New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce - New Schedules, New Popes and Fitz & Whit on Getting Ejected, Kelce House Parties and More | EP 139

Episode Date: May 14, 2025

92%ers welcome back to a very special episode of New Heights brought to you by our friends at Allstate!Today, we are joined by NFL legends and fellow podcasters, Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fit...zpatrick! Before we get to our guests, we react to what we know about the 2025 NFL schedule and the rumors about the Chiefs heading overseas. We also reveal why we’re big fans of the Chicago Pope, what’s going down at this year’s Tight End U, and how you could win a trip to “Caddy with the Kelces.” Later, Fitz and Whit join us for an incredible conversation where discuss everything from holiday games at Travis’ house, hysterical stories about being ejected, a definitive answer on the QB hand size debate, big Whit’s thoughts on fellow LSU tackle Will Campbell, Fitz’s favorite stop on his nine-team career, when they knew it was time to hang it up, and so much more! For even more New Heights, check out our New Heights YouTube Membership! As a member, you'll get access to full episodes, bonus videos, badges, and other stuff that will make you stand out. Get caught up on “Fitz and Whit” before season 2 drops at: https://www.youtube.com/@fitzandwhitDon’t forget to watch “The Sandlot” so you can participate in next week’s edition of the New Heights Film Club. To enter for a chance to “Caddy with the Kelces” visit: https://kelcecaddysweeps.drinkgaragebeer.com/GateYou can also listen to new episodes early and 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=LsuQ4a5MRN6wGMcfVcuynwFollow New Heights on Social Media for all the best moments from the show: https://lnk.to/newheightshowCheck out all of our new merch at https://homage.com/newheights Support the Show:  ALL STATE: Checking first is smart. So, check https://Allstate.com first for a quote that could save you hundreds.AMERICAN EXPRESS: For full terms and to learn more, visitamericanexpress.com/withAmex.DRAFT KINGS: Don’t miss out on all the action this week at DraftKings! Download the DraftKings app today! Sign-up using http://dkng.co/newheights or through my promo code NEWHEIGHTS.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Help is available for problem gambling.Call (888) 789-7777 or visit http://ccpg.org (CT).18+ (19+ AL/NE, 21+ AZ/MA). Valid only where Pick6 operates, see dkng.co/pick6states. Void in NY, ONT, and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. Terms pick6. 1 per new Pick6 customer. $5+ first Pick Set to receive max. $50 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Picks that expire in 14 days (336 hours). Ends 6/4/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Terms: http://pick6.draftkings.com/promos. Sponsored by DraftKings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to new heights early and ad free plus unlock access to exclusive episodes of the show Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app Apple podcast or Spotify today Shopping local might seem like a tough cookie, but truthfully finding Ontario made products is a piece of cake That's why support Ontario made dot CA exists with over 17,000 products listed, everything from cars to cosmetics, it's never been easier to shop local and support Ontario manufacturers of all sizes. When you choose Ontario Made, you're supporting your neighbors, strengthening our economy and celebrating the incredible products Ontario sells with pride. Discover what's made right here. Visit supportontariomade.ca.
Starting point is 00:00:41 Can we talk about your snaps real fast? Yeah. How do you talk about your snaps real fast? Yeah. How do you know about my snaps? I used to watch film and be like, holy, that is a rocket shot. You can tell by watching tape. When Jalen Hurts had to switch his stance to this. Yeah, no, I felt, yeah.
Starting point is 00:00:55 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of guards, I'm pretty sure I just ripped my jeans. Did you really? Yeah, pretty sure I did. Hey. I just ripped my jeans. Did you really?
Starting point is 00:01:02 Yeah, pretty sure I did. Welcome back to New Heights. Yeah, we're a person. 92%ers. How about a Wondry Show? I can touch you. A Wondry Show produced by Wave Sports and Entertainment and brought to you by Allstate.
Starting point is 00:01:19 You're in good hands with Allstate. I'm Travis Kelsey. This is? Jason. Jason Kelsey, my big brother out of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Shout out to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The fucking calves. God damn it. We're struggling right now. We're struggling down 3-1. Is DraftKings sponsoring this episode? Yeah, so I made a real big error.
Starting point is 00:01:40 By doing what? So the calves are down 0-2 and I put some cash into my DraftKings app. Hammer it, yeah. I put money into the DraftKings app thinking I was going to bet on the horses for the derby and then I just had cash sitting around the DraftKings app. So of course I put that to work and the calves were down 0-2 so I'm like, you know what? Good odds right now. Good odds.
Starting point is 00:02:02 I'm going to take them in this series. Yeah. Big disappointment last time. Good odds. I'm gonna take him in this series. Yeah. Big disappointment last night. Yeah, down 41 and a half. Yeah, that was a struggle right there. Come on, spider. Yeah, we're back in Cleveland. Next game, I think.
Starting point is 00:02:14 Need it. Oh, all right, here we go. Subscribe on YouTube, Wondry Plus, wherever you get your podcast, 92 Percenters, and follow the show on all social media at New Heights, show with 1S. Jason, tell the people what we got coming up All righty, we got a great episode coming live from New York City
Starting point is 00:02:30 We're gonna break down all uh, we know about the nfl schedule which right now currently is nothing spoiler alert because As of this taping the schedule comes out tomorrow. We'll get more to that later. Sorry. Yeah, we've got two incredible guests with us You might know them from their podcast, Fitz and Wit. Ho-ho! But they're coming on our podcast as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth. That's right. Two NFL legends, Walter Payton Man of the Year and most teams played on in a career. They're both here today.
Starting point is 00:03:01 That's not, that's no way that's true. I mean, it's gotta be close. At least started on. How many teams? Brandon, do you know? Think 13. If it's 13, that's- It might be 15.
Starting point is 00:03:13 It's a lucky number. It is a good number. Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans. We asked for a number, Brandon. And the Dolphins, nine, Washington. That's it? Oh, it felt like more. That's it? Okay. it felt like more. Okay.
Starting point is 00:03:25 Honestly, I thought it was more. Yeah. He tricked me into saying 13. That's right, I'm a tricky guy. He tricked me into saying 13. All right, but before they get here, we're gonna start as we always start with a little bit of that.
Starting point is 00:03:37 New news. New news. New news is brought to you by American Express. All right, the NFL schedule release is here. Well not officially as of this recording. This is being recorded Monday. The schedule release is coming out tomorrow. We do know some details coming out though.
Starting point is 00:03:52 We will comment on those right now. Eagles will open the season against the much maligned Dallas Cowboys. That's right. Cowboys, Eagles. Some would call it America's team but it's been a while since America's been great if that's America's team. So, the Eagles are going to kick off the Cowboys at home for the 2025 season. Jerry Jones is going to be pretty pumped to see a banner come down in Philadelphia Eagles Lincoln Financial Field as they commemorate Super Bowl 59. That's
Starting point is 00:04:27 an electric game to start the NFL season off. One of the oldest rivalries. I think that's true. It's definitely one of the most heated. Yeah. I mean, there's babies born saying fuck Dallas and Philadelphia. I think it'll be a great game. A great game to see if, you know, Dallas is they've made some moves. Have they made some moves? Well, they drafted the kid, Tyler Booker, early to fix. Their offensive line has been having issues as they've lost Tyron Smith. And now Martin is my god.
Starting point is 00:04:56 Dad going to be back? I think so. Yeah. So they had a Tyler Booker to kind of fix some of the offensive line issues they've been having. They've they had the best offense. One of the some of the offensive line issues they've been having. They had the best offensive, one of the best offensive lines in the NFL for about a decade when they had Travis Frederick, Zach Martin, Tyron Smith. Now all those guys have moved on. Zach finally retired. Congratulations, Zach. It feels great. You're going to hate yourself a little bit, but you'll be good over it. Yeah, fuck off. So they drafted that kid. Hopefully,
Starting point is 00:05:24 he can pan out for him or hopefully not if you're a niggas man. They also added George Pickens. Marshall. Yeah, picks from Steelers. They actually did make some moves, huh? Stan Well, that's a big one to me because Pickens and CD-Land, that should help out Dak.
Starting point is 00:05:38 Those are two good. It's a combination right there. Marshall Oh, yeah. It is. Yeah, they got a good tight end. They got obviously a good tight end. They got Obviously a great defensive line great when you have an opening game You want it to be one that people can get excited for and Eagles cowboys. That's like You're gonna like watching that on TV. You're gonna feel the hatred and you're gonna feel how intense these NFL teams hate each other
Starting point is 00:06:01 Yeah, I think the NFL has done it right. Yeah Down 40 great these NFL teams hate each other. Yeah, I think the NFL has done it right. Yeah, down 40. I think the NFL ever since they've gone to this, like whoever wins the shoot bowl opens the season up, right? They've gone to that mold. The fact that the season's gonna be kicked off with this big of a rivalry game, there's gonna be a lot of noise around it, people are gonna be talking crap, all offseason leading up to it, it's gonna be electric. Other big news, the other big rumor I should say is that the Chiefs are gonna be opening
Starting point is 00:06:26 their season against the Chargers in Brazil. Yeah, this was posted by Yahoo Sports. Is that official? I don't know if... It's kind of a yellow checkmark. Yellow checkmark's a good indicator that it's kind of official but it's still X. So you just don't... I mean, that's how everybody gets news these days.
Starting point is 00:06:44 Yeah, you're right. But it didn't come from the NFL, it doesn't look like. It didn't? It came from Eric Fisher, front office sports. So, Yahoo Sports posted this from front office sports, which is... Even more official. Front office, that's an official position. Oh, the NFL is closing in on an agreement.
Starting point is 00:07:04 So it's not... It is just that, it's a rumor. Well, it says the Chargers will host the Chiefs in Sao Paulo in Brazil week one. This doesn't come out till Wednesday? Yeah. Yeah, we're definitely playing in Brazil. Yeah. I also heard those rumors. So, I can skip this next question. Travis, do you know anything?
Starting point is 00:07:27 All right, should we take new heights overseas? I mean, I'll be there. Not to do a podcast. Not to do a podcast. Yeah, I'll be there playing football in the fucking heat. I mean, we can still bolt me over there. I wanted to go last year when Philly played there. By the way, the field was at George's last year.
