The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Open Mike - Dolphins Jevon Holland on Baker Mayfield's unbelievable comeback, Tua vs Herbert matchup

Episode Date: December 10, 2022

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland joins Mike Silver to discuss Baker Mayfield joining the Los Angeles Rams and having an incredible comeback win despite a lack of time to prepare, then talks about the personality of Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, his incredible flag football story, his aspirations to ultimately make it into the Hall of Fame, and whether or not he would play in the Canadian Football League if given the opportunity. #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 a cappella 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 podcast. 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'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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford 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 Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 Cliford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope From a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions.

Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help From a Hypocrite,

the worst advice from the dumbest people. you know. Listen to Help from Hippocrite Wednesdays on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. We always talk about breakout players before every season, and we have one right here. Open mic, very psyched to welcome Javon Holland of the Dolphins, who had a really good rookie year, and kind of heard his name in those breakout player conversations. And, dude, you just went out. and proved it right. Good to have you, man. Yeah, man.

I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me. For sure. I got to see you play in person Sunday at Levi Stadium against the 49ers. And not your guy's best game, but, you know, tough game, two good teams. And then I feel like ever since then the sports world has gone nuts. You guys went down to L.A. Monday night, Tom Brady's down 16-3 doing nothing.

leads him back in the last few minutes. Thursday night, Baker Mayfield does it in L.A., like 48 hours after he got off the plane. And I don't know if you're a big soccer guy, but I think we just had the craziest day of international soccer maybe ever in the World Cup. Two crazy comebacks. Are you checking any of this stuff out?

I did check out the Tom Brady drive at the end of the game. I saw Baker the last throw. at the end of the game. I heard about Brazil losing to Croatia. I was heartbroken because I love Namar. And, man, I don't know about any of the other games, but I do know that Brazil lost, which I'm pretty upset about.

But it's been a wild ride for sports in the last couple of days, for sure. I want to get into football, but one quick soccer question first. You know how everyone's always like, hey, if the U.S. really took its best athletes and trained them all the way through to be soccer players, our national team would be insane. Were you a youth soccer player,

and could you have been pretty good if you stuck with it? I was a youth soccer player. I played for about six years. I think if I had the same passion for soccer that I do have for football, I think I probably would be pretty good. Yeah, you know, if I leaned into it like I did, I feel like I would be.

I feel like I would have a shot, you know, with the work ethic and drive, I definitely feel like I can make some shape. I've been doing this a long time, and one thing I've learned from many of my friends along the way who play is, and I'll paraphrase one of them, I think it might have been Terrence Newman, long-time NFL defensive back who said this.

But he said, hey, a lot of us would have been really, really good at other sports, but there's a reason we picked this one. We're a little bleeped up, basically. Like, there might be a little bit of a screw loose that draws you to football? You know, that's a, I think that's a valid observation. If you think about it, surface level, football is a humans running into humans at full speed contact sport. So I think in the description of that, it is, you know, it can be presumed that we're a little bit, you know, we got some screws loose.

So for sure. That's why I love you guys so much. So it's possible that, you know, I don't have that screw loose, but I may have other screws loose. so we get along. Let's talk about Brady since we just, you know, I mean, this dude is 45, so it's not supposed to happen. He keeps doing it. What was your impression watching the end of that game? He is beating up father time consecutively year after year.

Him and LeBron James, honestly. His ability to execute, you know, down the stretch and to be able to do it at such an elite level for so long, it's unheard of. So watching greatness in live action, live speed is really always a sight to see. No doubt. I've pounded Baker over the years plenty of times. He got cut. Only one team claimed him. So it was very easy to look at Baker and go, yeah, this guy is in a terrible position in his career.

And I was jumping off the couch Thursday night when I saw what he was able to do 48 hours after he got off the plane. Can you put that in perspective for a non-football person, what he did? I mean, it's almost unheard of, you know, and it's truly about him believing in himself, honestly. And I think that is really where it lies is his belief in being able to get the job done. And when his name is called being ready, I know that in that 48 hours, he probably prepared better than anybody on that field. Just knowing that at any inopportune time, his position is going to be able to be stepped into and he can, you know, kind of grow in that area. So, and I also think that Coach McVeigh probably gave him, you know, a lot of words of encouragement. Just as we've seen, you know, a lot of mic'd up in camera action.

