Green Light with Chris Long - Zaire Franklin! Joe Hortiz! Outlooks for Colts & Chargers, Anthony Richardson, Justin Herbert & Jim Harbaugh! Tom Brady Roast, NBA Playoffs & Introducing Kiss Tracks

Episode Date: May 7, 2024

An episode covering anything and everything. We start with a Hello, NBA playoff talk and then Macon details a DM he sent. Zaire Franklin then stops by to hang out with Chris and talk the Colts 2024 season outlook, the excitement with Anthony Richardson, his favorite rivalries in the AFC South and the viral fight he got in with Jason Kelce. After Zaire, Chris and Macon debut their Kiss Tracks, the opposite of diss tracks, for their favorite fellow podcasters. Chargers GM Joe Hortiz comes aboard to divulge his draft plan, why Joe Alt was their guy, the plan for Justin Herbert and working with Jim Harbaugh. To end, you all deliver with a wonderful mailbag including the Tom Brady, Roast Real Estate agent questions and more! (00:00) - Hello, NBA & Macon's Interesting DM (18:59) - Colts Linebacker Zaire Franklin talks 2024 Colts, fighting with Jason Kelce, Indy's DLine & Anthony Richardson's progression (1:01:45) - Introducing Kiss Tracks (to replace Diss Tracks): Chris and Macon drop some clean bars and a show a little love for some of their favorite podcasters (1:13:40) - Chargers GM Joe Hortiz on how he knew Joe Alt was the guy, reloading for Justin Herbert, working with Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers' potential (1:36:20) - Mailbag: Real Estate agents, Tom Brady Roast & more! 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

Well, here's what I want to discuss. If you could have a beef with any team in the AFC South, would it be the Titans? No, because I already can smack them a couple of times. They really be useful. It really be using. Welcome to the Green Light podcast. Thanks for joining today. All you Colts fans are going to be in for a treat.

All you NFL fans are as well. Zaire Franklin, the hard-hitting leader of the Indianapolis Colts of defense, joins to talk about a few things, namely the Colts. He also has plenty of praise for Anthony Richardson. He's excited for year two for QB1. He also talks about the rivalry with Houston, Gus Bradley's impact on his play, the defensive line in Indianapolis.

Andy weighs in on rap beefs. A good interview with Zaire. We also get to talk to Joe Hortiz, the GM for the LA Chargers, drafting Joe Alt, trading away a couple pieces, but reloading and how excited he is to work with Jim Harbaugh. In between those two interviews,

we have a good bit of fun. With all these dizzes and rap beefs going on, Chris wanted to introduce a kiss track. Just show some people some love. So he's going to give out a couple kiss tracks, maybe a disc track in there, but namely kiss tracks. We also talk some MBA,

and we hit a little mailbag. Thank you all for submitting. It was last minute you all came through, had some good picks. Enjoy today's show. We're going to have a blast of a show for you on Friday. Make sure you come back for it. We'll catch you then.

City, Oklahoma. Hello. Why? They're hosting a basketball game tonight. Rest versus Rust. Eight days off. Thunder host line. The Mavericks on Tuesday night.

NBA playoffs in full gear. We now have some good series. Matt, Matt, resident expert. Pacers, Knicks. How many games and who wins? Yeah. I think seven Knicks. I like that.

Nuggets wolves. It's 1-0 now. I bet the wolves. Seven nuggets. Oh, man, I'm going the other way. I like the wolf. I had the wolves money line. I think I'm with Matt on both of those.

The wolves did look really, really good, though. They have the perfect match. Really, really good. Okay, Kev Celtics. Okay. By the way, they're minus 1,800 to win the series, the Celtics.

This is not even good. Celtics and four. Four. Celtics. Celtics don't lose a game. Even without Chris Stops, I still think they'll dominate. Mavericks Thunder. That's a tough one.

I'll take Mavericks and six. Wow. Is that the toughest one? Yeah, for sure. Most fun one, too. How good does Kyrie look? Really good is the answer. Yeah, yeah.

Okay, well, so here's the deal. Kyrie looks great. Here's the deal. If the T. Wolves beat the Nuggets and somebody can beat the Celtics, I think we're going to have a lot of fun. I think no matter who wins is going to be a lot of fun. Look at the teams left. Well, Boston's one in the east.

Yeah, I know. That's the unfortunate thing. Can anybody hang with Boston in these? If we get an injury. If we get an injury. Okay, we'll work on that. Hey, question. Put a talented wing on the Sixers next year.

Who should it be? I've heard the name Brandon Ingram floated around, or you could buy low on him. He's kind of like a distressed asset right now. He can definitely score. Question. Not Tobias Harris. If you're starting an NBA franchise,

Anthony Edwards. For the next 10 years. Anthony Edwards. Who's your number one overall pick? Anthony Edwards. Mine's Janice Anstacompo. Boy, is it hard not to pick Anthony Edwards. I totally get it.

I get it. Like I thought big guy. I thought like... Yolkid? What do you say? Is he going to take Yokage? No. Luca.

Huh. Lucas is 25. Luke is incredible. How old is Ant-Man? 22. 22. Okay. And he's Michael Jordan.

Exactly. And, you know, you want to get out ahead of this stuff. This is like, this is the last time you'll be able to buy him low. Like actually two months ago was probably the last time you'd be able to buy him relatively low. Now, he's the hottest thing since. Janus Antecoompo. Yep. Who is 29 years old.

Today he had to say he was sick of the Jordan comparisons and you all need to stop. Are you sick of him? Yeah, which I hate that when I get compared to the fucking play this player all time. That's the worst. Stop it already. It's a good zag though. It is a good zag. Listen, here's the question I have for you guys.

These playoffs, well, not the playoffs, but like the NBA ad placement on the jersey. How many teams can you actually match with their advertising? Oh, good question. Is this an actual game we're going to play? Yeah, I'm going to ask you guys. Not a ton. Like all at the top of my head, zero. Disney for the magic.

I remember that one comes through. I thought you guys would know more. Seeing you watch pretty much every NBA game. I don't look at that little. I know, but that's the point. There's just not a lot of them that come to mind. And so the question I had was like, why are they doing it? You know, like, I don't think this product placement's really actually helping that much.

I'm waiting for like cheese it to get in the game. I've gone. You know why we need snacks? Because people are watching late at night. That's when people are hungry. They want to go to the pantry for some cheese. It's midnight. It's game six.

Whatever it is, wolves nuggets. All these tech companies. Nobody's watching late at night. Like, you know, let me get an account with Rukatan. Isn't that that was a Golden State Warriors advertiser. They signed a three-year 60 million deal. Most of these deals are like $7 to $10 million. You're just wasting money.

I've gone to a few websites of these companies while watching the game. Yeah. Not. Sike. Haven't been to one. Exactly. That was a joke. Exactly. None of that advertising makes sense to me.

You're telling me I'm going to go to Staples of the Staples Arena is named after them? That didn't work. No, well, I mean, like, I go to Staples all the time. If I need office supplies, I go to Staples. Like, you know, like when they fly over the arena before the game, you see staples. But people watch for hours on end and they can't tell you who the Timberwolves advertiser is. I just don't think it makes a lot of sense. Yeah.

That's OKC. That's OKC. That's the one I know. See, now I can match them like this. Loves because OKC actually is like, everybody else is like, yeah, we'll do a tech company. OKC is like, well, what do we have a lot of here is like gas station? You know? Yeah.

That actually makes a lot of sense. I don't know. I was just curious if you guys actually paid attention to that stuff. The other thing I want to say is with regards to Anthony Edwards, we cannot officiate him this way. And by that I mean the other night, who did he walk by? Was it Brandon Jennings? Or not Brandon Jennings.

Who's the guy with the headband for the, for the KCP? Yeah, it wasn't KCP. It was the other guy with the sunglasses. Like it was maybe Peyton Watson. No, it was one of these guys. Okay. And he dunks on this guy or something and walks by him, just gives him a little sample of the mean mug and they teed him up.

A week ago he's backpedaling doing a 50 foot dog cuss of a goat dude and he can't walk by the fucking third guard on the nuggets. And Reggie Miller who's been struggling with two plus two and saying things like that throughout these playoffs he was right when he said you're going to give Anthony Edwards a tea for that and Jamal Murray is dual wielding.

He's literally shooting a guy. He's shooting a guy. So we got to like if we're going to be driving Anthony Edwards to be the next generation's like 1A like we got to treat him like the 1A he can ice grill whoever he wants he can me among whoever he wants Katie didn't have a problem with it. I'm changing my pick Anthony Edwards Anthony Edwards Anthony Edwards hey that guy on the Pacers is it James Jones what's his name James Johnson James Johnson he's still around every year there's a reminder and it was for me watching him in a scuffle with the bucks and watching Bobby Portis not like not move like

Bobby Portis usually does like I feel like you can tell in the NBA who's a guy that everybody's afraid of and when you look this cat up his mom and dad were seven and nine time black belt champions they're like seven kids in this house can you imagine breaking into that house by accident you remember when JLo was in that well you probably guys don't remember this but there's a movie with J-Lo and it was like she had it all trip-wired out and she had weapons and shit and it was like you fuck with the wrong house like imagine going into james johns's house i just wanted to point that out because every year we talk about who are the badasses in the NBA and he seems to be the number one badass in the NBA is this the same james johnson from like 15 years ago the guy was on the

he's only on the team because he's an enforcer got it he's basically a hockey player out there yep yeah he's from caspar wyoming okay Yeah. A guy who's got a black belt from Casper, Wyoming, a black dude from Casper, Wyoming with a black belt. The guy went to wake. Yep. All right.

Pretty far down the list of people that I want to fuck with. On it. Okay. So anyways, today we've got another guy you don't want to fuck with on the pod. His name's Ayer Franklin. He's a badass. He plays a linebacker for the Colts. And I think his podcast is awesome.

The Trenches Show. And I think it's great. I think it's a great podcast. I really do. Him, he's got a teammate on their speed. I listen to do a bunch of it today. I would recommend it. Really fun.

Good rapport with his co-host. They're just a good group. So looking forward to having him on. And then before we talk to Chargers General Manager, Joe Hortiz, I think that's the coolest job in the world. Every day you get to like work things out with Jim Harbaugh. Like you just have conversations every day. What do you like?

What don't you like? Such fun, interesting days for about three years. For three years. I think it's going to be longer. I'm really excited about this. But before we get to talking about them in the bridge, there's something I want to do. A lot of people asked us because we are two affluent white middle age podcasters. Naturally, they want us to weigh in on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.

And I'm a huge Kendrick Lamar fan. This is kind of how it goes. It's like whoever you like more, you're going to say they won the beef. Okay. That's just the way it is. I also think beefs have changed. Like back in the day, a beef was like between two rappers. And there wasn't as much multimedia.

It wasn't like the, you know, you have a timeline to weigh in on. And like you could, you could observe a beef. And it was just a lot, it was a lot simpler. Now it's so complicated, it's chaotic. I feel like half the rap game's beefing. There are people weighing in on the beef that could be beefed with. I don't want to be beefed with. I don't want any beef.

I'm not going to pick a winner because I don't want to get in trouble. Like I really have no interest in beef. I think beef is just, it's overrated. It's, 20204 is the year of chaos, man. nobody can get along everybody's tearing each other down this thing we're airing out our personal laundry you know it should be just who rhymes better things have gotten so personal and so negative that i i just wanted to put it out there that i am anti beef uh in fact uh i am anti dis record so today i'd like to come in and try my hand and making some kiss records hmm you know what a kiss record is

no tell me it's where you praise someone wow okay so you know like i'm getting so you know like i'm tired of the disc records. I want some kiss records. We need more kiss records, less disc records in 2020. Uncle baby Billy up in here. Praise be. Praise be. So anyways, I got some rhymes that I wrote about fellow podcasters. I did

do one disc record. Okay. But I did mostly kiss records. And we'll do those in the bridge between the interviews. Oh yeah, tell your story. All right. I I'm not proud of it, but I DMed a high schooler, a high school boy, I DM'd him.

