KSR - NFL Cover Zero: Radio Row Day 3- Christian McCaffery, Harrison Phillips, and Christian Watson!

Episode Date: February 7, 2026

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin give their thoughts on their time on Radio Row.  What happens in the Super Bowl with the Patriots and Seahawks? 49ers RB Christian McCaffery talks about the Bay Area and playing for the 49ers.  Jets OT Harrison Phillips drops by to talk about the Special Olympics and the offseason turn around happening for the Jets.  Packers WR Christian Watson talks about what it's like playing against Matt's Bears and also playing in the snow at Lambeau.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and I-Heart podcast. It is NFL Cover Zero. And we are here for our last day before the big game coming up on Sunday. Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and Billy R. Sports. And we are here on Meteoro where it is starting to wind down a little bit. There are people kind of in their last legs.

you're seeing the final celebrities come through and everybody's getting ready for the big parties tonight the shack diesel fun house party the sports illustrated party and oh yeah then the game is on sunday but still one last ride here on radio row i'm getting i'm happy but i'm also getting a little sad that it feels like it's coming to an end they're eventually going to make us leave and all this is going to be over i know like i feel like this is this has become my home with all of these you know i don't know what i'm going to do with another day where i don't see brock heward and Joe Flacco. I've run into them every day for the last three days.

I feel like they're a part of my life now, Drew, and they're gone, and I'm going to miss them. There are a few people that they seem to just enjoy being here, and I appreciate that about him. It's funny you said that. I saw Brockover Coffee very early this morning. He was here. Also, shout out to just the cruise

here behind the scenes. It has been long days, and it's starting to wind down. Some sets have been taken down, but this one right here has a little more time left. I have seen two near fights. which is very exciting. I read about a fight, a doctor, and another person got in a fight

about whether or not someone hurt their knee. I like that. You get any group of people together, put them this close, there's going to be the occasional fisticuff. If you get this many people in a room like this, there's going to be something. But today we were rubbing shoulders with Hall of Famers today.

So today was pretty amazing because we got here very early and there was next to the NFL network set. they were walking the Hall of Famers around. So you had Drew Breeze, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kikley, and was that Adam Venetary? And then while they were standing there together, you had Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders walk over. And all six of them hugged each other right in front of us. And I have to say, I felt like I was in the Hall of Fame.

It was like I kind of, I thought maybe they let long snappers in. I was really excited about it. Yeah, this whole trip's been a pinch me moment, but we were kind of like in their huddle, all of them have gold jackets. It felt like, hey, am I allowed to be here? Should I back up? I mean, think about it.

You had Drew Brees, he's a quarterback, had two in the backfield with Bowenberry. You had Larry out wide, right? Luke and Luke was kind of scheming on defense. Adam was waiting for the extra point. You and I, what, tight end? Well, I'm the punter, because they're, They're not going to need one with that offense.

Yeah. Well, I'll be the tight end since I didn't get invited to tight ends after two hits. That's still bugging you. I wanted to go and I couldn't get anyone to do it. But still, very, very cool. And now, you know, another day of big interviews today. We got Christian McCaffrey. The dreamy San Francisco 49ers do everything back is going to be with us.

Also from the Special Olympics, we have, what's our man's name? Was it Harrison Phillips? Ryan and Ryan? Harrison Phillips and Ryan. That's exactly right. Harrison Phillips defensive lineman and Ryan. I'm looking forward to meeting those guys. And then we will finish the entire thing with Christian Watson, which is going to be tough for me.

He is a packer and I am a bear. And so there's a chance might be fight number four. Well, Matt, I actually tried to surprise you, but security got me. I had a cheese grater in my backpack. And I was going to bring it up here and let you show off. Christian Watson, but turns out you can't bring cheese graders in the radio. What do you think he would do if I just started grating cheese on top of him? I mean, that game wasn't that long ago, and it ended his season.

That's still fresh. So I would tread lightly with my trash talk. I think it would be very funny if I was able to do that. So that's all going to happen. But, you know, we also need to talk about the actual game. We haven't done a lot of talk about the game. Ultimately, we were here to talk about the game. So we at least should acknowledge that it's happening.

Patriots and Seahawks. I'm amazed at how much of Super Bowl week is not about talking about the actual game. But I'm excited about it. Sam Darnold, Drake May, Matthew Stafford wins the MVP today. You think that gives some extra motivation for Mr. May? Maybe it tells them, hey, if we're going to win one, let's win it now because the Rams are still going to be stacked next year. They are. Let's take advantage of this opportunity.

That was some big news. I'm still leaning Seahawks, but I think Braeble is going to have those. guys ready as we've talked many times players coach they've played well outside of Gillette Stadium all year haven't lost a game on the road or in another that's an amazing statistic by the way to have to be undefeated on the road or in a neutral I guess a not really a neutral site but to be anywhere outside of Gillette stadium is that's you know only the most special team even my 85 bears didn't do that Billy well as much as it been made about the schedule the Patriots have

played they had to be three of the top five defenses in the playoffs so I mean they have proven themselves. Drake May's got that running ability, so we may see a little bit of that. And Mike Vrable wins coach of the year in his first year. No, Mike Verbal. Oh, yeah, Mike Verbal. They struggled with the pronunciation. Yeah, they did say Mike verbal. Oh, someone is screaming up there.