Coach McVeigh is a very encouraging individual. So I feel like the combination of him believing in himself, Coach McVeigh is coaching and just going out there and just, you know, for lack of better terms, balls of the wall and just, you know, believe in himself. I think that's what the result, what that was and, you know, not having that much time to prep. You know, I'm excited to see what he does in time to come when he does have, you know, a full week or two weeks to prepare for the opponent. Yeah, or maybe he just shouldn't prep. Maybe he's just, you know, he should just go out there and wing it.

Or he just go out there and wing it. I was told that he was literally learning some plays between series on the sidelines. Yeah, that's unheard of. But, you know, football is a strange game, and it calls for strange activity. So, you know, he's doing what he can. I'm happy for him for sure.

I'm glad you mentioned Sean McVeigh and the supportive words and that impact because I've known Mike McDaniel a long time and he's not one of those guys who the typical football person thought, oh, he'll be a head coach. He doesn't fit the head coach stereotype in a lot of ways,

but I always was fascinated by when he would get his opportunity because he is so different and, you know, has so many cool qualities. Can you just talk about kind of what, you know, take me through, got named, he had that first meeting. What were your impressions and what's it been like having Mike as your head coach? Hearing that coach, Mike, was our head coach.

It was cool, kind of getting a younger guy. And from what I've heard and asking people, you know, he was a great person. And meeting him for the first time, definitely reassured that. He's quirky in his own way. And I think quirky is a great term, as a lot of people have seen in interviews and whatnot, because he's himself, regardless of the setting, and the atmosphere. And I appreciate that.

I appreciate that about him. You saw in the last game, he said that it was on him that he messed up in the video talking to the tour, the quarterbacks. And that's just who he is. You know, he stands on his actions and he stands on who he is as a character.

And he's very positive for our team. Well, he has an incredibly unique sense of humor, which I'm a big fan of. Have any of his jokes fallen flat in the room? Has he ever tried anything? And you guys are just like, dude. Yeah, absolutely. All the time, actually. But he just keeps throwing him. He just keeps on shooting jokes. And I appreciate that about him. He's never going to stop shooting. So, no, definitely, definitely. He's always joking. But he knows when to be serious. And that's another thing that I think people should realize is that when it's business is business. But, you know, when it's time to be to being lighthearted, he's definitely lighthearted and make sure everybody's laughing. You guys went on that really impressive run at the end of last season when it seemed like your season was lost and got yourselves.

at least mathematically back in, you know, how surprised were you after the season when they made a change? That's a good question because when it happened, I was kind of, you know, I was in a place of shock. I was in like, oh, okay, I thought we had, you know, I thought we kind of had something going there. But then at the same time, I understood the move. And I was like, okay, you know, let's just, let's just continue to try to help the team get better. And that was really all my thoughts were. I appreciated the time that I had with Coach Flo and the staff. And, you know, they drafted me. They helped me become, you know, a better player and a better football player,

a better person. So I appreciated it for that. But I knew that, you know, time moves on. And that's just the way the business works in the NFL. So, yeah, I just, you know, kind of moved on and appreciated them for the experiences. You know, I think a lot of things can be true. Like, is there systemic racism in NFL hiring and firing practices 100% in my opinion, right? Like, that is true.

Should Brian Flores lose his job on paper? after his performance? Probably not. But I also know that there are dynamics in the building and things that play out that sometimes impact that. And I guess in relation to Tua specifically, it didn't seem like Tua felt confident or fully supported by that staff or by flow.

Were you able to notice a difference in Tua when there was a change? I think definitely in the off-season. LTAs and into training camp. I could feel him, you know, being more confident in the system and how things are run. You see that on the field, you know, he's dancing and doing this thing. I'm really happy for him because I knew that he was a great player. And, you know, people ask me all the time, friends, family, strangers, you know,

it's two of that guy, it's two of that guy. And I 100% believe in him. And I still believe in him. So absolutely, you know, seeing in a practice, seeing him grow and help me grow as well throughout, you know, camp and whatnot. You know, I was backing him 100%. And you see that now, you know, he's out there, he's out there doing his thing. You know, he's doing his dungy out there.

So, you know, it's really exciting to see. The fact that we're even asking this question is a great sign for Tua because it wouldn't have been asked before this season. And you are uniquely situated to answer it. But you got a game coming up against the Chargers. So everyone's saying, okay, it's Tua. The fifth overall pick, Justin Herbert, who went sixth. You know, which one's better?

you've obviously been around both. How do you handle that question? You know, it's interesting when trying to answer that question because I was around Herb in college. Completely different system, a completely different herb. You know, he's grown and come out of his shell and become an elite player that we all knew that he was going to be when he stepped into the league.