Starting point is 00:07:44 Well, the old field thing. I mean, it was noticeably bad. The commentator. The old field. Listen. The guys are slipping all over the place. They were slipping all over the place. I'm about to play with our shoulders over our toes.
Starting point is 00:07:57 Yeah. I mean, listen, it's a fair point but it was a bad field. They weren't slipping in New Orleans. Just letting you know. Where are your seven studs? These guys were not slipping in New Orleans. Just letting you know, wear your seven studs. These guys were not slipping in New Orleans. Could we? Yeah, no.
Starting point is 00:08:08 They're firm footing. Yeah, I was slipping in New Orleans. Yeah, I might be able to hit both of these. This is pretty awesome. Are you comfortable in Brazil? I don't know man. It's a good question. There's just something about getting closer to the equator that I don't want to put on
Starting point is 00:08:22 football uniform doing that. Especially in September? I've been in Jacksonville in September and that's fucking miserable. Is Sao Paulo, is that like by the water? Is it gonna be? Sao Paulo? I don't believe, I think it's... It's inland? I believe so.
Starting point is 00:08:37 That feels better. I like that in my mind. You like that more? I'd rather it be dry than humid. I'm a sweaty, like when I'm in water around Sao Paulo, but I think it's rivers or something like that, right Brandon key do some geography for us Yeah, there are rivers
Starting point is 00:08:57 Google map it there's a source of water. I will say this if it's human. I'm gonna be miserable I'm gonna make I'm gonna prepare to be going to be- Well, prepare to be miserable. You're surrounded by the Amazon rainforest. This is a good point, yeah. There's a lot of- I forgot all about the whole thing they got down there. Yeah, no, if it's hot and humid and kind of what I'm expecting, I'm gonna be miserable. But we're gonna find a way to get a win. You know, okay, Brazil test.
Starting point is 00:09:20 Yes. What language do they speak in Brazil? Portuguese. Do you know any Portuguese words? What language do they speak in Brazil? What language do they speak in Brazil? Portuguese. Do you know any Portuguese words? No. All right, I went down there for the World Cup. That's Spanish?
Starting point is 00:09:34 Fuck. What's Portuguese? It might be Portuguese. There's a lot of crossover. Not really entirely sure which words do and don't. I do know obligado is thank you. What about Novas Altores? I think it's cerveja is a beer I believe.
Starting point is 00:09:49 What? Nothing. So yeah, it's gonna be humid. I'm definitely gonna have to ask the equipment guys to have a couple jerseys. Definitely maybe three pairs of pants because I might go through a pair and warm up. Nice. And definitely one free half. That's from sweat I warm up. Nice. And definitely one for each half. That's for sweat, I'm assuming.
Starting point is 00:10:05 Yes. Nowadays, we can dry the gloves in between series, so I won't need too many of those. But definitely, probably maybe four cleats. I might just go through a pair every, like, I'm going to be sweating so bad. Yeah, you are. I would be ready for all of that.
Starting point is 00:10:22 And switching out your socks, those shoes will get sticky. Socks, yeah, I gotta make thank you for that. Nothing worse than those like soggy shoes. Dude, soggy? Stepping the shoes and sweats coming out of the... Swamp shoes is like a sponge when you squeeze a sponge. I haven't been to Sao Paulo since I went for the World Cup. Yeah, you've been there, tell me about it.
Starting point is 00:10:41 What do I gotta look forward to? You know, I spent most of my time in Rio when I was down there. I was only in Sao Paulo for one game. The stadium was great. The game was fantastic. But as a city, I don't remember much of Sao Paulo. It kind of just felt like another major metropolitan area. The stadium was dope. Although the grass last year again was terrible. So, hopefully they fix it this year. Also, we also have the holiest of new news to switch gears here. We got a new pope! That's right! So, we also have the holiest of new news to switch gears here. We got a new pope!
Starting point is 00:11:04 That's right. Since we last recorded, we have officially got the first ever United States of America pope. Do you know that? Marshall S. I've heard of the news. Stan Okay, so it's not just you? Marshall S. I've heard. Stan Apparently, it isn't that new of a news.
Starting point is 00:11:17 We know it. He also, do you know he's Delco's finest? Spent time in Delaware County, Philadelphia. Marshall? Okay now? Stan? Yeah. Marshall? Is there some like, like how like, you know, somebody would go to the NFL? Is there like you go to like a really prestige high school, then you go to like Alabama or
Starting point is 00:11:41 the SEC and then you, is there like something in Delaware County that's like the SEC of Catholicism? Marshall? There is actually a very historic notable seminary school there. I don't remember what it's called. I've driven past it, it's gorgeous. It's right next to Villanova's campus. Okay. It's probably called like Pre-Pope. I don't know if that's where he was. Pre-Pope or something. Huh? Pre-Pope?
Starting point is 00:12:00 Yeah. Well, this is the first Pope ever so it's probably not called pre-pope. But there are a lot of diocese and clergy folk that come from that. Do you know like the qualifications for a pope? For a pope? Yeah. Probably have to be a bishop. I don't know, does that not work? Neither of us are Catholic so it's hard to know this.
Starting point is 00:12:20 I want to know how a young lad from the streets of Chicago. Well, you gotta be pretty... to be all the way over. Got to be pretty devout. I'm just kidding. That's a big rule. It's a big one. It's one of the ones that I remember. Somebody getting out of Chicago without that. Yeah. I mean, you want to leave Chicago if you're not.
Starting point is 00:12:39 I'm honestly they're probably like he made it out of Chicago without any intercourse. This guy can do any yeah, this guy's convicted This guy not getting distracted one bit Fuckers locked in He believes that man in the 90s when the Bulls were fucking studs. Well, you think I'm gonna fuck Michael Jordan. What are you talking? What, you think he's gonna fuck Michael Jordan? What are you talking about? Dude, the city was magical.
Starting point is 00:13:06 It was electric. We went to ESPN Zone around those days. Yeah, ESPN Zone. And it was fucking rockin'. That was sick. That was sick. They also had a Disney Quest, I believe, in downtown. Yeah, they did.
Starting point is 00:13:16 Yeah, that was fun. That was epic. I don't remember getting any pussy, but it was a lot of good, just great time. It was everywhere, I remember. All righty, Travis, back at tight end U. Hey-o! Attending the fourth annual tight end U in Nashville, Tennessee. Yeah, a summit for the best position in football. The greatest position ever created.
Starting point is 00:13:42 It's kind of more like the most of like ambiguous position ever created. It's like a... We get to do everything, Jason. It's our fourth year doing it in old Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt's always been kind and letting us use their facilities and get just north of 80 tight ends throughout the league to come up, spread the wisdom and just have a good old time. Is it only NFL tight ends? Yeah, pretty much.
Starting point is 00:14:09 No college tight ends? Not that I know of, no. No kids? I mean... What, you guys not like kids? No. Who does a football camp without fucking kids? Tight end you.
Starting point is 00:14:20 What do you guys talk about? My guy Greg Olson. Tight ending? George Kittle. The entire Kittle family really helps out doing Rubicon sports. Shout out to Rubicon. Yeah, everybody's, we always raise funds
Starting point is 00:14:32 for Boys and Girls Club. There's the kids. Yeah. And we do end up bringing kids in there for a little camp. You just don't tell them anything about tight-end? Correct. Job security. It's all fun at that age.
Starting point is 00:14:43 It's all fun at that age. It's all fun at that age. What is one thing you've learned at TitanU? One thing I've learned at TitanU. That you're willing to share. You've been there three times. For a guy like me, it's more just like reassurance. Sure. You know?
Starting point is 00:15:00 Hearing Gronk up there two years ago talk about his mentality, how he would get on the same page with Tom Brady and stuff like that. That was really valuable and stuck with me. Yeah, how did you get on the same page? Well, just one, a lot of work. There's a lot of time spent, you know,
Starting point is 00:15:15 finding your way out there to practice. I think Julian Edelman said it the best. When he couldn't go out there and practice, he was like, man, I just, I can't be at the top of my game for the for the people around me so it was like that in itself was like reassurance and then hearing Gronk up there talking about that and talking about his mentality on the field and just trying to be the best teammate he possibly could for the guys around him I think that really I don't know
Starting point is 00:15:41 made sense in my head and I connected it cool. You trying to come out to tighten you for a day? I can't I want to it's in between run around run around on the old pitch I would love to run some routes to see if you I mean you're down late What are you down right now? Dude? Look at these like this guy. I'm about 270 right now. I got 270 So I played last year you can play tight end Can't no my ankles and knees and back won't let me. No, that's- It's getting bad.
Starting point is 00:16:07 That's just your mind. I don't know if it's like the moment you retire mentally, your body retires too, physically. Cause I'm just like, I'm trying to lift weights. Jason, I talked to you every week when you were playing and you were saying the same thing. Yeah, but now it's like actually an issue. Yeah, my ankle playing golf last week is inflamed.
Starting point is 00:16:24 I can't squat now because my ankle hurts. I can't bench because I spray my pack. It's because you wear flip-flops when you play golf. No, I was playing wearing the G4s. Shout out to G4, free marketing good for you guys. Yeah, free marketing and the people wear your shoes, their ankles hurt. It's a good point.
Starting point is 00:16:42 I guess it's not the best. Sorry, G4. I guess it's not the best. Sorry, G4. I got some good ones for you. Do you? Yeah. All right. Cool. I'll pub it even more. We got some fun events this year for not just tight ends in the NFL, for everybody around the Nashville area. You guys are doing stuff for kids. What the fuck?
Starting point is 00:16:58 Not with kids. This is a little bit. Who are you doing it with then? Fans of the NFL. Oh, just regular fans? Yeah. That's cool. That's even cooler. Fans of's that's even a tight ends fans inside answer nobody I'm not gonna do this cuz I like Creed Ball through your legs Jason through Through. Touch the ball every snap. Who's more important? You can barely do that. Every snap I gotta touch that ball.
Starting point is 00:17:31 You could. Five yards in between legs without looking and then blocking. Jason, how about we just find a way to get to the quarterback here? It's a big third down. Alrighty, we got the Grouch Beer Candy Contest. I don't know if you guys know this but Travisvis and i golf in an event out in tahoe california Called the american century classic. Yeah last year. My caddy was none other than our own intern brandon Travis always has
Starting point is 00:17:58 Our hometown friend caddy finish last last year third third to last Did you really? Yeah, don't sure change me. Don't my first my first year. I think I was down there too. Listen, I got reddit working I'm fixing my golf swing. So look out so Travis always has our good friend Pat Bacon as his caddy petty bakes for City Insurance Cleveland's finest baby. We did decide to do a fun He's bringing great vibes. But we are doing a little contest this year. We're doing a garage beer caddy contest.
