The Bobby Bones Show - Lots to Say: EXCLUSIVE Titans QB Cam Ward Interview!

Episode Date: July 30, 2025

Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel return from Titans Training Camp with conversations with the players! Matt recalls having to hold for kickoffs and the pressure that goes along with it.  NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport drops by with his thoughts on Cam Ward and the impact on the Titans.  Ian touches on Aaron Rodgers, Caleb Williams, Cowboys, and the Patriots.  RB Tony Pollard reveals how he prepares for the season and the unique way he got his tattoos.  Titans Coach John Fassel talks about his goals for the special teams.  We listen to Bobby and Matt's interview on NFL Network with Sara Walsh.   Titans QB Cam Ward breaks down his performance at practice and how he learns more about the offense every day.  Matt asks about the kind of leadership Cam is bringing to this locker room.  Cam is excited about his WR's and his new offensive coordinator, Nick Holz.  Bobby considers himself a 'bath guy' and is fighting a pickleball injury.  Is Caleb Williams struggling in camp and is it a concern? Matt gives his thoughts on the four players being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Who should be the players inducted NEXT year?  Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel is part of the NFL Podcast Network See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Search 40s and free agents and listen now. Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and IHart Podcasts. We got lots to say, to say. And we got lots to say. Now here's Bobby and Matt. Hey, welcome. You know, sometimes you just go too hard,

and our guy here just went too hard. I didn't. Yeah, I think. I think Vegas caught up to me from last week. Vegas always catches up with everybody. It does. It does. And it's a mix because you get out there in that heat and those sand allergies, what I call them. It's so dry.

It just kills you. And my lips were so chapped. And it's almost embarrassing because you guys sit down and talk to people and you're going like this. You're like, don't like your lips again. Don't like. And it also feels weird to put on chapsstick. Like I don't claim to be the most masculine guy ever. I am not.

However, putting on chapsic feels like I'm putting on lipstick. It does. And if I do it, I try to do it when no one's looking at me. And so, yeah, well, you know what I tried? You look good. Yeah, I feel fine. No, I don't. I feel awful. No, I heard you. No, I heard you. Yeah.

I feel awful. I've been up coughing all night trying to get the demons out, as I like to say. But at the same time, you know, you know what's better than chapstick? And I tried this just because it was my, the only thing that I found in my wife's thing, lip balm. They've got like that glossy lip balm. So you're going to say tampons. Well, never tried one of those. but that would have been interesting I've had a clock

Bloody nose Yes Many times Yeah And the kind that works Because you have to like Break the stick Yes

You gotta get the foam out Yeah right The foam up there Yeah I've done that a few times Okay look We're here We sure are

Not only that You came back from Vegas Went right to training camp Yep So we're outside Sweating our face off there Man it was hot out there Wasn't

It was brutal And so we're gonna actually Go back And play some of the cool stuff We did at training camp First we'll do us sitting with Ian Rappaport of the rap sheet of NFL network. Really one of my favorite insiders.

And so let's start with us. I would say backstage, but I guess it's not really a stage. That was not a stage. That was a mini like janitor's closet. Yeah, we're like underneath the stadium because it was so loud on the stadium. This is us with Ian Rappaport.

I feel like if I were to watch Picasso Paint, that'd be pretty cool. I'm watching Ian Rapport tweet right now. I know. It is a moment for me too. Finish your tweet because, you know, we see it from the other side. We see it from the other side, and we're always riveted. I'm not tweeting yet.

I'm just getting ready to. You're just getting ready to get the go sign, and you've got to be ready to hit the send. I like it. I'm getting ready. You guys can talk and I'll keep typing. You're seeing a professor at work. We are at Titans Camp today, so if you're watching this, we're in the bowels of the stadium. We thought we'd be on the football field, but they wouldn't turn the music off,

which I guess a little, a little much for us to ask to turn the music down. Yeah, and it also was Family Day, so everybody's out there. You got kids running around. It's a little bit chaotic. So, yeah, we're back here. I would like for you to tell the story because we were out, and I'd asked you if you'd ever held before, meaning on field goal team. On special team.

Yeah, and you had. You have a history of holding. Did you ever do it in high school, though? No, I actually kicked PATs in high school. No way. And I punted, believe it or not. And you play quarterback. And safety.

Did you ever play deep for you did? I was versatile. You never came off the field. Versatile. In college, did you ever hold? college I was always the backup holder I didn't have to but I actually didn't have to hold because I actually was on a special teams unit I played on kickoff and kickoff return my junior year so myself and liner battle it out long story short midway through that season line art's doing pretty well you know heading up the Heisman trophy race and all that stuff and so we had some injuries they switched me to tight in well they when you switch to tight in you don't just play tight in you are on all the special teams unit so I'm on special teams kickoff I'm in the wedge on the return team and just getting slaughtered. Listeners are like, what's the wedge?

The wedge is like when you, you're the last line of defense before you actually get to the returner. So that means everybody that from that kickoff line coming at you gets the full head of steam because nobody touches them by the time they reach you and you just get blown up. You're a sacrificial. The wedge buster is your enemy. Yeah. Yeah. It was brutal.

But in terms of holding, it was my second year in New England. Josh Miller goes down. he's our punter who's also our primary holder, he gets his shoulder hurt. I'm thrown into holding. Well, this is during, like, now our playoff run. Our first game right before playoffs was in Jacksonville. It's downpour.

I just put the ball down, laces toward the kicker. Stephen Gaskowski kicks it in. Are you but laces in? No, laces out, right? Oh, no, lace is in. Laces in. So, like. Amateur hour.

It was 100. Yeah, and I've worked it. But look, when it's storming, you know, you just got to do what you got to do. well I ended up holding throughout the playoffs go all the way through the aFC championship against the Colts and that year was a year that Romo mess and fubbed up that one in Seattle and lost the playoff game so that's in the back of my mind the entire time

during playoffs just more more stressful than even playing quarterback well here's what's interesting to me so like holder is a great job because you really don't have to do anything like you do it enough it's probably pretty easy you get to have like the celebratory handshake or headbutt with a kicker. Oh, yeah. Maybe they jump into your arms. Like, there's some great moments. But on the off chance, you, you know, Romo it.

Like, that's bad. So, like, I feel like risk reward that's worth it to do it, but not a slam dunk. It is. Luckily, it was an opener. And I actually, they started the year off the next year with me as the holder. First one, exactly what you're saying, came in hot. Lonnie Paxson threw a heavy ball. And I fumbled it.

I yell. So you yell fire, right? And it was a release. So I'm trying to. run outside the pocket. I get absolutely lambasted. They're like, coach is like, what happened? I was like, I think it was a little low. They watched the film. It's like hitting me right there. He's like, you're out. I was like, yes. I have a buddy who was a deep snapper. And two years ago, the Cowboys picked him up last minute. And so he goes in, like three days noticed. And so we're

excited because he's the guy. And first snap right over the head of the holder, first snap. The risk was much heavier than the reward of that. No, he stayed next to have a good season. Oh, good for him. They had to have a deep snapper. Right. So I guess, you know, you kind of don't go to three or four after that. I mean, but. That is a tough position, man, because you only get notices if you mess up.

If you just do your job the normal way, nobody's ever going to say anything to you. You're not going to get any of the limelight unless you kick the game-winning field goal. But the long snapper's not for the sequencing before that, right? It's just the kicker that's going to get the glory. Ian, thanks for coming by. How many of these do you do you do? I'm sorry. I thought you were saying goodbye.

You know, Ian, it's been fun. Thank you for the time. How many of these camps do you do? I think it'll be like 16. And do you stay on the road? Yeah. It's like an artist. You're like a rock artist, not even like a country artist.

