PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Vinny Curry's perspective on FA & the Philadelphia Eagles release Darius Slay

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

As Milton Williams, Zach Baun, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton prepare for free agency, Super Bowl champion Vinny Curry has some perspective to share about the possibility of flying the Philadelphia Eagles' nest. What went through his mind as a free agent, and why did he regret leaving? Plus, the Eagles are releasing Darius Slay, perhaps the best Eagles cornerback of the past 25 years. Vinny, Zach Berman and Bo Wulf pay tribute to Slay's time served, discuss his enduring legacy and figure out what's next for the Eagles at the position. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello everybody and welcome to the P.H.O.I. Eagles show on a beautiful Monday afternoon. Bowulf, Zach Berman, joined in studio by the legend himself. Super Bowl champion, Vinnie Curry with us. Vinnie, how you doing? I'm doing good. I'm doing good. I miss you guys. Good to see you. We don't get a lot of, you know, usually you're talking to Zach on the TV. It's the screen on the back and forth. Right. Nice to get the two of you in the same room together. Special moment, man. I'm bigger in person, right? Yeah, man. Big swole. That makes it

175 consecutive interactions in which Zach has made that joke. Zach, how are you doing? How was your weekend? Doing great. I'm excited for the show, excited for what's ahead. One week from today, we'll be in the middle of our free agency special.

Yes. Right? So this happens quickly this time of year. Excited for that. But a busy weekend, doing a lot of work and good stuff. I love March covering the NFL. Go to all p.hly.com. hard.

Zach Berman did a real method acting experience and went and became Howie Roseman, put out the 25-step guide to the Eagles off season. So check that out. We will discuss that. As the week goes on, a busy week, we've got quacketology coming up, all that good stuff. But we start with some Eagles news and some very important Eagles news on this Monday. The Eagles, I believe Adam Schaeftor had it first, will be releasing Darius Slay with a post-June-1 designation. Zach, tell us first what that means for.

like their cap and all that stuff because this was a move that you did predict in your 25-step guide. So the bottom line is the Eagles will save $4.3 million in cap space this year. They'll be able to spread the cap hit over two years. You're allowed two post-June 1st designations. So it doesn't affect anything from Slay's perspective. He'll still be able to speak to team, sign wherever he wants. But the Eagles will be able to spread that cap hit between this year and next year. So they'll add $4.3 million of,

Cap space. It'll push them up to about 26 plus. You'll continue to see more moves during the next week to add some cap space here and there. They won't be flush with space, but they'll have more. And so what this means, though, is the Eagles are moving on ostensibly from one of the best cornerbacks in modern Eagles history. There's always the chance he could come back. He could see what the market is and say he'll sign for less money here. He came back two years ago, actually when the Eagles were prepared to move on as well. But the Eagles death charts different now than it was then. And with Quinnian-Mitchell-Mitchell-Mitchell-Ring-O,

we'll see what happens with Isaiah Rogers. Eagles have more options at corner than they had two years ago. Vin, we were talking before the show just about your memories. He played one season with Slay in 2020. And you said it felt like longer. Yeah, definitely felt like longer. I was, you know, man, like Slay is one of the most competitive guys I ever played with. And when he brings to the game, like you said,

he got to be go down in Eagle history is the most modern times the best corners. I think there's a case to admit. I think you could make a case that he's the second or third best corner in Eagles history after Eric Allen and maybe Troy Vincent. And my thing is, should I just come back? You want to come back? Yeah, yeah. Okay. Even at that, because that's a position that does not age well, you don't really see a history.

It's 34 years old. Yeah, you don't see a history of 34-year-old corners. The Eagles have young options here. You would still want him to come back from like sentimental purposes or you think he can still play? I think you still play. I personally feel like we watch Cooper DeGine, all these guys really grow up in front of our eyes doing out the season. You know, that don't happen by itself. We've got to have some type of leadership at that position and mentorship at that position to learn from.

You know, I will say he don't have to play as much. Sure. You know what I mean? But you just, you, you, I'll be ready just to throw the guys into the fire after coming off a Super Bowl run. Because now, you now, as you look into the conference, people are loading up on receivers. Yeah. And that's what they're going to try to really attack us there because, you know, lockdown city, you know. But I would definitely see if I could bring them back for, you know, a good price.

I do think that because Quinion Mitchell made, Wayne, went such an impressive debut season and an early first impression, and because Cooper DeGine got all those highlights, that it was a little bit underrated, just how good Sly himself was this season, took to the Vic Fangio defense.

I think one thing that he proved during his time in Philadelphia is that he was much more physical than he was given credit for coming in. In terms of how the Eagles sit now at cornerback, I mean, they've got, as we said, Dijian and Quinnianne Mitchell. They've got Kiela Ringo on the come. They think that he could be a starting caliber corner. Isaiah Rogers is also a free agent, so they will have to decide.

Zach, do you think that this means that they're likely to bring Isaiah Rogers back and have him compete with Kili Ringo? Or do you think they'd maybe dip their toe into what is actually in a pretty bad free agent class, a pretty good group of like one-year dart throw guy is a corner. Yeah, so I do think they'll have a dart throw guy at corner. I just think that dart throw guy is going to be Isaiah Rogers. I don't think they're going to sign someone to start over Keely Ringo. I think they'll have someone compete with Keely Ringo. And so Isaiah Rogers makes a lot of sense from that perspective. Now, we'll discuss this week about what we think Isaiah Rogers' market's going to be. I think it's within the range of the dart throw player. So that's the path I would choose. And I wrote that

today. I would resign Isaiah Rogers, have him compete with Ringo, have your top four be the gene, Mitchell. than the Rogers Ringo combination, I think that's a good enough secondary. Let me ask you this. So do you put Coup out on the outside? You know, it's a great question. We talked about that.

I would personally, and then I would bounce him inside in nickel situations, but I would have him play every single snap of the game, have him play out. You know, as both pointed out last week, they don't play base that often. Yeah, I mean, last year,

he was talking about four or five snaps a game. Well, so that's basically where I'm just coming from the safe school of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Like, that's just go into the year or two because you throw him out there now. Yeah. You throw him out there. It's, you go, you throw him out there,

and you think he's ready, like fully ready, and then you don't want to be on the back end, like, damn, I wish we'd still have slay a little bit. Just so you can work with him a little bit. Now you can ease him in out there a little bit. And a position where confidence means so much, right? And so you know that he's a stud inside. Now, I think Goberdijun is wired to handle that well.

Correct. But, you know, if he's on the outside and it doesn't go as well as it did in the nickels, and does that affect him at all? Those are the things that Howie has to be thinking about, right? Confidence is key in Philadelphia. If it can go super well, it might not. But, you know, Zach could pop up on that screen. And then, you know what I mean?

Like that goes a long way. That's all I'm saying. Like, you're throwing straight into the fire or you can let him flirt with it a little bit to fully transitioning going on there. So I would say that that veteran presence being there, if you could give him for a very good price now. And now if his price is way out of pocket, then you got to do what you got to do, you know what I mean?

