New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce - Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner Are Super Bowl Champs & Drew Brees Talks Hall of Fame | EP 179

Episode Date: February 11, 2026

92%ers, welcome to another episode of New Heights brought to you by Xfinity. Today, we are joined by Super Bowl Champions Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner, and first ballot hall-of-famer Drew Brees! First, we’ve got details on scheduling updates and some incredible guest episodes headed your way, Travis recaps his time with Kylie on NGL, and we hear what it felt like to hit that dart at the Waste Management Pro-Am. Next, we recap Super Bowl 60 with some incredible guests, Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner! We get Kupp’s thoughts on being a two-time champion, why the AJ Barner touchdown almost didn’t happen, and the hysterical backstory behind the nickname “Captain Hook.” And finally, we’ve got an incredible conversation with a new member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Drew Brees! We get his thoughts on being inducted into the hall, how close he was to giving it a go this season, how he knows a QB is ready to start, what it’s like playing QB for Sean Peyton, his Welcome to the NFL moment, and so much more!Check out all of our new merch and big game essentials at https://amzlink.to/az0JVda6JMjOrWatch and listen to new episodes of New Heights every Wednesday during the NFL season and follow us on Social Media for all the best moments from the show: https://lnk.to/newheightshowYou can also listen to new episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. ...Download the full podcast here:Wondery: https://wondery.app.link/s9hHTgtXpMbApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights/id1643745036Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1y3SUbFMUSESC1N43tBleK?si=LsuQ4a5MRN6wGMcfVcuynwSend something to the New Heights Mailbox. Don’t be weird though. C/O New Heights Productions135 E OLIVE AVE, BURBANK, CA 91502Support the show: XFINITY: A lot can change in 5 years, but the price of your internet shouldn’t. That’s why Xfinity has a 5 Year Price Guarantee. One internet price. 5 years. Guaranteed. Get it now at https://www.xfinity.com. Restrictions apply. Select plans only.AMERICAN EXPRESS: The refreshed Platinum card is here. Learn more at https://americanexpress.com/withplatinum. Terms applyRAISING CANE’S: Craveable Chicken Finger MealsEXPEDIA: The one place you go to go places. https://www.expedia.com/PEPSI ZERO SUGAR: Let your taste decide! Visit https://www.pepsi.com/where-to-buy to find Pepsi Zero Sugar near you. ALLSTATE: Check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds: https://allstate.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You gotta get to the question everyone wants to know. Have you slept? Has it just been a nonstop party? His eyes not working, Travis, you already went over this. His eyes not working. So sleep hasn't been great. Come on, nah. I woke up this morning at 6 o'clock, wide awake.

I'm in a great place. I mean, I've got so much gratitude for this journey for what this year's been. And to be where we are. King of the castles. You just can't have a meaningful moment with him. You know what I mean, Jason? Yes. I'm hearing you.

Welcome back to New Heights. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, of all over the world. The 90%ers, we love you, and we can't wait to get into this post-Super Bowl Sunday conversation. New Heights is a Wondry show brought to you by Xfinity. We're your host. I'm Travis Kelsey, my big brother, Jason Kelsey, representing the U.S. of a. Subscribe on YouTube, OneGree Plus, wherever you get your podcast, and follow the show on all social media at New Heights Show with 1S for

Fun clips throughout the week. Jason, we have one of my favorite shows of all time. It is the end of the season. It is the end of the NFL season. Today should be one of those made-up holidays that you absolutely hate, but can you just tell the people we have coming up? Well, it's kind of crazy, Trab. This is actually the first year we've done this show where the Eagles or Chiefs haven't won the Super Bowl.

That's fucking crazy. How nuts is that? That is fucking wild. That's insane. So because neither one of us are in any way apart of our day. teams winning the Super Bowl. We have decided to invite two of the Super Bowl 60 champions on this show today. That's right.

Cooper Cup and AJ Bonner are on the program today, and we're going to get into everything else we got into in San Francisco, as well as get into an incredible conversation with first ballot Hall of Famer Drew Baroo! All right. It's an absolutely stacked episode, but before we get any of that, we're going to get into what we always get into.

And that's a little bit of that. No, no. New News is brought to you by American Express. How about it, man. We got some scheduling updates for you guys. That's right, 92 percenters. We got a lot of guests coming up. We have been hot.

We've been working. We've been working. That's right. We've been talking to all the people we've always wanted to talk to, and we're looking forward to bringing those conversations to you guys. We have a short little break, but the episodes will be coming out. Don't worry. We've got some douges.

We got Troy Aikman, Randy Mons, John Hamm, Ham, Chris Stapleton, The workaholics, A.J. Brown. We're going to let you know when all of these guest episodes are releasing. And if you still need more Kelsey in your life, Travis finally appeared on Not Gonna Lie. That's right. Kylie Kelsey's podcast, Not Gonna Lie. Traff, how was it? Not going to lie.

It was kind of more fun talking to her than you. I'm not going to lie. I understand why you married her a long time ago, but she asked me one question that was, like, I sat there and I thought about it and I wish I would have answered it better. My first impressing of her were that she was such a sweetheart. And I said this at your guys' wedding when I did the wedding speech. But I was like, she's such a sweetheart. She's so nice.

She is. But I was like, you don't just win Jason's love. And you don't win him over in terms of like doing things, getting him to do the things that you want him to do, like be a like respectable human being. You don't view those kind of things by just being a sweetheart. So I knew there was an underlining, like, toughness to her that I hadn't. And then we went to the shore. And she started talking but, butter, she's talking water. She started talking.

I can't even fucking do the Philly accent like it needs to be done. But I saw her in her element. And that's where I knew. I was like, oh, she's got him wrapped up around her finger. This dude. Yep. is lost in the song he doesn't know anything but kai and from that point on it's just been that and i've loved having her as a as a sister-in-law and it's been so cool to see her take off in her

own right and uh not gonna lie was a fucking blast dude that's awesome yeah i do dude dude and i did the episode turned out great you and kai's chemistry and anything that you do you just like have like i'm serious you guys have a good child man the second child's the best dude no doubt we relate we relate Well, you also admitted that you have never read a rundown, which I'm sure the producers of the show love that. They were very appreciative. What's a rundown? All right. Palli also adopted an otter in your name, apparently, something I didn't even know.

Uncle Travis over there in the Philly Zoo, man. We got to get over there, man. I got to meet this, I think it's a wild or like a great river otter. I forget the actual name of this otter. It's not the otter that's in my dreams, but it's. It is an honor to be a part of the Philly Zoo like that. So I got to get over there and say, what's up? We'll get over there next time you come into town.

That'd be a great out-of-the-house segment. We also got to talk about Travis dominating in front of thousands of people over it. The waste management. Dominating. I mean, at least on whole 16, we don't need to look at all the other stuff. The biggest hole in the whole freaking thing, the part three in front of the grandstands, thousands of people's eyes are on Travis Kelsey. It felt like I was walking into the Coliseum.

There's like a little tunnel and I got a cool video. Chris Pearson was kind of following us around. He got a cool video of us like walking into it. Dude, it is such an epic. Like, you have to do it. Golf lovers everywhere. You have to go to this hole. The 16th hole at Waste Management at the Phoenix Open is unbelievable.

It's such a unique, like, experience. And honestly, it's not just the 16th holes. 17th and 18th is how you finish it off. It's like nothing I've ever been a part of in my life, but you walk into that 16th hole. It's an arena. It's an arena of just people that will either boo you or get high or get excited over like you getting close to the fucking pin. I was in my element.

You give me a bunch of drunk people with an opportunity to get them fired up. I feel like that's like my home. That's like my home and I felt very comfortable. I will say this, though, my got my catty, Patrick Bacon, he's taking a lot of credit for this. I went last. Everybody that went, had the number, was short. They all went short. And I'm looking at this, too, and I'm like questioning in my mind, should I club up?

Or should I just trust my strength over there's like, I'm in my head about this. And Patrick Bacon comes up to me and says, hey, what do you got in your hand? You should probably rethink this and go get a club off. And not that I wasn't already thinking that, but he gave me the reassurance. So I'll give Patty Bakes the whole. He called me off and told me to club up. I'll give him the compliment there. But he's taking full credit for it talking to anybody.

He's not shying away from talking about it. Which he should, which you should. That's what caddies do. You know what I mean? They're part of it. It's a team game. Well, I don't think a lot of candies do take credit, but Bacon does for sure. It was a 150 shot, or 155, whatever it is.

and I went from holding a pitch, pitch and wedge to holding a nine iron, and the nine iron stuck two feet from it. And when I tell you, I stood over the ball for, I don't even know how long. Somebody sent me a video, and I was,

I was like, I was staring at the ball this long. I don't remember doing that. It's intimidating. It really puts it into perspective for like these guys, like Rory and these guys making these like putts to win the entire tournament. And way more at stake,

that's got to be crazy. That wasn't even the hardest part. Oh, What was the hardest part? Standing over the two-foot putt. That was the hardest part. Dude, though, when I was back there holding the nine iron, I'm like, I'm just going to give this thing a fucking run and throw it up there.

And that thing fucking drew over. I felt like I hit it further up in the air. Then I hit it further in distance. That thing went high. That thing went so fucking high in the air. The first thing, the guy on the mic that was doing the entire like 16th hole, he was introducing everybody. As soon as I hit it, he was like, whoa, look at that.

That thing went high up at the air. everybody's like like waiting for that thing to fucking come down and then it just stuck it didn't do much after after it hit and it was perfect man so are you saying you probably actually hit the wrong club you probably hit it a couple grooves high which made it actually the right club it was the perfect club all right all right all right i didn't catch any grass that thing was teed up just a little bit and i hit it smooth and it was it was so much fun just being at that event I got to hang with Scotty Sheffler. I got to hang with Brooks Kepka. Shout out to Brooks for being such a good dude and being back into the madness. And Scotty, he was over there with his kid. It was such a fucking unique event. And these pro-ams are so fucking cool.

And I had that as a bucket list item in my mind of like, yeah, there's unbelievable courses all over the world. But if I could ever get a shot at the 16th hole at waste management, I can't pass that up. It passed that up. I was still it did. It's like, no, sweetie, I have to go. I'm sorry.

I have to do this. This is the mecca. This is like reaching the Super Bowl of like golf world. And it was and it didn't disappoint. Waste management crowd is so fucking, they're so lit and so excited and so there for those moments that it didn't disappoint. It was so much fun. Well, that's awesome.

Brother. It was an incredible shot. I loved watching every bit of it. Where do you think it ranks in your athletic achievements of all time? I mean, it's number one of my golf achievements for sure. There's nothing that even comes close. That was the closest I've ever gotten to a hole in one. Like, it was,

it was like the perfect shot for the perfect time that I'll live through forever. I'll be able to watch those videos forever. I had Jim Nance talking about it during the fucking Friday broadcast or the Saturday, Sunday broadcast. If Jim Nance is talking about my golf, I'm doing something right. There you. All right. Well, once again, new news is brought to you by American Express. Let's keep this thing moving.

Let's get to some bold topics. Super Bowl edition. How about a bold topics? It's brought to you by Pepsi. One of our favorites. We were a Pepsi household growing up. I'm a wild cherry Pepsi fan myself. Big Guy Kelsey likes a nice little diet Pepsi.

