The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Open Mike - Commanders' Daron Payne on beating Eagles, organizational turmoil, playing for Alabama

Episode Date: December 17, 2022

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne talks to Mike Silver about the Commanders' slow start and turning the season around by winning 6 of 7 games, including one against the 12-1 Philadelphia Eagles. He also discusses Commanders RB Brian Robinson's incredible recovery from a gunshot, his hopes to play in the Pro Bowl, his fight with teammate Jonathan Allen, and his enormous shoe collection. #volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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All right. Open mic is very excited to welcome one of the best players in the league who is quietly doing his work. You might not be noticing him. But Duran Payne is a guy who we thought might get a big contract over the off season. It didn't happen. Sometimes players bug out over that. This guy has done the exact opposite. He has just gone to work day in, day out, and gotten even better.

And my spies in the commander's facility tell me he does it every day, not just on Sundays. Duran, how are you, man? I'm doing good. How are you doing? Good. Really glad you're here. So I was the commander's sideline reporter in the preseason back in 2021, spent a lot of time around the building. And everything I heard about you suggests that you take football really,

really seriously. Is that accurate? And where does that come from? Yeah, man, it's a job I learned over the years that I mean, you go get what you put, get out of it, what you put into it. So I just try to put the work in so I can make big plays like I do on Sundays. You are definitely making big plays lately. I was watching the end of that Falcons game. Commanders cling into a six-point lead. They got first in goal or something a goal. And all of a sudden, I see your hand go up, tip a ball into the air. Kendall Fuller's gotten in the end zone. And I think that was six of seven for you guys. Is that a part of your game that has always been there? Or have you been developing the tip thing? I've been tipping

tipping bars my whole career, really. But I just got a whole bunch this year. I've been trying to get my hands in the thorn lanes and got me a couple. I want to know if there's any truth to the rumor that your defensive line coach, who I have unfortunately known for a long, long time, Jeff Skidina. He's got some crazy drill that I know it has to do with tipping. Oh, yeah, we do the volleyball baller drill off the pads. So that definitely helps us.

So you got like, you got like a sled? got to lift a sled and then hit touch a volleyball or something. Yeah, he really just wants you to get your hands up. And if you're not able to get there, just be able to get your hands up, just to try to affect them. Maybe he'll throw or overthrow. Maybe he might better. So how soon after you got back to the sidelines after that interception

against the Falcons did coach Skunina mentioned the tip drill? Oh, you know, he brought it up instantly. He always said, what do he always say? What do you always say? He always be like from the field to the game. That's awesome. And I know you had two sacks this last, your last game against the Giants. You now have eight and a half sacks.

You know, a lot of times defensive tackles do the dirty work and they're not really sack guys. Is that something that you've kind of upgraded this year? Are they just coming? I used to always just do the dirty word, like you said. I was a real good run blocker, but I really ain't have the pass rush to come with it. But then everyone always said that was the only flaw in my game. So I just went hard at it.

And it's been paying me off good. I love it because, you know, that defensive line room, you know, is no joke. You got you and Jonathan Allen to stand out defensive tackles, probably the best combo in the league. We got Montez Sweat on one edge, who is a, beast and oh by the way chase young uh maybe coming back uh so i feel like sometimes there probably aren't that many sacks to go around uh yeah i'm definitely i'm definitely trying to beat them to it so they know they know i'm at it early in the game just so i can go ahead and mark

me one off ron rivaara has been talking to me for the last couple of years and one thing he always preaches is defensive line discipline if everybody just does his job, the sacks will come, don't try to be a hero, don't do crazy stuff. And yet, you know, the players I just mentioned, including yourself, are elite players who, you know, probably have a pretty good idea of how to make a play. Is that kind of a push and pull that's been going on? And has that changed at all? I think at the beginning, it was a lot of guys getting out of position trying to just go make plays. And now we have a whole bunch of guys just, making the plays that come to them, allowing everybody just the flow as one.

You went into the offseason with some uncertainty about your deal. They had extended Jonathan Allen, you know, Montez. I think they picked up his option. Your option to be picked up and Chase is a little earlier in the process. You know, were you upset that a contract didn't get done? What was kind of your mentality about the money thing over the offseason? I know I went up, said. It's just another opportunity because, I mean, the market ain't doing them, but going up and up.