Or if I'm touring, if I'm doing stand-up, I come home during the week and I do Thursday, Friday, Saturday. No, it's, I got my suitcase over there. I got like six changes of clothes. I got some washer sheets if you got to wash something in the sink. But you try to find like a wash and fold where you can go like stop by before, practice, wash all your stuff, pick them up after practice. Go right. I go from here, I'm going right to the airport.

Like, that's what it's like. You're like Green Day in 95 touring. Without the talent. Just ready. Well, let's talk about a couple things here. Cam Ward. I had mentioned earlier, the expectation the last couple of years has changed with rookie quarterbacks because we saw C.J. Strahl do it.

We saw Jay and Daniels do it. But again, they had pretty good supporting casts. What is the ceiling for Cam Ward this year? You know, I look at this place and I look at the commanders last year. And I think the commanders probably were a little more stable and had a little more talent than this team. But like not significant, you know, like in the ballpark. And maybe you have some players who play a little better than are being expected. So maybe the talent is somewhat similar.

Like if Jane Daniels can come in and lead that team to the playoffs, then considering the expectations of Cam Ward, considering what I've heard today, talking to coaches, players, people who are around them all the time, executives, like, you know, the expectations are really high, and they have been more than pleased with what they've seen. Like, you know, this team will have a chance to win some games. Will it? I don't know.

Commanders needed a bunch of help too, needed to hell marry and a lot of stuff. But, like, I'd be surprised if this team is at least not a lot better than last year. As a number one pick in the draft, when you think about Cam Ward, is he the least talked about number one draft pick that can you? He's boring. in recent history.

There's not any excitement around him, maybe in the city there is, but everybody, nobody talks about Cam Ward. I get it. I covered him extensively in the draft. I had a lot of conversation about Cam Ward, and when it came time to really report on him, there wasn't a ton to say.

He's a great kid. He was raised right. He's met his dad out here on the field. He works incredibly hard. He's a great student. He's really smart. He's kind of cold-blooded on the field. Teammates love him.

he wakes up early, he stays late, he organizes his own meetings, like, there's not, like, a lot of discussion to be had, like, what's to talk about? Yeah, we need him to do something bad. The only thing that made the news was him being on a live stream talking about how Ridley was, like, his favorite receiver of all time. Like, he was even saying the things right while he was on a live stream. And, like, knowing that now, like, that makes sense. Like, nothing is by accident.

Everything is calculated. He has, seems to have incredible awareness on the field. You knew you can see it. Today there's a couple of plays. You're like, oh, boy. And then off the field, obviously, too. So, like, that's some good awareness. That's, like, that's real stuff.

Let's do five questions with Ian. We'll just rotate. I'll go first. Aaron Rogers, I watched him throw today just on Twitter. What's the ceiling for Pittsburgh this year? I mean, if Rogers is the same Aaron Rogers he was at the end of last year for the Jets, they could be really good. Now, like, you know, older quarterbacks, you get lower leg injuries.

He's like those things don't go away. So if he tweaks an ankle or hurts a hamstring or a calf, like, you know, he's old. He's like us. He's old. So, you know, those things take a while to heal. But if he's healthy, they could be as good as they could be good. I mean, because that defense is good. They got some weapons.

Like, they could be good. Expectations for Ben Johnson, his first year with Chicago and Caleb Williams going into his second season. I mean, for Caleb Williams, it is going to be a challenge. Like, he is going to be coached very hard. I think he wants it. which a lot of people can say, but you know, you've been coached hard, like, not the most fun thing of all time. You don't sometimes want to hear it. Right.

So that's what it's going to be like. I think they'll be better. You know, could they be a playoff team? I think they could. But it's going to be a challenge. Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones does this thing, mostly preseason. He's talking a lot.

It's not just after games. He's talking pretty much every day. He says he thought about for a second not being the general manager. there's no chance of that happening while he's alive, right? No. Nope. I mean, he bought the team to be the GM. Now, it's funny you say that, though, because, like, they're an incredibly well-run football team. They really are. Like, Stephen Jones and Will McLeigh have done an incredible job of drafting, developing, setting it infrastructure, having a place where players can come in and contribute to media. Like, I know last year was bad. Coaching-wise, last year was not good.

They're a very well-run organization. So, like, do they take extra time to do contracts? Like, yeah, they do. But otherwise, like, I think they're, I think Jerry being the GM or not, they've actually done a pretty nice job. For the Patriots, Mike Grable, is this a team that could potentially push to get a wildcard spot or push into the playoffs this year? Yeah, I would think so because, like, the best thing Brable's going to do is he's going to make sure,

like, the bottom 30 guys are better. They're all going to get a little bit better. They're going to work a little harder. They can know what they're doing. doing, they're all going to get a little bit better. And, like, that's how you have good special teams. That's how you have good depth. So, like, in November, when the fifth linebacker's playing, like, he's going to know what he's doing.

You know, so, like, I think they'll be a little bit better. And the quarterback could be really good, like, really good. So that's, you know, they should be, like, competing for a playoff spot. And then when it comes down to it, we'll see if they get it or not. Last question. Most years is a team that doesn't make the playoffs that ends up doing really well. Who's that team this year that's probably going to jump? You know, the Raiders, I think, have a chance.

They've got a quarterback now who's good, is more than good. And I think Pete Carroll, you know, based on the way he'll help the culture there, and, you know, the way he'll kind of just get him going in the right direction with a little bit of optimism and excitement. I mean, I think they have a chance to be much better. than last year. And appreciate the time. Thank you, brother.

Got another flight to get on. Thanks, guys. Another shirt to washing the sink. Yes, sir. Big fans. Thank you. Thank you, guys. The 2026 NFL draft is here and the NFL Daily podcast has it covered from all angles.

Join me, Greg Rosenthal and Jordan Roderig after night one on Thursday. Nick Shook joins me night two Friday and then Sunday to recap everything that went down over the three days in Pittsburgh. We'll tell you who won the draft and which place. players were my favorite picks. Listen to NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Daniel Jeremiah.

And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stopped. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg, free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, Pro Days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money.

on 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Yeah, absolutely.

It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, after we finished with Ian, we were lucky enough that Tony Pollard came by. And Tony Pollard had his first year with Titans last year. Before that, it was a Dallas Cowboys, split some time with Zeke.

You know, not that big of a dude. It wasn't that big a dude, but what a cool story, right? Yeah. Because the story about him going, being recruited a couple of a dude. college as a wide receiver, then making that transition to running back his junior year in college, and then going to the Dallas Cowboys, backing up Ezekiel Elliott, getting some time, and just working his way into being the number one guy, and then finally coming to the Tennessee Titans. Really cool story and really good player.

Gives hope to a guy like me, I can still make it. You can still make it. Like when I say not big, mostly I just mean like not, he's not super tall. But he's definitely, you would see him and think that's an athlete in something. but I don't know, running backs now have to take so much abuse that I expected, I guess, another 40 pounds on just any generic NFL running back. Right, but I think that part of his game too is he's making people miss.

That's why I can do it, I think. He's making people miss. He's got value in the past game because he obviously can be a guy that comes out of the backfield, catches the ball, and gets you yardage there. But he's also one of those guys, the last two seasons had over 1,000 yards. So he's proven that he can run inside the tackle.

Here he is. I actually loved hanging out with him. Here is Tony Pollard. What happens out there today, a day like today? Because you guys didn't have pads on, but it looked like you were making a little bit of contact. Like, what's the stop rule? I mean, today is pretty much how we've been doing it at the facility. Practicing. You know, we're not in pads yet.