But shout out to all the Pepsi out there. Seahawks are your Super Bowl 60 champions. And we love the old Northeast Ohio ball player, Mike Brable and a lot of the Patriots over there. But the Seahawks, they had the juice going into it, man. and they defeated the Patriots 2913. I'm not going to lie. I kind of imagine this would happen,

and it definitely was a good game. And there was a point there when Drake May started getting the fucking juices going in the late third, early fourth. And they started to make a run at it. But, man, the Seahawks just had too much, man, with Kenneth Walker, with our guy, AJ Barner and Cooper Cup, man. They just had the juice. And I couldn't be happier for the guys over there.

there because a lot of the guys are guys you can root for man yeah i mean listen it's it's a super bowl both of these teams are very good both of their defenses had been playing you know out of their minds all postseason and uh Seattle is just loaded across the board like they don't set team that really doesn't have a weakness which is kind of why i thought that they would prevail like it felt like they were the more talented group across the board but you never know i mean the patriots were such a good team so well coach yeah by coach vrabs and josh mcdaniels like all years year they just had been overachieving. And, yeah, Seattle just proved to be a little bit too much, man.

They're unbelievable on the defensive side of the ball offensively. They didn't make the mistakes that, you know, they had kind of been prone to, right? Like Sam Darnold had a bunch of turnovers in the regular season. Doesn't have any in the postseason. And he didn't do that by being conservative. He was still taking his chances. He was still being aggressive through the air. And he got to give some love to the kicker.

How about this? We're giving love to the kickers. Pending some guys down inside the five, making field goals. I am. Jason Meyer. I mean, through the first half, it was only field goals. This guy was nailing everything. This guy went over with Pat McAfee trying to kick a field goal,

and all of a sudden he has appreciation for the kicking game now. I mean, listen, it's the biggest game of the year. We're freaking nailing kicks. Those are huge. Trailed for one minute and 35 seconds total this entire playoffs. How fucking insane is that? That is crazy. So they just got up to the jump and just freaking were leading all the way.

I mean, they blew out San Fran. Then the big one was the Rams game. which that was the team they had struggled with and had the closest battles with all season. So yeah, I mean, it is surprised. I mean, they were the best team in football this year. The reality was, like, if you look at it across the board, it was really them in L.A., those two teams in that division were the most consistently great teams all season long. And like, yeah, the Patriots had an incredible season.

In the AFC, sort of the Broncos. But I thought that those two teams in particular were the best all year. They continued that throughout the playoffs and they continued in the Super Bowl. And it's a credit to Sam Darnold for where he. He's come in his career, all the ups and downs and being with five different teams. Cooper Cup gets cast out in L.A., comes back. Resurgence in Seattle. It's just a remarkable story of a team that was assembled.

And how great they ended up being across the board. It reminds me a lot of, you know, our 17 season. And I mean, a lot of Super Bowl teams, but you get like just the right group of guys that all come together, man. And it feels like everything's clicking. the chemistry's there. I mean, Sam Donald is now, everybody's talking about being a star, but certainly not while the whole season was happening.

You know, it doesn't have that like star-studded MVP quarterback. I mean, I think Leonard Williams is unbelievable. It doesn't have the, you know, the Aaron Donald or like the Miles Garrett. Like, they're just all really, really good across the board. They were a great team.

And it's an incredible year for that city and that franchise. And Mike McDonald in his second year in Seattle. How about that, man? Mike McDonald's the same age as Jason, Kelsey. We just hired an offensive court and it's 33 years old. It's nuts, man. Teams keep hiring these younger coaches and I think it's for a reason, man. I think these young guys come in and they're very smart, but they have a mindset that's open. They're eager to prove themselves. I mean, listen, the old ball coaches have great strengths and whatnot too, a lot of experience,

but I think it's interesting that it appears that, you know, the league keeps going younger and younger with a lot of these coaching hires. Congrats to Mike McDonald. He finally gets to see his son. Nice, man. All right, you've heard enough of our thoughts on the game. Let's get to someone who actually played in it. Oh, yeah.

Reves, welcome back to the two-time Super Bowl champion and the first ever in NFL history to lead two different franchises of receiving yards and a Super Bowl win. Mr. Cooper Cup! Thank you guys. Coop.

God, congrats big guy. Thank you. That was a hell of a game. How are you feeling? Yeah, you know, net positive. We're in a net positive state right now. Let's go. Yeah, it's been incredible.

Tornell's still hanging on right now or what? We're doing great. We're doing great over here. There we go. Yeah, my left eye is not working great. It's been, you know, now a whole lot of sleep the last couple days. But it's been fantastic. It's been fantastic.

As it should be. the left eye not working a result of the game or not sleeping? It's just not sleeping. It's just not. It's commitment to party. Way to go. This is the thing, guys. Way to go. Fuck seeing. I'm partying with

my boys. I wish I had a great story for you guys, but this is what happened. Our boys, you know, I got three little boys and when I'm with the family after the game, you know, they had a long day. They were pumped. They were out there screaming their lungs out. They started crashing around 12 o'clock.

You know, so it was really what the issue was getting them ready for bed. You know, I was, I'm, we're changing diapers. We're getting pajamas on. Pajamas have holes in them, which obviously aren't going to work. They're not going to work for that time. You got to get those. Yeah. I got to get different pajamas.

It was, it was, it's the family stuff, man. It's the family stuff. Life goes on. You win a championship. You were in a Super Bowl, all the stuff. But, man, life goes on. It is funny because I was fortunate to win one in 17 before I had kids. and it was a nonstop party for like four or five days.

And then the Super Bowl, we lost the Super Bowl. So that was part of it too. I mean, I was with my family the moment the game was over. And you're just like basking in that. So I'm sure you've experienced it a couple different ways at this point, right? Like pretty awesome. Yeah, it is. It's amazing.

And that's what, I mean, you have your moment in the locker room with the guys. And that's such a special thing. But then it's like, how quick can I find my family, be with my boys, be with my wife? and that was, I mean, sharing this, it was like, when we're not, we're not jumping around the room screaming, it was just like the silence of this meal. Right. Hold my boys, have my wife right next to me. Like, that was, that was all I wanted. That's awesome, brother.

Congratulations. Yeah, thank you. Congrats again, brother. The two-time Cooper Cup. The first time is always the Swedish, man. The second time has to be fucking epic for you right now, especially because it's with a team that, you. It seemed like you guys just had the fucking like you guys just had the juice, man. And it's it's such a unique thing when you see the team loving each other like it was.

Like you told us the stories last week. And it was just you could tell how close you guys were. Mike McDonald, your coach, after the game, even said Cooper is an absolute force multiplier, an absolute stud of a person, stud of a teammate. Have you been called a stud this many times in your life? it's a lot of it's a lot of stud it's a lot of stud um there we go it's a net positive guy yeah yeah exactly can't look past this though this this should cement him in the hall of fame

in my opinion super bowl MVP two-time champion all-time great teammate the guy was just loving you up at at the end of it man it just shows how close you guys are man yeah and we got we got a great group real quick you got plunge that plunge that fringe press for me um I was yeah I was sure yeah I plunge the frenchfuss For me. Yep, there we go. Pour yourself. This man is dialed.

You just, okay. In the future, you just, a nice slow, nice slow press. Is that too much? You're not too fast? It was a little fast, but it's okay. In the future. Yeah, there we go. Yeah, look at that.

Look at that. Ooh, that's a good color. Yeah, that's a good looking cup of coffee. But yeah, this was, this group, this group, it was so much fun to be a part of. I can't. Is this so going to. This is unbelievable. It's still going out.

But yeah, this group was so much fun. It was so much fun to be a part of this team. And, you know, I've appreciated working with Mike. He's been unbelievable. And, I mean, all those things, he said, you don't get, you don't go to the Hall of Fame for being a great teammate. But you don't go to the Hall of Fame for winning six Super Bowls either. We just learned, right?

So, I mean. Ooh. That's a tough bit. What do you go to the Hall of Fame for this point? What exactly? are the credentials to get me in the hall. Yeah, it's up for debate right now, apparently, but you'll be in. You'll be in.

Sorry, I just, that one just popped in my head as I was talking. I feel like you've only had coaches under the age of 40, which is insane. Like, what is the everyday like? Because I've literally only been in a building where it feels like my football dad or like my fucking, like, uncle is like looking at me like, you need to pick this shit up. And it's like, there's like an authority figure that's like, that's like, has like the years of wisdom through like the like Brett Farr of it and like the the legends that we grew up playing like I only have that understanding through through that

like what is it like playing for a guy that's like young high energy like not to say that Andy's not but go ahead. Oh yeah. No, I mean it is it's that that's all I know. So, you know, I've had young coaches yeah, basically my entire life. I mean, same thing in college. So I don't know any different energy and all this stuff is fantastic. And there's never been an issue in terms of the like wisdom piece or the authority piece. I was going to say, yeah, like lack of lack of wisdom. Yeah.

But I think what I've appreciated is there's a there's like from Mike, there's been a humility that I think is really special. And, you know, I think the accountability is a big part of that, being able to admit that you don't know everything. And that's a huge part of being a leader that is, you know, undervalued. And, you know, if you think you know it all, it's tough to collaborate. And collaboration is where football lives, you know. For sure. You know, he's been awesome about that. And yeah, so I've really enjoyed being with Mike.

Dude, I can't agree more. Like, I've had young coaches, I've had old coaches, and don't get wrong, Andy reads a 101, Tram. But yeah. I find a lot of the times these young coaches that are hungry and really trying to make it do have this growth mindset just inherently. Like they want knowledge. They're trying to grow as much as possible. They don't think they have everything figured out. And that's certainly one of their advantages.

Yeah. And as far as like leading anybody, like don't get wrong. If you've done something before, you get that initial buy-in easier. But at the end of the day, players just, if you as a coach or a leader as a player in the team, if I feel like you genuinely, want me to be a better football player, not for any ulterior motive of like career furtherment or like whatever other bull crap gets in the way. Like if you genuinely, I can tell that you just want

what's like me to be the best version of myself I can be. Dude, I will follow that guy like wherever. Like he's honest or like authentic, all that stuff. And it feels like Mike has that in spades. Obviously you guys had that like incredibly all year round. you can feel the tightness to this team. Yeah. Let me get this back to the game though.

Yeah. Is this how the game was expected to go? Like what did you guys think as the game was going around? Yeah, I mean, we expected to go out there and win the thing. Come on. It's just what we do. We expected it. We talked it into it.

But you know, you're playing this is a really, really good football team. You don't get to the Super Bowl. Regardless of all the storylines around, like they had to navigate the storylines about, you know, whether they deserve to be there and all this stuff. And that's just, it's all baloney. right. They are in the Super Bowl for a reason. They're a good football team.

They're well coached. There's good players over there. So you know you're playing against the best in the world. It's the best in the world. You're in the NFL, you're playing against the best in the world. But the expectation was to go out there and win. And I thought they had a really good plan early on. I thought offensively, you know, we were uphill on a lot of plays early on

where it's like, man, they've got a good feel for stuff. They're putting their players in really good positions. And we were making some mistakes that can allow us to, finished drives and luckily, you know, J-M-I was unbelievable finishing drives and field goals for us. But then what, at the end of the day, the defense just played lights out. And that's, that gives you so much confidence offensively. When those guys are just like stop after stop after stop. And you just know, hey guys, some of these drives, like an eight-played drive that eats up clock and flips the field is a win offensively at this point in the game, right?

