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GMFB Monday Hour 2: Wilson/Fields debate, Solomon Thomas, and Ron Rivera

Published Aug 5, 2024, 6:34 PM

Hour Two of the Good Morning Football Podcast begins with an update from Steelers Camp.  Hosts Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, Peter Schrager, and Akbar Gbajabiamila debate the competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.  Jets DT Solomon Thomas drops by to talk about his camp experience so far.  Plus, Ron Rivera joins the table to look back at Hall of Fame weekend!

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Good Morning Football.

Welcome to Good Morning Football live here in Los Angeles.

I'm Jamie Art All. This is up bar Buzzervimvilla.

Good morning, Good morning, Peter Schrager, Kyle Brands in New York. They're at Jets camp at the facility.

Kyle, give me a level of.

One to ten on Peter Schrager's giddiness because it's vibrating through the screen.

So the giddiness is up at ten. Not only because we're here in his home state and its Jets and it's football. But Peter is still so excited that Patrick Mahomes was NA number four in the NFL Top one hundred list. It was a present early for him. He's very, very excited. Here we go and there's Peter j E T s p E T E. Peter, you talk about it.

Well, it's just so cool to get on boots on the ground like we we love it. I got to go to Rams camp last week. Kyle's at Chargers. Jamie, you were at Rams camp last week.

It's great.

It's football and it's the best part of the year where all thirty two teams think that this could be the year. The fans think this could be the year. So to be boots on the ground and have these great interviews. And it's only one hundred degrees. So I've got my Jerry Turcanian uh tallow here.

In the Charlotte.

We have to mention since we're at a location in a training cap it's hot. I'll take it's hot out here, it's hot at the table by saying how hot it is. And now Peter's properly done it because it's not your guys.

Kyle, how dare you not have a prop that shows me just how hot it is?

Uh?

John, I need a temperature to show you.

A giant thermometer.

Look at this.

That's what you're saying, Peter, sweat is enough, guys, thank you.

Going to a training camp as well, Yeah, I'm going to a training camp. I'm going back to uh to where it all started from me. I'm going back to the Raiders camp. So that's it'll be pretty cool. And they're here in California, so that's right.

That's okay.

So from the Jets to the Raiders camp, let's go to Latrobe, Pennsylvania for the league block. We're gonna talk Steelers Russell Wilson. He's been dealing with a calf injury and he's done some work in eleven on eleven, but our.

NFL media insider Tom peal Sero.

Says he could be fully clear this week. Justin Fields those been taking a lot of the reps with the starters in his absence, and Russ has nothing but praise for the younger quarterback that he.

Is competing with.

I've known Justin for years. I remember back in his Ohio State days watching them, and you know, we've texted and called during the seasons in the past and everything else and just try to be a mentor in any way that I can, you know, and and so you know, he's a tremendous worker. He's a guy who loves the game of football, and so we both really relate to that. And then you know, just being you know, I remember being a young black quarterback in the National Football League. There's a lot of there's a lot of great things about playing quarterback, and there's tough things along the way, and so we think we share a lot of those similarities and the things that we've been through and just being able to teach as much as I can. He's an extremely talented guy. Yeah, and you know he's got a great demeanor about him.

All Right.

So Russell Wilson, Justin Field's new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, a lot of new additions to Steelers Guys, what do we make of this offense specifically going into twenty twenty for Peter I'll start with you.

Yeah, I think the Arthur Smith thing is that we're not talking about and what he's going to bring on offense. And if you're a Falcons fan, you're laughing at home and saying, Arthur Smith last year was dismal, and they before that. You go back to those Tennessee days and what did they do. They had Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry and two tight ends and they would run the ball down your throat and then they would make the big play when they needed to.

I feel like.

Russell Wilson's the guy. He's talking like he's the guy, and as we sit here on August fifth, he's the guy. And until something goes wrong with his health, and until something happens to training camp where Justin Fields is just undeniable, it's going to be Russell's team and it's going to be Arthur Smith's team. And what I like about it it's two guys who had the utmost respect from the rest of the league and in the last few years have become.

A bit of a laughing stock.

And I like that.

I like guys who have chips on their show. And if you look at the franchise, the Steelers' logo, it went from being, yeah, they make the playoffs every year, and yeah, they're over five hundred every year and Mike to last year, you know what, Steelers fans are sick of being five hundred and making the playoffs. Steelers fans are sick of hearing about great Mike Tomlin was because guess what they're owing seven in their last playoff games now they've played. So to me, it's three different people, Tomlin, Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith, three guys who have giant chips on their shoulders and reasons to want to motivate and shut the world up and show that they are here and they're here to stay.