And then the same thing with Tua. Toa has now, you've seen, like I said, grown out of his shell and become the player that we knew that he was going to be. So I think they're in two different systems. I think they're playing at high elite levels. And I think them going head to head in an offensive battle this week is going to be fun to see. Tool being my teammate and my friend and her, also being my former teammate and friend,

I think it's going to be awesome. And I look forward to seeing Herb and see him do his thing and going out there and competing against him. Yeah. And I'm just happy that the question exists now because, you know, from August or any time before, people would have said, oh, Herbert's, he's going to be a franchise quarterback for years, too. I don't think he's got it. So that just shows how far Tua has come very quickly. Absolutely.

I agree. Very cool. You go by the nickname Snowman. Yeah, yeah, I do. What's your relationship with snow? Because I know you grew up in NorCal. Do you have any, like, experience in the snow? Yeah, so I was actually born in Coquillum, Vancouver.

area at the BC. So my dad was planning to see if I'm up there. That's why me and my sister were born up there. I grew up there until I was about eight and then moved to NorCal where I spent my adolescents. So when I got here, I was born 22 and then I ended up changing the eight. My college number, the eight looks like a snowman on the iPhone, like the little emoji. And our special teams coordinator, Coach Crosman, had happened to call me snowman in a meeting.

And I kind of just ran with it. I'm from Canada where the snow is at. We're number eight, which looks like. snowman and also a unique name so i kind of just ran with it and then uh matt collins uh he's on the he's on the raiders right now he ended up calling me snowman in an interview and it kind of stuck so i ended up just running with it i enjoyed it i mean it is your time of year it's you know christmas coming up and all that so yeah um i read a story about you um from your days in canada that you were six years old you just played a flag football game some adult kind of playfully best

with you and you put a move on him on the field. Can you tell me what went down? Yeah, so we were at a local park around the corner from my house and I was playing flag football or whatnot. My brother was playing tackle. And then after like a game broke out between, almost all different types of people like, you know, young kids, older adults. So I was playing running, I was playing receiver, caught a ball. Boom. It's just me and the, me and the guy. I don't really know who he is. I had cleats on. I was like locked in. I'm trying to win. and I gave a little one-two in and out, hard right to go right, as Coach McDaniel would say.

Boom, I see him drop. I'm like not paying attention to it. I'm running for a touchdown. I turn around, paramedics running up. I'm like, oh, what happened? My dad comes up to me. He kind of pulls me off to the side. Boom.

So, like, some time goes by. I'm trying to see if guys are all right. It gets put in an ambulance. And then next thing I know, they're like, yeah, I think he tore his ACL or hurt his knee pretty bad. Like, his knee was swollen. So I felt pretty bad. But at the same time, I was like, man, I was trying to score.

I happened to shake him out his knees. So, sure. I don't mean to laugh. I mean, the poor guy tore his ACL. I hope he went on and had a full recovery. But you were six years old. I was young, man. I was just trying to win.

I ain't mean to put the move on you like that, my boy. But, hey, give me those ankles. No cow. Oh, man. You, it looks like Derwood James, I saw his list in his doubtful, unfortunately for this upcoming Sunday night game. But, you know, that's a guy, obviously, that has made a mark in his time in the NFL. Is that exciting for you, whether he's on the field or not, just in the same stadium as he is?

Are you going to try to show out for that? Yeah, absolutely. Me and DJ are good friends. We got the same agent. So, you know, we've been around. I was hoping he was going to play. You know, I wanted to try to go out there, a little safety on safety battle. But that's my dog, man.

I'm going to make sure I holl at him, say what's up and whatnot. chop it up a little bit. But, uh, nah, yeah, definitely, definitely. I wanted that jersey too, man, no cap. Him and Herb, I'm trying to get those jerseys. But, uh, no, those are my dogs, though, especially DJ, like, he's mentored me in the offseason and, you know, giving me little pieces to my game that I can add this season. So I feel like just watching him from Florida State to hear, um, he was my mentor in high school when I went to the opening, too. So I've been watching him for a long time, um, trying to model my game after him. You know, he's a guy that can do a lot of different things. And I see myself in that same light. So definitely wanted to

claiming it today, but, or this weekend. But man, I hope he's going to be all right. Hope he recovers, you know, fast and be able to finish season strong. What's the coolest jersey you've gotten in the NFL so far? Man, I'm just like, right now I'm just like trading with my homeboys, honestly. Cool. Yeah, you know, being able to trade with like Diomador last week, Penae, when we played Detroit, me and Vrona are going on Jersey swap at some point.

