The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Richard Sherman Podcast - Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner

Episode Date: November 7, 2024

Richard Sherman interviews New York Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner. The two-time NFL All-Pro tells Sherm about his journey, from getting snubbed by Michigan State as a three-star recruit to breaking out at Cincinnati and going fourth in the NFL Draft to the Jets. The two also discuss New York's mid-season firing of Robert Saleh and promotion of DC Jeff Ulbrich, the uptick in penalty calls he and teammate D.J. Reed have had called against them this year, and some stories from Richard's playing days with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers that Sauce can learn from. #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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 IHeart 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, Clivert 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 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 IHard 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. On The Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it 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.

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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardweight with your favorite therapist and host Care Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere,

but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit are armored. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. The volume. You know this, sir. You know those football.

Championship. That should always be the expectation. All right, man. That's going on here. Welcome back to the Richard Sherman podcast. We got a guest. I've been waiting on a while since his rookie year. Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets.

How you doing, brother? I'm good, man. Can't complain. How are you? I'm doing great. I'm doing great. Just got off my run, feeling good. Coach called me the other day.

It was like, hey, can you play? I said, no, my growing ain't got that no more. My growing ain't got with these young boys need no more. Man, this game is fast, man. I feel like. It is fast. And it is a lot more lateral than people understand. But I want to talk to you.

from the beginning because you grew up in Detroit. I'm sure you wanted to go to Michigan or Michigan State. And, you know, there's been this story out there of you in the Michigan State locker room, you know what I mean, when you were young, when you were being recruited and trying to get there and they didn't even get your offer. And, you know, obviously years later, everybody left wishing, you know, what if, what if, but tell me how you felt about that. Man, I remember that day.

Like, as y'all can see in the video, I was real young. I was probably like 5, 7 in that video. That was my freshman year. And, like, that was my first time being in, like, a big locker room, like a locker room of a big school. Obviously, I'm from Detroit. So Michigan, Michigan State, those are the schools that you grow up on the go-to. You know what I'm saying?

Obviously, my dream school was Oregon. I ain't going to lie because they had swag, you know, the unies. All that was fired. But, like, Michigan State was the one where I'm like, if I could go to, like, a Michigan school, like, that would probably be the one. Right. Yeah, a lot of people ain't believe. me when I was making that video.

And, you know, it's just, it's a blessing to be where I am today. I remember I was at a football camp. And the D.C. from Michigan, I'm like, man, what I got to do to get an offer from Michigan? And he was like, and we don't really be, we don't really like blanky corners. We don't really like longer corners. And it was, I forgot his name. I forgot his name. I can't remember his name, but he was, he probably ain't there no more.

Yeah, he was. He's not there no more. He was in D.C. when I was like in 10th grade. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, it was kind of crazy, man. All of that was just motivation to keep me going and to push me to get where I am today, you know? Yeah. I mean, we all need the chip on the shoulder.

And, you know, I was the same way when I was coming out. You know what I mean? Just a skinny kid. I might have been 140 pounds soaking wet, like my sophomore year, 6-3, super uncoordinated. You know, I got a little better as I got older because I went from like 5, 7, Like you were your freshman year. Yeah. So I was that in the eighth grade.

And then by ninth grade, I was like six, two and a half. And then so you had your growth spurred in 10th grade, I'm guessing. Yeah, it was the end of 10th grade. In the 10th grade. Talk about how that was because I was super uncoordinated when it happened. It was like, it happened so fast. And you, like, all of a sudden got these long strides. And you're like, bro, what happened to my little body?

Yeah, man. It was kind of weird, man. Like my torso took a little minute to grow. So it's like my legs and my arms was just getting longer. And it's like my torso stayed real small. Like I was supposed to be in the NBA or something. So it's kind of weird. Like my running point was changing.

I was looking a little ugly. I'm like, bro, what's going on with me? It took a minute to get used to, man. But I just remember I used to pray every night like, God, please let me hit a gross perth. Please. This one, I was playing receiver because, like, that's what I wanted to do. But they're like, man, you're not going to be able to play receiver.

Too short. Maybe slide. And I was like, what about corner? They like, nah, I don't know about that. Like, you know, the game is evolving a little bit more. At least got to be like 5, 10, 5, 11. I'm like, bro, like, this is just not working for me, you know? So, God, answer my prayers.

No question he did. And all of it probably helped you, you know what I mean? Because you did get some receiver experience and, you know what I mean? Now, I think that's what helps us all, at least help me, is playing receiver for so long, just being able to see the ball, catch it, recognize the angles and the trajectory and all that nonsense. and just knowing how to high point it and all that, good stuff helped me a lot. Yep, yeah, I agree, man.

So when did you make the decision to officially, like I'm playing corner the rest of the time? Man, actually, it wasn't really even my decision to make. I went to King High School, Detroit King High School, and we was playing against our rivals, CASTEC. You know, there's some people that went to CASTIC that you might know of.

Donovan People Jones, he played receivers. He went there, you know, Jordan Lewis went there, you know, and our corner, the receiver ended up running like a glance route. Our corner ran into our safety. Our safety got up. He was fine. Our corner, he broke his jaw. So he couldn't go in there.

And I wasn't even a backup corner, but they didn't trust in the backup that we had. They're like, who's somebody that we can trust? Like, even though he probably don't got the experience, like, that could just go in there and just, you know, make some plays. You know, they threw me in there. And mind you, this is, I'm going against people who forced our guys. you know, strapping them. I'm like, maybe I can do this. And this was right before we started our playoff run.

And they told me like, yeah, you're going to be starting for the rest of the playoffs. Damn. You know, that's just what happened. Like, I feel like my whole life and why I am where I am today is based on me just making the most out of opportunities, you know. That's what happened in high school. Then I got in college, I get to college. I'm like a six-string, six-string cornerback, you know. I'm sitting in the back of the classroom.

Sixth grade quarterback, not really playing. And I remember we had to go against UCF. They had guys like Gabriel Davis, Trey Nixon. They had some fast guys. And UCF always was known for they hurry up. They had one of the receivers run a go ball and then sub him out and have another one come do the same thing. And it's like if you're at corner, you're probably going to get beat.

So I remember at the beginning of the week, like, and everybody going to have to play, you know? Amma, you even got to have to play. This is before they even calling me sauce. Like, my coach is not calling me sauce. Amaz, you probably even going to have to play. They put me in there. They run a sit route because it was real basic offense from them.