So it's pretty much like a light tap off. You know, we had the spiders on that were kind of padded. So, yeah, just running, try to get yourself in position and then tag off on the hip if you can. and then just let the guy run by. When you go through these practices, like you said, you're in shells and doing all this stuff, when do you really finally start to feel that contact? Is it not until week one or, you know,

preseason, obviously you get a little bit of that, but it's a different scenario when somebody's actually trying to tackle you. I would say, camp, you know, camp once we get into pads, that's when, you know, we're really playing football. Like today, it's really hard to, you know, just to run the ball on the day like today without pass. Everybody's slippery, sweaty. But once we get in camp, you know,

once we get to traveling, you know, playing other teams, scrimmaging other teams like that, that's when we're really getting into playing football. Getting ready for the year, when do you start training hard, and then do you taper off before you get started again? Like, what is preparation like before the year starts? I mean, after the season,

it's probably the best to take a few weeks off, probably take like a month off, you know, just let your body recover from whatever injuries you were dealing with. And once you're feeling healthy to get back to it, get back to working out, then you got OTAs, you got many camps, Then after that you get a month. So I would say like during that month, you probably take like a week off, week and a half.

And then you back to it, getting to the ground. So when you come in for camp, you know, you want to hit the ground rolling. Are you sprint? Like, what are you doing for your body? Red light? You're doing cryo. Like, what is it? Because that's what I want to do.

I'm actually just trying to steal yourself. I'm actually, I'm an old school type of guy. Like, I love cold hot tub. You know, I love doing contrast, you know, getting in there in treatment. You know, I've been doing a lot of prehab, you know, not. waiting until I get an injury, you know, just just working things before, you know, doing ankle mobility, things like that, you know, just working little things, you know. I'm big on the cold hot tub. I feel like that's the biggest thing for me. You've got new offense coordinator, Nick Holtz.

How much does this offensive scheme change from what you guys were doing last year? Honestly, it hasn't changed much. Just certain ways that, you know, we want to just do what we're good at, you know, we're going to run a lot of play action, you know, with the quarterback that we have, you know, Cam Ward, a guy that is able to, you know, you know, get the ball all around the field, make all type of plays that, you know, aren't called in the playbook. So, you know, just trying to not do too much different,

but just sticks to what we're good at and master it. You have Cartoon Network tattoo on your knee? Is that what that is? I do. It's pretty much like a leg sleeve of everything I used to watch growing up. What else do you have? I see Cartoon Network. I got Dragon Ball Z.

I got Tom and Jerry. Don't go on. Johnny Bravo. Is that Ninja Turtles? Ninja turtles. This is amazing. That's awesome, dude. I got the rug rats, Scooby-Doo on the back.

What was the first one? Like, what started that? Actually, it was, I got it when I was in Dallas. And that was like, you know, it was a big thing going around with guys who were getting, you know, the big tattoos and, you know, getting put down so they could just get it all done and want. So that was kind of how to do that. Wait, did you go to, they put you down? Like, sleep? They put you to sleep?

I was going to ask you what was the most painful one or an area. You don't even know. I woke up. They did all that in one? Wow. How long were you asleep? 18 hours. Yeah, something like that, about 12, 14 hours.

And then could you take a shower for like a week after that, or was it wrapped in cellophane? Because I have some, but I mean, I shower. It just was like a... Dab, dab, dab, dab, da, yeah. Just let the water run on it, dab it. Tony, I love watching you play because I think you're one of these dynamic backs that not just can do it as a runner, but you take a lot of pride in the past game. And I saw that you grew up and you actually went to college as a receiver, right?

And you made that transition to running back your junior year. Talk to me about that, and was that a tough transition? Or was that just something because of your experience in the return game and carrying the ball, that that was an easy transition for you? It wasn't tough at all. I grew up my whole life playing a running back. So running back is pretty much second nature to me. It's natural for me.

It was my 12th grade year in high school. That's when I went to receiver, my first time playing receiver. Then when I got the college, when I came in college, I was playing receiver. My first coach was Justin Fuente, my red shirt year. And then he left. And then that next year, coach Mike Norvell came in. And then he moved me back to running back. And then I would meet with the running backs, you know, in the meeting rooms and things like that.

But once we got to practice and we did like one-on-ones, I would go down with the receivers and do all the one-on-ones with the receivers. And, like, depending on the weeks, I switch. Sometimes I go do the box drills, you know, do the inside run, down there with the. the running back, O-line, D-line, sometimes I go do the one-on-ones with the receivers and D-Bs. Last question. You had 3,000 yard seasons in a row. When you look at goals, is it yardage game-based, yardage season-based? Like, what are goals for you? I want to get better every year. You know, numbers-wise, you know, just trying to up the numbers every year, you know.

I don't feel like I'm on a decline, you know. Honestly, I feel like I came in. Like, I didn't, I wasn't the normal back that, you know, get the, you know, normal wear and tear to get their body beat up my first few years. So I had a chance to, you know, sit behind a great back, but also get a good amount of experience and, you know, get a feel for the game without just getting my body to beat up. So now I'm at the point where, you know, I feel like I'm in my prime and I'm ready to keep people.

Tony, we appreciate you. Thank you for the time. I appreciate you, man. Thank you. All right. You're good, guys. Next up, we talk with special teams coordinator, coach Fossil, A.K.A. Bones, as they call them, which makes sense because of Fossil is bone.

Yes, it does. makes sense. And he does look like a lot of skin and bones. He does, but he's very tall. He is tall, isn't he? And his dad is who? Jim Fossil. That's right. Yeah. Did you know that, Kevin? I did. The research I did.

Oh, I'm glad that you do your research. His dad is coach Jim Fossil. So here he is, the special teams coordinator for the Titans, Coach Fossil. Yeah. So, regarded by many is one of the best special teams, if not the best special team coach in the entire NFL, Coach John Fossil.

Thank you for being with us today on the Bobby Bones show. How was it out there today? Bobby Bones, Matt Castle, lots to say. Let's go. Hey, anything for a bones. Yeah. One bones and another bones. Yeah. Talk to me about, so you got here, and obviously, special teams was an issue for this team last year, and you probably went and evaluated. What's some of the main things that you're focused on this year with your units? Yeah, great call, Matt. I mean, you know, so I got hired in January, and I was the new guy. So in OTAs, you know, I'm introducing and acclimating myself to the guys that were already here.

And I watched a little tape, and, you know, last year I knew some things that happened, the good and the not so good. But what I've tried to just really work hard on so far in OTAs and training camp is just honestly the base fundamentals. Pump protection, block destruction, blocking penalty-free, trying to create a super competitive environment where the goal is just make sure fellows we're winning our one-on-ones. And here's the tools to do that. And if we all do that, then we're going to have good plays.

but that's what it is. Are you ever in the head coach's ear when he's debating on what, going for that 64-yard field goal? You're like, I know we got this coach. I know. Like, are you a part of that? Yeah, yeah. So the last couple years in Dallas, you know, we had a couple strong-laded kickers, especially the last two years. And, you know, we always come out pre-game and say, hey, our yard line is the 40, or the 41, 42.

We got to get to that yard line for the field goal. And then, you know, it's fourth down to run the 44-yard line. And I'm like, let's kick a field goal. And you're like, that's not the why we agree to, you know. And then we kick it, we make it. I'm like, yeah. So it's talked about before, but in game, there's always a little bit of adjustment. And I always like to keep the field goals for points, you know, knowing the cost of a miss, but still, trying to worry about that. Just look at three points on the board and big plays.

And, you know, big field goals are great momentum burst when the sidelines use your kicker, knock it in from 63. Like, it's a big play. You've been coaching for a really long time. Obviously, there's been a lot of rule changes that have taken place over your time coaching, rather than most significant recently is the kickoff. Have you been in favor of that? Is that something that you like, or is it just something that you think that the game has evolved? Yeah, I love it.