Starting point is 00:18:32 We thought not only do we have our bags that need to be caddyed, we also need a beer caddy. I think we might be inventing it. I've never really heard of it. But I'm excited to unleash this and we're looking for your help. We need somebody to caddy our beer for all three days of the American, is it just one day? For however many days are stipulated by the terms of the contract, we need you to carry beer for us, help us drink it. I kind of, I think it would be cool if they carried it like in the cups, like the old stadium beer guys. You got the harness around your shoulders and
Starting point is 00:19:09 you're carrying it like that. Yeah, not like a cooler, just have a tray of beers. That'd be pretty dope. It would be pretty dope. Are we allowed to do this with Garage Beer? Have we talked to anybody over there? I'm assuming somebody cleared it. Nobody cleared any of this. This is hilarious. We'll find out. They have their own sponsors. I think we need to check with American Century. Nobody said anything yet.
Starting point is 00:19:35 This guy is... Why are you acting mean? I'm just reading what's on the thing. There's a whole sign. This is your idea. It's not my idea. This is well, this is our idea. This is Grouchbeard's idea. So, we're all in on it.
Starting point is 00:19:49 We had a beer caddy last year. Jonathan Thomas' son. Yes. Shows the JT. Yes. And his son. If he wants to, I mean, listen, if you want to apply, you can be the caddy again. This is crazy.
Starting point is 00:19:59 I thought this was just to be your caddy. I didn't know this was a beer caddy. No, beer caddy. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I'm is crazy. I thought this was just to be your caddy. Stan No, no. Marshall I didn't know this was a beer caddy.
Starting point is 00:20:09 Stan No, beer caddy. This is specifically just to carry beers. And if we can't do garage beers, we'll just do cups. They don't want to, I mean if there's like a sponsorship infringement, then you just liquid. Marshall Glad we thought about this. Stan Yeah. I we thought about this. Yeah. I think it'll work. Dude, you can do it for Jason. All right.
Starting point is 00:20:30 So this is to be Jason's beer caddy, who will also be playing with Travis. No affiliation. Everybody in American Century had nothing to do with this is all Jason. All right, that's fine. I'll take it. All right.
Starting point is 00:20:43 Film club reminder, we will be back next week with our Sandlot review. Little Smalls, Penny the Jet. What else am I missing? Besides a bunch of characters. Wendy peppercorn. Very overrated by the way, right? No. She was so hot. I think she was just hot because she was like the only woman that was at maturity that showed
Starting point is 00:21:09 the entire freaking movie besides the mom. Well, when you're comparing it to The Catcher, yeah, of course she's gonna be hot. I think you're gonna watch it and be like, all right, she's hot. All right, well, we'll find out. There will be a review and we will be reviewing the hotness of Wendy Pepper corn now. We're gonna judge you, actress that played Wendy Pepper corn. I already know you're hot. Huh?
Starting point is 00:21:34 That's new news brought to you by American Express. That was rough. It was. But we got through it. Yeah, we got good editors. Because you guys are listening. That's why we got through it. Yeah, we got good editors. Because you guys are listening. That's why we got good editors. We got good editors.
Starting point is 00:21:47 That's why. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Allstate. Some people just know they could save hundreds on car insurance by checking with Allstate first. That's right. Like you know to check if you've got the right ingredients first before you start a new recipe. That's a good one. Yeah, you got to make sure you know that.
Starting point is 00:22:05 Like, you know to check if you've got enough gas first, yeah, before heading out on a big road trip. You know to check if avocado is ripe first before making guacamole? Checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Savings vary subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates Northbrook, Illinois. Like I said, good hands. Marshall Now, a moment brought to you by American Express. Stan That's right. What is your unforgettable trip experience, Travis?
Starting point is 00:22:38 Marshall Ooh, um... Stan What brought you there? Marshall That's a great question. Stan Was it love? Marshall Yeah. Stan Interest in traveling? Marshall It was. Traveling to London last year. Stan Curiosity. What brought you there? That's a great question. Was it love? Yeah. Interest in traveling?
Starting point is 00:22:46 It was. Traveling to London last year. Curiosity? Unforgettable. I'll never forget being on a stage in front of what felt like a million people. No matter what kind of traveler you are, American Express Platinum Card offers a range of benefits designed to enhance your journey. Enjoy access to incenturion lounges at airports worldwide when you book fine hotels
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Starting point is 00:23:40 Shout out to DraftKings. Shout out DraftKings. That's right, that's right. We've got a lot of NBA games going on this week, so let's have our intern, intern Brandon. Hi. Instruct to pick six on DraftKings pick six with his favorite picks for the weekend. They flew me out here just for this segment. Nice.
Starting point is 00:23:54 All right, let's do this, let's do this. We're in New York, let's do Jalen Brunson, more 27.5 points. Love it, love it, Villanova. Let's just have fun. Anthony Edwards, more 27.5 points. Okay. Those are my two, I believe in them. Love it, love it. Villanova. Oh, let's just have fun. Anthony Edwards, more 27.5 points. Okay. Those are my two. I believe in them.
Starting point is 00:24:07 Both of these picks in this episode, feel free to use them or do your own pick set. By the time this episode comes out, you'll know if I was wrong. That's a good point. Yeah. We're doing our best. When you tape on Mondays, you gotta do it. We should do a Cleveland one. All right. For Cleveland, we would do Evan Mobley. Nice. More points because I think he might be the only Cavalier starting.
Starting point is 00:24:25 And let's do in the other series, I'll take Joker. I'll take Joker more points as well. All right, there we go. Those are my two for the other series. That's our picks set for the game that hasn't happened yet. We're just sharing two picks today but you can make a whole set of the pick six app now. You get up to six picks, correct. You add a minimum, we'll get 25 times your cash. Whoa. Dunk on your competition and it might be worth 500 times your cash.
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Starting point is 00:25:58 Until one day... I texted her and she was not getting the text. So I went to Instagram and she has no Instagram anymore. And Facebook, no Facebook anymore. Desiree was gone. And there was one person who knew the answer. I am a spiritual person, a magical person, a witch. A gorgeous Brazilian influencer called Cat Torres, but who was hiding a secret. From Wandery, based on my smash hit podcast from
Starting point is 00:26:26 Brazil, comes a new series, Don't Cross Cat, about a search that led me to a mystery in a Texas suburb. I'm calling to check on the two missing Brazilian girls. Maybe get some undercover crew there. The family are freaking out. They are lost. I'm Chico Felitti. You can listen to Don't Cross Cat on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. two first team All-Pros, four Pro Bowls, or Walter Payton Man of the Year, a Super Bowl championship, and they hold the franchise record
Starting point is 00:27:07 for five different NFL team. God damn. We think that's very impressive. Well, one person does. Oh. Sorry. It's okay. 92%ers, please welcome the hosts of the Fitz and Witt Show.
Starting point is 00:27:18 Hello. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth. Did I get that order right? Is it Fitz and Witt? It is. It's Fitz and Witt. Yeah, it's Fitz and Witt. Some say Witt and Fitz, but I didn't know. I just, I don wits? It is fits and wits. I mean, yeah. Some say wits and wits. I didn't know.
Starting point is 00:27:27 I just wanted to make that clear. Thank you. 8%ers say that. Well done. Thanks for joining me guys. Thanks for joining us. Fuck yeah. We got the NFL schedule.
Starting point is 00:27:38 That is the brand new part that has come out. You guys are on the Black Friday game, is that right? Yeah. Black Friday game. Now we wanted to ask, we are headed to Philadelphia. You're coming to Philly. We're coming to Philly. Yeah. I wasn't asking for advice. I just want to stay at your house. If you don't mind. Now I also want to bring my family. We got a whole, we got all room. How many is it? Seven, seven, seven. Seven, 11 kids between the two of us if you don't mind. This sounds like a good time. The only thing with Fitz coming to the house,
Starting point is 00:28:11 you just got to make sure the attic is locked. Okay. Because he will find his way into your attic. And he will just start bringing things down. I still wear that t-shirt quite a bit. Now I heard though that that mural that somebody had given you is now gone. It's gone. Yeah, it didn't make it past that.
Starting point is 00:28:29 I actually realized that okay, people can go in my attic and grab that. I need to get rid of that. Yeah, I want to apologize for that. Not just hide it in there. Yeah, I apologize for it. What was this mural? It was our first Thursday night game ever. Yep, epic.
Starting point is 00:28:40 And it was the Chargers, I think, and the Chiefs. Yeah, Chiefs Chargers. And we went over to Travis' house afterwards and had a grand old time. It was a grand old time. Travis had some bangers after the games. Had some bangers. It was not a lot of furniture in the house,
Starting point is 00:28:53 but there was a lot of things that we got into in the end. Yeah, yeah, T-shirts. The basketball hoop. Basketball hoop in the living room. Living room. We put some holes through the walls, playing two on two and that thing. Not this time, when they were there,
Starting point is 00:29:04 but in other parties, yeah. It was a fun house. It can get rowdy. There was some holes through the walls playing two on two and that thing. Not this time when they were there, but in other parties, yeah. It was a fun house. It can get rowdy. It was a fun house. Play a little flip cup, little, yeah. It was meant for after game parties. Yeah, okay.
Starting point is 00:29:17 That's why there wasn't a lot of furniture. I don't want people sitting around. Yeah. You're getting active. Yeah. You're here to fucking party or you're not? You're shooting free throws if you come over. Yeah. We knew when we walked in and he had a full-time bartender. It wasn't just for that night. You're getting active. You're here to fucking party or you're not. You're shooting free throws if you come over.
Starting point is 00:29:25 We knew when we walked in and he had a full-time bartender. It wasn't just for that night. He was there every day. Oh, do you remember the bartender's name? What the fuck? Reggie. Reggie. Reggie or Harry.
Starting point is 00:29:37 I didn't know which one. Yeah, Reg. Great guy. So Chicago at Philly. You guys are welcome to stay. OK, thank you. 15 of us. Do you guys like the Black Friday game?