That's an important distinction there. I jumped into the DMs of a young boy in Los Angeles. His name's Trent Perry. He plays basketball for a school called Harvard Westlake. and he was committed to Southern Cal decommitted when the coach left for SMU and then he took one visit to another school and that happened to be UVA.

So as the process dragged on a bit, I thought, you know who Trent Perry may like to hear from is me? And so I sent him quite a long, direct message on his preferred... Is it so long you had to scroll? Oh, yeah, yeah, it's a scroller. Can we share it?

you know, I think if you're going to tell the story, you got to show the DM. It's not as interesting shared because it's pretty much down the middle. I think a little mystery may be to our advantage here. The headline is that I DM the young man. He only took one visit. It was to Virginia. It was signed sealed and delivered to Virginia. And then at some point Saturday night, it was no longer Virginia. And I was down real bad. McDonald's All-American. So wait, he didn't DM you back?

Well, I haven't. There'll be a time for questions. And I lost sleep over this kid. Like I woke up, I thought about Trent. Went to bed, thought about Trent. Wasn't as good to my family because I was thinking about Trent. I got a buddy called Kyle completely rolled his ankle looking at videos of this high school boy watching videos of this high school boy he's in his garage he rolls his ankle he's in a boot for

four weeks you know we're heavily invested not your brother somebody else what is he just oh time for questions later and uh so i wouldn't want to interrupt this train i was uh you know really bad you two x the benzos sort of thing you know um just try to try to get to a stable place a little caffeine more benzos more caffeine more of it just trying to you know find that equilibrium because you're down because of Trent Perry, long story short, who's have got some guys coming in, you know, so I'm on a little bit of an upper here. But I'll now take questions about...

What did he say? He didn't read it. So it's not that bad. I was imagining that he had like DM'd you back and was like... Like if it says, I would know, right, if he read it? Yeah. You can read it. Yeah, I'll read it.

It's just not as... Here, let me read it. I don't know if you want to read it aloud. Well... Okay. I'm such an old. I can't get to the screen where you see what you're right people. Can I see it?

A bunch of pictures of my kids. I really don't know how to get there. So yeah, all yours. I wish the kid, he's going to go to UCLA. Dear Trent, I will suck your dick if you, if you come to Charlottesville. How old are you? I can't find the DM.

See? Yeah, among all these other DM. Hey, chill, bro. Trent, how long ago was this? My most recent DM easily. Oh, requests. No, no, no, no. You deleted it.

I didn't delete it. You shouldn't DM high school kids. Oh, it wasn't. There it is. There it is. Let me read it. Okay. Trent, my man in all caps.

I have thought about this a lot, and I think it's UVA for you. Go slower. Go slower. It was slower. As much PT as you want, the most respected coach in college hoops, who also sends guys to league an incredible school, a dope gym. A dope gym? He said dope.

It is a dope gym. He's like a cop. All right. A dope gym. A rabid fan base. You have a couple of shooters on the squad, a couple bigs. Mahaney, question mark, Amos, question mark. It's probably a team that wins the ACCC.

again trust in tony best of luck my guy all caps again or my guy was okay yeah pretty good huh not bad yeah actually eight out of ten thank you that's his problem yeah you got to you got actually read it that's his problem we should we should we should we should hate this kid well let's hate him uh let's hate him for my man he's gonna be buried on the bench at at UCLA yeah great I hate this kid where word was he didn't want to uh travel across the country to go to school so that makes sense but maybe think about that I had a Yeah, exactly, before you... Eliminate the schools. Well, he probably traveled across the country and was like, this is not for me.

This is super long. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Maybe he was turned off by the fan base. Hey. It was a little, you know? Yeah.

I'm not going to DM the kids anymore. You're the guy from 30 rock DM me. I'm not going to... I'm not going to DM the kids. Okay. All right. So anyways, we've got Zaireer Franklin. And then we've got a little rhyme workshop.

Maybe a mailbag. We got a couple good mailbags here. Into Joe. Hortiz. Yeah. If I were you, I'd be thinking about Ortiz and then just stick the age. Horti. At the beginning. Yeah. Big poppy. Hey, y'all. Greenlight has official merch like this hat right here. Like the one on my head is dad hat. Love this hat. I'm not even a dad hat guy, but this thing fits great.

This, this hat right here fits great. We've got hoodies. we've got teeth by the way this hoodie's like super comfy i mean it's like soft plush it's not the type of hoodie that's going to get stiff with one wash uh and the shirts too because like i'm a big comfort guy okay you got like this white shirt here you got the shirt with the logo the abbey road looking logo with dr fax smoking uh presumably a blunt Kyle carrying cowboy reed making and driveling a basketball, which I've never seen him actually do, and me carrying a football. And then you've got the black shirt here, too, with the logo.

So stickers, hit the link in the description in the video, below the video, actually, and make sure to tag us on social media showing off your green light merch. It's quality, quality threads here, okay? Wouldn't do it any other way. Welcome into the show. A fellow podcaster, I like getting these guys on because they're pros, man. They're good at this stuff. And I think the podcast is great.

It's Zaire Franklin. And the podcast is The Trenches with Zyre Franklin. I just started watching it. And I can't get enough, man. We were just talking about it off offline. I think the key is you guys are like, it's like you're sitting in the locker room. Is that the aim?

Yeah. I feel like, you know, when you just sitting in the locker room, like today we just dropped the episode with Michael Pittman. And, you know, he gave his own top 10 receivers. So we're going back and forth just arguing. And you know how that gets. You'll be in the locker room two hours after everybody left as you, three guys, the equipment guys. Dude, like somebody get dressed and leave, bro.

Like, no one's showered yet. We all just sit here arguing in towels about, well, I like AJ. I like CD. You know what I mean? Stuff gets ridiculous. So, but yeah, though, me, Speed and my boy, Tim, really honestly, the whole idea was just, you know, you know, myself being the seventh rounder, speed being the fifth rounder, both of us, you know, special teamers in our hearts.

Just kind of trying to get that perspective to the fans and to, you know, to the rest of the league, you know, that, you know, how the 90 percenters live and, you know, just talking our way through it. I always say it's like another sport. Like, like, dudes that play special teams to me, I'm like, bro, you got it. Did you ever play special? You never played a little bit because I was a high pick. So they kind of tried to put me in there to, like, keep me humble and have me doing the thing on field goal where I was doing this shit. And I was like, bro, I don't even know how to do that. That's a man's spot, though.

That's probably the most underrated spot on the whole team. You have to get pretty much your shit ran through every time we score a touchdown. And there's no defense. Nobody cares. It's just a most thankless job in the league. That and like older, I guess. I don't know. Yeah.

And the only way anybody knows you were on it is if you get a fucking field goal blocked. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. What do you think is the, because I think special teamers are like real hard asses. what do you think is the most hard-ass, like, position on special teams? I'm going to definitely say, I'm going to speak just for myself, but playing guard on punt is just not sweet, bro. You know, I've had to deal with Callais Campbell coming at me full speed on a twist game.

You know, I'm in there mixing it up with Christian Wilkins and, you know, Aaron Donald. And it's kind of like, bro, do I really get paid for this? I mean, I guess I do, but it's not what I was born to do. You're like, fuck, it's punt safe. There's Aaron Donald. I know, like, you go out there. I'm trying to be cool with Kalez.

Yo, what's up? Yeah, dab him up, bro. I've been watching you. Long ago. You're good? You are? You look good, dude. Yeah, he's pissed at quentin about something.

He's taking it out on me. Uh-huh. It's never a good. And the worst is, I'm not going to lie, the worse is when the guy next to you messes up because then they always put, like, the best. So like speed was next to me, you know, and speed was like younger to me. So he was like a young hot head.

So I'm like, I'm trying to talk speed through so much that one time he messes up. They end up putting like Judon over there, Judon. So like, clicking us both up. And I'm like, what are we doing? I'm like, dude, and I heard y'all talking about Bubba. You know, Bubba, I played, I was in New England for a year.

And Bubba was the coach. And he was one of the coaches that I got real tight with. I wasn't on any teams, but I love Bubba, man. Oh, yeah, Bubba is my, that's my dog. He still texts me like workout songs and shit. You know, Bubba thinks he still wants to. He thinks he's still playing. Yeah, for sure.

But he's a great coach. I mean, he's definitely one of the, and you as a team are early in your career, especially, like you know the difference between guys who are great coordinators and who aren't. And I put him up near the top of the league. No question. I'm not going to lie to you.

I mean, I was actually just thinking about this other day, but, you're like, Bubba, I will really say might be one of the most influential coaches that I've had. you know, especially just in my NFL career. I mean, you know, I remember, you know, as a rookie, you know, I came in seventh round, had a little playing time early, to be honest, let it get to my head, you know, it wasn't doing what I had to do. Then I kind of came the bubble on.

So I'm like, look, I need to be on kickoff. He was like, no, like, you're not good at this. And, you know, kind of from that standpoint, you know, from my rookie year and like until now, you know, just kind of how he's like held me accountable, like, taught me how to practice, like, taught me how to prepare, you know. So, you know, I used to just go in the meetings with him and just sit and just break down, like, talking about, you know, special teams and stuff like that and just how to be a dynamic and great player. You know, I think Bubba, he had, like, a huge influence on not only myself, but speed, too.

I know speed would co-signed as much as well, too. So he's definitely one of the best coaches I have. And that's, I think it's truly because he cares about the players and he cares about the game. And when you got a coach that's, like, done it at a high level, been around guys that done it at a high level, you know, I think that always plays, like, a major role in, like, you know, how there. able to connect the guys because they know what it's like to be in the locker room. So they know what you're expecting from a coach. You know what I mean? So it's always a good vibe.

Bubba's that's my man. And I've had Shane on the show. I feel like Shane, yeah, I don't know if he played. He might have played like in college or something for sure. But like he doesn't strike as a player, but he is kind of he, he, he gets the players. Because he doesn't try too hard. Yeah. I think that's it.

Like from interviewing him, I was like, this guy's not selling me. something. You know, what is it about Shane that makes that happen? I think Shane, like, it's weird because I don't know if he did play, but I think Shane, he's got that, that bug that ticking his head that we all have as competitors. You know what I mean? Like, he's also, like, close to age, so he kind of knows what we like, you know what I mean from music. So, like, he hit, like, you know what I mean? I feel like you always he's younger than me, dude. Yeah, I know. We got Joe Flacco now.

Flacco's actually the oldest dude in there. Me and Flacco's same draft class. I saw him last year of it inside the NFL of doing that show, and he was trying out. I'm like, what are you doing, man? He's like, I'm thinking about going back and playing. I was like, are you fucking crazy? And he had a great year, and I cannot believe Cleveland let him walk.

I mean, look, you know how that is. If the backup quarterback takes the team to the playoff, when the starting quarter, you got to get him out of there. You got to get it. It's too much controversy. there's too much issues. So yeah, but look, now he's on our side. So God bless.

Now, Minchu had he gotten you all the playoffs, I feel like, you know, I don't think he got sent off because he was too good. I just think he's too hot a commodity. Like everybody needs a Minshu, right? Like, you guys win that game at the end of the season. I kept fucking up at work calling it a playoff game. It was. I'm like, because it was, you know.

What did you guys learn about yourselves last year culminating in that game in the atmosphere and what it takes and win that division? Man, I think we just learned that we wasn't there yet. You know what I mean? And, you know, I think the hardest part of, like, success sometimes is going through those moments of failure to kind of finally, you know, reach that pinnacle that you really want to.