If you're playing on top, they're going to sit it down. I'm in cover three. I'm in cover three. And this is like, not a match cover three. We need to be billing. But I'm like, bro, I was watching film. Like, he tells me you're going to play. You tell me I'm going to play.

He told me I'm going to play. So I'm watching film all week. I'm like, I bet. This is the play that I'm going to make. Man, I act like I was bailing as soon as he set it down, picked it six. Yeah. And that's when everything started, you know what I'm saying? That's real, bro.

Because people don't understand the, like, balls you've got to have to really, like, watch the tape, but then go out there and do what you think and you can do. Exactly. Like, it's one thing to watch it and be like, man, I can make this play. I can try this dig. I can do this. But then you get out there and bullets start flying, and you're like, I don't want to, I don't want them to double move

or I don't want them to, you know what I mean? Like, you shot your gun, young. Yeah, young, man. I could have, I could have, like, the average person who grew in there young, like, man, this is my first time. I don't know if I'm going to play again if I messed up. Let me just do my job.

Coach, let me just, you know. But, you know, I always, I had a good camp. I had a good camp my freshman year. So I'm like, I'm going to show them that, you know, I'm not just a freshman, any old freshman. I'm going to show them like, I was supposed to be here. You know, I shot my gun. and, you know, that was the start of it all.

Bro, bro, that's mindset. That's really, that's a really cool mindset because that's what makes you special, you know what I mean? And that's in every aspect because that applies to everything, you know? There are so many people, their corners in the league right now that watch tape and see stuff that they can make a play on, but in the back of their mind, they're like, but what if?

And you don't play that what if game. You're like, go get it. Yeah, I try not to play that would have game. I'd be lying if I said I didn't, didn't that time. like I remember we just played against Minnesota. And I kept second guessing a little bit because they OC is nice. He's nice.

He is probably like one of the best OCs that I've ever played against like ever. So like, I'm going to watch, I watch film and I'm like, bro, they have the same exact stems, the same exact everything, and they're running the opposite route off of it also. They'll literally have a void from two and they'll make you think it's a dig

and have a dig and go off of it. Right. But void from two and actually run a dig. They have a void from two stemming and run an out route. You know, so I'm like, bro, they really, like, he's nice. That's probably the one of the only games this year where I was like, I was thinking like, bro, do I really want to gamble against him? And then they OC, they OC is their head coach, right?

Right, Covenant, yeah. So I'm looking on the side and I just see his face. He got that face. Like, he played quarterback. So, you know, I'm thinking like, all right, he looking too lax. Like, what's going on? Like, what's about to happen here? You know what I'm saying?

It was kind of crazy, man. But yeah, got to get him his flowers, you know. Yeah, he's one of the best out there right now. And he's drawing him up. Like everybody's, you know, Kyle Shanahan, McVeigh, they all doing them spray releases off the condensed split. And so when they get those spray releases, I started to, when I was young, I just pressed everything.

And I ended all that shit. And then I just have to just fight in the run game, you know what I mean? Because sometimes they crack and they get their leg for you and they get outside. And so I just have to. react quick. And, you know, every now and then they get me. But for the most part, the past game was dead. You know what I mean? So if it's, if it's third and something or if it's second and long or something, I'm up there. I'm like, hey, I'm about to dead all this shit. And y'all going to have to show me that y'all can get to the edge in this past game. And as I got older, we had to start

pedaling. I still, you know what I mean? I don't like to pedal. I like the butt to the sideline, everything. Yeah. And so I would, I would back up like, like, two yards outside, probably probably like eight yards deep, but to the sideline. And I would shuffle. I was shuffle for two steps as they stem, and I'd damn there be at like an angle so that I could break for the post or I could break for that out.

And, you know, I mean, I settle down on that curl, but that mess is a problem. The NFL season is rolling along and contenders are separating from the pack. The one thing that hasn't changed this season, Draft King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL is the number one place to bet touchdowns.

Fade to the corner of the end zone, running back breaks through the line and galves 60 yards for a score. We don't care how they get them. We just want to bet on touchdowns, and Draft Kings is the best place to do it. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple, like a player scoring a touchdown.

Go to the Draft King Sportsbook app and make your pick. Here's a reason for new customers to do a touchdown to answer their own. Bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins. Score big with Draft King's Sportsbook, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Download the Draft King Sportsbook app today and use code Richard. That's code Richard for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins when you bet just five bucks. Only on Draft Kings. The crown is yours.

Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler or visit www.1-800 gambler.net. In New York, call 8778-H-O-P-E-N-Y or text. H-O-P-E-N-Y-467-369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-9-77- Or visit c-ppgg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boothill, Casino and Resort, licensee partner Golden Nugget, Lake Charles,

21-plus age varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash football. Terms for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms, and responsible gaming resources. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up seven-layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat. In this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals on game day food, no matter what you're craving.

From two-for-one pizza to buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. Uber Eats, the official on-demand delivery partner of the NFL, order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details. Just like you said, that run game, man, it's been crazy. Like, the way that teams try to attack off the condensed, they see a corner press, they're going to try to get on their ears now, you know.

Teams really, they be hunting that, that is. Right. Unless you got like a nine technique or something that's really going to. Nah, that's a little different, you know. That's why I'd be saying I miss my dog, JFM, play for the Broncos. One of them non-texts where it's like, I don't want to say what I want to say, but he was one of them. Like, he crashing all of it down. Yes.

Yes, I had nothing to worry about. I'm not saying I'm not saying I'm not saying, like, you know, when we played Denver, before the game when I was talking to him, man, he's like, man, I miss your boys. You know, I'm like, bro, I miss you too. You know, it's one of them things. Like, that's the brotherhood that come with being in the NFL, you know, the plan that you have with the past guys that you play with, you know, so, yeah. It ain't no shot at the current guys. I'm sure they know you got a lot of love and respect for him. But it's just like Mike Bennett and Cliff Aver.

When they came, you know, we had Big Red and we used to play this six technique. Then Cliff came in. He wanted to be in a nod. And he would always, I would always say, man, you're making me getting the C gap now. Like, just know, you got to close this. You got to crash this down from me. And every time he would. Now I'd be like, hey, we live good.

You play it like this? We good, baby. Get some assistant tackles off of that. Like, you know? Right. We ain't got a big boy tackle every single play in the C gap. You know, he set their ends, condensed it down or set the head, arm over, and both of y'all make the play.