Starting point is 00:29:45 This is the second year they're doing that, right? Third. Third year? Third year. I like the Black Friday game. I think it's great. Yeah, obviously, I mean, obviously we're used to Thursday nights, but Friday during the day, it kinds of change up
Starting point is 00:29:56 and get a little Thanksgiving action in whatever city we're in and that's where we're looking forward to the meal that's gonna be provided at the Kelsey house. So yeah, room for 15, really easy. I got a turkey fryer. Every year I leave the oil in it and I have to get another turkey fryer. I do the same thing.
Starting point is 00:30:13 I take a power washer like the next year and try to get everything out of there. I'm trying to get another one. No chance, just go get another one. Instacart. Yeah, I don't know. Butterball and whatever the companies are killing me. That's how you know the thing's working because you just eat the turkey and you just
Starting point is 00:30:27 sit there and you just get lazy. Yeah. You just get heavy and you're just Thanksgiving. I'm not going to go clean that fucking thing out right now. I'm going to do it another day. And then that other day just never comes. Yeah, it doesn't. It doesn't.
Starting point is 00:30:40 You guys also have Christmas Day? You want to tell, you want to break the news to Trav? Well, here's the best news. We get Thanksgiving at 1 Kelsey and we get Christmas Okay, this is actually a bigger ask. This is a bigger ask because Christmas is huge for kids. Yeah, you know it. Well, we don't get a store gift. Santa just needs to know where to go. Yeah, I mean, we got chimneys.
Starting point is 00:31:12 Okay. Yeah, we got chimneys. Santa's cool. We got chimneys, yeah. And we got furniture now, so. Do you really? Yeah. Did you make those decisions or how did that?
Starting point is 00:31:23 It was an executive decision by myself for the betterment of everyone. Yes. Okay. I was like, I need some furniture. So I don't know what time that game is that yet. We'll be the last game of the day. So we do Christmas morning together or we prep and for the game. How is that big Christmas breakfast? Yeah. Christmas breakfast. Okay. Last year I think we were obviously in Pittsburgh, but it was a day game. So yeah, I don't know how that was
Starting point is 00:31:49 Yeah, good point. Yeah, we're not talk about your point. So nice We got the who do we play Broncos at cheese Brondamn, they're getting good too. They are getting good. They're getting there to be a banger. We beat them by a block field goal last year. Down to the wire and then they smoked us when we didn't play them last week of the season. Well, we don't count. Well, you played them. Yeah, we played them. We don't count those. They beat us. You could have set the NFL record. Oh yeah, well 17 games is different. Don't count it? All right. Well, where do we want to start, guys? We start podcasting.
Starting point is 00:32:27 How's the podcast going? It's rough. No way, dude. It's not great, guys. Great social clip. No. You know, we had a good first season, first season. We're a squad. Yeah. First season wrapped. We did. We did 25 episodes.
Starting point is 00:32:43 Really, they put out a feel it or say, is this gonna work or not? Who are these people? Yeah, but we do have season two coming up. It worked! Yeah, it worked. Hell yeah! We'll be back, baby. But it'll be somewhere around when the NFL season starts up.
Starting point is 00:32:58 So you guys are completely done podcasting from now until the start of the season? That's what they said. Why have we not tried this model? This is a good model. I don't know. Yeah, I think you guys have proven yourselves that people want the content. They need the content. It's a little different.
Starting point is 00:33:12 Yeah. Well, summers off sounds pretty nice. So we were talking about how you could have played guard in Another Life before the show. Who was talking about that? And I just want to kind of get into it. What do you think would have made you a good guard? I think right now, I've always had a big butt. So I feel like the squats is part of it.
Starting point is 00:33:32 It's a good base, it's your foundation. How's your ankle flexibility? Pretty good. Pretty good. Yeah, pretty good. I didn't want to insult you by saying, oh, I'd play something, but I feel like it'd be more of a natural center than it are. I was going to say, what is your, on the importance of you playing well, how important is having a good center on a scale of one to ten?
Starting point is 00:33:55 I would say I'm going to put it at about an eight. Really? Yes. I thought you were going to lowball it. No, very important because. Was the center doing much work for you? So it depended where I was, right? And so I bumped around quite a bit.
Starting point is 00:34:09 Now when I got to say New York and Nick Mangold was there, I wasn't coming in and being like, all right, Nick, this is my show. I'm taking his phone. I am the captain now. So in that sense, the center can take a lot off your plate. Sure. Right. And and that being said there's also times where You know, there's some there's some arguments in game of you saw this I saw that But the blitz meetings and things throughout the week if you've got a good center that's on it and he's training the other guys That thing goes really smooth. So he takes a lot of work off of my plate for sure
Starting point is 00:34:42 We'd love to follow up with that one. Were you ever wrong when those conversations got heated? Oh, I like this follow up. You guys will have to have Nick on. You know, I was only wrong with protections once in my career once and I slid the line everybody one way and London Fletcher came the other way and fractured six of my ribs. I would argue you were wrong twice but. and London Fletcher came the other way and fractured six of my ribs. I would argue you were wrong twice, but. So I was wrong twice.
Starting point is 00:35:09 The first time I was wrong, Witt and I were teammates. There you go. Thank you. Keeping it honest here? I appreciate it. Now he's being honest. Now we can get to it. This had nothing to do with a protection call on the field.
Starting point is 00:35:18 It had to do with what happened after a play happened. You guys remember Big John Henderson? Oh my gosh. Big Bad John. Yeah, absolutely. 2008 Cincinnati Bengals are 0-8. We're 0-8 at the time. Playing the Jacksonville Jaguars at home and I was a young guard trying to prove myself. Fresh off of him getting slapped pre-game.
Starting point is 00:35:37 Yeah. Oh, fresh off the slap. You know how this goes. The skill guys, Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmansada decided during the TV timeout, we're beating Jacksonville. They were pretty good that year to start talking trash to Big Bad John. Yeah, that's the best.
Starting point is 00:35:49 He gets riled up. So we start getting in some full on swinging sessions. That leads to an all out brawl. Me and him going, helmets ripped off. We're fighting across the field. That's a lot of trash. Trav, what am I supposed to do? We both get ejected.
Starting point is 00:36:01 Throw your hands. Both get ejected. It's kind of my claim to fame. But after that moment, I became the captain. That's kind of my claim to fame. After that moment I became the captain. That's kind of like that. I became captain of the Cincinnati Bengals from that moment on basically because we were 0-8. I kind of called out the team on the Saturday walkthrough about being soft and we were kind of act like some bitches and I've never been anywhere where I accepted losing. And so said this, go in the next day, get in this huge fight, get ejected out of the game. We win the game. Come in on Monday. Yeah, huge win for me as a young yeah huge one's my first win as a starter first win as a starter around Fitzpatrick's
Starting point is 00:36:29 there's a lot of you know congratulations going around Fitz is happy OC stands up he goes the only thing I do want to talk about we come in on Wednesday we got our fines in from the fights oh you know back then they did the halo rule if you're within the halo of the fight you got fined yeah ten guys on offense got fined guys there's only one guy halo of the fight, you got fined. Yeah. 10 guys on offense got fined guys. There's only one guy on the offense that didn't get fined. Now we are in tape. I told you before this started, I ran a 4.88, remember? That day it was like a 4.6.
Starting point is 00:37:07 Like a quick. John Henderson's bigger than he is. Yeah, he's a big man. What am I gonna do? Seriously, what am I gonna do? Yeah. My man got up out of there. Yeah, it wasn't good.
Starting point is 00:37:15 So he's been wrong with protection twice. He'll never let me live that down. Oh my gosh. Oh, damn, that's a great story. Oh, man, we topped that. We got it, we just, yeah. Now that there's no halo rule though, you would have been in there. I have a fever. Damn, that's a great story. I'm on top there. We got it. Just yeah, now there's no halo rule though, you would have been in there. Yeah, for sure.
Starting point is 00:37:29 Thank you. For sure. Well, and I have towards the end of my career, I had more money, right? So, I mean, it's a lot of money but like my rookie year, I made 230. So, I didn't know if it was going to last, how many years I would be there. So, more willing to write that check. Yeah. For sure. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:37:47 Makes sense. Let's talk small hands. Let's talk small hands. Oh, small hands. Yeah, there was a tweet that came out. Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco doing the exact same pose at the top of their drop with the ball right here and- Why are they gonna do Kenny Pickett like that?
Starting point is 00:37:59 Yeah. Because Joe Flacco's hands are fucking enormous. I mean, Joe's? Yeah, just because Joe has monster hands don't go after Kenny. Have you guys ever heard the term dick beaters? Oh yeah. Joe's got some dick beaters. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:38:12 He can touch his palm around that thing. I apologize. It is insane. I've heard the term though. What are you working with? Good. Well, I had to do this hand. Do you mind?
Starting point is 00:38:23 Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Oh yeah. So here's the thing. Great size. So my thumb stretches down. You have a weird thumb. What is going on with that thumb? So the way they measure the hand is from that pinky all the way to the end of that thumb. And so I dislocated this pinky so it's not as good as it once was. But I had the third biggest hand at the Combine in 2005. Wow! No, in 2005. Oh Justin. Not just quarterbacks like...
Starting point is 00:38:48 Everybody but the reason being is my thumb goes down so like... Good dick beaters. Yeah. Thank you. This guy. Blitz. Anyway. I also wanted to get a good because he's wearing a glove. Kenny's wearing a glove. He's like notorious. He's been wearing it since college, the entire career. Peyton Manning actually, I believe,
Starting point is 00:39:10 set the NFL record wearing a glove in 2015. Yeah. Have you like, do you like wearing? I've seen you with a cute little glove. I'll say this. So Kurt Warner went to it too, towards the end of his career. When I got to Buffalo, I dabbled just to see.
Starting point is 00:39:26 I could have sworn. So I had to wear one on my left hand because I tore some ligaments in my thumb, but I couldn't do it on my right hand. I hated it. I absolutely... Rain, rain, so anything. I hated it so much. I tried the glove on my right hand for two years and I had to...
Starting point is 00:39:41 Just the feel. Well, did you cut fingers or no? My snaps kind of went to crap. No, I tried to go full glove. Yeah. Really bad idea. By the way, can we talk about your snaps real fast? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:39:50 How do you know about my snaps? Jason. I mean I used to watch film and be like, holy shit. That is a rocket shot. You can tell by watching tape. When Jalen Hurts had to switch his stance to this. Yeah, I know.