You know, going into last year, you know, we were like, I don't know, like the third youngest team in the league. We were just full of first and second year guys. Obviously, we had some vests, myself Kenny Pittman Buck. But, you know, we was full of young guys and really kind of came in. Just, you know, Shane just kind of instilled that mentality, that competition. you know, that love for the game.

And, you know, we just really developed this mentality, like, competing anywhere at all times. And, you know, I think just, you know, leading no way up to that road of the week 18 game against Houston, I think that was a prime example. And you know, just as a, you know, as a vet who's won big games and lost big games, like the difference is so small, man. Like, the difference between winning, especially those big games,

when you plan at a high level, it was a hard lesson, you know, for us who've been in the league to deal with, but it was valuable that I feel like our young guys, you know, Jew Brins, you know, Anthony, you know, Josh Dan was like those young kids who like have a lot of talent that's going to grow in this league. But it was a valuable for them to learn that, like, look, the difference between winning and this NFL is that small.

So, like, you got to take advantage. Yeah, no question. I thought, like, I don't know how you felt about this and maybe you wouldn't share, but like Stiking caught some shit for that call at the end of the game. And, you know, Dan Campbell caught shit for some of the calls late in the game. that throws, if it's on the money, convert it. This is a hell of a call, bro.

I told him, I'm like, bro, like, you know, it is what it is. Like, if that's J.T. right there, he's not open. I'm going to let you know that. JT. had just cribs something 50 yards. You think we're going to leave them open on fourth and two? Hell now. Exactly. I mean, that's the beauty of the game.

You know what I mean? But look, you know, that's the risk they all take, you know, as a play caller. You know, you call something risky when you hit it, you're a hero. when you lose you was zero. No question. But I still think he's a hell of a coach. And I love what you guys got going there. And the other guy that I feel like had,

just from looking from the outside end, your career started to really take off. I felt like when Gus came. Like, was that a product of the last guy not seeing something in you or you taking a step or just a little bit of everything? Well, you know, what I would say is, you know, just with the last staff.

And I mean, I feel like you've been a part of it as well. Sometimes, you know, they get a vision of who you are and it's kind of hard to come off it. Who you've grown into, you know what I mean? So, and like I said, I think, you know, for a long time I held like, you know, sometimes you hold it against like these coaches, like these, you know, they help me back, you know what I mean? I'm not going to say I don't think about it every now. And then when I'm, you know, in a tough bench set or something like that, you feel

me? me. But I think I had to look at myself, to be honest with you and realize, you know, just the role that I play, like I said, as a young player. not really taking advantage of certain opportunities. But I would just say, you know, with Gus coming in, man, like, all I ever asked him was for opportunity in the first set of hours. And, you know, that's what he afforded me.

And, you know, I'm extremely grateful for him for that. And to be honest, over the last two, three years, we've been able to grow and build our relationship so much, man, and just, you know, being able to help me see the game just so much better, so much faster, you know, me and him being honest about, you know, even his growth, you know, coming over to Indy and he's coming over to Indy. You know, after being, you know, L.A. and Vegas for so long, kind of being typecast himself, you know, still himself growing and still, you know, expanding with the game as well, too.

So I feel like our relationship, you know, is definitely something that helped me play, you know, at a high level. And I definitely, you know, definitely give him that love and grace too just for, you know, give me what I asked for, which was really just an opportunity. Yeah, you made the most of it. And he has that personality that you try, I drank a beer with him a couple years ago. and I was like, man, this is a guy, I drink another with him.

Isn't he the most positive person you ever met? Yeah, he's so positive. When you walk up to him, you're like, oh, this is one of those old NFL coaches. He probably just mumbles and he's negative all the fucking time. But he was really positive. And what you said just stood out to me, which is, and not a lot of coordinators are like this. Because they're a lot older than us. When you get turned 40, you're pretty stuck in your ways.

I can tell you, I'm almost there. But like, this guy, you saying that he has evolved, that he's changed the way he does things and acknowledge that that's a rare thing to hear from a coordinator you know because usually they're like oh my way's the way you know and i'm from this tree this is how i call plays and the thing i love about him is from a personality standpoint you can see it in the way he calls plays he let you all play yeah it's not about him it's about the players and i thought that manifested last year because especially that front really stepped up man and y'all didn't have and i say this respectfully when i say star i don't mean great player i mean like household name there's one

guy on that defense, I feel like everybody knew on the front, Buckner, right? But you had, they just picked up the option on Quitty. I love Stu, one of my favorite players in the league. Yeah, I bet you do. I bet you love Stu more than anybody in the league. He makes your job easy, huh? 100%. 100%. Yeah, some dogs up there for sure. Yeah, what do you attribute that to, like, them getting all those sacks last year? And it was really evenly to. distributed like ebacom had a bunch of sacks but like how do you you watched it from right behind like you saw it happen so what was it about that group that allowed them to play together so well man i think uh you know it's crazy obviously you know i gotta definitely credit you know quitty and

you know dieo uh yeah or the angbo you know their growth you know making that step you know as a pass rusher you when you get and then you know sometimes it just takes one of them games you know I mean, Daiho popped out in Germany with three-piece. Okay, you ready. You know what I mean? Quitty playing New England, something about him going back home to New England just turns something in his head, you know, and get going. So, you know, definitely their growth.

I would really say Samson, man, Samson at Bucon, bro. You know, I knew him back on, you know, I was training for the draft. You know how you go to like a training facility. And they pretty much base your whole, look, what we did did this guy. You guys are both. So we're going to do this to you. weirdly enough, my comp at this spot was Samson. Shout out to Tracy Ford at FSP in Seattle.

Really? So I trained with Samson for a while back when he was in San Fran in LA. And I just knew he was a dog, man. And honestly, him coming and just kind of really shoring up that, them edges, bro, with him and Quitty on the opposite sides, like just from a first and second down standpoint of just having two, like, real ends that's setting edges, just getting afterwards, like, that's hunting.

And then I think, you know, it like, it all starts to end with default, man. I mean, he's a, he's a talent. He's special. He's a, he's a superstar, like you said. I mean, just the things that he's able to do and how he's able to get after the ball. I mean, he's a leader of the team, you know what I mean? He's a guy that, you know, we all, you know, rally behind and believe in.

And, you know, I think everything that we really do kind of starts and ends, you know, with nine and none, to be honest with you. With the side of stew, in my opinion. Big, first of all, big, big. Big Grove got suspended last year. I told it was a hardest six weeks in my life. I bet it was, dude. I tell you what, Big Grove, bro.

And it's just like I feel like this them as a unit, man, I felt like it was one of those things where they really started to like feed off of each other and like really continue to grow together. So it's been great to see. Thank God we've been adding to the room. I mean, we got another six, seven, three hundred pound guy. My man, Great Kwan with another young boy first rounder. he pulling them next week.

Hopefully he's ready to work and get better too. So, man, look, I ain't going to lie. I'm not ready to put them boys as best in the league, man. I don't really, I don't know too many people with the guys interior, exterior, you know, and that D-line, man, I think them boys got something to prove this year for sure. They got an argument to make. Their pressure rate was up near top of league. Their sacks were up near the top of the league.

And most people couldn't tell you three guys that were on that group. But they came to play. And, you know, like I was going to ask about Kenny Moore, but I just heard you call somebody a bull. So I was, we got to talk Philly. So, and I didn't know you were from Philly. You just found out? I just found out.

Well, because I watched your podcast and I heard you talk. I heard you talk. And I'm like, yeah, this guy's from Philly. This is awesome. Place near and dear to my heart, it's a place you grew up. You know, like how, how relieved are you that the Sixers aren't playing the Pacers? Yo, I ain't going to lie to you, bro. That would have put me in a real tough spot

Because I was telling people like, I know the Pacers, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, me and Hallibur go to the same church. I can't be out here rooting for and be like, you know what I mean? It's tough, dude. Look, I'm a real Philly fan, though. So, like, we get a little left-handed. So I'm like, I don't want Indiana to see me like that.

You know what I mean? But so thank God, unfortunately, the Knicks. But now, now we all, I'm joining forces. Now you're on the, yeah, but here's the thing. I'm a Knicks fan. So the Sixers asked me to come up to the game a couple days ago, and I couldn't make it, but I was like, I felt kind of fucked up going up because I'm like, I got to sit there with my hands clasps.

Like, you know, like I can't. And I do, I pull for the Sixers because of my time there, but it's fucked up because I'm a Knicks fan. I've been once since I was a kid, but I totally, I love going to those games. I think the game day experience there is awesome. Oh, yeah. And I used to know, well, I used to know, but there's former senior VP of marketing, Brittany Boy.

We did a lot of work with her, you know, with my foundation, Salicia's Angels. So we had a really good relationship. So every time I came home, you know, she always plugged me in, man, just going to all them playoff games. That Philly experience is different, man. It's like, it's like showtime in there. You know, you see everybody in the back, you know, I'm pulling up.

It's like an East Coast Staples Center a little bit, man. Like, I don't want to, it's not MSG, like with some of the, celebrities but like if you you know dawn was out there the other day uh chuck was out there chuck's the man and and and and so i mean yeah it's um it's a special place and and i just love the sports like all being downtown that was my favorite thing when i went to play there was like we practiced in nova care i could scoot across the street and watch hockey i could go watch baseball i could watch basketball um the whole thing's awesome and mica parsons is spending a lot of time at uh the Sixers Stadium. So I don't know what you read into that. And you, you're, since you're on an

NFL team, you're not like a real Philly fan in football anymore, but I'm liking what I'm seeing with that dude frequenting the, those courtside seats there. How do you feel about, uh, inheriting team beef, you know, like, so are you from New York? No, I just grew up, I grew up in Virginia and UVA, you know, because you're, you are, you know, and I, and I just liked, I like, I like, I, liked how tough they were. You know, like in the, because in the 90s, I didn't want to be a frontrunner. I had to pick a team that didn't win the whole thing,

but was like close. And so I picked the Knicks. You know, we don't have, like, I wasn't going to be a Wizards fan or something. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, yeah. But you think Micah could end up in Philly? You think you could see that?

You think he would definitely posturing himself to do so. I mean, at the end of the day, you know, there's always about that check. You know, that's typically how I go. I don't know, though, man. I mean, the Cowboys and the Eagles got real, like real beef, though. I feel like when y'all play each other, you know what I mean? Like, it's got, this is some animosity there.

So it's like, it's kind of hard when you kind of portraying like you want to be on the reliable side. Now, I get it. You know, I get in Harrisburg. Yeah. That's another thing. So he's from Harrisburg. He's not from Philly.

So that's a little bit of a different. That's a little different. But I love people. Shout out to Shady, Shady, Shady from Hadesbury. Yeah, Shady, Shady. Shout with Michael Simpson, who's way older than you, but one of my teammates. But, yeah, like the podcast while you're playing, the Pacers and Sixers hypothetical would have been a perfect example of why I'd be nervous doing a podcast while I play,

because people, they're just on your ass about everything you say. And then more so during the season, you have a bad game, maybe a whiff on a big play or something. And like, my first thought would always be, man, I got to go talk. And I talked to Kelsey about this because he was doing his thing. And he was like, should I do it? I'm like, bro, you're a Hall of Famer. Like, no matter what they, no matter what you do, like, you're not going to fuck up that bad where people are.

And the same thing to you because you're a great player. So like, I don't know, though. I don't know if I could have done it. Have you ever had issues where you're like, man, today's not the day and I got to get in here and I got to record? You know, it's crazy. I've had that. Now, I would say the hardest pod that we had. to do was definitely after the Houston game.

Yeah. Man, that one, that one, like, we called it still grieving, but that's because I was, like, really still hurting. Like, you know, you know how when you lose that last game, it's like, you, I'm in a three-week depression. You know what I mean, nothing but tequila and, and bad, bad things, bad things. Yeah, I right now. But at the same time, you know.

