The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Richard Sherman Podcast - Jaylon Johnson on Bears expectations, Caleb Williams, Hard Knocks

Episode Date: August 14, 2024

Richard Sherman interviews Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and Richard asks the all-pro about the Bears' newest additions (Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen), the Hard Knocks experience, how he feels about getting snubbed from the NFL Top 100, and who he thinks are the top cornerbacks in the NFL. Jaylon also flips the script and asks Richard about his upcoming Hall of Fame eligibility and what it took for Sherm to get to the next level during his time with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. 5:00 - 2023 Bears chaos 9:00 - Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze 18:00 - Hard Knocks 30:00 - Games Jaylon has circled this season 34:45 - Best NFL corners 43:00 - Jaylon interviews Sherm (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The volume. Notice, sir. for these yo kids don't Super Bowl. Championship. That should always be the expectation. All right, man. That's your going on hand. Welcome back to the Richard Sherman podcast.

We got a special guest, PFF's highest rated corner last year. Jalen Johnson, how you doing, brother? I'm good. You're getting called a big dog from a big dog. I like it. Hey, you out there putting it on tape. I can't, you've got to get credit words, too, even though they didn't on the top 100. I said, come on now.

It's all good. I appreciate it. it. Yeah, yeah, you got a lot of respect for me. I'm sure you get a lot of respect from your peers, even though the top 100, it gets gifted sometimes because it was a couple times I wasn't on there where I was like, man, what are y'all doing? Like, I want to say I was second in the league in Picks one year, and I wasn't on there. I was like, okay, this is cap. Yeah, fact. Yeah, it's big facts. But how are you feeling? I see you got engaged. Oh, yeah. No, I'm feeling good, man. She's at the crib. That's how to step outside. She's making some fool right now, so she's holding it down for me. I mean, she still cooking on her last month or so of baby girls. So, I mean, she really need to be sitting down because who knows when a baby going to come at this point. But now, I'm blessed, man.

Just got a new crib. I mean, family coming along well. I mean, healthy doing my thing in camp. So God, well, and everything's going well. We'll continue to go well. I'm happy to hear that, man. That's the best part of life. You got a little one, you got a little girl already.

Yeah. It's the second little girl. So you straight girl, Dan. Yeah, that's a big girl. bet. Yeah. Yeah. And then training camp, they let you all come home because you vets. Oh, yeah. Well, this is my first year. So being on year five, they said five and above get to go haul. So, hey, yeah, I'm in that big boy boat now. So I'm enjoying coming home to the crib, even for a few hours. I'll be asleep by 10, 30, 11 at the later. So I mean,

sure, I'm enjoying it. Right, right. You got to take care of pregnant wife. You got to make sure she good, rub her feet a little bit. Hey, you know, it's your time, but it's her time. That's it. So how are you feeling? You know, last year was kind of chaotic. Obviously, it was your best season, second team all pro. You played at a really high level. But in terms of that building, there seemed to be a lot of chaos,

especially when Adam Williams kind of resigned out of nowhere, then Iber Flutes took over the play calling. Like, what was it like in the building at that time? I was it, man, it was a lot of up and downs because I felt like, of course, coming off that year, we went three and 14. It was tough. So I think kind of just coming, we course, we had a T.J. remain. We added a few more pieces on defense. So going into the year, I felt like it was,

it was kind of hopeful. And then a lot of things kind of just started to trend in the wrong direction for us. So it kind of, it was tough again. I mean, we had a streak, I think, of almost like 17 games straight of losing or something like that. So, I mean, for us, it was, well, for me, I know it was hard, just going through, of course, a different regime, and then not having the success and then losing and losing again, like you said, having Allen Williams step down, and then kind of not knowing where things we're going to go from there. So, I mean, for me, it was, honestly, a lot of uncertainty. And then I'm on my contract.

Yeah, I'm like, man, I'm trying to find somewhere to be stable at. And then it's like, I'm not feeling a whole lot of stability. So, I mean, really just going through all that. And, of course, you start kind of hearing the talks of if we're going to have the head coach again for the third year, kind of just all of those things start to kind of creep into your mind. And then I think for me, honestly, it was like, man, at the end of the day, my tape is my resume. I mean, I just got to continue to go out here and hoop at the end of the day. So, I mean, for me, it was up and down, but at the end of day, business is business. And I know for me, I had to handle mine best way I could.

And then things started turning around for us for the good. So, I mean, things worked out well, but it definitely did start out really shaky and didn't really know how the future is going to look. Yeah, I mean, that's what it seemed like. And I was, it's always unfortunate because when you're in a contract year, you out there, you want to play good football and be part of a good defense. and you know y'all had some pieces but you know you d-line needed a little bit of help and i think found some help you know you needed some help offensively because they weren't there certainly doing what they needed to do but you still were able to shine and get your money they franchise tagged

you i know you know when that happened it happened to a couple corners and everybody was uncertain it was like you sneed um i was like damn so they just really not paying the corners this year huh yeah yeah and then they got it figured out so was there any ever a time in there they called you and we're like, hey, you know, we might trade you or talk to your agent or your agent was like, well, you know, they're talking to teams and trying to figure it out? Honestly, not for, not that I don't know about at least, not that they told my agent. I know even when I did ask for a trade right at that trade deadline, I know it was, again, kind of going back to what we were talking about earlier, just kind of trying to find a steady home.