And, yeah, before it went in, about a year or two before it went in, when the XFL started running it, and we were kind of like, you know, put the fair catch in on kick return. We didn't like that. So there was a kind of a small community, special teams coaches, that we're kind of talking with the NFL about, well, what can we do to make the play safer and better? And so we thought we had a good model with the XFL used, and we kind of tweaked it to make it our own. own. But I love it for multiple reasons. I think it's a better play and it's definitely a safer play.

It's a lot better play to practice because you don't have the length of running, the high speed of running, and the collisions are a little bit lower because it's just immediate five-yard combat. So it just gets right to the action a lot faster. I think the players love it. And as a coach, I'm a huge fan of it because it's going to put the ball and play a little bit more. And it's just action right now. So it's going to be really healthy for the league as I think everybody kind of grows on it. Do you look for different players now, different types of players to actually be on, let's say the kickoff unit? Because earlier Matt was talking about being in the wedge. In college, he had to be in the wedge.

Would you put me in the wedge? But there's no wedge now, right? Like, are you looking for different? You would not be a wedge guy, but thank you. Maybe a wedge buster. Coach Carroll put me in the wedge and I was on kickoff at like number three in my junior year. And I was like, what coach, are you evaluating me wrong? I don't understand.

Maybe you just practice, I'm sure. Do you need the same kind of maniacs running down? Or are you looking for a different type of player now? Yeah, that's a great question. And we thought that putting this new kickoff in, you would need a little different body type, whether it's the bigger, longer, pass rusher type body that maybe kind of does away with maybe the smaller, faster penetrator. But as we found out over this past year, it still applies for everybody. And so you're still at the mercy of the 48 guys you dress on game day.

But the same body types that were in the old kickoff and kickoff return, you still use them equally the same because there's still strength and weaknesses. There's still room for the penetrators, and there's definitely still room for the big guys that don't have to run maybe like they used to. So it's been a really cool evolution over one year to kind of think of what we thought was going to be good. And then after a year's worth of doing it, like, what? It's not exactly what we thought. This is a little bit better, a little bit of a change. So long answer to a simple question is it's built for every body type and every player. If they got the mindset and kind of a little bit of that reckless attitude,

with a little bit of technique involved. Can you talk about the mindset of these guys on special teams? Because I played with some great ones, Matthew Slater, Larry is, some of these guys that were lifetime special teams. That's how they made their money. But it takes a particular mindset in human to run down a field, full blast, put their body in harm's way every single time. Can you talk about how you teach that or do you have to find that in those guys?

And how do you go to the head coach and say, we got to keep this guy? Because the value that he adds will be on special teams, but that's going to be very valuable going down the road. Yeah, it's awesome. So, of course, I coach special teams, so I'm super biased. But I just love and have such a respect for guys that come in and really embrace the role of being on special teams,

mostly young guys, undrafted guys, you know, middle of the late round picks. And just how can I carve out a role on the football team? And, of course, the avenues through special teams. But we watch a lot of tape on the best players. You know, we watch Sherrick McMahon, which a lot of guys don't know about. Matt Slater, Cody Davis. Jaylen Reeves made, you know, a lot of guys that are still active or former. And when you watch the best guys, they're not the fastest, they're not the biggest, they're not the strongest, they're just absolutely relentless.

Like Matt Slater, he was fast, he was agile, he was strong, but probably not elite in any of those things. But his motor and his relentlessness was so different, like, how do you stop that? And so sometimes that just comes to you, and sometimes that can be developed, you know, through some tools and some confidence. so love the guys that love the game and they come in all shapes and sizes. Final question. Who are the more interesting kickers you've worked with? Interesting in what way? You know, I won't leave that.

Because I feel like even the ones I've got to know, even in college, like at times they separate themselves because they need to be separated. Who are the more interesting kickers you've worked with? I'm glad you asked that. I've been really lucky to be with some great kickers. Probably the most interesting in all great ways with Sebastian. Janikowski. I was with him for four years. And when I got there, it might have been like his eighth year. So he was already established, but he wasn't, you know, probably even halfway through his career.

And I learned a ton from him. You know, he was super passionate. He was a very big guy, but loved the weight room in the fitness. He didn't overthink anything. And that was really, I came from Baltimore. I messed over for a couple years. But Sebastian really taught me a lot, to be honest with you. And then when I went to the Rams, it was Greg Zerliner, then Brandon Aubrey and some great kickers, and now Joey Slide. But Sebastian, maybe just because it was one of the first ones I was really around, and I was a coordinator for, was just a very interesting man in a lot of great ways and a great football player. And one of the best teammates I've been around. So shout out to Seabast. He's an all-timer.

Can I just follow up with that? You know, when you're dealing with your place kicker and your kicker that's going to win you ball games, how delicate is that situation? like do you have to learn that personality of when to push? And also because it's such a mental game. It's like, you know, somebody that's golf, standover, putt, you get the yips or whatever, and then all of a sudden it goes downhill. Yeah.

How do you go about navigating that relationship with some of those guys? No, that's cool. I think it's built off of trust for sure. And that's a great question and a hard answer because if it's a younger guy, I think they need some reassurance and some confidence building. Hey, come on, man, you know, pick it back up. some of the veteran guys, they don't need to be talked to too much. And sometimes the more you say, the worse it would be, you know,

because they know what they did wrong and they don't need to hear about it and over-analyze what happened. But there is a balance of the mental part for a kicker. Like when we had Brandon Aubrey first year in Dallas two years ago, his very first kick of his career, he chanks the PAT. I'm like, oh, geez, you know. So he said, hey, man, you know, it was a little bit wet, you know, just keep yourself locked in, make sure you swing at the next one.

And that's kind of the simple message without overdoing it. and he goes off and rattles off like, I don't know, 20-something kicks in a row. So there is a balance, and the relationship developed kind of lets me know kind of how to approach the tough situations with the guys. But you've got to get to know him before you handle that. So that's a part of the coaching job is such a mental game. You know, there's tools and there's competitiveness in one-on-ones. But then there's the mindset game that's so delicate that you just, I think, as a coach, you just got to get to know the guy. Coach, we appreciate the time.

I hope you like Nashville. It's been great so far, but I'm still new and looking forward to moving in and making it my community. Stay away from Broadway. Other than now, we've got nothing else. I'm going everywhere. Coach Boss, thanks for the time.

I appreciate it. Thank you very much. The 26 NFL draft is here and the NFL Daily podcast has it covered from all angles. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and Jordan Roderig after night one on Thursday. Nick Shook joins me night two Friday

and then Sunday to Recap everything that went down over the three days in Pittsburgh. We'll tell you who won the draft and which players were my favorite picks. Listen to NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stopped.

This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine. The NFL draft Pro Days trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits.

To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move? We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Yeah, absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise.

and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Something else I want to get to here is me, you and Sarah Walsh, we were on NFL Network. I'm going to play this clip and it's like five minutes long. And at the beginning, you know, she's tossing the softballs. Right.

But the thing is, I can't really hear her. I couldn't hear anything. And we had ear pieces, but they did not work. They were fake. That makes sense. I think they were fake. I was hearing, like, radio in my ear. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I was hearing Paul Harvey. That's the rest of the story while we were doing our deal. And the music was up very loud in the stadium. And they were doing play-by-play of practice. So it was non-stop talk. So it was so much to take in. And I couldn't hear her because the seating arrangement was Sarah, far right, Matt in the middle, me on the left.