So we discussed this on Friday show and I saw some comments in there and on social media that they would never move Cooper to Gene outside. he's so good in the slot and I agree with that. That said, the reason, I agree, he's, he's so good in the slot. The reason I could see them move him on the outside. First off, they scouted him as an outside corner. They think he can't play on the outside. If you just look at the value of an outside corner in this league, a high level starter,

even like a good starter is a $12, $15 million position. It's harder to find a good outside corner than it is a good slot corner. So I could see the Eagles say, now, maybe that doesn't happen this year because Keeley-Ringo is outside. He's not an inside guy. Isaiah Rogers, they like him more on the outside than the inside. So unless the Eagles were to draft or sign a slot, I would say Cooper's still the best option there. But I think long term,

the plan is to have Cooper on one side and putting on the other. Oh, for sure. I'm definitely with that. It's just you know, like you said, you're really not in base that much. So if Coup not in the inside, and that's become a very position of knee, yeah. You know, because when you look at the

defense and you see how well they was, number one in categories. That's the good, you understand. Yes. Yeah. Now, we was number five or six, and I'm like, I'm all four. Yeah, I'm doing right now. Right. But when you were the best.

It's about number one, yeah. You went from let's hunt to now. You don't hunt it. Yep. You know, that's all I'm saying. It's just like. You practice that one? That was a good one.

No, I just, I just know how to be a, I just know how it was to be a young guy and just like, all right, okay, yeah, he ready. Yeah, fly flames. one little beat move on a bomb that you keep saying, you know, and that's the, you know, it's like a snowball effect, you know what I mean? I think that optionality is part of why bringing Rogers back would make sense because we saw him get to play inside at the end of the season, which was not what he did initially.

And so then you could have an opportunity to potentially keep him inside if the jean's on the outside. I want to ask you a little bit more about Slay, though, Vinny, because you said something that's interesting. He said he's one of the most competitive guys you've ever played with. And I think I was guilty of this early in his career. because he has such a like sort of silly personality, it seems like from the outside,

you can misunderstand him as being someone who doesn't take football seriously when in fact he is, as you said, you know, one of the guys who cares about football and loves football as much as anybody. You know, that's just, his confidence is out of this world. Like, I remember having a team in when he came to the team and, and Jim goes,

I stood on the table I'll do whatever for this dude that's how much confidence and believe in there and guess what we ain't rolling you know we ain't rolling nobody down

you're on the island by yourself and I'm like damn okay yeah oh and then you see him lock people up and he'd tell you big play sleigh

like and this day of time we can't just give yourself a nickname you know what I mean but he's been living up to it And like you just said, 34, and the quignans and the coup of the jeans, like, yeah, they had great seasons.

But Slay still was locking people up, but they could get overshadowed because we're so energetic by, you know, young energy. But, man, the dudes still could play, man. I mean, the pick he made against the Packers and the players was an insane player. Crazy. I've always thought, too, that you can tell a lot about a player from, like, our line of work. how quickly someone answers the phone to talk about them. And you did that piece a few years ago when he was with D. True about like that personality.

And you were able to get, I think, Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson. Like when people like that are ready to talk about their teammate, that says something. And even in the Eagles locker room, you know, when I've described him, he's like your favorite player's favorite teammate. Because when you talk to guys about him, their eyes light up, he does a lot behind the scenes with some of these, these younger guys with Quignan, with Cooper. AJ Brown called him on the best teammates he's had, like things like that. And let me tell you,

you asked him about any other player in the league, he's going to tell you about him. It's wild because you're like, how you think I've got time to even? I'm telling you, though? Like, that's how you turn to the main minute. My night's going to sleep on him. Like, he does, he always one step ahead

on different things on how people are going to play him. Like, when you start realizing, like, hey, this type of player I am or this slowing down, might just might not work. He just, keep going in that toolbox.

You know, and that's a great thing to have when you got young corners to learn from. I mean, you know what I mean? They can learn from this guy, man. And, you know, like I said, I get there and played one year. I feel like I play a couple of years, man, that's crazy. Well, now, I, you know, I also think, oh, I'm sorry, I was going to say tweet out the story. I want to ask Vinny. How good was the banana pudding?

Oh, banana pudding was good. Yeah. Yeah. At least before you go, leave me a little back. Yeah. leaving a no care. There you go. I come get that day.

Go ahead, Zach. Yeah, well, just two things. First off, as you're saying that, it did come to mind. Slay's been on record saying this will be his last year. He wants to play 13 years. His kids are down in Texas. His wife's down in Texas. So actually, Jen Slay hasn't had the banana,

the banana pudding in the locker room as much this year because, like, she has to be in town for the home game for it, right? But no, what I was, I was going to add, I was going to add to that. I think there's a misconception about Slay sometimes because of how it was in Detroit with Matt Patricia. He is, that was more based on, like, pride. He didn't like being called out by Patricia.

He's someone who really takes the craft seriously. He's obsessed with football, like you said. He takes great care of himself. He's never had an ounce of alcohol in his life from what I understand. He is someone who, like, he's maniacal about being in shape. And so you talk about the age. That's how he's been able to last that long, too. he can still run at this age.

And you, when you spoke to him for that story, Zach, I mean, his understanding was that this probably was his end of his road in Philadelphia. This is not a surprise. No, not a surprise. He was kind of talking like that championship game was the last round. He said he would love to come back in his career here. He'd be happy to play in Detroit. But I think he acknowledged that, like, first off, he saw Quignon Mitchell.

He saw Cooper Degene. He told Quignon, you're here to take my job, right? And so he's, I don't think this is a surprise. I said Darius Slay today. Okay, let me ask you this. What is all set and done? Do you see Darius Slay as a lion or eagle? Good question.

I don't think he's going to be with Eagles. Now, he's set on a recent podcast. If he leaves Eagles, he would like to sort of end his career in Detroit. That's attractive to him. I don't know the Lions' depth chart well enough to tell you. I mean, I know they've been looking for corners in the past. No, I'm talking about what he thinks though.

Oh, oh, oh, gosh. Oh, an eagle. An eagle. He wants a super ball. That's what I'm saying. Now that is the final, you know, that's the final thing for me is you only want one more run at this thing. Yeah. You got a chance to go back to back.

I don't know how interested the Eagles are. I think it might be from the Eagles perspective. That's a different story. Yeah. Like, you know, and I think Slays, this is his last chance of getting paid, right? Like, you know, life's different when you're playing football than when you're not playing football. Right. And so I don't know how much the Eagles are looking to.

spend at corner this offseason. What will be your enduring Darius Lay memory, Zach, if this is the end of the road? Yeah. Good question, Bo. Similar to what Vinny was just saying, that what jumps out to me is like how much this guy loved football. There's a lot of players in the locker room

who are really good at football, but they don't love like, they're not watching the NFL when they're not playing. Darius Lay, if you talked to him on a Friday, he'll know exactly what happened in the game the night before. If you talk to him in April, he'll give you a breakdown of every corner coming out in the draft. He used to go to high school games on like the Friday, you know, their Friday night off. So for me, it's like every time the Eagles played every game, I would go up to Slay and he'd give me a breakdown of the wide receiver he was facing.