Right. It's crazy, man. We play this game. We just do the things right. Like we don't need to play outside of our own stuff. They've got a good plan for us. Let's make some plays. Let's finish these drives.

The defense is going to get us into a short field and we're going to go finish it, get scored touchdown and put the game away. And I thought as the game went on and that became clear, this is a game that we can be in that space. We did a good job adjusting and being able to be in a place where it's like, hey, we can just grind this game out where it's not even a chance. You don't give them a chance to do anything. Amen, brother.

And you guys did just that. Yep. Do you have any idea what's in store for the future? Have you thought about that? Are you still in reflection mode, at least, for the next foreseeable few days? I mean, yeah, I think you take a couple days and enjoy this. It's the NFL. You know, like this team that we had this year is not going to be the same.

And so I'm enjoying, you know, we got today, tomorrow's the parade, and we get, you know, our last two days to be with this team and what this 2025, 26 CL CX team was about. But then it's going to be looked forward. And, you know, you love to, I love to be a part of this organization and what these guys are doing and what's being built here. And then the goal is then like, hey, you've got, you got six weeks until, you know, six weeks until, all right, it's eight weeks until okay start. So, how are we going to start building for what this organization is going to do for the next year? And, you know, it doesn't be, it doesn't stop.

time keeps going on and we got like Seattle Seahawks of 26-27 it technically starts now you know and so we're already we're behind I love it I love it isn't it crazy

you win the freaking Super Bowl and then immediately you're already thinking about what if we can do to get back there that doesn't stop that's why you have to enjoy the journey the journey is everything because if you're if you're living for this if you're living for this week

like this is one week you get to enjoy the game doing your family, reflect on it, the parade happens, and it's like, you got to move forward. And this is, you're not going to find, everyone's, everyone here's going to be like, man, it hasn't hit me yet. It's not going to hit you. It's not, it's not like a moment that's like, oh, suddenly it's going to happen. It's like, no, what you're going to remember is, you know, some of this, some of this week,

but what you're, what you're going to remember is, you know, the training camp, like the grind of things and be like, man, I remember the, when we were exhausted, so the conversation we had in the locker and where guys are so tired that they're laughing. They're, like, giggling because they're just so delusely. You know, but it's like, man, those are so, those moments, all this, all of those things, they're going to be so valuable, all the adversity that you deal with, all those things. How low did we go? How, all these moments that were like, man, you're at the bottom that make the top feel

so much better. And you're going to remember that journey. And that's, that's the most valuable piece of this whole thing. Dude, you're getting me fucking fired up right now. Seriously, I'm good goosebumps. That shit's epic, man. We do got a wrap. I got one more question.

Parade tomorrow. What are we rolling with for the parade? You got an outfit selected. I'm talking to the costume. I'm actually talking to the outside. I want to do something. I want to do something cool. You know, I want to do.

I've had thoughts. Like, do you get in Echiro Jersey. Do you do like, like, do something like that? You know, there's, I don't know. Listen, Jason, if you've got an idea, you send it over to me and we can maybe make it. If it aligns, you make something happen.

You know what I mean? All right. You're okay? You let me know. Let me. I'm going to get this. this coffee in me and then these ideas just start flowing. That's how it works. She's going to grow up

some ideas. We got our guy, AJ Barnard pulling up after this. Let's go. So pumped for Barnyard man. That play this touchdown was almost a disaster. It was almost a disaster. How? Oh, we were all on. There was a problem. I think

it was on the wristband, but we called the play. Jackson is out at the time he's going through his protocol to get back out. The call ended up being like the formation was back to what the play call was. And so we end up, like, me and Rashid end up on the same side. I'm like, dude, we're like, no, you're on the other side.

But then formations backwards, I see A.J. running towards me. I'm like, oh, my gosh, I'm about to run the wrong route. So I'd change it on the fly. We almost had a piece. Let's go. We got it done. Ball player. Ball player.

Unbelievable teammate. Decision making. It's what it needs to happen. I love it, man. Way to go. so epic man we got him on next that's the fucking banger i was about to ask you what should we ask him but you just told us everything i can't wait to tell i don't know if you i don't know if you'll even be aware of it but he'll even know he might not even know that i almost ran right into

him because i was about to run their own route and at literally at the snap i'm like oh i have to fix it that was a great play too whoever whoever fucking put that together that was an awesome fucking play. Coup, just come back. Come back. What an electric story, though. That's epic. The Ethan X-Corp has been found.

We're in business. Coupe, I believe you were talking about the play, A.J. Barner play. And you're saying he might not know, might not even have a clue. He might not, he might not be aware of what was happening on the outside and the consternation that was happening between me and Rashid,

knowing that we, were told the play was being run the opposite direction, you know? Yes. Yeah. But who knows? Maybe he's so dialed in out there that he was aware and was going to make it happen, you know?

So did you go from like running like a backside dagger to like a, like a hitch? No, I went from running a backside basic to a take two post. Ooh, take two. You cleared it out for him? Yeah, but I don't know that the coverage really did. My job on that job, at the end of the day, I just need to get out of the way. Like the coverage we got, the coverage we got was perfect.

I just had to get out of there. But it would have been bad. If I was running a base, if I was running a basic, there's a chance I'm just collisioning AJ coming out of the, out of that wing spot. Who knows? The ball player, man. Just a ball player. That's right.

Pays to have smart players, man. It's what pays to have guys that work with the QBs at 6 a.m. And are in the fucking blitz meetings. Exactly. That's right. We had said, if this ever gets called backwards, remember you guys got me. All right.

We're not going to keep you any longer, man. We appreciate you coming back on. Of course. Congrats again, brother. Thank you guys. So happy for you, man. Enjoy the parade. Enjoy being a champion.

Thank you. The castle. King of the castle. This is the favorite. The saying of the day. Saying of the day. All right. Thank you to our presenting sponsor.

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Select plans only. Thank you to our partner American Express. All right now, 92% is question for you. What's the number one most stressful part of traveling? I mean, it's got to be the airport, right? Bingo. You could have it all planned out, then find yourself running through the terminal, coat half on, phone at 3%.

It's chaos. But after years of constant travel, I've learned something very important, Travis. Here we go. Jason, hit him with that veteran wisdom. Rushing to your flight isn't the play. No, it's not. You've got to find an escape inside the airport. That's where American Express Platinum card comes in handy.

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That's right. And it's true what they say. There's nothing like platinum. Terms apply. Learn more in Americanexpress.com slash with platinum. Thank you to our partner, Raising Canes. Coming off the big game in San Francisco, we wanted to give a big shout out to Raising Cains and founder Todd Grays for coming out

to the New Heights Party. Good food, good times, two things Cains, and Todd, no thing or two about. That's right. We had some chicken figure, some. Cain sauce all at the party and God dang, those things are good. All right now. And this week, Cains is hosting a fan event that Seahawks,

Sam Darnold, is going on a Super Bowl quarterback shift at Cains. That's right. He's going to be working at registers, serving a box combos in the kitchen, making Cain sauce. I didn't even know they made that sauce. I thought that sauce was already made.

And obviously, he's going to be celebrating a championship with the fans. Well, there's going to be a fun partnership Keynes does and we can't wait to see it. Shout out to Todd Graves and shout out to Raising Canes, delicious chicken finger meals. Well, that wraps up. Cooper Cups interview.

Let's move it on over to our next guest. Oh, man. I can't wait for you guys to meet old Barnhouse. Hey, he is. Cleveland boys. Go ahead. The trap is here. Come on.

Jason, I never met you, bro. AJ. Good to meet. You. Good to meet you, AJ. Always good to meet a fellow Northeast Ohio guy. Yes, sir. We stick together, dog.

Just a ball player. That's cold. We just play ball. Rain, snow. Parking lot, cement, turf. Super Bowl. Pick the place. I'll be there.

Let's fucking go. And you got a tutty in the game? You kidding me? You kidding me? You kidding me? Yeah, man. Needed that. Well done. Well done. All right. We're going to do an intro and then we're going to get right to it.

Sounds good, AJ? All right. In 92 percenters, we are not done. We've got one more world champion Seattle Seahawk for you. Our next guess is six foot six tight end from Aurora, Ohio. He's won a national title at the University of Michigan and now he is a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks. Ninthew percenties. Please welcome to the show. Swat champ, AJ Barnyard Barnard! Barnard! Let's go! player.

Yeah, baby. The Tuddy in the Super Bowl, dude, did you black out before you hit the fucking autumn, dog? Man, you know how it is. Just, yes, blacked out. Slow motion. Everything just becomes slow motion.

And then just all the boys find you. And it's just like, it's hard to collect yourself after that and be like, all right, like, let me finish this game and be ready to go make another play. Dude, so epic, dog. And it was a big time touchdown. The only touchdown, man. Oh, yeah.

We had Cooper on this thing talking about how he heard the play might have been flipped or there might have been just like a little bit of like a miscommunication on where, yeah. Did you know that that was going on? I just caught wind of that. And like, you know how this. I heard, I heard yada yada. Why scissors? I'm like, all right, bet. I know the play.

Like, air to sing out. No lot of me, baby. I know where to line up. You boys line up. Let's get this damn play called. Yeah. That's so fucking good, dog. You came through.

So it's a great fucking play design, by the way. Fucking awesome. I'm sure you guys had ran the run to that where you got, you're helping out to the outside zone to it and everything. I've ran that play once or twice in my day from the backfield. Being from the backfield or running a corner, the hardest part is getting through the linebacker coming to meet you. and you just fucking slid him.

Just a little bro. If he fucking wrecked, like if he collisions you, that plays a completely different play. No doubt. Walk us through it, man. You saw him coming through the fucking hole or what? Let's,

hold on, we got it on tape. Let's play it. And then do you want to talk over it if you want, AJ? Is that good? Let's hear, bring out the broadcast and the guy. Let's go.

Come on, man. Let's see what breaks down the tape. I'm about to have this at TEU next year. You're going to be on the fucking drawing board, dude. facts. I was going to bust your balls a load of a bit, Trav. I was going to say, man, like, people, people don't say that Trav blocks. Trav does block for sure. But some of the D-Ns be working with Trave a little bit. Like, I don't know what we got to do, but they show love a little bit.

Good union. Are we good? We good. We're good? Good. Yeah, you good. You're good. Yeah, you good? All right. All right. But, uh, so we run out. We run the shit out of outside zone. This is Zorro concept. but I'm sure you guys know Zorro. Yeah. And like this combination is two tight ends, Zorro blocking and then big to like usually the corner, the safety who's down,

who's this guy who's down next to the linebacker. Yep. Yeah. So obviously we're going two for two there. We've ran the hell out of it. And like Travis said, pre-snap, like I'm looking over there.

I guess the formation was messed up. And I'm trying to get a peek. Like, all right, who am I going to have to navigate here to get out? And again, like, it's like, I feel like the route is what it is on the paper, but it's like, all right, like, how can I get out and just get free? Get free. So, yeah, if you run it, just navigating it out of there. And as soon as I seen Coup clear, I was just off his hip and then could have been a little bit smoother.

Could have been smoother. What are you talking about? You got to touch that in the Super Bowl. No, bro. Are you kidding me? No, no, no, for sure, for sure. Maybe could have stayed up, but. Oh, get out of here.

I'm just like running, bro, when you got through second level clean, were you like, I'm open, I'm open, I'm open, I'm open, bro. Bro, the way the mind works is just like, yeah, yeah. It's like, where's this ball out? I'm trying to find it, track it. I know it's coming. And you know how it is too. Like I'm looking for the quarterback.