I think it's interesting you're giving the gig to Russell. There were some juice here, but maybe justin Fields wins it out. Right, that's not your instinct or what you're hearing, or a little bit of both.

A little bit of both, and I feel like it is wrong. Russell's the statesman. It's his job to lose.

That's how I look at it.

I look at the Chargers this year and a lot of the talk about the Charges, and I'll get to the Steelers is that Jim Harbrough's gonna show up and run. And maybe they don't have any high profile wide receivers Justin Herbert Hurt. Now they're going to run. Theyre gonn run thirty times a game. I don't know if they'renna run as much as the Steelers are gonna run. And I mean this in the best possible way. I'm gonna do this in a good morning football style. Last season, before Justin Fields was there, before Russell Wilson was there, before Arthur Smith was there, the Pittsburgh Steelers had seven different nominations for angry runs on this program. Just start running the video tape. This is the twenty twenty three Angry Highlight reel for all of the Steelers. You're gonna see Naji, You're gonna see Jalen Warren, You're gonna see Pat Fryermuse just throwing people around. They had the most nominations of any team all year. It was a wonderful year, culminating with Naje winning Anger run at THEERET Dentical Honors. Now you add in not only in Arthur Smith, Peter a pissed off Arthur Smith, and I think pt Arthmith's always pissed off, and.

Surly is the word.

I was gonna go ornery.

Surly is better. I also would say this to people in Atlanta hahaha. There are certain coaches I call it the North Turner Club, who are wonderful offensive coordinators and maybe the head coach thing just doesn't work out.

Arthur Smith might be that guy.

He is a North South coordinator who has North South weapons. I think Justin Fields is gonna be on the field a lot. He's another guy who's gonna run it. I do not think they're gonna go some sort of shock and awe air assault with the Steelers this year. I think they're gonna be the hardest running, most often running. Jalen Horn is a joke. Jrner get a seal tall, My guys, there is there is clips coming to Jailen warf for training camp in pass pro where he is destroying his own teammates.

This one.

Look at Nase his profuses to give up. We haven't gotten a friar mouth yet.

This is my Point's Rudolph.

To see any love?

Sure, great, absolutely, just drink this in Steelers fans, Bengals fans, Browns fans, everybody rage says laugh. If you want, here comes friar mouth. Come on, Patt, he said, give me the ball. I want to get a sept Let's see at Pat Scott. Not bad pass, not bad at all. This is Steeler football right now.

I love it.

I'd respect it. They will be in the playoffs next year. I predict it every year.

Yeah, you know I agree with you because I mean, I look at Jalen Warren. That's the one guy that I'm super excited about, this marriage between Arthur Smith Jalen Warren. When I look at that offense, the one thing that stood out to me was the fact that he was so explosive five point three yards per carrying. Every time he got the ball, he just showed you what he was working with. And you know, George Pickens talked about He says, I think they asked him and he said, I think this could be the most explosive team ever. You know, at first I was like, I don't know, I'm not feeling that. But then I started thinking about it and thinking about last year. I'm like, you get Arthur Smith, this new offense, and I know it didn't do a lot, you know in Atlanta, you know, with that offense. But I think when you get new weapons, you get new pieces. I do believe that they could be a very explosive team. George Pickens one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL, and you get him and Warren going at it. Man, I think this could change things up for him. I think they go from a ten win season last year, I think they sneak into about twelve wins and hopefully go over into the playoffs.

Yeah, that's big bump and a really good division. Peter, you make a good point. I feel like I've been on a wheel of emotions with Russell Wilson. You know, at first, it was amazement when he started his career, and then it was like confusion. Then I felt kind of badly for him, and now I'm like swinging all the way back around, like, how do I get back to I'm amazed at what Russell Wilson is trying to do. It made me think, let's go back to when we loved what Russell Wilson was doing, and that was in the twenty twenty season. We have a tape of throws and runs. But Peter, it does make it does beg the question as we sent it back out to just Camp, Peter and Kyle, how do we get Russell back to this point? Because I asked for best Russell Wilson and it was this season and I got sent back three throws in a run And typically with Russell Wilson, you'd think, oh, it would be a tape.

Of him running all around, but it was. The ratio is three to one.

So Peter, how do you think the Arthur Smith puzzle piece works of the Russell Wilson game? And secondly, Kyle, has Russell Wilson ever gotten angry runs?

No, m.

I look at DK, Metcalf and Locket and it's still one of the best duos in the league and they're going to be doing their thing in Seattle. Now you look over here in Pittsburgh and I don't see that receiver duo like I just don't.

So you wonder who's he throwing to now.