So I'm having to look across and watch her lips. And all I know is that she says something about quarterbacks in Nashville and goes to me. So, okay, I can go off that cam word. And we talk about Cam Ward and I compare it to other rookie quarterbacks, which you'll hear. At the end of this clip, she says to me, no idea what she said. I was right next to her and I could hardly hear it. I was like, there's no way.

No way without this here he's working that Bobby's getting any of this. heard none of it. So, having screwed up a bunch and done a bunch of live television, what you do is you just go. If you can't hear, the worst thing you can do is be like, what? You just go whatever direction that you can go with a purpose. So I'm like, I don't know what you just said, but here's what I'm seeing. And the problem is what I was seeing was, and he had a really great practice,

was Trelawn Berks. Yes. Except like five minutes after this segment, he breaks his collarbone out for the year, then waived. Then waived. Then waived. It was like the curse of Bobby Bones. The guy is going to have a big year.

He's going to come out. He's going to ball out. Yep. Boom. Done. Done for the year. Oh, bad for that young guy. I know he's been injured every year.

It's like when you play golf, keep your mouth off my ball. I don't, I've never said that. You've never? Like when somebody's like, oh, good putt. And then you just miss it. And you're like, keep your mouth. I've never heard that said like that. Yeah, you can use it.

Thank you. Thank you. Here we are. This is me, Sarah Walsh, and Matt. Hey, Rat. We're so happy to be here. The Titans are a home. hosting their first and only practice at Nissan Stadium and then they'll go back over to the practice facility.

Brian Callahan told us just a little while ago just being in this building or being in this stadium, it ups the intensity, obviously, breaks up the monotony. And as two guys that live in Nashville and Bobby, I'm going to start with you here. This is a franchise that has long been looking for a long-term solution here at quarterback. They get Cam Ward number one overall. Just talk to us as someone who's lived in Nashville now for a while, what this guy means. what this opportunity means for this city. I think anytime you get the number one pick,

that's exciting for a franchise, it sucks how you got the number one pick. But now that you have it, like that's cool, it gives us here a reason to be excited. And I think there's been precedent set to in the last couple of years with CJ Strah with the Texans,

even Jane Daniels last year, that a rookie quarterback doesn't have to come in and just kind of suck year one. They can actually do big things if they're trusted upon. And I think in Callahan's offense, and with Cam Ward being so great at Miami, like he's dynamic.

It's not just that he's dynamic. put up numbers. He's dynamic. Highlight clips. And I think that's what the fans here need, like a reason to see something dynamic and have hope that next year is going to be a change. Matt, there could be a quarterback competition. There is, I mean, they can say that there is, but Will Levis now is not going to be available this season. So he was the number two here. We've gotten the sense from the second that took this guy that he was going to be starting week one. Let's just start with mentally, what is this dude? This guy walks out here. He's obviously young. It's his rookie season, but he is known from the moment that he has stepped on the field that this

is his team. Yeah, he knows that this is his team, and that's why they drafted in. He came here, and Brian Callahan talked about it all offseason. He's just been so impressed with his leadership. He understands what is being asked of him. And I think that they've also done a good job with this young quarterback of understanding. They've got to surround him with talent. They've got to go out Calvin Ridley, right? They have Calvin Ridley. They needed somebody opposite of him. They went out and got Tyler Lockett. They brought in Van Jefferson, and then they need to show up that offensive line. They're able to do that. So Cam Ward is in a better position to succeed than probably, most people believe that he did originally coming to the Tennessee Titans.

We're taking a look at him at practicing, and we've watched him here. What is going on in his head right now? I mean, you're trying to absorb so much information. Callahan told us today they're going to be working a lot on third downsets, maybe the most important thing they're going to do in terms of him being able to see different things, get him prepared for the season, which kicks off with the Broncos, and you and I have talked about it. This is not an easy start for this Tennessee Titan scene.

He's going to open with the Broncos. He's going to get the Los Angeles Rams. If you're him in this progression of what this career, Where is he at right now? Well, sometimes your head's spinning as a rookie quarterback. I don't care who you are or how much time you've had in college with different systems. When you come to the professional in the NFL, what eventually ends up happening is you hit that little rut in the road, right? And it's that mental capacity.

It's the processing because you're learning and trying to absorb so much. And so every day is important. But what I would do, if I'm the coach and I'm the defensive coordinator, I'm going to challenge them each and every day, particularly in what we call Blitz drill. Blitz Trail is where you show a lot of different looks. You're going to bring it from all different angles because protection for young quarterbacks is going to be key. Knowing how to protect yourself, get yourself out of trouble and get the ball out of your hands.

Their team president, Chad Brinker, said that young guys are going to have to carry this team. And you hear that. And I think, guys, what is realistic for the Tennessee Titans this year, Bobby? Yeah, it's so loud. I can hear nothing except I'm watching Calvin Ridley on the screen, make freaking plays. We're in the middle of global warming here in Nashville, and it's extremely loud, but on the screen here, it's cool to see Calvin Ridley.

It's also cool to see Traylon Burks healthy again because Traylon Brooks is a dog. There's a reason they traded for him in the first round. Last couple years have been injury prone. He's been hurt, but I think the offense in Tennessee will have a lot of YouTube highlights, and that's what the fans need, first of all, because we haven't had a winner here in a long time.

So I'm sure your question was nothing like that, but I can hear nothing because they're so loud. Look, he didn't answer my question at all, but that's because the podcast is called lots to say. He had other things to say. And also to that point of it, being loud in here, Brian Callahan said today they're going to work on the silent count. So apparently the fans, the stadium.

I just jumped off the way. I just jumped offside. It doesn't matter. Silent count day. Crank up the music, crank up the sound, make sure everybody's operating mentally focused. Well, we were off sides on that point. They're doing practice play-by-play over our head too, which I've never quite heard before. But yeah, it's super exciting here in Nashville.

Lots to say. They got more to say. You can listen to it on the podcast, Brad. And now we're going to go over to, and I missed this, but you got to talk with Cam Ward. We did. And so we'll play this, and then I have some questions about Cam once this is over. All right, excited to be here, Cam. It's fun to watch practice today.

I want to start, first of all, the big throw. We'll get to all the other topics. But walk me through the big throw down the field, the big touchdown to Ridley today. That's a little scramble drill. I don't know if it's a real play. It might have been a sack. I can see it on film. But that's just me getting quality working on my guys, them letting them know how I think in Scramerger.

So it's good that we was able to get one of those plays. Cam, from an install. standpoint. I know that every day there's probably an emphasis. Talk to us about your processing ability and learning this offense and every day some new reality comes up that you're trying to learn. Just getting used to the terminology.

It's not different from college and a stand of routes and concepts, everything. It's all the same. Just getting used to the NFL terminology, the formations. And they also just staying a long play call, the third down play calls, the canes, the checks that I have to make. But I mean, it's been fun. I've been getting better every day. I'm running something new every day.

I got a good group of guys around me, the offensive line, the wide receiver corner of running back. So, you know, I'm excited to see what we can do. Well, I talked to a bunch of coaches and a bunch of personnel guys, and the one thing they said that stood out to me was they can't beat you into the office. What time are you getting in the facility every day, and who have you been bringing with you? I get there.

I get there about 5.30, just the process what I need to do to try to get, you know, be able to play my best ball in the upcoming weeks. And then just also getting my receivers up there. Really, he's always up there. And he can chill me. He's always up there with shovels up there. So really all the young guys, we really stay up there because, you know, we're behind the eight ball. We're playing against seven-year-year-old, ten-year events, and we got to be ready to play from day one.