So I might as well just go put me together a great year like I've been doing and dip into that. Yeah, now you're going to enter a market and you're right. It's going to go up and you're having probably your best year and you've had great years. Is there, do you have any sense about the likelihood of whether you'll be back or go somewhere else? Are you tripping on it? Are you not thinking about it? What's your... No, right now I'm just trying to make as many players as I can

just keep on bothering. Really, that's my only focus. And if you did get the franchise tag, I know some players don't like even hearing those words said out loud. Would you be okay with getting the franchise tag? I mean, I just got a lot of things to think about, you feel me? So like I said, I'm just keep on balling, keep making plays.

and try to finish this year out, great. Okay, so a lot of people are wondering what happened. In 2020, you guys were down and then went on that great run, and you got to the playoffs against Tampa. High hopes last year started out bad. You guys went on another run and got back in the playoff mix. Didn't make it, but, you know, you still want on a run. Now you guys are doing it again, slow start, six of seven.

Since I've been to watching, it seems like we always have, like, slow starts to the season and then we find our way later on in the season. I kind of hate that part about it. Like, I wish we could just play good football at the beginning and then so we won't be stressing so far down the line. But this season, it just feels like everybody is just like I said, doing their job. Everybody are trying to like is the intent towards the work.

So I don't know. I'm excited for this year. It feels different. They flexed it, by the. the way. They put you guys into Sunday night football. How's that feel? Man, it feels good. We get another chance to go out there and make big plays on the, on the, what you call it, like for the world to see. So I'm excited for it. Right on. That'll be cool. When the trade deadline came this year, you know, we all like to sit there and throw out names. Your name got thrown out some, I guess, just because of the uncertainty about the contract. Were you aware of that and were you

expecting that something might happen at all? I've seen everybody talking about it, but I know the coaches and my agent and the team, like it was, it was nothing, never a discussion. So you feel me? I guess people, you know, they're going to do their talking and things that they think should happen. So I just let them do their thing. I know it's fun for them. Yeah, right.

Well, I mean, that's kind of cool, right, too. That's, if nothing else, that's the commander's saying. and we're not giving up on this season at that point. We're trying to win. Yeah, we've been winning to him. Yeah, no doubt. So Jeff Skunina, your position coach, we mentioned him earlier. He played, I think, 17 years in the NFL.

I'm sure he's told you the exact number of many times. And I'm sure he's told you that he made minimum salary every single year. What other things do you guys make fun of them for? Like, he's a very, you know, those of us who know him, he's a very unique personality. I mean, you know he got the love for the dogs, man. We watched the videos of him just at the, at the competition, walking his dogs and running the ring and stuff. We always joke on him about his dogs.

Yeah, like, from what he has told me, he doesn't really do a masculine walk when he walks with his dogs. Not at all. He fits in with the culture or whatever. Yeah, no, definitely. He'd be pressing. Do you feel like, you know, we hear about this defensive line, that defensive line being the best. Do you guys take some pride in thinking that you guys are the best in the league?

Yeah, we definitely take pride into it. I know, J.A., like, before the games, you come up to me every time and just be like, let's just try to make all the plays out there just between me and you. If it comes between us, let's just make it so that we don't have to worry about nothing else. So it just always ended up being a competition on who going to make the most plays. I'm trying to comprehend what it was like in Alabama because you guys were there together. And was Quinn in at the same time as you two? Yeah, I think Quentin was just coming in.

He was like a freshman. That's a pretty good college room. Yeah. No, they got a bunch of dogs in Alabama that I played with. There's another Alabama guy in your team that, you know, we are all amazed by his story. Brian Robinson, the rookie running back. Tell me about your relationship with him and what he's gone through.

Oh, man. He's just been just like a little brother to me since his family. He always just always being around me, always be trying to hang out with me and stuff. So it was definitely sad. He and that happened to him, but just to see him just go at it every day, working hard just to get back on the field

and then going out there, being able to do the things he's able to do. I'm excited for him. I already know once he gets back to 100, percent is going to be crazy. I know he came in and impressed the coaches a lot, and they had really, you know, big hopes for him. And then next thing, you know,

he is the victim of a horrible shooting that, you know, completely random and terrible. When you heard that news, what, you know, take me through that moment. What was that like? Yeah, I didn't know what was happening. I was just upset for him. I know he had just gotten,

gotten into a good position on the team. And he was starting and he was just doing some good things for the team. And then that happened to just set him back. I know he was upset. But he put his focus to the right thing just to get back back to plan. And I think he's going to be good. Yeah, when you heard he had gotten shot, I'm sure you thought, first of all, you know, hopefully he's alive, right?