Oh, that's your guy, Cam Scatabo. Oh, Cam Scatibu in the house. Cam Scadaboo is over there. He won the Madden challenge, I believe, for best Madden player here at Super Bowl. Of course, when we hear loud noises on the other side of the building, Cam Scataboo is involved. players not shocking that he's part of the party I have a feeling tonight at the shack party

we're going to see some there's going to be some scataboo booing somewhere that's just what I'm guessing I'm worried he and I might wear the same outfit we're both both big indoor shades guys at parties like this you know you know Billy by the way Drew and I are both breaking out bomber jackets

tonight oh yeah I've heard I I don't have one bomb squad coming in bomb squad coming in bombs away that's going to be our Instagram caption you can have that one but thank you very very much. All right. So let's go back for a second with Drake May. I it's very rare for a second your quarterback to even get a chance to be in this situation. If you look over the years when

young guys have gone, mixed success. Burrow was the last kind of young quarterback to end up in the situation. What do you, how do you see him playing tomorrow or Sunday? Well, in the playoffs, he used his wheels a little more than he did the rest of the season. I believe there's a stat out there that only Pat Mahomes had had more rushing guards like that in the least as average it's something like that. But he was picking up big plays in all three of their wins with his legs, more so that he did all season. So I think maybe that element in the game,

and I think Patriots are going to need to run a lot in general, a little ball control with how they play. But I think May using his legs could be a big factor in this week. He has been awful about turning the football over the entire playoffs. I mean, you do that twice. They're losing, right? Two turnovers. The Seahawks offense is too powerful.

You give them two turnovers, extra possessions. It's over. And I hate to downplay the Patriots. being here. But I mean, they survived that crazy turnover game. To play a backup quarterback in the AFC championship like that is pretty much unheard of. So sure, they deserve it and all that, but the path wasn't exactly a murderer's row. Some good defenses. I think the Patriots stink. We've talked about that. I need them to lose. I need them to lose because if the Patriots win this game, what are you ever going to say to a Patriots fan? Because they're going to have Drake May for the next 15 years,

probably. With the coach of the year. Probably with their worst version of this team. I mean, one would assume this team will only get better over the next six or eight years. If they win this year, they're going to be in suffer. I mean,

they're already insufferable. They're the least sufferable people. And now we are going to have to deal with it. So I need them to lose. I have, I went, tried to buy Seahawks gear. I'll,

I'm flying, Seahawk fly because I need the Patriots to take it out. Well, a 2000s baby. could ultimately have seen seven Super Bowl championships if they're a Patriots fan. See, that's not fair. There's other teams. You need to be able to suffer if you are a fan.

If you were born, well, 2000, they wouldn't have really been paying attention. Let's just say you were born in 1995. That's when I was born. Okay, so you're your age. If you're a Patriots fan, you don't know any difficulties in life. Like, what's going to happen when your marriage is on the rocks? How can I overcome adversity? if I've just only won.

No, I mean, that's exactly right. Because, like, if your marriage is on the rocks, you're going to go, well, I had a good first marriage. But then when we lost Brady, we got Drake May. Maybe I'll have a good, I find a good second one either. That's not a good way to have stability. They're falling upwards. Yeah, but if you don't want your second wife to be as good as your first, that's exactly what's going to happen. Especially if you're a Detroit Lions fan.

I mean, you've never even made the Super Bowl. These New England fans would be insufferable. They're going to be insufferable. They're already insufferable. Seahawks fans feel like more salt to the earth people. People have been down on their city. They always act like their city is in turmoil. We've been there.

I don't think it's that bad. Give the Seahawks fans their victory. You know there is an angle to this game we haven't discussed. Billy has watched these two teams in a Super Bowl. That's right. Seattle and New England. You went? Yes, I was there.

My dad is his second Patriots Seahawks Super Bowl. That is interesting. You've been to two Super Bowls. They're both Seahawks Patriots. Yeah, a little odd. I was kind of hoping for two different teams, but this could be a great reded. redemption story for Seattle after throwing the ball on the one yard line. We were in that end zone when it happened. Talk about an all-time sports moment. That's right. That is very cool. So tell people who aren't regular listeners what the story was with your dad. Yeah. So my dad won a fan lottery. So you put your names in just like you're trying to win tickets at the masters and he won it. But when we were walking in, somebody offered us 10 grand apiece for the tickets. So we looked at each other and we said, all right, we'll just go watch the game at a bar. And we tried to sell it, but our names were on the ticket because it was a fan lottery.

So we didn't get the money. So you could have had $20,000. Could it have 20 grand. Do you have, I'm not trying to get in your personal life, but do you have college debt? I don't, no. Okay. He's getting married this year, though. That's worse.

You're getting married. I want you to think about what a nicer wedding you could have had if you just had not gone to that game. Dad could have sold those tickets. If dad had just sold the tickets. Those non-transferable tickets. You could have, like, think about how much better the, the dress, the honeymoon? You would be disgusted if you knew how much like flowers are for a wedding right now.