Starting point is 00:40:02 I felt it. Yeah. I mean you would fire that pigskin back there. I need that hand back. I need to start blocking this big boy. Speaking of guards, I'm pretty sure I just ripped my jeans. Did you really? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did.
Starting point is 00:40:17 All right, well, let's just remain seated for the remainder of this. Oh, who's talking? I can see you're. So anyways, what is the... So, are there measurements that... Like, do you... What do you take away from the hand measurement test?
Starting point is 00:40:31 Do you think there's validity to that? Yeah, anything you care about in a quarterback. Well, I'll say this. Somebody like Josh Allen, like he's built to play football in bad weather, right? Just body type, hand size, where he's from, like just kind of his overall attitude. So yes, there's some validity in the hand size thing
Starting point is 00:40:54 for sure, but more of it is that the inability to stretch the thumb out. But yes, for sure. And then it really comes to fruition when you're in those bad weather games, when you play in a Pittsburgh or even a Philly or Buffalo and you're playing in the elements all the time. Now, if you know, last year, Jared Goff, I have no idea what his hands are like,
Starting point is 00:41:14 but like they played in a dome so many times. So you're in those perfect conditions and it doesn't matter. But it seems like and you guys can tell me because I've never been. But playoff football, the elements seem to you know, experience to I don't are there any measurements though when you look at it where you're like, this is Immediate red flag with the quarterback like if I look at a tackle and his arms are if it says 32 Wait, is that I'm like very skeptical on where they can play. What your LSU guy? What were his arms? Well, yeah I think he was 32-ish.
Starting point is 00:41:46 Was it 32 and a half or 32? A half makes a big difference, as every woman knows. Half to three quarters is a big deal. I want to say he was somewhere in the 32 to 33 range. This is just... Yeah, we're going off rails. Shorts, we're talking about dick beaters. I will say that
Starting point is 00:42:04 something that didn't matter as much, which was like 40 time and agility, that matters a whole lot more now. Especially with the systems that are out there. The systems, the way guys play, the way defenses are playing, I think that that matters quite a bit now, more than it used to. Yeah. What do you think about the arm length measurement for tackles? So much goes into what is their style of play, like how do they play and what their other attributes are. So like
Starting point is 00:42:30 if I think they have awesome feet, like a great anchor, those kind of things, I don't think it means as much to me because that just means they need to develop a toolbox that says, all right, I'm going to get long arms, I'm going to have to get hands off of me, I'm going to have to figure out how to get those hands off and use my feet to make some of these blocks. Like more aggressive short setting? Yeah like you look at some of these guys that love to jump, love to get on a guy, like that length doesn't matter in that setting. Now do you have really strong hands? So I always say this like regardless of what it is if you know what you're good at and are you able to develop those things to be your strength right and so if you have shorter arms then you've got to develop the trait to get on guys faster.
Starting point is 00:43:05 You got to develop great hand strength so that when you do get your hands in there, they're never coming off. Right? And so your ability to be able to kind of fine tune what it is you are will dictate that success level. So I say it's with O-line and like, we can get into measurements a lot of the times, but like number one thing I want to know is are they one of those people who are like, I'm a chase it guy, like fuck it. I'm going to chase whatever it is. It makes me good. I'm I'm gonna chase that shit every day
Starting point is 00:43:26 So like to me will Campbell he's driven that way like he is a I'm gonna figure out a way to be freaking good We're from the same hometown Since he's like he's grew up playing high school football and the elements of what New England's gonna be like playing Yeah, we're like he's gonna be one of those people much you think like Taylor the one reason Tennessee like he's gonna be an attitude I'm New England. I'm a patriot variables gonna be one of those people much you think like Taylor LeWan. He's in Tennessee. Like he's gonna be an attitude I'm New England. I'm a patriot. Vrabel is gonna be the guy pushing his buttons I think it's just the perfect like scenario for a guy like will to go there. Did you hear about Braves? Running like one-on-one drills with him. Yeah during this Actually posted the other day and I was like, I love this cuz it's like that's what I dreamed up when he went there
Starting point is 00:44:03 I'm like, all right, theble's got his Taylor LeWan. Like this kid's gonna come and he's gonna be like, hey dude, don't worry about, not that you're against the vets, but you come in, I want you to be nasty. I want you to finish people. Like I'm gonna be in your ear all the time. Like you're gonna come in and be the tone setter
Starting point is 00:44:17 for our group. Cause you may not come in as a young offense lineman and take over the room from a leadership standpoint, but you can come in and be like, I'm gonna bring some attitude to this group. And I tell the funny story about 08 and Cincinnati and all that, but that was what I was. I was a young kid trying to find my way.
Starting point is 00:44:30 And I was like, you know what I do like to do? I love to fight and get into it and tussle. And I'm scared of nobody. So this will be my role. My first couple of years, when I get on the field, like I'm gonna bring it. We're gonna finish plays. I'm gonna get guys pissed off.
Starting point is 00:44:41 Like two weeks after that Henderson game, I played Albert Hainsworth. That was a year he's guys contract with the Tennessee Titans. He got pulled out of the game in the first quarter because we were fighting every play and Washburn was losing his mind because he wasn't rushing. He was just swinging with me.
Starting point is 00:44:55 Because I would just start every game like, hey, let's just get in a fight. It's getting his head. Right? And so he pulled him out of the game. So that was my thing as a young player. And I think Will will be that kind of guy. He's gonna come in with an attitude
Starting point is 00:45:04 and try to finish guys. Can I ask questions to with you? This is great This is so later later. No, I'm just asking later in your career Were you like like when you were at the Rams were you like that or were you more of a finesse guy if that? You know what's funny? I don't know if I just looked old and miserable, but guys didn't really mess with me So it's just you had the reputation. I didn't I had the reputation, you know It's not a lot of Walter Payne many years have been ejected twice It's like hey listen this guy's really nice, but maybe he's so nice because he's that fucking crazy My favorite story we're playing in Washington against the commanders and it was Chase Young was a rookie and I'm in
Starting point is 00:45:48 a TV timeout and I see him talking to Montez Wet and he's like, then he starts laughing he's like finally he goes hey big fella like I'm look at him he goes you really 39? I'm like yes he's like holy shit. He was like man I can't believe going against this dude is just 39 and you gotta remember, I always faced out. So I stared at whoever I played the whole time. I never turned into a huddle. So I would be staring at him the entire game. So he's like, this 39 year old dude looks old as shit.
Starting point is 00:46:14 It's just staring at me all game. Like I'm gonna find a way to talk to him. He's like, are you actually 39, man? Like, yes. You've never looked in the huddle? Nope. Time out, is this a rule or this was just an Andrew Whitworth thing? What I've always did.
Starting point is 00:46:26 The only other guy I had like that, you remember big Willie Colon? Oh yeah. Yeah, but Willie towards the end of his career, he just didn't want to have to, that extra step he had to take to turn around. That was it. He was always so gassed. That simple. He was just trying to limit his footsteps up to the ball.
Starting point is 00:46:44 I got a quick question. Obviously, you spend most of your career in Cincinnati. St. Louis, or not St. Louis, Los Angeles Rams. Your training camps, I don't know where they were when you were there. It just came out that the Rams are going to Maui. Oh, yeah, yeah, Minicamp. They're going to Minicamp there, yeah. We were always there.
Starting point is 00:47:04 They'd been talking because these new partnerships you see the teams have and where they're going, trying to get out of the US and develop all these partnerships across the world. Part of theirs is Australia and then obviously Hawaii and so on the way. And so I think this year was like a big emphasis. They wanna move Mini Camp there.
Starting point is 00:47:19 So I'd be pretty cool. I mean, you always hated having to go to mandatory Mini Camp, but mandatory Mini Camp in Maui sounds kind of sweet. So I'm actually I'm gonna go with them. So I'll get a chance to You know those creepy stories that give you goosebumps the ones that make you really question what's real Well, what if I told you that some of the strangest, darkest, and most mysterious stories are not found in haunted houses or abandoned forests, but instead in hospital rooms and doctor's offices?
Starting point is 00:47:53 Hi, I'm Mr. Ballin, the host of Mr. Ballin's Medical Mysteries, and each week on my podcast, you can expect to hear stories about bizarre illnesses no one can explain, miraculous recoveries that shouldn't have happened, and cases so baffling they stumped even the best doctors. So if you crave totally true and thoroughly twisted horror stories and mysteries, Mr. Bolland's Medical Mysteries should be your new go-to weekly show. Listen to Mr. Bolland's Medical Mysteries on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free right now by joining Wondry Plus in the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app
Starting point is 00:48:27 or on Spotify or Apple podcasts. Whole Foods started in the counterculture city of Austin, Texas, and it took pride in being anti-corporate and outside the mainstream. But like the city itself, Whole Foods has morphed over the years, for better and perhaps for worse, and is now a multi-billion dollar brand. In the latest season of Business Wars, we explore the meteoric rise of the Whole Foods brand.
Starting point is 00:48:54 On its surface, it's a story of how an idealistic founder may good on his dream of changing American food culture. But it's also a case study in the conflict between ambition and idealism, how lofty goals can wilt under the harsh light of financial realities and what gets lost on the way to the top. Follow Business Wars on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge Business Wars, the Whole Foods Rebellion early and ad free right now on Wondery Plus.
Starting point is 00:49:22 I don't know if Matthew can figure out how to get on the golf course. I can help him get out there. Hey, I thought Andrew came on this trip. He hasn't been to practice one time. Yeah. Yeah. Stafford and I'll just go play golf.
Starting point is 00:49:34 That's pretty cool. It's just like when we used to do the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Right, guys? That's right. Yeah, you remember that. Well, never. I never did it. I visited when Andrew and Travis were in it.
Starting point is 00:49:45 Yeah, that was epic. I got to hang out in the pool. It was the best old Turtle Bay. Forgetting Sam Marshall. Yeah. Oh, wow. What was it like going from Cincinnati's offense to the new Sean McVeigh style, like run, play, action, heavy?