Things weren't going good. So I'm like, man, at the end of day, I'm trying to go find somewhere to get paid one and then also to go have a chance to win. I feel like they knew what they were doing. They declined the first one, accepted the second one, and then gave me an opportunity to go see something. But at the end of the day,

it was one of the situations where they weren't going to, no other team was going to give up all that just for a corner. That's something you can do for a cornerback, first rounds, and all that. So, I mean, they made it tough. But they ended up working out. But I think, too, when they got to the offseason, there was definitely no trade involved. I thought it was very open and transparent that I wasn't going to be no,

that wasn't going nowhere. They weren't going to trade me or deal me anywhere. And if they had to use the tag twice, then of course that was what would have been done. But I didn't think I was ever going to go anywhere after they didn't trade me at the deadline. Yeah, I mean, your homegrown talent, you know. Any good organization, you got to keep your homegrown talent,

especially the ones that develop into pro bowl or all pro players. If you let them go, then what's the point? Hey, we might as well shut it all down. Might as well shut it down. But y'all can you got some new. teammates this all season. Obviously, Caleb came in with all the expectations and Kay ran you into that that gauntlet of an interview and he gave you all that headache. But you got Keenan, you got Roan, and then you already had DJ. Tell me, because Keenan now, but those

world play corner and those who don't deal with the Keenans and the Devantes and the Doug Ball ones of the world, understand. He got some stuff. Back. So something different. Something completely different. So how has it been, you know, I know you've gone against him, but being teammates with him and getting to see his work ethic day in and day out and just the kind of teammate and player he is? Honestly, it's crazy because, like, you see his personality when just like throughout the league, of course, you score touchdowns and you do a little dance. But he actually cool, like a cool cat. Yeah, I know he's a little older. I think he's like 32 on pushing 33, I think. So, I mean, kind of just for him to be that, I'm not even say that old, but in football years for him to be a whole head. He's definitely still young. He has a young soul. He can go out there and talk to the rookies

or he can talk with the OGs and the pets. You've been around. You can talk to him about anything, everything. He has a good, fun, loud personality. So, I mean, it definitely makes him being in a locker room a lot easier because it's not like he's just on the old head that come in and put his head down and leave. Like, nah, he's going to crack some jokes,

talk to some guys, play some card games, whatever, whatever it is. He's definitely an open guy. But as far as competing, I mean, I love competing against him. I mean, of course, we got all those guys for me, I'm like, hey, they ain't going to come in here and work. Like, nah, this ain't going to be just the offensive show just for me, especially like, I've always loved Keenan Games. So it's like, when he came, I'm like, oh, no, hey, I need a, hey, I'm trying to lock him up and so.

Right. So, I mean, for me, that was always like my mentality, but it's one of those things that we can definitely have that competition, but we can also still talk and still be cool. But it's definitely nothing but competition with a guy like that. I thought he's somebody who can come in here and really make you better as a corner. For me, that's not somebody. His style of game isn't somebody that. you see often. So I think being able to get the difference in DJ, the big catch guy, the after

catch type of guy. Then you have Keenan and a more savvy route runner. You kind of get, you kind of get it all with with him and DJ and then Rome, learning coming in, bringing them young, fresh legs into the league. I feel like it's definitely something that you definitely have to get better. And for me, I've taken the challenge on. I mean, I was trying to go out there and go as long as I can without giving them a big catching one-on-one. So I mean, I'm just trying to find ways to push myself and to push them as well. I mean, y'all got a really good secondary, and y'all have had it for a couple of years. Jukon Bristker is going to be a good player. Young Kyler, got a chance to get to know him and watch him when he was at Udub. He's going to be a really good player. Y'all got the

D-line kind of roaring. Eric Washington's in the fold, and I know he's bringing a lot of the Buffalo scheme to y'all, the quarter stuff. How has that transition been for you as a corner? Because I know y'all ran a little bit of cover, too. I've seen you make quite a few plays disguising that number two jumping down, coming out the flag, going to the seventh. Has it been much of an adjustment for you, just getting to learn a new playbook, or had they just kind of, like, kept the playbook and tightened it up a little bit and maybe sprinkled a little new stuff in? Yeah, now, it's been exactly that.

They're really just sprinkling some new things in. I know even last year it's funny, the one of the pick that you talk about, we were really in pawns. You did that out of pawns? I promise you, because look, look, look, look, hear me, hear me, hear me. I've seen a formation. So in my head, I'm like, I know I'm to the field.

He sees me off. He probably going to try to ban this five yard end. But I already knew it was a five yard end with a seven behind it. So I'm like, okay. So I'm kind of seeing it. And I'm in my head. I'm going to make a play. I don't like just catching that little pass and tackling it.

So I'm like, if he throws this short route, I'm going to drive it. So sure enough, he caught it, boom, he took off. Boom. I see him pumps. I'm like, damn, I got to get out of there and get that. So I got, I stuck my foot in the ground, got it. He threw it. I'm like, oh, I got to.