I mean, it's like eight grand for what we're getting flowers. Just for the flowers. Just for flowers. Getting married is it's a, what kind of flowers are you get? Like I buy Valentine's, I bought Valentine's Day flowers.

You can get an amazing set for one. Yeah, it's not like, not tulips at the table I'm talking about. Like, I'm talking about like a hanging flower from the ceiling and like a staircase, draped in flowers. and things like that. You have a staircase draped in flowers? Yes. That feels a little excessive. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I, listen, I'm not making these decisions. Trust me. Like, I'm not the one wanting. This is our royal wedding.

Come on. With those $20,000, he could have just bought different colors of quarter zips and not having to consolidate. That's right. You could have had half as many quarter zips as you have now. So, so you're not going to this game, right? Not going to this one. But it would still, Seahawks Patriots fans should be rooting for you to go to all of them. All right. So let's just go ahead and let's make our pick here. Seahawks and Patriots, Billy, I'll let you go first. Well, I've got to see the redemption story. Sam Darnold, the first quarterback from the class of 2018 to make the big game. I think he gets it done.

And the Seahawks cover, what is it, like four and a half? Four and a half. So I'm going to go Seattle in a game where both teams score under 30 points. So give me 2817. By the way, Emmett Smith said today, he was asked, what do you think about, who do you think will be the next elite quarterback to join Mahomes, Borough, Allen, and Lamar? And he said, only Mahomes is elite. Those other three are anywhere close.

Oh, wow. Not anywhere close. That's an Emmett, old head comment, right? The old head gets here and he's like, you know, nobody's as good as Fran Tarkin. There was a little bit of that. Well, for my Super Bowl pick, there's another old head in this game. Greg Rable has been in, I think, 40 Super Bowls as a player. His first is a coach.

He will have them ready. But Seattle's just too much to overcome. Too balanced. I think they're equipped and ready to win it. They already won so many big games in their division to get here and through the playoffs. But I'll say it's close enough. New England covers. It's 2723.

Well, you and I, if all these scores would get close, here's exactly what's going to happen. It's going to be 2823. Minute and a half to go. Patriots get the ball. They drive down the field. They get all the way great, great efficient passing by May, runs in the right spots, gets into the red zone, makes a great pass to digs, gets stopped on the one. Time for one play. They hand it off, come up six inches short for Mike Vrable.

And the Seahawks by six inches end up winning the game 28 to 23rd. I got to tell you, someone who has watched his team lose on the goal. line. I hope that has not happened. That is a loss that will live with you for decades. But it would flip the script of the game that you went to many years ago. So six-inch bike will come up just a little bit short and we will give the game to the to the sea hawks. I hope we're in for a thriller and I really think it will be. We want a game to come down the end, especially the last game of the season. So whatever team it is, I just hope it's one that we're all excited for the finish. I totally agree. All right. So, you know, a team that many people thought would be here earlier

in the year was the 49ers. We're going to take a little break here. When we come back, Christian McCaffrey, CMC, run CMC in the house here on NFL cover zero. All right. Now joined by Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers, All-Pro running back. First player to ever be nominated for a finalist for offensive player of the year and comeback player of the year. Great to be with you. I know you wish you were playing in this game, but still awesome to see you. Yeah, appreciate it, man. Yeah, no, it's always a, a, weird week when you're not playing but you know NFL makes it fun we just got done with the pro bowl which was a blast being around a bunch of guys that you know compete against compete with so

it's been a good week what was that like that pick six by jamar was kind of impressive wasn't it it's a great play great play you could probably play some safety yeah now you uh you know i had somebody say to me earlier we were talking about you as a football player and they go i've never seen a guy who finds a way to be open more than him and it finds a way you would think there's no way that he's going to be able to break off yards here and he does Your success in the league has been exceptional in sometimes difficult circumstances. What's it been like now playing on a team with a lot of success and with a play caller that can get you the ball in all the right spaces? Oh, it's amazing, man.

I think, you know, when I got traded to Sanford, it was such a, you know, rejuvenation of life for me in football. And, you know, being a part of this team around so many great players with great play callers and a great coach, it's, it makes football fun. You know, you come in every day and you're always learning, which I think is. exciting, you know, so your game can always grow, you can always get better, and you feel that way each week, you know, each week brings new challenges and different ways to compete, compete against different players, against different schemes. And, you know, when you have a guy that can make sense of everything, is Shannon as smart as everybody acts like? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I think if anybody's allowed to sit in those meetings, they would see that. But it's, it's, it's the, you know, master class of football,

our team. And the way he explains offensive football by talking about, defense the way he understands every position on the field and making sense of why he's calling certain plays i think that's a big deal he's not just calling plays to call him there's reasons for everything and you know i like like anybody who was born to do something you know he was born um you know the same way i was born i believe to play football watching my dad play all those years being around the game my whole life he was around the game his whole life and got to uh got to see from a hall of fame caliber coach and his dad and so the way that he's taken all of that and and continue to expand it and grow it has been really cool to just be a, you know, witness to it.