And you don't usually get anything like he would know stats, you know how long they were in the league. He would tell me specific matchups they had in the past. So to me, the enduring memory is those conversations. And then also he had a bad first year or that first year wasn't very good. And he rebounded to be, you look, five seasons here, three Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl ring. That's a damn good resume. Four touchdowns. Very good with the ball in his hands.

Great point. Yeah, I think, I mean, he was, it is, it remains kind of not a great bet that the Eagles made on a cornerback of that age. And it turned out better than I think even they could have hoped for. You're right. And as you talk about three Pro Bowl seasons all after the age of 30, playing at the high level that he did. And I think part of, you know, this is like you talk about with Trent Cole, right?

Darius Slay's legacy with this team will continue through Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper Deghine as they continue their careers, right? Like what they learn from him will carry on. Playing against Slay, you are. know it's going to be man-in-man. That's, you know how hard that is? Not to act for no help. Crazy.

It's probably the hardest thing in football, right? You know, it is like, man, if you see him on game, he'd be locked in, and it's like, you should just leave him alone. You know, like all the joking stuff go out of the window. Like, you know he getting man-a-man. You know he's going man-a-man. I think other people, just the seasons he's been here, just think about all the corners that's even been in the NFCE.

Yeah. I'm just talking about that. Just like, you know this guy is going man to man, and you know he's up to this challenge. That was, to be a part of that and see that like, damn, he already knows he need no help. Whatever happened to happen is like, damn. I will say, Zach, based on the videos from the parade,

I don't know if Quignan Mitchell and Cooper Gene can say the same thing about never having had a drop of a bomb. Yeah, no, definitely not. Definitely not. That's fair to say. All right, let's take a quick break. Good conversation about Big Play Slay. And on the other side, we want to hear from Vinny about what it is like to be a free agent

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That's when the tampering period starts, and you'll hear who is signing where. We both have a lot of questions for you about what free agency is like as a player. Let's start with the first time you were headed to Free Agency in 2016. you didn't make it to free agency. You signed an extension with the Eagles like a week before, right? And that is, as Zach has said, what the Eagles are probably hoping to do with Zach Bond and lock him up before reaching the market.

Why at that point did you feel like it was worth committing and not waiting to see what the rest of the league was going to offer you? I mean, just at that point, man, I'm playing with my best friends, you know, guys that still talk to every day to today. You know what I mean? So when you go through that and you know that there was a crazy light and a crazy goal within the group to get to a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl, I was like, man, I don't know to be the part of this, you know, so it was, and I didn't want to go to where else. Let's be honest. At that time and point, you don't want to go to where else.

You don't want to start over being that young. She's like, man, they might as put. What's the perspective of players? I know not everyone's the same, but is it like you have a number. in mind and if you hit that number that's all you need or is it like I want to get every last time so to get every last time is probably going on the open

market but if you have a number and like the Eagles hit that number is that satisfactory? Absolutely but I think social media wasn't as it's getting crazy like the way the media is now and the way deals are getting the instruction now I think

everybody's they're going to go get that dollar they can get the quickest they could get you know, but in Zach Barron case, opportunities, everything. You know, scheme is everything. I learned that, you know, the second going around, that scheme is everything. Not everybody is going to play you

in the scheme that you excel well. So they just think, okay, we got this player. It's like driving a race car. I might not be a good of a driver as Bow is in his race car. So I'm like, This car don't even work, you know what I mean? Like, man, this car ain't even that fast.

I can't bend the corners like this. I'm on two wheels, and then bold out of there, he hit the corner quick. But it's all about scheming who's driving that race car. So if I had a stronger advice to Eagles Free Agents and you've got a chance to be signed with the team, understand. Understand where they're going to play you at, how they're going to play you, and what's just the scheme. this, if the scheme don't match up that would make you great, money or no money, is legacy worth it to you?

Or is the money worth it to you? Well, that's the thing. Like, you know, so many of these decisions get made and probably they're not actually made this quickly. But, you know, you'll get reports of a deal being done three minutes into free agency, right? But there have to be so many variables, right? It's not just who offers you the most money

because, you know, it can't be, right? You might have family considerations. You have scheme considerations. You have other things. There are just so many variables. And there are so many variables to how these things work out. Right. Like, I think there are a lot of people who might have,

Zach Bonn is the perfect example, like, who might not have had the best careers they could have had because they didn't end up in the right place that was able to put them in the right position. Correct. And, you know, you go look at us. Like, here you got Vinnie Curry here.

Andy Reid gets fired. We're bringing, we go to. to a three four two gap defense where I'm gonna play right I'm just saying here like yeah what about what about poor old Benny you know what I mean like think about that like the crazy all the players yeah the crazy the crazy of the players that was getting more opportunity to me at that time was just like oh like am I being punked you know I mean just but if you stayed of course to understand that things that's no disrespect to Brandon Breyer that's not this he saved the man's

Yeah. No, it just weren't. That's not a disrespect. You know what I mean? But you know, it's just like, it was very, like, some things is just like, you, you don't really understand. But it's, like I said. But it's also crazy about that is, like, that could happen to someone who signs a deal.

That's what I'm saying to. And then all of a sudden they get stuck. What is that? And it's like, ah, you don't really fit this race car. And then, like, now you got this. Who's this like, somebody else that you never heard of is in front of you. And now you're pissed off. Now you're mad.

You know? You can't control the narrative of what they're saying because media outlets don't know. You know, no, like that was the... At that time, for me, I'm saying, for me personally, that was the hardest thing, just keeping your composure like that. And you got... Then you become a guy.

These guys are never to be heard or seen them for again. Like, man, what just happened? Yeah. So what is the process like? Because Bo alluded to it, I know it's not like you make the decision in three minutes. But a lot of times teams need your answer quickly. So does it work that you and your agent leading up to free agency?

Your agent will say team A, team B, team C is interested. This is what their debt chart is. This is who the coaches are. This is what the money is. And then because what I do know from talking to players and talking to teams is once that clock starts, teams aren't being patient. Like if they don't get an answer, they might be going, unless you're like the top guy, they might be going on to their plan B, their plan C,

just because players start signing quickly. So what is that process like this week for a free agent? I think you really, like you really become, the anxiety kicks up. Because you've been on this team, so you already know what they're trying to get to or where that. So they say, all right, you're going back and forth, going back and forth.

and depending on the player you are or the season that you, as well, the season that you've been having, so now you look at it like that team had, let's say, two months to understand how important I am to the team. Now, the other teams is the ones that we're trying to rush, but they're trying to rush because if you're coming from a good team, like you're coming off a Super Bowl winning team, this other team really don't wait.

So you want to, if the other team doesn't, a match with the Super Bowl team's given or if it's like crazy money over then you're gonna go obviously, you're gonna, you know what I'm saying? You gotta do his best for you. But at the same time, you can get there and that scheme don't be right. You'll be sick, you know,

if you truly care about the game. Sure. You know what I'm saying? And how you play the game. I mean, so. Were you the kind of person who, like, did you want to know all the details of the back and forth in negotiations?