Pickens is an electric player. I just need Russ to play within himself, which is such a backhanded compliment. No freestyle, no willy nilly. Make the plays when you need him, but don't try to be superman. I think that's a hardest thing for some of these players is they get into their mid thirties and you know Gino Smith is going to have those guys in Seattle and Russell doesn't have those guys in Pittsburgh. So to me, it's you know, what can we do when we could play within yourself and make the big plays because that fan base skin of lifting and you got one of the best run games.

In the league. And I would say to your point, Peter, I don't think you want Russell Wilson's to go for angry runs this year. To answer your question, Jamie, he is not. There is a list of anger runs winners that might surprise you. And just off the top of my head, sam Donold won angry runs here as a New York Jet. It's an a sceptor pitch at this facility, and a couple of years ago to a tongue by low one. Angry runs, you lay lower his shoulder, ran over somebody on the Browns.

I think you can google it, Russ.

It's possible he was.

Nominated, but I don't think so, and he's certainly never won at this age. I would probably more likely go with fields to win angry runs, but there's gonna be a lot of them in Pittsburgh. I don't to Peter's point, don't win angry runs, Russ. You win the FedEx Aaron ground.

One of those.

They don't give you a scepter, they give you a box.

But that's how we want to hear Kyle.

That's not in his calling cards anymore. I don't think that that's the type of game.

I think.

You see older players, You see their games start to evolved. As they start to mature. Their body starts to betray them a little bit. You know, it doesn't move as great as you thought you start. You know, rigidity starts to set in, and all of a sudden, he's like, all right, I better change this game up. Like Tiger Woods. We've seen Tiger Woods change his gay. As that back continues to get more and more stiff, we start to see him change up his game. And I think that's what Russell Wilson is. But I look at Russell Wilson, I think, man, this dude has been around.

For a minute.

He's won at a high level. He knows what to do now. I know, you know, and Peter, you talked about this. He doesn't have Deontay Johnson on the other side. Right, it's just Pickens. I think they're going to attack that run game. They're gonna utilize and max out that run game to be able to get Pickens and those guys over the top and hit that that that passing game.

Deep, it's gonna be Steelers football. And that's what it is, and it's and they're gonna lean into that.

I mean, that's Steelers football.

Might I know Akbar saying twelve and I love that, and and that's that to take Cleveland's really good, then.

Is really good?

You disagree, Yeah, but that was a polite way of saying you disagree with the twelve.

I'm not sure yet. To be honest, I'm not sure. I want to see them in the preseason.

I want to finish training camp because it's a completely new offense.

Peter's sensitive to.

Here's what, Okbar, He's looking out for you because about a month from now, few weeks or not, when we pick our playoff teams and our division winners, you are on record as the Steelers potentially going to twelve wins, which means like when we do the Brown segment, the Bengal segment, we cannot be like I love them for twelve wins too.

It all comes around.

So you are a Steelers guy this year, I think you should feel.

Comfortable putting in a corner like that, Ocward.

That's the danger of doing it has for.

Four hours and doing it starting in July. You say something like that, we got a pinion to it.

Hold on, do I have room for the Browns because I'm actually more higher on the Browns than I am.

The Steelers can't like it.

I like it? Okay, ye, seven playoff teams right back now?

I got it for the Browns.

Brown there and fifty six games they can all be.

Basically, Ochbar just said he hates the Bengals and Ravens this year.

You're out on them.

If the math math that's what Bar just said. We're going We're going play by play with Akbar on GMFB.

We hadn't gotten to.

Prediction week yet, and how much we build it up so we'll get we're gonna.

Explain it and.

Okay, here he goes everyone, it's a car, Peter, Kyle, we'll see in a little bit. We're gonna get a look at the Steelers on Friday night when they take on the Texans seven pm Eastern, right here on NFL Network, streaming on NFL Plus. If you feel like everything is coming up Texans, you're probably right.

There's a big spotlight on them.

Inside Training Camp Live continues today at two pm Eastern. Anthony Richardson will beyond Colts quarterback Jane Slater's posted up at Eagles practice and would you look at that Baldy and Steve Boyshark keeping an eye on how CJ. Stroud and Stefan Diggs are looking in Houston. You can catch it all right here on NFL Network noon Eastern. Those are the camplications for the day. Speaking up camplications, Kyle and Peter have a tenth post it.

Up next to their chairs.

They slept there overnight and they could prepare short for their interviews.

Justin ven devend. Solomon Thomas will be turning.

Them next the Sleep Out of a Tent.

Good morning, Welcome back to GMFB.

We are here at Jets camp, and we're here with one of our favorite players in the league, going into his eighth year in the NFL. Also the Jets Walter Payton Man of the Year nomine from last year. Friend of the Show, Solomon Thomas Day, how we know.

It's great to see him.

I'm great.

I'm great.

How are y'all doing?

We're good.