You all like to be a game farther, but I still think it's remarkable what the 49ers did, given the injuries you've suffered this year and last. How are you all able to stay strong and together when you've just got some star players dropping left and right these last couple of seasons? It's been really unfortunate run for you guys. Yeah, you know, it was a weird year because you hate losing guys like that. You know, when you lose, you know, a guy like Bosa, a guy like Fred, you know, we lost George for a good chunk of the time. We lost Brock. You know, had Mikel Williams, our first

round D-N go down and all these guys who, you know, got banged up. It sucks. And sometimes it can take the life out of you. I think the thing I was most proud about with this team is, you know, we showed up every single day with the right mentality. It wasn't some, you know, magic potion that kept us in games. It was just consistent work every single day, trying to get better every single day and, you know, genuine love for each other, genuine love for football, and guys that did it the right way. And so, you know, that was a team that in my nine years, I would have no problem going to battle with any day of the week. We got to get rid of that power plant next to the, there we go. I don't know. Something's going on with that, with that Christian.

Team, you know, what, man, you know, I've been a part of the NFL for nine years now. And, you know, as somebody who's had injuries, you can try to make sense of things if you want. Sometimes you just have bad luck. It's bad luck. You know, and, and sometimes that's what it is. Fred got rolled up on really bad. You know, I mean, it is what it is. It's, it's, injuries happen. And it's part of the game. And we, you know, yeah, we were pretty unlucky with it this year. But, you know, somebody that's there every day, I'd love to say this is the reason or that's the reason, but it's never one reason. A Christian, is it weird to, like, score a touchdown and then hear a fan say you say you didn't score enough points for me in fantasy football. That seems like a weird dynamic when you're

such a good player. I probably doesn't happen to him a whole lot, though. I feel like he's, he's, he's always getting massive numbers. Yeah. No, it never gets old, man. I mean, the fantasy football has grown the game a lot, but, you know, that's really all you hear about now. You could have an unbelievable pass protection that seals the win, and you're all happy

celebrating in the locker room, and, you know, you lost some guys $17 bucks in his fantasy game, and now you're the enemy. Shut up. I don't care. No one cares about your fantasy team. No one. I know.

Yeah, that is true, but no, I don't say that. What was it like practicing against a Robert's solid defense? I'm a Titans guy, so I'm excited that he's moving to Nashville. It's a big hit to your team. What was it like going against one of his defenses? Man, you know, being a part, you know, being around him for a year was incredible. I think it makes sense why he's such a great coach, but also so loved by his players, the energy he brings every single day.

He's a guy that I'm obviously happy for him and his family, but I hate that he's gone. You know, just being around him was fun. As an offensive guy, you know, always bringing competition, making everything competitive, but also extremely. smart and detailed when it comes to defensive football. And so, you know, you guys are, you know, lucky. You, I never do this, but I get people that ask me all the time to do this. I always say no, but I'm going to make an exception. Drew and I have these two twins, Ali and Emily, that since they were like 10 years old, have been coming to our shows for 15 years and they're grownups. And they have been your fan on like an elite level to the point that I've watched them. It's like,

Taylor Swift and you. It's a tie. It's a tie. They've come to our shows and they will, they have Christian McCaffrey shirts. They love it. So you have to do me a favor and just thank Allie and Emily for fit for nonstop fandom. It's you and Taylor Swift that are there too.

That's big company. Allie and Emily, thank you guys so much. I'll send you guys some stuff because I appreciate you guys being diehard fans. And hopefully, hopefully you continue to be my fan along with Taylor Swift. Are you a Taylor Swift fan? Like if he, I'm sure that would make them very happy. I like to, I love her music. I think it's fantastic.

You ever been to one of the concerts? I still haven't been. No, I got to go. Matter? At least with Travis at some point. Never matter. Never matter. Wow.

Can you think you could handle, by the way, like think about, because you know, you're in the league. You see what it's like, like what Travis Kelsey, the way his life has changed the last couple years and the attention. Well, you think you could handle that in that circumstance? Yeah, I think I could handle it. Yeah. I think he just, I don't, I don't think he looks at.

it like that. I mean, I've, again, I don't know. It seems like an awesome dude. He's the best, man. Yeah, every time I've met him, he's incredible, man. He's, he's, uh, the most down-to-earth guy, smile and has the best energy, very genuine. Uh, I don't think there's anything to handle. I think he's, you know, he's probably got the same friends he's always had and super tight with his family. And, uh, you know, I think all that other stuff is for the fans. He's still still a guy. Yeah. That's right. Now, you're here for Oli-pop. Now, I'm a big soda person, and I've had people say, you know, Matt, you should try Oli-pop. Help me know what it is because I've never had it. First off, yeah, it's a soda you can feel good about drinking.

That's exactly what it is. Super healthy, very low in sugar, high in fiber, and legitimately tastes like you're drinking soda. So as a guy that loves taking care of my body, loves, you know, to be as healthy as possible. It's kind of my job. I never feel guilty drinking them. I do it all the time. This was the easiest partnership for me because- Does that have flavors? Oh, yeah. Okay, what's the one to get? I would start with crisp apple. It's like drinking the freshest apple you've ever had in your life. The root beer is really good. I'm a huge root beer fan.

