El HuddleWill Selva and MJ Acosta-Ruiz are back for another episode of El Huddle!
It's a busy period in the NFL, as combine week is underway and free agency looms!
First, Will and MJ take a look at some of the big named free agents and what impact they would make on other teams.
Next, we're joined by Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend and free agent, Lavonte David. We hear about what this time of year for free agents is like, his desire to return to Tampa and what it was like to go through the combine.
Finally, we listen to some sounds from Indianapolis as coaches and GMs hit the stage and answer questions.
All Huddle is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio.
Well off season, can I say that I don't know her? We're still here, guys.
This season never really stops for those who work in the NFL, just the way we like it. Welcome into the Huddle Podcast. I'm JF Costa, Luis will Sell VI. Always it feels like Super Bowl was a year ago, and yet it really wasn't.
Well, you know, part part of the reason why is because of the extra game, and so because as a result, there's that short amount of time between the super Bowl and the scouting combine where it doesn't feel like we're getting much of a breather and we're getting right into it.
To it.
This.
I don't know if you had a chance to watch it, follow me if you can, But I watch showgunun Yes, that is this new series that's on FX and WHO and watch the first two episodes. It's very much like Game of Thrones esque, whereas a very picturesque, amazing tension, the actings, unbelievable, cinematography top notch, and I feel like we are in this Showgun phase of the NFL where you have all these teams that are trying to gain their alliances with these various players and trying to break your out their strategy. Now here's the thing that I will tell you, like about ten percent of it is an English, so you'll be doing a lot of reading, and so you got to pay attention, but I tell you it is worth it.
What's the other.
Well, it's Japanese. So the origin story. Yeah, yeah, So it was very, very impressive.
And so it feels like we're kind of in this mode right now where these NFL teams are trying to gain these alliances with these players and some of these players are trying to figure out what's best for them. And as we know, some of these players aren't going to be showcasing their skills. Like A'm Marvin Harrison Junior. We know he's the best wide receiver in this draft. He's going without an agent, that's how he's doing it. But Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are deciding to show up, but they're going to showcase their skills during the Pro Day. And it just is so fascinating to see the information that is purposely leaked and the stuff that's accidentally leaked out there.
I don't think anything exaccidental, right, a conspiracy theorist in that sense.
All of this intentional, All of it's intentional. All of it is intentional interests.
It's gaming gun, no question, or show gun in this in this instance. But you're right.
I was able to pop into the combine very briefly twenty four hours by design, and it's just cool. Like the energy, the energy is on another level, right, because it does feel like the start of a brand new season, which our producer Randy cringed about.
I get it, Randy, I do. I get it, Like, what do you mean.
We're just we're still But like for for these prospects, it very much is I don't want to say the beginning, because they've been training for this their entire lives and certainly in the collegiate portion of their of their careers too.
But this is the first.
Big like touch point for them that they're like, oh crap, all right, now the gms are here, now, the coaches are here, ownership is here, the commissioner is here. Fords sakes like, this is the real real moment, I think as I speak to some of them, where it's like there, oh crap.
Moment all right, it's happening, Yeah, for sure.
So it's it's just really cool to feel the energy and to see folks excited about like the future of the league and like the you guys that are coming in.
So it's cool.
Yeah.
I always like though, delving into the big white binder that we get.
Oh my god, the research binder and some of.
The names like Storm Ducks that's my favorite one so far.
Yes.
And then also there's like the pronunciation guide, right, yes, which is very very important and we always butcher it so apologies and advance the prospects with wonderful names that we cannot get right.
Yeah, but you know, don't tell you now We're sorry.
Yeah, I know in advance we'll eventually get.
Well get it. Remember Tua, Oh my god.
Yeah, a lot of people got it now. Yeah, down now it just.
Rolls off the tongue. But at first we were just calling him Tua.
Yeah, are like great. Two is good, so much easier to do.
But you know, you you bring up Tua and two has now been in the league for a little bit.
Kirk Cousin's name has popped up. What's he going to do?
There's a video that surfaced of him working out after yeah, on a tennis court, they're working out his achilles. This is just amazing how modern medicine works, where these guys now have an achilles injury or torn acl and the recovery time is so much shorter than what it used to be. And so you hear about his future. Then you're hearing about Russell Wilson and what the Broncos are going to do, and it sounds like Sean Payton is done with Russell Wilson based.