We got to get right to business.

Though we're here at Jets camp.

The season is about to start.

I need you to explain in great detail to Peter, who knows nothing, tell us about the Accolyte. Solomon, ok, let's go.

What is the Acolyte?

Okay?

The Accolade is a new Star Wars show on Disney Plus.

Okay.

It is very entertaining.

I love it.

We get some great five battles, great saber battles. We get some new Sith Lords who are really fun to watch.

Sith Lord, he's watch want to Oh my god, I'm telling you, come on, who's that?

Who's on his shirt right now?

I know George Lucas, I know Obi Wan Kenobi, and I know Luke Sky, But you're in.

I'm very into it. I mean, I'm I'm a Star Wars junkie, so any show that comes out like I'm happy to watch. Like you know, Star Wars fans are very critical, so but I thought it was a very entertaining show. I'm happy with it. You know, it's not really what the Star Wars universe, but I'm.

About because kin would come in on Monday morning.

Did you see Mandalorian. I'm like, I don't even know what that word means.

If you don't know mandal I even know Aco, the words are getting exotic.

Mando ran so was it? Avanda walks a could run.

That's right, speaking about walking, stop the run?

He stopped.

The eighth year in the league.

We remember when you got drafted by San Francisco. What's it like going into year eight as opposed to years one, two, and three.

I mean, it's really cool, Like to be in this league is a blessing, Like I love this work so much, Like you put so much into it to be here in your eight I'm it's really cool to be to be a leader on these guys, to show them the way. I'm gonna take that as a big responsibility to show them how to take care of the body, how to eat, how to conduct themselves on the field. I'm going to just off the field too, Like I've learned a lot throughout my career, like you know, using a sports psychologist, being in therapy and how that's really changed my life and made me a better football player. Just investing in myself personally, So you know, it's really cool and to be a part of a team like this in New York, in New Jersey, I'm one of the coolest places in the world. So you know, I'm just really happy to be here and really happy for the season. It's going to be a great year.

Is it?

Crazy? Being like the old head in the room now and you can and old Oh.

I got one of our players, our young rookies, told me that when I was my first in the league, he was a freshman in high school and that kind of hurt the heart.

Yeah.

So so somebody, you know, like like Sauce, I think the Sauce is like twenty three years yeah, crazy like that. How do you relate to all those guys, especially on defense, that they are so young?

Just football, Like, you know, football brings everyone so close, like the grind of it, you know, waking up early, staying in late, you know, just just loving the competition. Like we all relate on that level, so no matter what the age like, no matter like if they know a new new terminology, new language, like they keep us up to date. But it's it's all fun. Like we all love competing, we all love being together, so we all relate on that level and we're all like this team's really is a family. It's really cool to be a.

Part of us.

If you ever want to feel young, you can just point them to the quarterback like I was in kindergarten.

Right exactly exactly.

You go back all the way with Sala.

Obviously you guys were together in San Francisco and then he comes to the Jets and you come, Salah going into this year, how has he been as we haven't had much you know, interaction with him, and especially on our show this morning, we're gonna get a chance to watch practice. But what's Sala been like going into this pivotal year.

He's really excited. I mean he's really bringing You know, Saua is a very passionate person. He's very energetic. He's he loves a game, so he really bleeds that into us, and he wants us to care about the little things like love and regard for each other, Like how are you gonna fight for your teammate in the fourth quarter? Like how are you gonna show up with with the little details? Are the receivers in a block down the field on long runs, the receivers in a show full speed on certain routes to get other open, like certain things like that, to really be a team, because this game is really hard right now, everyone's saying the same thing super Bowl champs. Details, But what is really going to separate you? And I think that's that love him regard for each other that he consistently preaches to us. I think that's what's gonna make it special.

You.

You always do. You look great physically.

I mean you were one of the most jack dudes in the league. Like you have the bosas and now Aaron Donald's gone, and it's it's honestly, Salom Thomas, it's you.

But also, you know, we do things a little different.

Good Morning Football.

At one point we did a ranking of the head coaches in the NFL based on fitness.

Okay, okay, and.

Three we had Dan Campbell two we had Sean mcdermoth's division rival, but number one we got Bobby Solid ring out the rash from the golf course. I mean, what is it like to have a the NFL who looks like this?

He looks like you.

I mean walking in this morning? You know who's in the weight room, coach Ola, what's he doing? I mean I saw him doing the shoulder raises. But I mean I'm talking. I'm talking about what time is that six?

Yeah?

But I think he kind of influences the coaches being there too. Sometimes you see a lot of the coaches in they're lifting, so I think the whole squad is kind of, you know, trying to get some of that you know, coach Solid in them.