I was drunk at exit meetings. You're getting crazy. But I would say, the thing I learned, well, first off, it's a commitment during the year. I would say that I would say that's probably the hardest part. Like, you know, when you're in the middle of it, you know, I remember, you know, like late, it's holiday season. They change that they flex one of our games. We're not playing on Sunday.

We're playing on Saturday now. So, like, my week is messed up. Yeah. And I'm trying to still pot on the off day. And it's just kind of like, you know, I'm trying to spend time with my family. So I would say it's a commitment more than anything else. But, you know, after a bad game or when you're going through something, to be honest with you, I'd just be feeling like that's your chance to really just be real with the fans.

You know what I mean? You're trying to, I feel like a lot of the player rampods, at least ours with the trenches, a lot of it is really just trying to show, you know, not only our personalities, but also to be honest with you. Like, we just like, yo, like, I hate to say, like, when I was in high school, I'm sorry, Chris, I was tweeting crazy stuff about the Eagles. Yeah, I bet you were. Chip Kelly, like, you ruining my team. You know what I mean?

when I grew up, when I was a little kid, my grandmother used to cuss Donovan McNabb about every single time he was on my TV. She couldn't stand him. Now, I like McNabb, Syracuse legend. But that's just how I grew up. So I understand. So maybe for me personally, being from where I'm from, I'd be under, I'd be having like at least a sense of perspective.

Like, okay, I did miss one tackle. I do lead the league. But if you want to say I'm a bumming, I should go play in Taiwan next year, I get it. Like, I'm not going to be mad at you for tweeting me that today. But just let's take it easy. let's not bring my kids in this. You know what's so funny? Out of all the stuff I've seen you say,

this is the one that I thought wouldn't play very well in Indianapolis. I'm going to read you a tweet. Not Afraid. Might be Eminem's only good song, by the way. I stand on that. Are you trolling all the white people at Indy? Bro, let me say this, bro.

I will say this. Till I collapsed was my squat song when I was in high school. Everybody used to listen to Till I collapsed. Nate dog, we ain't going to act like Nate Dogg ain't knowing that as well. Totally with you. My issue with Eminem is not that he's not a legend. He's a legend. He's a stand.

We're not even going to argue and debate that. He's a great, right? My issue with him is compared to all the other legends in the rap game, I feel like he has the least replay value. Like you're not going to ride around listening to Eminem talking about locking his daughter in the closet while he goes. Like if you're listening to stuff like that, That's more about being throwed. Like, you're not spinning him.

Like, I don't know if you're in your playlist right now. I have a playlist of just songs. I would put Jay Cole in that category, though. No disrespect to my producer, Reed, who loves it. I love Jay Cole. That's crazy. But the replay, though. They're not like.

It has more replay than M&M though. For sure. Okay, I got that. But Cole that, like, I'm a Kendrick guy. Okay, some people would tell me some of Kendrick's shit is not. A lot of Kendrick stuff. A lot of Kenrick. Okay.

I like Kenrick. Okay, my favorite group ever is the most replayable group of all time. I don't care what you say. It's Alcast. Okay. All right. So we found some common ground there. And I generally don't like white rappers.

If a rapper's like, if a guy walks up to me, he's a white guy and he's like, I'm a rapper. I'm like, bro. He better change careers. Except my guy, Joe Scudder and Action Bronson. Shout out to those guys. But I, but, but yeah, like the M&M thing, I hear what you're saying for sure. But I do think Marshall, not Marshall Mathers LP, slim, slim, slim,

which the very first one has some really replayable songs. Not the lock in my daughter in the closet. That's why I would ask you, when's the last time that you listen to it? A couple months ago. Yeah, a couple months ago. I'm not lying on this. I really did. But I agree with you.

Now that I've heard your, I'm totally with you, dude. Okay, so who's in your top? Who's your top three, four all time? I don't want to do five. That's a stretch. Well, music is very subjective. So, you know what I mean? We got to start off with that.

I think not even based off opinion, just off of, fact, I won't even debate with you. If you don't agree, we really ain't got much to talk about with Jayzy is the best rap of all time period. We really got to talk about that. Jayzy. Some people will argue up and down that Nause is better, but I would not. Yeah, that's bad. But I had, we were, again, we were arguing the stretch line. Middle of stretch lines today, we was arguing about Lou Wayne versus Jay Z. I don't think they understand how much we argue about nonsense in the worst time. Yeah, no question, but you're arguing with all the Southern dudes. And I listen to a lot, I listened a lot of New York rap when I was younger. So

I like all the samples and all the fucking I was dipset, the locks, like all that stuff. But Wayne, undeniably when I was in college, 08 Wayne, 07 Wayne, he had as good a run as anybody over that time. He definitely did. Wayne is stamp legend pillar of the game. However, my Philly has to kick in. And me growing up in Philly, listening to Gilly the kid, I thought I was going to say being. Healy wrote to his albums for him.

That's, to me, that's a little, it's a little dicey once you get to compare him to Jay-Z who doesn't write music. I agree with you. Okay. I'm with you. I'm like, that's just me, though. Okay. So is it Jay Wayne and then two more?

I mean, I think, I like Jay. I like Wayne. People hate it. You have to, I mean, I think he's still running. Well, this whole beef thing is actually crazy. But, you know, Drake. I'm over beefs, bro. I don't want, can we just fucking be nice, bro?

I have a really, really bad take about it. It's just, No, give it, bro. At a certain point, like, they just, like, do you think, let me ask you this, if Jay Cole, I mean,

if Kendrick and Drake were in the room together, do you think they would fight? If Kendrick were bigger than 5'5, I think so. I think Kendrick, I think Kendrick's been fantasizing about fighting this dude for the better part of a decade because this is the way I see the beef going. From the inception,

they were like cool Drake put him on some stuff and then and then Kendrick just kept like poking him and Drake kept being like I don't like fighting I don't like fighting and now like he's just because I think it's almost like Kendrick is so bored sometimes that he has to create something for him to get motivated by I think that's what he's doing I think that's what he's doing no I agree with that 100 but the interpersonal shit I can't confirm all this stuff you know like it's just a war words at this point, you know what I mean? At a certain, like, who's lying? Is you lying?

Did you hide a kid, you know, are you signed to endoscope? I don't know. What are we discussing? Well, here's what I want to discuss. If you could have a beef with any team in the AFC South, would it be the Titans? No, because I already smacked them a couple times. It really be useful. It really be using.

I'm not going to lie to you. I love CJ, man. I support all our young brothers at quarterback, but CJ, he didn't say it a lot of wild stuff to me. and our run-ins, you know, at the Super Bowl at all. What are he saying? Many times, and he's feeling himself. But he in Tokyo, so congrats.

I'm happy for you, but I need to see that boy again. What did he say? What did he say? Because I kind of like the side of him that I see when he's on the pod with Micah. Because Micah just says whatever. And CJ, he's got that dog in him, dude. You could just tell, like, that's kind of who he is. Well, we were talking.

And he was, you know, how the Super Bowl is at Radio Row. You know, it was big, all awesome. going on. So he had the X-M radio right before me. And he was on there talking about how he cooked the Colts in both games. And I was just, I saw him and I pulled him aside and I was like, you know, when you play Anthony, it was like 28 to 7 in like the second quarter, we were kind of blowing you out. I mean, we were playing cover two shell, you know, two minute prevent for two quarters and a half. So like, yeah, you do for 300 yards, but you were getting blown. That's not a cooking. That's not a cooking. Yeah, and he was like, bro, I didn't cook you, I didn't cook you.

And I'm like, look, if that's what you consider a cooking with the loss, I mean, congratulations. And then I have to remind him as well that he's never beaten Anthony. So. Oh. Yeah, yeah. I love this. You, you like, you're a psychological warfare guy. Because this is why I know we would have had some fucking fun, dude.

Because you like to poke motherfuckers, I could tell. And the funniest thing that I wanted to ask you about was when you poke Jason, and got him real mad when you came up and played the Eagles. No, no question. You didn't play with Jason, so you don't know. Sometimes he kind of just blacks out, especially if you poke him. And I had heard y'all gotten into it. And my question for you is, like, growing up an Eagles fan, like in 2017,

you were in college, right? I was training for the draft. Wouldn't it be my luck. I'm an Eagles fan my whole life. I finally lay down my flag to train for the draft. They won a Super Bowl. I know, dude. And so, like, at some point, you probably were like, I love Jason Kelsey.

And then you guys are, like, fucking getting into it on the field. field. Like, how surreal is that when you're open practice? Like, that would be like me. I grew up Panthers fan. And I did. I got ejected from a game when we played the Panthers. And people thought I was into it with Steve Smith, but I was. I was into with some other guy. Anyways, like, I feel like it's weird when you grow up watching for a team and then you're like, you're like, you're like, you're like in the shit with them. Yeah, well, what I would say is, um, and Chris, you know, I don't know, a lot of people don't really notice about me, but I really don't like offensive linemen. Like, just like a little, you know i mean i don't really care for them you know just a bunch of big fat guys trying to push me around

all the time so you know and they're not interesting they're not and and they're all fat guys trying to pretend they're not fat anymore you know like mall security guards they got that like fucking they got that mall cop kind of kind of like authority thing about them and they love yeah like their their little fat oh line coach controls them all and they all walk together to the cafeteria they're breathing heavy yeah they do everything together is just like it's like it's like Yeah. Now, I love Quentin, though. Don't let me not get a joke. He's a dog. You know what I love Q Nelly. I love Q Nelly. Prior? Prior's my guy. I like Pryor. He's funny. No, Matt, that's my man for sure. Yeah, so, you know what I mean? Look, I'm out there. And listen, I ain't a lot of Chris. I talk. The whole game, whole practice. And I would just say when we played the Eagles, now I get it. Like I said, we were a young team. We got first and second year players. They are fresh from a Super Bowl with million-dollar receivers.

you know, veterans all over this big lane in there. Shiny toys. Yeah, Jalen. So our practice tempos are a lot different. You get what I'm saying? Like, they, for a good reason. Like, they're fresh. They're not really, they're tagging off.

I'm out here with some young boys. I got to teach these young guys how to practice. So we thug. You know what I mean? And if I see you, I'm going to hit you. I was hitting them and Jason wasn't taking offense to it. You know what I mean? Like I said, I might have called him fat once or twice.

I don't remember it was the heat of the moment. And then, you know, it just became what it became, you know. So, you know, but it was a, look, look, I will say, of all the bench clearing brawls that I've ever had, that was probably my worst loss. Like, you know what I mean? But shout out to the Eagles for like, nah, violating me. They're big, bro. No, look, you ever, you ever had, like, a joint practice fight? And for some reason, you just feel like, it's more of them?

Like, damn, like, why y'all got more? than 90 guys. Go look up. Go look up the Cowboys Rams fight in 2000, whatever the fuck it was. 15, maybe it was like my last year there. And we were in California. And when I tell you,

you know, like you ever watch Braveheart? And motherfuckers just running. And I always wonder how they know who to kill. Like I was running full speed through a field. And there were like 40 cowboys just swarming. And like I tried to deck one. and then my first instinct after I decked him was like hit the deck.

And then, you know, like I ran over to the fence. There were people fighting at the fence over here. There were people fighting over here. Y'all had a party over there. Oh, that was a big gym. Yeah. Fans. Look, I'm going to tell you, look.

So Kelsey hits me, boom. You know, it goes down. Everybody's swinging. I get up. I'm right at Kelsey. I grab it. So it's me, Kelsey and E. It's me, Kelsey and Speed at the bottom of the pile.

We go. Podcasters. Yes, all of us. at some point they pulled Kelsey out of the pile. Yeah. And then I'm on the ground. It's like one of them like the time is slowing down. Yeah.

Oh yeah. I look around. It's just me and E.J. now. And nothing but Eagles though. Oh, yeah. And it was like at that point, they realized like, okay, we're going to keep this football. We're not going to take this to where, you know what I mean? Because I'm from, I'm from North Philly.