But yeah, Thomas Graham, like being able to trade with my homeboys and us being in a lead together, that's like probably some of the coolest stuff. even last year too. So, but definitely trying to get your herb jersey, trying to get DJ jersey. Those are my dogs. Mark Webb, too. No way to get motion.

So you had a really good two years at Oregon, and then obviously the world changed. We had the pandemic, and, you know, it's going back to a little bit of a different time because NILs weren't happening yet. And I think the transfer thing, it kind of opened up. But, you know, it was a weird time. And I remember hearing all these kind of old line,

NFL people going, hey, man, you know, these people who opt to sit out and shows you something about how they feel about football. And I don't really know. And, you know, looking back, it's like, dude, Michael Parsons sat out. I think he, you know, I think that went okay for him. And I, and I don't think it's fair personally to equate love of football with how you coped with a pandemic, you know, in a sport where you're being exploited, your labor's being exploited. So, you You decided to sit out. Take me through that time and kind of what was on your mind. Yeah, like when they canceled our season.

So for my head, I was like, all right, you know, they canceled our season. I'm just going to go to the next step. And that was my mindset. I made sure my friends were in order, lined everything up. And then once I was like about to post a decision around like September 1st or something like that, they're like, oh, we're going to have a six-game season. You guys are going to have like October to be fall camp basically and you can play. And no one was really working out seriously anymore.

getting ready for the season. So for me, I was like, I don't really want to have to go through that again. And at the same time, COVID is also a thing. And it was, you know, heavily, it was everywhere. And that was also to my concern. So, and there was no, like, there was no backing, no guaranteed if you guys get sick or nothing like that. It was life-threatening at the time. So, you know, I did my, did my research and talked to my important people. And then came to the decision that it was best for me to opt out and then got the trainer for the draft. So that was really, that was really, my mindset. And once I made my decision, I was locked. I was locked in. Yeah, I mean, I'll remind people listening, like, there was no vaccine. A lot of people were dying. And we didn't understand

outdoors versus indoors as well as we do now. And by the way, football's got plenty of indoors meetings and locker room and all that. So, yeah, I hear you on that. I feel like, having done some research into you, I feel like we would probably get along really well in that I've often been told to tone it down on social media, especially when I get political. And my view has, among other things, I say, if I'm standing up against, you know, bigotry or racism and I'm standing up for what's right, it's not political. It transcends that, right? So it looks like you have kind of arrived at a similar decision. What's your philosophy on social media and just speak it out in general? I think it's important for me to use my voice, definitely. I think it's important for everybody

with a voice to be able to use that for those that don't. It's an opportunity to educate, not to bash or to disrespect, but lack of knowledge is usually where ignorance stems from. So I think educating and putting others in the best position to become better humans and better individuals, I think that's where it lies important for us to grow as a society. And I think that's kind of lost in a lot of the time that people want, you know, the worst punishment and the worst repercussions. But it's important that we continue to educate throughout the process so that we can be overall in the end become better people out of it. So that's basically, you know, my mindset behind it. Yeah, when you were in school, I saw that you, I think you were still in school, you talked about a hall at Oregon that was named after someone who had, I think, a racist past, like documented.

whatever became of that? They ended up getting the name changed. And it wasn't, it wasn't my intention for the name to be changed, but that's just what stemmed from it. I felt it was wrong to speak out about the current, you know, situation without making sure the past was settled. Even though the past is the past, it's important to still view those things. And that still has an effect on a lot of people today.

But yeah, the guy, he had a, he had banned black and indigenous individuals was from attending University of Oregon, and he had a hall or math hall named after him. And so when I brought it up on Twitter, I think one of the board members had seen it, you know, over some time, like a week or two. And then it brought it to their attention on the board meeting. And then they ended up removing the name. And I think they're either they've already changed it or they're in the process of finding a new name that suits that, that hall. But it was cool to see that, you know, and it was also kind of an example that, you know, the people also have a voice and if things are wrong, then they're going to improve and get better. And that is,

you know, I tip my hat to Oregon for being able to see that as an issue and change it and, you know, continue to be proactive in racism and bigotry. So I think, you know, that was really important for me and for the school as well. 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'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. 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 or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart 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. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to earn a story. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boe.

On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic. I'm not worried about balligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team.

And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the course. quarter finals are potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.