Yeah. I'm trying to find the quarterback's eyes and like where he's at in the pocket. You see it in the air, the trajectory of it finally. Like once you locate the quarterback and then it's just like, all right. let me go glue this. There we go, baby. And then boom, the world stops, slow motion. Yeah, but I feel like you live those moments out before they happen.

The only reason I wanted to play this back is you guys do such a good job of selling this. The backers actually run through, right? Yeah. And that's why I want to give Donald some props here. He stands there and delivers this with it. He knows he's about to get crushed. Oh, yeah. Linebacker is coming down right on top of them.

Yeah. Yeah. So it's like right in front of them. Doesn't bad nigh knows that you're going to. going to be there. Sammy's a dog, man. Just well done by both of you guys. Sammy's a dog, physical cat, too.

He played linebacker in high school. So if you're playing ball for this, D-Hawks, you better be able to lower some pads. You just spoke to Jason's soul when you said he played linebacker in high school. Damn straight. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, how you feeling, bud?

Super Bowl champion. Feeling really good. Feeling really good. Our team's a little like, we got some vets on the team on our offense. I'm definitely a young cat. Swag champ, though, baby. You already know, you bring the juice. Yes, sir.

You bring the juice for the old cats, dog. You already know. You got to. Somebody's got to do it. Somebody's got to do it. I'm going to enjoy it for sure. But quite honestly, I'm trying to take it all in. I'm so happy for you. Have you slept yet?

Yeah, bro. After the game, I was honestly just with the fan. Like, we were in San Jose, like, way outside the city. So we got after a little bit. but like you guys know how it is too like the peak is that confetti falling down like is the club in san jose going to do it for me after that like probably not probably not but eventually i'm to celebrate in the right way well you better be you're you got to parade tomorrow right for sure you're geared up you know what you're wearing i might channel my inner jason on the mic let's go

can't wait to hear this hell yeah it's going to be awesome have you thought about what you're say if you're going to get on the mic? No. No, let's let it go. I'm one of the guys too, like, let's get coop on the mic. Let's get Sammy on the mic. I'll vibe with the crowd. I'm going to live life and just enjoy the moment and see where it takes me.

Are you more of a beer or liquor guy? What are we going on? Beer, for sure. If I could tell you one advice. Midwest beer. If I could give you one bit of advice, dude, if you stick with the light beer, you're going to be good. Right? The moment you start pouring the shots down.

And everybody's, oh, we want to do, yeah, no. Yeah, I want that. You're going to be bad. You got to, it's a marathon. Yeah, no doubt. You know when the beers are, when the beers are starting to kick. Yes. And the liquor, dude, the liquor will hit you out of nowhere.

Sneaks up on you. Yeah. Give you that right hook. For sure. This guys won a title before. How does this feel compared to when you wanted in Michigan? I just feel like when you have a team, like the ingredients are there. like y'all have won championships before like there's a lot of similarities between championship teams and

I felt that with this team and I'm a little bit spoiled because like I've had the confetti and reached the pinnacle at that level obviously it's different but to have the experience just two short years ago um it's been incredible and obviously like the super pool is a whole other level but like quite frankly I feel like the vibe that you get with this team is like we just kind of expected to be here and now it's happened and it's like hold shit, like we did it. You know, so I think it's just going to continue to settle in and be better and better. But, you know, we're going to enjoy it.

And then shit, next year is going to roll around and we'll have a target on our back. That's how it goes, baby. Well, you'll definitely have the target on your back, but that's what you want. It's good to have the target on your back. Yeah. It's an honor to have the target on your bad, man. It's the best shit ever. Thanks, bro.

Backs. Well, your first year, do you have a welcome to the NFL moment? I mean, I guess there's winning the Super Bowl. That's a hell of a while. Man. All right, man. I've been saving this story for a great podcast. Let's go.

Let's go, please. We need it. Bless us. Please bless us. Look at my guy Rich here because I've been saving this one and we'll see where it goes. But, okay, so Cooper Cup mentioned that, like, I'm like, you know, just like you never know what you're going to get.

Of course. Coup had mentioned in the media this story about me being Captain Hook which came to be taken in so many different directions so many different directions but if you know me like I'm going to have fun

always but like I'm always being in control and that's besides the point but y'all will figure that out but anyway okay all right week six Jaguars away yes pull up to the stadium normal routine.

Y'all know how it is. Like, got to go to the bathroom before the game. And you know that bathroom's got to. And you know that bathroom is going to be a nightmare. The longer you wait. Oh, for sure. In multiple ways. So I get up in there.

I get up in there. I'm one of the first people getting in the locker. I'm like, I'm going to go do my thing. Whatever. Yeah, man. Do my thing, dude. AJ. You're hilarious.

Get down to the bathroom. Big, big guy. Big guy. You all know how. is in the stall. I go to lean forward and sit back, crack my head on this hook. That's like on the back of this ball, bro. Yeah. And it's one of those moments where like you, you kick your dresser, like something in the house and you're like, mother, like, like, you know what? Yeah. I sit down. I sit down blood rushing down my, my head. I'm like, yo.

So I get up. Don't do my business. I get up and like my teammates know me. I'm like, like, fuck, where's the training room? Like, the fuck, I just put my head open, bro. I'm like, looking around the training room, bro. Finally make the training room. I get up in there.

They're obviously like, bro, what just happened? And I'm like trying to elaborate to them. I'm trying to get ready for the game. There's blood rushing down my face. The next thing they hit me with is we're going to have to cut your hair. I'm like, no. Not that. Not the lettuce, bro.

Anything but the lettuce. I just got a trim. Are you kidding me? Yeah, yeah. They cut out this little patch, which I still, Loki, have a little bald spot. No stitches, thank God. Thank God, no stitches. We put a piece of gauze in it.

I wear a skull cap. I go back to that same stall. I finish my business in that stall. just to let that stall know it's not going to have power over me. Assert my dominance. He had to let that stall know. Who the fuck? Captain Hook.

Had to let the stall know the barnyard was there. And then went out, won the game, had my season high in receiving yards, basically off one catch that has. Let's go. And we won the game and I cracked my head open and that's it. Captain Hook. Captain Hook, there we go, baby. Crazy.

That's so crazy, Doug. But y'all can only imagine, like, just getting in that frame of mind for the game. And next thing you know, you just cut your head open and just blood. I was like, bro, like, what are we doing? So it was epic. I've only known one story from that in college. We had a guy. I won't say his name.

Everybody from the university, you know him. But he would bash his head through the drywall right before the game. We all assimilated in this, like, one area. We all know that one guy. Yeah, and he would bang it, and there were just holes in all the walls. Well, we go, we go to the bowl game in Canada, the international bowl. And my guy goes to do it again, and he hits a stud and gas is the tie of your head. No way.

Couldn't play in the game. He didn't play? Couldn't play. Yeah. I figured that would be the guy that would be like, hey, I'm still playing. but not. I think you wanted to. They didn't let him.

He definitely wanted to. He definitely wanted to. Everyone knows that guy. Exactly. You need one of them on the team. And if you're from Cleveland, you may or may not have been that guy before. I've been that. Yeah, exactly.

Exactly. There you go. I've been there before. There you go. I've been there. All right. One more. One more before we let you go.

We got to ask about this quote. Block him for Kenneth Walker. All right. Grind meat, carry water. We get it done in the trenches, baby. Right now. That's a fucking bang. Where did this come from?

This sounds like something out of like Keanu Reeves. This sounds like something like I would have heard in like the replacements or something like that. Bro, like you guys said, like sometimes the boys need a little pick me up on offense. I play tight end. I'm next to the O line. Like I kind of got my credit for being a blocker even though. Okay. You get after you, dude.

You know, oh yeah, I get after in the trenches. And I love my O line. I love running the rock. And I played a Michigan and we run the piss out of the ball. Yeah. And when you're wearing on a team, you're grinding for. freaking meat. When it comes down to the end of the game, you need a four minute drill, grind meat.

So it just became like some of the guys at first. You know how some of the guys are. I'm like, man, let's grind this meat. Grind meat carry water. So it just became a thing. Like the O line loves it. For 60 minutes of your life, we're about to fucking grind this goddamn meat. God damn it for the fucking Super Bowl.

I love it. We're about to grind meat and just run the piss out of the ball and just, bro, like, yeah. So that's what it became. And I feel like everyone knows. the saying like chop wood carry water so it became grind meat carry water and uh that's just the mentality that the hawks play with like we we play bully ball we want to get after in the trenches and yeah that's what it is fuck i love it i love it i'm stealing it too i love it grind meat yeah grind meat dude aj not enough time with your dog but we're going to let you go bro you know you

got some celebrating to do bro it's so such a fucking honor to be able to get you on the pod you already know. Northeast Ohio ball player, bro. Since I mentioned you, I knew you were going to fucking keep doing great things, man. So happy for you. I appreciate that. Bro, we got to tap in. I just want to pick your brain on some ball and obviously, you know, talk ball and all that. So great to meet you too, Jason.

Appreciate you guys having me on here, man. It's been an honor and got a lot of love for you guys, man. Honors all ours. Congratulations, brother. Appreciate you guys. Captain Hook. Ladies and gentlemen, man. All right.

Thank you to Cooper Cup and AJ. Barner. Let's hit on some non-football Super Bowl stuff. How about that, Tram? I just fucking love those dudes, man. Both of them, A-1 people, ball players. God damn, it's got to be a fun fucking team to be on right now. I can't wait to see the parade tomorrow. Oh, it's going to be epic. We got out of the house

San Francisco at the Super Bowl this week. Yes, we did. What was the best party? The fucking New Heights party. It was the best, dude. And I may be biased because New Heights is New Heights, but we had everybody that I could have ever wanted to come through. We got to play some fucking arcade games.

I never get around arcade games enough. Like I left that party being like, man, I wish I could just play a few more games. Like, why did they have to just end the night like that? You're right. Everybody that was there, there were so many incredible people. I don't even want to start listing them just because it's like, where do you stop and where do you start? But it was star-studded. It was a ton of people that helped put the show on.

shout out to everyone in the New Heights production and with Wondery and Amazon. And it was just, it was awesome on every single level. And we had a blast. Oh, best place you chugged a beer, dude. You were all over the place. Listen, I like going to places whenever we get into these cities and checking things out and getting a good feel and doing the tourist thing and had an idea to, I'm going to drink a beer at all these places, like that I've always wanted to visit and be at and have a beer

at. So, you know, we avoided getting any fines for open containers. because I just drink them as fast as possible before the cops can show up. And then it's, you know, so we're just having a good time. All right now. This jacket that I wore to the United States Party is from a store called Love on Hate.

Got to shout them out over in the heat district. Shout out to Love on Hate. Yeah. Of San Francisco where the hippie movement basically started with the Rayful Dead, Janice Joplin. Yeah, man. A lot of freaking awesome. Oh, yeah, man.

Pretty cool. It's a tie-dye shop. Apparently will always be a tie-dye shop. I love some good tie-dye, man. The thing is epic. San Francisco was an awesome city. probably drank about 60 to 70 beers throughout the other week. So I'm going to recharge it.