I took it. Everybody, like, seeing it, it was, oh, yeah, cover two, great, high, low. I'm like, nah, I was being greedy. You were a sick dude. Yeah, no, I was trying to make a play for show, but it definitely worked out. But really just for this year and what we're doing, there's really a lot of the same things we did last year. Kind of just trying to bring it all together, like you said, with the cover two, the cover three that we were heavy on at first. And now, and bringing in some quarters, some poems, different things, trying to give different looks, things like that. I feel like it would be really good for us.

And then, of course, adding that pressure up front and combining it with the different coverages and looks on the back end, I thought we can be really dangerous. Yeah, I mean, bringing in Montez's sweat was big. You know, I don't think people give him credit for how good he is and how consistent he's been in the last, I mean, four or five years.

He's been really, really on and really one of the best players. But what about Rome? Rome was, look, I can't get a good feel for him when he was at UW, even though we watched a lot of their games, but, you know, playing corner receivers that big. You can't tell if they really. he got wiggle like that because, you know, not everybody press them. And some of the dudes press ain't really like that.

Right, no doubt, no doubt. But, but what, so what do you think of his game initially? Obviously, he's going to have room to grow. He may be growing something totally different from what he is as rookie, but just as a rookie coming in. Right. No, I think just overall, I feel like he has a very, a very solid game and very smooth game. Just going out, I think for me, the biggest thing that he'll learn and that he is learning

is being able to be crafty in some of those routes, especially going against more savvy vet, vet guys that kind of can put some things together that I can look at formations, that can look at field position, where you're at and releases. You kind of have to add a little flavor to it. And I thought he'll learn that. He'll get that, especially having Keenan in the same room, he'll definitely give him some of those tools.

But I thought he's definitely an athletic guy, a good contested catch guy for sure. He can go up there and make some really good contested catches. So I think overall, I feel like the ceiling is very, very high for him. like he has everything physically. He's just, again, adding that savviness, the IQ to some of his routes that I think will take him really to the next level. Game time is an authorized ticket marketplace of Major League Baseball, which makes getting tickets easier and faster.

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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 which I'm 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.

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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. I think, I mean, having Kenan in there and even DJ for a young kid, it's going to be, I mean, it's going to be outstanding. And I mean, having all of them for Caleb is going to be, I mean, that's great. Even better. You can ask. No doubt.

How is it doing hard knocks? Because I prayed we never got on that when I was playing. Like, it got dang cameras in the building all the time. You can't really say what you want to say. You can't just be yourself all the time. Has that been kind of annoying? or has it been kind of like, because some people use it to elevate their brand

and elevate their platform and to, you know, last year everybody was talking about A-Rod and what he was doing throughout the year and it may, you know, I think it changed some people's opinion about him. But how has it been for you? Honestly, I don't really mind it. Honestly, I feel like, because a lot of guys,

like you mic'd mocked up and all, Jay, I can't talk to you. I'm like, man, at the end of the day, this is what, like, to me, I'm going to be who I am. Like, everybody should be, be themselves. Now, of course, there's a level of certain things we can can't talk about. But I feel like for the most part, I feel like about 90% of things is all good. I mean, at the end of day, I feel like it's all about giving people the inside, like the

scope of what it's like being in the NFL, what it's like being in a training camp, probably just depending on what time of the year you got the hard knocks. But I probably for the most part, hey, I'm myself. Like, if I'm miced up or the camp, hey, I don't care. Like, they're going to see, see me for what it is, see the situation for what it is. And, of course, the professional side of you got to protect certain conversations. certain things like that. But, I mean, for me, it doesn't, it doesn't bother me. I know some people in that, but now Mike will start kind of creeping up around over the top. People will start

kind of freezing up, not wanting to talk and do things like that. And I'm like, hey, man, they want, they want the content. They want to see us. I mean, we just got to get the people what they want. It's no different than showing up on Sunday. Don't nobody tighten up then. Now, we got to go out here and be who you are. Right. Now, you got the right idea. When they put that mic on me, I did not care. I let everybody know, look, I got the mic on me. but I'm about to go out here and do what I always do. No doubt. Well, you got paid.

There's some momentum in your team, some optimism, obviously, with a new young quarterback, some offensive weapons, defensive firepower. Obviously, y'all were the number one scoring defense in the second half of the season once Montez-Swick got there. Like, that had to give you guys some confidence of, hey, you know what I mean? We can't put it together when we need to

and when everything's going away we had. So what are your expectations for your team and your defense coming into the season? Because I've been part of some really good defenses and it just sometimes it's just holding each other to the standard every day and not really getting caught up on like, hey, man, you know, we're chasing these dudes or we're trying to be better than them or we're trying to, it's just really stacking your days and really one day at a time, holding each other accountable with respect. Like you can't really go out there and be like, man, you suck, man.

What are you doing out there? Because that ain't. Yeah, no, you can't. like that. It can work out. Now, I think really for me, the biggest thing is improving on our finish. I mean, I thought for us, we had a few games. I know I can speak to Detroit and Cleveland.