Help! Somebody! 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 Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream of chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. 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. In that 49er game, you know, Jimmy Garoppolo goes out early with what turns out to be a serious injury. And in comes Brock Purdy, who I'm sure you guys hadn't planned for much, you know. you know it seemed like you guys came after him which i understand because he's a rookie who's never played uh how did you feel like he held up in that situation i think he did i think he did well um i think with all things you know coming into account he you know he went out there and did his job uh i took my hat to him you know he executed he made the throws where they needed to be um you know made the checks when they needed to be checked and you know he went out there and

and executed and got the dub. So I took my hat to Brock and Coach Shanahan in the Niners being able to make the adjustment. I hope Jimmy's okay and that he recovers fast for sure. But yeah, no, he did his thing. Did he seem like he had swag to him

or was he kind of quiet and keeping that stuff? Yeah, you know, he had a little swag doing his thing. I think it was cool to see. You know, a young guy go out there and do his thing. Yeah, you know, he was getting banged up a little bit, but, you know, he kept his nose down in the dirt kept working hard. So, you know, I think that was dope to see it.

center time. Right on. Have you still played every snap this season? Yeah, I think the only time I came out was after I hit the tight end against Cincinnati Bengals and I ran off the field.

I put myself out the game, but that was the only play that I've taken off so far. Do you take a lot of pride in that that you've basically played every snap of an entire NFL season? Yeah, you know, I think that's pretty cool. Yeah, I do. To make things short, I do.

that's I think that's dope. I think it's if I told myself this, if I told myself when I was 16 and I'm talking myself now, and I'm like, yo, you're going to play every snap in your second year and the lead. I think that I'd be pretty surprised. So I think that's dope. Yeah. Although I feel like six year old you might

have believed it after the ambulance kid. Yeah, he might have asked what position we're playing the number, that's my swag looking like. You know, he might have been focused on other things. He might have been focused on other things. You I'm trying to like get to the Pro Bowl credentials because, you know, and I don't know how Pro Bowl works. I saw you're

getting votes, which is really cool from the fans, because a lot of times fans just fix it on big names or guys have been there before. You actually went to the Pro Bowl last year as the team correspondent. I did. Yeah, I went and followed X and interviewed him a little bit. It was cool seeing that. You know, I was behind the fence, though, which kind of sucked. I wanted to be on the field, in the Jersey, you know, getting the gear, taking the picture, signing the shirts, and all that. that. But, you know, it's still cool seeing X out there doing his thing at the Pro Bowl, meeting all the players and whatnot. Just in the back of my head knowing that I'm, I need to get there. Like, I need to get to that point. I need to get the Pro Bowl off-pro.

Like, that's my, that's my mindset. And that was, you know, some, some fuel that I used throughout the off-season and into camp and into the season still, like, I want to get there. I don't just want to just be good. I want to be great. I want to have the notoriety and fame. Because I just, I'm just hungry for. I don't know what it. I can't explain it. I just, it's in my head. So, yeah. I love it. You came out hot.

You hit back Jones. I think you got the tipped interception was the first game, right? You were getting after it. Yep. You still get, do your juices flow against New England any more than usual? I mean, you know, they're not, they don't have Brady anymore. But like, when you were young, you saw what they were like. Yeah, yeah.

When I play the Patriots, I still have that image in my head. You know, the Patriots were like, like, either you love the Patriots or everybody hate the Patriots. Brady and them just dominating gronk and Edelman, West, like, you know, those guys. So still playing the Patriots, seeing the colors. You know, you still have that memory of the time where they were running things, that dynasty. So, sure. Do you hate any team?

You know, honestly, I really do. I love playing teams. I don't really hate any team. I mean, I'm wondering Oregon State, Washington, baby. Utah. I hate Utah. Oregon State, Washington, Arizona State. Honestly, every Pact 12 team, I hate every Pact 12 team,

except for Oregon, especially Washington and Oregon State and Utah, especially Utah. Interesting on Utah. I figured Washington and Oregon State. And I know Cal's up here, so they're probably, they're your second, they're your least hated. Yeah, they're like little brother. They're like little brother.

Yeah, we need to get good enough to be hated by Oregon again. I saw a quote from you before the season that said, I want offenses to fear me, which I think is a healthy mentality. Have you noticed that that's happening at all? Kind of, not really. I mean, honestly, I don't actively notice it, but I start asking my questions like, dang,

like, why isn't the ball coming across the middle? Like, why am I not? You know what I mean? Why do I feel like I'm not even involved in the game? I need to be more involved. And, you know, to an extent, it's not like they're avoiding me, but sometimes plays just don't come my way.