On what he had said.
The drama never stops, it doesn't.
I know is Russell was at the SAG Awards with Sierra, who was looking amazing.
Yes, post baby, I know that's right. He looked great.
He was in a tux, where's it well, fixing her dress on the red carpet as he should.
He looks very unbothered. He my point, was very bothered.
He didn't seem like he was unbothered.
But he does speak kind of like through both sides of it, where it's like he wants to be or he says that he wants to be with the Broncos and win Super Bowls, but also on the other end, it's like, hey, you know I'll do it for the veteran minimum if I have to. And so it just feels like Sean Payne inherited him, and it sounds like.
That's always a dicey.
That's always dicey, right because you're married Tod this guy the better for worse or it's absolutely an arranged marriage. So so hearing some of those names like Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins, those are names that are servicing. But then you know the quarterbacks that are coming out in this class.
This is a loaded, loaded class and.
We haven't had a loaded loaded QB class.
No, no, So this feels this feels fun of me. Like Drake May, I want to see him work out. We had Brian Hoyer on Good Morning Football filling in and he thought that Drake May reminded him of Josh Allen, the way that he throws the ball and how impressive he looks on film.
Josh Allen now Josh Allen, Now Josh Allen.
Because we were coming out of Wyoming, you know, there was still some concern about the upside and what he could bring, but you know, worth the risk, and he ended up working out developing into the Josh Allen that we know, But then how about a guy like Michael Pennix junior. There's a lot of concern over his health, you know, and always.
The main priority, right like how healthy are these guys? How beat up did they get in college?
Are they going to be fresh?
But like that also happened, just to use the reference point of Tua who was coming into the league with that tremendous coming off of that hip, and that took a beat right to really get there. So I think the development part of it, the patient's part of it. Not everyone's going to be a c. J. Stroud who came in and did unbelievable things in his rookie season, not just for himself but for the team with a new head coach in that as well. So I think it's it's always like the tempering the expectations. Jalen hurts, same things, right, And so it's always interesting because I think we see so much more of these guys now with social media, with the nil deals that they're having. They're so visible that we automatically assume or expect that there that's just going to translate apples to apples into the NFL, and that's just not how it works percent of the time.
Right right.
And for a lot of these guys too, they have to adjust to certain systems, certain schemes.
Rbiage all that.
Yeah, a lot, a lot thicker, a lot like those research binders we get right, It's like you can bench press one of those puppies.
Truly.
I mean those things are are master.
But a guy like say bon Knicks, really talented player at Oregon, you know, put up crazy ungodly numbers like what team's going to take him? How high is he going to go? And there's so many quarterback needy teams that's well, that's what makes it so intriguing. Like Atlanta, they've said all options are on the table, you know, of who they're looking at. We mentioned the Broncos obviously, the Patriots, the Commanders who sit there. And number two they have Adam Peters who worked with the forty nine ers for several years, and they have Cliff Kingsbury who worked with Caleb Williams at USC.
Is he going to convince them to then trade up?
Because I think that number one spot situation is going to be I love it though.
I love it though.
That's what makes it so so great that's what.
Makes this will have some thousand theories before it actually happens. Oh for sure, they just keep it, oh for sure.
But we're excited because there's also in the midst of all of this free agency, right, we don't sleep. We're not joking, guys. But it doesn't stop it, Yeah, doesn't.
But we have one man entering breage.
He's not unfamiliar with it, but an absolute legend of the game, a Super Bowl champion.
We have Levante David joining us on the other side of the break here the.
Pcast with us.
Oh MJ.
We've got a great guess we're talking about if you are an offensive player, whether you're a running back, wide receiver, tight end, and you want to stay away from this man. He is the epitome, the definition of a perro macho we talk about here on the l huddle time. That's right, we're talking about a legend, someone who is synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's up there, in my opinion with Derek Brooks Warren sap at.
All question, a super Bowl champion.
Super Bowl champion. That further ado, let's bring in linebacker Levant David. What's up Leavante.
Thank you, thank you. That's a great introduction. Man.
I like that we had a buddy yup, we had a buddy up, Leavonte. You know, listen, you are right now in the midst of your off season. So how does a typical off season.
Look for you.
Right now?