Like it was outside. You know, I didn't bend in some, some, some, some. some situations. They kept it. Like I was like, they like, they kept it rap. So I appreciate them for that.

So shout out, shout out to the birds, man. Hey, they're all bad people, man. I think you guys would get along good if you actually met.

But, uh, the one story I wanted to ask you about, you talk about situations. This is a Syracuse situation that, uh, is one of my favorite stories I heard you tell was the walk of flakas story. Uh,

can you give us the abridged version of what happened? Because I know exactly what you mean. I mean. I mean, you know, I just feel like there's some celebrities when, you know, especially if you're younger that could walk in and just totally, not intentionally disrespect you. And then what do you do about it? Bro, it was just, look, man, it was just one of them situations, long and story short, I'm at a concert with my now wife, then girlfriend. You know, we hosted a concert. So after the concert, we had a chance to meet like a meet and greet.

with Waka. We're doing the meet and greet and then she realized that she lost her keys. In the middle of her losing the keys, she's crying. Oh, my God, I don't have my keys. Keys are $150. There's no, this is Syracuse too. We ain't got no under the table deals, you know, ain't much going on. I have about $300 in my name at the time. You know what I mean? So, you know, Waka, and it's funny now because like, now that we got money, like, you know, we'd have been in the league and stuff like, what is what is, $500. Like, you know what I mean? You don't really look at it like, like that crazy. So he just opened up a book bag full of cash and just handed a $500 right in front of me. You don't care

about me. He ain't anything. But like I said, to respect the situation, it was none of it was on no, here go pretty girl. Like he didn't know no sauce. Yeah, he didn't know, no, no flavor on it. But at the same time, I was just kind of like, damn, you just going to give her some money like right in front of me? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, like, you know what I'm saying? Like. like we should slapbox. Like, you feel, I don't know. Like, you know, your pride kicking a little bit, you know what I mean? But it's Walker.

You feel me? Bro, it took me out. That story took me out. So it is what it is. But look, look, we ain't, look, we ain't talking for the 500 no more. So look, that's, that's all I can ask for. No, I wonder if you ever run into him if you were like, hey, man. I don't know if you remember this fucking thing.

But you know was actually crazy. So I got drafted. So the guy got drafted, he got drafted 10 picks before me linebacker, Matt Adams. he just signed to the to the Giants. So that's my boy. We got drafted together. Walker is his first cousin. No way.

Yeah, I know. So you guys could definitely chop it up over this. I don't know. But that's my thing. That's funny, you got to have them on the pod and get him to tell the story. And you'd be like,

what the fuck? I mean, that's just so funny. The way you guys were talking about it, I totally get where you're coming from on that. Because you're like, yeah. But I was trying to ask E.J.

because E.J. is clowning me now. Because I have been told E.J. that story, and he understood where I came from. Obviously, on camera, he tried to act like, he didn't understand where I was coming from. But I was like, the only equivalent is, I'm like, okay, so say you in Vegas, right? You in Vegas, y'all leaving on Sunday night.

Your wife has a, or your girl, she has something she has to do Monday morning. Y'all leaving Sunday night. All flights get canceled. Ain't really much you could do. But then I was like, I don't know, somebody that's just more famous and cool like Odell or something be like oh i got i got a i got a i got a PJ on my DJ yeah like but would you go you got to be like no man we we could we'll walk

like hey but here's the way i look at it is it a golf stream is the room for me you know she well let me say this let me to her defense the keys on like a hundred dollars we we went to dinner we she bought me two k with some VC you know what I'm saying so little white held it down. Look, she became wifey for a reason. You know what I mean? That was, that was the biggest test of our entire relationship. How she played that situation? That's so funny. The reason why. That's how regular guys feel all the time when they're around athletes. When we walk in a room, they feel fucking super threatened by us. Don't take your wife to it, not your wife, but

somebody at home, like if you get enough money to go sit courtside in an NBA game, just don't, don't do it. Don't bring your wife. Don't, there's certain. Would you, would you, Would you feel a way if your significant other guy called up at a concert? Dude, you know it's so funny? Did you see Drake talking about the gal in the green and it went viral recently? He was at a concert. And it was my boy Channing's white. I know her.

But Channing, Channing said, no, here's what I would have said. That's different than Waka bringing me a little like. Well, she was in a suite too. Like,

you're not going to leave a suite and go to this. I'm talking about y'all on the floor. Like, y'all on the floor, Drake's right here. You could smell his mouth. You can smell us Colon. He's right here. And then he's, you with your wife and she's in, hey, he ate a Shody in the Green.

He reached his hand out. Hey, I'm with her. We got to have any more, we want to talk more about this. We can do it outside after the concert. That's it. Right there. Yeah. I know he's got a lot of security, but, but my wife's not going with him anyways.

100% off. Because I got, we got three kids. Where are you going? Where are you going? I got three kids. I'm going to get custody so fast. That's funny. Guys turn into the women real quick.

You start bringing up the kids real quick. Like, you're the mother and my child. You're going to do that? That's so funny. The way I held you down when you were trying to start that small business? It didn't work. That's crazy. Oh, fuck.

That's hilarious. That story took me out, man. And there's more great. There's more great stories like that on the pod. Everybody's got to check trenches out, man. But the last thing, I do want you, Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, which, hey, man, deserved. You mentioned your foundation a little bit earlier.

Can you talk to people about where they can learn more and what you do? Oh, for sure. Yeah, so my foundation, Shalisa's Angels, is named that to my late mother. So I lost my mother and my grandmother, too. I mean, I raised me when I was 16. And, you know, it's really just a foundation that's based in Philly that helps serve communities, both in Philly and Indianapolis. You know, primary, you know, target is, you know, young women from, you know, tough communities, you know, in honor my mother and my grandmother. You know, every year we host a business academy in Philly.

So we got one coming up in June looking for, you know, you know, small black owned businesses in Philly to come share their story to the kids in school. you know, we do a lot of great things, like I said, both in Philly and Indianapolis. So thankfully, you know, the Ursa's and the coastal organization blessed me with the opportunity to be the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee this year. Very humbling experience, very humbling experience, man, just to be around all the NFL greats, man. And not only just that, but just to be able to see and talk, like, how everyone's really enabled to, like, you know, affect their communities that they live in and just different

ways, like so many guys in the league, so many different stories, so many different place that we all on and try to make this world a better place. So that was really cool to be a part of Angola. That was like one of my highlights of the year for sure. Well, keep up the great work, man. I always say everybody who gets nominated wins, in my opinion, because you're up there, you get your cause gets amplified. And, you know, like, I don't think anybody should win because it's like,

when I won it, it was like, I'm not a better guy than these guys. Like. You do feel like, yeah. I was like, man, Cam Hayward is definitely better than me. Right. I do some good work, but I'm kind of an asshole. Okay, last question. And I'm going to ask this to any ballplayers I get on the show.

Do you play Madden? I do. You think you can beat me? Right now, yeah, probably just off the strength. But I will say that I've been better in the past. I just, I don't know, you got three kids. You might be a little bit more versed right now. Like when I go upstairs, I got to go jump right into T-Bow slash Star Wars, Star

Sabers. I already know, dude. I already know. We play five sports at a time in this house. Well, let's run a game sometime, man. I don't know if you're going to run with the Colts. Do you pick a team or do you randoms or how do you move? We do randoms.

I like playing with the bills or if I get online, I like beating people with the Steelers or the Jets because I like to masculate them with a 78 overall or an 82 overall. Okay. I respect you because I hate people who pick the 90 overall people. My sweet spot is really like 83 because that's when you really earn in your victory. I mean. Texas is 83.

No, I'm not using it. Zaire Franklin, appreciate the time, dude. Good luck this year and hope you come back again. Yes, sir. Lightwise, appreciate you, bro. Pat Riley on Jimmy Butler. If you're not on the court playing against Boston or New York,

you should keep your mouth shut. Might be the end of Jimmy in Miami. He also hasn't played a lot in general. I just saw something today. He's averaged 58 games over his career with the heat. Pat Riley, he's no bullshit. No. Bro, what a good looking guy, though.

I saw him backstage at a Bruce Springsteen concert, maybe 15 years ago. When he was still in his prime. Big guy, he was a good-looking cat, Pat Riley. Oh, I thought we were talking about. I'm not talking about Jimmy Butler. Oh, okay. Great-looking cat. Yeah, it could be a movie star.

Yeah, for sure. Not with that haircut there that you showed me. Jay Butt, right? I was back to Pat Riley. Yeah, Pat Riley. We're in a Pat Riley, Jimmy Butler. Pricking. We're in a, what's it called?

when you're we're in a vortex of sorts a young pat riley and a young young jimmy butler and a buddy cop movie would be great perfect you know yeah it's just too bad they didn't overlap more young pat riley was on the all white kentucky team that played texas southern in the national title so he was basically like he's like the villain in a sport the clansman but wait a second college pat riley not so good looking no college pat riley peaked later in life when he went with He went to L.A. Once he got to L.A., he realized, like, how to dress, what kind of colognes to wear. Yeah, when he got to about 44, he was in his crime.

That's Pat Riley at 44? Probably so. Bro, we still got time. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. It's the MC hour. It's time for the kiss tracks, if you will. Yeah.

You want to lead us off? I don't. You don't. No, I don't. Okay. How many do you have? I have three. Oh, wow.

Okay. I have three. I have one about Ryan Russell is kind of long. Okay. I actually think it's a certified banger. I have one about Pat McAfee, which is pretty good. And I have one about Tucker Carlson. Oh, good.

Uh-huh. You should definitely. I'll start with the one that's just okay. Okay. Okay. This is Pat McAfee. Do you need a beat behind you or anything? No.

Okay. I like an acapella. Pat McAfee, looking like a model from the Fruit of Lume Factory. A specialist on a specialist of media personalities you shouldn't diss. only one standing up to the mothership worldwide leader in that yeah brother shit he's never been chicken no raising canes fit him for an off yellow jacket roman rains you get that

okay he's got pac man jones he's got dan ooloski composing his team just like chikovsky well boulder knows the game he's a rising star will a jay ever light that cigar saturday's you can catch him with corso and herbie the voice never horse mystic dan at the derby old school cadence Vince Vaughn in the assembly execs trying to railroad hammer Don like John Henry pretty good really good the bit about the horse and mr. yeah thank you I appreciate

thank you amazing thank you okay who's John Henry he was uh he was a guy so so I'll explain this owner of the Red Sox no no no okay so they like to say hammer Don right okay so somebody who likes to hammer John Henry he was this guy used to hammer on the railroad so when execs you're trying to railroad him he just hammers Don like John Henry and old school and Vince Vaughn he was in that movie man yeah really good yeah really good thank you I appreciate Tchaikovsky was a composer okay hey you ready Roman rains play for the yellow jackets it's hard to it's hard to you know you read it in your head and you have it and then it's hard to spit it out well yeah that's that's that's half the battle being an emce go joe the Apollo Anton oh no of hot

Pump the brakes, not him. He is him. Go Joe, bad guy, heck no, good guy. Y'all already know. Hello. Go Joe. Go Joe. Hello!

He just... He just... That's it. I like Mike Golick Jr. It's a hot 16. Yeah. Okay. That's really good.

Thanks. All right. So you've got to pay close attention to this Ryan Rosillo one. I'm actually going to get this published. Or what, would they get a record deal? I'm going to get a record deal. Ryan Rosillo, rough like a brillo, but people who know him say soft as a pillow.

He uncles with love, the child care is glorious. Like bow with a glove, we deserve to see more of it. Stood tall like Yokets when the key card was broken. Timeline hit like Hermit Washington. He's rude. He passed out sloppy drunk. There was no forced entry. Cops were stunned.