You know what I mean? And I try to make as many splash plays as possible. Try to be near the ball as much as possible. And sometimes the ball is just far away from me. I'm like, damn, why is it not? You know, so I don't know if officers fear me, if they're trying to go away from me, but I'm just trying to be near the ball

because I like being near the ball because good things happening those who are close to ball. God loves you if you're running the ball. Were you doing the thing last year where you kind of go deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, like, you know, way back sometimes? Yeah, because I was like, okay, like, I had a like, you know, rookie year nerves. I don't want to be far away.

Like, I don't want to get beat deep. But like this year, you know, things, there's a lot slower for me, you know, reading things coming across the middle or whatnot, trying to just be near the ball and, you know, make splash plays. So, but I'm a lot more calm now, definitely, my pedal for sure. Well, you guys already had Jalen Waddle, which is enough of a problem for other teams.

And then you make the trade for Tyree Kill. Like, did you, did you notice right away, like mini-camps or whatever you guys got together, were you like, whoa? First practice, first practice he's run. I'm like, man, we are a fast group. We are a electric group for sure. First practice, immediately I knew it.

So it's been a blast to see happen live speed for sure. Do you catch a glimpse sometimes? Because obviously you're not watching every play. But like, when you guys have the ball, are you like, let me watch how these other DPs deal with this? Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm watching them going, yeah, man, I know how that feels. I felt that in camp. I felt that in camp. He is fast, man. All of, all of, all he is fast. Do you feel like, are you surprised that teams are still trading with Chris Greer? It's like, you've got Tyree kill and you've got Bradley Chubb.

Like, do you think at some point people are going to be like, dude, enough? I don't know. Hey, I don't know if Greer's got some spell on these individuals or not, but he's doing his thing, man. Forget the picks. Just give me the players. That's what he's saying. So I don't know. Gras doing his thing, though. You know, he's really,

he's moving in chess pieces around for sure. It must be some ninja mind trick because he's such a low-key, chill dude. Yeah. Yeah, he's real mellow, real calm dude, but he's making those moves for sure. No doubt. Is there a safety you've modeled your game after? There's a couple, honestly. I try to be physical like Bob Sanders.

Ooh. That's a, yeah, that's like that kind of old name. I love it. At the point of attack, Darwin is really physical tackling. Buddha, Baker, his effort to the ball. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poirers, like, ball skills. Ed Reed's ball skills. You know, I watch Tyron when he's, you know, down close to the line,

the honey badger, he's down close to the line. You know, Jamal Adams, blitting. You know, these are just different pieces I can pull from other people. Even Jordan Whitehead on the Jets, he's very aggressive and a very strong tackler. So I watch him too. So, you know, there's a lot of guys in the league now and previously that I've, you know, taking it to account, watch their tape, see what, you know, type of techniques I can add to my game approaching each week. So, yeah.

Well, the dolphins had a guy before you. And I kept hearing with Minka, like, well, they don't really know where to play him. They don't know what position he is. Then they traded him to the Steelers. I was like, well, I think I'm not sure what position this is, but it seems like the right position because he's making a way. play like every five minutes. You got to play against them this year. What did what did you see, you know, with him? He is back there doing his thing. He's back there doing his thing, man. Minka has been fun to watch. I've talked to him before and recently, you know, after the game.

I just, I mean, I like great football and he plays great football. He plays to the high level, fast, reactive. So for him to be out there doing his thing like that in 39, doing his, you know, making it, making it happen. You know, it was exciting to see. It was exciting to see for sure. Yeah, you can't be called the snowman if you're wearing 39. You know, that's a... No, I don't know that.

Absolutely. Have you played in any cold weather games like snow games? Um, when I was young, young, like flag football, it was like close to snowing. In Oregon State we played, it was like super cold. Washington was super cold. Last year against Tennessee was cold, but not like this 25-degree weather we're about to walk into in Buffalo. or this below freezing in New England, not like that. So I'm kind of looking forward to it.

At the same time, I'm bringing a little bit extra Vaseline, wrap it on my body when I go out there. Derek Thomas, one of my all-time favorite dudes, the late Great Hall of Fame, or one of the great edge rushers ever played in Kansas City, but he was from Miami. One night we're out drinking with some of his other friends, and he says,

135 degrees, I'm the best player on the, the field, 35 degrees, get my ass to the locker room. He was not a fan of the cold. So it sounds like you, because of your bloodlines in Canada, like you feel like you can do it. Yeah, you know, I kind of lean into it. Although, if it's like a, if we're on the field, then we're off the field and office on the field for a long time, we kind of get cold. You try to go out there, that's when it's hard.