You know, that's- Both of us make the, I'm in there with you. Exactly, exactly. But every now and then, we used to have Mike B, and he had jump a gap, so he would be in, like, he'd be playing D-tackle because him and Cliff would play the same side, and Cliff would be the end, he'd be the tackle, so it'd be, like, in the four-eye.

And then he'd jump my gap, and so I'd have to go to the B-gap. Yeah. And, you know, it gets loud in that B-gap. You're real loud in there, bro. You're real. I probably only had to make one tackle and the big gap my whole lot of these

whole three seasons, one or two. And you're going to feel them. If you don't feel them right away, you're going to feel them the next day for sure. No question.

Look, I always tried to hit him shoulder to the thighs. Like, I'm trying to get down quick. Like, soon as I get down, wrap that up, I'm to the ground

because all these big fellas is about to come. Exactly. Oh, yeah, that's been my problem this year, bro, like tackling people high like, bro, I didn't get friendly fire

this, He's riding got friendly fire probably like four or five times a season. Look, I got to work with you on all season. We go, I'm going to show you exactly high track, bro. They're to the ground and you out of harm's way every time. No. I'm not hitting nobody high unless I got to. Yeah, bro, we played the Patriots.

I thought it was friendly fire. I'm snapping on the D-Line. I'm like, bro, y'all see, I'm pulling them. Because Ramon-D ran. He ran. He was like four yards up. I grabbed them. I'm pulling them back.

I'm thinking of D-Liamman came and hit me. Mind you. I'm on the ground. I'm looking through my earhole. Like, whoever hit me, my whole helmet and turned my face straight helmet that shifted. So I'm hell of mad, you know? I look on film.

It was the Patriot O-Liam, and he just dove it to me. Man, bro. But if I would have got low and just made the tackle, I would have been chilling. Everything would have flew over me. So that's one thing I do got to get right on, bro, because they be hunt. Well, you just got to track.

Hey, M-no-the-drills, T-O-know-the-drills. Like, it's just shoulder pads to thigh every goddamn time. Like, there's no option of, like, go high. You're going to have to bend your knees, get down in the shoulder to thigh. Like, I'm not hitting nobody high unless we're the same size. And even then, I'm probably not hitting you high unless I'm really just pissed off and I got some shit to get off.

Yeah, yeah, sure. You're doing a great job, brother. You get to the league, you know what I mean, going from like a three-star, then you and Kobe at Cincinnati. First off, he balled him right now. You know, he got his office. and he got him a book. He's putting it on tape right down at safety.

He is, man. We've been talking, man. We've been chopping it up. You know, I've been able to catch a couple of his games, man. Just let him know how proud I am him. He always tell me how proud he is. And me, like, he really a dog, bro. He really a dog.

Obviously, it's football. You're going to have your ups and downs, bro. You're going to have your ups and downs. You're never going to be able to just cruise like this. It's going to be up and you might go down a little bit, even if it's down a little bit, man. So, you know, just being able to see him out there, man. It looked like he's playing fast.

You know, in the run game, past game, he's playing fast. I seen one of the players. I forgot who they just played, but they threw the ball in the air. Bro had the ball. Safety, Kobe came out of the post, smacked him. He threw the flag, but they ain't called it. They didn't call it. Exactly.

They picked it up, man. So just to be able to see him out there having fun, man, celebrating. That's a blessing to see. Yeah, you got a pick against Atlanta. I think that was his first one. Yeah, I got to go talk to him because you can't slide on picks. I'm like, wait, it's too hard to get them. I'm running forever.

You look at all my picks, boy, I'm cutting across the field. I'm making this play last as long as I can. Exactly, exactly. I didn't even know he slid on that. I just seen him post it. I just seen him catch the picture of him catching it. No, he caught him, ran a couple yards, and then, like, did a juke, and then slid. And I was like, no.

Oh, yeah. Keep on. Go get more. You tripping. You tripping. But talk to me about getting drafted, and as high as you got drafted, was that where you wanted to go, or is that where you expected it? Is that where you expect it?

Because, I mean, it's a short list of corners that they went top four. You know, I really thought that New York was where I was going to end up. You know, I love their coaching staff. You know, Houston, the official there, the 30 business there was smooth. I feel like they scheme wasn't really for me.

Right. When they had that coaching staff, obviously they got a different coaching staff not as similar to the scheme that we play in New York, you know. You know, so when I got on, When the Jets called me, bro, it was a blessing, man. It was a blessing.

That's where I wanted to be. Obviously, I got the name, Salsa. My marketing people was already, they're like, oh, yes, yes, you know what I'm saying? But for the football perspective, you know, because that's the main thing, you know, I was blessed to be able to, you know, come to New York, man. And, you know, I'm still blessed to be able to be playing here. Well, tell the people some stuff they know, you know what I mean? Because, you know, New York market is crazy.

The media is crazy as you've experienced for the last. That's two years the good and the bad. Talk about how this journey has affected you, your family, you know what I mean, who you brought with you, you know what I mean? Like, I know this has been a blessing for your family, but just talk about the impact that you've been able to have. Man, it's a blessing, man. The area I come from, I think, is the most dangerous part of Detroit, you know.

So me to be able to just move my mom out the hood, you know, And the stuff that I seen growing up is like stuff that a lot of people my age during that time wouldn't have seen. So it's just all things that motivate me and all things that I consider my why. So just to be able to move my immediate family out of the hood and stop all the stuff that they was going through, you know, it's a blessing. And to be able to come to New York, you know, it's a blessing because the fan base, they've welcomed me with my arms. Obviously, it's going to be some good and some bad, especially like, and I'm not. I mean this in the most humble way as possible, you know, especially when you come in in the league and you have as much success that I've had in New York. You know, I feel like people will be waiting to see you not have your best game.