You know, earlier in my career, you know, I get right to it. Just go ahead and just start back training just because you know, just as a young guy, you just missing football. You just want to do something football related. Maybe take a vacation here and there. But me right now, you know, I'll just finish your twelve. I'm a chill about a month or two. Let let me let my body heal. But you know, as you do, my friends be actually, you know, starting back working out. So right now I'm just kind of like at home in Miami, just getting back in the field of things, you know, just trying to figure out what my planets would all season and stuff like that.
But just enjoy talent, family and uh, you know, and join the great weather and just you know, join my labor.
Honestly, Oh that pride never stopped that part.
But you know, year twelve, like that's we hear it all the time.
The average, and of course Levante could never be categorized as average in any scope. But most players don't see a career with that kind of tenure and longevity, let alone the success that you've had and reaching the highest point in reaching a super Bowl. So this is a new new meaning to veteran days. Right, you take that month, You take that month or two because you know exactly what to do to get yourself back in there. But free agency approaching now, and you made it very clear that you want to retire a buck. So how have you just been navigating in your mind mind sort of what could come and what you see for the year ahead.
Yeah, you know, this is my third time actually going to free agency, you know, and you know the previous two times obviously I went back to the books, right, but you know every every off season, you know, those past couple of years, everything was different.
You know. The first time, you know, I was on a team to where you.
Know, we wanted to you know, kind of have we have a chance to repeat stuff like that. You know, we had Thomas our quarterbacks, so there was always you know, chances and things like that, and uh, you know, this year just more and more about my legacy, you know, obviously playing tap for twelve years. You know, not many people have done that. LI likes of guys like Run They barbered, Derrick Brooks, you know, guys like that. So I definitely, you know, would love to, you know, be in that same situation. But at the end of the day, you never know what happens. Oh I said, at this punished career, at this point in my career, I want to you know, kind of do its best for me, you know, and what's more convenient for me. So whatever happens happened, I'm just taking the boy storm Man and.
Go from there.
Well, Todd Bowles had mentioned that two of his priorities are re signing Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, like yourself an institution there in Tampa. How do their situations affect you, if at all for free agency?
Uh?
Me, personally, I don't. I don't think it does because you know, and they want me back there finally way to get me back.
But you know, Mike Evans is my number one priority. Two watching uh just me watching Mike grow you know over his career.
He just finished your team. I just remember him coming in as this tall, fat, chubby rookie at rye receiver. Just watch him, you know, development till you know, one of the greatest re see to play the game, and just just watching his growth off the field, it's amazing to see. And uh, you know, Mike is definitely deserving whatever he asks for. That's in my opinion. And after the season that Baker had, you know, he definitely deserve to, you know, get a long term contract and be able to put himself ahead for his family and his future. So you know, I'm sure those guys are really great priorities, but you know.
It's just me.
I'm just sitting back, you know, watching the hire everything on fold and then I'll.
Go from there.
Levante, you mentioned the word legacy earlier, and I think, with someone who has accomplished so much in their career and reached the highest point, what do you you have left to accomplish in your mind that you have still you know, there's obviously still so much gas in the tank for you, and what do you want your legacy to be?
Yeah, I think right now, it's just at the point where like coming off the season, when I came off, you know, I kind of had a you know, great year, like I was back in my younger days. So that, right, that kind of gave me, you know, more motivation, you know, you know, people telling me maybe I could go one or two more years and stuff like that.
So then I think the.
Motivation really is just out there compete with the young guys, you know, right, people who you know, getting hyped up and stuff like that. So just seeing if I can still you know, play with those guys, to move around with those So I think that brings a lot of motivate motivation to it. But like you said, you know, I just want to be you know, remembered, you know, as a like when you talk about the position lineback. I want my name to be brought up, you know with some of the greats, And that's just what I'm going for right now. You know, I always have a chip on my shoulder, but you know, I think my drive and my love for the game keeps me going and keeps me you know, ready to you know, at my highest level. So never that time is to where like I don't think I can play my lot my highest level, then maybe.
I'll call it.
Well, it's it's apparent what you have given to the city and to the franchise, right, and with this past season, it was largely seen a scene as one that was a rebuilding year for the Box, and it was anything but because you guys ended up surprising everybody in a way to get to the playoffs where no one thought you would be.
Describe what the ride.
Was like going from I don't know if this is going to happen, to hey, this is now happening. We have hit our stride and now we're going to the postseason.
Yeah, I think, you know, starting the offseason, obviously, when we lost Tom, that's when all the rumblers came about. You know, we know how much Tom meant to, you know, the game of football, not just our organization.