Like making tackles, your hands hurt. It's hard to grip and make tackles is, you know, bruises hurt more. The ground is hard. but regardless of that, I'm going to try to lead into it. And on top of that, like, Buffalo has turf, so it's like, it's like cement, you know, when you hit the ground. I feel like they're branding opportunities for Snowman. I mean, I'm sure you thought of this, but you doing a Snow Angel and celebrate, you know,

there's something. Definitely. If it snows, just know that Snow Angels coming just because you said it, my man, just because. I was going to do it, but I'm going to put it out there just because you said it. I will feel touched. I once convinced, helped convince Clinton Porter's. to do a celebration of the Pro Bowl that he ended up doing in the Pro Bowl that I'd always dreamed of, which is you continue through the end zone and you do the fake running into the goalposts

and then drop down because, you know, back in the 70s and 60s, they somehow had the goalposts in the middle of the damn end zone before they moved back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I felt so just blessed when he did that. Like, I impacted a game, well, the Pro Bowl, but. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Okay, cool.

I'm claiming this. I'm going to air this clip like it was my idea, even though you haven't had that idea. By the way, tackling Josh Allen in any weather can't feel fun. It's not. It's not. He's a large individual. He's a large human, and it's very hard to take him down.

Yeah, I'll bet. Although you guys, man, that was a phenomenal game you guys had against them. Rematch will be fun. It will. They will. It was fun. I'm glad you mentioned turf. You know, we,

attention's been drawn to it again. And I remember the era of AstroTurf, which was really horrible. I mean, just truly terrible. So TURF is better than it was, but you guys actually play in practice on these surfaces, so you understand. How much different is it to play on turf versus grass?

Turf, it hurts. You know, it hurts the joints. It hurts your bones and your muscles. Like, being on grass, it's a soft surface. It's easy on your knees, It's easier on your shoulders. I think it's just time to make the change, honestly. I think it's for the betterment of every individual going out there on the field.

A lot of those non-contact injuries happen on turf, and your foot gets caught in the ground. And I think that's just something that needs to be addressed and it needs to be handled. We've seen this time and time again. MetLife, MetLife Stadium is one of them. You know, that turf takes a lot of needs and a lot of ACLs every year. I think it's important that, you know, those fields get addressed and change the grass. It's getting serious for sure. Yeah, I know Nick Boso was one of the people who went down there a couple of years ago,

and I know he was asked this question recently, but would it impact your thinking if you were a free agent as to where you want to play in terms of surface? Wow. That's a great question. I hadn't even think of that. But, yeah, absolutely. I think so now, too. I think that's definitely. something you want to take into account. If you're playing on turf every day, every game, you know, that's going to eventually take a toll on your body. So absolutely, yeah. They might not let you out of the building you're in anyway, but we'll see, you know, football's crazy. We'll see how it all plays out.

You made such a big jump, which we talked about in the beginning from year one to year two. How much more of a jump is in you? Like, are we, do you think we're ready to, see another one in the years to come. As big as in the end, it needs to be. I got a lot of left in the tank, man. So I'm hungry, man. I know, you know, it's hard to play in the NFL, but I am fanatic about being the best ever.

That's what I think every defensive player should have. That's just my mindset. And I want to continue to elevate myself week in and week out, and I know I've left players on the field. And I wish I could have those back, but I know that's just fuel and energy for me to, continue to grow and, you know, become better weekend and week out. So, yeah, I'm going to continue on being the best I can be until I rest my bones. I see what it is, you know.

That's just how I think. Do you have specific goals in terms of how, you know, you want your career to go or do you say those things? Are you more just like, hey, keep trying to ascend? Yeah, you know, in a greater, you know, view, I think. speaking out loud on speaking your goals until existence is something that's really important. And of course, I want to be all pro and pro bowl and highest paid and all that. I want to get all those accolades because I see it as a reality. And I see that as not even my standard. I want to be a gold jacket.

That's my standard. Like I want to be one of the best to ever play. And that's my North Star. And I don't think it's not tangible. I just think that it's going to take a lot of work. and I'm willing to put all that work in. There's nothing that I can't do that I put my mind to. And I just feel like more I lean into it,

the more, you know, success I'll have. And I just got to keep my head down and grind, take a day by day. Yeah, I think it's cool that you enunciated, right? Like, was that how you were all the way through when you were a kid? Would you say it? Hey, I'm trying to make the NFL. Like, did you say these things?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It started as a smaller view. When I was going into high school, I want to make varsity as a freshman because my brother made varsity as a freshman. I was always chasing my brother and my dad. So my brother was like, he's four years old and me. I wanted to make varsity as a freshman. He made varsity as a freshman.