So what I've learned is like, obviously, every game that I play is not going to be the greatest, you know, but I don't think I really have like horrible, horrible games. It'll be like, all right, cool. I play decent this game. But my decent games, they look at it as like I played horrible. but if it's somebody that's not in the New York market, it's like my decent game would be like a pretty good game for the person who's not in the New York market. You know, so that's what this year has made me understand

because obviously if we were winning, it wouldn't be a huge deal. But you got, when we're not winning as much, you know, it's an extra emphasis on everybody. You know, especially when you have these diehard Jets fans who were like, they've been waiting for us to make the playoffs for the longest. They've been waiting for us to win the Super Bowl.

for the longest. So I understand. You know, I understand where it all comes from, you know, and yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, if anybody feels you, you know, I wasn't in the New York market, but I had a lot of spotlight on me and our team, you know, because the success we had and Legion of Boom, and I just talked to most shit, you know what I mean? I'm talking cash out there. Like, I'm not really feeling all this nonsense they talk about. And so, you know, every game, they want you to fail. I, I goddamn have an eight-pick season my second year. year I'm all pro. They tell me I'm a bum. I'm like, I got eight books. I didn't shut down everybody y'all put in front of me and y'all. Then the next year, I lead the league in

picks. Another eight picks. We win the Super Bowl, number one defense in the world, up for defensive player of the year. They're still talking, he's slow. It's the scheme. It's this. I said, why ain't nobody else getting eight books in the scheme? Why? Why there's so many people running this scheme and ain't nobody else having this got a success. Maybe I'm one of them. And then the next year, you know, all pro. And they're still, you know what I mean? So after a while, you got to sit there and be like, man, maybe people just want to hate. Yeah.

Like they look for you to have one bad play. If I give up a catch, I gave up a slant one time to Keenan Allen. I never forget it. It was the 2014, 2015 season. And I mean, when I tell you it was plastered all over ESP, and this is a slant, and I'm dead tired, it's 120. It's like the 12th player to drive. I'm dead out there.

I ain't a lie. And it's like he just came off the sideline. I just ran a go route. I'm like breathing. And so he outside released me. So, you know, I go for the fade. And then he's run a slant. I just head whip it and I'm just like, get him to the ground.

Like, I'm tired. You know what I mean? And boy, they got that plaster everywhere. He's exposed. Like, they exposed and they finally showed everybody he can't play. I said, a slant? Yeah. Like, y'all got to be getting me.

Man, I feel like, I think that they don't know what we, like, what it took for us to get there. You know, so it's like they don't understand. And you got to think about the whole other side where it's like people really betting on the games. So it's like a lot of the anger would be from that, you know. So it took me a minute of the process like, bro, I mean, I get I just missed the tackle that went for like five or six yards.

But like, is it the end of the world? Like what are we like what are we doing? I play corner. I'm not saying corners only need to cover because I used to say that a lot. Corners covered, but like a complete corner is the best. best corner, thousand percent. But as a corner, matter of fact,

not even just a corner, as a defender, you're going to miss tackles every now and then. You go, that's just what it is. You know what I'm saying? Linebackers, D-Liamen, corner safeties, everybody going to miss tackles it, you know, at some point. You know, so that is what it is, but, you know,

sometimes I feel like they think we robots. You know what I'm saying? You're totally right. They have unrealistic expectations. Like, there are mistackles or you like, man, but one thing I'll say is, like, y'all don't care more than we care. You know what I mean? Like, they don't care more than you care.

Bro, I had a tackle. I had a tackle that I missed against the Texans. They threw the flat route. I go low. Quincy bumping to me because he's going for the tackle as well. So I bounce off of him and I bounce off my shorts. They say, I watch the TV copy. It's like, yeah, man, this is something that they're saying that he has to improve.

Obviously, I want to improve in everything. but it wasn't like I just ran up to him and just missed the tackle. You know what I'm saying? It's just, it would be stuff like that. I don't really pay attention to it no more, but it's just stuff like that where it's like, what are we talking about? It's just something to talk about.

Like, they're going to pick your game part. They go, they go, they always kept saying, you know what I mean? Even when I'm having crazy success, they're like, yeah, but he's slow. I'm like, y'all really think I'm out here picking every go route that's out there and I'm slow. Like, y'all got to be on drugs. Y'all think the receiver running 4'3, and I'm just out here running 4'6,

and I'm just same speed as him going up, catch the ball, bringing it down. And it just be nonsense. And so you got to understand, you got to keep the main thing, the main thing, you know what I mean, get better at what you can get better at, work on your craft,

and keep just challenging yourself because nobody wants it better than more than you. Nobody has higher expectations for yourself than you do. It didn't been days where I couldn't sleep of giving up a 20-yard pass. And that's my only completion. And that's my only reception of the day

that allowed on me, bro. Just like, bro, I really could have did. I really could have, I really should have, I'm my biggest critic. Y'all don't got to, hey, I wanted, I wanted the baddest. My coach's no longer to me. Y'all don't want to, so just like you said, bro,

I'll really be having them days where it's like, bro, I'm over-critique myself. You know what I'm saying? That's just, I am. And they sometimes let the results, like, dictate their feelings. Like, like, when I'm playing well, I'm preparing well. When I didn't play well, I still prepared well. I guarantee you I still put the time in, put the work in, put the energy in.

I gave it everything I had. They just had a better day to me. That happens. I'm a human being. Like, I might have stumbled on this. I might have saw something different than what it was. But I guarantee you, I still put the work in to get there. You're like, it's going to work out for you.

You stay with that formula, brother. It's going to work out exactly like it's supposed to. and it's going to work out like that for the team. Sometimes it's just being able to have that mindset and allow other people around you to elevate too. It's hard because we play corner. So corner's such an individual like, I'm in this world. Y'all don't understand.

I got a lot of space and a lot of great athletes. I got to deal with all day. Exactly. 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you're just so you, y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. So, oh. Thank you for finishing that sentence. And yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for

black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns.

Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. This is Saigon. the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by and allow any power, however great, take over another country. From My Heart Podcasts, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? I should stop talking so much.

I like hearing you talk. One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. Do you read me? They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches. I'm on a landmine.

Or freeze on. Let's get out. Freedom, mom, hit nine. Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Sting, here's madness. The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

But in order to be a great defense and a great team, and y'all have been a great defense since you've been there, you know, with Sala and we're going to talk about Sala in a little while, but you just got to keep encouraging each other, and it's a lot of what DeVante's talking about when he came in. You know what I mean? That's winning culture. It's about celebrating, like, if you saw our practices,

you'd think we were crazed dogs, and we're on the sideline. You sitting there looking at all pros on the sideline, getting super hype for this practice squad. kid, batting a pass down. And you're like, bro, who is this they getting excited for? Is he going to make the team? It's like it ain't about him making a team. It's about us celebrating everybody's success.