So I'm excited, though. That's why we have an emphasis on getting there, learning everything, and, you know, just trying to get better every day. Kim, where's that leadership quality come from? Because you know you come in, you're going to be the face of this franchise for a long period of time. But it's got to be something that you grew up as a born leader, right? but at the same time to come into a new group of grown men in the professional setting, where does that leadership come from in your eyes? I just think just understanding your teammates,

learning more about them, where they're from, their background, how they get to this point. Because I had a different journey to get into where I am now. And I just think I don't separate from what the outside world sees the quarter of position as to what our position is on the team. That's really being a good teammate, leading guys who you need to, then also not being a selfish player. We have a locker room full of unselfish players who all they want to do is win.

I'm excited that I'm a part of the team. How excited are you have a veteran offensive line? You go out and get a guy like Kevin's Eitler. You go out and get Dan Moore, have guys who've been in this league for quite a while. I'm real excited. And they hold me to a high standard and I'm holding them to high standard as well. But, I mean, guys like Kevin and Dan, they teach me little things even when they don't think they teach me something. They play football for a longer period than I am.

And I just got to, I got to learn stuff on the fly. I got to learn stuff as fast as they did when they first got into the league. But I'm inside that, you know, the GM, Mr. Mike and, you know, Mr. Chathamins, they surround me around guys like that to help me with my journey. And talk to us about your wide receiver room. Obviously, Calvin Ridley, who's coming back as your number one. But you go out, you get Tyler Lock and you bring in a guy like Van Jefferson who's played a lot of quality football over his time. Tyron Burks is coming back and he's a guy that you're hoping for big things. But that room looks a lot different than what it did in the past.

Yeah, we got an unbelievable receiver core. I think the biggest thing we have from watching them last year to this year is that we just have a lot of speed, especially young guys who are ever considering when we drafted. But Calvin Reed and Locke, I just think those three of the best receivers in the league. They helped me just understanding when they need the ball, why they hit the ball, and just when and how they get in and how to break it breaks. I think it's the biggest thing that I'm learning from them. We're able to get some good work in the summer.

Kind of like today, Lockett, knowing it was covered two, sitting up for me hitting him in that window. So we learning each other on the fly, but I can for sure say we're getting better every day. Have you thought about some type of a present for Jeffrey Simmons and kind of calm him down a little bit on the defensive line? Let me just slow him down just a little bit. That's a big man right there, man. We slide in his way every time we play in him. I'm putting a running back in the A-cap, and I'm chipping him every time I can. So, I mean, Jeff, he's the ultimate competitor.

He's somebody that, you know, I wake up and I'm ready to get to work and go again. But it's fun. I never played with a defense alignment that big who can move like him. But, I mean, he's the reason why our defense is going to be so good. He can pressure the quarterback. He's a great team player. He's a great locker room. I'm excited to, you know, have him by myself.

I think one of the most important relationships for any quarterback is a relationship with their offensive coordinator. You've got a new offensive coordinator with Nick Holtz. Talk to me about that process and learning to get to know each other and the collaboration that really takes place to get to know you as a player. Just good. I think the first time me, Finally meeting Coach Holtz just throughout the whole pre-draft process.

And to now is that he really understands me. He understands, you know, wildlife, certain plays. I'm not used to doing a five-step from gun, but I'm starting to love it now, especially getting the ball out on time, getting the early. And I think just Coach Holtz, you know, Coach Callahan and Coach Bo, the quarterback, coach, they're going to really dial it up for us this year. Last one as we wrap it up. Look at the two of us.

Me and Matt sweating like crazy. You don't have a beat of sweat on it. How is that humanly possible? I mean, I'm from Texas. I'm like Texas is hot out here, but, you know, I'm from the south, so I'm glad I was able to stay in the south and be in Tennessee. Camp Ward's prepared. He's prepared for the weather. He's prepared for what's going on out there on the field. Thanks, buddy. Yes, sir. I appreciate you. You got to sit with Cam Ward there. I don't know, what were your takeaways after meeting him?

I mean, he's very mature. He's got a great grasp of who he is. He's confident. You could tell that right away. He talked about his leadership. He talked about this transition into the pros. And you could tell, like, there's something about him. got some moxie to him. He's a natural leader, and I'm excited for the young man. I think he knows that this season is going to be one of those that they're still rebuilding, but he's got the keys of the car, right? He knows that he's the franchise. He knows that he's the face of this franchise and that it's going to be an uphill battle, but at the same time, I think he embraces that, understands it. And you look at the history of what he went through in his college career, going to JC, going to Washington State, having to prove himself every step along the way.

and then to get that shot at Miami, become the number one draft pick. He understands what it's going to take. And I don't think he's phased by any of it. We're going to come back. We're going to talk about, I have questions about Caleb Williams and Bears Camp. We'll do that. We'll talk about the Hall of Fame. And I bought something that came in the mail today.

And I'm curious if you have one of these. We'll do all that on the other side of this. The 26 NFL draft is here. And the NFL Daily podcast has it covered from all angles. Join me, Greg Rosenthal, and Jordan, Roderig after night one on Thursday. Nick Shook joins me night two Friday and then Sunday to to recap everything that went down over the three days in Pittsburgh. We'll tell you who won the draft and which players were my favorite picks. Listen to NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal on the

IHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Daniel Jeremiah and I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and free agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stop. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg, free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits to my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season.

Yeah, absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and free agents on the IHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I got a package from Amazon today and it was very long. It looked like golf clubs. It was that long of a box. Okay. Just so you can picture it. And I'm like, what did I order that's long like that? because I knew I didn't order a single golf club. I knew I didn't order golf clubs.

Do you order golf clubs off Amazon? No, well, it looked like that type of box. Okay, I was just asking. I've ordered, like, one of those weighted ones. Okay. Like the ball. Yeah. You swing to get loose.

Yeah. So no, but no, because I've been lucky enough to have, like, sponsorship deals. I'm not even not good of a golfer. Can I get some of that? I think, I will sponsor you. I will sponsor you. So I opened it up and I forgot that I had bought this. Also, I didn't know it'd come this long,

but I bought one of those big, long, wooden things you put over your bathtub and you take a bath so you can work while you take a bath. Are you a big bath guy? Big bath guy. The biggest bath guy. Eps and salt. Depending on what's wrong with me. Yeah, because if something's wrong with me, Epson salt's for sure. If nothing's wrong with me, because Epson salt sometimes in the bath bomb or the bubbles don't mix well.

Okay. The chemistry doesn't work. Big bath guy. Big bath guy. And so I bought me a new, it holds like my computer. I can stay in there longer. I can like watch some TikToks. Yeah.

You a bath guy at all? You know what? This is the God's honest truth. Because I wasn't feeling great this last week, I took my first bath in about five years. Just because I had like the shivers, wasn't feeling good. I was like, it was relaxing.

You enjoy it? It was relieving. Yeah. But I couldn't say that I'm a bath guy. I don't have time for bath. Oh, man. I don't either, but you make time for things you love. And you know what?

I love a bath. You love a good bath. And I can do it. You're just like my seven-year-old daughter. Absolutely. We probably are like in many ways. Do you have like little Barbies and duckies in there too? It depends.

Am I bath-balming it or my Epsonsalting it? Barbies is bath-bomb. Got it. Eps and salt is like sore muscles. Oh, yeah. Soar muscles have been working hard. Here's the thing, though, because I'm hurt right now. I have a muscle or a physical therapist coming over.

Okay. Any injury that I get at this point in my life, I just live with it. I just assume it's going to be there the rest of his life. Man, that's a bad way to go through life. It sucks. Like, I hurt my ankle, I tore some cartilage of my ankle like a year ago. Yeah.

Doctors like it's never going to heal. You can just. It'll never heal? The carlidge is gone. I mean, what a bad doctor. Well, I want to do. No hope. I messed up.