If you're a classic, just regular cola flavor, you'll enjoy that one. The ginger ale's good. They have Shirley Temple. Any flavor you could think of that's like a carbonated soda, they've created it to make it healthy and it tastes like that. The only thing bad about you, Christian, is that they didn't bring samples. Like now you got him. He drank them.

Don't worry, we brought them. You guys didn't allow me to have it right here. I see unbranded water, unbranded water. I would have put it front and center, giving you guys. I don't know. Oh, she's at it right there. There's some Chris Matt. Get these guys an olipop.

Okay. Yeah. It changed your life. Ollipops. You know, they wouldn't let you put it up here. I would have said it was okay. Christian, thank you very much. Appreciate it, guys.

Yeah. Good luck with next season. We appreciate you stopping by. Thanks a lot, guys. Appreciate it. All right. Now, happy to be joined from Special Olympics. It is from the New York Jets, Harrison Phillips,

and Ryan Ependindindio, Did I get that right? Yes, you did. Right. You are Special Olympics health messenger. Appreciate you guys taking the time. Start with you, Harrison. I mean, how did you end up involved with Special Olympics?

And what do you think of being here in this Meteor Row? You guys have been doing interviews all day. We have been. I've been fortunate enough to come to Radio Row a couple times. This is the most interviews I've had. I'm more of a bodyguard to Ryan today. And just get asked a couple lob questions. But I first got involved with Special Olympics.

long time ago back when I was even in middle school and high school we got involved and volunteered some of the organizations and then when I got to the NFL I started my own foundation called Harrison's Playmakers and we attack very similar causes that the Special Olympics does I work with individuals with developmental differences and special needs and all the cities I've played it in my hometown and we've grown to work with we've done over 70 events in the last five years 12,000 people we've worked with I mean it's been really great but in every city I've gone to that my first phone call is to the the Special Olympics chapter that's great how can we poach some of your kids to come on over and be a part of what we're doing too.

And I would assume New York's got a huge one, right? Oh, my God. Well, it's actually a battle. It's New York or New Jersey. So because we're in New York, the team is with New York. But New Jersey has a full chapter, too. It doesn't get as much of love. So I'm trying to do stuff with New Jersey special.

Look at you. Look at that. Heart is unbiased. You know what I'm saying? We need, you know, the big city, the littler city. So anyway, we've been doing this for years now and just been blown away. My cup is always overflowing any time I'm involved with Special Olympics. and Ryan's been a great friend of mine that we've been getting to know the last few weeks,

a great ambassador for what we're doing, and the program of fitness through sports and the playbook that we have to help athletes. You've been in the league for how long? This is nine now. Nine, but Ryan, as I understand it, you've been a special Olympics athlete for 25 plus years, am I right? Yes, that's right. And you play a lot of sports. He's not just like, oh, he does is football.

Just tackle. Who cares? Like, just out there tackling people. What all have you played? I play football, basketball, softball, track and field. I can relate what he's doing. But, like, do you got to put the work ethic in? When you eat, healthy, drink healthy, sleep healthy.

Just keep your mind right and keep your work ethic. Keep going. What's your best sport? My best sport. I can't pick one. I love them all. You love them all? But that medal is for which one?

This medal, I got it for track and field with my relay team. Oh. Team guy. I like a team guy. I like it, too. Four by 100? Four by four. Oh, wow.

Good night. Well, then I, listen, I'm not going to try to get you. Who has the bigger muscles between the two of you two? You're teaching a metal workout? The last time we sat on this, they measured our biceps. Oh, wow. We had to be over here earlier, and they were measuring our arms. So I won that one, but I think they got the measurement.

Right. So tell me a little bit, Harrison. You play him for the Jets, been a lot of transition for you since you've been there. Do you see, how do you see the momentum going forward into the next couple years? Well, you know, I have seen, you know, a lot of turnover change in the coaching staff this year. I think that when we had, the Jets had a culture that was, was struggled because of the lack of success they've had. And you have to think the human nature, I've been an organization for five, six years. We've never won.

year there's a coach leaving there's players leaving there's guys getting cut there's new coaches coming bringing their own guys i have to protect myself and so that you get this kind of culture of i needed to take care of mine and then young players come in and they say oh that's how we do things here and so that can't just be like switched overnight agee's insane he's amazing the consistency he seems very intense is he is he intense guy yes but like there's still the human yes the coach and then there's traveling or, you know, catching up in an office season. He's human. He's a great dude. He has a big heart, family man. But yeah, game, I mean, in the building, he's intense. And I think that it's a person like him. It's him that's going to have to change the culture.

I'm not, I also don't say like, oh, we're years and years away from it. But it takes a little time. You know, this season was a season of growth. How much can we learn? How much of that roster proved enough to be a part of the culture moving forward? Getting some new coaches. What's the scheme look like is it players or plays how that whole thing evolves i'm happy to be a part of we got a lot of cap space we got a lot of draft picks but again i'm a i've been around enough to see winning football is somehow correlated to togetherness and connectivity if you have a team that isn't connected and is you know maybe not worried about their you know worried about themselves more than their teammates it's not a huge recipe for success ag has great messaging and is trying to instill a championship

culture you're a city guy now but you started in buffalo then minnesota and obviously you're talking about how big you are getting involved in the community. What are two underrated aspects of Buffalo and Minnesota kind of smaller markets that some fans might not even realize? We went to Buffalo for the first time. Yeah, I went to a game earlier this year. It's incredible. They wouldn't put me through a table, though. I was trying. Couldn't find one anywhere. Yeah, they're cracking down on the table stuff. I noticed. Look, my time in Western New York was such a great chapter of my life. And if you go click on an Instagram post that I posted any day last week, scroll through the comments, you will see two dozen come to Buffalo. We miss you in Buffalo. Why do you not in Buffalo?

They're just the best fans. I think what's unique about Buffalo is because it's such a smaller market, the bills is everything they have. It's their lifeblood. And so when our backup practice squad long snapper goes to the grocery store, he's taking photos with everybody. He's signing an autograph. They know our ins and outs of us.

They know it's just really cool. And what I left Buffalo and went to Minneapolis, which is a little bigger city, I was like, man, we used to get so many perks in Buffalo. You know, you go to your spot. They get you free appetizer, free bottle of wine. They pick up the dinner. You know what I'm saying?

Extra blue cheese. Yeah. So I'm just like, well, I'm going to go to Minneapolis and like, holy cow, we're going to have tons of free stuff. Wasn't quite like that. Jersey's not quite like that. The fans are still super cool. But when it's larger markets, it's, you got all these sports teams that they all have bumped into a professional athlete in the grocery store at the movie theater. So it's just not of a rarity.

Now, Ryan. To your alma mater, what's the most Stanford thing you've done this week since you've been in town? I was at Stanford. I went back to Stanford. So you've already been this trip. I mean specifically. Yes. We flew in two days early.

My wife and my nine-month-old son, they're somewhere around here, eating or napping or something. Brought him to Stanford, drove him to my dorms, talked to the team, had some good conversations with Tevita the new head coach and Andrew Luck. And then on the plane ride here to pass time, I solved a Rubik's Q that's a little Stanford. Just a little Stanfordish.

I mean, it just flexes that you solved a little Rubik skew. Well, while I was here, I did wordle. So take that, Harrison. Mike drop. All right. So now, Ryan, I need your help with Harrison because they had a tough season with the Jets this year. He needs to get motivated for next year. If you were telling he, Harrison and the Jets, what would your message be then to get them on track for next year?

I can't say anything because everybody is just different human. That's a great answer. But I mean, think of just the questions that guys asked us earlier today. Like what makes you good at what you do? You talked about the sleep. You talked about would you maybe just motivate me to do some of those things? Is that you do? Yeah.

You're a good sleeper. How many hours? I get about eight hours and nine hours of sleep. Now, that's what you could teach me. I can't get more than six. What should I do to get better sleep? Go to bed earlier? Boom.

Go to bed earlier, man. Exactly. If I went to bed two hours earlier, that's not that hard mass, that's exactly right. Two hours earlier, we would get it. We also, he let us know about the alcohol use. How much alcohol is okay?

Zero. Zero. No, no. Guess what? I don't drink. Now, Drew. No comment. So you might have to work. You might have to work on him.

Remember how many beers the last guy told us he had last night? He said he had 12 beers last night. He's Ryan, so that's not cutting it. That's not going to get eight hours of sleep. Yeah, doing that. It would be all the way up. Special Olympics.org at Special Olympics on social. When's your next event?

I'm doing Special Olympic basketball right now. We got practices on Sunday. days for like two hours straight. Oh, dang. Okay. And I love doing it. I want you to give them a crossover, knock some, like get a crossover, get somebody's ankles and take it to the basket for us.

Will you do that? Oh, try. Yeah, there it is. I'll try. I love it. But I'm better on my left side. Okay. Oh, you go left.

Yeah. Well, I bounced the ball with my left and shoot with my right. Mm. Amidextrous. So you're a moderate in today's difficult times. I appreciate that. Harrison, thank you very much, Ryan. We appreciate your time. Thank you guys so much. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you. So when I agreed to do this podcast, I had some things that I had to sacrifice.

One of which is I can't just be about my team. I can't just bear down. I also have to be fair to the league as a whole. And this is one of those moments. Christian Watson from the Green Bay Packers is joining us. I'm not going to boo. I might have booed. you during regular games, but here you seem like a nice fella. Appreciate you, Joy. I appreciate you. I might boo you, honestly. There we go.

Feel free to. There we go. I mean, we did kind of own you this year, so it might have to boot, you know, it might be what we have to talk about. What were those games like? I mean, those were amazing games this year. I know you came out on the losing end of the last one, but had to be exciting. Oh, you know, there were exciting games for sure.

I mean, honestly, well, I mean, it would have been more exciting if we would have came out on top. But, you know, I mean, I feel like it's always, you know, cranked up a notch moment when it's the bearers. Can you feel that when you play them? It's just another level? Yeah, 100%. I think, I think, you know, you feel it from both sides for sure. They're just like a little bit more, a little bit more energy, a little bit, you know, different of a vibe when they're playing.

I mean, shoot because, you know, both teams want to, you know. They got to get it. Yeah, both teams want to come out on top. You had owned us for years. So you got to have to give us one year back. Yeah, I get you. Yeah, we'll give you that one, but it's not going to happen again. All right, fair enough.

Christian, I like talking to Packers because there's really nothing better in football than a snow game in Lambo. We got to go to one a couple years ago, even though he is a Bears fan. It's like one of the best things you can do in football. But I have to ask you as a player, are you one of those tough guys that goes out there, like shirt off or nose sleeves, or do you bundle up? How do you treat the cold weather games as a Packer? Because some guys are out there. I feel like they're toughing it out, but I know they're freezing on the inside. Yeah, no.

I mean, I have in the past, but, you know, I have in the past, you know, been one of the guys. it goes out with their shirt off and everything. And you were freezing, weren't you? Yeah, 100%. Yeah, nah. I mean, you went to school in North Dakota. You're kind of used to it, right? At the end of the day, I mean, you can be, you know, around it as much as you want,

but, you know, cold is still cold. So, I mean, honestly, when you go out there and you watch those cold games, everybody out there is cold. It's just, you know, you just got to get past that, you know, you just got to get past that, a little mental block. But it's a home field advantage. I mean, like, there's been a lot of teams. I know Kansas City.

going to put in a dome. My bears are, unfortunately, to me, considering doing it, I would think that's an home field advantage if you're used to it, isn't it? Yeah, no. I mean, the more you're around it, you know, obviously the more comfortable you get, you know, being uncomfortable in those elements. So, I mean, it's definitely an advantage to the guys who are around it more 100%. Christian, you go from the FCS level to playing with Aaron Rogers

in your first year in the NFL. Now, our Bears guys, a little bit of a hater of Aaron. We'll talk. But tell me about playing with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Yeah, no, I mean, it was definitely an experience that I'm super grateful for. You know, I think I got to learn a lot, you know, in that, you know, in that one year that I got to play with him. You know, I think that he definitely, you know, kind of just, you know, jump started, you know, my career in terms of, you know, the confidence, you know, that I play with out there. I think that he was a big part in building that confidence, you know, in myself and, you know, in me, you know, on that team.

See, I'm super grateful for him. You know, obviously, you know, he's one of a kind. He's one of the best to ever do it. So, yeah, no, I mean, it's just a blessing to be able to say that I was playing with him for sure. So I also will acknowledge Aaron Rogers hater. But it's not even so much the Packers. It's just the whole thing. Did you ever, like with Aaron Rogers, did I always hear, though, even though, even though,

I find him annoying that he is a good teammate to be around. Did you find that? 100%. Yeah. 100%. Yeah, no, he was a great teammate to be around. You know, I think that he definitely pushed everybody to, you know, to, you know, chase that level that he was playing at, playing at. You know, I think that, you know, where the misconcession comes from is just, you know, when you're playing at that high of a level for that, you know, long of a time, I mean, you have a different, you know, approach when it comes to a game, you have a different expectation, a different standard.

and a different, you know, level of passion. So, you know, when he's out there and he's, you know, being mad at this or mad that, I mean, he's really just, you know, but he's just passionate about what he's doing. And, you know, he's trying to bring everybody else along with them. And, you know, he has an expectation of the guys who, you know, he is going out there with to be the best, you know, that they can possibly be.

So, you know, I don't think that, you know, anybody, I can always speak for myself, but I don't think that anybody who went out, was out there and playing with them ever, you know, took that for granted. Did you ever get to know Randall Cobb, our guy out there? You know, he's a Kentucky guy. We're big Randall Cobb guys. Did you ever get, like, distracted by how pretty his eyes are?

Because they are, like, they're ridiculous. Yeah, no, that wasn't something that I looked at you too much. You can't look directly at him, Christian. Yeah, no, that wasn't something that I was worried about. But, yeah, now, Randall is my guy. You know, I got to play one year with him in Green Bay. I learned a lot from him as well. It was great being around him.

Yeah, that's my guy. He's an awesome, awesome dude. All right. So when people look at the NFL, you know, it looks like such a glamorous life. Like you're getting to play a sport that you played your entire life, you know, for free. Now you're getting paid for it. But like, what is the worst part of being an NFL player? Like, what's the part where you go, people don't see that this comes with it?

What is that? I mean, I don't even necessarily think that it's something that people don't know comes with that. I mean, obviously, you know, the injuries and, you know, the toll and strain. They hurt, right? Yeah, the toll and the strain on your body that you, you know, go through playing at this level. I mean, everybody knows it's there, but I don't think that they realize the impact that it actually has on, you know, players, you know, mentally and physically, obviously. I mean, it's a lot.

What's the worst injury you've taken in terms of pain? In terms of pain, probably the ACL. Yeah. I mean, shoot, it was probably, I mean, obviously the pain right away. but shoot, the first two months was probably two months in a row with straight pains. So, again, I was definitely tough being on. I mean, I just say the physical and mental toll that, you know, it takes on, you know, on guys is overlooked, I think, you know,

not necessarily unknown, but overlooked for sure. I'm fascinated by the whole North Dakota State, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Dakota. I get all four of those schools confused. I feel like even though, and they all have a really good culture in terms of being good at football. North Dakota State probably the best one historically, but all have been good even in recent years. Why is that? Why is there so much good football in the two states that I find the most forgettable usually? I mean, you're asking a North Dakota State guy, so, you know, I wouldn't necessarily say that North Dakota, South Dakota, or South Dakota State is, you know, playing good football or, you know,

You know, or, you know, or I wouldn't say that they're on the level that, you know, North Dakota State's on. But, you know, I mean, I think that it just comes from, you know, the type of players that have gone through those programs and, you know, just the standard that's been set over the years. I mean, it's really a kind of a get it out the mud, you know, mindset, you know, where, you know, you got guys who, you know, were probably overlooked at some point in their, you know, careers playing football or, you know, just, you know, missed the cut. So, you know, you got a lot of hungry guys who are just trying to make a name for themselves. So you kind of get that. Were you there that year they had game day there and they had all that thing. Were you part of that? I was in I was in there when there was game day at South Dakota State.

It's South Dakota State. Yeah. So, again, I screw up with the thing. But it is fascinating. And the culture of those programs, how does that translate to the NFL? You know, I mean, I think you can bring that mindset, you know, right over. I mean, I think that, you know, guys. guys just, you know, obviously, you know, just North Dakota State and South Dakota State,

obviously, you know, me, Tucker Kraft, you got guys like Dallas Goddard, I mean, who are, you know, just play, you know, are, you know, really successful in the league. So I think that we just kind of carry that mindset, you know, straight into the league. I don't think there's, I don't think I know anybody in the league who's as gritty as, you know, Tucker Kraft is. So, you know, I mean, I mean, I think that, I think that it just kind of translates straight to the league. I mean, you're back on a kind of like an even playing field in terms of, you know, everybody in the league is, you know, really good at, you know, football. That's obviously, you know, why we're there.

So, you know, kind of try to find a way to separate yourself. All right. All right. This is Billy right here. All right. Billy is our producer. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

We brought him out here. Not a Barris fan, by the way. He's not himself on that. Considered not bringing him so he wouldn't embarrasses. But we brought him. He didn't have a lot of packing space. So he went quarter zip. All right?

he brought three quarter zips that were reversible to save packing space. Now, you're looking at them right here, Christian. Now, you feel like a fashionable guy. I want you to grade. We have been kind of anti the whole flippable quarter zip. Are you pro or con reversible quarter zip? We can flip it to blue any time today. Yeah.

Any time. Can you do it right now? I mean, well, yeah, but if I'm being honest, I mean, I'll just start by saying it. I definitely wouldn't put it on personally. But I don't have anything against it. I think if you were just to ask me, is a quarter zip acceptable? I'd be like, yeah, quarter zip's good. Like, it's fashionable.

It's solid. It's a good choice. Prip is in. The reversible is a little bit crazy. I'm not going to lie. I feel like that's kind of, like, I don't want to say that you're a lazy guy, but like, I feel like that's kind of just lazy. Like, you could have, like, just put.

a little bit more effort into the court. Like, you couldn't just get like six different. It's a good, it's like good quality. So like is it? It's home in a way. It's reversible. Yeah, exactly. I feel like anything that's like a two in one or like a five in one, like those are

always not like your body washing and shampoo and conditioner. I feel like you got the like five and one body wash on. Like if you would have just went. If you were killing me. That's exactly right. They've been giving me hell all week. You know his shampoo. Head and shoulders.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You got to go with this, you know, a one of one. I thought that's to go too. But I don't mind the quarter zip.

All right. I'm not going to boo the Green Bay Packers next year solely because Christian Watson backed us up on the quarter zip. Hey, great stuff. Thank you very much for the time. Yeah, I appreciate you. Thank you. All right. That's a wrap from our first ever Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 60 here in San Francisco. It was an absolutely awesome experience on Media Row. one of the most fun things I've done in my media career. How about you? I'm not going to say it's one the most fun things I've done in my media career. It's literally one of the most things, fun things I've done in my life. I mean, this has been so much fun. Just being here alone was fun in itself, but we've had so many of these random interactions we've told stories of we couldn't have scripted some of the stuff that has happened to us. It has truly been a perfect time and they think I'm leaving, but I'm just going to go hide in the corner and hang around.

Billy, you told us before we went that you had a, childhood dream to get to come to Media Road. Did it meet your expectation? It blew them out of the water, Matt. Just how kind everybody was. The awesome sets that the NFL and IHeart Radio have supplied us with. It is a surreal experience, and I cannot wait to come back if they invite us back. Yeah, well, hopefully they do.

I want to thank all of you that listen all season, but I mean, we're going to do a Super Bowl wrap-up show. We'll have some bonus interviews that we did this week coming up, but just in general. You guys have been huge supporters of this show from Moment 1, whether it was the people that knew us before or the people since. We cannot say we can't appreciate enough. And thank you all. And thanks to you guys. This has been a blast.

And Mario, our social media friend and colleague as well, thanks the NFL and IHeart Radio. We will see you back in Kentucky for our Super Bowl wrap up. That is, we are now out from Super Bowl 60. This is NFL Cover Zero. NFL cover zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin is a production of the NFL and IHeart podcast. For more podcasts from IHeart Radio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.