And we were up winning and then lost the game in the fourth quarter, lost game coming down to those last couple minutes. So whereas, like, for us, that puts us in a different position. I feel like just the biggest thing for defense, finishing two minute drills, finishing just that fourth quarter, I think for us, they really just starts with a preparator. I feel like we can't, it really top to bottom. I thought we can't let up off the gas when, you know, you start getting in that

two-minute mode, you kind of just start playing back. Like, nah, we got to still continue to be aggressive and really, well, I like to say slip people's throats. Like, no, we can't just come out here and, okay, yeah, and then just think we're going to stop. Like, now, they still trying to win the game. Like, we got to start that right now. And I feel like for me and what I like to do is I'm always getting extra work out

out of practice. So for me, that's part of like my finishing where it's like, okay, I finish practice. I got to finish my work. I don't know. When it gets in the fourth quarter, I still have that dog mentality. Like, no, I'm locking this fool up no matter of it. If it's two minute, four minute, whatever it may be, if they down 10, if they down three, like, nah, at the end of the day, I'm still in that mode to finish. And I fight for me.

I'm trying to push guys, get guys to understand. Like, no, we have a great team, but, hey, it's still going to be a situation. We got to finish guys off. It's not just going to be handed tools. We got to go out there and take it against a man's will. So I fight for us, that's really, but I feel like we can improve on. And if we can do that, I know we'll win a lot more. games for sure who you bring

with you as far as what I heard you say I'm getting some work after practice but you by yourself huh oh no no no no no I'm not by myself hey I put like this I tell them I got plenty of work for God if you want to take it hey I don't got no hidden fees no taxes no none of that if you want to come out here and get some work hey I'm here it's offered to everybody so I mean right now I got I got two rookies and then I got another guy who just came from

the CFL they're the most consistent ones right now Now I know Tuan, he was working out with me every day before he kind of got into some injury things. So I know when he gets back, he'll be back with me. But right now, now, everybody knows like, hey, Jaylen is here after practice getting work. It's up to them. So, I mean, I can only bring those around who want to be around. This will be my two cents again, you know what I'm from a dude who used to be some. In our group, we everybody got to go.

Everybody's back there or nobody's back there. are nobody's back there. Because in the fourth quarter, like you said, everything you're saying is facts and big facts. That's winning football. If you got to be ready fourth quarter, games online, everybody's tired. But if only Jaylen Johnson's ready, everybody else

ain't ready, we still lose. And so what we found out is no matter how strong one of us is, if all of us ain't that strong, we still lose. And so if we're going to do extra work, we're going to do it. Like, it ain't really an option. That's the standard. You guys to do that.

Because you challenge them with their own ambition. Do you want to win? Is championship what we want to do? Or we just want to be in the NFL? Like, we want to be the best defensive football, or we just want to beat some guys out there that play in the NFL. Like, and a lot of guys got that kind of pride and say, man, I want to be the best.

Then make your actions match words, brother. Like, because I ain't going to cuss you out. I can't make you do nothing. And I'm not trying to run you into the ground because I know we're in training camp. But if we talk in technique as a corner, You can always get better. I don't get dang, how good you are at your press. You can always get two more reps, three more reps, get your eye placement, get the receiver.

Give me three releases real quick. Like, you can always get better. And those few reps, when you tire, when your legs, when everything's sweating, like, those are when you need it. Lock in real quick. Give me two of your best. Go out there, get Keenan. Hey, Kenan, come on. I know it's going to be tough.

Just give me two, three up. And I guarantee you you won't say no. Because that's not how, like, winners, that's not how you got here. by saying no to work. And so to be that kind of leader, leaders lead by bringing everybody alone. It's not usually you don't even leave from the front. You lead from the back.

If you got to run laps and the time of the last person is the one that, hey, man, everybody got to come in by 330. And that last person has been coming in at 333, then you go behind and you make sure you come in at 3.30. Because you can come in first and have to run another one because he came at last. So you feel what I'm saying? No, though. No doubt.

I appreciate that. It's all love. that's all love. I can't wait to hear why you wanted to play corner. Jeez. Why did I want to play? Honestly, it's crazy. I didn't even start off really playing corner.

Nobody. First, like, I was at all of the league running back. I thought I was Reggie Bush, play linebacker. Like, I wanted to be in action. Like, my dad grew my older brother to play corner from itty-bitty boy. Like, eight years old, my brother played corner all the way up until he couldn't play football. no more. So even for me, I'm like, nah, I want to be in action. I want to be in action. And then as I got older, people started getting a little bigger. I'm like, nah, ain't

nobody playing a running back no more. He's a little different. So I kind of slowly start working my way outside, play a little receiver. And that's why I started playing corner safety, kind of learning both. And then I got to high school, play corner. My freshman year, sophomore year, I played a corner, but I sat behind two D-1 guys. So I was behind them, play more receiver. So I really didn't get a lot of, like, touch of that until really my junior year at high school. So I played my junior year with solid, decent, and then really I started working on my brother,

work on my dad, really getting heavily. Because I was two sport athletes, too. I played football, basketball. So I never really honed in, like, on my craft, truly. But really my junior year, once my junior year hit, that's how I really started honing in on it. And it was like, I always listened to the conversation my dad and my brother had, and I knew a lot.

Like, I was really, like, smart. I was able to retain the information, but I never had the opportunity to apply it. So when I started really playing it, I started really applying it. And I know we got this seven on seven practice one time. And my dad and my brother, like, they're big on work. So like, if they don't see you putting the work, they're like, no, it ain't. Like, it ain't it. So I was doing my little thing on the side.