Like I care about him winning. We worked hard. He in the film room. We in a film room with him. We see how hard he working, how much better he's gotten. And we want him to show how much we care that he's out there putting to work and he's having success. And when you do that on a big scheme,

everybody feels like they matter. Everybody's putting in the work. So then everybody, wants to put the same effort in that you putting in. Yeah. Yeah. No, I feel that. I feel that for sure. Yeah.

But talk to me about Sala, because you talked about playing for Sala, and obviously you've been playing for Brick the whole year, and, you know, he's been your coordinator. That move just seemed crazy. I talked to DJ about it. He seemed to be, like, caught off guard by it and just, you know, it just was unexpected. Not, you know, you guys don't have any control over what happens and who gets hired and fired, but talk about your mindset when that happened. And I was shot.

You know, I wasn't on Twitter during that time. So my agent just texted me, he was like, how you feel about the news? And I didn't even know what he was talking about. I just asked him like, is it bad, bad news? Like, or is it just bad news? It's like bad, bad news. And I just typed in New York Jets. And that's all I could see.

That's all I could see on Google, bro. So I'm like, man, it's crazy. I wouldn't expect him because a record wasn't even that bad at the time. You know what I'm saying? I don't remember what it was. but it wasn't. It was two and three. Yeah, it was two and three.

So, you know, it kind of caught me off guard. You know, I remember I text and told him I love him and I appreciate him because he really was a huge reason while my family's life changed, you know? So, you know, we still talk. You know, he called me the other, the other, what was it? Like a week ago, a week and some change ago and was like, hey, make sure y'all out there having fun, man.

I see y'all, hey, it looked like y'all not having as much fun right now. Make sure y'all celebrating everything. I'm like, you're right, coach, you know, and it starts with me. Let me make sure I'm not making this just feel like a job. Let me make sure I'm treating this like it's my passion because it's really what it is. This is my life. And, you know, I addressed that with the defense.

And, you know, I feel like we all took them to matter. Yeah, I mean, I respect that. He still wants your team to do well, you know, and that's all he keeps. When I talk to him, he's like, bro, I want them to make the playoffs. I want to see my guys have success. They earned it. They deserve it.

know, and that's hard, you know what I mean? Because I'm a spiteful kind of dude. So you, you know what I mean? And I don't think it has anything to do with y'all. But the owner doing that to me as a person, personally, I'd be like, man, I'm all that. I'm done with all this, you know, but Salah ain't that kind of guy. You know, he's still, like, he's hurt by that.

You know, he thinks he should have been given an opportunity to have a full, you know, 17 games with Aaron at the helm and his gods, you know what I mean? Let him see that. It ain't going to work. Or it is going to work. I think y'all still got a great team. when it comes to defense, like even missing tackles. Like when you swarm, it don't matter.

No matter at all. If everybody gets there, then nobody even notice you missed the tackle because the next person hitting him a half a second later. And so mistackles only show up when the effort of everybody isn't there. And I'm not talking about your stack monsters because it looked like Quinn and be all over the place like Project Roaches. And so does Quincy and so does CJ when he's out there and the D-Line. but it has to be like habits and practice.

Like every single play. We only out there three four plays before they rotate the tools in. So it's like, but three four plays, can everybody get to the ball? Like even backside corner, can you just come tag off? Even if you tagging off right as he goes into the huddle. Fuck it. Like it's a mentality, it's a mindset every single time. So then when we get out there on game day, like it's given.

Like you don't even have a choice. Your body just starts going. You're like, man, what am I doing? Why am I still running all the way over there? They already taffling. But when it becomes habit, you start running, you start having fun, and you start hitting people, and you start, like, you start swarming and people don't want to go play with you.

Right, right. Now, I feel like, I definitely feel like when you run into the ball, that's when it starts, like having fun out there, like, because you're sacrificing your energy for the man next to you. You know, I'm speaking on behalf of, like, if you're the backside corner, are you going to make the play? Probably not, but you never know. You never know what you happen.

So, you know, that's just one of those things where it's like, man, We all got to be swarmer. Like you said, if everybody's swarming, somebody missed a tackle, he gets cleaned up right now. But we're like, if it's not no effort, then he's going to miss the, if somebody missed a tackle, gain another 10 yards. And it's like, such and such has to make that play. Such has to make that tackle.

What is he doing when it's so much, it's a team sport. It's a team sport. Getting off blocks, running to the ball, all of that. All of that. And it takes everybody and a rising tide lifts all ships. If everybody's swarming, everybody looks good. Everybody, you know what I mean? Nobody's looking like they're missing tackles.

It just looks like, damn, this New York Jets defense is all over the place. Like what has gotten into them? Like, they crazed dogs. And a lot of times that used to be how we work. You know what I mean? Because, and I give Earl Thomas a lot of credit. You know what I mean? We had a lot of talent on this defense.

But when you talk about practice, a tone setter at practice, that boy is full speed and walk through. Practice. I don't give a damn. if we're in a hotel ballroom, like full speed. If you don't want him to go full speed, take him out. Yeah. And so if he's going at that pace, we must go at that pace.

Right. So it ain't no choice. It ain't no like, man, we're going to go slow. We're going to go this. What pace are we going today? Ain't nobody, ain't no question. And then the offense just has to deal with what we have to deal with. Because they're like, we already know these boys.

Like, coach, don't put the ones against the ones. You already know what these dudes are on, man. Yeah. Put the tools out there. We don't even feel like dealing with them. Yeah. No, I feel that it's crazy. I was going to take.

I seen a play with Earl Thomas he was in a post he was in a post but they ran like a screen he was the first person to make the play on the screen like I'm like bro how I had to keep rolling in the back we watched this in the meet in the film that was crazy I'm like oh yeah he different

he was the middle field post safety yes yes like because his like in his brain like he watching so much film so when he sees what he's supposed to see like a play developing like he knows he trusts like what you were talking about like no hesitation, no doubt, no nothing.

Like he's trusting, I've watched 50 hours of tape on his team. Like, I'm going. And so when you got five, six dudes out there all just, we locked in, we communicate and everything. So it's like even if he wrong, we're going to cover it. Like, we're going to get,

we're going to get back and we're going to get the play dead it. You know what I mean? Even if you're wrong. He didn't got a rough in the pass or call out the middle of the field. Bro, it was crazy. That's crazy. He's wild, bro. He's the best to do it, bro. And, you know, I got to say that because I played with him and I saw him every day.