Game plan Tony Bennett not to run. Feet said he took. took to charge. It was no fun. Seasoned like that Sixers guard off a heat run. Kyle Lowry. Season. Lowry's. A vineyard vine who's grown in time. The monologues are so sublime. No well, the burden of the grind. The road is smooth. Just speak your mind. Take some life advice from me. At the last stop, you were my homes to Andy Reed. ESPN had to let you go. Your co-host got a midnight show, but you move west to buy a boat. He's got the masters. Yes, it's so, but you get every Chris Paul show.

I think if you were a better rapper. Yeah, well, I just don't practice. Hold on. Wow. 46 feet from Hull to Stern. SVP working the bilge, I'd be concerned. If he's port side, he's courtside. In your grill like tin foil. Rosie Perez wouldn't leave this Bill Hoyle.

White man can't jump. Catch him in cruise control like Sandler and hustle. Worried he wants your girl, he's reading Bertrand Russell. Sent me some churn out just out of kindness. Give him the book. Eli, he'd work through the blindness. I'm on top of the world when he talks about shackled and muscles on 10 could give Bob sap a run.

Like Craig, he's been great counsel when I need some good advice. Broke his ankle in jihitsu. I said put that thing on ice. Got a problem with my uncle Ryan. Just be warned you will see me. And before I quit my rhyming, happy birthday CP3. Wow. Wow.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I mean, the words are second to none. No, no, I'm going to put that to a beat. Do you want to go back and highlight some of those? Some of those were really good. Well, there was so, okay, so I'll explain this to you. Stood tall like Yokets when the key card was broken.

This is the rap genius part of it. Yeah. Okay, everybody remembers that whole key card thing. It wasn't his fault. And he could have said that out loud, but he never said it out loud. The cops were stunned. There was no forced entry. Game plan Tony Bennett not to run.

He's just going to stay there on the baseline. Yeah, and toxin. Um, uh, season, seasoning, Lowry's. Uh, this is my favorite little wordplay. The monologues are so sublime. No. Well, Bradley, Noel. He was the front man for sublime.

Of course. The burden of the grind. And then I'm, Mahomes and Andy Reed, obviously he's Mahomes. Bill Simmons is Andy Reed. Got it. Can't have one without the other. Well, we got the first Bertrand Russell shout out on the pod. Yeah, he's an author.

Yeah. Not to be confused with Bertram Barry. Yeah. football player yeah a huge grid grid grid guy unlocks all the grids Craig counsel he's he's he's he's a he's a manager for the cup yeah yeah all right I got one been managing this cup since I came into podcast and ready mm-hmm Ryan Rissillo ah nice fellow uh Ryan Rissillo ah Ryan Rissillo ah nice fellow Huh?

But why he knows so much about dictators? But why he likes so many dictators? Listen to the man. These questions ain't trumped up. These questions is what's up. But why he knows so much about dictators? But why he likes so many dictators? Strong men like strong men.

Yeah? strong man like strong men yeah Ricillo Two Wess's and two wells That's how you spell it Two Wesses and two wells Like Benito Mussolini If Mousalini

If Mussolini had another L Huh Life advice Not so nice, not precise Get a big pump Chicken and rice Squat, rat Chicken and rice

Inclim press Chicken and rice Should we do music? Yep. All right. That's good. Thank you. That's your best.

Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Thank you. Okay. Musilini, huh? Yeah. If he had two hours.

Yeah. You only have one. Yeah. I'm dicking. I'm dicking. Tucker Carlson. He might like that. All right.

Tucker Carlson. Corliss phones and Russian spies. Alex Jones and a little bow tie. Up on TV like an estimated prophet friend of the devil that's it just stop it cast it off a ship of fools too ridiculous for fox news came to my country club broke the rules almost got smoked like a pack of cools jesse waters beat you like a rented mule that's his replacement on fox news your stick is tired i know your type your key to control is next to the alt right all right i heard tucker was this lexic i'm in

reverse just like alexus male alpha b can't you how many chins yeah i see you i see You don't like trans? Which one are you? Nazi fetish, Uncle Drew. A trip to Russia, you look so grateful just to get hit with a Putin facial. Who made you post your child for nicotine? You're less Carhart, more Alexander McQueen.

Cinnamon threes are my best guest. Smooth six is over here. Religious rights, stay blessed. Wow, good job. That's a distra. Yeah, less of a kiss track. I was picking up on that. Some real end of the world as we know of vibes

to start off. With what? You were just a million miles an hour. Yeah, sorry. No, that was great. Really good. Yeah. I thought of the same song.

Yeah. Really? Yeah. Well, that's all the rhymes we have. Yeah, I think. Matt has one. I got one. I got a kiss track for making.

Oh, kiss track for making. Nice. All right, listen up about making Gunner. Charlottesville's Apex real estate hunter. Makes more from the MLS than Messi. Counting that paper every day unless he sitting in the studio. Making Magic Flow. Even Pat McAfee knows his name.

Ergo, he's established here. a re-received villain. Talk shit to Grisham's face, but stays chilling. Chearing on the who's at the dish or JPJ. Come correct with the hello. Can't be saying, hey. Could rock a bends? Instead he's popping benzos.

Home with the kids instead of fucking demhose. That says in the front row. Blocking people's views. Six for now you know. Dress for success. Every day, size medium. Always keeping green light. A1. Premium.

Oh. Wow. Hey, man. Thanks, Matt. That's awesome. I didn't get to the kiss. for you. Damn, no, me too for you. That was great. Thank you. Wow. I especially like the part about dim hos. This is the week of kiss tracks. We're going to write more kiss tracks later this week.

This might be what we're best at. We might do this all the time. Yeah. I mean, seriously, you can even put this on YouTube. I mean, it might get, you get scooped up like by Rick Rubin. Yeah. I'd like to clear off more of my calendar to write to write some of these. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. All right. So with that, we've reached halftime. The third quarter of this podcast is Joe Hortez. And after him, we've got a short mailbag from the fans of this show. Welcoming another GM to the show, Joe Hortiz from the Los Angeles Chargers. You wrap the draft up. Do you get a moment to kind of chill and evaluate or like what is the week or two after like for a GM? Yeah. You know, I think the. the first week right after you're certainly excited about the players you added. And then you start thinking about how you, if there's anyone else out there to help

improve the roster. So kind of went to work on that and stayed active with it. But, you know, kind of had some guys identified. And we were able to get DJ Shark signed yesterday a couple days ago. So agreed to him and finished that up today. So, you know, we're still looking. You know, we're still always looking to improve the depth and stack guys on top of this roster. So not really slow down in that regard, but I take a little bit of time.

I was able to jump back to the East Coast this weekend to see the fam. They're still out there. Boys are still out in school. And I see my wife and kids over the weekend and come on back. That's awesome. I mean, we love the lad pick looking at having a young wide receiver in the building. Besides, obviously, having a generationally talented quarterback, what are the keys to onboarding a talented wide receiver? What do you want in that room?

How do you build that room out? Do you build different body types? Do you want vets and young guys? How do you look at that mixture? Yeah, I certainly think if you have a balance of players, you know, obviously you get some vets in there that help the young guys acclimate themselves to the league. And, you know, we got one in Josh here and then adding DJ helps a little bit. And then, you know, in terms of body types and positions, yeah, you know, in the draft,

you know, we're able to get lad. And then we took Brendan and Cornelius in the seventh round. So you got some bigger guys, outside guys. But really there's versatility with all three players where you'll see them. a line out in the slot. So I'd say versatility is the key in football intelligence. I think all three of those guys have, which that that position is probably an underrated skill set, you know, that goes overlooked a lot. We look at size, speed, you know, playmaking, but those guys can do all those, make all those plays and produce because of their intelligence. Did Lad have a comp for you

that you saw evaluating him? And at what point, talk me through the mechanics of deciding, hey, we got to go up and get him. Yeah. I don't know. I hate the comp players because you put like a, you know, a ceiling or a floor. But he's just so, he was one of his versatility, he jumps off the screen.

He plays outside and inside. But his feel and instincts and spatial awareness was great. Remind me of the way he catches the ball and the way he just finds space and transitions upfield. You know, back I think it was my first draft in Baltimore, in 1998 when I was there. We drafted Brandon Stokely. and a player that just, I mean, such a friend to a quarterback, just elite route runner and elite hands

and just knew how to get opening and get upfield after the catch. But Lad's more explosive than Brandon in terms of speed and Twitch. So, you know, don't want to put that, you know, comparison on. But he has some similarities to his game. Brandon was such a great friend to the quarterback, the quarterbacks he played with. And so I see Lad being able to do the same role for us. Yeah, you know, you come into the draft. people are looking at picks one and two and they're saying hey they need a tackle they need a wide

receiver i think back to a couple years ago the parallel with cincinnati and the way they looked at their draft a lot of people are like hey do you do you take jama chase or do you do the safe thing do you take a tackle they take chase and a lot of people are like oh well see that's how you do it you don't necessarily protect the quarterback first i just think it's one situation that worked out and it would have worked out no matter who they drafted how did you evaluate the sequencing of how you wanted to do this thing, whether it was protect first or give a target. Well, we went into it, obviously, knowing that we wanted to add White House. We wanted to add offensive linemen.

And we stacked our board really the best players available, like just one through 200 players, really, on our board and try to get them in that, you know, in the clumps. But certainly at the top of the draft, it's easy to rank your one through probably 50 players and as an organization. So that's how we did it. And then you, but then you have to think, you know, factor in. like, hey, what players are going to be there in the second round? You know, certainly every year, I think wide receiver,

Chris, is going to be a deep, deep, deep draft every year. You know, I really do. It's just the way the game's changed in college, all the seven-on-seven camps the guys are going to in high school, they're just developing. And so you're always going to be able to take shots at wilds throughout the draft. And those top-tier tackles are hard to come by. So kind of made it an easy pick for us, really.

With these mock drafts, you hear so much, I mean, like, everybody was like, Oh, Joe Alt, he's a, he's a Titan. You know, as a GM, you probably read this stuff all the time. You're like, well, we might as well not draft. He's like, but does it, how much of a Delta is there generally between within the top 20 players, consensus from a media perspective and the people in buildings and how much of it do you actually get to hear beforehand? You know, I think a lot of, a lot of, if you look at a lot of teams draft boards,

I would bet 25 guys at the top of their board are gone in the first round after the first round's over. There's some variance. But, you know, we have so much more exposure to players nowadays. And, you know, you know, so you just the Senior Bowl, the combine, but just all the social media and the exposure on, you know, on, you know, TV, college games. Everyone's seeing these players. And so there's not, there's not as many secrets at the top of the draft anymore. It's just what you value as an organization. Do you feel like the combine's changed a lot?

I mean, obviously it's changed since the inception, like hearing about what it used to be. But, you know, from, say, when I was a rookie or coming into my rookie year of 0708, you know, to now with the player participation, with some of maybe the new wrinkles and the testing, like, what do you think has changed the most? You know, it's funny because I was a little worried that the player participation would drop off. And I really don't feel like it has at all. I think being on TV creates that competitive environment. I think it's a great, great atmosphere for the players to go out and compete. And, heck, I remember as a group leader, I think it was in 2000, 2001 somewhere. And we had 13 running backs in our group, and I think four or five of them ran.

And it was a struggle to get them to go. And now I think it's the opposite. So certainly seeing more players compete at the combine. I love it. I think scouts and coaches love it without seeing it. Certainly it's great for TV. And they just, you know, I think the way they've evolved, Jeff Foster and those guys have done a great job, just kind of getting the players to us. And also lessening the load.

You know, back when you went to the combine date, there's one more day now, so you get a little more rest, just a little bit more just so you can be a little bit better physical, you know, physically to perform on the workout day. You guys, and I feel like I've heard you say this, four through seven. and I've heard a few people say this, but like the middle, middle of late rounds in the draft, that's when you really get the differentiation, you know, and what the final product is of that draft class.