Man, when I got to Tampa, I was pissed, bro. Oh, really? Yeah. Okay, let's hear why. I, I just remember getting there and I was like, I said this second go around, y'all. So it was getting there. Yeah, so it was like, when I got there,

I remember calling down, trying to call, trying to call, you know. Oh, when you got to Tampa, you mean. Yeah, bro, so I was like before. But Eagles released you at that point, right? Yeah, I already talked to them. Yeah, okay, yeah. Like, yeah, but the Eagles, they just do that.

They're like, are you about being, be serious right now? Like, I was saying. Yeah. You know, because what? They were trying to, they were trying to bring your contract down. No, no, no, no. No, no, they weren't trying to bring it down. I was just trying to spread it out.

But you, somebody don't explain that to you well enough, depending on, you know, agents don't spread to what enough. Understand that some ages now, some ages out there now also. The incentives are different. They got a lot of other clients across, so you understand how this thing could kind of work. So I think at that point in time, I was just like, man, you know, you hot as fish grease coming off the run. And when I got off to like the plane to get ready walking outside, damn, it was just, it wasn't very, very subtle, like, just didn't sit right. So.

And there was, that's no disrespect to Tampa at all. But just just, I'm talking about me as a person. Sure. So when I did it, it was like right before I could pick up the phone, right? all of a sudden calls me, like, yo, you're here, I'm like, yeah, he's like,

yo, the eagle's just picked up does or such. Michael Bennett probably, right? Yeah, so I was like, so I'm like, I don't even about to call nobody. I'm just like, fuck it. I mean, it's a point of time,

I'm just like, whatever. Right. Just get it on over it. You know, because I had, I had the choice all the way up to that time. Yeah. Let me tell you,

if the scheme ain't right, that's why when I came back the following year one of the best seasons I had like I was going crazy because this was like that's how much it meant to me like man hell no now now bow mentioned at the top

of the show you're deciding where you're going to live I'm curious how much does football matter when these decisions are made is it entirely money driven it does the location matter like if you know if you're deciding and you don't

want to move your family to across country or let's say you're young and you don't want to live in Green Bay Wisconsin right like like like how much does this stuff other than football and other than money have practice facilities ever entered your mind how much factors into yeah I'm I'm curious what goes through the players mind in I mean well at 10 but then you know the taxes is different yeah yeah yeah yeah you start looking at that like ah I can say this I guess right what you know you start thinking about like well yeah I do got kid now the time I know it's like yeah

Yeah. One, I'm like, ah, you know what I mean? So, but, you know, so a lot of, like, I'm going to have a lot of flag football tournament to pay for. You know, like, so at that point, it's just depending on who you are, what you went to, that kind of matter. But for me at the time, for me at the time, if I could do, like, do that thing over, I want to just stay the film. No. Because I had, like I said, I had the opportunity all the way up to that day. Mm-hmm. Sure. To do, you know what I mean? And that's one thing that I would never, ever. You know, I can't never, like, I would always be grateful for the Eagles. Like, people are like, man, you love them.

Like, you don't understand the relationship. And I'm pretty sure if you just do the right thing, like, do about your career, you know what I'm saying, for Oregon. And they, they, they embrace you that way, you know. So I'm pretty sure they're going to let people, if they're going to test for agency, they're going to let you get to your number. If he, how we can, you know, do something with it, he's going to make something shake. If not, then you're going to tell you, you know, best of luck.

All right, my man. Yeah. You know. It's also. you have that perspective now, but you can understand why you wanted to know what it was like on the other side, because you didn't know any better, right?

Like, I'm sure there will be a lot of people who it might be buyer's remorse, but let's say you play all eight years at the same place, you might be wondering, what if what if I did go somewhere else? Like, would I have been a, because you didn't get to be a starter every game, right? With the Eagles, you wanted to be a starter. Like, maybe guys want to find out what that's like.

I remember getting a phone call from T. And he was like, Don't do it Stay put Stay put Stay put, Stay put, V. I was like, man

I'm just curious, man I'm just curious But if the scheme ain't right Yeah Being curious Now you go from being curious To very furious Yeah

You know Curious to furious I like you I got I pick that one up Yeah Like I'm telling you,

bro That whole thing was crazy And I remember At the end of that season Right Super Bowl we're having X-A-Mee's with everybody because that was

someone of us like that was but whatever that's another story Tampa you mean yeah okay yeah so and he's like oh sure I was like man I would be sitting in my house at the time and I'm like man god damn

what would go back to Philly I swear that thing happened like hmm hey yeah yeah like hey Vinny would you be interested I mean, but you know what, though? Like, I do think it's, it's human nature. I was so happy to see my teammates. Yeah.

And everybody. That's very sweet. That's great. But if a company values you at X, right? Right. Right. And another company values you at like, X plus Y, right? You're like, wow, that place thinks higher of me, right?

So isn't that what happens in free agency a lot? Is that if the Eagles say, we really like you, but we like you at five, million dollars and another team says we're willing to pay you two years 15 million dollars that's hard for a player to say like you know as loyal as i am as much as the football fits here as much as i care about legacy like you know at that point i didn't go through that okay so that point i didn't go through remember our minds was more so let's move it over to this and that when you don't really understand that part yeah that's what happened that's like a ride with me yeah but that's part of it and it's as you said it's not just the money yeah it's the respect exactly right so this is like

This is the awkward part of the negotiating process with your own team. We talk about it with like arbitration with baseball all the time, right? Like you're with the team and everybody's telling you like you are the man. We love you so much. And you get to contract negotiations. I'm like, ah, Vinnie's trash. I'm not giving him that much money. Like he's pretty mid.

Like I'm not giving him that. But then you come back and they're like, oh, Vinnie, we love you. We're so happy to have you back. How do you compartmentalize and not worry about like when they're talking you down to try to get your number down and stuff like that? Um, that's a great question. That's a, no, I got a perfect answer for that. There's so many media outlets out there now. So nothing that you're saying is comparing to the numbers.

Everything is digitized. Everything is, uh, chip color word right here, computer science, sports science, everything. Everything you do is computer science. How many times do you get a double team per play? How many times it is this? How fast does this get off? How does that damn? I'm kind of top three to top three in the league.

So what happens if I had this one? plays or what happens if you had this opportunity. You know, not too many people, like, we laugh and joke about the three-four thing, but think about it, I was too gaping some big moh, some jokers. You know, outside lineback, I need a break. Guess we got to go to outside of lineback? I'm like, damn, you know? You go, and this is all visual fact.

I had to go to nose guard. I had to go play a four-eye. I had to go play outside of law. You got to learn everything because I'm like, you know what I mean? This guy's game. What? You know what here? It's like, man, I need that.

Then everything's a good thing. So, so much media outlets is helping these players like, think about every time you turn around. That's interesting. The next gen got this crazy stat up. Like, that's real. Don't think it. There's somebody like, ah, man, I like this guy, but I like this guy, but I don't know who I should pick who's faster, who reaction time is fast.

Next thing, you know, next to you know, next thing says, I'm going to go ho. You know what I mean? This is, you know, it's just what it is. But you know what? And again, I'll defer to you on all-player stuff, right? Because you lived it. I only hear it secondhand. But one of the fascinating things to me, and it strikes me as kind of awkward.