No, I feel that. But I'm a big fan of your game, brother. I loved you when you came in. I loved, you know, the all pros and all that, but I loved your press, your footwork. Obviously, I talk to Sala all the time and, you know what I mean? I talk to you as much as I could when, you know, he asked me to call you and give you my two cents or I try to text you and give you my two cents. because he just wanted the best for you. But if you got any questions for me or anything you want to ask me, man,

I'd be happy to answer. Yeah, most definitely, man. We're going to stay in touch. Like you said, solid definitely when it was best for me, bro, and I appreciate you for, you know, always hit me up when you could. Tell me, give me some tips, bro,

because it definitely helped me, bro. Definitely, no matter how big I get, all pros, pro bows, none of that, bro. Like, I'm always going to be a sponge. You know, always going to be willing to learn. You know what I'm saying? Never going to get the best. big head. So, no, I definitely appreciate that. No, I appreciate you, man. You've been incredible

and obviously starting as fast as you did. Just keep on doing what you've doing. Stay humble, love on your family and stay on the grindstone. And like I told you, just don't let these people get to you and get you out of character. The same thing I told you the other day is because that's all they waiting for. They're waiting for you to get out of character to be like I, just like they waiting for you to make a mistake and get beat on the play. You know, so they can say, I told you. So I told you he wasn't like that. I told you he just a kid from Detroit. He just had, That's just that Detroit in them. We knew it the whole time.

We just was waiting for it to show up. Exactly. Just keep, you know what I mean? You're a pros, pro. You've handled everything beautifully. You've handled the start of your career incredibly. Just keep on keeping on, man. And keep my boy DJ Reed humble and get them snacks.

The rookies got to get the snacks. Oh, bro. Speaking of that, no, don't get me wrong. DJ, bro, like, he's cool. He a cool vet. He definitely ain't how you was. I heard some stories about you with them snacks, man. But, man, DJ,

DJ been doing this thing this year, bro. He definitely got it. I always watch. We always picking each other's brains, bro. So it's great being in the same room as him. Speaking of the snacks, we got Quantan Snickers, right? Quantan Stingers, I can't even call him his nickname, man. So we still ain't got no snacks.

Oh! He say, man, we got the Thursday night getting, DJ like, bro, where the snacks at? DJ, if you're on his bad side, It's something that you did wrong. You know what I'm saying? That's just how he is. Like, he ain't got no ego.

He ain't got, like, he's he he he he he hell of cool. So Sting say, uh, nah, bro, we got, we got three. He said, he said, he said it like this. Nah, bro, we got three days off at the Thursday night game. So, you know, I'm just wait until we get back. We like, what? But then we like, all right, cool, go, go. We get back yesterday, which is Monday.

The snacks deal not there. He said, bro, I went out of town. Brow, I went back home. a lot, bro. So how do we, DJ said, don't worry about it. The rookie dinner is going to be a movie. It's going to be a movie. It's going to be silly, silly.

Y'all better than me, because we used to get the cars told and stuff like that. Like, one, phones and their tubs. All of it, clothes, like, everything, right? And they don't know what you're getting mad. Ain't know fighting. Y'all ain't going to fight me over this. Like, be a rookie and do the simple stuff we have. asking are there's consequences.

And I'm just going to get your car told somewhere where you can't find it. And then we're going to be done with it. Go walk seven miles. It's at the store right over there. And then next time you'll have my snacks. I got to take that one. I ain't even know, I ain't even know you could do that.

Okay. You can do whatever you want. Talk to the security. Get the gate open. Hey, tow truck. This car right here. Put it on the truck. We're going to take it right here to this safe area.

And he walking home today. Like go ahead and walk and get it. And next time you give me my snacks and we don't have no problem. All right. I'm still in that one. I'm still in that one. I'm going to let them know ahead of time too. Hey.

Yeah. Is either you going to get the snacks or you know what I'm saying? You got to walk to your car. The coldest thing I ever heard of a bet doing to a rook is as Jared Allen. They said Jared Allen got a barn built around a dual car. They got his because I guess they had a field across from their facility. And they said he told the car to the field. and had them build a barn around it.

And then the dude thought his car was stolen for like a week. What? No, that's crazy. That's crazy, bro. That's sick. Yeah, bro. Bro, I love DJ, man. He's a, he's a good dude.

He's a good human being. He's a good human being. He is, bro. I've never seen him mad until this next situation. I've never seen him mad until this year. Right. Situation. Like, that's kind of crazy, bro.

So I told Stig, I'm like, well, I ain't never seen DJ man. So if he's mad, you can't keep making excuses, bro. You tripping. Because my rookie year, they helped me pay for my rookie dinner. I'm going to tell you why. I had a situation where I said, bro, this is all I'm at. I tried to keep it a hundred.

Like, I try to be like, bro, this is all I ask, bro. Just don't get to buy hell of stuff that y'all ain't going to eat, bro. I feel like I got the respect. I feel like we got the mutual respect where it's like, we're going to be. We're going to be respectful for this dinner. So basically, if y'all want to get food that y'all can eat for a few days, go ahead. If y'all want to get some drinks that y'all have for a few.

But don't just get stuff and just leave it on the table. Like, I don't heard all type of rookie dinners where people just get hell of stuff and just leave it on the table. They ain't even going to touch it. But with me, it wasn't even the vets and the players that tried to get over on. It was the restaurant. Oh, the restaurant was bringing plasters in for $5K apiece. We're just looking like, hold on.

I get the bill. It said like 20-something thousand. I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I ain't going to lie, bro. You know we like there, bro, but I ain't a lie. I can't pay this, y'all. It ain't even off the strip, but, like, y'all, like, a lot of this is stuff y'all didn't even eat or a lot of this. You all didn't even order, like, only one person ordered some food, and it was Michael Carter.

Everybody else is sitting there, and they just eating it, but they're not understanding. Like, these people trying to get over on it, so they see the bill. Like, oh, no, because they try to look out. Like, they ain't try to do no extra. Right. They wasn't trying to kill you. They weren't trying to kill me. So I ended up paying down there like 10.

You know, other people just throwing in like a thousand. This is like some little calm, $1,000. And we got the bill paid. But I said, like, we can't go there no more. Like, no rookie. I wouldn't even want to do that to the, like, even still, even though he doing what he's doing with the snacks, like we got to get it a different way.

You got to get it. Even if we try to get over on them and hit him over the head a little bit, us plus the restaurant, the bill gonna be about $200,000. Don't get him like that. That's what I'm saying, man. So, you know, we definitely got to, something got to give.