And so we got seven on seven parties. They were trying to give every look, every route. And I was just defending, locking it up, locking it up, locking it up. And they, at first they was like, oh, this luck, this luck. They kept trying to me. So I kept doing it for them. And it was, okay, you might be some. So we went to seven-on-seven tournament, end up locking up some four or five-star guys.

My brother was with me talking trash to him. So really from there, it was just one of those things that's like, nah, I can really, like, be somebody in this. And it's not just be something that was forced tommy that I was born into. But it's like, nah, I really took that and took the extreme prize. So, I mean, really, ever since my junior year, I've been fully committed to being out on the island locking some people up. So did your brother ever get into the league, or he just played college or how far did he go?

Yeah, no, he played at UCLA. He played at UCLA, finished his last year at Fresno State. Really, it was crazy. I tell him about time. He was better to me. Like, physically feet, footwork, dog, pressed off. Like, he had it all. He was four-star, went to UCLA.

But we all kind of had the same thing. We had them shoulder issues. So he went towards shoulders first year, towards shoulder his second year. So it's like, by time you get healthier third year, they already brought two classes of four and five star guys around. So it's like he was still in the mix, still getting in there rotating, kind of got into it a little bit with the coach on some things,

played a few games. And it's like, okay, shit, going on my fourth year. I only played in six, seven games. They still bringing in four and five star dudes. So it's like after a while, he kind of just was like, I already know kind of how this is shaping out. Like, they're not about to keep messing with me all. Like, they got all they got all they guys.

They bring it in. So he just ended up getting his degree finishing his last year. at Fettling State went there, kind of got into the same cultural situation where it's like you come from where you coming from trying to play a certain style of ball. They got their culture already. Then it's like you're turning to when was the last time you had some recent tape because I mean the tape he did have was damn good tape. But it's like that was two years ago.

So it's like he didn't really have a chance in him being five, nine. I mean, that's not that's not ideal in today's game. So yeah, no. So he didn't end up getting a shot and he wasn't like a CFL trying to force. she didn't do nothing like that. So that's really after that, that's really when he turned into my trainer. Of course, he was still active in playing. So I moved him out to Utah with me, got an internship at Utah in that shoot. We've been training. He's been a

trainer. He trains DBs. He trains kids from four or five years old to whoever else. So, yeah, now, we've been at a long time. Well, we're from Cali, but he lives with me in the offseason and season. So, I mean, he's always with me and has his clientele. Like I'm here in Chicago. He's in Chicago. Yeah, yeah. So he's, He got his clients out here in Chicago, coach a little seven-on or tackle football team. So he's definitely active. What's his training thing, though?

We can give him a shout out real quick. Oh, it's called Elite Athletic Transformation. Yes, sir. Hey, hey, if you're in Chicago and you need some corner work, elite athletic transformation is where you need to be at. No doubt. I love it. I love it, man. I love it.

That's going to be, that's pretty cool, though, because I got a good relation. How many years, different? Four. He's four years older. Okay, mine is three. And boy, when I tell you, he right there. Because they just paved the world for you, and then you come in behind me, you're like, I just got to do better than what they did.

And I'm good. That's it. I do better and stay healthy. I'll be good. I'll be good. I got there. Appreciate your brother from putting a blueprint out there. I take it from here.

No doubt. So are there any games you got circle? Because I know you ain't scared to say what you need to say on your schedule this year. Y'all got some good matchups, but anything in particular? I got a few. I mean, I don't know exactly when we play them all, but I'm looking forward to going against Calvin really again. I haven't went up against him since my rookie year.

So him, of course, D.Hob, hopefully he gets back healthy. So looking forward to going against that tandem. And then, sure, I know that next week we got some boys down in Houston digs, tank, Nico Collins. So I'm looking forward to that. Who else we got? Who else we got? Of course, Justin, I miss Justin for the last, I think two years now.

I was either hurt, he was hurt. So looking forward to going against him. Who else we got? Who else we got that's different? I really just say those because, shoot. Ain't nobody jumped out at me yet. I mean, of course, Alam and Raw is always in the division and things like that. But I probably for the most part, I'm looking forward to those.

Oh, Sam Fran, that's a game. But I'm looking forward to not necessarily the matchup individually. Hopefully, Brandon Ayuk is there. If not, then, I'm missing out on that one. But really, other than that, oh, D.K. I haven't seen him in my career. So looking forward to those ones for sure. You got him at the end of the season, too.

We got that game. I'll see you there. I think we're in Chicago, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's Thursday night, baby. We'll be there. Oh, yeah, I'll say, I'm going to see you out there if it's good. Yeah, I'll be there. 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, 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. and finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's first, friends stop by like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. That's cool. So who is your best, who are the best quarters in the national football? football league right now outside of you. You said Cornice? Corners.

And we're just saying, are we asking my style? Or are we talking about just like overall everything? Whatever. It's your world. I'm going to get my style. I like, because I feel like it's hard to, I don't know, I probably everybody judges it different. Everybody can judge it by interceptions or whatever. But for me, I'm going, if I had to put these four guys on the island,

I would probably say I'll go with Pat. No, in no order. I'll probably go Pat, Denzel, sauce. Oh, and I can't get myself to four. Who else would I go? Yeah, look, we just going to assume you on the list, but we need five hours. Right, right, right, right, right, right, right.

Island, island. I'm going to go ahead and help and put some names out there. I said you got to give me some names. Stingley, been playing at a real high level. Who am I missing right now? Because he was just... Sneed, Sneed killed in the playoffs last year. McDuffie killed in the playoffs last year.

Charverius plays at a high level. When he was going, he had a nice old run of four or five games where he had a book in each of those games. You know, out in Seattle, Tariq, you know, they got the young nickel that's played in the high level. He still got a giant. You got the big name. You got the old big dog, Jair's.

You got the slaves. You got, you got Jaylorne out in Miami. Marsha. It's whatever you want. Oh, that's tough. That's tough on me. Because Pat is going to be in that conversation all the time. Obviously, you played at a high level.

You get to be in that conversation all the time. Jaya, when he's healthy. He's as good as they get. Marchand just kind of been overshadowed because they haven't been very good as a team. Denzel never really gets that much credit. Yeah, no, hey, I love his. I love DeZo. Yeah, no, I took some time to watch those three.

So that's why it's really hard for me because I just took, I know my off season, I was watching Pat, I was watching soft. Especially like, soft, you hear a lot, like you hear some people, he's overrated, you hear some people say he's really good. So I'm like, nah, damn now, I need to go watch my stuff. So I'm like, nah, young bull guy, he got some things too, for sure. And to me it's like, people always tell, oh, he holds. If he don't get called for it, he's not holding.

And like, then, like, damn the, oh, he does this, but he doesn't get called. That's part of it. That's part of it. That's part of it. Yeah, like, hey, they pushed off. Nobody says, oh, when he pushed off. Like, nah, nobody cares. So I think, for me, he uses what he got.

I thought it's really hard to give a fourth. It's really hard to give a fourth. I feel like the playing styles changed after that. I feel like I love watching Sneed and McDuffie. I think it's hard. I feel like it's really hard to tell when they, them boys get a lot of pressure. They get a lot.

Yeah. And boy, Chris Jones be in there. Yeah, I'm saying they get a lot of pressure. But I definitely love, love their games. If I had to give you one. But I will say this. They in Spag's sister, and them boys in man all day. Hey, all the time.

And they press. And they press. Yeah. Pressed up. Yeah, no, they're not. They're not ducking no smoke. for sure. What he did to wreaking that playoff game, people was like, oh, man, that's crazy.

I said, no, he practiced against him all the time. He has no fear of that, man. I would say, now he used to, yeah, he used to him. He got no fear. What other corners that you, when you came in or when you were at Utah that you were looking at and you were like, man, I'm a model my game after that because when you were coming up, it was probably leaving there. Jalen was pretty much in his pride.

I was saying, Zahlin. Marcian was young, but he was eating his first few years in the league. Yep, Slay was killing. Put it out of motto, yeah, I was about to say, I would say between Jalen, Slay, Marchon, Jair, um, who. We missed it. Stefan. Stefan was killing right there.

I think he won defense of playing here right around there. Yes, no, no, no, for sure, Gilmore, for sure. Who, oh, I would probably say, yeah, I would honestly say those five. I would say those five for sure coming in and I got out of college because again I feel like you watch to me like I love Jaylon Ramsey's game as far as like

how he goes out like I just love like his dog in the time I feel like it's something like I couldn't watch him necessarily and like oh I'm gonna go do that like nah he just does he just has some things that God gave him that he didn't give everybody else yeah yeah he didn't he skip everybody else but it's like looking at him he gives you like

when you watch it was like nah, I got to really be a dog. So I feel like I've always loved like his mentality, of course, his ball skills going up and making those spectacular plays and just really his energy. His energy, I feel like more so watching Gilmore. His IQ and technician was always something that definitely stood out to me. And that's something that I like as far as God's being able to that. You shadow, you take him.

Like I'm not impressed by like the interception. I'm impressed by it. But you can put him on him and that guy's eliminated out the game. that's what moves me more so than anything. So I love that about him. Even Marchion, I know he was doing that at early age. I think he won. He was a player the year for his rookie year, huh?

Yeah, rookie year. Yeah, he came in doing this thing. Who else? Jaya has always been a dog. I remember watching him early and just watching his tape and all the trash he was talking, he was making plays and antics. I'm like, no, he's kind of, hey, he's small,

a little man going to go out there and do his things. He's going to go go get it. Yeah, he's going to fight. So I definitely love always watching DBs. Man, I give a lot of respect to guys that play this position out of high level that go out there and they can compete. Because, I mean, for me, it's like, you'll see you turn on the tape and you'll watch certain guys.

They're like, man, they ain't no pride in that. Like, they ain't no pride on what he's doing. Bro. It's certain people I couldn't even watch on tape. Like, if I'm trying to judge a receiver, I'm about to face somebody. If they play certain teams, I wouldn't even watch their tape. Because I'm like, bro, that's not even going to help me.

That's not what. That too, they ain't going to help me. I can't get a good, I can't get a good assessment watching this dude. Look, he gave you $2.50. Like, what did you want to learn? Definitely, definitely. What was your welcome to the NFL moment? Like, who blessed you?

Because my second year, it was this receiver of Stevie Johnson and nobody really know about it. He was nice. He nasty. That boy, in a phone booth, you ain't touching him. Yeah. 4-7, 4-6, but in a phone booth, Your hands ain't going to get on.

Yeah, wiggle. I feel like it's hard. I'm like, bless me. I feel like that's hard. I feel like I really, in a past, I feel like I really held my own. Of course, I ran over once a like bad. Right, right, right, right. But I thought as far as the past, I thought one dude who always gave me problems.

I know, like, me and Devonte would, like, compete. So I wouldn't say he blessed me. I would win my, he win his. But I would probably say I struggled. with Mike Evans my first, my first year. Big strong-ass. Yeah, no, I know I struggle with him for show. Everybody else I felt like was kind of, like, was silent.

Like, I wouldn't say death, but I had trouble. But Mike, like, he was to my, Mike. Like, he doesn't do nothing special. It's nothing that you don't know that he's going to do. But it's like, God damn, then he got Tom Brady, especially when I've seen it, he got Tom Brady throwing. So I'm like, hey, I'm right here. He's big running down the field all strong.

he makes it test and catches. I'm like, hey, he ain't no joke. He ain't no joke. Look, and he gets the ball in his hands, he's way bigger and stronger than you ever think he is. No doubt, no doubt. He was one of them ones, too. Me and me, meet him and me and B. Marshall had a couple battles where I was like,

God, wrestling with dinosaurs. I was saying long levered cats, they ain't got no wiggle. They're just all strong. All strong. Hit you, grab you a little bit right here a couple times. Yeah, no. Hey, I made sure I back my alignment up a little. Smart man.

Hey, you can't get it out there and try to bring the fights it in. They want that. Smart man. Well, Joe, I ain't going to take up too much more of your time. If you got any questions for me, anything you want to ask, I'm happy to answer. Other than that, I'll let you get back to your old lady, your fiancé, and your family. No, I appreciate it.

You, well, I don't, I know my answer. But you first ballet, you think? I hope so. You know, I don't want to jinx it. I'm being honest. Look, you don't want to jinx it, you know what I mean? No, hey, we got to put it out there. There ain't no jinx.

We got to put it out there. Look, you put it out there and it's out there forever. Yeah, yeah. Look, the rest of it, I had control over, you know what I mean? Like, when I want to call my own shot. I'm not mad at that. I hope so. I think I did enough, you know, I went to three Super Bowls, got enough all pros and all that,

you know, played on enough great defenses, went somewhere else, and we had a great defense and went to another bowl. So, you know, I think during my time, I think I would say I was the best one, that plan, but, you know, everybody got their opinion. So I hope, hopefully the voters think that and, you know, give me in. Right, I love that. That would mean a lot to me, you know, to get that jacket and, you know, all your hard work, everything you dreamed about as a little kid comes true.

You know, that's the cool part. But that's what I'm saying about your teammates. Like, if you really want to shine, you'll bring. bring them boys along with you and you and they get it. You know what I mean? Like real competitors, real champions, real dudes who really want what they say they want, they don't really question it. You know what I mean?

If you got to pull teeth to get a dude to do some extra work or to say, hey, this is our standard as a DB group or DB room and they want to argue it, then they're not really what they say they are and they probably going to get replaced by somebody else. The coaches will see it, the tape will show, all that. But most dudes ain't built like. They didn't make it to the league by being like that. So you might have an off day where I'm tired or

or my hamstring hurt and the sore, that's different. But if you say, hey, in this DB room, this is our standard, this is what we doing. We're working every day after practice. I don't care if it's just catching a few balls on the jugs or getting a few releases. Like, we go out there, we do not do the minimum. And dudes be like, no, man, I'm going home.

You ain't going to be what you say you want to be. You ain't never going to get there. So I would say, I would say that was the biggest thing about the Legion of Boom and our group that helped elevate us and elevate the guys around us and elevate all of us, is that that was the standard, and it was the standard, and nobody ever questioned it, nobody said that. You know what I mean?

Like, hey, go get your extra work and let's go home. We're going to do a lap around the field. We're going to do this. Get your 10 press coverage reps or your safety reps, your eye reps, your quarterback throwing your ball, whatever, and let's get on out of here. But the standard is the standard. Nobody's going to argue with that.

No doubt, no doubt. My last one for you, and I know how smart and intelligent you were, of course, off the field, but I know on the field, it was different. I feel like I ain't seen too many guys in the National Football League run somebody to drop before they ran it. So I think for me, just always seeing that, I'm like, yeah, he knows something. I feel like, how did you get to that point?

Like, how did you, because, like, for me, like, I can watch film. Like, I get to a friend or like, I'm good, like, right, recognition. I can kind of see, okay, three by one, I'm to the field. Based on certain splits, I can expect certain things. But how, I guess for my question, you and how did you get to that point to where it was at the level of which it was as far as your IQ you seeing certain things you calling things out before it even happens was that kind of studying was that do you think you just kind of have a certain type of memory or something

like how it was it was it was a little bit of everything I played receiver for a long time in college and so I learned west coast offense under bill walsh and under hardball and all So we, I understand what the offense is trying to do from their, their route combinations, like their philosophy and a lot of the combinations, like a flat, two to the flat means one coming in or one on a curl or one on a slant, depending on if it's a quick game or not. Two running an overrout means one coming in. It's either dig or post, you know what I mean? So certain combinations are married with other things.