I've always dealt this, is professional sports. It's one of the few industries where everyone knows what each other makes. And that's, that's weird to a certain extent. So look at the Eagles this year, right? The Eagles asked Josh Sweat to take a pay cut last year. Then they go and they pay Bryce Huff 17.5 million dollars a year, right? And so you're Josh Sweat. and you're playing outstanding,

or you're playing well this year, right? You have eight sacks. You have two and a half sacks in the Super Bowl. And you're looking at it and you're saying, you asked me to take a pay cut last year. When you went and you signed this guy for $7.5 million a year, right? It shows you what you thought of me.

And I say it's awkward, but I can't tell you how many times there's been conversations in the locker room where players refer to other guys by how much they're making. What's that age different? Do we know? The age difference between sweat.

Sweat is 20. 27, 28. Yeah, so maybe two, three, two years, two years, two years. I feel like all that could be made right. I feel like all that could be made right. You know, yo, he go to your 17 with a little bit of cherry on top. Yeah. Apologize.

And then, you know, you got to, you know what I mean? You got to find a right situation for B. So I feel like all that could be made, right. But then you have the story of. of I'm going to hit for agency. I'm not to hit for agency if you're Josh, right? But then everybody's saying bring in another end. So it's like, you get what I'm saying?

So it's like, ah, ha, ha, ha. So how much they really think about, yes. But if you know Philly, we love edge rushers. We love defensive linemen. So you're always going to get that kind of, you're always going to get that. You're always going to get that. You're always going to get that.

It just was his turn to hit the market. You know, the market was hot. You know, now the market's hot for Josh. You know what I'm saying? It's just the way defensive linemen market, this is the way that the cookie combos are on that. In your experience, did everyone know what each other made in that locker room?

Of course, right? No, I didn't really pay attention to that. I really didn't pay attention to that. But I will say the person that used to keep me up on stuff like that. Who was it, BG? It's BG. Okay, BG new.

What? Yes. Man, that man, you know, between him and flesh, but they know who made what, what they did, how they did it. Down to the last time? Oh, it's crazy. You know, here I am. I mean, that's good.

It's good smack talk. You're worried about my job. I'm not a job, but I'm just worried about what I got this week to do and all this. That them jokeers knew. Hey, thing. And then it kind of get you started looking into it a little bit. Sure. I don't care about that, but then they'd be on it.

They'd be on it. They were doing what they was on it because. At that time, you know what I mean? It just made the most sense, man. And I'm pretty sure Josh is on it, you know, as well now. Because it's his time right now, you know? And as a guy that was there in his younger days, he seemed like, it's his time right now. And he deserved everything that's coming his way.

Nick correct us in the chat. 13-month difference between Josh Swett and Bryce Somp. So just a little over a year older. Okay, more questions for Vinny coming up on the other side, but quick, a word from our sponsor. If you have a leaky pipe at Ace Hardware Home Services, they are around the block with everything you need to fix it, including the person to do the fixing. If you've got an air conditioning issue, they've got a person for that. If you've got a faucet, you said you would fix last fall. They've got that person, too, because now they're not just the helpful hardware folks.

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Glad hair by Morganstern Medical is the country's premier hair restoration destination. Ready to defend your hairline, visit gladhairm.m.com or you can call or text 610,000, and one of the team members will get you all set up. Vinny, I'm curious from like a specifically Eagles perspective when you were negotiating with the Eagles. Like how much, who are you hearing from? Are you specifically you're hearing from Dom? Like, are you hearing from Howie specifically? Um, I will say a little bit, yeah, everybody. I'm telling you, man, like, it was just such a smooth process.

Is it you or the agent? Yeah, they're talking to the agent. They told you the agent. But they must be talking to you, too, right? I have a personal relationship with, you know, you. You got Jake there at the time. You come get you at 22, 23 years old, man. Yeah.

Next thing you know, they just watch you just blossom. Like, you just knock about the cold turkey on them. Right. You know, I never understand why the guys did that, you know what I mean? Oh, they'd be like, oh, I don't want to make things awkward. You know, be made awkward either you want me back or you don't. You know what? Well, something I've heard is that the agents don't want the team communicating with the player

because they'll appeal to the players, you know, for the reason you said. It's like, I've known you since you were 22. The agent's like, hey, hey, don't do that. I mean, everybody got a job to do, though. You know what I mean? but when it's understood and, you know, there's no feelings involved and understand how we got a job to do,

your agent got a job to do, you know. But did you have that perspective when you were younger? As far as everybody got jobs to do. Yeah. Nah, because I used to be, I told me, we just got first about a couple players that in front of me, I was freaking pissed off,

man, you know, come on, man. I think that's, that comes from growing up. But at that time, he had his design. problems with chip at the time. So it was like, I still was, you know, you know what I mean? Understanding like, you know, but I'm like, damn, man, like, you know.

And then what's it like for players under contract or in free agency? Because, you know, I spoke to guys this year when the Eagles signed Sequin and they're all like, what? Like, they're looking at their phones. They're getting texts. Are players following free agency? Are they, you know, are they checking what Adam Schaefter's saying? Like, what's going on for players on the team?

team next week. I think, I think free agency, players is cooler. When that draft come around, that draft come around. Remember when he tried

to trade, Jason Peters, me, Bradengrant? I remember that? For Marcus Marriota. Oh, that's not yet.

I thought it was Fletching Kendrick. I remember getting, you know, I remember getting on a plane and it's me, Brandon Graham. We happen to be all together.

I'm going to watch Floyd Mayweather fight. Okay. And it's like, damn, can y'all imagine if we all got traded once we get off this place? Like, yo. And I was like, dang, I just remember going to sleep. Like, I was, like, trying to, like, keep your compulsion. Like, damn, man, I'm not like, this is a sad moment. This is the last time.

Like, I'm like, man, better not do that. But, you know, you know, with Big Dom in the building, you know, that wasn't going down like that. So he had that pull. Yeah. We didn't get traded. I'm not saying who at the pool, we're there, but we're in. So how do you feel about this Eagles free agency coming up here? You talked about sweat.

How do you feel about Milton Williams potentially going and getting like $20 plus million a year? I want to say, man, like, listen, one thing about being on a great team and being great, what's, coach was saying you can't be great with others, man. But at the same time, you throw all the Ups to others, you know, to secure the back for their fans. family. But I like the class they got at the, I like the, the, the, the titles we got out of the roster, you know, that one is just like a, you know, that I like, I like it.

Yeah. You can't keep everybody, unfortunately. You know, and I kind of, I kind of like that, I like that class. So I don't think that will be, that's one of those like, man, congratulations, you know. You earned it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But as you said before, it, it is rare. that the Eagles let a player leave in free agency

and end up regretting it. And we talked about this last week. I think Jordan Hicks is probably the last one to go and even that is not like, you know, Howie's not rolling over in bed every night wondering about that one. Milton Williams is a player who, given the Eagles organizational priorities,

like a young, homegrown defensive linemen, it is rare for them to let a player like him go, but I do think it is most likely that they're going to let him go. Right. But I think Howie likes that room as well. Yeah. You know, you're a beast, but there's some dogs in that room. You know what I'm saying?