Something got to give for sure, man. See, every rookie dinner we had, we never had no, nobody drafted, higher than third, I don't think. And then that was like my last year. We had a third round pick. I think we had Shaq Griffin went third. And anytime, I just didn't feel right,

killing them. We just mess with them, you know what I mean? We act like we order an Aces paid, you know what I mean, all these other nonsense. We will order big stakes. Bill will come out to like four grand or something. We would probably pay half of it and let them pay two grand or something. We ain't killing them, doing that crazy. Yeah.

I feel like that's how it should be, you know, as long as the rookie doing what he's supposed to do. Right. Have my snacks. Or it get ignorant. If you don't have snacks, then it gets different. Imagine an Olympics where you're doing. 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. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us.

The United States will not stand by and allow any power, however great. Take over another country. From My Heart Podcast, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? I should stop talking so much. I like hearing you talk. one city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart.

This is for Vietnam. I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches. I'm on a landmine. For free time. Let's get out. Freedom for Vietnam.

Run! Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Sting here's madness. The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to. to burnouts everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. But also, I want to talk to y'all, these PI calls and holding calls, don't say nothing because I don't want you to get fine. It's been some goddamn bull crap. And I had said it when DJ was on here. There was like two or three games. That Buffalo game was silly.

That Buffalo game, I said, hey, this is the first time I'm going to say, they cheating these boys now. If you look around the league, like, if you look around the league, you would see, like, everybody probably got more PI calls than they've had. I know me, I think, now and something I'm saying, I haven't seen it, but I have more than I've had the last couple of years.

Because, like, we were talking about in my meet room. I think DJ do. I think, bro, really everybody you can think of. You know, so, I mean, a lot of the concepts look the same. the corners try to play it the same, even if they had different builds. Like, so it's like, I see the same stuff, same concepts, the same, hip slips, the same this and that same that. And it's like, sometimes you see it get called and sometimes they don't.

Like, I remember, like, it was a play on, we just playing the Patriots. And Gonzalez, he grabbed Devante arm a little bit and they didn't call it Pia or a holding or nothing like that. me as a corner, I'm like, he's just playing physical. That's how I look at it as a corner. So, like, hey, if you throw the penalty, he was playing physical. If you don't throw the penalty, he was playing physical. It is who it is.

And then the other one, they caught another one, and it was his great defense. Like, he didn't grab him or none of that. But they called it. But I feel like, you know, the rest aren't human. So I feel like sometimes they might call it a flag if they feel like they probably missed it previously. Like, they might call a close one. So say if it's a blatant one, they're like, dang it.

I ain't called that one. If it's one that's a little close or could possibly be, they're going to throw that one. You know what I'm saying? This is your third year in the league, right? I'm going to give you some game that I got as a rookie. And it's going to sound crazy and maybe you don't use it. Every week they have a, you get that sheet with everybody's name on and all that in your locker, right? Yeah.

They also have a sheet with every referee's name. name on it. Does brick or shall I ever go over that with y'all? We've been going, we started we started going over it after Minnesota game. Because Minnesota game, I had bro, they hit me for every penalty it was to hit me for. I got here with a defensive holder. I got here with

an illegal contact and I got here with a PI. And two, well, all three of the balls was uncatchable. One of them, I was just like, this is like different because it was a little fade route I'm chest to chest looking back for the ball

the ball was thrown all the way out of bounce and they called you I remember though that it was something and I was just like I go back I go back to Sala

and I'm like Sala Tio how do I play the back shoulder if it's not chest to chest looking through the man looking back for the ball Sala come up to me like play your game

keep playing your game so like to hear that from a coach because when you get them penalties you think like damn, I'm hurting the team. Ain't I just did this. Ain't I just,

when you heard the coach say that, it reassure you like, all right, let me just keep doing what I'm doing because they probably understand where I'm coming from. Right. You know, so just to be able to hear that,

that's cool. That's one thing that Sala always did. If I was tripping on something, Sal was going to tell me, hey, you tripping. Hey, do this better. Hey, you can do this better. And every time it was always off of, like,

I know he's sending out of love. I know he's sending it because he won what's best for me because he won what's best with the team. If he ever told me, like, keep playing your game. Then I know like, all right, he understands and the list. Okay, okay, cool. That's what I'm going to do. Right.

So that's just how I've handled it. Man, I don't never try to snap on a revs. I don't never try to, you know, just say certain things. It's just, you got receivers right now that would be running their route, me around, they leaning up against you. So it's like, okay, you leaning up against me. you run an inside release, some outside levers right on your outside here. You're leaning up against me.

Am I supposed to just do this? Or am I supposed to stay latched like this, hands low? Okay, cool. But, bro, it's just a little different, bro. No, I know. Look, they got DJ for something. I taught him as a rookie, and I felt so sick about it. Because I taught him, like, if somebody push, like, keep the arm.

And make them one hand put you on sports center. Pull through and go for it. So it's going to be like, hey, I got their arm. pull through reach with your other arm and go for it. And so he did it and they called it. And I said, bro, they never, and there's no way he could have saw it. Because you're looking from there,

the receiver's back to you. He grabbing this arm. There's no way you throwing that. How you're seeing it? But another thing on that play, he didn't even reach and pull and accelerate. Like, he just had his arm and was running. Like, DJ still running his normal speed and just had his arm.

Like, he didn't try to, like, do what you said, like pool and accelerate. Because you've got to think, the receiver could have possibly. flopped it, stuff if he did that. He just ran. And the receiver just doing, like, I think he's talking about the Bills game. But I think he's at, I think he's at, got that one called.

Yeah, because he got that one caught against New England, Jordan, and against Buffalo. Both are the same ones where it's like, is the ball catchable? No. Is he slowing his speed down? No. The receiver's arm is out. Is he just going to run and just be, like, blocked off by the hand

and just be running into, hand, no. So what is he going to do? Grab the arm. You know, but... Bro, the one Jefferson, he, he ran that out or that seven cut on, on DJ and tried to push off and DJ. Great D.