But then I'm sure you didn't think he'd be out there getting, you know, productive, yards in the NFL soon? Nah, I definitely didn't think he would be back as soon as he did. He surprised me with that one. Man, and I know your team, people don't realize,

your team has been through some stuff, you know. Yeah, I always. I mean, you know, scary some of it, but, you know, I don't know, do you think that going through all the the, you know, outside tragedy and then, of course, some of the

organizational turmoil Do you think it's brought you guys together as players? I know for me personally, I don't, like, I really don't pay any attention. Honestly, I just go out and do my thing, practice, play, and go home. So like if the DEA shows up with agents on a Friday, you're just like another day? I mean, I've never seen it happen. Honestly, I've never seen. I was never there for that, so I can't speak on it.

Yeah, I think they, lucky. Luckily, they did it. It was like a fast Friday, and they did it late in the day. This is what we're talking about when the then trainer was under investigation and some agents showed up at the facility and, you know, wanted to get some documents. But, yeah, man, you know, but when you hear about stuff like, oh, the team might be for sale and all that, do you have an opinion on that? Do you get involved in it or do you just kind of let it roll off you? Man, he's just roll off my shoulder. Honestly, I just, I just, I'm supposed to. I'm the most football guy you probably going to talk to. I just come in, practice, meetings, go home, come back, do it again the next day.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

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You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

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Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, it's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows.

Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball.

Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read that you have a twin brother.

Yeah, Darren. Darren. So you have a twin brother, but he's not into football. Nah, he could care less about football. Like, seriously could care less? Man, he'll come. I try to give him to come to my games. He'll come and just fall asleep.

Oh, really be ready to go home, so I don't even invite him no more. So, like, if I met Darren and I was like, hey, you know, if I mentioned, like, you know, Odell Beckham, where's he going to go? He would look at me like, huh? I mean, he knows about stuff like that, you know? But he really don't. He could care less honestly. He knows the big stars, but yeah, he's just like. Yeah. That's awesome.

When you guys were growing up, I'm assuming he's not a small guy. Nah. No, we used to, he used to play ball, football and baseball and basketball with me all the time. But then, I don't know. When we got to high school, he was like, yeah, I'm just going to do my own thing. Well, yeah, I mean, because I know how brothers are. Like, you can get on each other. But if someone messes with one of you, you know, that you're going to have each other's back. Was anyone at any age ever brave enough to try the pain brothers? Nah, not at all.

No, we're too cool, man. You're more chill? He's like, nobody's messing around with you? Nah. So your brother just decided he's not into football once you guys got a little bit older. Yeah.

He's an artist, man. He liked to draw things, photography and all that type of stuff. That's cool. Do you ever go to his, like, art shows or anything like that? I mean, it's everywhere. Honestly, he made stuff for me.

He made stuff all over the house. So Coach Ron Rivera, you know, he came in during the craziest year ever, right? And, of course, including him having cancer. But there was a lot going on with COVID and the name change and, you know, George Floyd and so many other things. You guys seem to play really, really hard for him. Oh, yeah. He's a great coach. He motivates us and gets us going, so we just ride behind him.

What is it about him that kind of connects with you guys? I don't know, just knowing that he was a former player, and knowing that he knows the struggles that we go through, and he always takes in mind how we feel and put that into the work that we do, so we appreciate him. If you talk to people who actually play and coach the game, They will tell me about you all the time. But again, it's dirty work a lot of times.

Is it time to get, you know, for some national recognition, pro bowl, some of that to come your way? I mean, I put in some work this year. I'm still going. We got a couple of games left. So I'm going to try to leave my mark on every game. And then we'll close the book on that. Is there any one opponent that when you go up against them, it's just really annoying.