Had a blast. Did you DJ anywhere? No, I'm not a DJ quite yet, but I am a proud supporter of DJs everywhere. I am a big, big music guy, and I'll go everywhere. I saw two of my favorites over in Loud Luxury at the tight ends of friends party with George and Claire and hung out with the chain smokers, saw my guy, disco lines. Did you see Shibuzi? I did.

I tapped up Shibuzi. He came over to the hotel. I was like, I was just with your brother. I'm like, oh, okay. Don't. So it was like a drive-by, Dap-up, man, love you. Yeah.

You're the best. Yeah. And kept it moving, man. But Shabuzi's fucking awesome, dude. Yeah, it was, I felt like that was, that's 90% of my conversations at the Super Bowl. I never get a fucking good, like,

hang with anybody. Even if I've known you my entire life, it's always just like a quick, like, how are things? Well, there's, yeah. Great. We got to catch. I got to keep moving.

And it's the worst. There's a lot of. Yeah. But it was awesome to see them. And I ended up catching Stapleton live, man. That was the coolest performance I think I've ever seen at a Super Bowl. Seeing Stapleton in person in a venue like that, it was very, I don't want to say he was intimate, but whoever's event that was, which I just showed up because it was Chris Stableton,

but whoever's event that was was fucking, they played it perfectly. Stapleton went up there and fucking rock the stage as he always does. It was just such a vibe, man. Kylie and I have been to a number of Stapleton shows at this point. I mean, he does not disappoint in any venue, but there is something. We saw him last year's Super Bowl, and it was a similar environment where it's not like small, small,

but there's something about it where it's like intimate. He's like right there, and he's just got so much character and feel to his voice and the songs. Well, we got the interview coming up with him that we got that we'll be releasing at a later date. but, Chris is the man. Best show I've ever been to still,

like love going to his shows. Shout out to Stapleton. Shout out to San Francisco. Awesome. Did a great job hosting that Super Bowl. It's the second time I've been to San Fran for a Super Bowl man and both of them were so much fun, man. The only negative is like how far the stadium is away

from the San Francisco, like city area, like you're driving to go to it. But most of the stuff throughout the week is centrally located in San Fran, which isn't that bad. We grew up in an era of like, fandom and Cleveland did this too. Cleveland had all sporting events in one located area. The Gateway District in Cleveland was that.

It was the, you had the tribe, you had Jacobs Field, you have Gundarina, you had Gundarina. You know what I mean? They kept it all downtown right there. And it was just, it made it easy and it made so much sense in our minds. The owners, they get so much more opportunity getting to the outskirts of the city. And it's just, it's hard to argue with those opportunities. And we're dealing with it right now in Kansas City.

Like we're going over to Kansas. But at the same time, it's like, if you look at that deal in terms of an owner, like that's one of the greatest opportunities you could ever get as an owner. And I think it's going to be unbelievable once it's finally set in stone. But it is going to be kind of heartbreaking, knowing that the chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead. and that that side of like the Missouri side of Kansas City. And it's just, it's, yeah, it's just a part of the old, you know, professional sports.

You know, it is a business at the end of the day. And I think a lot of circling back to the San Frandeo, man, it was still awesome to be around the city of San Francisco, feel the culture, feel the excitement that was going on all week inside that city. And then it's still a beautiful stadium that they played the Super Bowl at. Well, listen, I hear what you're saying. And if I was an owner, I might feel differently. But fuck that.

Keep those stadiums in the cities. I know you guys want to make all your money and you want to have your shows and you want to do all this stuff. I hear you, man. The fans pay a lot of the money for you guys to have all these things and for the NFL to exist. And I just, I don't like the stadiums moving. I don't like the Cleveland's moving out of Cleveland. I don't like that, well, the Arrowhead's already outside of Arrowhead. So I don't really care that much, whether it's in Missouri or Kansas.

But like, I don't know, man, these cities, there's something awesome about going downtown into the heart of Cleveland to go see a Brown's game. I hear you. They could figure out a way to build a new stadium downtown. Like, you could build a big, beautiful stadium right down there. And you can do the same thing in Kansas City. You can do the same thing in all these places. And then it wouldn't be an hour and a half drive out there. I get that these owners want to make money.

Yeah. But at the same time, I don't know why I don't like it. I don't like it. I hear you, dude. I hear you. We're both on the same train in that regard. It's just kind of how we're built, man. Once again, bold topics is brought to you by Pepsi.

Let's move on to some Stamps of the Week. Stamps of the Week is brought to you by Raising Canes. Yeah, buddy. Our friends over at Raising Canes through a bunch of fucking parties. I met Todd Graves for the first time. Nice. You're actually got to say, what's up to him? He's at the New Heights Party.

Nice, man. I don't need to read any other nominee. I know where I'm going. Stamp of the Week goes to Jeff Stoutland. Listen, Jeff Stoutland resigned from his post. the Philadelphia Eagles. This past week, you know, after 13 years of the offensive line coach, I mean, just coached a ton of incredible players, Jason Peters, Todd Harriman's, Evan Mathis,

myself, Lane Johnson, Jordan, a lot of turning from a rugby player into an all-pro left tackle, got Cam Juergens do a pro bowl last year, Landon Dickerson, do some pro bowls, Isaac Sayomalu, like he's just, he's done such an incredible job within the Philadelphia Eagles organization. and he's been such a mainstay throughout multiple head coaches at this point. You know, it just sucks to see him go selfishly. As an Eagles fan and as somebody who played with them and somebody that I still goes to the, you know, still goes to the facility. I still go to NovaCare on a regular basis.

And I'm not going to be able to see Stout anymore. And that's just, you know, it's frustrating for me. And I think frustrating for a lot of people in that building because he was a personality that was, you know, a lot of people gravitated towards. And, you know, this is the reality of the business. Um, coach, I love you. I don't know what's next, but whatever it is, whether it's coaching or whatever,

I know you're going to be great at it as you always are. Um, and, you know, I get that the team is trying to move forward and really embrace this new system and, you know, really redesign what this offense is. I wish Stout could have been a part of that, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. And, um, anyways, love you, coach. couldn't be more happy to have been coached by in 27 pro bowl linemen who was stout over that 13 years wow you already know man we got so much respect for him

and he's one of those guys that you meet and cross and crossing just because you were playing for him and or I got to meet and crossing just because you were playing for him and he's one of those guys that you would fucking just know you'd love playing for man and it's across the board anybody that runs into him knows you're going to get everything this guy has and on top of that he's going to be real about it and we're going to get shit done. One of the best ball coaches that I've known from afar and could it be could be more proud

to say congrats on, you know, everything that your career has gotten to this point. Coach Stop, man, we love you over there. And at the same time, if you ever want to come on a podcast and talk some ball with some old has beens, man. Come on over, dude. Always welcome. Love that. Always.

What else we want to get into? do I want to give a shout out to the quarterback of the Super Bowl. Sammy Donald, man, you get my fucking stamp of the week, stamp of the year, man. We're so fucking happy for you, man. And the world is happy for you. You've weathered the storm perfectly to where everybody's fucking rooting for you. And I'm so fucking, I'm so just, you know, static for you, dog. Stamp of the week because you fucking fought through the bullshit and you're the fucking crown champion,

man. You're at the top of the fucking mountain. Couldn't be happier for you, man. And that wraps up, state of the week. Brought to you by Raising Cains. Get to your Raising Cains. Enjoy some chicken and some Texas. Some toast. Don't forgive the toast.

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Oh, I love a good wild cherry Pepsi. Over the weekend, you probably saw Pepsi's new spot with the polar bear doing the Pepsi Challenge. And look, we got to talk about it because it's actually kind of wild. It is. It's the Pepsi paradox. Basically, when you take the labels off and just go by taste, people choose Pepsi every single time. Everybody knows this. They brought back the Pepsi Challenge.

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Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking the weather before a work trip. Not smart. Nothing says professional like shivering on the sideline. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate, North American insurance company and affiliates in Northbrook, Illinois. Let's get to the Hall of Fame portion of today's show. That's right. First ballot Hall of Fame or Drew Brees. We had a chance to talk to him over in San Francisco and it did not disappoint.

Get ready. Oh, quick shout out to Chase Daniel, sorry in advance. It was not us. Our guest today is a former walk-on quarterback from Purdue. He is a five-time all-pro, 13-time pro-bo, a two-time NFL officer player of the year, NFL comeback player in the year, the second most passing yards in NFL history, Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP,

and also now officially a first ballot Hall of Famer. Please welcome Drew Brees. I mean him. Cheers to that, baby. Drew, you're the man, brother. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you. I guess we got to start with the Hall of Fame.

It just happened. Yeah. It's fresh. Dan Fouts. That's how you found out. Yeah. Yeah. That knock came about three weeks ago.

It was a great setup. Supercharger himself. I know. So I share a birthday with my oldest son, Dailon. So he was born of my 30th birthday. So we had a birthday weekend. It's always Martin Luther King weekend. So really the weekend's about him, just doing whatever he wants to do.

So then Monday rolls around. And my daughter, who's 11, is like, the light of my life just says, Dad, I want to take you out to eat. I'm like, Nice. Oh, this is the greatest. So my wife, my daughter, they're ready to go. Five o'clock, be ready.

We're going to take you out to eat. So I'm ready. And the boys are messing around doing something upstairs. I'm like, boys, let's go. You know, Ryland wants to take dad out to eat. Let's go. And they're messing around. So now I'm starting to get a little fired up.

I'm like, yo, Ryland said, five o'clock. We're leaving the house. I'm like about to get in the car and leave, and leave them all. Right? And then all of a sudden, here's the knock of the door. And now I'm a little, I'm like, who's knocking the door now? We're trying to leave. You know, my daughter set this up.

I just want this to be special for her. And then there's Mr. Supercharger Dan Fouts himself in the gold jacket. That is incredible. welcoming me into the Hall of Fame. So it was, they had me. It was a good setup. What happens when you feel that? Like, do you like think about your career?

Like, you think about, like, I don't, it's, it's got to be crazy in that moment, right? Yeah, it was, like I said, like, my mind was totally elsewhere. So it was such a, it was such a shock. And, I mean, obviously cameras, you know, and NFL films and everything, too. and then all of a sudden it is. It's the rush of emotion. And just thinking about getting to that moment and just everything that's transpired

and immediately look at my family. And I mean, honestly, I played so much longer than I ever thought I would. And in many cases, I did it because I wanted my kids to remember what dad did. So cool, man. And then I'm looking at them and, you know, I see their eyes welling up and just, you know, lost it.

That's awesome, brother. So cool. Beautiful family. Walk on to Hall of Famer, brother. Not many can say that, dog. I only know one that may have a chance. You shut up. So what's the process now?

Have you already thought about what picture you're going to use for your bust? Like, are you who's going to introduce you? I know who's going to introduce me. You know that. I can't say because I want to make that special. But, yeah. Yeah, it's, you start thinking about those. I mean, literally each moment since then has gotten me a little closer to reality.

You know, at that time, it's still so surreal. And you just want to be. want to pinch yourself and you're not sure if this is just a dream. Yeah. But I'd say yesterday before they announced it at honors, a couple hours before all our class of Hall of Famers, you know, got into a room. So Larry Fitzgerow, Luke, keep the Adventuary. Yeah, Roger Craig.

I mean, they're all good. Tram, you got a tour. Dude. We got a front row seat to the whole thing. Yeah. And we're seeing everybody come out. You're the last guy on. He taps me on there.