We asked them, We're like, coach, like, is there is there a supplement you can suggest?

When he goes?

He's all I take is phwing.

It pure hard work.

Yeah.

I mean to play for a guy who's that committed physically when he doesn't even have to be, that must motivate you in a different way.

I mean it does. You see a coach and they're working, I mean getting after it. You know, you have no excuse not to be and there doing the same thing, you know.

Okay, so going from the weight room and Salah to a totally different stage. I'm sitting there, Kyle knows, I'm a Broadway guy.

The middle of June, I've got it on. I'm like, the outsider is gonna win this year.

I'm watching it in the.

Solomon Thomas presenting a Tony Award.

What was that?

Like?

How'd that come to be?

That was like one of the coolest experiences in the world. I have to shout out, you know, Jack Upton, Ellie Eli Kaplan at Cia for really making that happen. It's all my Broadway people. But to be a really do just to be a part of their special night really meant the world to me. They work so hard, they're so talented. There's some of the most special people in the world to me, So to be there and to be able to present with Nate was it was. It was so cool And I love those people, you know, I think there's so much that relates from Broadway to football. You know that that mental aspect. They perform eight shows a week. To me, that's like doing eight games a week, and then how to be in that focus, like when things go wrong, how to keep going, how to be present, and how to you know, feed off of each other. It's like a family back there. But you know, I've learned a lot from you know, my Broadway people got a shot out my guy who q Coles from Back to the Future. He really teaches me a lot about the football theater relationship. We keep in touch and he and he teaches me certain things, like he was like, you know, every time I go out on the show, I have to make their audience believe something that isn't real is real. And like, you know, he was teaching me like that, how I can do that in football, and like how I can sell that passion, How I can sell like you know, certain moves and stuff like that, and and and just to be present and to be give myself all for each play or each game. And you know, I love those guys. They really mean a lot to me. And I love my Broadway community.

We were telling bar who is our co host and the show, like we love Broadway, Kyle. It's the best of the best in the world at what they do.

And you have to say, we know Rogers respects it too, no doubt.

Yeah, I mean it's a one percent of the world doing that and they work relentlessly and it is it is crazy. They it's a year long. They get like fourteen days off for eight shows a week. It is NonStop and they just keep going. Their high energy people. You have the enthusiastic no matter what. Like after a show, like I'm very thankful, Like I have connections. They'll bring me backstage and I'm going to meet certain people and they're just so excited for life. I'm like, dude, after a game, I'm not meeting anyone. I want to go home. I want to get my normal sex and go to sleep, like and they're just like they're they're full of life. They're they're really special people. Incredible.

Well Broadway once my time had a West Side story. We here in the AFC East have jets bills. Yeah, okay, those are our jets and our sharks yep. So there's a lot of theatricality with the bills too. I think particularly you guys. As a d line guy, I look at the bills on line. There's a guy there, it's huge, dude. He calls himself the Shnowman Dawkins, right, blah blah blah blah blah, and like we're I'm kind of smiling.

Yeah, there's a quote from Dion. I'm just gonna read.

This is a Broadway notebook. Okay, I have it right here. I'm not off books. Sorry, everybody. This is on the jets. I hate them, all of them. There's people who play the sport because they love the sport, and there's people who play the sport just to be cool.

Those are a bunch of guys.

Who just want to take pictures on Ig. That's whack. Now, that's Deon Dawkins. That's his monologue. Then you come on stage, you get your spot, Like, what's your response as your character on the Broadway stage.

I'm a Broadway stage. I'm more of a person who acts to let my play do the talking. I do think it's interesting a guy telling us that, you know, we like to take Ig pictures when he's on podcasts with his shirt off, and you know, you know, so you know that's interesting. But that's just my opinion. But I'm a guy who you know, we'll see him a couple of times a year, so I'll be.

Fun a couple of times the year.

That's good.

This guy's the best.

Awesome tell us, you know, I know, you do it so much work with the mental health and you really become known for that outside of football. What can people learn about what you're doing right now? And I know you're doing a lot of work, so tell the people go ahead.

Yeah, I mean you know my feeling. And we have foundation called the Defensive Line. You can check us out at dedefensive Line dot org. But you know, we do a lot of work. We go around a certain schools, businesses, and you know, we teach teachers, coaches, anyone, mentor of youth how to you know, really be equipped with mental health, how to teach our students, how to take care of them, how to create an environment where everyone could be safe, you know, connecting with their local resources and know where therapy is, counseling, meditation, journaling, whatever it is that you need to keep people here. I've been very fortunate my life to learn from you know, my sister dying by suicide and learn how to you know, and going through my own mental journey and being in a dark place and getting out of the dark place from therapy. So I go around like letting people know it's okay not to be okay, that you know, it's okay to get help. Getting help is the most you know, courageous thing you can do for yourself. So every day, you know, I'm trying to live a life to encourage people to to be here, to stay here. And suicide is the most parentable death, but people are afraid to talk about it. But in the end of the day, like everyone is going through it, and it is so important to be vulnerable to understand that is strength to make sure we create an environment where people can have safe places, can stay here and be here. It's one of the greatest responsibilities in my life to be a mentalth advocate, to go around the world talking about this work because there's not enough men who do it. There's enough people who do it who look like me, who are big, strong players who you know, I'm a sensitive person, I go through depression, i go through anxiety. I've been through hard times. Do I understand that's okay? Like, we don't have to live this life where you know, everything is like you all highlight social media, you know all good like life is about the ups and downs, It's about the sad times. We can realize that you can be sad and you can be anxious and still have a good day, and I understand that you're not crazy for that. You know, that's when you understand the real beauty of life.

Beautiful, beautiful. We love you, man.

This is GMF. That's okbar. I'm Jamie.

One of those old faces in a new place is Stefon Diggs. He was just mentioned. He's in Houston now with CJ. Stroud and the Texans. The Texans have had a week though, because they played in the Hall of Fame game and then Damiko Ryan's and the organization decide to stay in Ohio to attend Saturday's enshrinement ceremony to celebrate and Andre Johnson the first player in the organization's history to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. So now they're practicing outside of Cleveland until their next preseason game Friday against the Steelers. That being said, time now to check in with Steve Wisch and Brian Baldinger. They're with the Texans, guys. This is kind of a big decision. I know teams go away for training camp a times, but for Damiko Ryans to make this kind of commitment for the team to stay in Ohio, what does that say about them?

Well, Jamie real quick.

We were at the University school in suburban Cleveland, and this is where Jason Garrett and Texans general manager Nick Kosario went to high school.

So you see the field behind us.

The Texans actually built this and donated it and procured it for the high school's kind of a gift for letting them practice here, Baldy. But look at for Jamie's question. You know, for Jamiko Ryan to have the faith in his team to keep them away from home so long.

Well, he really speaks value about the maturity of the team and the trust because a lot of these players are away from camp, away from home in Ohio on the road for ten days, and so I've been one of those young guys in the training camp, Steve. You know it's hard to like, Okay, it's curfew, like turn off the lights like you know, it's wake up call, like you know, you've got to try still, lot of young guys to be able to behave And I think it says that Demiko feels like he can really trust these guys to be able to do this and stay on the road and get to work done.

Today's going to be acting a practice, yeah, like during.

Full pads first time since the Hall of Fame game on Thursday night.

Yeah.

Nick Casaria, the general manager, spoke this before that game Thursday night. He said, the first couple of days of the week, they're gonna get after it. They'll tape it down so they can get everything ready for a Friday's preseason game. And guys, can you imagine a young Baldy a training camp remote?

Right?

I just look, I'm just a ping pong player, a Bar. I'm a ping pong guy. I'd be winning. I'd be winning every single tournament.

Yeah, I can see.

I can see you're getting into good, good trouble there, Baldi. But you know, hey, this team took a giant step forward last season. Then in the off season they made some roster changes. What stands out to you about those changes? And are are they upgrades? In your opinion?

They are?

Akbar?

I mean this is they got a lot of blue like you know, you look at a roster like, who are your blue chip players?

Well, here comes to Diggs. I mean the all day was help.

Lead the Buffalo Bills to four straight division titles in the afcas look at Daniel Hunter coming off maybe his best season ever last year, and he's a Houston kid, went to Katie High School. Like he's back in Houston. He turned down other offers to come play here. You look at you know, Tank Dell coming back from that injury last year, their third round pick from the University of Houston. You look at you know what they've got with Joe Mixon in the backfield right now.

I feel like this roster has been upgraded throughout this.

Offense and defense this year to go with what we saw the offensive rookie year, the defensive rookie the year and CJ. Stroud and Will Anderson. This is a very talented roster and I think they've only upgraded it this offseason.

And the sleeper acquisition Baldy as he's al Shai here, the linebacker coming over from Tennessee who was in San Francisco with Demico Ryans for a long time. But look, you mentioned Joe Mixon. We saw Thursday night. We have heard about this. Detecans are going to be working to upgrade their run game. Last year they are around twenty four to twenty five in the NFL and rushing. So they get Joe Mixon, They've got Damian Pierce. We saw Daria Oginbawalle really lighted up in the Hall of Fame game, but also cam Akers and this is the guy coming off of two Achilles tendon injuries. The Texans are giving him a shot to make the roster, and he really acquitted himself well when he got some reps Thursday night.

Now, I thought so too.

Yeah, and you know, he popped a few runs, scored a touchdown, But I thought, you know, some of their young offensive lineman, Juice Scruggs got out there.

You know, he got a chance. Kenyon Green, former first round pick.

You know this Blake Fisher, their second round pick from Notre Dame, played left tackle, look pretty good in there.

So they they're developing some depth up there right.

Now, Steve to go with obviously, the Laramie tumpsall is any category almost by yourself right now.

I was about to say they're front line starters. You didn't even mention any of them.

All right, We're going to send it back to you guys here again from the home of Nicosario and Jason Garrett.

I love that little factoid too.

The high school is probably thrilled because when you write notable alumni on a Wikipedia page from high school, like this is where you're going to come full circle as being able to Hey, can we borrow your high school field for training camp for NFL team? It's no problem, Steve Balti, thank you. You have to imagine that bolstering and offensive line and advancing the run game.

Is music to c. J.

Stroud's ears and is going into his second season. So those guys were just mentioning kend Ohio. It was an awesome weekend for the Hall of Fame speeches. You heard some specific shout outs from coaches like Ron Rivera.

Oh look, Ron Rivera's in studio.

We're going to talk to him. Good mon.

Football football is back at NFL Network has every NFL preseason game, including twenty one live. Get ready, it is time for some football. The NFL preseason starting August eighth on NFL Network. That got restrictions applyed, but you can also stream on NFL Plus. Subscription also required for NFL Plus.

Now.

Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is making the most of his opportunities in training camp is also Wilson is limited with a calf injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin joined Ret Lewis and Mark Ross on inside training camp talking about what he's seen on the field so far.

I love his professionalism, his consistent approach to work. He's got a even killed demeanor that's good for leadership. And I've been surprised by his athleticism. To be quite honest with you, I've seen video obviously, but see it up close and personal every day. He's a special athlete man. He can do a lot.

Now.

On Saturday, it was a special day in Canton, Ohio, Z The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined its seven new members, including kick returned specialist Devin Hester. He talked about how he had different plans growing up, but clearly it all worked out.

For him in the act.

I wanted to be a running back, but God plans wasn't that for me. Sure, I might have been a one hundred and seventy eighth best runner back in the world or the two hundred and ninety seven best wide receiving in the world. But instead I embraced God planned for me, and mostly I accepted it. I accepted my calling. I accepted my calling that God had in store for me, and by me embracing it, it made me the best returner to ever walked This face of the earth.

Well.

Hester also said he's not the only return specialist deserving to be in the Hall of Fame. He hopes is just opening the door for other guys like Brian Mitchell and Josh Kratz. When you look at some of these numbers that these guys have put up, this might be the door cracking. You might see some more specialists in yours to come.

But we love a confident man when it comes to but I am the best specialist. That's true, He congratulates as Devin Hester and the whole class of twenty twenty four.

We're going to welcome in Ron rivera now our head coach at our table.

We love when coach comes, but specifically after this past weekend, because we heard your name, we're going to play this now. Hall of Fame speeches were on this past Saturday. Of course, in Canton, Julius Peppers took the stage and thanked his coach.

Is that meant the most to him? Let's first take a lesson.

I want to think my NFL coaches, John Fox, Levy Smith, Mike McCarthy, and Ron River. Thanks to each one of you and all of the men on your staffs. You guys taught valuable lessons that went beyond the game, and that's what I appreciate. That's what I appreciated the most. So thank you for your time, your energy, and your sacrifices.

That's a great group to be a part of. Coach, you made great players but also great men. You must have taken a great compliment to that.

I really did.

And you know, the real special thing about Julius is who he is as a young man, more so than anything else. Unfortunately I got him at the end of his career. I was able to bring him back and let him finish in Carolina, and he did a great job for us, and what a superhuman being. And I would have been there except for I spent a little time with Stevec Michael when when they you know, presented his best at his house at his bedside.

Yeah and yeah, you just mentioned it. You're there in Illinois with him, Like how what did he mean to you? And just Chicago, the Bears, everyone.

You know.

The amazing thing about Steve is for how long he played. You know, he had a fifteen year career. He played one hundred and ninety two consecutive games, started over one hundred games, as a player consecutive game. So he was the heart and soul of who we were as a football team. But more so anything else, he was a teammate, a great friend, and just somebody that was truly deserving. So I was very fortunate to have been part of that and just to be there on Saturday morning when he presented the bus while he was still you know, he was.

Laying in his bed.

He's you know, unfortunately stricken with als. But just to have the guys that were there, there was over twenty of us that were there.

It was a great time. It really was.

Did you feel that he felt the moment? He you know that he was aware the love, the outpour all of that.

