you know, the culture. You know, we have a DMC that, you know, that we made sure that all our team is fully aware of so that, you know, they understand how we operate and how we're going to, you know,

how we're going to keep this thing, stay on the up and up, sort of say. But, yeah, man, growing beautiful plants here, fully vertical. Like I say, you've got the, processing, cultivation, and retail coming online here. That's awesome. So, yeah, how do you get primitive in your hands?

Yeah, go to your, well, not every dispensary have it, but the ones we have relationships with, and we're building that sales force out now so we can reach more of Michigan. Are you just as proud of this stuff in a way? Like, because it's pretty cool, man. Like, well, you know what I think's cool is that more players are removing the stigma,

and especially in sports, okay? And the people that watch sports, like, you're a role model. You've done everything right. It was a shock to people when they found out that Walter Payton man, the year also lights up like I'm like why is that a shock to you what like there's nothing wrong with what we're doing in fact it's healthy and it's helping it's helping me live a more full life so you got to be pretty proud of yourself man I think it's pretty cool what you're doing

man you said the best new like I'm just trying to you know there's this is medicine to a lot of people this is no recreational for a lot of people but you just want to help people be able to live that best quality of life have best quality of life just be able to provide whatever we can you need if it's something that we can provide for you. That's all we're all about, elevated wellness. How do you like to elevate your wellness? What's your, what's your consumption method of choice? You know, either, I like flour. Yeah. Flowers is my thing, you know. These ladies in here, you know, they're doing a great job, you know, growing up strong and healthy, you know. So I like to consume whenever I can and flour. Yeah.

And you started because of pain. It's well documented. You talked about having over nine concussions. I mean, for most of us, that's like, hey, yeah, I'll give you a ballpark of how many times I got hit in the head. I really don't know for sure. But I was very lucky. I know I didn't have a lot of, I didn't start because of pain. Like, I started because a buddy in college had some.

But then the reason that I smoked during most of my career heavily was because I was an insomniac. I was on sleeping pills. Like I was I was and these are very unhealthy drugs. Okay. Like it affected my anxiety negatively. Um, really had me dependent on these pills, etc. The morning you're all groggy. I played a bunch of years doing this.

And until I got my hands on some good bud, you know, that the game changed when people started opening dispensaries and you could get it more easily. I, I, I basically fixed my life. You know what I mean? like the anxiety around not being able to go to sleep at night. If you're a pro football player, that's how you recover. Right. You know, so for me, it was that how do we convince people that it's not just about pain?

It can be about, you know, sleep. It can be stressed. It's such a multifaceted tool. And also, how do we convince people that we're all not like these stoners that have black lights in our house? and like all the paraphernalia like that we you know like I'm long hair I smell I don't take showers

I'm not a stoner bro like Cannabis is a part of my life It's not who I am It's educated man And that's what that's what we're all about We want to educate from our retail To just us on the streets Our sales force

You got to educate the consumer And I think they got to hear the stores They got to hear the testimonial You know I mean obviously I have one You have one that you're just telling us about But they ought to hear some of the ones that our employees have, maybe like an extractor that might have made a concoction of THC and MCTOL and something else that helped him bad to have cancer and it helped him shrink tumors,

you know, things like that, you know, and that's why we have partnerships with, you know, we're able to hopefully go further down and explore some of these neighbors through our partnership with Harvard as we as we continue to grow. Absolutely. How do you fix that that rule that Sorensen drilled the dude? Well, we had two rules come up on Sunday. So Sorensen drilled the dude in the head and then the dude fumbled out of the back of the end zone. Two things. Would you rather get hit high or low? Do you think we're going in the wrong direction with some of the player safety stuff?

Because they don't even really enforce it because that hit was a textbook and it changed the game. And then also, what should happen when the ball goes through the back of the end zone? I'll leave you on two absolutely current event questions there. Yeah. The spearing thing, you know, you just can't do it. I mean,

I want 100%, I mean, no fact, you know, you know, you put your head down. You just can't protect your neck. to have you a kid. You got to see what you're doing. We know that. So we know that. Everybody saw any football player in person that saw it like, okay, that should be a penalty. Even though he fumbled, that should be a penalty that you get the ball right there. Now, going over to the deal with the fumble out of the end zone, I have my own, you know, heartburn with that. You know, I had a situation similar.

Cam Chancellor punched out when I was diving into the end zone one year. Why don't I remember that? It bounced out the back of the end zone. But the actual, the player knocked out the back of the end zone. It didn't actually go out. The other player from the Seahawks tapped it out the back in the end zone. So that should have I don't know what should have in there, but I don't know. That's a baffling rule to me. I mean, it makes sense. I mean, if you're about to score and you lose

it right before you score, it would make sense for me that you lose the ball. I mean, think about it. It should be some kind of penalty. I mean, nothing shouldn't happen. Right, right. I was saying maybe they back you up to the 20 if you lose it out the back of the end zone. And you get the same down, you were on. So if it's third down, okay, okay, I can dig it. See, I should be

commissioner. I should be commissioner. We'll take care of this whole cannabis thing. We'll fix the end zone rule. And we'll fix the lions, bro. No, we'll do this thing together. Hey, Calvin, appreciate the time, man, and best luck. One more time if you want to plug

anything, Foundation, uh, and a website or anything for the cannabis stuff. For sure, man, I would love to plug the foundation. Calvin Jackson Jr. Foundation.com. We're always giving scholarships to the youth and helping those most affected, whether it's the pandemic or the abuse in our communities, whether it's here in Michigan or in Atlanta, definitely primitive cannabis. We'll be online here in Michigan. Nestry, building your mind. You know, it's about changing the game and focusing on what really sparks us and what moves our body and it's our mind.

So just making sure, and that kind of goes over, you know, to what we're talking about. talking about with the CTE and PTSD, you know, look up next street, activate your mind. You got it, man. I'm going to activate my mind in about five minutes, so I'm going to go check it out. Hey, dude, great talking to you, man. A lot of respect for you, dude. And I love the way you carry yourself. Come back another time, dude. Thanks, Chris.