And what do you look for in those rounds? Like, I'm sure everybody has a different mantra when it comes to drafting after three. What's your kind of way of doing things, your MO? Yeah, I think from the players perspective, when you look at the players,

you're looking for those high-level competitors, guys that are going to, you know, hit their ceilings. And, you know, you can always try to place a ceiling on a player, what you think of him as an evaluator. But you want guys that are going to get to their ceiling and reach it and maybe even blow through it. And that's how they're made up, right?

That's, you know, their approach to the game, you know, their passion for it. So the more guys you can take that love the game, you know, the better off you are. And that's certainly the talent. But, you know, coaches' conviction, scouts conviction that weighs heavily in how I stack the players for our team, And so we want to draft players that the coaches and scouts together like, you know.

Who do you think is the most important guy to talk to when it comes to trying to figure out who a player is if you took the head coach out of it in college? I mean, you took away a position coach. You took away a head coach. Is there somebody that you're like, I go to this person first? Yeah. So I think that probably varies based on schools you're at. Some schools that may be a trainer, a head trainer could be the equipment guy.

If you take coaches out of it, you know, it could be the director of football ops, could be the SID. Different schools have really good resources, academic advisors. Some of them know the players really well, team chaplains. So what you do is you try to go into school and find who your most trusted sources that knows the players well. And they're the ones you talk to. But you try to talk to multiple sources for sure. You know, coordinators and position coaches are great. They're with them every day.

They're the best ones to talk to. But GAs are great to catch sometimes. You find a good GA on campus. you get a lot of information out of them. Yeah, how you treat the GA, you know, and I also would throw strength coaches. I know you probably omitted that because of the coach title, but strength coaches, I feel like they know you spend more time with that guy than you do your head coach for sure. 100%. Strength coaches are huge.

Yeah. I mean, if we can count them, you know, even other coaches. It might be, yeah. Yeah, they're great because they just, they see, like you just said, they're the players are with the strength coach more than anyone else in the organization, you know, all year around. So they really see them put forth the effort from, you know, when in the all season begins all the way through the summer into the season. I looked at your draft class and I'm seeing, okay, I'm like Georgia, Michigan, Bama, Notre Dame, I'll leave Maryland out because I hate that school. But USC, these are all big programs, a lot of these programs. And I wonder, is that intentional?

I know the two Michigan picks, you've got a loophole there where you're like, I can talk to the head coach from school and he's the one making the pitch. which is probably great, but also, like, I see these big-time programs and I wonder if there's something intentional about that. You know, like the atmosphere there, the, you know, the commitment to greatness at an SEC school, does that add value for you? Yeah, I think it's the types of players

those schools develop. You know, I mean, I've covered the southeast since 2003 when I went down there in Baltimore and always have been in the southeast, but certainly, you know, Notre Dame, in USC and Michigan really well. And yeah, they're just programs that do with things the right way. They're highly competitive.

They go after top-level players and top-level people. And so, you know, that's what you're looking for. That's what you're looking for to add to our team. Yeah, no question. And, you know, touching on the Harbaugh thing, I mean, you've worked with his brother. I mean, I used to, in the NFC West, those bloodbass with San Francisco, it used to be us and RD line and all those guys up front. And that team had the personality of Jim.

you know, it's a very different edge that he has. And I wonder having worked with John, like, what is the difference in their personalities? They're different, but I'm sure there's a lot of overlap. There is a lot of overlap. You know, they do have some differences in their personalities, but the one thing they both have is that that competitive fire, desire to be great. But not themselves, like the team be great. And there's a high, high, high team focus. I call it, you know, we call it, you know, just like everyone's everything.

It's all about the team. You've heard Jim say, you've heard John say it, the team, the team, the team. You know, and that's true. That rings true here. And it rang true in Baltimore. So, you know, you put the team first and everyone works to get better every single day. But both, I mean, I'm really blessed to have spent 16 years with John and then come in here with Jim. It's just, it's awesome for me as an individual.

Why does Greg Roman have a bigger RV? Yeah, that's a good question. I think Greg may, Greg may have, like, looked at it as a true. like we're going to Jim looked at it maybe more of a novelty Greg said man I'm going to tour the country with this but yeah I haven't been in Jim's RV but I went over to Greg's and man that thing is sweet like it almost got got me to you know having the RV bug it is if you could live by the beach I don't know why you wouldn't I don't care if it's on four wheels or what I mean I saw his setup I was kind of wondering is he having problems down in in their neighborhood with people

they kind of docks their location you know like they did a drone shot of that RV parking. I'm like, well, I could find it. Like, do, are people knocking on their doors? Well, the good thing is, I think Jim has since moved. You know, he's, he's got his house somewhere. I'm not going to, you know, I'm sorry to hear that, Jim. But I'm not sure if Craig's still in the RV or not, but Greg's getting, I think Greg's getting ready to move. So he might be getting a few visitors. The day I was there, someone brought over a meal for him. So it was great. That's awesome. With Greg. I had a lot of respect for Greg, because obviously he was in San Francisco and we had our battles, but like his years in Baltimore,

your impressions of him schematically and how much can he adapt to the modern game? And how, I mean, like a lot of people would ask it this way. I think it's not a rhetorical question, but is it possible for somebody who's got, you know, run first mentality get the most out of a quarterback? Yeah, I think so. I think you watch what he did. I mean, he got a lot out of Lamar in Baltimore and Lamar really developed in that offense. And he adjusted the offense as Lamar grew.

Here, obviously, Justin is a very advanced passer. So it's going to create some opportunities for us in the passing game. But the run game that Greg puts out there, man, is elite. It really is special, you know, the way he can attack every defense he goes against and really just be creative and come up with new ideas. I watched it for so long in Baltimore. I saw it when he was in San Francisco. But really just looking forward to seeing what he does here with Justin

and then just building up the run game. year with with justin what is it that he has to do to take that next step i i lean the the context around him has to change and that's why you're here and why jim's there as well but um you know you've had a close look at it what do you think is the thing that needs to happen around him or with him to take that next step and be looked at as what he is which is he's special oh he is special there's no doubt you watch him throw out here practice move around just everything about him like he's so he's so he's so much bigger than you even realize when you get out here. And then just to watch his athleticism for a guy, his size, and then the arm talent is special.

You know, and that's our goal. You know, that's what we came in here to do. What does Justin have to do? Justin has to just keep working and getting better and develop. And our job is to build as much talent around him and help him not to feel like he's got to do at all. You know, and how does Justin be better? You improve the defense. You improve the run game.

You improve the pass protection. And you let him do his thing, you know? So that's what we're trying to do. Well, you talked about sealing earlier with draft picks, and I think it's just a really interesting conversation that people don't have enough when it comes to evaluating somebody's career or a chapter of their career where they were drafted, that sort of thing.

Like there's a lot of places that you say, hey, man, if that guy was in a better organization, he'd be a lot better off when you get to see that ceiling. Do you see that as a GM? Not with your group because you're aiming to give the best context around the player possible. But when you look around a league, can you think of guys that you're like,

man, he was in a bad situation? he kind of got a bad rap, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah, there's certainly players that get drafted maybe into the wrong scheme or, you know, maybe the circumstances around, you know, their career or their personal situation, maybe holds them back. But, you know, I think if you just provide the players with the resources and the support, coaching on and off the field, and really just encourage them and push them and challenge them

to get to that ceiling. Plenty of guys are going to blow by. I really do believe that. I've seen it in my first 26 years in this league. You take a guy in the fifth, sixth round, and he's a starter in year two, and he's never looking back. And the next thing you know, he's going to a Pro Bowl. And it's just so where they get drafted, I tell players when we draft them or even before

the draft, listen, don't pay attention to where you pick. Right. It really doesn't matter, man. They don't put your round or your signing bonus on the back of your jersey. They put a number and a name, and the rest is up to you. So we want guys that are going to take their opportunities and just, and then drive forward. Well, especially at your last stop, like the continuity so rare in the NFL. And for a GM and a head coach being lockstep for so long in the group, I mean,

even through changing of the guard and the personnel side of things in Baltimore, I just feel like it works seamlessly. Looking back at your Baltimore chapter, I always ask GMs this, is there one guy that you're like, that's the one that got away, like Sean Payton's Patrick Mahomes? Or is there one guy you've, like to you'd like to have another shot at, you know, that kind of thing where you're like, man, he, if I, I wish I had just moved up, like almost an inside joke in your building.

No, you know, I think, I think, you know, the one thing I'll say that Ozzy did and now Eric does is just they, they work the draft and they know the draft and, you know, let the players come to you. There's a time in a place to trade up for players and I witnessed them do it, but they do a really a good job of just letting the board come to them, being prepared to make the pick. And, you know, the draft is the draft. There's going to be every year players are going to get taken from you. You know, it's just some go right before you get picked. Some go, you know, 10, 15 picks before you're hoping to get there.

But there's been a couple guys that I'd hope that would fall to us in Baltimore. But, you know, nobody, nobody you regret, you know, because that's just the draft. Well, because you're Baltimore, man. You guys got a lot of good players. It's like, yeah, well, yeah, that helps. So, all right, the cap side of it, before we wrap here, like, what do you, how do you attack the cap with this particular organization? How do you guys clean that up? Like, when you walk in day one, what's the first thing you look at?

You know, like, do you look at the fat you can trim first? Do you look at the big contracts? Or you kind of, you know, dig in the couch cushions for change. Like, what do you do? A little bit. When we came in here, there was a big, there was a big, big hole. in the cap, you know, or an overage. So we had to do a lot of work. And certainly there were four big contracts and we had to get to work on them. And you need both sides to be agreeable to get

to work on it, you know. And so just kind of work through that process leading up through the combine and towards the start of free agency. And we knew there was going to be some tough decisions we were going to have to make. But you had to get under the cap and then you had to get clear of some room so you could actually get engaged and involved in free agency and then have the money to sign your your rookie pool and then uh have that overage for during the season and you know midseason trades or signing so um yeah you know we just kind of methodical approach and worked with all the agents and appreciative of of the agents because they understood the situation we were in and uh when we were able to get through it and create some some room for ourselves and

also feel like we're able to add some guys that can really help some free agency is it hard to be the one that has to come in and be like hey keenan allen you know uh you know uh time's up here a lot of respect for you but this is a new regime and maybe it's the best thing for you and the team like is that the hardest job when it comes to like you know you just you just it's good news you just got a big job but now you got to walk in and and deal with this sort of thing yeah absolutely that's a tough thing you know I think anytime you know anytime you have to make a hard decision regarding a player where they're keeping them trading them cutting them it's a challenge you know I cut plenty of players over the years and it's

never easy. Trading a player like Keenan is a tough, tough decision. But one, you don't, you don't make blindly, you work through everything and all the options, and then you just make the best decision for the team and go on. Yeah, it helps have a grim reaper like Joe Douglas in Baltimore, though. Joe was the guy that came for the iPads, he told me in, well, the playbooks back in the day. On the original hard knocks, he was the, he was the one knocking on the doors. You know, we've all done it. I did it before him, and I was so thankful when, you passed the door. Yeah, Joe was there to do it. You know, he got a lot of camera time, man.

I thought they'd go back to that when they did the Jets this year. I thought they'd show flashbacks, missed opportunities. Major missed opportunity. The guy is so good on camera, in my personal opinion. We were just talking about wide receivers. My last question for you is Quentin Johnson. You know, I've been there. I've been a high pick when, you know, the pressure is on the first year and a half of my career.

Like, you know, it was slow coming. And, you know, I look at somebody like that. And I'm like, yeah, he can catch on. He wants to catch on. You can tell he seems like a great kid. Like, how do you walk the line between putting pressure on a guy, being aware of the circumstance, but also just trying to get him to relax and play free? When you're a new regime coming in, there's always a question, am I not one of your guys?