So just trying trying to find a quarterback and we end up getting Baker.
And you know, nobody, the mortg majority of our team from the super Bowl team was you know, still here. You know, the core pieces of those guys were still on the roster, guys who contributed big, and you know, I.
Think that played a huge part their leadership.
And then you know, we did have a lot of young guys who kind of like bort In, you know, just trying to get they feel you know, guys having to play right away.
They kind of got they feel and that that that came kind of came up.
Like guys like me, Mike, you know some of the other veterans will go some things like that to you know, kind of like be that leader that these guys need to get them on the same page and let them understand that, you know, we still got a chat to you know.
Be great because at one point we was four and seven.
And it's crazy, sure nobody had you know faith in us, you know, shoot, but I think Coach Bowls did a great job of just keeping everybody calm and understand that it's still a long, long season and our goals are still was attainable and we was able to do that, want to uh leave one six oven the next uh seven, so we was able to win the division again and uh you know going to in the wildcar hot Yeah, it was.
A cool, cool ride. You mentioned, you know, still running.
Around with with the young ones, right, which is nuts at thirty thirty four now Levante, like in the NFL years, everyone's like it's.
A medical miracle.
Thirty four like child was just gonna start. What are you talking about? But it's true combine is of course this week and I feel and I'm sure you've assessed this, and you watch the guys coming out of.
College, they're they're built a little different nowadays.
Yes, what is what is your assessment of just even let's just focus on like the defensive players coming into the league now, how they train, the things that they can do, but also your advice to them, because those those things still hold true. Like the NFL is just different. The uptick can't be quantified.
Yeah.
Yeah, when you say different, I'm assuming you're talking about mentally.
Or basically, like some of the guys that come in I'm like, wait, at your size, you should not be running that fast or moving into the manner like it's wild.
But mentally toothing said about that right for sure.
Mentally too, mentally too, especially you know the ni L stuff coming about.
We were just talking about this.
Ye, A lot of guys are kind of like used to having stuff handed to them, like when you want the lead, you know, get the opportunity, and then you mess it up. I don't think people are not gonna hold hand. They're gonna figure out like you can't get it done. And then Nest got up so it's just dealing with that bout coming in as a young guy, and uh, you know me and myself, you know, just having some some.
Rookies you know, to name say Collijah Cancy.
You know, Uh I knew Elijah who went to the same high school as me, so you know, him coming in, you know, just you know with the offense of being the first overall pick, and then you know, for him to you know, he started out you know, the season injured, so he was having a hard.
Time with that.
So for me to just you know, he's somebody who's he's familiar with and comfortable, just kind of like get him a little advice, like, you know, it's a long season, man, you don't get your opportunity. And then you know he did, come on, he falled out. You know, he want deep it's the rookie of the month on time. So I told him, you know, just you know, just be patient. You know, uh, you still got a little time. You know, you don't got to rush.
Up to nothing.
And then they had another year with your young rookie playing coming in and playing a nickel easy so he was undrafted free agent. So, uh, he was one of those guys who I had to talk to a lot because you know, you know, playing in the bows defense is not easy. Yeah, a lot of communication got to take place, and he was one of those young guys had to communicate, so we had to force that on him, and.
Uh, not really forcible, just like kind of like making.
Comfortable, making comfortable, you know, just letting them know, like hey, I'm counting on you right here, so that kind of like giving them a little comfortence and those guys came on well.
Yeah, yea Diab also another great player who Blossoes on the defensive unit. We touched upon the combine. It's happening for you. What do you remember from that time where you had to be in your short shorts, your tank and you're out there and you're running and you're answering questions.
What do you remember about that time?
Wait, were they still short? Twelve years ago?
I don't know where they again?
The fashion at all.
This is when I came. It was the big pants era.
Yeah you know what I mean.
But I remember my combine two days like it was like it was yesterday, you know, getting in and going immediately to meetings. You know, then you gotta you know, do all the testing, the drug testing, the weight testing, the bench testing, and my whole thing was just my weight going into the combine. So I was kind of like, you know, stressed about that.
So I was just like trying to drinking a lot of water and then you know, sometimes you.
Barely eat and wake you up at four in the morning and you're getting right to it. So and then I remember, uh, it was at one point and to come about, we was doing drills and uh, I ended up having to throw up.
So I ran to the bathroom.
And now I'm go in the bathroom, I see somebody else and I'm like, dangn you too.
So I kind of kind of I kind of felt good about it.
But then after I got that out of my system, maybe it was nerves, I don't know, but maybe once I got out myself and I was comfortable with.
Yeah, was there a coach that was in there with you at all, Avante who was testing you to seeing how you guys were responding.
I don't understand. I don't remember who the coaches was.
I just remember the players, man, just just that I feel like I remember more of the players because you just working with guys who are all trying to you know, you know, reached the pinnacle, you know, and that's been in the film.
Like you're just looking around, like, man, all us chasing our dreams and.
Great, yeh, team bonding at a different level. I mean it could have been a lot of things. Sleep, deprivation, nerves.
Yeah, let's go drag heave into the bathroom, isn't it.
Josh Allen, who throws up before every.
Game does just let me let me, don't quote me, but probably knows some guys who do that before a game, right were they?
You know? I do it sometimes, honestly.
Wow.
Look, try to eat, Yeah, I try to eat like a light mail before the game. But if I eat a heavy meal and you know, going out before the game, and I feel, I feel it, So I just try to force myself.
See, like that's what I like.
How do you because obviously you need fuel for what you have to do, but then like you have to balance it's too much.
See all of y'all you're not regular humans.
Okay, we we definitely want to hear more about the Levante Legends Foundation and what you guys are doing.
Yeah, the Levonte Legends Foundation Foundation I came about, you know, I've basically, I basically worked with a Big Brothers Big Sisters for the majority part of it. You know, I'm a national ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters, so a lot of my falling to the foundation kind of like goes back to them, and you know, it's.
Been going really well. It's been going really.
Well, and you know, I'm very very proud of that, just because of the mentorship and stuff like that. You know, I always go back to, you know, when I was growing up, I didn't really have you know, a mentor to me like in my community where I could like, you know and see people who were in my shoes now and do that back then. So I just kind of like trying to do that now just because you know, I know how impactful it would have been for me, and like, over the years since I've been doing it, I see the impact that it has on the kids.
So that's why I really appreciate it. You Know, a lot of people still, you know, send me messages and then when I.
Do whole events, they telling me about how this kid I met four or five years ago, you inspired him when he was in a bad place, and now he's just on to college doing this and that, so when I hear stuff like that, all of us are driving me and motivating me to continue doing and doing. So you know, I'm definitely grateful for a big brothers, blog, sisters, and you know, my team for helping me start the foundation. So it's definitely something that I wanted to do, you know, throughout you know, after football, I mean, you've.
Done so much good work in the community, and even on ig you acknowledged it when you.
Got your degree from Nebraska.
You said something to the effect that you want to make your mom proud, but also that you're younger.
Elf would be proud of your older self.
Yeah, and that seems to be something that drives you in everything that you do.
Yeah, I think so, you know, onto my mom part.
You know, it was something I always promised her to be the first of my family to actually graduate, you know, for I think first and generation to actually graduate from college or something that I that I wanted to do really bad. You know, I left school early, but I did promise her that I was going to go back and get it, and it just so happened I was able to.
Do it on Mother's Day.
So that was an amazing feeling. And then you know when I say, you know my younger self being proud of my older self was just like I never thought I would.
Be in this position. You know, I grew up in Miami, and you know, I just had a whole bunch of stuff going on around me. So I could have easily feered off and went to the wrong path.
But you know, just having my parents and my family had to keep me discant and keep me on the right track.
And focus on the main thing.
I was able to, you know, accompass what I want, what I need to accomplish, not for me, but also for my him.
You know, we do.
We had goods somewhere someone else who shares that connection with you, with big brothers, big sisters. Rashad White, he was a huddle while we were at Super Bowl at Radio Row, and he had his big with him there. So it's like incredible to see that those relationships and and that mentorship really carries on well into your adulthood. And now he you know, he's mentoring someone and it's just incredible what the organization does. So I love that you're still He basically explained the same thing like you're saying, once you're in that family there's no way that you can detach, right like, it just stays with you for your whole life.
Yeah, we just see all the good things that it does for the community and for the people. So you just want to be a part of you know, when I found out Rashad was a little you know, he came to him immediately. Every time I do anything, I make sure he's there, just to have a bit a kid.
I love that.
Before I let you go, my fellow Miami and what high school did you go to again?
Remind me Miami north Western, home of the baby.
Let me tell you something about Miami Northwestern. I want to upset high school and our football team. God bless them.
They were not great. We had like the soccer and the baseball.
Down the Miami Northwestern was just one of the still to this day, one of them high school that pumps out top to your NFL town.
So I wanted you to say it. I want to do to shout out I'm in Northwestern.
I'm gonna shout it out one Levante.
Thank you so much.
It's with you incredible.
Yeah, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast.
Good luck to you. I hope that things work out between.
You and the Bucks.
But if that doesn't, we are going to be rooting.
For you wherever you land, regardless.
You're just a good dude, gents, a giant and we totally support you.
Man.
So thank you again for being on here.
Yeah, I appreciate y'all. Thank you all for having me. God bless.
Hils and webl.
This is the end you just heard of Lavonte David.
I swear to you, I have a man crushed on l David, Right, he's this gentle giant.
Yeah, well, of.
Course that's you gotta you gotta roll with the girl for sure.
Yeah.
And I do hope that somehow the Bucks figure out something to bring him back because he has meant so much, as we mentioned to him, you know, to that community and to that franchise.
And it was.
Interesting going into the mental aspect of it when we talked about some of these young Bucks entering the NFL, because that was the first place that he thought of and and we were just talking about that with the ni L, the ni L money and how that could potentially affect these these players who are coming out right and how they've now received money at a certain age and they're getting.
All the the.
You know it trappings, right, Yeah.
I just think that, Look, there's a lot to be said, and I know, like we we try to dump on gen Z a lot.
They accomplished a lot.
I don't. I don't want to, though, I don't want to.
Nobody point get off. It's not a get off my lawn moment, I think.
But people do that though right.
Present company included. I'm not gonna you guys. My whole thing is they tend to be and I can't speak. It's not a monolith, right, So I want to put everybody in the same But I think that what we see from certain athletes who have maybe experienced some success with nil as they should. I love that they have this opportunity to make this money, to be able to provide for themselves from their family.
I think it's fantastic.
But I think when you don't also have the greater long game in place, you can.
Get caught up in the sauce.
Right.
So, like all of it is very fleeting, it's very fair.
Very very fleeting, and like things can go like this, So when you're already seeing this kind of success, some folks can get too caught up in it and not really realize that all of it can be gone in a second, and you still need to make it to the league to continue to get these deals and to really make the kind of money that you've been working towards, and to reach the pinnacle of your career that you've been working towards.
Probably their whole lives, a.
Lot of these guys started playing in pop Warner and flag football when they were little kids, right, their whole lives have been dedicated to football. So I think it's important, and I hope that most of them have a good team around them, a good base behind them to know, like, hey, let's invest let's focus on like the mental aspect of you getting into the league physically, are you prepared? And most of them are right, But they're also coming in a generation that's very overstimulated. They're more visible to us than ever before with social media and with these partnerships, so it's a lot more to handle.
It's like balance for them.
They say, la gana, right, is that's lagana? And I feel like desire is not something that you can teach and you got to have it within you. I guess it's possible to develop it, but you have to develop it got to be hungry.
Yeah, you got to you gotta be hungry. And that's always the thing for me.
We're always and we've been in this business where it's like you know somebody who's an intern that they are.
Eager and you just know they seconds, yeah, that have it.
And and here where in this situation where there's a bunch of talent evaluators who are seeing these young men come into these situations and they have to play alongside you know, Betro Macho's like we were talking about with Levante David and those guys. That's their livelihood, right, and these guys can't be jerking them around or jerking their teammates around.
No, it's it sort of goes back to that phrase we've said a bajillion times.
Hard work beats talent. Talent doesn't work hard.
Especially in the NFL, people get humbled immediately, very very quickly. So I root for all of them, and I again, they are a more overstimulated generation than ever before. And I always pray that they have the right people around them because I think that that makes a huge difference.
Now, some people are just not some people are just jerks.
Like let's just like that also right in any generation.
You can't fix that always.
But I think for the most part, and Justin being able to speak with some of the draftees like they are hungry and they do want to be here, and they have worked so hard for this for their entire lives, and they have entire family some of them entire communities behind them that are waiting for this success. So I love the combine because you get to see.
The sale of this conversation and then draft.
And I comes. I cry every draft as they do to Yeah, I'm here for the tears. I'm like on CMJ, like, ah.
Ugly crier, though, are.
You not a draft?
I'm a crier, but I am depending on the movie I'm watching.
Full sob well, so I don't think they're sobbing in Chicago, but there's definitely a lot.
Of intrigue, let's just say.
And we were talking about this generation of player where now if you unfollow a team, your own particular team, it makes about human right, So and this happened with Justin Fields.
Also, who thinks to check.
That people with too much time?
Everything intentional?
Nothing, Okay, there you go, that's it.
So So, so here's Justin Fields he was defending himself. He was saying that, you know, hey, you guys are reading too much into it.
And he said that on a podcast.
Well, of course, Ryan Poles, the general manager, he had to be in that scrum, you know, at the combine to talk to everybody on Tuesday, and that was by design just to have him do all the one on ones or everything that he has to do, because everybody was asking him the same question, what are you going to do with that first overall pick?
And this is what he had told reporters.
I will say this. I think you guys know me well enough now I do if we go down that road, I want to be right by Justin as well. No one wants to live in Gray. I know that's uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to be in that situation either. So we'll get the information, will move as quickly as possible. We're not gonna be in a rush and see what it's a SOLF and what's best for the organizations.
He is so sick of answer that question.
Yeah, but Buddy's happen. He hasked you and listen, they're open for business personally. I just don't think that they've gotten the deal that they've wanted, you know, and I personally think that they are going to draft Caleb Williams in my own personal opinion. It's not a personal diss on Justin Fields. I mean their reports linking him again, reports linking him to Atlanta.
So is that the route that they want to go? I don't know.
Well, here's the thing, is that they're going to ask for a king's ransom, as they should, yes, for that pick because everyone's chasing Caleb, especially the teams that really really need a quarterback. So they have a huge position of power in this instance, and they know it. I think it didn't. And that's the other wrinkle, right to all of it. It's like the whole social media drama. You know, it adds, it adds to the storyline, which is great for us. But you know, he did, he did a great job answering, answering that question. And I'm sure he's you know, at this point, he can recite it in his sleep because everybody's asking about what they're going to do with the one number one right, No, No, you know, we're gonna check all options, see what's presented to us. Sure, absolutely, he's not lying, He's not lying, he's not, But who is willing and can actually afford two give them what what they want, what they want and what that pick is worth to them.
So is it Atlanta? Could they be the one.
That would make the most.
I feel like they're in one of the bigger positions of a need for sure.
New a new coach there and Raheem Morris. He also addressed reporters kind of looking at the future and what the outlook is for next season.
But they also need a lot of other things too, So you can't give up everything to just step the I mean, arguably you need a quarterback, no question. Yes, and we love the Desmond we do, but like it just it is what it is. Right, Oh man, I could not be a GM.
Well, well let's let's let's hear. Let's hear from Raheem.
I want to see what he has to say, if at all, if at all, Yeah, anything.
I'm not afraid to say that we have the ability and we're capable to go out there and win next year if we do some of the right things, some of the right moves, we can do that. And that's not an arrogance, that's not a com that's not a cockiness. That is more of a credit to the people that we're in the building with me still and some of the people that are not there now and what they've been able to do. You know, if we had better quarterback play last year in Atlanta, I might not be standing here.
Okay, come on, that's truth bomb right now.
They're correct.
Okay, So Desmond sorry saying yeah, yeah.
Free Kyle Pets. Yeah, so what I gotta say.
They've got talent there on that offensive and Josh Robinson was incredible, you know, Drake London, you know, so so for them, they they are a team that that I want to see what they end up doing here.
It's gonna be very curious.
Yeah, very very curious.
But how how much wiggle room do they have to? I mean, free agency bowl will tell a lot about it too.
M h.
I think that starts to put like the writing on the wall, Okay, we acquired this in free agency, these are the moves that we made.
Who did we go after aggressively?
To see that sort of paints the path of like, okay, what are the pieces left for them to fill now through the draft?
I love this game.
I love these combos.
I love this game. Yeah, it's been interesting.
You mentioned Kirk Cousins earlier because now he's on the up and up, and I've heard a couple of people saying that he's like the best free agent quarterback.
For the best available one out there. So Kevin O'Connell was on the.
Mic talking about Kirky and what they want to do, Kirk chains chains.
I think the thing about free agencies itself is this is not Kirk's first time in free agency. Kirk Cousins knows how I feel about him. I've held no secrets there. He knows how the Minnesota Vikings feel about him. I believe Kirk wants to be a Viking, and we're gonna work to try to make that.
Uh the outcome, Well, that's got to be the outcome.
And justin Jefferson signing megat that's a no brainer. That has to happen. And he expressed interest in having uh, you know, Kirk Cousins back as as the as the QB. So yeah, I mean makes sense there for them.
Shout out to the very nice Vikings. It was clean, very clean, but team forward.
That's cute it.
I don't think you know what on on earlier this week, at the combine, I saw quite a few like GMS and coach I was.
Like, wait a second, this is not available in the NFL shop.
Yeah, are these custom joints?
Because I volunteers tribute, I would like some of these. Yeah, it's very clean. I like that.
I like that we're going more subtle in tone in terms of our gear. But you know that, I mean that sounds great for Kirk've been there. He's done a lot for that team, and I know he gets a lot of slack, but they love him over there, as as evidence.
By by coach.
So well, I guess this takes us to our ipunto. You know what my punto is Miicole Hartman. He was also on a podcast and talked about Aaron Rodgers his experience with the Jets. Then Thomas Morsteat the punter, then came out and said, hey, you got to earn everything. I mean pretty much put n Coole Hartman on blast. Yeah, so I think this is this is I know the season for hand size and such and leaked information, but I think there's also part of these beefs that maybe we'll start to bubble a little bit.
Who knew more said that's a weird one, right not.
It was not my Bengo car either, so is.
Giving more beefs. So anyway, there will be, whether they're random or not.
I love that it's.
So weird, right, Okay, cool, go off kings to your thing. Mato was earlier this week at the Combine. I got to moderate the panel with the twelve full time female coaches in the NFL, which is the most the NFL has ever had. It's the most full time female coaches of any major league sport.
Believe it's tremendous. It's tremendous.
The NFL for Women's Forum started eight years ago, the amazing Sam Rappaport over at the league office, and I've been able to play a small slice in it, moderating these panels every year. They host forty participants who are in the collegiate level at this point, who want to find that pathway, that pipeline to get these jobs. So like sitting up on the stage with women who were sitting in the audience just the year before, proof of concept and proof to power of just how it works, and to see the coaches really buy in. Ron Rivera, of course, who has been full participant, he was one of the first to do it in the league.
John Harball came through.
Our buddy Demico Ryans was there, Todd Bobs was there, Day Ball was there. You know, they all come through as they can throughout the combine, and it just shows that they know that talent is there and these women have done a tremendous job and it it just shows how important it is for them to be there.
We no one would have thought that would have been remotely possible, right ten years ago, five years ago, right, And it just goes to show you. And this is why the NFL is trying to go global and having games in Brazil, Spain, et cetera.
If you are.
Talented, they will find you. Yes, they just need the opportunities. It's just great to see that they're doing what they can to extend those opportunities and find and recognize the talent.
Yeah, and they're in all sorts.
They're in ops, they're in coaching, they're in recruiting, they're in analytics. There are some legal experts there as well. And it's just I was like, man, I want to go to law school. Yeah, commissioners, that was like, I'm d do that to yourself. I'm like, you're right, I'm going to law school, Roger. You know that's right right here.
But it was. It's just really cool.
It's a very empowering moment and it shows you know, the slogan has always was typically the future of the NFL, and this year was really poignant to see them They left that up there, but they crossed it out and then put the future is now love it and we had all twelve women up on the stage, which Sam said she got pushed back like, oh, it's too many people on stage, and she's like, they need.
To see it. Yeah, they need to see it to understand the power.
That it's a visible, tangible t it is available.
Yeah, which is huge.
So shout out to Sam and everybody at the league.
Shout out to you.
Glad that you're there moderating those sorts of things and being in the middle of it.
Literally, I'm just like, well, you guys be my friends there. I want to be like them when I grow up, Like they're so so cool. It is tremendous and I'm never surprised but always so impressed with everything that's that's going on.
So that's my shout out. Shout out.
So I love it.
Absolutely love it and shout out to all of you who are listening to the l out Of podcast. Remember to download, subscribe like the whole thing, the riot is continuing.
Let's keep doing this.
Yeah, we love it.
We will see you guys soon and trust we'll have more for you throughout the quote unquote not off season.
Yeah m hm hm.
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