Great defense. Great defense. If it's something crazy, if it's something, bro, this is how it's set up. Bro, if it's a crazy P.I. Or crazy holding, we literally be like, nah, that's, you ain't had to do that. I don't have to talk DJ. Yeah, you ain't had to do that right there because you already,

And it has been time with DJ Taush, you ain't had to do that right there because you're in a good position. Trust your speed. And I don't that tell us us, bro, you hell of fat. Like, we always, we be coaching ourselves. So by the time T.O.

come up to us or solid come up to us or brick come up to us to tell us like, hey, yeah, you ain't, we already didn't went over. We're good, coach. We're good. We ain't got to worry about it, you know? You know? That's just, that's the chemistry that me and DJ got.

But yeah, man, it's definitely been rough. Obviously, we've been able to watch football and just see, like, these P.R. cars and these whole cars throughout the league, guys been crazy. But I remember that Minnesota game, we think, like, bro, is it us? Like, is these people out to get us?

Like, what's going on? That's what it looked like that, gang. Because they might have got you, like, three times in one drive, I think it was like two or three times. And I was like, come on now. Like, they got me off the, they got me off the whip,

off the whip around there, Addison. And you barely in the end zone. You barely even grazed me. They got me off that. I'm like, I went to the sideline. I'm understanding, like, if this is my rookie year, I probably threw a helmet,

kicked something, all that. But I'm understanding, like, the effect that I got on everybody else. And it's like, if I do this, then other people go, if they get mad, they feel like they could. All right, so calm down. You got a lot of football to be,

there's a lot of football to be played. Calm down, you know. But sometimes you can't get a little frustrated, you know. Right. But that's growth. That's grow. Showing a little growth for year three. Year 3 grow, you know?

Yeah. So back to this growth, these refs got names and they got families and they people, they normal people. Yeah. And this is a trick they taught me early on, bro, I would know the names. I would probably either know one fact because we always had this researcher that he just would tell me stuff about him because he, that's just what you want to call Big Head Todd. We just, he just would help.

And so, like, I don't know if their kids went to a certain school or if they went to a certain school, are they fans of like Bam, or, you know what I mean, Texas A&M. And you know they lost that week or they won and be like, man, I see your Texas A&M team. Boy, they're doing it this year. And it'd be like, man, Josh, man, I appreciate you this year. I'm sorry.

Okay. Like, bro, I'm telling you, you're getting the game. And I didn't got more warnings than anybody. When you come up to you, be like, hey, hey, Sharm, come on, man. I could have got you right there. I appreciate it. And the ref and the receiver over there cussing him out. Like, hey, you, why the hell are you?

And I'm like, hey, come on now. Hey, don't talk to Jason like that. Hey, come on. Yeah. I got to steal that. Come on, I'm telling you. I know. No, this is the thing that got me, though.

We're playing Pittsburgh, right? First drive. Ben Jefferson, he run like an over-the-ball sit. He pushed off hella. I'm like, come on, ref. Come on, ref. George Pickers, he running around. He pushed off hella.

I talk to the ref. Matter of fact, I talked to that ref before the game. I don't know his name. I'm like, ref, just know. This is going to be a fiscal. There's going to be a fiscal matchup. He liked pushing off. The rest of say, you know he watched film too.

I know he's a huge push-off guy. We're going to let you all play. He's talking about me and Pickett. Pickett's pushing on me. I'm looking back for the ball and the goal. I'm not disrupting him at all. After the play, he called a PI. I'm like, ref, what did I do?

You were pulling him. You were stopping him? I said, I did not pull him at all. Like, not even a little bit. Like, I literally was chest and chest and I was running like vertical. I wouldn't even leaning on them. Like I looked, I looked through him.

Then I turned at the last minute at the ball. Yeah. I say, Hey, Rev, you told her, I looked at him. I looked at him.

I looked at him, he probably felt bad for me. Because the way I said, I thought about it like, did I really say it like that? I'm like, hey, ref, you said you was going to let us play today.

I know, I know he probably was thinking about that. Like, dang, but I feel a little bad. I definitely did say I was going to let them play. But man, that was one that hurt me. That was one that hurt the heart right there.

You know? Right. I'm telling you, it may not, it may not do nothing, but just learn that due name. I'm telling you, because they got numbers too,

so you ain't even got, they got the, usually when they got the car, they got their faces and everything, but if you, you only got to know the back judges, you know what I mean, that's down the field.

You could know the white hat, you know what I mean? He's easy, but know the judges and just be like, instead of ref, you'd be like, hey, Terrence,

Terrence, come on now. Hey, don't do me like that. You know, I got family to feed too. Okay. I like that. I promise you that little bit of human.

A little bit of human, yeah. Make them feel, make them feel. Bro, I'm always talking to them, though. Obviously, I don't be knowing all their names, but, bro, me, I like interacting with people in general, especially people in the football field. So, like, a lot of them already be familiar with who I am, and I didn't see them before.

Even one of the refs, bro, one of the refs coached my state championship game in high school. Wow. Yes. And I don't even know if it was just my state championship. He, like, he coached in Detroit. A lot, bro. So when I be seeing him, I already be knowing who he is, you know?

So some of them I'm more familiar with than others, but I'm definitely going to take that tactic right there, you know? It's a tactic, but real for real for it, it's just being human decency, you know? You know their name, and that's just obviously, give you some grace is just who's going to come with it. But, yeah, everybody on the field, you're all grown, man. So just being able to know their name and stuff like that,

That's cool. And give them a little bit more respect, you know what I mean? It shows that, hey, I'm acknowledging that you're a human being and you're not just a ref out here. You know what I mean? You're a person. I know your name. You know my name.

Help a brother out. Yep, yeah, yeah. Like, let me play my game and not, you know what I mean? I don't need no nonsense. Look, if you give me two warnings or one warning, that's one less flag I got in this game, one last first down, you know, because they'll call some BS backside. And it'd be like, bro, he wasn't even looking over here.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's happened to me before. Yeah, gun shooters get shot too. That's what I'm saying. Every great corner, if he ain't been scored on, he ain't great. Yeah, yeah. Because you don't know what you are until you get scored on or have a rough game and then you got to respond.

Yeah, yeah. That is true. That is true, man. But I appreciate you, man. I don't want to take no more time on your off day. We can sit here and talk all day, man. It's a good talk. Thanks.

I appreciate you, man. I had a lot of fun, bro. Yeah, yeah. We'll get you back on next time when y'all, when y'all make the playoffs this year. Y'all make that crazy run and we'll be talking about it. All right, cool. All right, brother.

Appreciate you, man. Appreciate you. The volume. 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 occupier. Pella 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.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart 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'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 Cleverter. Clifford 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences. having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor?

It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.