I was like, dude, this is a great class. I'm like, yeah. Jason, it's the Hall of Fame. Did you expect to not know anyone they were saying? But how many first ballot guys? Like, I don't know. It does feel like a special. I would say this.

I don't know the last time you actually went and looked at each class of Hall of Famers. It's been a while. Since they started doing this. Yeah, okay. But literally every class, it's almost like each one is like, whoa, that was a great class. Whoa. Like, that was a great. I mean, every one of them, it just makes you realize just how elite it is.

And I think the feeling last night after we were. called onto the stage and then all the Hall of Famers start retriculating out of the crowd and coming up on stage. Absolutely. I mean, it's like this indoctrination like, welcome. Yeah. I mean, it's like, wow. Man.

So do you go in, I know you retire as a certain franchise usually. Do you go into the Hall of Fame as a specific one? Organization. Yeah. Oh, I mean, it's saints, obviously. Hey! No question. Bring the ring.

You already know. Nothing against Fouts, but that was a little thing that was surprising to me. Is there like a personal connection there? Like, why Chargers and not like a former saint? So he was one of the first guys that I spoke with when I was drafted was Dan Fouts. Got him. Obviously, his legendary status. Did he tell you to just throw to the biggest guy on the field or what, dude?

Because he had, Calumman's a little senior, dude. He had like the beginning of like this era of tight end. Oh, man. Charlie Joyner and Chandler and they were some dudes. You know, he was, he's been great to me ever since I signed, you know, first signed in the league. And obviously a Charger legend. And ironically, that Coriol offense was one that we ran when I was first in San Diego. So there was a connection there too.

So that was pretty unique. Give me all the ends announcement. That's awesome, dog. You're going in with a division rival, Luke Keekly. Did he give you as many headaches as he did to me trying to forget? He was calling out our plays. Like I'm like, are you stealing this? How are you this good at knowing what we're about to do?

I'll be honest. I think, again, and you never know how the class is going to shake out. But especially Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Keatley. Like, I've always had a real special bond with Larry. He's the best, dude. Funny, because, you know, you see each other from afar. I know he was never going to get out of Arizona, and I was certainly never going to leave New Orleans.

The only time we had a chance to play together was in Pro Bowls. I mean, how awesome were Pro Bowls? You have a chance to be with these guys that you just have so much respect for. I sure remember you calling out the mic at one of my Pro Bowls. I'm like, Drew Breed's out of it. Yeah, man. I only know one way. I'm like, I only know one way.

I'm like, where we slide? I think Jason, just take it easy, man. You got it. You got it. You got it. Lee, Ray, Lee, let's go over here. We'll get you double on Aaron Donald over here real quick. No, that was, so like my first Pro Bowl touchdown pass was Larry Fitzgerald.

We've had a bond our whole career and really leaned on each other for a lot of things. And then, honestly, Luke Keekeley, best defensive player of ever played against. Seriously. And he was in the division, obviously. And like, so when I truly say, like, an iron sharpens iron, guys, just make you better, like, because you have to be. Like, you knew going into that game, like, I have to be my absolute best against this dude. Yeah. And so he just brought out the best in me and us. Yeah. And so I really appreciate that about him. Such an unbelievable competitor.

But, like, off the field, like, the most genuine dude, like, I've spent more time with him over the last 24 hours. Cincinnati. I'm like, dude, I love this guy. That's Ohio ball players, man, or something about him. I know exactly, right? Cincinnati, you know. I like my Ohio ball players and my Texas Gunslinger. Yeah, you know what goes. Texas Cabarant. The biggest surprise with Larry Fitzgerald to me was that he found a pair of corduroy pants that fit him. I mean, that thing, he is thick on the bottom half now. I guarantee you he can move to the tight end room right now and still go for fucking a thousand yards. Solid genetics.

Solid genetics. No, Larry's the man. I still remember my first college experience was Larry Fitzgerald playing Notre Dame over in Pitt, man. Yeah. Making freakish catches. Watching him in like, uh, july. just like routes on air or pack and go and I'm just sitting and I'm like man this dude is the fucking man it was before same thing yeah it was insane it was just like man this dude's

different got it different but even honestly the play that I remember the most from his career which is stupid that he probably will hate that I say this the James Harrison interception in the shoebox yes yes he is like completely out of the play yeah running out of bounds like over woods and tree trunks and doing anything he came to try and make this tackle. I'm just like, dude, that's amazing. Like, that is the effort in, like, what makes somebody different? Like, who is going to give

that amount of effort? And not just, like, a special team guy who has to kind of do that to survive, a Hall of Fame level, like, best receiver of all time. I actually, when the class was announced, I started just reflecting on all the plays that I could remember all these guys making. Obviously, that Super Bowl stood out. And, like, we've all

had those moments where, look, you're in a game like that, there's a ton of exceptional players on the field. Yes. But then there's those times where like one just rises above the rest and you're just like for this entire game that is the best player on the field that that game was was was a moment like that yeah where you used like that play and then the one where they took the lead at the end before the Steelers went down it's like two man and he beats the corner inside on like just a little delay route splits the safeties and gone you're like yeah this dude is the best player on the field seriously right

he was still young his career i mean it's like year five maybe yeah right yeah yeah Something like that, yeah, he was young. What a guy, man. So we did have a potential Hall of Famer come out of retirement this year. Was there a call when Bowdox went down? You have to have a few. I would say I've had some conversations. And I've had some moments.

Yeah. I've had some moments. I would say this, like, my body feels great. My mind sharp as ever. Yeah. Shoulder, wrist, not having it. And like to the point where there was a moment this year where literally I was drinking a tequila and something happened where I thought there might be a chance I would play that week.

And I literally switched to water and I started thinking about going to bed early and getting up the next day and like getting my body nice and loose and going out and throwing to see if I could even pull it off. Yeah. And boy, I was like so mentally right and got up, got the body loose, went out there, grabbed the ball, drew a couple. My 13-year-old son. was catching for me. Let's go. And it was just like,

it was not there. I would have been able to like break that glass 10 feet away. You got to take the tort all first. You forgot the tour. Yeah, yeah. The good stuff is not in the system. Yeah, right. Good stuff is not in the system.

But no, it's honestly, look, I would, I just, I really think I'd still be playing if I, if the shoulder and the wrist wouldn't have started to let me down. Sure. I just started to lose quite a bit of pop, you know, and it's one of those things where, You know where to go with the ball, but can I get it from point A to point B in the amount of time they need to get there in order to be effective. And unfortunately, that left. Man, oh man.

Dude, you played with some fucking legends in the tight end room. Obviously, Tony O, Jimmy Graham, the years that I was turning into a tight end in college were you and Jimmy just going absolutely nuts, man. and that really changed those years with like gage jimmy being lost basketball guys and like really being able to be that mismatch and then you obviously gronk you throw into the fold do you feel that jimmy i don't know i don't want to say this the wrong way i feel like he's never gotten the true respect that he deserves at the tight-end position i want to give jimmy some love because what he's done to change the game i don't think he's never gotten the game i don't think he's never got to think is talked about enough. Okay. I agree.

And a thousand percent. Jimmy was so rare. I mean, here was a guy who played four years of basketball in Miami, right? Had a fifth year of eligibility and it was just like, ah, you know, I played a little high school football. I'll go out here and see if I can, you know, run some red zone fates, you know, which I think he called 11 balls, seven tutties is senior, fifth year, senior year. What's that? And at that point, look, I credit, I credit Sean. I credit at our scouting department, like, those guys had a knack for seeing, like, some raw talent, but even seeing through that to, like, this guy once we polish him up and, like, get him in this system.

And he's going to be exceptional. So we brought Jimmy in as a third round pick in 2011. We had Shockey. Oh, yeah. That was Travis' favorite. Dude, you already know, man. You want to talk about attitude, man. Yeah.

And we were doing some interesting things with shock that, that honestly, like we did with Gates in San Diego, but it was kind of like this at any time, just displaced them, split them out to the single receiver side. We had this whole system of signals. We tried to get, we tried to do it in man's situation, so we got some favorable matchup and then we just go to town over here, right? Yeah, I can relate. That became Jimmy's thing. But man, Jimmy was just a gazelle. He was just kind of, he was a deer at first. It was like, man, he could run. But he had, he had his hips. He had an edge. He had something to prove, like chip on his shoulder big time. But it was a great first year opportunity for him because Shockey was the guy,

and then Jimmy was kind of like to bring him in in certain situations and just bring him along. And by the time 2011 came around, it was like he was ready. And then that was his breakout year. We literally, him and grope. Bro. Like, going into that last season, that last game, we were playing Carolina. I can't remember who New England was playing.

But they were fighting for, I think it was most yards by tied in. And touchdowns. And touchdowns. I think they both ended up with over 15 that year. Yeah. But literally like from drive to drive, it was, I'd come over the side and be like, where's Grong? Like, oh, he's 10 yards ahead.

Okay, well, let's run. That's high corner to Jimmy, right? That's a good teammate right there, baby. Unfortunately, our game ended first, so Bronch got the record. But literally it was one of those like, I wonder if they were doing the same thing. Oh, totally. You know they're keeping driving, right? For sure.

That's the best way. Honestly, the most unfortunate thing, and literally when I say, like, Jimmy and I cried on the phone together when we traded him. Cried on the phone together. he was with us for five years and could you imagine what five more years would have been like? Right.

You know, at a point where we were just so, like the chemistry was so strong, right? You guys created a whole new play. Like there was like the goal line fade and then there was the Jimmy Graham just fucking throw it to him. This dude would literally just go and post up like in the paint.

And it was like it was a fade, but it wasn't a fade. It was more just like a jump ball. We had five different back shoulders. That's crazy. It's crazy. It was the DB. his here back shoulder or I'm just going to stand in front of him and you throw it up.

There's the bottom line is if you're 6-7, 270. There is nobody. A dude could be standing right next to you. There's still a place I can throw the ball to you. Man, my 270 looks way different than that 270. This does bring up something to me that I do want to, I have never understood why, like, why doesn't every team just have one guy that's a monster that is a guaranteed touchdown? Like, think about like the tush push, right?

It's a guaranteed first time every time you're first. There are so many goal line stands throughout a year that happened inside the five. If you could every time, no, you got a 6, 10, just get an NBA guy that wasn't quite good enough in the NBA and just throw him a jump ball. I don't know. Is it harder than, am I making this? Yes, it's way harder than what you're making it. Are you kidding me? Okay, okay.

Well, I don't, that's why I'm asking. I'm asking two guys that would know. I don't think it looks that hard. And maybe having rush on kick block too, so he can be, you know, he's got a little special teams value. There you go. That's all you need. Just bring Shaq out of retirement and throw him the ball. He's still going to catch it, right?