Like this guy just annoys me for some reason. Not annoying, but a really good player. Dallas, they're all right guard. He's pretty good. So I know I'm going to have to bring my A game when I go up against him every time. Does he talk to you much? Nah, like, if I do something good, though,

he'll give me a time of him. on the back, but I could play. Oh, that's cool. Yeah. And are you the same way? Like, if he'd get to on a block. Yeah, definitely. Is anyone brave enough to talk trash to your defensive line?

I mean, they try with. At the end of the day, we just go ahead and, like, get the business clear. Is there any one quarterback you would just love to sack more than any others? Probably, J-Laylor. Oh, right. J-Lor-Hertz. That goes way back to Alabama. Yeah, and it's just like, I don't think I've ever been able to sack him, ever.

So I've been working, I've been trying to get him. I ain't get them this year, but next year I'm going to try to get him. I can see how that's hard. I mean, he's smart, he's fast, he, you know, he sees it pretty well. So I'm glad you brought him up because, you know, one of my favorite plays from your college career, and you know which one I'm talking about. Oh, it's such a long. Yeah, they had used you in some goal-line situations.

you know, like to block and stuff. You end up doing the toe drag swag against clubs into the Sugar Bowl. Tell me how that happened. How did that all take place? Man, the play had been, it had been a thing like the whole year, so we'll practice it every Thursday.

And then we finally just pulled it out in the playoff game. And I had just so happen to have an interception, like on the drive that it was happening. And when we got down there, he was like, what was your chance? I was like, all right, let's do it. And they ended up throwing it to me.

How often did it work in practice? Every time, that's why we finally did it. And I caught it every time. Did you ever have to do the toe tap in practice? Nah, I thought Jail-Len was going to run it in. That's why he was holding this so long. You did beat Jalen's team this year in a game that they hadn't lost. You know, nobody, one guy did pick.

you nationally to win on video, I got to admit that I actually did pick you guys to win that game because sometimes I get them right. But very few people picked you guys to win that game. You know, what allowed you guys to thrive that night? A week of preparation. The whole week, I felt like we was going to win and then going into the game, I felt like the whole team felt no different than that. And we just went out there and did did what we felt. People thought it was crazy, but I remember in 2020, you played the Steelers. They were undefeated. Same thing in the midst of your turnaround. Did it feel like that game kind of? No, I felt exactly the same. Honestly, felt exactly the same. So if you've beaten the Eagles

and you get in the playoffs, you've got to feel like there's no team that you can't beat in theory. I mean, I feel like the losses that we've had, that if we had another chance to redo them, we will probably get them, but that just goes to show slow starts, man. You can't do nothing with them. You just got to play your best football soon as the season start. So at the end of the year, you're not scrambling, trying to put together a bunch of wins. Do you guys talk about it, like early in the season with each other? Like, hey, we can't start slow this year.

Definitely. That was definitely a focus this year because last year we started slow, but I don't know. what happened, man. We ended up starting slow again, but we've been tightening the things up and using every game as an opportunity to get better, so they've been working out for us. So last year, you guys made that great run to get back in it, and then a bunch of stuff happened, including, you know, some tragic stuff. And you guys, it finally all went bad against the Cowboys in that game. We all saw you and Jay

had your moment. It was, you know, it was a rough night for everything. At the time, I remember your explanation was brothers sometimes fight, and I know you guys are two competitors who care a lot. How long did it take before you and

John were back to being cool? I mean, it was cool right after that. I mean, it's football, man. It's football. Things happen. I get into all. argument guys every day down there. I read that you bench pressed 460 pounds in high school.

Yeah, man, I was a gym freaking high school. Four, six. I mean, that's just a little more than I benched pressed in high school, tiny bit more. It's close. Did you, are you still that strong? Are you stronger? Oh, yeah, definitely.

Definitely. I'm definitely getting after it in the way room all the time. What's the heaviest thing you ever lifted, not, not weights, but just like, hey, I got to move this big, like, plant or something. Like, what's... Probably, like, four-wheelers and stuff. You know, country stuff, yeah. Like four-wheeler's. You lifted it up.

Yeah, to get on the back of the truck, yeah. How high? I do it all the time. Well, I'm a regular pickup truck. You're just like, I'm going to lift this up. Yeah, I got a technique to it. I got a technique. All right, be careful with that technique until you get paid at least.