Have some bedside manner to you, for God's sakes. Messed up my shoulder. Never going to use it again. Never going to use it. Can't swing a pickleball. Tweeted my back in a pickleball tournament. It hurts so bad. Yes.

And now I just assume my back is always going to be hurting the rest of my life. Did you like, are you one of those guys that have to go, like, get the MRI, maybe a cat scan, figure it out right away? I'm the guy that puts it off. As a matter of fact, I was playing in this tournament, and I hurt, I felt it. And I fell on my knee, and I cut my knee up. But this dude was talking so much garbage, and he was cheating.

And so I was like, screw this. I was down a point or so. And I knew I needed to stop playing or was going to get worse. But I could not quit until I won that. And beat that guy. It wasn't about the match. It was about beating that. Yeah, 100%.

So I did. I beat him. And then I had to retire from the tournament after that. But I think I heard it worse by continuing to play, but I would do it again. That dude was cheating his face off.

So when you say cheating, are you calling your own points? Yes, and that's what he was doing. And I looked at him, and I think I told the story. I said, are you doing a bit? But I have a physical therapist coming over today to work on my back.

And then I plan to get back in the bath with my brand new. Back in the bath. My bath desk. Yeah, your bath desk. Anybody out there? I don't know. Dudes, if you don't have a bath desk,

you ain't living. You ain't living. And it's specifically for taking baths. And to do desk work on. And desk work. That's right. And if you do that. So you do more desk work on there?

You're actually watching Netflix. I don't watch Netflix there, but I do, I'll do some TikTok in. You'll do some TikTok. I'll do some TikTok and I will work a little bit. But it's how I manage my time to get in the same place. Love it. If you decide you want to be more of a bath guy, I have the perfect bath desk. And I will, I will get you one.

I appreciate that. You just let me know. I just don't know if I'm going to go down that path yet. You may not. I'm going to have to tweak a few things. I am the expert you call. You are the expert. When I have questions about quarterbacks, I ask you.

If you have questions about baths, you hit me up. I'm going to hit you up. Yes. Now, speaking of quarterbacks, I've been watching, just through clips and reading about it, especially from the local beat writers, about the Bears camp and Caleb Williams. And obviously, Ben Johnson is there now as the head coach who was the offensive coordinator in Detroit. And apparently Caleb Williams is struggling. They even gave Caleb Williams.

I said they, Ben Johnson, and the offensive staff, gave him a bunch of homework before camp because he struggled at OTAs a bit. How common is that for a quarterback with an entire new philosophy to struggle at this part of the year? Is it much to do about nothing? Yeah, I mean, there is obviously a process of this whole deal, and it's probably, even when you listen to Ben Johnson's comments and some of the pressers, he's like, this is brand new terminology, we're putting more on his plate, and right now they're going to continue to push him and see how far he can elevate, much he can take in, how much he can process now, because then you can always pull back. But until you expose him to the entirety of that playbook, then you'll never know what he's

capable of. Now, you can take the baby step approach where it's, hey, we're going to start really slow and just kind of introduce common concepts. But if Ben Johnson knows that that offense is going to operate at its best, it's going to have the motions, the pre-stap shifts. It's going to have the elaborate, sophisticated layers to it that they want Caleb William to be able to retain and understand why they're doing it. So I understand why there's going to be struggles because even when I got to New England and I was a rookie quarterback coming in, learning a new terminology that I thought was sophisticated. But there was a lot of check with me's. There's a lot of two plays in the huddle getting to the right, but you're also shifting during those. You're using double cadence.

And that's probably more than he's ever done in his entire career. So it's a learning curve and it's a steep learning curve. But I think what Ben Johnson's really doing is pushing him to try to see how much he can take in because they can always pull back. He may need a bath desk. He may need a bath desk in the computer so he can go through this stuff. So while he's in the bath, he can still. So you guys are like, oh, you take baths?

Yeah, but you're doing two things at once. He's a little sore, little absent salt, a little bath desk. Yeah. Watch the plays. Watch the plays. Watch the plays. I mean, every time I went to a new offense, it's the funniest thing because I used to have my wife literally go down the play sheet and give me the calls so that I would rehearse saying

them out loud because there's something to be said about knowing the terminology but then visualizing it and when sometimes when you're in a new system and even you hear the play call coming to your helmet you don't always process it you're just regurgitating what you're hearing so you have to practice those as small as that sounds it makes all the difference in the world to go into a huddle and have confidence and be able to visualize that play and say it confidently. Hall of Fame. We got four members going in, Antonio Gates. First thing that comes to mind, Antonio Gates.

I'm going to go basketball player because that's all they used to say. Now that's been done a couple times like Jimmy Graham was a basketball player. Those guys have happened before, but for me, Antonio Gates, basketball player that turned into a tight end. He was extremely dominant, but he was just so much taller than. everybody too. I mean, he was dominant. And he never looked like he was running extremely fast, but nobody could cover this guy within that five to 10 yard range. And then he would explode out and just get open down the field. He had a great feel. Obviously, Hall of Famer. And we've played

against him a bunch when I was with the Chiefs. And I used to just throw fits on the sideline. Anytime it was clutch time, third down, Philip Rivers would just find him over. You could try to double them, do whatever. You knew they were going there. Oh, you knew they were going to. him. He had sure hands, catch everything, just a freak of nature. Jared Allen, your boy. I'm going, actually, I'm going up this weekend. My new friend, really? Yeah, I got invited to Jared Allen's having something after. And so obviously we played together with Minnesota. Good friend of mine. I'm going to go up and celebrate him this week, and so it'll be fun. That's super cool. Yeah, I'm excited. Eric Allen, do you ever play against Eric Allen?

No, I did not. Yes, I did play against Eric Allen. Great player as well. Do you play with him at all? No. 54 career interceptions. That's a lot of free interceptions. That's a lot of interceptions. And then Sterling Sharp, way before you. Way before me. And I remember Sterling Sharp as a young kid,

because that was Farve's dude. In first generation, Favv that I remember, Sterling Sharp was a dude. Sterling Sharp was the dude. Big play after big play. Did you? Yeah. Good player?

No. No. Fine player. Fine player. Talked a lot. Smoked a lot of cigars. Yeah. But Sterling Sharp gets in.

600 catches. Different time, though. Different time. Five-time Pro Bowler, NFL, all decade team of the 90s. Now, those are the four going in. Have you seen the list of the folks that are eligible? Because I want to read you some of these, you tell me, well, let's pick who we think should go in. Okay.

Now, I think the rule is minimal four, maximum eight. Right, I think that they went four, too, because they had the year after COVID rate, where they had a bunch go in, like, full eight. That you mean this year four? Yeah. Yeah. So why don't we do,

six, let's just do it in the middle. It's going to be tough because I'll read you someone and you can say absolutely yes or we'll come back to them, okay? Drew Breeze. Absolutely yes. Put him down. Hall of Famer.

Absolutely yes. Larry Fitzgerald. 100%. Absolutely yes. 100% agree. Jason Whitten. Absolutely yes. Well, I'm going to come back to Jason Whitten.

I think it's yes too, but I purposefully didn't go through the whole list because I wanted to play with you as I read them. Yeah. I'm going to come back to Jason Witten. I played with Witt. Yeah. Got a love, I mean, I love that guy.

Really? Why? Just a unbelievable professional, but a guy that played with grit, great leader, played hurt. I mean, he tells a story where he had his jaw, like, full on, had to get realigned and had to go see this special doctor and came out. Still made it out for opening day. He played with me with cracked ribs and he had fluid in his lungs. And we were at the end of the season. Game didn't matter.

should have protected himself. No, was out there on Thursday practice. Got his lung drain. Like just a guy that could get open in a phone booth, understood how to play the position, could block at the end of the line of scrimmage, just an absolute stud. Okay, yes, I've now switched.