Starting point is 00:50:00 It was beautiful. I mean, living in a world with Hugh Jackson and Jay Gruden where it's like, you know, a lot of empty and a lot of stuff where you're just in drop back protection all the time to all of a sudden like, hey, we're going to run, run, play action, only throw, you know, really in situations that team forces to, to drop back pass. It was absolutely beautiful. Not to mention like small thing being that I was 35 years old so going from playing on turf every week is a home game to now I played in a
Starting point is 00:50:29 division when you think about that at that time it's like San Francisco Arizona and then LA all grass and then Seattle's your only turf field but it's a pretty nice turf so really I go to a situation I'm playing tons of grass games like I was like dude I feel totally different's warmer. Obviously that was a pretty epic move. I mean, playing West Coast was pretty insane. You don't like turf? I fucking hate it, man. You feel terrible.
Starting point is 00:50:53 It's night and day. As soon as we moved to Sofa, like obviously Sofa is amazing, but just the feel you have walking in on Monday compared to walking in off that grass. I'm gonna say it's night and day. I can't practice the week after I play. You like turf? I loved it when I was young. I didn't, I never noticed a Sunday. It's night and day. I can't practice the week after I play in turf. You like turf?
Starting point is 00:51:05 I loved it when I was young. I didn't, I never noticed a difference. Never noticed it? I don't know what to tell you. Yeah. I didn't really do that much running. You did lead a team in rushing though. I did.
Starting point is 00:51:15 Yeah. That's so insane. How many yards you have again? Like 236 or something. Big rushing attack. That's gotta be, that got to be an NFL record. What was y'all's record by chance? You know, you said earlier since we started on eight,
Starting point is 00:51:31 that year we started at least 0-7. Yeah, I would figure. But that year, the last game of the year, we went to Foxburg. Oh, this is the Tom Brady game. And we beat New England, which gave somebody home field advantage. Heyo! And the Super Bowl. You're welcome.
Starting point is 00:51:53 Is this Tom? Is this Tom? I think that is the quarterback. Yeah, I think that's who it was. Was he mad at you? Did he shake your hand and tell you? I'm trying to think if he was still there when that. Yeah, that was his last regular season game in Foxboro guys. Yeah
Starting point is 00:52:08 Yep, I was the head shake. I remember it. It's great Kevin Harlan. Yeah Do a call there. He was calling our game and the yeah, it's great call same time It was crazy. You played in how many different systems? I know you play with nine different teams He didn't know that before this by the way. Don't let him fucking lie to you. He did not know it was 19. Yeah, we thought it was, honestly, we thought it was more. Oh, okay. We were taking the over on it.
Starting point is 00:52:30 No, it was nine. I'm just like, right now we've listed you should have been a guard. You played for like 20 teams. How do you feel about yourself today? You're good, bud. I feel great. You know what? I'm a team in rushing into our body.
Starting point is 00:52:45 Yeah. Long ago, I learned not to really care about what people say about me. So you know, the thing is though, I played on nine teams, but it wasn't like collecting three teams in a year. It was like I started on nine teams. So like it was like I played first couple years, it was two years, two years, four years. And then legitimately at the end of my career, it was two years, two years, four years, and then legitimately at the end of my career it was like either one year,
Starting point is 00:53:07 two year move, and every year, every other year. Which, I mean, as you have all the young kids and stuff, it's like you think about my wife, we have seven kids in seven different cities, and so it's like the amount of moving that we did, and they came everywhere I went, and then we had to pick up and go okay school sports you know regular life were they homeschool were you homeschooling them or no we were making new friends just making new friends everywhere they went so yeah now
Starting point is 00:53:37 my oldest is getting ready to go to college guys yeah think about this he told us this I think talked about this on one of our first podcast episodes his kids but 17 15 13 11 9 7 11, 9, 7, and 5. Oh no, you got to, they all turned the next year. Yeah, so now we're even. 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, and 6. Oh my gosh. Yeah, is that crazy? Like, see he read it off and I go, wait, say that again one more time. You have what? 17, 15, 13, I'm like, holy shit. It's a lot. It's a lot of kids. Our first year in Thursday football,
Starting point is 00:54:06 he brought them all to Chicago. And I'm like, dude, let's get some dinners. Like, like let's go. And he's like, yeah, sure. Call the places that take 10 tops. And I was like, oh my God, that's right. We're getting pizza. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:54:18 Exactly. Yeah. We eat fast food. It's like, oh, okay. Got it. What was your favorite system to play in of all your stuffs? So Chan Gailey, strangely enough, like he, so he was a head coach in Buffalo for three
Starting point is 00:54:31 years when I was there. And then when I got to New York, he was there. And then my second year in Miami, he was there. So I played with him for three different teams. Nice. Kevin Petulo, who's now the coordinator in Philly. I had him two different places and he is a Chan disciple and he's obviously done a lot of different things now.
Starting point is 00:54:50 He's got some Texas A&M stuff and then obviously being with Sirianni for a while. But he'll have some wrinkles, you know, as you sit there and watch, I'll be like, okay, I recognize that play. I know that play. Yeah. But Chan was always a spread him out, a left tackleles dream, you know, empty spread him out, baby, spread the ball around. But I really liked him.
Starting point is 00:55:11 And part of the thing for me was just like he infused a lot of belief into me. And so that was why I liked him the best for sure. I think it's one of the coolest things on Thursday nights before the game. You get those couple hours before the game, like him playing nine different teams, all these coaches that he's been around. I mean, it's just constant guys coming up and hugging, like, oh, he was, you know, quality control when I was in this place.
Starting point is 00:55:32 He was this, and it's just like, you're listing off head coaches, OCs, DCs. He's been around them all. It's insane. I mean, it's crazy when you're sitting there, you're like, dang, when were you with him? And he starts listing it off, just the touch, you know, from playing nine different teams
Starting point is 00:55:47 that he has across the league as well. But you guys have seen it. It's funny when you have real young guys that are coaching, whether in Kansas City or Philly, and then they become head guys. And even like Jonathan Gannon, when I was in Tennessee, he was like the lowest of the low defensive assistant. But there are those guys that you peg and you go,
Starting point is 00:56:04 okay, he's gonna be something eventually. For sure. We actually, a guy we were with in college, I mean, how old was Jesse when he was at Cincinnati? Jesse Minner was the G.A. at the University of Cincinnati. I don't feel like Jesse's even getting older. He still fucking looks like, yeah. He still looks like a young, smart guy.
Starting point is 00:56:24 When I was at LSU, similar thing. Adam Gase and Freddie Kitchens were our GAs when I got to LSU. Freddie Kich. Yeah, no, Minter was my, he was holding up the cards when I was, how was the scout team QB? And tight end. I was running dual thing.
Starting point is 00:56:40 Just doing, just an athlete in it. Pissing off everybody on the defense. I didn't run the route on the card back then Well, that's how I knew that would you feel about that that's when I figured out I'm like, oh they know this play Yeah, am I gonna get open if they know I'm gonna run that route I'm not gonna run that fucking round do what I want to get open But I don't know I gotta show these coaches I wanna get open. But I don't know. If I gotta show these coaches I got what it takes. I don't think people give,
Starting point is 00:57:10 I don't think people get Patrick enough credit because it's not easy. It's not easy as a quarterback. And you guys obviously have amazing chemistry, like some of the best chemistry in NFL history. For him to know where you're going to be and anticipate. And it speaks a lot to probably the way you guys have worked in practice and over the years, obviously playing so much, but that is not an easy thing to do as a
Starting point is 00:57:32 quarterback. I'll try it out in practice. And if I get either the ball doesn't come my way or and then I know not to do it again. Yeah, exactly. Or I'm, yeah, I'm getting the ball right on time. That's kind of how it, and Pat'll let me know, or he'll let everybody on. This isn't just a me thing anymore. Everybody, if you're given a specific route
Starting point is 00:57:53 versus a certain coverage, you kind of get a little bit of freedom, and it's just, it's evolved over that. Have you ever just, somebody just ran the wrong route, and you're like, God damn it, he's open, and you threw it? All the time. That's what I'm saying. Have you ever seen me play, Travis? His eyes were closed when he was getting to the point. Somebody just ran the wrong round. You're like god damn it. He's open and you threw it all the time
Starting point is 00:58:07 Have you ever seen me play? So there was a guy Stevie Johnson if you remember that we have Stevie was so sick Yeah, and we just used to have the I used to give him the the y-signal which was you do you? Oh, then it was like all right. He's out there by that. Yeah So then it was like, all right, he's out there by himself. Yeah, you do. You do. That's a new one right there. Go around, hit, slant, like whatever he wanted to do. He singled up though.
Starting point is 00:58:30 He would have somebody do one thing. He was single. So it's easier to do when you're in a three by one and you're the guy on the single side. You're not affecting anything else. Yeah, that being said, you know, he always got open. So it worked. Well, that was TV.
Starting point is 00:58:41 Hey, Trav, you're not the only tight end scorer to touch down here, just in case. All right, now. You know that? Wait, what? Oh, yeah, baby. Little jumbo tight end scorer touchdown here just in case. All right now. You know that, you know. Wait, what? Jumbo tight end? One for one, baby.
Starting point is 00:58:48 All you can be is 100%. Okay, listen. You ever scored on your birthday? No. God damn it. All my birthday. Happy birthday. That's a huge indicator for defenses.
Starting point is 00:59:00 You gotta know who tackles. We do. If it's the tackle's birthday. If it's the jumbo tight end. If it's his birthday, high alert. You gotta know If it's his birthday In Pittsburgh opening drive of the game in the bridge you guys on that game you had to have But the only the only thing that is a cool step around we still haven't ever looked it up But I was the only offensive touchdown in the game I don't know me times the left tackles been the only office but I was the only offensive touchdown in the game. I don't know how many times the left tackle's
Starting point is 00:59:24 been the only offensive touchdown in the game, but it was the opening drive of the game. I think Carson Palmer threw, he threw me a touchdown, but he also unfortunately threw two to the series. He was thrown to a lot of the wrong positions. Listen, a lot of guys that weren't supposed to catch it were catching it in the game. You'll have to ask your buddy Ryan Clark about that one.
Starting point is 00:59:42 Are you sure he was supposed to be covering me? He was supposed to be... No, he was right up on the road. Let's just turn it in. We'll take his height. We got a mossed Ryan. Sorry, Ryan. I got to tell the truth. Yeah, never had one.
Starting point is 00:59:55 No. But when there's something late in your career that schemes up? Late in my career, they tried to give me a like a gimme touchdown by having a tushbush design where Juergens would come in and I'd take center. Like quarterback snap. Yeah, got to report. Got to remember that. So you had a scheme that you never ran.
Starting point is 01:00:11 We were so bad my last year, the second half of the season. Those plays are plays that's like, hey, we're up 17 or whatever. At the end of the game, let's get Kelso touchdown. It's like, yeah, no, I never got that. It didn't. Yeah. We were getting our asses kicked, unfortunately. Whit, you played 15 plus years. Is that It's like, yeah, no, I never got that. It didn't, yeah. We were getting our asses kicked, unfortunately. You played 15 plus years, is that correct?
Starting point is 01:00:27 16, yeah. So that's 15 plus. I don't know why you went with 15 plus. It's because it's where Brandon puts it. They're working something in, I understand. How did you know it was time to hang it up? What finally clicked where you're like, you know what, now that I'm 40? Honestly, probably the amount of meetings I would like wake up in, in the sense of not sleeping,
Starting point is 01:00:46 but like just be on my phone and realize that everyone's like walking out of the room and I'd be like, Oh, fuck, I listen to it. Let's practice today. Uh, where are we going? But anyways, literally just you get to that point where I was sitting and then I'm like, you know what? I am not actually enjoying being in the building. Like I'd love the guys, but I'm like the whole day. That's the case, I should have retired like 10 years ago. I became a skill player.
Starting point is 01:01:11 That's really what happened. I became a skill player. You're used to the skill guys falling asleep in meetings and being on their phones and everything else, but I would just sit in the O-line room and like, Cromer, whoever the O-line coach at times would be like, Whit, Whit. And I realized like, oh, she's been saying my name. And like, yeaher, whoever the O-line coach at Talmadge, be like, Whit, Whit. And I realized like, oh, she's been saying my name.
Starting point is 01:01:27 And like, yeah, what's up? Like, I have no idea what's been happening here. And I realized, you know what, man, this is not a good look. Like, I'm kind of like, I'm checked out a little bit. I'm tired. Like, it felt like a grind every day to go into work. I loved the games. Like, I still even, when I retired was like,
Starting point is 01:01:42 I remember going in Sean's office, you know, a month after we'd won it and being like, I think I might, I think I might keep playing. And he's like, no, he's like, dude, as your friend, like you've done everything you could have possibly accomplished. And you know, also won the Superbowl two months ago. He's like two months ago, you knew you were done. Like you'd, I'd already told him like, this is it. He's like, you stick with your decision. Like you good And I was like alright, and then six months after that when they were three and nine He was like why the fuck didn't you keep playing? Because they had like a horrific year with the offensive line injuries and stuff
Starting point is 01:02:17 So it really wasn't about me as much as that, but it was interesting like you know I I knew it and then when we went to those playoffs, it actually made it even sweeter because I knew it was it, but I didn't tell anybody because I wanted to just soak it all in and then things just started happening. And I'll never forget, you know, watching Cincinnati make the kick to win. And they're going to Super Bowl. And I'm running out on the field to play the Niners in the NFC Championship. I'm like, oh, my God, like, this is crazy.
Starting point is 01:02:43 The ball like there's no way in hell. Cincinnati's going to Super Bowl. I'm like, oh my God, like this is crazy. The ball, like there's no way in hell. If Cincinnati is going to Superbowl, I'm going to the freaking Superbowl. So to end your career playing against the only other franchise you played for in a place that's, you know, you obviously were a huge part of, I couldn't have ever dreamed that would be the case. So once that happened, I was like, this is it.
Starting point is 01:03:00 The story began. Yeah, this is it. And that's why I had kind of the epic moment with my kids there after the game to sit down on the field. And it was like, it wasn't even a celebration almost. It was like a just piece of, man, this was the ride and it's over. It was like, sit down with them and like, man,
Starting point is 01:03:14 this is about to be sick. Well, there's nothing like telling you how much you're missing. You leave and the team struggles the next year. Yeah. Is that how you feel? Yeah, for sure. Uh. For sure. Week felt? Yeah, for sure. Week four, I was feeling great. Week four was a great year.
Starting point is 01:03:33 What about you, Fithy? So I ended up, my last year I was in Washington and I had a, so 17 years, relatively healthy for 17 years. I broke my tibia, but other than that, didn't have a ton of injuries. I hurt my hip like 15 plays in to that game. And like for me at that point, I could still be playing right now. I could have played forever as a backup and just kind of been and get thrown into a game.
Starting point is 01:04:02 But hurt my hip, wasn't a great injury to have. And then it's like my kids are old enough now to where it's fun to be home and be more a part of that as well. And the Thursday night gig, like having the weekends with the kids and not having to miss all the stuff that I missed over all those years.
Starting point is 01:04:20 Because my span we were talking about earlier is six to 18. So it's like the weird part about my kids is my 18 year old went to 10 different schools and my 6 year old Maybe will be in the same school district his whole life, you know, which is a crazy thing. But yeah But it was time. It was time like I feel like my kids Deserved it for me to step away. It feels like you were very much celebrated in every stop you had. What was your favorite stop of the bunch?
Starting point is 01:04:51 I feel like New York fans, Tampa, it definitely feels like Buffalo's still to this day. I get to hear it every week. It's still Buffalo, but. Yeah, I would say there weren't a whole lot of stops, especially towards the tail end of my career that I didn't love, because we fully just dove in. We embraced the community. Like everybody embraced us. I would say certainly Bill's mafia and Buffalo is
Starting point is 01:05:14 probably where I align most, uh, or I feel the most love. But I had, I love playing for Miami. I love playing for Tampa. I love one of the two years in New York. But yeah, some great fan bases and great people that we met. Loved Houston. Like I'm going to forget some, you know. Like we had some great time. What about Tennessee? You know, what's funny is Tennessee on paper, Nashville should have been the coolest spot. And it just, it didn't really do.
Starting point is 01:05:42 It was the number. It was the jersey. I wore number four there. It wasn't real swaggy. You were pretty square. You were a pretty square body. That was the number it was the number yeah, I wore a jersey I wore number four there wasn't real swag you're pretty square. You're pretty square body. That was the old number two Yeah, what you number? You would never prove to the fashion Long as you got that beard rocking man, you're got the chest hair coming out. You're good All right, we go. Well, let's go do we gotta ask This is how we wrap it. I don't have to answer we have to ask. Okay, that's why it's called We gotta ask you could tell us the fuck off is what he's saying. Oh cool
Starting point is 01:06:09 Yeah, I mean you can always done that or you can just answer the question wit Is it true that you used to eat five Taco Bell soft tacos and five bean burritos before going on dates in college? That's accurate statement. I didn't embarrass myself in front of my date of how much I like to eat, because I was a big boy. Yeah, big man. So I would run by Taco Bell. I would go through the drive-through, crush in the parking lot.
Starting point is 01:06:33 Like go in, get some smell good on, you know. Like go pick her up. Don't smell like beans? And then go go, yeah. Don't want to smell like beans. So then I'd pick her up and like eat a salad, like at dinner, you know, like a salad. Wow, this guy really tastes caramel.
Starting point is 01:06:43 Yeah, wow, he's really on top of it. That was the goal. I don't know. It's amazing. This is great. Jason What'd you used to do? Huh? I didn't go on dates Did I steal your bit taking my shirt off in Buffalo Is it your bit or is this just a Buffalo bit? Is it your bit or is this just a Buffalo bit? No, I feel like it's been a bit from the beginning of time when it gets cold that men take their shirts off. You remember in Cleveland, it happened all the time. There'd be guys in the dog pound, painted up and down.
Starting point is 01:07:15 You know, that, I still feel bad. That game, we were supposed to get together that game for the tailgate. And I got stuck in traffic. We flew in that day and I got stuck in traffic yeah and I was gonna show you around and didn't get a chance to but I know you had a good time I still want to go back I'd love to go back with you yeah I'd love to go back just in general because Bill's Mafia was spectacular big tree in yeah that place was awesome yeah you hit it up yeah no it was good well buddy but even where they're putting the stadium stuff has kind of been condensed right now
Starting point is 01:07:48 Because of the stadium and what they're doing there. So Next year not just be a better it once once that seat that stadium is done It's gonna be insane. Nice Cabinet pizza guys my favorite that pizza was yeah You went into the hammer lot, which? I think filing cabinet pizza guy is my favorite. That pizza was. I didn't have the pizza. You went into the hammer lot, which is the bowling ball. We were late to get to that though. We got there pretty much when we were going to the game.
Starting point is 01:08:12 So we got to see pins around, got to get the bowling ball shot. I would love to go there though earlier and get the whole experience. Yeah, filing cabinet pizza is pretty special. It's a special place. It really just engulfs you. It's a special place. It really just engulfs you. It's a special place and you feel the vibe right away and it's called the City of Good Neighbors for a reason. It felt very, even flying, and I'm talking to Travis
Starting point is 01:08:36 about this, seeing the lake, it reminded me of being from Cleveland. Even though you're not in Cleveland, there's something where this weird, ominous vibe is in the air. From the lake, the snow. We had two years in a row. First year was Cleveland clinching playoff spot. It was so cool. The fan appreciation, everything. But then last year it was Cleveland horrible, but the snow game with Jameis.
Starting point is 01:09:02 So special. That was insane. The fans in Cleveland are unbelievable. horrible, but the snow game with Jameis, where he's doing the snow angels. That was insane. Snow angels. The fans in Cleveland are unbelievable. There's definitely a tie there between those two cities and how diehard they are. Some in the lake. Big Whit, you played for Nick Saban at LSU. Can you give us, you got any good Nick Saban stories
Starting point is 01:09:20 you can share? I've got some really good Nick Saban stories, plenty of them, a lot of them involve him screaming, but I would say probably my favorite, my freshman year, Benny Brazil, one of my best friends in life and I were going. So Nick would do when the season ended, you would go in and have these one-on-ones with him and everybody had to plan your one-on-one meeting with Coach Saban. And Nick was a sports psychology guy, so he had the big, huge chair, the little tiny chairs outside his massive desk, and the electronic door that opens with the button,
Starting point is 01:09:50 the whole deal. So you'd go in there and you'd just feel, and he'd temple you the whole time he's talking to you, the whole deal. He's all into that type stuff. So Benny and I are waiting in the secretary's office, just waiting for him to put in, and we hear him like Nick episode going crazy, losing his mind, screaming. Like, man, what freshmen's in there right now? Cause we're trying to think of who did something recently, like got in trouble. Man, I can't wait to see who comes out of this office.