Does anyone block you with one guy, or is it always doubles now? I get doubles and I get single blocks. You just got to know, like, the past protection and what kind of protection you go get within the play. So they might single me up, one play, they might double me. It's just what you do with the opportunity once you get that single. When you get that single, do your eyes just get big sometimes? Like, okay. Oh, yeah, definitely, definitely.

Have you had a chance to sack Tom Brady? Yeah, I even got them a couple of things. times. What's that like? I feel like it's an easy one because he just go, he just go get it to you. He's not going to, he's not going to fight. So you'd much rather

play against Tom Brady that way. Oh yeah, he's not going to run. He's not going to run away from me. I can just go and get him. Who's the most frustrating? Like Lamar Jackson? Who drives you? Patrick Mahomes. Josh Allen.

Jaylon. Jalen. Just mobile, like mobile quarterbacks, they're a problem in the NFL, man. If you don't take a, like if you don't contain them, they'll blow a game up. Daniel Jones is actually kind of mobile, but you got him twice at this last one. Yeah, he is.

I just was setting him up there, so he couldn't go nowhere. How'd you set him up? The way I was rushing, I'd pin him to where his linemen and me, so he'll run into them, and we're going to run into each other. Yeah, because I think people don't realize,

like, you know, They see these big dudes and think, oh, they're just trying to run straight ahead and get around a guy and sack a quarterback. You guys have a lot of strategy to the game. Definitely a lot of strategy scheme and rules and stuff that you've got to take into mind. And I'm sure you and J.A. have your own thing, too. Like there's the big picture games, but you two know each other so well. I'm sure there's things.

Yeah, no, we definitely help each other. sometimes when we need it. He finally got some attention last year. He got a Pro Bowl birth and, you know, obviously he got the contract. Does he support you that way? Like, say, hey, it's your turn now. Oh, yeah. He's been telling me, he's been telling me all year that, well, since last year,

I was going to have a big year this year and that is going to be my time. The only thing he ever asked me, he was like, just give me $5 when you get your money. So I'm having a $5 bill. Hopefully you're going to have a lot of $5 bills, if all goes well. It sounds like, ah, just a bunch of dirty work. But there's dudes diving at your legs. And, you know, it's obviously there's a lot of physical, you know,

turmoil that goes along with that. Have you ever minded that? Does that ever bum you out? Like, why I got to do all this stuff? I mean, I play a noseguard at Alabama. So it's like I really ain't get it. I really ain't get too much recognition. I just went out there,

did my job, honestly. So it's just something I take into mind when I go out there and play. It feels regular to me. Honestly, like playing double teams and linebackers flow, that's all I did at Alabama. And for me to be able to bring it from here to there, it's fun. Were Alabama practices hard?

I mean, in terms of going up against, you know, you had good players everywhere. We definitely were real hard. I remember my first, my first year there, we did two a days. And two of days, it was like the first practice was hard and the second practice was hard. So he was always getting it. And then they finally got rid of two of days. And I felt like that was the best thing of him.

So we hear all these stories about Coach Saban and what a good recruiter he is. You know, how did it go with you? Was he, did he, did he charm your parents? Did he turn on the job? No, not really. It was just, I got, like, I was, I used to be an Auburn fan. And then when I just started being around, like the coaches, the, the, the team, just seeing how hard they worked. And it just seemed like something I wanted to be a part of, really.

In high school, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. Just being there watching them condition all the time, I was like, I knew, I knew if I, if I went there, I was going to have to put the work in. And if you put the work in, there's no, no other reason not. to just blow up. Well, you have put in the work. I think you're going to get rewarded in a few months financially, but I'm sure you are more focused right now on trying to get the commanders over the hump. Are you, do you allow yourself to kind of think about what could happen this year with this team?

I feel like we just playing week by week right now, just trying to, because we lost so many in the beginning, it's like every game that we play is so important to our season. So we just try to take it week by week. You ever watch Taylor Heineke and think, like, dude, maybe don't run right into the heart of the defense like that. Like, don't be so crazy. Man, I know he's going to do whatever he got to do to try to get the job done. So whatever he do, he do.

Yeah, I feel like he might fit in on your defense with that mentality. Like, he likes contact. Well, listen, man, thank you so much for, For spending some time with us, it's really cool to hear your take on, you know, what's been a really cool season. And we'll be watching. I appreciate you for having me. Okay. Thank you very much.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an Acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliver Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip.

I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast.