A Huddle is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. Well well, well, welcome to everybody to the l Huddle podcast. I'm being a cost of release with Will Selva. Will. This is that time of year where I'm like, don't destoy what's happening? Right, because everybody assumes that after Super Bowl? How many times do you get the question, oh, you got to take some Tino off? Lol? Yeah all the time. That's our case. Nope, not the case. I wish we can all take a darkness retreat, which, by the way, I was it sounds great, doesn't it at this point like it does. But you know how skeptical, you know how skeptical our families would be if I said that I was doing Oh REDI guess guess Rogers. My mom is taking the first flight out if I tell her I'm going through a darkness room. No, yeah, I told you. It's like, I don't think that's something. And you know, I don't know if that's take a darkness retreat, but you won't go to mass on Sunday. That's what she's gonna tell me. Exactly exactly there is there is a guilt vice gript that is consistently honest. And when when Aaron Rodgers was being interviewed by this podcaster, he did not have shoes or socks on, and he does, he does, but that would be my mom would be on me all the time the scal so you know you're gonna get sick, you know what. The popular phrase for that is in Miami, which translates to dirty feet. Can't be at Okay, get it together. But that's a whole other conversation for another day, because along the same lines of this quote unquote no off season, we were right into the combine, which I just came back from Indianapolis. It's a scene already in the very best way. It's like a reunion right of all of everybody across the NFL. At twenty four hours there can confirm that's probably the perfect amount of time to be there, unless you're a prospect getting ready to do drills. So we will have Robert Turbin coming up. He is there as well. He is one of the coaches for the combine. He's going to be mentoring the running backs. Of course, we got a little quarterback carousel. But before we get into that, let's get into okay, so in Indianapolis was also one Derek Carr who was meeting with the Carolina Panthers. I call that efficiency, like if the teams are already there, yeah, just pop on in. We're already doing interviews as well doing it. But when asked about the meeting, this is what head coach Frank Reich had to see, A good meeting with Derek. Really have a lot of respect for him as what he's accomplished in his career, the kind of player, is the kind of person he is, you know, just see what is this the right fit? Is this an answer? And I think you know part of that is, yeah, this is a good option, but we have to look it through. We're looking at all options. This is a time of year that we do that. We were excited about that meeting and it was a good meeting, and you know, we'll take it day by day. I mean, of course, standard coach answer. I would say. The other layer to that wrinkle is that Derek car is in a position here where he does hold a lot of the control about his future. I love that for him. Do you think though that Carolina could be an landing spot? Well, I feel like this was the NFL's version of speed dating, because he's going from room to room or to coach to coach and GM to GM talking to them. The Panthers know they have to get the quarterback situation right. They can't just put a temporary solution on that. They've gone through different solutions that they thought would work. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold did show some promise, but it's clear they are going to try to get this right whether Derek Carr goes there. I'll be honest with you, I think this all comes down to what Aaron Rodgers is going to do. While I think that Derek Carr has a lot of say, I think he has a lot to say, but not the most say. I think that is Aaron Rodgers. He says he's going to come up with a decision soon, and I think once that domino finally falls, that's when we'll see. Because I could see Derek Carr with the Jets. Joe Douglas was extremely impressed with Carr in his meetings with him, and of course he met with the Saints twice as well. So he's got suitors, he's got potential landing spots. But I think it all comes down to Rogers and how he's feeling now that he's had his darkness retreat. Oh my god, once again, this man is the main headline going into a free agency and just like the craziness that goes into the offseason, get it together, let us know what's going on. Please, you would think out of the darkness some clarity by now, But no, no, there isn't now another quarterback Lamar Jackson. He has yet to agree, of course, this is the debacle that never ends to a long term deal with the Ravens. Now. When asked about Lamar and the developments on his signing, this is what John Harbaugh had to say. I feel like Lamar's doing really well. It's it's just what it is. Part of the business, you know. It's what you expect when you have a great quarterback, when you make a great decision in the draft, you know. And I think we I think Lamar has done a great job in terms of developing as a quarterback and winning football games and competing and doing all the things that he does. I feel like we've done a great job in terms of bringing out the best in Lamar over the years. And uh, and it's just evident the way he plays, you know, And so he's my quarterback, he's my guy. I love him, and uh as a coach, I just I'm looking forward to seeing it get done. But it's not easy, you know, It's never easy. It's the business part of it. So um, but I'm really hopeful and excited, fervently hopeful, and I can't wait for it to get down there yet. Lamar Jackson joining us now via what are these called funko pops? Funkos? Yes with us, we ain't for you, Lamar. Look, we know the man represents himself, right, Yeah, these are the types of situation. There's complications that right where I wish that like he didn't have to do this fight right like that there was somebody else in the room on his behalf, pounding the table, getting into the nitty gritty the business side of it. That can get real murky sometimes, like that's just the reality of these contract negotiations. But um, I also understand that he feels more than capable and wants full of control of this. So there's a lot to be said about what's going on there. But how long do you think it's going to take before this is all resolved? I mean, I feel like we've been waiting for this for several seasons now because we have It's tough to tell with the timeline, but I do have to think that they are going to have the franchise tag in mind, whether that's the non exclusive one or exclusive one. What's happened with Lamar Jackson situation, because he does represent himself at least in my opinion, is that he's lost some leverage. He came back to play start off, we thought, Wow, he was unbelievable, playing like how we've been accustomed to seeing him. But then he gets hurt. So that's and the salary that he was making was definitely not equal to the talent that he brings onto the field. Now, to your point, like Eric da Costa and the Ravens, they have done several contracts before, they have experience, they've been They've had experience with say Roquan Smith, who also represents himself. But with the leverage issue with Lamar Jackson. If you take the example of Kirk Cousins, he had two franchise tags and he still held all the leverage, right, and then you go to um Deshaun Watson in Houston, the text and said, hey, you know what, Deshaun, you do your thing. Okay, you come back with the deal and then we'll figure things out. And he had four teams bidding on his services, and that contract I think is the hold up because of the two hundred and thirty million guaranteed that the Ravens don't feel comfortable giving to him. But they have to be careful because they don't want to insult him with the offer because he is representing himself. So this is where it gets a little messy. And also m J. I don't know if you saw on social media what Sean Bateman had tweeted out when I deleted Twitter off my phone for a week. Did you really So basically, Eric da Costa had said that in terms of the problems drafting wide receivers, he said, if I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers. We're gonna keep swinging, so Rashad Bateman then responded, how about you play to your player's strength and stop pointing the finger at us in number eight. Blame the one you let do this. We take keep twenty four to seven and keep us healthy. Care about us and see what happened ain't no compromise though. Tired of y'all line and capping on players for no reason. Now, Lamar any exclamation points we're in that tweet? Uh, they're actually no ellipsis. There's a lot of ellipsis any caps, all caps right like us us that's in caps. I knew it, you know, because we've said before Lamar Jackson he needs more weapons around him too, right, So now Rashad baby, he's getting he's getting hot about this as well. And this comes during this contract time. So what do you think? It's messy? It's messy, and I love this for us, not for them, but the fact that they're out. You know, the things have changed so much in terms of us knowing the reactions from players in real time, because previously all we had was like locker room availability and sort of waiting to see the reports that came in through there. If you catch a guy on a day where he feels like popping off and like really saying how he feels right now, we know it. Immediately. All they gotta do is open their phone and boom, you know exactly what's happening. Man. I always go back to thinking about this franchise tag situation because ostensibly, if you just look at it, dollar signs wise, the exclusive tag would give him forty five mil. But that's just for that one year. So what does that say, right, Like, what is the investment that you're making in this man? Or lack their up, like you know this is the guy. Where else are you gonna go? You're gonna risk him going to another team after that unless you just it's just insane to me. And so when you hear coach saying, that's my guy, that's my dude. I love Lamar, I've loved everything he's done for this franchise. Remember earlier in the season two hundred percent, he's going to be our guy next year. Then get it done, figure it out, figure it out, and make the investment the commitment to him. Enough with this runaround, it's exhausting just watching along. I can't imagine Lamar's shoes. Yes, but do they dare play hardball with them and say, you know what they do the non exclusive, We're gonna do the non exclusive and let's see what the market bears. You try to figure something out and we'll get two first round picks. And somebody has to be saddled with paying him over two hundred and thirty million guaranteed. I don't like that because it's like, what are you? What are you doing here? You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. You can't in one breath say this is my guy, we want him here two hundred percent, blah blah blah blah blah. And then play these little games. You know, don't play these guys. I hear there now, I don't play these games. But you know what they are doing in Indianapolis. They're running a lot of drills and we're going to see the top signal callers throw at the combine. Bryce Young he will throw at his pro day. But we're gonna see guys like Anthony Richardson, and we're gonna see Will Levis for example, see what they're about CJ. Stroud. So we're gonna be joined by former NFL star running back Robert Turban. He's mentoring the running backs turbo at a very fast forty time. We'll get his takes on the quarterbacks, the running backs, and what does he think of the whole Russell Wilson Seahawks. Ending there, we get into it with them. Make sure to stick around Obviously they get the medical during the week, but for us to be able to do these formal interviews or informal is to me the biggest part of all this. It's not even in the working out portion. Like to me, you grate them off the tape right off. Somebody out here in pajamas running around forty with no defender around or an offender. That is from Lyons head coach Dan Campbell. They're talking about the combine. Joining us from the combine from Indianapolis is former NFL star running back Robert Turbin. Welcome to the L Huddle Podcast. Robert, it's an honor. Thanks for having me. Yeah, no, it's it's listen. It's a pleasure to talk to you. You just heard Dan Campbell's assessment of it. We've heard it called the underwear Olympics. What do you think is it guys just running around in their pajamas and it's more important to just look at the tape. Yeah, I don't have any cool nicknames like some of these other guys as pertains to the combine. But listen, if I'm if I'm being honest, I've been through this process. The forty, the bench, the most important part of it is those opportunities to meet with the teams, you know, get some face time with head coaches and general managers and other members of the front office, as long as they take it seriously, which I think the league has really kind of put a stamp on with these teams because we've heard in the past even I got some weird questions. We'll leave it at weird, all right, at that, But the only field portion. Look, I gotta agree with coach Campbell. You'll you'll know a guy when you watch the tape. Now, if you do something outlandish and you run a four two, that can help your draft stock. But I think that you can be almost perfect in every drill that you do out here on the field and it won't really impact you in the draft as far as dropping or if anything, you'll drop more then you'll actually go up if you don't run like a four to two or four to three. What I learned in the very brief twenty four hours that I spent in Indianapolis this week is that the day and we knew this, but the day for the prospects as well as obviously the sco Like the front office folks, it's a long day, And it's not just what we see on the field, right, it's the whole week. It's the interviews, it's getting prepped for this, it's trying to get in some conditioning and some practice before you hit Lucas Oil Stadium on your day to be out there. What do you remember from going through let's call it a car wash, right, going through that car wash of the combine and getting ready for I mean, these guys take it as the biggest job, interview, biggest audition of their lives. Yeah, it was a mental challenge because you're you're almost rushing to get everywhere that you're supposed to be. First of all, you got to figure out where you're supposed to go, get that part and how to get there. Then it's like you got to hurry up and go because you feel like you're late to everything, and then when you get there, you end up standing around for fifteen or twenty minutes actually get started. Yeah. So I say that because there's there's mental fortitude in place for these young guys as they're going through this process that they have to overcome in order to stay sharp. Yeah, that's a really interesting aspect of it. Something we were talking about well, just in terms of like the preparation of all these guys and how they got there to Indy. Yeah, well, with Robert, you know, you're mentoring the running backs. This is the first year that you're in this role, and you've got this really talented group, a lot of big names. Who were the guys that we should be focused on or at least keep an eye on. Well, I'm still getting to know the guys from the group. But I did have an opportunity to speak with Mohammed Ibrahim out of Minnesota. Actually met him at the East West Shrine Bowl before the combine. We've developed a relationship. Tank Big Bisbee out of Auburn is a good back that I would look out for. But right now, I'm still looking at the guys as a group. I had an opportunity to speak with them last night at dinner, and you know, the message that I shared with him, you know, with me being in this role serving as an mentor is you know, obviously I've gone through this process. I spent eight years in the league. I've gone through the transition process, and so there's a lot of things, there's a lot of knowledge that I know that I want to be able to share to these guys, and you know, you're gonna get tapped on the behind all through the week while you're here, and everybody's gonna tell you how great you are. But I'm here to give you the real spiel about, you know, the NFL and what it's all about and what you should expect. But the one nugget that I really wanted to give them that was really important was you hear, oftentimes really all the time that the NFL is a business, and when you're twenty one and twenty two, you may not really understand what that is. But what I wanted to reiterate was that this is actually a relationship business. And what I meant by that is, you know, every person that they need that they run into while they're here this week at the Combine is really an opportunity for them to then build their network for any time down the road. And if there's one thing that I wanted to get them to understand quickly, it was that that's such an important aspect of it, because you hit the nail on the head. These are young men, most of them within that twenty to twenty two maybe twenty three year old range, So their entire lives have been very regimented as athletes, right, and now you're getting into the point like now you have to even though you have an agent and you have you know, people sort of guiding you, you have to be the advocate for yourself. You are your own brand and that plays just as much into it as the skill side of it and all of that other stuff. So so how do you square that? And what's been the response from these guys? And not everybody's gonna get that, right, Like, not everybody's really going to take in the message. Yeah, everybody gets it, you know, sooner or later or sometimes never. I think it's just about being engaged. You know. I remember being a young guy and you know, Michael Vick went up to speak one time and he talked about how uh, you know, careers are short and you know most careers are only two and a half years. And you know, it was funny because as he was as he was speaking, he mentioned that there's a there's a good chucky you guys in the audience right now, dig into yourself. Well that's not gonna be me, you know, I was one of those guys, you know, but it but it happens then it ends up actually happening, you know, and so um, I think the important thing is, you know, how can I connect with these guys? Not about how can I connect with these guys? It's about connecting with these guys because I know how. It's about connecting with these guys on a people level, on a personal level. Then you can get them to understand, like, you know, how this business really goes. Share some of the things that I went through as a player, Share some of the things that teammates of mind went through his players, and give him, you know, the reality of how the league can go and you know, to avoid some of the mistakes that I made as a player, and so many other guys. Robert, we have been seeing in the news what has happened to Georgia's eventsive tackle Jalen Carter, dealing with a serious off the field issue, decided to return to the combine. For some of these talent evaluators, they're throwing up their hands saying, WHOA, we didn't know about this other aspect or this situation that's developing in his life. How do you reach somebody like him, for example, so that way he can be transparent to these talent evaluators because as you mentioned, it is also a business and he has to sell himself, but there's also something that is serious that's happening that has real consequences as well. Yeah, you have to learn a compartmentalize real early for Jalen, and you know, so for me being in this position, it's you know, sharing examples of times or I had to compartmentalize in my life and again leaning on some of the other stories that I know about or have witnessed where they had to compartmentalize as well. Like I give, you know, examples of guys like Mars Shawn, you know, who went through some things and still went on to have a great career, you know, etc. And so it's using those examples that guys can then relate to that kind of help them, you know, approach their situations, no question. And look, I think there's there's something to be said about adversity creating developing your character right and how you respond to certain things and how you deal with it. But there is a lot of pressure whether you have off the field stuff going on or not coming into combined week. I think one of the big things is even though we talk about like the drills right, and how much stock there isn't it or not? And that depends on the coach and on the front office of the team that's evaluating you. But one thing I'm sure you'll remember, Rob was getting ready for those drills right, and like what that feels like this year I got I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret. Maybe you've already seen this. If not, I got to plug for you, Rob Uma. There is now a whole Athlete HQ in Indianapolis for these guys to like prep and train and rehab. They get swag from Noble, they get like all this treatment. It's very different than the combines of the past, and I'm I'm excited for these new guys. But I also talked to a bunch of folks who where they're like, wait a minute, we didn't have any of that. Like these kids are coming in here walking into the combine like, oh, I feel a way, I feel a little special. And they are. They're treated like superstars already in that aspect. I think it's great that they get a chance to practice on an actual field, actual churf to do the forty. They have weights, all of the actual stuff they'll be doing, they'll be using in the drills. But it is a very stark difference from combines of the past. I guess of the game. You got to credit the league, uh you know for evolving this way. But how can we put these guys in the best position to be the best version of themselves when they have to go out and perform, you know. So they've done that by providing them more uh you know, more things the weight room the field. We didn't have that. I mean, we we got all the swag and stuff though you know, hey it was not it was nice. Now, I don't want to undermine it at all. It's nothing like no board though Noble is doing something. You know, it's I've never seen anything like that before. Yeah, yeah, but you would be warming up in the hallways though, of the of the convention stadium, right right, yeah, right, you'll be doing your forty starts in the in the hallways and and and stuff like that. Really, when when during our time in twenty twelve, we just we just waited till it was time to get on the field to really like have an opportunity to work on our stuff. Um, and so a lot different putting these guys in a position to be the best version of themselves. I love the evolution. How does it compare to like the biggest game that you've ever had in your college career. It does not compare. It doesn't compare. I mean, it's a big deal, don't get me wrong, the scouting combine, it's a big deal. You know. I don't want to undermine it at all. But it doesn't compare to playing in the super Bowl at all. You know. Like as a ball player, I felt like I was great on the field. I was a horrible drill guy Cones. I hated the sight of anything orange because of Cones. I couldn't I couldn't get around him. I'd always knock him over, you know. But it never looked like that on the field. Some guys can really relate to that, you know. So you know, you want to see how a guy moves, that's great. But the best way to see how a guy moves is how he moves against the fenders. And that's why I really backward, coach Dan Campbell said from the Lion. Yeah, we were, we were saying that the other day. I'm like, wait a minute, remember when like a four four or a four three with like a rare thing, like one maybe two guys would do it. Now, these guys are out here running four two s four threes like it's nothing, Like it's nothing. Yeah. I run a four four four and a four four seven and my two attempts, and I got the nickname Turbo, you know, So I had to have some kind of speed at some point in my life. That's nothing now, right, offensive linemen are running four fours. These kids are built different. Man. I got in right, I got in right at the right time. Y'all boys are fast. Yeah. Yeah. The things that you carved out an incredible career. You did play in Seattle. You played with with Russ there, you had Pete Carroll as your coach, knowing those two, those two guys and the Seahawks organization. And there were reports that US wanted to fire Pete Carroll and John Schneider too, Like what did you make of that situation when you heard that report? It was a lie, it was not truth, it was not fact. Russell never wanted anybody fired, He never asked for anybody to be fired. That's true. The other thing that's true is Russell has always had a strong relationship with coach Sean Payton, especially when they when they went when he went to the Pro Bowl and Sean was coaching the NFC side, They had a great relationship. The other thing that's true is coming out of the draft, Russell's favorite player was Drew Brees. He looked up to Drew Brees a lot. Part of the reason why he moved to San Diego was to be able to work out with Drew Brees in the off season. So they are, they are, And he admired, you know, he admired Sean Payton from AFAR. He really talked about it all the time, you know, but he never went to ownership and saying, hey, I'd rather have Sean paid over over Pete Carroll. You know, were there was there relationship perfect? No, but um, you know, at the end of the day, I think they got a great relationship. Now, uh, they were both winners and they both cared about people a lot, you know, and so um that's what I make of that article though, I mean, I I don't mean to call anybody a liar. That's kind of disrespectful, But it wasn't fact that that was what was reported there. Contact and perspective change a lot. It's very very important, so to add that layer there. Thank you for for for bringing that on here with us. Um. You were fourth row picked in twenty twelve NFL Draft. How different and what's your view on how like the first rounders are treated basically the guys m who are later on in the draft. Oh man, there's so many layers to that, mj um. You know, guys who are who were picked in the first round, they get a lot more leeway their rookie years. But I want to ask forward to when you have the opportunity to get your second contract. It's very interesting when despite how you may have performed on the field, you know, teams will view you like, hey, you were you were a fifth round pick, your extension probably isn't as deserving to be as much as a first round pick. He's in line for the same extension and maybe from a statistical standpoint, might not even be as good. But it's already a bias. Correct, it's already a bias on no matter what you came in as a sixth round pick, you're ready for an extension. Yeah, I mean you did really well, but you're I mean, you're you got the most interceptions in the league. You're drafted in the sixth round. Don't don't know if I can give you as much as a first rounder, so maybe you have to go elsewhere. Like those are the things that happened when you're drafted in a little round. Somebody, somebody yesterday talk to the guys. It's funny, says it doesn't matter where you get drafted. It doesn't, right, because you can make the team. You have a career, right Jerry Bright, Tom Brady, We've seen it. But in something is most instances, it kind of matters. Yeah, business wise, it's something. It's something to think about, especially when you're building game. I guess perhaps there are so many layers down right with like the college kids, because there as an I AM now, there's brand partnership. So but in terms of just the playing football aspect of it. There that's the reality of it, like there just is there is a difference between the two. Well, and I try to dig into layers a bit, but you know, we don't. I talk about people's money because that's some of our business though, but it's not it's not even just about the money, it's just it's just how you're viewed. Yeah, the respect right. Yeah, Like I was drafted, Okay, when I came in and I talked to the Seahawks, they said, listen, we're drafting you to be the backup running back. And so once you're once you're kind of labeled that from the beginning, it's really hard to break that ice into into becoming something else. And that happens all across the league. That's real. You know, you know you're you're mentoring the running back. So it'll be fun to see how those guys perform when their their name is called. Also, the quarterbacks will be showcase as well, and there's a lot of intrigue with some of these prospects, whether it's Will Levis or Anthony Richardson CJ. Stroud. What is your take on some of these young signal callers that we're going to see because it seems like all of them have a flaw or two and there's a little bit of risk, but there's a lot of talent and there's no question. Yeah, I think I think the bigger question because you you nail that these guys have talent. There's a couple of question marks with these guys. So for me, the question really kind of goes to the team. In my opinion, if a team is looking at c. J. Stroud or Anthony Ridgardson or any of these guys, how do you plan on utilizing him within your system? Let's use the forty nine ers for an example. All Right, they go out, they get Trey Lance, they trade a bunch of picks. They go and get Trey Lance. Okay, because they feel like he's going to be their next franchise quarterback. But before he was injured, if you look at the way that they utilize him, I don't know if they utilize him to the best of his strengths. We knew that he can use his feet, so they try to do that. But quarterbacks don't train to run the football. They train to throw it. So when you put them in these positions where they're running the football all the time, what happened? They get hurt? R Jackson, you know, Josh Allen Ham Newton, examples go on and on. Right, So, if you're looking at a guy like CJ. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and these and these guys who can do some dynamic things with their feet, how do you plan on utilizing that player? Do you have a plan to develop them as passers or do you want them to be extension extended running backs, Because if that's the case, they're all gonna they're all not gonna do well. They're not. And so I'd love that that you put the onus on the team because it's true. They're coming in, they're showing you this is who I am. These are the skills that I bring to the table for your organization. How are you going to build me up now and put me in a position to succeed? Now, sometimes they do that and it may or may not work out, But I do like that the that theonus has put on the teams there to do right by the talent that they are investing in, right, because at the end of the day, everything has to has to line up. Yeah, and these guys are rookie still, even the quarterbacks, you know, they have so high expectations when you come into the league as a quarter back. Well, guess what, just like a young dB who's got to learn how to backpedal and get his very quickly. Man, those those same developmental you know, flaws that may exist in a quarterback have to be developed over time as well. And so yeah, I think the onus is more on the team because, especially because of the type of quarterback class that we have, there's not one guy you say, oh, you know Trevor Lawrence Andrew Luck. You know he's got all the tools, right, these guys need development, So how are you going to go about that process? Just a fascinating conversation with you, Robert Turbin. I'm sorry, Turbo, now that we know you're forty time, it has been a pleasure to talk to you. Felt like I learned a lot and you did give context and nuance and good luck with mentoring these these young running backs and these players. Just based on the small sample side of us getting a chance to talk to you, I think they're gonna get a lot of wisdom coming their way. So, Robert Turbin, thank you so much for joining us on the El Huddle podcast. Very enlightening. Please come back again, my friend, Will I will thanks for having me appreciate it. Oh well, as we mentioned earlier in the episode, this is a time of year worth things go off the rails. So to get us back in order, we're gonna jump on the carousel quarterbacks, the QB carousel, y'all, because we have quite a few who need a little landing spot. They need to jump off find a team. So let's go through some of them, and we talked about one briefly. But let's go to Derek Carr first. And we understand he talked to the Panthers in Indie. But where would you love to see him next season? I would love to see him with the Jets have a strong supporting cast there. I would say Aaron Rodgers goes there, but I think in the end Aaron Rodgers stays. But who the hell knows. I just think Derek Carr to the Jets sounds very plausible to me. And I know that Robert Sala thought highly of Car, so that's what I'm going with. I love that too. That would be my spot as well, just because I think the combination of Salah and Car could be really, really good. They've got great playmakers, they're already I think it's a young team, but a team that is definitely clearly ready to win. Now, all right, James Richard Garoppolo, where's my boy, Jimmy gonna go? In your mind? HEMI I think that is going to go to the box. This old Kyle Trask business because Kyle trash Bluss. If they were sold on it, then why didn't they have him as the backup than Blaine Gabber? Right, So I think that he Me would be a perfect fit for them. But for the Bucks, they have a lot of work to do. It feels like they got a little older, a little slower. But that seems to be a nice logical landing spot for Jimmy GQ me. Yeah, I remember last season there was like a lot of us here we're saying on ta like, oh, maybe Seahawks. We already know what the Seahawks situation seemingly will be. So huh he Me in Florida. I don't hate it, Yeah, I don't hate it. Let's talk about the newer guys coming through Bryce Young. Where could he land Bryce Young? It was because then you have to bring up the height differential. Then you have to also bring up the the stature his body and whether he can absorb all the hits. I think that's also a concern. But he is a winner. He makes all the throws, he can process really well. He is well liked in the locker rooms that he's been in. I think that it's the Texans guys. What Oh I like that under Demiko. Yeah awesome. I like the way I can see that happening. All right, one more CJ. Stroud also getting a lot of buzz mm hmmm. I think that CJ. Stroud, out of all of these draft prospects, is the most polished. Uh. He's got the numbers, the measurables, can make, throws, can process really well. I think that he ends up going to the Cults because they've been desperately trying to find a franchise QB and they will finally find one in CJ. Stroud. I mean, this is why don't why aren't your Jennifer and office already? I mean, this is insane, flare concise no, but I'm right along there with you. I like I hadn't thought about him to the culture, but that it actually does make a lot of sense. Um. I think the fit would be good. Good for I love that for him. Let's see, because you know what Draft Night's gonna be crazy. Um, all right, I like these will I like these a lot. Yeah. So, so it's always time to put a little bow on the l Huddle podcast. That means ibunto. So my ibunto is Tom Brady reportedly wants to try stand up now. Nobody asked for this. Tom, No, no, I feel you know what you can't do. Tom. You just can't go behind the mic and say, let's I think, go right, that's funny. You gotta say more than that. Um. He just doesn't strike me as somebody who could have the the premise punchline. Premise punchline. You know, it's like, oh boy, I was in this huddle with uh, you know, Gronk there, and then Gronk you know, he decided to put his hand underneath his armpit and then he started to do arm farts. I mean, how great is that? Everybody timing would need to worry. There's a Yeah, stand up comedy is hard. It's very very difficult, and it's Matt. Yes, yes, I've dabbled it. I did a long time ago a friend of mine, Al Madrigal, who's very successful, successful actor now, and I remember following him and and we would go to different comedy clubs and see what worked, what killed, and what didn't. And it's hard, really really hard. And I just think going up there and saying, hey, I'm TV twelve and you're not. I just don't think that's gonna gonna be funny. So that's my EPOOM film. Something to be said about his confidence though, all right, Tom, the world is yours. Do what you want to do. I'm gonna take it in the other direction. Um to a young up and humming draft prospect in Will Levis, who I got to speak with in Indianapolis and the brief time that I was there, So we go from Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Junior to will wait for it, Donovan Levis. We had we were going, I was hanging with the noble folks. And by the way, it was not on Wikipedia, so I was like, does he not have Is he like a Brock Purty? Brock no middle name Purty, and you know how I feel about full government names. Can also confirm he is not a William Will just Will. He told me that his parents thought William would come across to pretentious, so they just wanted him to be Will. So it's Will Donovan Levis. I was really really impressed by him. He was. He was also very polished. He's like a regimented guy, right Like he has his schedule, he has his watch, He's like, at this time, I'm doing this interview. With MJ. Then I'm going here like he was on it in a professional level. But in my conversation with him, which there was no prep for, right, like we just were chopping it up. Um, he was very likable. He reminded me of Aidan Hutchinson in the term in the way that he wasn't contrived, but he was very put together. So that makes me root for him even more now going into the combine and ahead of the draft. So will Donovan levis looking out for what you're gonna do? Man, Yeah, it's good stuff, I thought, he said, like, like, I thought he was really really likable, like and I thought you were gonna say me, I'm not gonna of course, but that's a high benchmark. That's a high bench I don't just throw out Willson like Will Sell. That's to anybody, all right, I only talk to him. You know. He's a star. Yeah, he's he's a star on TikTok by the way that he puts mayo in his coffee and he also eats bananas with the banana peels on there. Yeah. I didn't have enough time to get into all that because that's very layered, and I was like, we I need a full, like two hours with you to talk to you about this, okay, because I feel like there's no there's more there. Bless him, yeah, bless him. But he's a TikTok star. You are a star. That is another podcast in the books. We appreciate everybody who was listening to us. This l Huddle podcast we're very proud of. Make sure to subscribe to like to download. We appreciate your hanging with us. As always, MJ meet Brima Ermana as always. Heay next week. And Huddle is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A Huddle is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. Well well, well, welcome to everybody to the l Huddle podcast. I'm being a cost of release with Will Selva. Will. This is that time of year where I'm like, don't destoy what's happening? Right, because everybody assumes that after Super Bowl? How many times do you get the question, oh, you got to take some Tino off? Lol? Yeah all the time. That's our case. Nope, not the case. I wish we can all take a darkness retreat, which, by the way, I was it sounds great, doesn't it at this point like it does. But you know how skeptical, you know how skeptical our families would be if I said that I was doing Oh REDI guess guess Rogers. My mom is taking the first flight out if I tell her I'm going through a darkness room. No, yeah, I told you. It's like, I don't think that's something. And you know, I don't know if that's take a darkness retreat, but you won't go to mass on Sunday. That's what she's gonna tell me. Exactly exactly there is there is a guilt vice gript that is consistently honest. And when when Aaron Rodgers was being interviewed by this podcaster, he did not have shoes or socks on, and he does, he does, but that would be my mom would be on me all the time the scal so you know you're gonna get sick, you know what. The popular phrase for that is in Miami, which translates to dirty feet. Can't be at Okay, get it together. But that's a whole other conversation for another day, because along the same lines of this quote unquote no off season, we were right into the combine, which I just came back from Indianapolis. It's a scene already in the very best way. It's like a reunion right of all of everybody across the NFL. At twenty four hours there can confirm that's probably the perfect amount of time to be there, unless you're a prospect getting ready to do drills. So we will have Robert Turbin coming up. He is there as well. He is one of the coaches for the combine. He's going to be mentoring the running backs. Of course, we got a little quarterback carousel. But before we get into that, let's get into okay, so in Indianapolis was also one Derek Carr who was meeting with the Carolina Panthers. I call that efficiency, like if the teams are already there, yeah, just pop on in. We're already doing interviews as well doing it. But when asked about the meeting, this is what head coach Frank Reich had to see, A good meeting with Derek. Really have a lot of respect for him as what he's accomplished in his career, the kind of player, is the kind of person he is, you know, just see what is this the right fit? Is this an answer? And I think you know part of that is, yeah, this is a good option, but we have to look it through. We're looking at all options. This is a time of year that we do that. We were excited about that meeting and it was a good meeting, and you know, we'll take it day by day. I mean, of course, standard coach answer. I would say. The other layer to that wrinkle is that Derek car is in a position here where he does hold a lot of the control about his future. I love that for him. Do you think though that Carolina could be an landing spot? Well, I feel like this was the NFL's version of speed dating, because he's going from room to room or to coach to coach and GM to GM talking to them. The Panthers know they have to get the quarterback situation right. They can't just put a temporary solution on that. They've gone through different solutions that they thought would work. Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold did show some promise, but it's clear they are going to try to get this right whether Derek Carr goes there. I'll be honest with you, I think this all comes down to what Aaron Rodgers is going to do. While I think that Derek Carr has a lot of say, I think he has a lot to say, but not the most say. I think that is Aaron Rodgers. He says he's going to come up with a decision soon, and I think once that domino finally falls, that's when we'll see. Because I could see Derek Carr with the Jets. Joe Douglas was extremely impressed with Carr in his meetings with him, and of course he met with the Saints twice as well. So he's got suitors, he's got potential landing spots. But I think it all comes down to Rogers and how he's feeling now that he's had his darkness retreat. Oh my god, once again, this man is the main headline going into a free agency and just like the craziness that goes into the offseason, get it together, let us know what's going on. Please, you would think out of the darkness some clarity by now, But no, no, there isn't now another quarterback Lamar Jackson. He has yet to agree, of course, this is the debacle that never ends to a long term deal with the Ravens. Now. When asked about Lamar and the developments on his signing, this is what John Harbaugh had to say. I feel like Lamar's doing really well. It's it's just what it is. Part of the business, you know. It's what you expect when you have a great quarterback, when you make a great decision in the draft, you know. And I think we I think Lamar has done a great job in terms of developing as a quarterback and winning football games and competing and doing all the things that he does. I feel like we've done a great job in terms of bringing out the best in Lamar over the years. And uh, and it's just evident the way he plays, you know, And so he's my quarterback, he's my guy. I love him, and uh as a coach, I just I'm looking forward to seeing it get done. But it's not easy, you know, It's never easy. It's the business part of it. So um, but I'm really hopeful and excited, fervently hopeful, and I can't wait for it to get down there yet. Lamar Jackson joining us now via what are these called funko pops? Funkos? Yes with us, we ain't for you, Lamar. Look, we know the man represents himself, right, Yeah, these are the types of situation. There's complications that right where I wish that like he didn't have to do this fight right like that there was somebody else in the room on his behalf, pounding the table, getting into the nitty gritty the business side of it. That can get real murky sometimes, like that's just the reality of these contract negotiations. But um, I also understand that he feels more than capable and wants full of control of this. So there's a lot to be said about what's going on there. But how long do you think it's going to take before this is all resolved? I mean, I feel like we've been waiting for this for several seasons now because we have It's tough to tell with the timeline, but I do have to think that they are going to have the franchise tag in mind, whether that's the non exclusive one or exclusive one. What's happened with Lamar Jackson situation, because he does represent himself at least in my opinion, is that he's lost some leverage. He came back to play start off, we thought, Wow, he was unbelievable, playing like how we've been accustomed to seeing him. But then he gets hurt. So that's and the salary that he was making was definitely not equal to the talent that he brings onto the field. Now, to your point, like Eric da Costa and the Ravens, they have done several contracts before, they have experience, they've been They've had experience with say Roquan Smith, who also represents himself. But with the leverage issue with Lamar Jackson. If you take the example of Kirk Cousins, he had two franchise tags and he still held all the leverage, right, and then you go to um Deshaun Watson in Houston, the text and said, hey, you know what, Deshaun, you do your thing. Okay, you come back with the deal and then we'll figure things out. And he had four teams bidding on his services, and that contract I think is the hold up because of the two hundred and thirty million guaranteed that the Ravens don't feel comfortable giving to him. But they have to be careful because they don't want to insult him with the offer because he is representing himself. So this is where it gets a little messy. And also m J. I don't know if you saw on social media what Sean Bateman had tweeted out when I deleted Twitter off my phone for a week. Did you really So basically, Eric da Costa had said that in terms of the problems drafting wide receivers, he said, if I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers. We're gonna keep swinging, so Rashad Bateman then responded, how about you play to your player's strength and stop pointing the finger at us in number eight. Blame the one you let do this. We take keep twenty four to seven and keep us healthy. Care about us and see what happened ain't no compromise though. Tired of y'all line and capping on players for no reason. Now, Lamar any exclamation points we're in that tweet? Uh, they're actually no ellipsis. There's a lot of ellipsis any caps, all caps right like us us that's in caps. I knew it, you know, because we've said before Lamar Jackson he needs more weapons around him too, right, So now Rashad baby, he's getting he's getting hot about this as well. And this comes during this contract time. So what do you think? It's messy? It's messy, and I love this for us, not for them, but the fact that they're out. You know, the things have changed so much in terms of us knowing the reactions from players in real time, because previously all we had was like locker room availability and sort of waiting to see the reports that came in through there. If you catch a guy on a day where he feels like popping off and like really saying how he feels right now, we know it. Immediately. All they gotta do is open their phone and boom, you know exactly what's happening. Man. I always go back to thinking about this franchise tag situation because ostensibly, if you just look at it, dollar signs wise, the exclusive tag would give him forty five mil. But that's just for that one year. So what does that say, right, Like, what is the investment that you're making in this man? Or lack their up, like you know this is the guy. Where else are you gonna go? You're gonna risk him going to another team after that unless you just it's just insane to me. And so when you hear coach saying, that's my guy, that's my dude. I love Lamar, I've loved everything he's done for this franchise. Remember earlier in the season two hundred percent, he's going to be our guy next year. Then get it done, figure it out, figure it out, and make the investment the commitment to him. Enough with this runaround, it's exhausting just watching along. I can't imagine Lamar's shoes. Yes, but do they dare play hardball with them and say, you know what they do the non exclusive, We're gonna do the non exclusive and let's see what the market bears. You try to figure something out and we'll get two first round picks. And somebody has to be saddled with paying him over two hundred and thirty million guaranteed. I don't like that because it's like, what are you? What are you doing here? You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. You can't in one breath say this is my guy, we want him here two hundred percent, blah blah blah blah blah. And then play these little games. You know, don't play these guys. I hear there now, I don't play these games. But you know what they are doing in Indianapolis. They're running a lot of drills and we're going to see the top signal callers throw at the combine. Bryce Young he will throw at his pro day. But we're gonna see guys like Anthony Richardson, and we're gonna see Will Levis for example, see what they're about CJ. Stroud. So we're gonna be joined by former NFL star running back Robert Turban. He's mentoring the running backs turbo at a very fast forty time. We'll get his takes on the quarterbacks, the running backs, and what does he think of the whole Russell Wilson Seahawks. Ending there, we get into it with them. Make sure to stick around Obviously they get the medical during the week, but for us to be able to do these formal interviews or informal is to me the biggest part of all this. It's not even in the working out portion. Like to me, you grate them off the tape right off. Somebody out here in pajamas running around forty with no defender around or an offender. That is from Lyons head coach Dan Campbell. They're talking about the combine. Joining us from the combine from Indianapolis is former NFL star running back Robert Turbin. Welcome to the L Huddle Podcast. Robert, it's an honor. Thanks for having me. Yeah, no, it's it's listen. It's a pleasure to talk to you. You just heard Dan Campbell's assessment of it. We've heard it called the underwear Olympics. What do you think is it guys just running around in their pajamas and it's more important to just look at the tape. Yeah, I don't have any cool nicknames like some of these other guys as pertains to the combine. But listen, if I'm if I'm being honest, I've been through this process. The forty, the bench, the most important part of it is those opportunities to meet with the teams, you know, get some face time with head coaches and general managers and other members of the front office, as long as they take it seriously, which I think the league has really kind of put a stamp on with these teams because we've heard in the past even I got some weird questions. We'll leave it at weird, all right, at that, But the only field portion. Look, I gotta agree with coach Campbell. You'll you'll know a guy when you watch the tape. Now, if you do something outlandish and you run a four two, that can help your draft stock. But I think that you can be almost perfect in every drill that you do out here on the field and it won't really impact you in the draft as far as dropping or if anything, you'll drop more then you'll actually go up if you don't run like a four to two or four to three. What I learned in the very brief twenty four hours that I spent in Indianapolis this week is that the day and we knew this, but the day for the prospects as well as obviously the sco Like the front office folks, it's a long day, And it's not just what we see on the field, right, it's the whole week. It's the interviews, it's getting prepped for this, it's trying to get in some conditioning and some practice before you hit Lucas Oil Stadium on your day to be out there. What do you remember from going through let's call it a car wash, right, going through that car wash of the combine and getting ready for I mean, these guys take it as the biggest job, interview, biggest audition of their lives. Yeah, it was a mental challenge because you're you're almost rushing to get everywhere that you're supposed to be. First of all, you got to figure out where you're supposed to go, get that part and how to get there. Then it's like you got to hurry up and go because you feel like you're late to everything, and then when you get there, you end up standing around for fifteen or twenty minutes actually get started. Yeah. So I say that because there's there's mental fortitude in place for these young guys as they're going through this process that they have to overcome in order to stay sharp. Yeah, that's a really interesting aspect of it. Something we were talking about well, just in terms of like the preparation of all these guys and how they got there to Indy. Yeah, well, with Robert, you know, you're mentoring the running backs. This is the first year that you're in this role, and you've got this really talented group, a lot of big names. Who were the guys that we should be focused on or at least keep an eye on. Well, I'm still getting to know the guys from the group. But I did have an opportunity to speak with Mohammed Ibrahim out of Minnesota. Actually met him at the East West Shrine Bowl before the combine. We've developed a relationship. Tank Big Bisbee out of Auburn is a good back that I would look out for. But right now, I'm still looking at the guys as a group. I had an opportunity to speak with them last night at dinner, and you know, the message that I shared with him, you know, with me being in this role serving as an mentor is you know, obviously I've gone through this process. I spent eight years in the league. I've gone through the transition process, and so there's a lot of things, there's a lot of knowledge that I know that I want to be able to share to these guys, and you know, you're gonna get tapped on the behind all through the week while you're here, and everybody's gonna tell you how great you are. But I'm here to give you the real spiel about, you know, the NFL and what it's all about and what you should expect. But the one nugget that I really wanted to give them that was really important was you hear, oftentimes really all the time that the NFL is a business, and when you're twenty one and twenty two, you may not really understand what that is. But what I wanted to reiterate was that this is actually a relationship business. And what I meant by that is, you know, every person that they need that they run into while they're here this week at the Combine is really an opportunity for them to then build their network for any time down the road. And if there's one thing that I wanted to get them to understand quickly, it was that that's such an important aspect of it, because you hit the nail on the head. These are young men, most of them within that twenty to twenty two maybe twenty three year old range, So their entire lives have been very regimented as athletes, right, and now you're getting into the point like now you have to even though you have an agent and you have you know, people sort of guiding you, you have to be the advocate for yourself. You are your own brand and that plays just as much into it as the skill side of it and all of that other stuff. So so how do you square that? And what's been the response from these guys? And not everybody's gonna get that, right, Like, not everybody's really going to take in the message. Yeah, everybody gets it, you know, sooner or later or sometimes never. I think it's just about being engaged. You know. I remember being a young guy and you know, Michael Vick went up to speak one time and he talked about how uh, you know, careers are short and you know most careers are only two and a half years. And you know, it was funny because as he was as he was speaking, he mentioned that there's a there's a good chucky you guys in the audience right now, dig into yourself. Well that's not gonna be me, you know, I was one of those guys, you know, but it but it happens then it ends up actually happening, you know, and so um, I think the important thing is, you know, how can I connect with these guys? Not about how can I connect with these guys? It's about connecting with these guys because I know how. It's about connecting with these guys on a people level, on a personal level. Then you can get them to understand, like, you know, how this business really goes. Share some of the things that I went through as a player, Share some of the things that teammates of mind went through his players, and give him, you know, the reality of how the league can go and you know, to avoid some of the mistakes that I made as a player, and so many other guys. Robert, we have been seeing in the news what has happened to Georgia's eventsive tackle Jalen Carter, dealing with a serious off the field issue, decided to return to the combine. For some of these talent evaluators, they're throwing up their hands saying, WHOA, we didn't know about this other aspect or this situation that's developing in his life. How do you reach somebody like him, for example, so that way he can be transparent to these talent evaluators because as you mentioned, it is also a business and he has to sell himself, but there's also something that is serious that's happening that has real consequences as well. Yeah, you have to learn a compartmentalize real early for Jalen, and you know, so for me being in this position, it's you know, sharing examples of times or I had to compartmentalize in my life and again leaning on some of the other stories that I know about or have witnessed where they had to compartmentalize as well. Like I give, you know, examples of guys like Mars Shawn, you know, who went through some things and still went on to have a great career, you know, etc. And so it's using those examples that guys can then relate to that kind of help them, you know, approach their situations, no question. And look, I think there's there's something to be said about adversity creating developing your character right and how you respond to certain things and how you deal with it. But there is a lot of pressure whether you have off the field stuff going on or not coming into combined week. I think one of the big things is even though we talk about like the drills right, and how much stock there isn't it or not? And that depends on the coach and on the front office of the team that's evaluating you. But one thing I'm sure you'll remember, Rob was getting ready for those drills right, and like what that feels like this year I got I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret. Maybe you've already seen this. If not, I got to plug for you, Rob Uma. There is now a whole Athlete HQ in Indianapolis for these guys to like prep and train and rehab. They get swag from Noble, they get like all this treatment. It's very different than the combines of the past, and I'm I'm excited for these new guys. But I also talked to a bunch of folks who where they're like, wait a minute, we didn't have any of that. Like these kids are coming in here walking into the combine like, oh, I feel a way, I feel a little special. And they are. They're treated like superstars already in that aspect. I think it's great that they get a chance to practice on an actual field, actual churf to do the forty. They have weights, all of the actual stuff they'll be doing, they'll be using in the drills. But it is a very stark difference from combines of the past. I guess of the game. You got to credit the league, uh you know for evolving this way. But how can we put these guys in the best position to be the best version of themselves when they have to go out and perform, you know. So they've done that by providing them more uh you know, more things the weight room the field. We didn't have that. I mean, we we got all the swag and stuff though you know, hey it was not it was nice. Now, I don't want to undermine it at all. It's nothing like no board though Noble is doing something. You know, it's I've never seen anything like that before. Yeah, yeah, but you would be warming up in the hallways though, of the of the convention stadium, right right, yeah, right, you'll be doing your forty starts in the in the hallways and and and stuff like that. Really, when when during our time in twenty twelve, we just we just waited till it was time to get on the field to really like have an opportunity to work on our stuff. Um, and so a lot different putting these guys in a position to be the best version of themselves. I love the evolution. How does it compare to like the biggest game that you've ever had in your college career. It does not compare. It doesn't compare. I mean, it's a big deal, don't get me wrong, the scouting combine, it's a big deal. You know. I don't want to undermine it at all. But it doesn't compare to playing in the super Bowl at all. You know. Like as a ball player, I felt like I was great on the field. I was a horrible drill guy Cones. I hated the sight of anything orange because of Cones. I couldn't I couldn't get around him. I'd always knock him over, you know. But it never looked like that on the field. Some guys can really relate to that, you know. So you know, you want to see how a guy moves, that's great. But the best way to see how a guy moves is how he moves against the fenders. And that's why I really backward, coach Dan Campbell said from the Lion. Yeah, we were, we were saying that the other day. I'm like, wait a minute, remember when like a four four or a four three with like a rare thing, like one maybe two guys would do it. Now, these guys are out here running four two s four threes like it's nothing, Like it's nothing. Yeah. I run a four four four and a four four seven and my two attempts, and I got the nickname Turbo, you know, So I had to have some kind of speed at some point in my life. That's nothing now, right, offensive linemen are running four fours. These kids are built different. Man. I got in right, I got in right at the right time. Y'all boys are fast. Yeah. Yeah. The things that you carved out an incredible career. You did play in Seattle. You played with with Russ there, you had Pete Carroll as your coach, knowing those two, those two guys and the Seahawks organization. And there were reports that US wanted to fire Pete Carroll and John Schneider too, Like what did you make of that situation when you heard that report? It was a lie, it was not truth, it was not fact. Russell never wanted anybody fired, He never asked for anybody to be fired. That's true. The other thing that's true is Russell has always had a strong relationship with coach Sean Payton, especially when they when they went when he went to the Pro Bowl and Sean was coaching the NFC side, They had a great relationship. The other thing that's true is coming out of the draft, Russell's favorite player was Drew Brees. He looked up to Drew Brees a lot. Part of the reason why he moved to San Diego was to be able to work out with Drew Brees in the off season. So they are, they are, And he admired, you know, he admired Sean Payton from AFAR. He really talked about it all the time, you know, but he never went to ownership and saying, hey, I'd rather have Sean paid over over Pete Carroll. You know, were there was there relationship perfect? No, but um, you know, at the end of the day, I think they got a great relationship. Now, uh, they were both winners and they both cared about people a lot, you know, and so um that's what I make of that article though, I mean, I I don't mean to call anybody a liar. That's kind of disrespectful, But it wasn't fact that that was what was reported there. Contact and perspective change a lot. It's very very important, so to add that layer there. Thank you for for for bringing that on here with us. Um. You were fourth row picked in twenty twelve NFL Draft. How different and what's your view on how like the first rounders are treated basically the guys m who are later on in the draft. Oh man, there's so many layers to that, mj um. You know, guys who are who were picked in the first round, they get a lot more leeway their rookie years. But I want to ask forward to when you have the opportunity to get your second contract. It's very interesting when despite how you may have performed on the field, you know, teams will view you like, hey, you were you were a fifth round pick, your extension probably isn't as deserving to be as much as a first round pick. He's in line for the same extension and maybe from a statistical standpoint, might not even be as good. But it's already a bias. Correct, it's already a bias on no matter what you came in as a sixth round pick, you're ready for an extension. Yeah, I mean you did really well, but you're I mean, you're you got the most interceptions in the league. You're drafted in the sixth round. Don't don't know if I can give you as much as a first rounder, so maybe you have to go elsewhere. Like those are the things that happened when you're drafted in a little round. Somebody, somebody yesterday talk to the guys. It's funny, says it doesn't matter where you get drafted. It doesn't, right, because you can make the team. You have a career, right Jerry Bright, Tom Brady, We've seen it. But in something is most instances, it kind of matters. Yeah, business wise, it's something. It's something to think about, especially when you're building game. I guess perhaps there are so many layers down right with like the college kids, because there as an I AM now, there's brand partnership. So but in terms of just the playing football aspect of it. There that's the reality of it, like there just is there is a difference between the two. Well, and I try to dig into layers a bit, but you know, we don't. I talk about people's money because that's some of our business though, but it's not it's not even just about the money, it's just it's just how you're viewed. Yeah, the respect right. Yeah, Like I was drafted, Okay, when I came in and I talked to the Seahawks, they said, listen, we're drafting you to be the backup running back. And so once you're once you're kind of labeled that from the beginning, it's really hard to break that ice into into becoming something else. And that happens all across the league. That's real. You know, you know you're you're mentoring the running back. So it'll be fun to see how those guys perform when their their name is called. Also, the quarterbacks will be showcase as well, and there's a lot of intrigue with some of these prospects, whether it's Will Levis or Anthony Richardson CJ. Stroud. What is your take on some of these young signal callers that we're going to see because it seems like all of them have a flaw or two and there's a little bit of risk, but there's a lot of talent and there's no question. Yeah, I think I think the bigger question because you you nail that these guys have talent. There's a couple of question marks with these guys. So for me, the question really kind of goes to the team. In my opinion, if a team is looking at c. J. Stroud or Anthony Ridgardson or any of these guys, how do you plan on utilizing him within your system? Let's use the forty nine ers for an example. All Right, they go out, they get Trey Lance, they trade a bunch of picks. They go and get Trey Lance. Okay, because they feel like he's going to be their next franchise quarterback. But before he was injured, if you look at the way that they utilize him, I don't know if they utilize him to the best of his strengths. We knew that he can use his feet, so they try to do that. But quarterbacks don't train to run the football. They train to throw it. So when you put them in these positions where they're running the football all the time, what happened? They get hurt? R Jackson, you know, Josh Allen Ham Newton, examples go on and on. Right, So, if you're looking at a guy like CJ. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and these and these guys who can do some dynamic things with their feet, how do you plan on utilizing that player? Do you have a plan to develop them as passers or do you want them to be extension extended running backs, Because if that's the case, they're all gonna they're all not gonna do well. They're not. And so I'd love that that you put the onus on the team because it's true. They're coming in, they're showing you this is who I am. These are the skills that I bring to the table for your organization. How are you going to build me up now and put me in a position to succeed? Now, sometimes they do that and it may or may not work out, But I do like that the that theonus has put on the teams there to do right by the talent that they are investing in, right, because at the end of the day, everything has to has to line up. Yeah, and these guys are rookie still, even the quarterbacks, you know, they have so high expectations when you come into the league as a quarter back. Well, guess what, just like a young dB who's got to learn how to backpedal and get his very quickly. Man, those those same developmental you know, flaws that may exist in a quarterback have to be developed over time as well. And so yeah, I think the onus is more on the team because, especially because of the type of quarterback class that we have, there's not one guy you say, oh, you know Trevor Lawrence Andrew Luck. You know he's got all the tools, right, these guys need development, So how are you going to go about that process? Just a fascinating conversation with you, Robert Turbin. I'm sorry, Turbo, now that we know you're forty time, it has been a pleasure to talk to you. Felt like I learned a lot and you did give context and nuance and good luck with mentoring these these young running backs and these players. Just based on the small sample side of us getting a chance to talk to you, I think they're gonna get a lot of wisdom coming their way. So, Robert Turbin, thank you so much for joining us on the El Huddle podcast. Very enlightening. Please come back again, my friend, Will I will thanks for having me appreciate it. Oh well, as we mentioned earlier in the episode, this is a time of year worth things go off the rails. So to get us back in order, we're gonna jump on the carousel quarterbacks, the QB carousel, y'all, because we have quite a few who need a little landing spot. They need to jump off find a team. So let's go through some of them, and we talked about one briefly. But let's go to Derek Carr first. And we understand he talked to the Panthers in Indie. But where would you love to see him next season? I would love to see him with the Jets have a strong supporting cast there. I would say Aaron Rodgers goes there, but I think in the end Aaron Rodgers stays. But who the hell knows. I just think Derek Carr to the Jets sounds very plausible to me. And I know that Robert Sala thought highly of Car, so that's what I'm going with. I love that too. That would be my spot as well, just because I think the combination of Salah and Car could be really, really good. They've got great playmakers, they're already I think it's a young team, but a team that is definitely clearly ready to win. Now, all right, James Richard Garoppolo, where's my boy, Jimmy gonna go? In your mind? HEMI I think that is going to go to the box. This old Kyle Trask business because Kyle trash Bluss. If they were sold on it, then why didn't they have him as the backup than Blaine Gabber? Right, So I think that he Me would be a perfect fit for them. But for the Bucks, they have a lot of work to do. It feels like they got a little older, a little slower. But that seems to be a nice logical landing spot for Jimmy GQ me. Yeah, I remember last season there was like a lot of us here we're saying on ta like, oh, maybe Seahawks. We already know what the Seahawks situation seemingly will be. So huh he Me in Florida. I don't hate it, Yeah, I don't hate it. Let's talk about the newer guys coming through Bryce Young. Where could he land Bryce Young? It was because then you have to bring up the height differential. Then you have to also bring up the the stature his body and whether he can absorb all the hits. I think that's also a concern. But he is a winner. He makes all the throws, he can process really well. He is well liked in the locker rooms that he's been in. I think that it's the Texans guys. What Oh I like that under Demiko. Yeah awesome. I like the way I can see that happening. All right, one more CJ. Stroud also getting a lot of buzz mm hmmm. I think that CJ. Stroud, out of all of these draft prospects, is the most polished. Uh. He's got the numbers, the measurables, can make, throws, can process really well. I think that he ends up going to the Cults because they've been desperately trying to find a franchise QB and they will finally find one in CJ. Stroud. I mean, this is why don't why aren't your Jennifer and office already? I mean, this is insane, flare concise no, but I'm right along there with you. I like I hadn't thought about him to the culture, but that it actually does make a lot of sense. Um. I think the fit would be good. Good for I love that for him. Let's see, because you know what Draft Night's gonna be crazy. Um, all right, I like these will I like these a lot. Yeah. So, so it's always time to put a little bow on the l Huddle podcast. That means ibunto. So my ibunto is Tom Brady reportedly wants to try stand up now. Nobody asked for this. Tom, No, no, I feel you know what you can't do. Tom. You just can't go behind the mic and say, let's I think, go right, that's funny. You gotta say more than that. Um. He just doesn't strike me as somebody who could have the the premise punchline. Premise punchline. You know, it's like, oh boy, I was in this huddle with uh, you know, Gronk there, and then Gronk you know, he decided to put his hand underneath his armpit and then he started to do arm farts. I mean, how great is that? Everybody timing would need to worry. There's a Yeah, stand up comedy is hard. It's very very difficult, and it's Matt. Yes, yes, I've dabbled it. I did a long time ago a friend of mine, Al Madrigal, who's very successful, successful actor now, and I remember following him and and we would go to different comedy clubs and see what worked, what killed, and what didn't. And it's hard, really really hard. And I just think going up there and saying, hey, I'm TV twelve and you're not. I just don't think that's gonna gonna be funny. So that's my EPOOM film. Something to be said about his confidence though, all right, Tom, the world is yours. Do what you want to do. I'm gonna take it in the other direction. Um to a young up and humming draft prospect in Will Levis, who I got to speak with in Indianapolis and the brief time that I was there, So we go from Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Junior to will wait for it, Donovan Levis. We had we were going, I was hanging with the noble folks. And by the way, it was not on Wikipedia, so I was like, does he not have Is he like a Brock Purty? Brock no middle name Purty, and you know how I feel about full government names. Can also confirm he is not a William Will just Will. He told me that his parents thought William would come across to pretentious, so they just wanted him to be Will. So it's Will Donovan Levis. I was really really impressed by him. He was. He was also very polished. He's like a regimented guy, right Like he has his schedule, he has his watch, He's like, at this time, I'm doing this interview. With MJ. Then I'm going here like he was on it in a professional level. But in my conversation with him, which there was no prep for, right, like we just were chopping it up. Um, he was very likable. He reminded me of Aidan Hutchinson in the term in the way that he wasn't contrived, but he was very put together. So that makes me root for him even more now going into the combine and ahead of the draft. So will Donovan levis looking out for what you're gonna do? Man, Yeah, it's good stuff, I thought, he said, like, like, I thought he was really really likable, like and I thought you were gonna say me, I'm not gonna of course, but that's a high benchmark. That's a high bench I don't just throw out Willson like Will Sell. That's to anybody, all right, I only talk to him. You know. He's a star. Yeah, he's he's a star on TikTok by the way that he puts mayo in his coffee and he also eats bananas with the banana peels on there. Yeah. I didn't have enough time to get into all that because that's very layered, and I was like, we I need a full, like two hours with you to talk to you about this, okay, because I feel like there's no there's more there. Bless him, yeah, bless him. But he's a TikTok star. You are a star. That is another podcast in the books. We appreciate everybody who was listening to us. This l Huddle podcast we're very proud of. Make sure to subscribe to like to download. We appreciate your hanging with us. As always, MJ meet Brima Ermana as always. Heay next week. And Huddle is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.