There's waiting for the opportunity now to shine and grow with this fan base, you know. Because this would be like the amount of Eagle fans that you run into now compared to like five or six years ago is crazy. Yeah, that's fair. Go ahead, Zach. Oh, we have a special guest who's called in. Who do we have? Oh, man. The Duffman.

How are you doing? How's it going? Good, man. I was telling everybody, I said, I miss you all. Well, that's what I was, I got back in Philly early. Like, my flight and landed like an hour early. And so I was able to listen to the whole show. And I was like, I miss you guys.

I want to call in. We miss you. Look at. You spent, you spent like an entire week away from your family in Indianapolis. And we're the ones you miss. They're at school right now. I'm going to pick Francis up from school a little bit. They asked me, Fran, they said,

what is the guys thinking about in free agency? Wow, free agency is going on. I said that's already on the current roster. I say it's not really that they're thinking about, but he's thinking about the crazy moves that we, the supplier blockbuster deals and trades and will and dealing dealing that goes on during the drive process. You know, that's really the meeting,

tables come through with the, if you're already on the roster. Yeah, I've listened to most of the show. So I've heard a lot of what you guys have talked about when it comes to like the, the process and video, like, the insight you were able to give just on like the, the player's perspective is so interesting. Like, especially, you know, going through it, like as free agency is happening. Did that, did you start to feel that anxiety? As you knew, like, all right, the everybody's going out to the combine,

Indianapolis and negotiations are happening. Were you feeling that? or did you try and detach yourself from that? I tried to, uh, I actually, you know, um, my, mom, she's my wife now, but I, we actually went out the country. Oh, where'd you go? Yeah. To, uh, D.R.

Yeah. Yeah. Right. So then, you know, anybody who knows me, no, I don't really like vacation, right? So, here I am trying to do. You sound like Zach. Yeah, you know, when I tell you, she's not landed, right, so the first day, it was all cool and smooth, right?

But now my anxiety kick in it. I'm like, man, we got to get out of here. Yeah, I'm telling you. On vacation checking your phone. I can't believe what Jeff McClain wrote. Yes, yeah, pretty much. You know, so. Well, Fran, first of all, we're very happy to see you.

Tomorrow's going to be a big Fran day. We have the debut of the P.H.O. white draft show being live. Tomorrow at New. We're going to have a live show with Fran, his combine review. and maybe some questions from the chat, not a mailbag, but just sort of a question and answer type. God forbid a mailbag, yeah. And then at 2 o'clock, you're going to join us as well

for the P.H.L.I. Eagles show. We're going to dip our toe into quackatology. But Vinny, I wanted to ask you, because Fran just got back from the combine. He was there watching all these guys. You were watching the edge guys. Who stood out to you? Who made your eyes pop?

Okay, so, you already know who I was really big on. But the two guys that kind of had me, Like, yo, well, three. I would say three. And I just know with school, and then you can help me out from there. I like the kid from Texas, A&M, Tennessee, and Georgia. Guys, so that was probably Shamar Stewart. James Pierce, Jr.

And then Georgia was probably, so there's Michael Williams. I don't think he didn't work out, though. So I'm trying to think of. Could it be Joan Walker? John Walker. There's England Walker. But Ingram Dawkins was the defensive line. I was definitely general Walker because so a little bit of why I say that to say this is when you saw them go through some of the drills, you could constantly see the get off.

And Fran, you was there. So did you see a lot of guys not putting what they call cleats in the ground? It was coming out of their shoe. Yeah. So they put a new turf in. they put a new turf in and this was the first event yeah this was the first event that they ran

on the new turf so that's a good eye I find this so what you do this all the time Vinnie I cannot believe how closely you're able to watch like the guys' cleats interacting with them you have to this is this is you talk about life changing process yeah how can you see that from the TV

because I was like this I was like looking at it you know you want to because you know like listen you wanted like Nana you in the podcast where you want to be able to you know, interact. And then I'm like, I mean, let me watch this. And it's just like the linebackers.

I thought the linebackers killed it. I thought they, for me, I'm just saying position group. I thought they was the ones that I was like, oh, damn, there's some athletic. It was guys, six, two, two, thirty-five, running like a dare, move on a drop of a dime, and change direction.

I was like, oh, yeah, this is, yeah. What they say? Vinny, your combine was my first. combine. And I remember your, your class was still one of the classes that would, I mean, those guys would be out in like regular baggy, like gym shorts and stuff. And I'm like, yeah, those guys would not wear that now because it's going to take like one tenth off of a second on all your time. But that, dude, that, that, that turf, that impacted the week. I mean, the times were a little bit slower across the board. You saw guys tripping and stumbling throughout. Even yesterday watching the outfits of Lyman, you know, Will Campbell was one of the first reps for the one drill. And he took a spill. Like, he went. He, he, he went. He, He went down hard and got back up and finished the rep. But you saw that, you know, the guys were getting their cleats in the ground and getting stuck in the ground a little bit throughout the course of the week. And everything you do at the combine is getting looked at for some reason.

So now, you know, here go away. It's a new turf. You go perform. And if you fall because the cleat got stuck in the ground or come off your shoe, I mean off your foot. Now, I don't know about the turf. Now, if I'm a scout, I'm like, nah, I ain't put the cleat in the ground. And then the next guy going, you like, whoa, did you see how fast he went through this?

there. So that's the thing about the combine, man. It's just you know. Now, Bo and Fran had a great draft show last week when they spoke about Fran's process but they also spoke about like what matters for specific positions from your perspective and now

that Fran's on, when you're watching edge rushers at the combine or de-Lyman at the combine let's say what matters most to you? Are there athletic, is there athletic testing that matters most of you? Are there drills that matter most to you? What sticks out to Vinnie Curry at the combine? I don't, pause moment, but I don't like robot stiff type of edge version.

It's not my, like, you know, I want to see the bend, I want to see the bend, I want to see the cleats in the ground, I want to see when you hit the bag, like how fast did that hip turn around? Fred, did you, now here, here's another thing. I want you to go back and check this out. When it was going through the gauntlet and they would come off, boom, and they do the spin, some guys was not spinning tight to the hash or to the to the damn bag that was pissing me off because I'm like dude if this is the biggest moment of your life hi I'm saying yeah and if you think you

was kind of easy about it stay out of the drill making everybody come to your pro day not only that there were three or four guys where the the coaches had to yell like finish the drill they're guys like pulling up and like they're not even like going from urgency uh to finish the rep out that was something too that happened with not just the D-Lyman but even the O-Lyman yesterday. That's honestly, I mean, you know this. A lot of this workout, they're trying to see like, all right, we're going to put you through the paces and it's going to go fast and we're going to try and wear you out.

How are the, who are the guys that can sustain that same level of urgency from start to finish? And you saw some of the guys were able to do it and some were not. This is crazy. Was there anybody, Fran, from that edge group who you hadn't studied yet, who made you excited to go back and watch? No, you know, I, have actually the edge group I did a lot of work on. So in terms of like the guys that that worked out where that caught out, most of the guys that stood out were guys that I had studied

already. You know, I'm excited to do more on Landon Jackson just because he was a guy that I was hired. And I wanted to see what he would look at. I thought he was awesome in the workout. And so now it's like, all right, I'll go back and watch even a little bit more with him from Arkansas. But to me, he's a guy that I felt good about walking away from that Thursday. I felt that this is the guy is going to go in the top 35, where if he didn't look as good, because it was a little bit of a lukewarm senior bowl. So, like, what was that going to look like? No, he looked really, really good.