Starting point is 01:10:15 Door opens up, he's hit the button. It's Skip Burtman, who is the longtime baseball coach. He had won like eight national championships or something at LSU. He was the interim or maybe just for a little while there, the athletic director. Oh, wow. And he had like booked a game or scheduled a game or something had happened that Nick wasn't cool with.
Starting point is 01:10:33 And this guy, I mean this old man, we're like, Benny and I look at each other like, who's going next? This dude's like water up. He's keeping it to him. You can tell he's been, oh dude, we're like, oh no, like Nick's in one of these modes today. Anybody can get it. And that's how he was. But the coolest part about Nick is everything
Starting point is 01:10:49 was for a reason. Like he was doing it. Even press conference people saw him in Alabama, whatever, like, that was a lot of the time he knew he was gonna erupt on that reporter. He knew what he had planned to say or the speech he had planned to give. It's all thought out.
Starting point is 01:11:03 And there's a reason behind it. And that's who he always was. And so once you kind of got to understand what he was really trying to get you to hear or what the example he was really trying to give you, you realize that he's not that mean, he's not that hard on people. He's actually just always trying to teach a lesson
Starting point is 01:11:16 every single day. And his sense of urgency is just rare. Like when you're around him, you're like, dude, we're gonna win. Because this dude's urgency to being great and chasing greatness is like like nobody else's. You've ever been around. So you started to like be less scared of him and more like, all right, what's he really trying to say?
Starting point is 01:11:32 I'm just ignore all the like fire and like, you know, he seems like he's trying to bite at you, but he's really not. He's really just trying to get you to listen to something he has to say. Yeah, that's awesome. You guys have any welcome to the NFL moments? What is your welcome to the NFL moment? My first two years, probably. Mine was very-
Starting point is 01:11:48 Mine was very- Mine was John Henderson. Yeah. Mine was very wild coming out of Harvard. Yes. I was the- NFL a little bit different. Fourth stringer.
Starting point is 01:12:00 Didn't get any reps. Back then, you weren't allowed to do OTAs and things until your school graduated, right? So like, I didn't get to do any OTAs. I got to do a rookie mini camp and that was it. That's bullshit. Yeah, so I played a little bit in the pre-season. Yeah, son, you're gonna have to graduate from Harvard
Starting point is 01:12:19 before you can join the NFL. It was until your class graduated. Yeah, really. And I was still there. Yes, I was still there, graduated. Yeah, really. Oh, you did graduate. Yes, I was still there. Yes, yes. But you don't go there not to graduate. But anyway, I was the fourth stringer.
Starting point is 01:12:32 I was going up against the guy Jeff Smoker for the third string spot. Yeah, Michigan State, right? Michigan State. Smoke show. I ended up getting the third string spot, but look, I didn't get any reps ever. Well, we are like 10, 11 weeks into the season. Mark Bolger goes down. So I'm the backup for the game. I get thrown in down 21 to nothing or 24 to three.
Starting point is 01:12:55 Epic. The first huddle I'm in. Orlando Pace, Isaac Bruce, Torrey Holt, Marshall Falk. My voice is cracking. That's fucking gold. I would love to hear that out of all. I right slot zoom. Bang picks left. X quick screen right.
Starting point is 01:13:14 Oh my gosh. Well, we ended up coming back and winning the game. Let's go. It's Magic Style, baby. And then, I think, we like to say, I officially ended the greatest show on turf because I started the next few weeks. I like to say that mostly ended the greatest show on turf because I started the night Yeah, didn't go great the next few weeks
Starting point is 01:13:31 That was my first title it was like am I gonna be able to make it for a year or two and then I'm in the Huddle those guys are listening to me looking at me and I'm like Yeah, it was crazy You know, I had to go in obviously early in my career Oh six when I got there and got drafted they had just signed Levi Jones a left tackle back Who'd been a pro bowler and Willie Anderson had signed an extension You know are gonna be one of the best right tackles ever play the game And so I really thought when I got drafted like I'm not gonna play at all
Starting point is 01:13:58 Yeah, and sure enough how the NFL works our left tackle Levi, you know blows out his knee Week for the season. And I had only been playing like guard because they didn't obviously just pay their tackles. So they were like, hey, you're going to play left guard. This season is a backup. And we had Eric Steinbach who ended up going to Cleveland after that year.
Starting point is 01:14:15 So I'm like, I'm not going to play. Levi blows his knee out in the Tampa game. And so, or he got hurt before the Tampa game. So I go in, they're like, hey, you're going to have to play some left guard in this game possibly. So sure enough, Levi tries to play, can't do it. He's done.
Starting point is 01:14:28 So Steinbach goes in, left tackle, and I'm left guard. We have a TV timeout and a CRO line coach, like pointing down. And he's like, I'm like, what's, you know, so I'm just trying to ignore him. Cause I'm like, I think he's pointing at me to go left tackle. That's not right.
Starting point is 01:14:43 Not me. We're playing in Tampa. This is Billy Baldwin, Simeon Rice, like, you know, legendary Tampa game team. Oh yeah. And Paul's like pointing, you know, and sure enough, finally they go into Carson's headset and they go, Hey, you know, Hey, Paul says, you know, he knows you've seen him like move your flame.
Starting point is 01:15:02 So I'm like, I like move over one spot in the huddle, you know, like just begrudgingly, like when you tell your kids to sit down. I like move over one spot and play left tackle, the rest of the game. I didn't give up any sacks. I'm not going to say it was pretty pretty, but I survived, right?
Starting point is 01:15:19 It was Simeon Wrights on the road. And then the next week was my first ever start at left tackle. And it was Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers, who at that time and their last two or three years together were leading the league in sacks. So blanked them again. But it was one of those things where like, all of a sudden
Starting point is 01:15:34 you realize this is what the life is. You know, and I think my third or my second start was Terrell Suggs on Thursday night football or something like that in home in Cincinnati. So yeah, you start really realizing like, OK, wait a minute, every week I got one of these guys. Like, when do I get the easy guys? When's the LSU against the, you know, the vision team?
Starting point is 01:15:51 It's also this. I have a similar, well, not at all a similar story, but similar moment of my welcome to the NFL moment. Nobody really knew it happened, but me and the guy that I was blocking. Yeah. Right? Like, there were no sacks. That's how our life is, right?
Starting point is 01:16:04 Yeah. Nobody knows anything that happens in our career. So I'm going into, I'm a rookie, I'm playing Dallas, they're running a 3-4, so a lot of 5-0 calls and they got Jay Ratliff at nose guard. Yeah. Quick little jump. Quick jump. I had never played a nose guard, head up, didn't know how to pass that at. Howard Mudd's trying to teach me at midweek and I'm like trying to figure this out.
Starting point is 01:16:20 Because most of those guys are in a 3-4, they're just too gapping me and I'm gonna rush. And I am having a rough one. Like, I don't know how I haven't given up a sack, he's beaten me for like four pressures. Who's the quarterback? The quarterback would be Michael Vick, that's probably how it ends. There you go. There he is. Now we know.
Starting point is 01:16:39 So, I'm like, the game is three quarters over, I've been having an awful night, and I get called for holding. And I think it's a bullshit call, I'm yelling at the breath, that's bullshit, that's not holding. I look over at Jay, I'm like, you know that wasn't holding you, and he's like, son, I've been whooping your ass all night,
Starting point is 01:16:56 I figured I earned one of those. Yeah. I'm like, all right, I guess I'm done talking to Jay. You're done. Yes. As a young alum, and I feel like you get some very welcome to NFL home. For sure. There's no doubt.
Starting point is 01:17:10 Hip tosses, just completely bulled, run over. Everybody check out the Fitz and Witt pod coming back during the season and we'll see you guys on Christmas in Kansas City baby. Oh yeah. Bullshitting Tahoe. Oh nice. At's American Century. Yes. Yes. The American Century champion.
Starting point is 01:17:27 So sorry. Yes. American Century championship. That happens to take place in Tahoe. Yeah, that's right. I forgot how we had to get that. Kansas City brand. Appreciate you guys doing that.
Starting point is 01:17:36 Alrighty. And that wraps up another episode of New Heights. Thanks for tuning in. You can subscribe to New Heights to at New Heights show on YouTube or any place else you get your podcasts. Yeah, make sure you subscribe on YouTube to the New Heights channel and follow New Heights in the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcast. You can listen to new episodes of New Heights early and ad free right now by joining Wondery
Starting point is 01:18:00 Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcast. Once again, New Heights, a W a wonder show produced by wave sports and entertainment And new heights is brought to you by all state you're in good hands with all state isn't that right Jason follow the show on All social media add new heights show with 1s for fun clips throughout the week and thanks to our production and crew For always making us look better than we are 92 percenters. Thank you guys New York Fitz and Witz, thank you guys, god damn it. I got it, baby, you did it. New York. I'm looking at Jason's tits right now on PGA Tour. He's trying to get the thing.
Starting point is 01:18:39 Oh my god, no, no, no. What about the 8 a.m. thing with your beater? When you had the wife beater on, your tits were hanging. Do you shave your ribs? It just rubs Do I shave do you shave your ribs? No, that's friction from the shirt because you're covered with hair Your ribs are nothing Listen, I don't know what part of evolution made my hair grow like that But that's just how it happens.
Starting point is 01:19:05 You have hair on your inner thighs or no? Probably not, because of the rub. Mine don't look like that. Follow New Heights on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to New Heights early and ad free. Plus, enjoy exclusive episodes of the show by joining Wondry Plus in the Wondry app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify today. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey at Wondry.com slash survey.
Starting point is 01:19:33 It's not the dark you have to be afraid of. It's what's hiding within it. The Shaw Festival presents Wait Until Dark. In a New York apartment, a blind woman becomes the target of ruthless criminals. As night falls, she must use all her wits to survive. Don't miss this heart-stopping thriller, Wait Until Dark at the Shaw. For tickets, go to shawfest.com.

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