And so I practiced that way. I practice situational football. That's all I do when I'm watching tape. When I'm watching our own offense, if I'm in training camp, I'm breaking down, hey, our max protect deep developing routes. What do our offense like? Like, okay, they got a tidy-in-in and a grave digger

and a running back staying in, max protect. All right, so they run in deep developing routes. What's their favorite routes? Okay, they like double-dig post, or they like comebacks with a middle read or whatever it is. And once you learn those things, then let the split speed. to you let the situation, hey, it's third and five.

What do they like on third and five again? Like, okay, in a bunch, they like spot where it's the sit, the seven, the flat. And it's like, oh, they always do it out of emotion. As soon as I see that motion, all right now. Hey, we alert. You tell me what I want to know. Hey, alert this.

Alert this. If I see two, if I see three go to the flat, I know I'm going to increase. And now I just want to know which one I'm trying to bait him into throwing. Hey, he see the safety down. So he understands his three. he thinks he has the flat. So if I take away the flat,

I know he takes the seven. So can I hold the flat long enough to go get the seven like you did in that poems rep? And you did something I would do, but you did it subconsciously. You just did a reactionary, which was really good.

But so a lot of it is just understanding the concepts and how routes are married. Like certain routes go with other routes. Right. Always. And so they can't really run the concept without running the second part of it. So now I've got to just know

where my eyes are supposed to be. Hey, my eyes are on two on this play. My eyes are on one because I don't have any indicator over there with two. On backside of a three by one and it's third and five and I'm with Devonthe and you know it's, it's up from there. You know what I mean? We can be in anyway from there. But a lot of times it was just me understanding the concepts, understanding the situation we were in and not letting the fatigue and the craziness of a game get me out of my game plan. No doubt, no doubt. Well, I thought that's my that's my biggest thing.

I feel like it is understanding it from the offensive perspective. Because I feel like for me, I can see it. And like I'm really good at, like you said, splits, formation, situations. Like, okay, when they want to do certain things, especially like, when I see two, like, coverages that I can see two, two are going to tell me all I need to know about. One, like, and a lot of times, like, I'll tell, like, when she was asking, like, how you know I was driving that ride? I said, I was a girl, because I see number two, like, two told me what you was going to do.

some odds is in my favor unless you just did something completely off script then hey i got to rally to that right i got i got to put that in my notebook yeah hey fact i just got a hey chalk that up and play a little true but for the most part i think for me it's like okay how does the offense see what we're doing or see what i'm doing i'm like that's the biggest thing that i want to get to where it's like when i do know what they're doing i can still see how he's seeing how the quarterback seen or how the oc seeing it i think that's something i want to take to that next level or kind of start thinking and I fight. I don't know who the hell I need to talk to,

but I need to figure out. You can talk to some of them quarterbacks. You can talk to your O.C. Like a lot of the football minds ain't trying to keep secrets, especially if guys on their team, they might, you know, it's training caps. So they might, oh, we ain't helping you, yada, yada, y'all.

But during the season, they want you to succeed. So you're like, hey, hey, could I watch a little tape with you? I just want to understand offense a little better so I can play better. When we plan cover two, they got an answer for it. When they're playing cover three, when they're doing it. Yeah, they definitely have answers for all of that. and you need to know what they think and why is they answers. So where the ball should be coming.

So we be in a game. And that's why people always said, y'all ran cover three and like, oh, it was so simple. It was so simple because we knew what they were going to do. And so we knew where the answers were all the time. Yeah, every cover got a weakness. It got a weakness. Communicate with the rest of your dudes, too, because that helps you. Like when they know what you know and everybody knows the same thing.

Yeah, we can be together. We can be together and you can dictate where the ball goes. you can say, hey, hey, we got covered two. It's going to be, it's a three by one, but it's a nub side. They're running a seven on the back side, and they're running special, all goes special coming from the three by one side. Hey, we ain't covered three. I'm not going, I'm a past this tight end because I don't want my linebacker

running with speed at three. Right, three. I need my buzzer to drop a little deeper. Hey, buzz deeper so he can come off that seven. We're going to make him throw the flat route to the running back to the tight end side, but we ain't going to let him get that special with him running with my own back. over yeah no and so stuff like that we would we'd be we just talking through hey hey hey bobby bobby hey i got him hey kj hey drop hey i need you deeper we don't rally we're gonna rally to the to the flat

and we do do do boopoooooooooooooooooooo rally to the flat it's a four-yard game he got to check it down he got he got he got no choice or he can throw me the ball you know he don't want to do that they don't want to do that but you know at times they got they got kind of greedy like that but But that's where leadership and camaraderie and chemistry comes together because you start to help other guys do their job well. You know what I mean? Like don't keep secrets out there. It ain't no point.

I won't try to know what I know. No doubt. No doubt. I appreciate it for so. All love. All love. All right, baby. Get in there and go take care of that old lady.

Where her feet? No doubt. No doubt. I appreciate you. But, though. Much respect. And love. I see you at the end of the season.

We got your game. No doubt. All right, man. On. 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 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 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 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, 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 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. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.