And what about Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M, who did not have a great track record of production, but is a physical marvel and tested well? You are not super high on him based on your rankings on all p.chly.com right now, but how do you feel about him as a potential option at 32? Yeah, I mean, look, I think that, I was like, he's probably, he's going to be gone by the time the Eagles pick. I think that the traits are too good that he would last to that point.

It would be surprising if he were to make it. The test scores that he was able to do, I mean, we're outstanding. And then he had to pull out with an injury. So he didn't get to make it to the back end of testing and through the positional workout. But I think when you look at his size, his movement skills, he's going to go somewhere in the teens, if not before that. I would be shocked even if you got to like the mid-20s just because I think the skill set there is too intriguing. but at the end of the day, I think the depth of this class,

like maybe there's a chance that he were to slide. I would just, I would find that hard to believe. But I agree to your point, I'm not as high on him just because to me when I watch him, I don't see a guy that's always consistently able to like find a way to win at the top of the rush. Like, I don't know.

I remember watching this defensive end out of Marshall in 2012 in 2012 and seeing a guy that constantly knew like how to be able to win at the top of the rush. Like maybe he did it with his hands. Maybe he did it with power. He had the ability to. to win with effort. Thanks for watching fast. Make sure you watch the episode on PitchO.com.

Best job. But to me, when I'm looking at Stewart, like, the pressure numbers, like all the metrics point to it as well. Like the pressure rate is low, the wind rate is low. You know, he's not the, what is the saying? It's like the, he's, the, the, the, the, the hole is less than the sum of the parts. I think that's the, uh, the kind of where I'm at right now with Shamar Stewart. That pass rusher from Marshall, you spoke about back, uh, in 2012.

He had, I think, 11 sacks to see. senior year, 12 Sachs junior year, is that right? Right, right. I heard this out in Indy last week, and you've heard it over the year, Sacks is a stat that translates. Do both you feel that way? Do both you feel that if you're a guy who gets to the quarterback in college, you're going to be a guy who gets to the quarterback in the NFL?

Right. I think so. And my biggest thing is I'm big on impact. Okay. I'm big on impact. How, like, Those days I'd be going to have like 98 tackles, maybe like 30 Tats Claws.

It's crazy like because you want that to be an impact. So how if you go on, if Marshall was going to play Ohio State, what did you do? Right. You know, it's a stretch that we went from playing Ohio State to West Virginia back to back weeks. It was something crazy. And then next to you know you're saying that like six sacks in four weeks. It's like, this feels pretty good. You know, they talk about me, oh, they say my name on N's Finn or stuff like that.

I'm big on impact. Like you said, if your win rate is not where it should be at, now if a guy comes to Philadelphia when you're waiting not supposed to be at and the fans is on that ass, do that player even care? No, this is why I am. Well, it's funny. I've pulled up your spider chart here from the combine. Okay.

So 6-3-266 for an edge, 32nd percentile height, 55th percentile weight, vertical jump, 35th percentile, arm length, 20th percentile, hand-sized 12th percentile. I don't know about this guy, but broad jump only 20 percent, vertical jump, 35 percent. But the three cone, 93rd percentile. I mean, it's moving around the edge, 6.9 seconds. Maybe that was where, maybe that's what attracted you to the Eagles. Yeah, well, by getting the cleats in the ground. You know, it's because at the end of the day,

the only time you should see a D.N. running in 40 yards down the field is if we go to extra extra play. Yeah. But other than that, within my area, in my area. Yeah. Turn the corner. Man. Crazy.

You know, but that goes to show you. That turns out all the way through my career. Get off, you know, either getting there or you might lead the team in quarterback heads. And I don't, you know, yeah, it's cute, but I wish it was. sacks, you know what I'm saying? You'd be pissed off. Like, you know what I'm saying? So. Yeah. And to me, like, there were guys, look, Jalen Carter didn't have a huge production profile. Nolan Smith didn't have a huge production profile. But I was still really high

on both players because you could feel their impact through the game. Even with the Eagles, like, when you watched Jalen Carter, I mean, he had one, what is it? He finished with, like, one tackle in the Super Bowl. When you watched the film, you're like, man, like, Jalen Carter made his presence felt from start to finish. Say with Donald Smith, right? You feel Nolan Smith and the impact that he can have. And when I'm watching the Smart Stewart. Like I didn't always feel that in the three or four games that I studied so far. All right, Fran.

Thank you so much for surprising us. Great work this week, Fray. It was awesome. Check out all pHLY.com. Become a diehard to check out all that good stuff. We'll see you tomorrow. Double dipping with our friend. Tomorrow at noon live with the PHLY draft show.

Tomorrow at noon. Everybody check it out. We'll talk to you guys tomorrow. All right, Vinny, I think you're going to be happy to answer this super chat question that we have coming up. This is from Kirk, who says Vinny, as a WWE fan your thoughts on the John Sina heel turn and is he

in your Mount Rushmore of the best all time, seeing your top four? I'll blast somebody asked me that. I know you are. I was thinking about that one and drive up, but I was just like, man. Let me explain to you. So, Zach, take Hawk Hogan

for instance. Yes. Right? You remember when he turned Hill and the NW came out in Chile? No. He doesn't remember. Where do you go to school at? Where did he? Yeah, no, no. I was just, everybody, so wherever he was at,

somebody had an N.W. shirt on. Oh, yeah. I remember people were into that. I'm right there. I'm right. So let me, all right. No, no.

They only wore an NW.O. shirt because Hawkego could turn heel. Okay. Without Hogan turning hill, there's no NWO. Like, that was like a shocker. Like, I went to each environment and say your praise. I'm from that era. So when he turned here, I'm like,

he'll all, Kogan, you know? Exactly, you know what a heel means. I know what turning heel means Like it's it's like when you're going against the Yeah A heel is a bad guy Yeah yeah yeah So John Cena for the first time in his career

I didn't even know this I'm not up I missed him You know he usually like you know Loyalty respect Sure I said it was never gonna turn here I never go against this company

Or turning here for what I ain't got to I'm de face of the company And for him To turn hill And the way he turned here I thought that was the most crazy How do he do it?

He's not seen in years. You know, so the rock is supposed to make his partnership with Cody Rose. And Cody Rose tells the rocks to go yourself. Okay. You know, because the language is a little different because it's on Netflix now. Okay. So he's talking about yourself. And John Cena gives Cody Rose a hug.

And the rock suddenly gives him the signal to, okay, plan B. And Sina warps Cody Rose behind. Oh, okay. It's like... So it's the rock and the old heads getting together. Right. So back in the day, he had a thing called the corporation. It's kind of like a new version of the corporation.

But just to have Sina Turnhill that way was... It was like history repeating itself, but just now... Sounds that way. Seven and eight years old. He had a Nahu. Yeah, he was just like this. Is he up on Sina? Because it's a little before his time.