I wanted to start because I couldn't make varsity as a freshman because I was too young. I wanted to start my junior, my sophomore year on varsity. I started my sophomore year on varsity. And then after that it was like, okay, I need to get Division I in order to get to my goal. And I need to get, then when I go D1, which I went to Oregon, then I need to be freshman All-American. I want to have the Jim Thorpe. And so going into my junior year, that was my mindset, like, Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe, Jim Thorpe, boom, COVID happened.

I'm like, you know what? Let me focus on the league. That's my, that's my next, you know, my next dream. I think sometimes goals aren't meant to be reached. They're just meant to push you to the point where you're ready for your next opportunity. And so that's why I think that Jim Dorp did for me is to push me into that point. Boom, then I, you know, focus on the league. And but in the back of my mind, it's always been, I'm definitely going in the NFL, you know, since a kid, since right now, what do you want to be in your grow up? NFL. People ask like, what are your backup plans? What is this? Is this? If you got a backup plan, you're not locked in. Like, I'm going to make it. And that was my mindset. So, seeing my friends, I went back and played in the Bay last week and seeing my friends, I remember you back, you know, we was playing in high school. I knew you was going to make it just off of how hard

you work. So, yeah, you know, it's always been my goal, always been the back of my head. But now that I'm in the league and I'm in the league and my eyes are so open like, oh my God, I'm in the league. Now it's like, all right, I need to be the best here. I need. I need. to be the most elite. I need to be gold jacket. So that's my goal. That's the Bishop O'Dowd Dragons, for those of you who do not know the great city of Oakland. That is a... Goddow. Yes, Lord. Go dragon. Esteemed high school situation. So say you had like accomplished all these incredible things in the NFL

and then like the CFL called and they were like, hey, will you just come play up here for one year to like honor the tradition. Absolutely. You would, you do it to keep the. Yes, absolutely. And I either playing for the BC lines or I'm playing for the

Edmonton Elks and I'm either wearing 22 or 17 on the Edmonton Elks or I'm wearing 22 on the BC lines. Those are both my dad's numbers. So boom, straight like that. I would definitely love to go play out there. That would be awesome. You could,

you could line up near the 55-yard line. I don't know if everyone knows that, but you could do that. you could you could uh you would not be penalized for 12 men on the field but you would for 13 indeed indeed there would be no fourth down uh plays no fourth down you got three downs to get a first down and if someone kicks the ball punt or kick and it's going out of the end zone and you got a chance to like keep it in keep it in because that'll cost you a point if you don't absolutely I'm wondering if Mike McDaniel, who I know how his mind works,

were you over near the sideline when he told Justin Fields stop during the Bears game? Yeah, I was actually the one to run him, try to run Justin out of bounds, and I was walking away, and I heard him say, standing. I got a lot. Hey, and Justin Fields, man, what's that like in person, that speed up close? Dude, he is fast as hell, man. I'm trying to tell you. I trained with him in L.A. for the draft.

And he was fast because he was running 4-4. I'm running 4-4. I'm like, man, this dude can roll. So when we were pre-like, you know, doing our game plan, I'm like, hey, y'all, he can run. Like, seriously, he's not, I'm not playing. Like, he got wheels. So seeing it in game speed is even more electric for.

Yeah, it seems like if I'm you, I'm more stressed out if I'm playing him or Lamar, Josh Allen, or one of those guys who can really, you know, go as opposed to a pocket guy. At least I know where he's going to be. Yeah, it's like a whole other dynamics. Because even if you're locking everybody down, it's still like, okay, first down, I just ran for like 25 yards. You know, as a DVD, the safety is like, damn, we had them.

Right. You understood the situation. You did what you were coached to do. You did your job. It worked. And then, yeah, whatever. This guy's, you know, you're in this tough division. and, you know, it's stacked.

You had that great first game against the bills. How far can this team go? I think we can go there. I believe in it. I do. I think we got the tools. I think, you know, we got the work ethic. You know, it's just about how we go out there and play on Sundays.

But I believe in us. You know, I believe in us 100%. I think we can go out there and make it happen for sure. Well, right on, man. I'll be watching. I totally appreciate you taking the time. and I eagerly await the Snow Angel. That'll be my viral video clip moment of the year.

I'll be so excited. Yes, sir. It's on the way. It's on the way. Thank you very much, man. I really appreciate it. No problem. Thanks, Rob.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 headwriter, Streeter Side, help an a cappella 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfilled 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. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in

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