To your point, I think there was, like, I think Gates, revolutionized the game in a lot of ways. I mean, really, before that, you were, Totti Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, right? These kind of basketball guys that came over and applied a lot of that skill set to what they were doing as tight ends. Jimmy was all heart, man, all heart. And I really wish we could have had five, seven more years together. You all right? No, I had to show him some love, dog. Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate that. So, Hall of Fame, but it wasn't always roses, right? It wasn't always the easiest thing. Mentioned earlier, walk on at Purdue. Early in a career, like a lot of Tromwell, coming from the Chargers to the Saints, what was that like? Like, a lot of people,

you had the injury and, you know, what's going on with the shoulder, all this stuff? What was that like for you at that moment? The injury was devastating in San Diego because I really, there was a moment where I thought I wouldn't play football game. I mean, I had been through a lot with the Chargers. I got drafted there in the second round to back up Doug Flutty, which was the best thing that ever could have happened to me because Doug Flutie was my style of quarterback. We were both undersized, right? He was five, nine and a half, a buck 80, right? But the guy had played 22 years of professional football. Right. Four different leagues. He was Mahomes before Mahomes from the perspective of like the niftyness. And just making it happen outside. And we would do a lot of understand their stuff because it was kind of a bit more

pro style, two back, eye back field, running power, running different week lead schemes. You got L.T. You can utilize it. Right. And Lorenzo O'Neill as our. Yes. Pullback, right? Low, low, low. Yeah, man. And Doug Flutty, at times, would backpedal a seven-step drop from under center. When's the last time you saw that? This is like Fran Tarkington stuff, you know?

But, like, he was just an old-school dude. Yeah. He did push-ups, sit-ups, ran hills, and played basketball. That was his, like, strength and conditioning program. And just threw the ball, just played ball. It was, he was like backyard ball. The hell is. But he was the epitome of, oh, I got to get the ball out a little bit sooner than normal.

Just put a little layer on. under it, right? So that little two ball, man, right? Just lay it over the wheel in front of the safety to that end cut before he's out of the grate. So, like, his level of timing and anticipation was second to none. So I learned so much just from observation and watching him. Had a chance to compete against him my second year, won the job, and then he backed me up for three years after that. Now it was benched three times in those three years with Marty Schenheimer. Yeah. The first one I deserved it. The second one, kind of. The third one, I didn't think I deserved it and I was pissed.

It had a knockdown, dragout, screaming match with Marty Sean Hammer on the sideline in December in Pittsburgh and then in the hallway after, and then in his office the next day. Holy cow. At the end of the day, I knew this. Marty was always making decisions that he thought were in the best interest of the team, even if I didn't agree with him. But I love the man. And he developed me in so many ways, character leadership.

But I love and respect that man so much. But finally kind of got to the point where through those ups and downs and through that adversity, I'd earned the starting spot, made my first Pro Bowl in 04, kind of team goes to the playoffs. Even though they drafted Phillip Rivers, Flutie was still there. Like, I was the guy and I'd kind of establish myself. And then last game of the season in 05, going into an off season where I didn't have a contract, but I was hoping to get like that long-term commitment. And I go down with a dislocated throwing shoulder, right?

Literally arms stuck like this walking off the field. I get to the sideline, they pop that thing back in. I'm just going, man, I'm probably never going to put a charge uniform on again. And it's like, I mean, I play football game. Some doctors told me had a 25% chance to come back and playing again. Man. So, like, just absolutely devastating. And yet, I mean, tested me in so many ways, but also, I think, strengthened just my faith

and in the unseen and unknown that, you know, guys got a plan for me. And it's awesome, really. It may not be in San Diego. And that's okay. I just have to trust it. And that's how New Orleans, the New Orleans opportunity came along. No doubt. A new sailor from there.

I, dude, do you? Very. Do you think the QBs in today's game are on a real short leash? Does it feel like that? Or do you think it's fair still that, you know, you got to show up when you're called upon? I think we do most of them with disservice. I mean, look, there's high expectations, right? Exactly.

The coaches are on short leashes. You know, the fan bases, you know, want a winner now. Yeah. I mean, you look at Sam Darnel and everything that he's overcome. I think it's a highly inspirational, you know, story and journey. And there's a few others like that. Mayfield, you know, kind of a similar, similar situation. I think there's so much to play in this position, as you know, you know.

That's why I got out of there, dude. Former, former cue. Exactly. Always ready for the double pass. Whenever. Always ready for the double pass. Like I said, I don't know if I can get there anymore, so I'll just ladder. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I can still pitch at five yards. I'm good. Yeah. I think there's, in most cases, too, these high draft picks are going to teams that obviously have a lot of holes to fill as well. Yeah. I think, who was that? Aikman was saying?

Aitman had a very good quote this year. A lot of these organizations are failing these QBs more than they're failing the organization. It's true. Yeah, it's true. I mean, when you play the game long enough, you can pinpoint it. You can see which ones that are, you know, maybe getting that disturbance that you're talking about and others that are just, you know, need to make those strides. I would say this.

I mean, look, I sat for a year behind Flutty. So valuable for me. Mahomes sat for a year behind Alex Smith. I'm sure. So valuable for him. Brady sat for a year behind Bledsoe. Aaron Rogers. sat for three years.

Jordan Love sat for three years behind him. There is something to sitting for a period of time because you will glean a ton. And then when it is your time, a little more of like feeling like you've earned it too. And this is my opportunity. I've been preparing for this opportunity. Here we go.

As opposed to if you're going to throw a guy in the fire right away, man, there's going to be ups and downs. You just got to be ready for and you've got to be patient with it. No doubt. And I think it's also like when you go into a room with a guy that's been doing it for a long time. So many of these guys, like the coach is one thing, but seeing a player playing the position and how they prepare. Like, I do remember this vividly. When we drafted Carson Wentz, they purposely went and got Chase Daniels because he was with you in

New Orleans. And like they were doing, he's like showing Carson how you prepared. Yeah. He's like, we're going to get at 6 a.m. We're going to do this. This is how Drew prepared and like all that. Like it's so important to have that perspective of it for some of these young cues as well. I have two theories around when a quarterback's going to be ready. Number one is having a great veteran backup or veteran starter who starts in front of you for a period of time before you then have the opportunity, which is kind of what we just talked about. Right.

The second is I think you need roughly 50 high level starts before you are really like there and ready. Those high level starts could be college. Okay. Like plenty of times we've seen this potential drafted, but they only had 15 college starts. Well, if that's the case, it's going to take them three years before they're ready. I'm just telling you, right? So then start looking at the guys like Brock Purdy.

Brock Purdy, a undersized, all these things, like 50 college starts at Iowa State. So I can tell you, most of the times when they step foot on the field, they were the underdog. Right? He was having to play. He was doing a lot of balls too. They were having a punch well above their fighting weight. Oklahoma, Texas is still in the. conference everything right you know what i'm saying you're saying you're saying so he comes in and you're like okay

he's got some experience like he's got something to him hence why maybe this success happened a little bit quicker and he's playing for a really good team with some good players right there's some other examples of that um but yeah i think it's the number of starts really has a lot to do with their readiness yeah i think to step into that role too okay i like it what i got chase danes making a hell of a fucking living in the NFL. We don't need a. All three of us played with them. I know.

I love Chase. Chase lives down the street for me. Does he a year right now? Yeah. I got to blush Chase balls. I think the last stat I saw, the most money earned per snap in the NFL than any man in history.

I've heard that same stat. I think it's got to be. Chase, well done. Well done. Hacked it. Hack the system. Hey, but to his credit, always fucking ready.

Always ready. Always prepared. First one in, last one out, guy. Dude, you talk about like, chip on the shoulder. I messed up with Chase. I'm like, dude. Him in Missouri was fucking fun to watch. Him and J. Mack?

Yeah, I was like, I've never seen a quarterback in the NFL shaped like high school nose guard, bro. But you did it. You made it. Oh, my God. You're here. You did it. That's great.

That is great. Chase is the bad. I love you, Chase. That's so good. Back to your career. You go from the Chargers and you end up in New Orleans. First of all, how close were you to end up in Miami, Dolph? Yeah.

Close. I mean, on paper, that was an obvious decision. It was Miami all the way. Miami had Nick Saving. They had just come off a nine and seven season where they won like the last seven in a row. So they kind of had it figured out. Defense was lights out. Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor.

Oh, yeah. Their offense, I loved all their coaching staff. Mike Malarkey was the OC. Jason Garrett, quarterback coach. Hudson Halp was their O-Line coach who had been our O-Line coach the year before when we had won the division. Love HUD. They were running the same offense that we were running.

Like Miami Dolphins. I'm sitting there eating dinner around. Wayne Hizinga's yacht. He's there at dinner talking about, hey, we're going to go, we're going to go play golf in Scotland every summer with Dan. I got out helicopter over there. We're just going to hop around. No state income tax.

I'm like, dude, this is all paper. Miami, here I come. And then on the flip side, you got New Orleans, right? Six months post-Katrina. Some unknown head coach named Sean Peyton, right? Yeah. This guy. Right?

And ironically, five years previous when I was being, like in the draft, Tom Conn and my agent. I had probably 15 teams that I thought might draft me. And he's like, we're going through that list leading up to draft day. And he's like, man, you got all these great possibilities. He's like, man, you know, honestly, the only one I would really not want you to go to is the New Orleans Saints. Like kind of dysfunctional party town, this and that. Like, so I had that ringing in my head as well, right?

So again, on paper, it's like, this is so obvious. And I'm not leaving anything to chance. I'm going to go and I'm going to give each one like it's fair opportunity. And like the Miami trip was a main. with the exception of they put me through the ringer like six hours of these medical testing because I was only two like eight weeks post-op on an eight-month rehab so I was nowhere close I mean my arm you know I'm still kind of in a sling you know and I can't do anything and they're they do the you know the saline solution the contrast

MRI so I'm like in an MRI two for two hours just aching right I get out of that they stick these big needles in my shoulder to test nerve endings they're they're wanting to test everything. So I just, I got this feeling of like doubt. Like they don't really and and then their doctors were the ones who told Sabin, we think he's got a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again. Jeez. Holy cow. And I go to New Orleans and it's like, you are our guy. Like Sean Payton, Mickey Loemis, you're our guy. We're building this offense around you. They did everything they could to kind of roll out the red carpet despite all the circumstances. I mean, New Orleans was still destroyed. Right. And the epic story is Sean Payton after

This great visit there gets lost in the Lakeview neighborhood. And we're driving through there and houses are off of foundations. Chevy truck upside down a living room. All of a sudden, car stops. There's a tugboat in the middle of road. And I'm looking at my wife like, are you seeing what I'm seeing? But it was also one of those moments like, man, this is so much bigger than just football. Right.

Like we get to be a part of one of them, you know, the resurrection of one of America's greatest cities. Like this is God's calling in our life. And so that was the determining fact. There's so much beauty down there that got restored through you guys bringing that happiness. to him, man. Fucking kudos, brother. That's amazing. That's a crazy story, though. You went from literally being like, that's what free agency is like. You get to go on yachts and like, you get to golf all over the world with everyone to like sit in an MRI to do for two hours. That's crazy, man. You end up with Sean Payton. Yeah. What are your first impressions of Sean?

What was it like to be coached by? Yeah, I would say this. There were moments. And look, this stayed true for 15 years where I, I thought Bill Parcells was standing in front of us. Really? Well, he was a, like, I would say, like, his biggest influence is John Gruden, Bill Parcells. Like when he would get up and start installing offensive football, you know, what to run through here,

it was like John Gruden, right? But then when he would get pissed off and like, like, try to go toe to toe with somebody or challenge somebody or get confrontational, dude, it was Parcells, man. Yeah. It was all Parcell, yeah. Like, in fact, there were those moments where I, I could tell he would get up in the team meeting.

I could just watch him walk in. I'd be like, ah, shit, he talks about him. I could just, I could feel it, you know. And we were going to get it, you know. But it was good. I mean, it was always just, it was wisdom. You see him and Bo Nix's relationship and see a little bit of the beginning stages. Yeah.