But Sina always come in and out. And then, you know, the colors. You know, kids are attracted to the colors and the thing. I know he's Jay Uso and Jimmy Uso guy. That's just Noah favorites. Trust me, we have that argument on time. So who's your top four? Yeah, Johnson is definitely on the, he's up there.

So I will go, Rick Flair, Sena, Hulk Hogan, Sean Michaels. Okay. There you go. If I, if I, if I, if I, put me on a spot like that, okay. Okay.

Yeah. But I always go, I always go. No Stone Cold, no rock. I mean, they, at that time, you know, Show Michaels was my guy. I'm a Brett Hart guy. Yeah, I like Brat Hart. Then he die?

No, actually. He's one of the, you guys said that about like 95 different guys. He's one of the only ones who has not died yet. Who died? Owen is probably. Owen Hart. His brother died like in the middle. Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

I'm sorry to say that, yes. You know, but you know, there's a couple guys I like, you know, that right there, you know, when you say Mount Rushmore and, and you say W you got to give an error you gotta get different errors man there's so many great ones you know you're just like wish I'm out rush more of football you gotta give me errors like I can't just

yeah that's so many different great elite talent each position that came through that I just can't give you you know what I mean unless it's just I think you need a wrestling show Vinny oh man I think so too Bono knows people you know people will know people

yeah bonus I hope so the other super chat we have from Rob Let's bring this back around. Let's bring this full circle. Who is the Eagles' best corner of the last 25 years? I think it probably is Slay. The last 25 years since 2000. Yeah, so Lido.

I'm aware of that period. Yeah. I know you wrote about it. No. You can make a case for Lido. No, I was going to ask you about Asante because I, yeah, I, that's, that's one period of time. I wasn't in Philly for. both of you guys, but you in particular,

because you're a big advocate for Asante. I'm a huge Asante fan. Yeah. And I believe he's criminally underrated nationally, and he deserves real Hall of Fame consideration. Absolutely. Because the most important thing you can do at the position is take the ball away,

and he did it better than anybody in his era. Do you really feel that way? The most important thing you can do at the position is take the ball away? Yes. Yes. Okay. As opposed to like a shutdown cover corner,

who doesn't take the ball away? Well, at the same time, you got to stand, like, evil fans I'm going to take you all down a little history you got Troy Vincent, Bible Teller, then you go from them to to Southern Brown Legal Shepherd, right? Yeah, and Sheldon was awesome.

And then from there, I think they jumped into the trade to get Noghita. You got Sonte. He had something, but they didn't matter. And then you try to go get NOMD and DRC. You know what I mean? So then you got NOMD, you got DRC, and then it was bad.

It was Carrie Williams and Bradley Fletcher. Yeah. You get what I'm saying? You know, even though. Jalen Mills and Ronald Derby. It's a Super Bowl. Yeah, we got Super Bowl with them, but the same. Oh, but they also had, even though,

I'm thinking about how great the players are doing now. So, um, uh, Rasul, you know, Rasul is a good, a top player, you know what I'm saying? So what I'm saying is them guys got thrown. It's a prime example of earlier, a young guy getting thrown in the fire. Rassul, that's absolutely right. You know?

And another prime example of, even after that, he goes to Carolina, that doesn't make it happen. Goes to Arizona and on the practice squad doesn't make it happen. It takes like his fourth spot to finally get to the right place

where he can prove to be the kind of player that he is and he's like a pro bowl caliber player. And was it ironic that that style of defense mirrors Syboski? I'm trying to tell you. So my answer would be Troy Vincent.

But again, that's probably. But that's not the last 25 years. Troy Vincent, it wasn't the last 25 years. I mean for like two years, right? So, yeah, Troy, so from the 1990 season to the 2009 season to the 2024, the 2004 season, the 2024 season. P-Raw was a-V-Vincent played 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. Right. Right?

Yeah. So that was the same period of time of Sleigh. Well, Sle was seven years. Okay, whatever. Sleigh played it for five years. You're right. You're right. Yeah. You're right.

Yeah. So I would lean toward Troy Vincent, but again, in my time covering the team, Slay's the best corner that they've had. And I mean, I think Lido's underrated. When we talk about takeaways, Lido took the ball away. But I would have to say, too, that Assante period, when I just look at the numbers, that that jumps out. It's just for that team should have been better than they were. Yeah.

That conversation about taking the ball away, I think in today's NFL, it's a little bit different because there aren't guys who can do it consistently. Like the game has changed enough that there aren't that many interceptions. Back then, he was doing it at such a consistent level and just to hear him talk about it. I mean, like on the field, a genius

in terms of being able to read guys and bait guys. And it's not like he was getting cooked when he wasn't intercepting the ball. He was still a very good corner. you know people will say that he wasn't as good enough as a tackler but you know if you're going to get me nine interceptions a year i think you can miss a couple tackles but it it brings the conversation full circle too because nomdi's probably one of the cautionary tales of re-agency how much scheme and fit and locker room fit and personality and how someone reacts when they get paid like all that matters next week and that's why i wanted the things that when you speak to howie or you speak to different executives around the league you feel more comfortable paying your own guys than paying guys from outside the building now the eagles have done a remarkable job frankly and both talked about this and identifying free agents like their track record is much high

their hit rate is much higher than the rest of the league but you don't know that you know it's it's like a blind date and you're paying a lot of money on a blind date here for some of these free agents and nomdi uh was i'll defer to you you you were there but but nomdi probably wasn't the best fit for that locker room i was a rookie okay so um yeah i mean nandi actually actually me to do a rookie duty i still had to do it yeah i mean no matter what you know man i didn't really get into that of uh of things like that but i was just a rookie and um really looking at understanding like that you know you you you let you all over um the press conferences and listening to what people were saying and stuff like that but that was that was crazy yeah the

the thing i've i've heard coaches not as much executives but they'll factor into it is is when you a player sometimes works so hard to get that big contract. And then it's like, it's like, now what? What's the carrot, right? The player needs to want to be so great because when you have that money and it's guaranteed, it's like what's driving you to be the best player every day? And it has to be that like internal desire or has to be the reputation or the legacy, whatever it may be.

But you get to a point where you're not chasing the contract anymore. And that's why when you get a big play slay in the way how he approaches the game, that is... Good point. That is... And there's no help. Like, yo, my man, I don't need no help over there. I don't need that. I don't know.

What are you saying? Like, you're so competitive. And that's where that... You want that to rub off on the young guys. You know what I mean? And you just, like, and then if you go get something like, you think it's like that for agency and it's not like that. Now you're saying I want my money back.

You know what I mean? so best host in the city bringing it back full circle from the beginning of the episode darius sleigh likely moving on as the eagles prepared to release one of their best corners of the past 25 years vini curry thank you so much for taking the time today my friend good to have you in studio we are back tomorrow uh once again noon live tomorrow the p h o'clock the p hosel white draft show with fran duffie returns and then two o'clock quackatology begins with Zach and Fran in studio, a big week ahead of next week's open to free agency. We got a Mondo show coming Monday taking you through all the live stuff.

So exciting times here as the NPO rolls on on the PHOI Eagles podcast. Thank you to Julia. Thank you to Vinny. Thank you to Zach. Thank you to Fran. We will talk to you tomorrow. And as always, we love you.