Do you see something in me? What do you see when you see Quentin? Yeah, well, all our guys know, they're our guys. You know, like, they're all our guys. You know, and that's the way Jim is. That's the way I am. You know, you're a charger. And we're going to forward all into them and everyone else.

And, you know, the one thing I could see out here on the field, you know, he's out there working every day and he's committed to it. And certainly is super talented. I mean, we watch a guy that big, watch him sink, drop his weight, get in and out of breaks. It's all there for him. And it's just gaining confidence, gaining comfortability in the scheme. And, you know, the transition is some guy.

Not everyone develops at the same pace. But you have the work ethic, you have the drive, you have the ability. He's going to develop. And you saw flashes of it last year, like you do with a lot of rookie receivers. You see some great plays, and then you see some off days or some bad plays, and that happens. And it's just about moving past it, each game, every play. On to the next play, like you know. And so I think he's going to do it.

I really do watch him out here working. I'm really excited for what this year is going to bring for him. Well, great. Joe, congrats on the new gig. We're looking forward to pulling forward to pulling. for the charges, man. I got, I need some, I always watch the late games and the charges are always in the four o'clock games.

I need some, I need some big chargers wins, man. I'm always pulling for you guys. So hope we get you back after one of those and tell coach Harbaugh, we said, we said hello. Absolutely. Appreciate you guys having me on. Let's get to the mailbag and see what we got. You never know. It's like a box of chocolates.

Riscilla did make an appearance in the mailbag. Do realtors tell the. listing agent the maximum price their buyer is approved for? Say it again. Do realtors tell the listing agent the maximum price their buyer is approved for? No. He doesn't. But I also don't care.

I would ring his neck. Listen. Well, fam, you're not really getting approved for a mortgage. No, I know. I know. We're just paying cash. Yeah. I don't care because if they're approved for a million bucks, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,

Asking price is $750.50. We're offering $7.20. I don't care if you see a pre-approval for a million bucks. We're paying what we're paying. I don't feel like I'm showing you any cards. Yeah, I got a very well-qualified buyer, and we're going to offer what we offer. Now, do I want the pre-approval letter, Cowboy,

tailored for the offer price? Sure. Love for a lender to go to that sort of trouble. But no, I'm not sure. my fiduciary responsibility is my client. Brent wants to know, Chris, what is one thing you wish fans knew about being a professional athlete and making what's one thing you wish homebuyers knew about realtors? You know what I think I wish?

I wish that people understood that just because we are overpaid or handsomely paid does not mean we are not working harder than you. It is a blue collar job. This is the thing that gets conflated a lot because we live in nice houses, because the market demands that we're paid a lot like that's you know like supply and demand you guys are the ones to decide how much we're paid by how much you consume our sport we're not soft these because we're so fucking rich we actually work with our hands we are blue collar workers and uh if you're going to pull our card that's a card you can't pull uh kind of what he said uh if you go back to the first few

seconds of what he said i um it's a blue collar job i uh people um they they think it's a blue collar job i uh people um they think it looks easy, I think, in large part, because that's the goal to try to make it look easy. We're not at every turn showing you the 255 fires that are being put out along the way. You know what I'm saying? Radon. For instance, radon, the odorless gas.

Wish you knew about that. That frequently makes an appearance on this show. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Relationships, Cowboy? It's a big relationships business. Oh, I can find the house. I can go on the internet. Yeah, you can. You know, not get the house.

Not all those pro athletes are happy. A lot of us are miserable. It doesn't make you happy. You think, hey, when you're a kid, you're like, I want to grow up to be a pro football player. Well, that kind of fucking sucks sometimes, dude. You know, you're dying slowly with every subconcussive blow. Everybody knows your business. They all stand at the water cooler where you fumble a fucking TPS report, so to speak. and mercilessly mock you through the rest of the work week until you get to go do it again. You know, some of us real estate agents are really depressed, all right? We go to all these fancy homes that we can't afford,

and so then we get addicted to benzos living in our little shitty houses, and then we got to put a smile on every single damn day. He lives in a house that's not 10 feet from a train track. I got a train in my backyard. My house shakes. His hot tub is above ground. My kids wake up. Doesn't look like the gutters have been cleaned for eons.

You should see this deck. But only see you. Don't stand on it. That's why he's always walking through my fucking yard, because his yard is the size of a postage stamp. We just fried your house. No, I'm not coming over for a tub. I'm going to get a fucking algae-related illness.

You can't even afford that tub to be serviced. I haven't opened that thing in two years. I had to borrow a hat today. Money for hats? You broke, fuck. Do you have bars on your windows? Where do you live? Yeah, yeah.

You know, Muntins, those are the things, you know, they're fake. Not even real wood. We got the inserts. You get the inserts? Yeah. You got the, what's the word? Synthetic wood. Wood.

Yeah. You got synthetic woods in your house. selling high value properties to find Southern gentlemen and you got synthetic woods in your house Hey, Macon, I'm going to drop you off a key, okay, if I put it in your home mailbox?

No! Don't want you to see this. Also, grass hasn't been cut in the year. Yeah. Also, you guys dressed like fucking idiots. Okay, well, we were kind of doing like a one-one thing here.

Like an A-B-A-B-I-B-I-S off. Just chance to rip into it. Yeah. Okay. You probably got radon in your own house. You can't even, you don't even afford to get a radon test. Three percent. You don't think six, three percent.

That stuff is just single percentage points. Got to drive people around in my shitty 2017 car. Mm-hmm. Because your wife big boyed you and got a Tahoe and gave you the shitbox. A bunch of fucking pushovers too. Okay, anyways. We got CTE. True?

I don't know what you'd rather have, the synthetic wood or the CTE. Looks like I got synthetic wood growing inside my brain. Yeah, yeah. My frontal lobe looks like your entry hall. Crowded and discombobulated. A bunch of parquet up in your brain. Yeah.

eight foot ceilings in there anyways die soon I'm gonna live out the rest of my years with eight foot ceilings Christopher Stevens wants to know dead or alive game here oh good

dead or alive Paul Rubens don't even know who that is dead I do Peewee Herman dead Oh correct he's dead yeah he died Used to be in the movie theater Like a fucking creep jacking off Was that it?

He was jacking all. He won't do that again. Nope. Cinead. Dead. Thank you. There's a doc. One of those gals, either the one from the cranberries or another one, just died recently.

Hold on. It's Shanato. Yeah. Okay. All right. You know who loves the cranberries? Dead. And I'm not sure if she's the front woman for the cranberries.

She is not. Who is that? Doloresa Rierden. Both short-haired kind of antifie-looking cats. Yeah. So, Dolores O'Rearden's really hot. But, yeah. But Dolores was hot?

Yeah. Well, Ryan loves the cranberries. Zombie. The song, Zombie. It's like one of his favorite songs. So anyway. Dolores O'Reardon. Who's next?

Jerry Lawler. Dead. Dead. Dead. Alive. Oh, Lawler's alive. He's got to be 83. And then here are two Chicago Bears.

Dick Puckus and dead and Gelsairs. Dead. Okay. Dick Buccas is dead. Yeah. is he's the galloping ghost. Somebody got mad because I made light of Dick dying. Did the Bears win when Dick died?

No, this was like last year, dude. It was like a Monday night game. They played Monday night and they destroyed the commanders. Is that what I just said? You don't bet the commanders. Yeah, okay. And I bet the commanders. It was a death game.

Yeah. You don't bet. Yeah. You don't take the other side in the death game. Correct. Anyways. Chenate O'Connor I mean you said hot

I who who said I think Matt said Dolores O'Reardon or Dolores O'Reardon you said was hot Chenade's got the shaved head yeah yeah she tore up the picture of the Pope on SNL which got her well not anymore she didn't she doesn't

what did you say she's dead yep is that like the same joke as Peewee's not going to do that again yep yeah do you guys have any roast jokes, Tom Brady roast joke. Did anybody come at his plastic surgery?

Yes. Oh, yeah. Really? And the hair. Yeah. He couldn't laugh. He couldn't laugh. He was funny. By the way, I've said this before. Nikki Glazer is the best roast person on the planet. She was great. And she was batting a thousand. They were like, the jokes were like every five seconds. Yep. The gronk joke, where she said he was born with CT, had me rolling. And Bill's joke was great too. If he had delivered it, a little better. Yeah. He's not used to being in a space like that. It sounded like Jamal Charles up there. He nailed the shut the

fuck up line though. Yeah. But yeah. You know what? I just want to say this. If it's okay to say all the things they said during that roast last night, can we all agree that comedy should be comedy? Yes. Can we go, can we go back to comedy being comedy? That's what everybody wants. Okay. Yeah. This is like seven people that don't want it. Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. Seven people, we have more fun when people can say whatever the fuck they want. The only thing that was censored was Jeff Ross saying Robert Kraft likes massages at a... Well, Tom had to get up and act like he was mad. You know, like that's his guy. They just went to war with Bill on the Patriots documentary. Nah, that was captivating. Live roast on Netflix.

Full Marks, all around. I don't think it was live. Was it live? It was live? Huge win for Netflix, too. They somehow got a Sunday with no sports. Hernandez ended up the butt of a few jokes. Oh, how about Tom? My favorite ring is the one that caught Belichick shirtless in Nantucket last number. Yeah, that's great. Did Bill laugh? Yeah. See, I didn't watch the whole thing.

I just watched the highlight. It was really good. Yeah, I thought it was good. It's good. I love roast. It's great because at the end of the day, everything in the roast is like true, but everybody has something you can roast them on. So you'd be happy to get roasted?

Yeah, probably, but then I'd get to roast you. which would not be as fun. Bloodsoe, big winner. Did you see the Drew Bloodso stuff? Bloodso was a... He looks at peace. Yeah, is he? Is he at peace?

I don't think he looks at peace. I think he's like, I have to do this because if I don't do this, I don't think I'm sour grapes. Also, can I say something? What? I think Drew's better looking to Tom. I've said this on this pod.

We have talked about this. All right, okay. Drew Bletzo, I've interviewed Drew Bletso in person. The guy, he's ranch hot. Same garage. Tom's, Tom's clone hot. Okay. All right.

Drew said, you've got a lot of stuff, Tom, but two things you'll never have, feeling of being the number one overall pick, the NFL draft, and a 28-year wedding anniversary. Mine was yesterday. Oh, Drew. That's pretty good.

Yeah. That's pretty good. And then it gave me reason to look up Giselle's boy toy, the Jiu-Jitsu fellow. Who do you think? Oh, yeah. Guys, for sure, land pipe.

Yeah. Hey, hey, Eddie's getting people in like headlocks while he lays pipe. Right. It's like, you know, I don't need my boo thing in an arm bar getting the pipe. Yep. You know, just standard pipe would be a lot more easy to, you know? I'm with you on that one. Yeah.

Maybe a Greco-Roman wrestler would be better, you know? Ugly guy with fucking cauliflower ears. I don't want some Brazilian guy that can kick me to death from across the table. Yeah. Anyways. Did you see Michael Parsons sumo wrestling? Yeah, I was impressed. That was only a standard sumo wrestler.

If we got like the best of the best in here, I don't think it's going to be that easy to get the fellow out of the circle. Who do you think would have a really hard time getting roasted that you know? Kyle. Kyle. Can you imagine Kyle had a roast? How'd the roast go?

Everybody's dead. At the end of the roast is Kyle just like roasts? sting all the dead body. Who's laughing now? Yeah. Ha ha ha ha. Who are Macon's favorite teammates of yours and least favorite?

I know who the least favorite one is. Were you ever a teammate of Richies? Yeah. Okay. Richie Incognito is least favorite. My favorite teammate of Chris's. I guess we'll talk NFL only to make it more relatable. And my answer is Sam the Ram. Sam Bradford.

I've never had a bad time with Sam the Ram. Guys great. I love Sam.