There's some fire. Bo throws it back at him, too. Dude, absolutely. And I think Sean appreciates that. That's what I was going to, I was going to say the same thing. We had Howard Mudd early in my career in Philly. Oh, yeah. And I felt like he used to sometimes just yell at you to see.

what your response would be. And I think that sometimes it's like even mental. Like he, they want that like fire out of a guy. And like if you're willing to answer that, you're willing to stick up for yourself like, no, coach,

I think that this is what you told me. And I'm, you know what I mean? That goes a little bit with those guys. What I appreciate so much about Sean was, um, he had an ability to order the chaos like to, to,

to block out all the noise and just give you a very key into, a very defined like keys to victory. And narrow it down to the point where, hey, man, this is our vision. Like, this is the path to get there and now let's go execute. He instilled confidence of guys. He had a way to motivate guys through kind of humor. You know, his coaches just have a knack. Like, I give an example.

It was like, we had a safety one time who was getting all kinds of interceptions. But he wanted to bust his balls in practice just to kind of keep mine. So he's like, hey, you know, DB's like, he's going to intercept it. But we got to block everybody because he's slow. He's slow as molasses. They're going to hawk him before he gets the end zone. So we got to block everybody in order for him to get in. He would just make comments like that.

Like just in case you started, you know, getting a little bit too. You're feeling pretty good about yourself, you know? Like he just keep you honest, he holds you accountable, you know? So he had an act for that. And then I would say just like his open and honesty to you. He was always open door policy. Come see me anytime you want. If you want to talk about anything, you may not like what I have to tell you,

but I'm always going to be honest with you. Come on now. So guys come up there. I've got my playing time or this. He's like, okay, well, let me tell you why. But now let me tell you how we can rectify that or how we can fix it, how we can get better than that. And he would give you that path and that vision, and he was amazing at that.

That's awesome. Those are the kind of guys you want to play for, man. I got to ask this to, like, very opinionated guy, offensive genius, Sean Peyton. Yeah. Hall of Fame or one of the most brilliant minds in the game. Yeah. What was it like game playing with you guys? Like, there's like, who's, are you getting plays?

Like, how does that go? Was it full trust or were you throwing in your, your input on the Mondays and Tuesdays getting up to the Wednesdays. I'd say, I mean, it was very collaborative. Nice, man. It's funny. I went back and looked at a 2006 call sheet,

which was our first year. And this in 2020, I was like, hey, pull up at 06 call sheet. And, bro, it was like third grade compared to where we had evolved to. Sure. And a lot of that, though, was because we had been together so long

that it's not like you really eliminate. You just kind of like add little layers to everything. Oh, yeah, little wrinkles. It's just little wrinkles. His ability just to walk and be like, Like, hey, you remember in 2010, we're playing the Eagles and we're down there in the red zone? And it's like, oh, yeah, coach. Like, it's amazing the recall you have.

Seriously. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. But I can recall a game 15 years ago, right, in the red zone. I can recall more of the times that it didn't happen, though. So somebody says, oh, because those are the ones I sit there and I think about for the next three days on how to defeat it if I get it again. Yeah. So those are the ones that just get like implemented in my brain. It's trauma.

I've thought about this a lot. It's literally like you have these traumatic experiences on game day because it's either something that was like a disappointment that then just lingered and you just like hyper analyzed for the next week. Do. Right? Or it was kind of like one of those like a bit of fear and it was like some chemical reaction in your brain that just like seared it in your brain.

I'm getting used to your brain. I'm thinking about this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. Trauma.

I liked it. No. Stared at the ceiling. Why didn't I go left? You're outside release this one. Yeah. That's it. That's all I had to do.

No, but you're right there. I wonder what it would be like as a, then a young quarterback coming into a system, though, that was literally like a 15 years worth of, you know, PhD work to get it to that point. Right. And then all of a sudden it's like kind of having to go back to, you know, square one. Right. Because we did evolve so much. And there was such a level of trust.

Like, it got to the point where I knew what he was going to call, when, how, why, right? That whole play caller's intent. I mean, we were just so much on the same page. That's all. And then the communications on the sideline were awesome. Like fourth down, you got to play you like, hell yeah, coach, I got one. All right. That's awesome.

Hell yeah. It's the best kind of moments, man. Right. We got to ask you this. We've been asking this a little bit. Fill in the blank. People forget that blank was a problem. Kind of like somebody that, like we already kind of did it a little bit with Jimmy,

but he's not really that forgotten, I guess. Yeah. I'm going to get a plug for my guy, Jory Evans. Jari Evans. You know, you got to teach us a little something. Guard. You don't know who Jerry? Hell at me, dude.

I always thought it was Jerry Evans, so I'm sorry. Sorry, Jari, but yes. Future Hall of Famer. He was in top 15 this year. He was top 15 last year. Yes. Like he was... Philadelphia native.

Philly native, exactly. Five-time all pro. Like, I think for a long period of time, best garden football. Well, it was him and Carl Nix. Both of those guys were unbelievable. Having those two dudes... You want to hear a good Carl Nicks for him? Please.

All right. So we draft Carl Nicks out of Nebraska, like fifth round, which was a steal, just like, because he was one of those giant human beings you've ever seen, right? Like, six, four, 360 or something. something. So we have a bunch of injuries. All of a sudden, he's starting at left guard. This is 08, his rookie year, like week two or three. So, like, dude, he's fish out of water. And we're short now at O-line, too, because the guy had gotten hurt. So we're hot practice outside in New Orleans. And he's taking every rep, first team, second team. So he's like 35 consecutive

plays in. And he's just dragging, sucking air. Like, it's thick outside. And O-line coach, Doug Morone is just on him, on and on him. And like, I'm stepping up in the huddle again. to call a play and Carl has just kind of bent over just sucking air and morone just to kind of make a point he goes into the huddle to grab nicks to like you know stand him up and i don't know what came over me but like i just have a rule that when i step in the huddle it's my huddle i want all eyes on me i'm leading this yeah and so when morone stepped into huddle i didn't even think about it i just reacted i grabbed doug morone and i threw him out of the huddle oh my god And I said, I got him.

Yeah. And I looked at Nix and I was going to kind of help him up and be like, come on, big fella, let's go, you know, 10 more plays, whatever. Yeah. And Nix just kind of stood up, like, bowed his chest down. He looked at me, he's like, man, nobody's ever going to touch you. Like, you got my back, boy, I got chung for life. Awesome. Holy cow, that's great.

And then four years later, highest paid garden football. That's right. Fuck yeah. Unfortunately, one with us. It went to the bucks. Both of those guys together were awesome. They were a problem. That's badass.

We always ended with one question. We've got to take it back to the early days, dog. What was your welcome to the NFL moment? Oh, dude, I'll tell you, the hardest, the hardest I've ever been hit was Zach Thomas. 2003 in Miami. Again, one of these, like, trauma moments. Uh-huh. So we run like this little fake counter week play action play.

You know, the line is slamming it down. Here comes the guard to kick out the end. back just kind of chipping off the edge out in the flat and then you have some you know exotic down the field route concept and so here's zach thomas he reads this guard pull so he just kind of comes over here and i come off this play action fake and my eyes are you know trying to look down the field but i see it was like the parting of the red sea and then it's me and zach thomas but he's like 15 yards away four running it's zone it's zone Zach you're supposed to be like deep metal or like hook over here right but it's one of those like oh Nobody's accounting for me.

I see it. And he just starts hauling ass. And it's one of those, it's like, oh, no. I mean, I got time. He's got to take like 15 steps to get to me, right? He closed that gap so fast. And I had to cut this ball loose so much earlier than I wanted to. And I just felt like this is going to be bad.

And I threw it and just kind of tried me like, spin, turn. He hit me so hard. Like, I think I did like a double back flip gainer, landing on my head. Now, they did throw the flag because he did. He had me square on the side of the head. Yeah. Do the flag. I under throw the ball by like 15 yards.

It gets picked. San Madison or Pashter Tan or one of those guys. But they throw the flag so we get the play. But I was just like, oh, my God. Like, is that how hard these dudes hit? Yeah. That's crazy. That's amazing.

I do want to ask you, Darren Sprouls. Oh, no. You already know. Yeah. What was Sproul? I mean, one of my all-time favorite teammates. All-time favorites. So the first thing I'd say is like, you know, leadership comes in all shapes and sizes.

All right now. And that dude did not have to say a word. Right. Like, you just watch the way he works and watch the way he approached his craft. Like, every rep was a Super Bowl rep, a full speed rep. Like, I love that dude so much. He was my workout partner in San Diego forever, like, just in the off seasons. And actually, the story goes, 2011 is the lockout year.

I start to get the feeling as we're working out that off season that Reggie's going to get traded, right? And we're all on our own. Like, we're not back at the facility. So there's a lot of just craziness. And right before the season start, we trade Reggie to the Miami Dolphins. And in the meantime, like, I'm calling Sean Payton. And I'm like, we have to get Sprouls. Like, I'm sitting here throwing with him every day.

And he was having a little riff with the Chargers. Yeah. And I was like, if we're trading Reggie, we have to get this guy. So sure enough, that happens. We have him for three years. Like, we were together. He was drafted to the Senate of Charging in 05 when I was there. Okay.

So our running back room was, but Danny and Tomlinson, Mike the Burner Turner. You remember Mike Turner? Yeah, I remember Mike T. And then Darren Sproles. And Darren Sproles was our little scat back. But he's a generational player. Hell yeah. I think if you're going to watch it like a choice route real, like how do you just

arc release out of the backfield, set a linebacker up with a vertical stem, and then break out cross-face hook it up. It used to drive me crazy. We, anytime we would get, and this is before they started doing like the five-man fronts with the running zone, every other time they've been a bare front of those man cars. I'm like, why the hell are we not just throwing it to Darren Sproul's every, I'm dead serious. It used to make me mad.

No, totally. Like, nobody's going to guard this dude in space. Just throwing the ball. Who's going to tackle him? I just used to, I was furious. Here's my other supposedly story. We're on a two-minute drive, 2013 against the Niners. A Niners defense was stout, right?

So here you are. Navaroboam and Patrick Willis, okay? Studs. We're kind of approaching midfield. All we need to field goals. So they start trying to light us up, right? And I remember at one occasion, I know it's going to be man. And here these two guys are lined up in the A-gaps, and they're going to hit it.

And I know I got Jimmy Graham matched up on the matchup I want, but I also know we're going to have. to hold up for a second. So I remember just like looking over at Sproles, you know, I just be like, it's going to be like, you know, Navarro Bowman. I'm like, hey, bro, just bowl up just one time on me here. Please. And Sproze, he gets in there, bah, gah, gah, gah, you know. He was an underrated blocker, man. I know. Seriously. Like, this low center of gravity. Yeah, it was freaking all heart, man. He was all hard, all effort. I love the dude. Like, he would step up and do that whenever you

needed. He was a stud. Well, an all-time favorite, man. That's awesome. Drew, you're the man. Thank you so much. Yeah, bro. Congratulations. Congratulations. That wraps up another episode of New Heights. Thank you to Drew Breeze. Yeah, Drew. He's so electric.

Did not disappoint for one second. It's the best. It's incredible. Oh, let's also not forget about AJ Barner and Cooper Cup. Super Bowl champions. Can't wait to see what you guys do in the big parade tomorrow. Thanks for coming on the show. Reminder, we are off next week, but we will be back with fresh new heights

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