I'm now at yes. After that, he just gave me the one-one for the Gipper speech. You're a sponsor now. Is he live here? He's in Texas. Got it. There were rumors that he was going to come coach and Lipscomb. Yes, that's what I wondered if he was.

Okay. Frank Gore. he's a yes for me too so i'm going to come back frank gore extremely dominant but played a long long long time and i think what he played 18 seasons and sometimes people will devalue the length of someone's career but do you know how hard it is that you do but i'm saying it is very hard to stay healthy yes like there's as much much upkeep in work at staying healthy as there is being great especially at running back yeah uh edelman not yet okay olson oh great do you think his career has been helped by what he's been able to do at a

high level after the game. Because I think he's probably not there in this class, but I think. How many were you taken in this class? Six. I think, and we have three so far. And I think, but his profile, and it does, it shouldn't, but it does count. Yeah, his, but also his stats speak for themselves. Like, guy was dominant.

He also played at times for a team that was not good. Right. With the Panthers. Which sometimes makes you overlook how great he was. The same thing has happened with Keekely. Yeah. And he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play football, but I think people at times don't have the full understanding of how great he was

because at times he played with the Panthers. He played with the Panthers, and the other thing is his career was shortened because of injury. LaShawn McCoy. He's on the cuss for me too. Des Bryant. No. Okay. I'm with you still.

Three for sure, unless you put Gore in there for sure. You can come back to Gore. Marquis Pouncy. Gosh, how many years did he play? Years, I don't know, but I think I would put him in. Really? I mean, all these guys have, you can make an argument for all these guys. I think the hard part for offensive linemen is they're not as visible.

Yes. The fact that we know who he is. Yeah, that you know who Marquis Ponsi is. Another thing is how many Super Bowls, sacks given up, whatever it might be. that kind of comes into play when you're talking about an offensive line. 11 years. 11 years.

Okay, I'll come back. Philip Rivers. Ooh, he's another guy. I only have two more, well, one more, and then we can go and insert three others. Steven Gaskowski, who didn't get in this year, right? But I thought he would have got in this year, but he's also on the list.

Did you play with? I did. Stephen was with me for three years in New England? So we have to pick three from Gore, Lashon McCoy, Pouncy Rivers, Gaskowski. All right, I'm going to go with Gore. Gaskowski played a long time. He had, what, how many Super Bowl championships did he have four? That's a Kevin question.

No, he was post the first three, so he's at least has three. I'm going to go Pouncey for sure. So that'd be my fourth. You know what, you can convince me on Gore. That'd be my five. Hey, this is a tough list, man. And Gus Katsky, I'm going to go him too. I think he should have got in last year.

He's got three. Three Super Bowls. Is Vinatari already in the? Yeah, he went in this year. Last year. Last year. Yes, sorry. That's right.

This year, I went to the NFL honors, and he was there being honored for getting in it. Yeah. Yeah. He's all jacking now, right? Oh, yeah. Oh, I don't know. Oh, yeah.

He's like a big weightlifting guy. Peptides, for sure. Maybe you don't, maybe you don't put six in. I'll go, Stephen. For sure. No, Steve, and dude, the guy is rock solid, kicked as efficiently and effectively for, as good as anybody for his duration of his career.

Okay, then who do you think, without your personal opinion or bias, who do you think for sure gets in? I think the top three that we said. So Breeze, for sure, Fitzgerald, for sure. And... I don't think that if they, I don't think they'd take another quarterback. I think Whitten, to me, is about an 85% or. I think he gets in.

I think Witton's another one. Whitten to me is going in. So Brees Fitzgerald and Witten where universally those guys are in. And then I think Frank Gore's going in. Man, you almost have to put a man up for being that active. For that long. At a high level for that long. 16 years.

And the high level thing is important. You can't just be that active for that long and get in. Right. Or it'd be the hall of being. Well, I'm sure he's got a million different stats. How many thousand yards seasons, everything else that go along with it? That's a good class. Good class.

Yeah, I think it's a good class. Really good class. What are you going to do to fix yourself? Just go lay, take a bath. I'm probably going to take multiple baths. Go to Jared Allen's party. Go to Jared Allen's party. Yeah, you got to get back so you can get back at it.

Yeah, yeah. Just get back on the horse. Yes, you got to get. Just ride that horse. Get well so you can get well. You might get bucked off, but you know what? Little hair of the dog? Hey now.

I was going to see if you're going to play golf on Thursday, but I think you just need to hill up. It's my wife's birthday on Thursday, baby. You know, I've asked them to play golf. I don't know. anywhere from two to 70 times. I'm not sure. It's always a family, huh?

Well, when you have five kids and a wife, it's always somebody's birthday, yes. But it was my, it is my wife's birthday. It would be kind of hard, hey Ben, I love you so much. I just want to say, get your mouth off my balls. That's what I always say. Oh, we're out there.

So, all right, all right, that's it. I hope you feel better. Oh, thank you. I'm already feeling better just seeing you and knowing that a bath is my way to healing. That's, no, it literally is. It is. You think I'm kidding.

No, I'm not. Okay. I'm going to tell you, I'm going to give you a bit. Listen, as someone who speaks for a living every day for, at times for seven or eight hours a day, right? This is my instrument. That's your instrument. So if you do some, like, I guess they don't really do Bingay anymore. Did you have Bingay back in your day?

Oh, yeah. Okay. Now what is it? It's like icy hot. If you do any of the icy hot stuff in the bath, it's like times three. Man, I remember there's stuff called Atomic Bomb. Oh, no. like B-A-L-M bomb?

Dude, they used to rub it on. It was like fire. Can you get it though now? I'm sure you can. They have it in every training room. But if you take a bath of that stuff on your chest, yeah? It's like it lifts the devil out of you.

I didn't know that you were pre-med when you went to college. I am not, however. I am a doctor. I am a doctor. I am a doctor of letters. Do you really? From the University of Arkansas. Did they give that to you?

They did, honor to doctorate. They did. I'm still a dog. If I wanted to call myself doctor, I could. I'm going to call you the good doctor. I legally could. The good doctor, Mr. Bell. When I'm on campus, they have to refer to me as doctor.

Doctor? It's hilarious. Come on. Yes. That's amazing. I'm an honorary doctor. Except I could, like Bill Cosby, I hate to reference him, but he's a doctor. He was always Dr. William Cosby.

And he put that in his actual name, but he was just an honorary doctor. Yeah. I don't know if you're an honorary. You can go around floating the doctor term. I have a diploma. Yeah, but guys went to, I mean, people. I'm not saying I'm a medical doctor. I'm not saying I'm a medical doctor,

but my deeds and my service to my stage have allowed them to honorarily give me a doctor. I will not, I can't prescribe anything. But I do prescribe you. Do some icy hot in your chest. I see hot. Take it back. Eps and sauce. A plus.

You're back. I'm good. I'm ready. You're good. Thank you guys for being here. Thanks to the Titans for having us out. Hope you have a good trip this weekend. Thank you.

Yeah. That's awesome. Let's go, Jared. That is Matt Castle. That's kickoff Kevin. That's Brandon and Ray. I'm Bobby Jones. We've had lots to say.

Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle is a production of the NFL and IHeart Podcasts. For more podcasts from IHartRadio, visit the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The 26 NFL draft is here and the NFL Daily podcast has it covered from all angles. Join me, Greg Rosenthal and Jordan Roderig after night one on Thursday. Nick Shook joins me night two Friday and then Sunday to recap everything that went down over the days in Pittsburgh. We'll tell you who won the draft and which players were my favorite picks. Listen to NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I am Greg Rosenthal. I know that, Greg.

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