You could see it in his eyes.

His eyes would light up and you see the grin come out, and it was really truly an emotional time.

It really was. It was very special.

Yeah.

So of course Evehn Michael, his family has been representing him all along in this journey, ever since we saw the class come out of the State Jennifer Honors and then up until this point. But let's just have a refresher for those who were maybe not fans of the Bears in the mid eighties. Just a little take us through who Stephen McMichael was and why he is this person now we're seeing.

Well, you know, it's interesting because everybody talks about, you know, the other three guys on the defense that were in the Hall of Fame and Richard Denhampton and Mike Singletary. But this guy was the lynch pin. I mean, he did the dirty work. He was the guy that enabled guys to have, you know, some success, some success because he did those things and again he made everybody around him better.

And that's, I think is why he's so special.

That's awesome. These guys definitely deserving of it.

But Coach, when you look at the guys who are now no longer in the league, is there anyone else you think that should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame? Who tops that.

List for you?

Well, to me, it's Jim Plunkett.

You know, here's a guy that was two time Super Bowl champion, super Bowl MVP.

You know, I know, his his one lost record isn't great.

But the big thing about Jim Morris anything else is during the opportunity he had, he.

Made the most of it.

I Mean, the the Raiders were the only winning team he played for, and during that period he was a guy that kind of brought them rallied them together and took them to two two Super Bowls in the early eighties, and again he did it and came back and was player Comeback Player of the Year in nineteen eighty. I mean, this guy, really, to me, deserves to be in it, because, you know, comparably, you look at some of the other guys that are in and you sit there and say, you know, Bob Greasy had a tremendous career, but his numbers are very similar to each other.

So I gotta ask you.

I spent a lot of time with Jim Pluckett, and I got to ask you, why do you think he's not in there? I mean, is it politics?

What is it?

It could be politics, but I do think it has something to do with the one lost record. But again, look at the whole teams though that he played for. You know, he played for New England and they were bad. He played for the forty nine ers when they were bad, just just before they took off. But again, this is a guy that when he got his opportunity to be a champion, he made the most of it. And became a two time Super Bowl champion.

Yeah, we should get you a T shirt that says put Jimmy in right.

Oh, I'll wear that that, I'll wear that.

Wait, I just want to review.

So bring back to the top Julius Peppers.

The fact that you said I got him at the end of his career, but was he still just the most phenomenal athlete ever he was.

It was ridiculous how special he wasn't you know he used when we used to run sprints during OTAs and workouts, he was always in front of everybody, and the guy that challenged him was Luke Keithley.

Yeah.

So that you talk about being competitive, and this was the off season how competitive they were, and it made everybody around them better because everybody wanted to compete at the same level as Julius.

You just hit us with the wei.

Were you running those sprints?

You know, you do it until you can't. So I'm trying to keep up with these guys, and all of a sudden, I felt that little twine and.

You got it And it wasn't like.

The fake justin Jefferson like, yeah, I heard myself.

You're like it was real. Trust, it was real.

That's awesome, coach, Thank you so much.

Actually, what was the most athletic thing that you saw Peppers do?

I mean, we know he's just like a freak athlete.

Well, you know, one of the things that we we we toyed with was having him play tight end down at the goal line, and they threw him a high ball right in front of the goal post. He went up one hand and just like it was a rebound and just collected it and pulled it down while he was while he was jumping.

Oh, it was amazing. True athlete, pure athlete.

You couldn't have any influence to get that play put in.

Oh, we worked on the trust and at the right time. Yes, situation, but.

The last thing you want to do is put him in and have him get hurt doing something he shouldn't be doing.

That's true.

So we could have been a Hall of Fame dight end too, but it would have been so without.

A doubt he could have. I mean, he's a guy that could have played both ways.

I believe.

Oh my gosh, so great.

You have the best list of characters in your football life, which is why we're so happy that Ron Rivera's here with us all season long.

You're the best. You guys look great. You're holding it down at Jets Camp.

I gotta ask, though, Kyle, you must be beside yourself because the interviews you've gotten have been tremendous. But with Quincy Williams with the Joker tattoo and Solomon Thomas with the Star Wars t shirts, I mean, this is all right up your alley.

True.

Solomon Thomas a great detackle of the Jets. You've known him for years, big fan of the Acolyte. Now there are many many people who are not fans of the Acolyte. In fact, they're ready to draw sabers about it. He's fully committed, fully in. He pitched it to Peter. You should be watching the Accolade. Are you going to start binging it?

I'm not.

Sauce Gardner came in.

He was talking about his golf game. We even got a golf ball here. It's from Orlando Video Productions. Shout out to Orlando, our guy don Orlando, and we're giving a big love here. But the big interview was Quincy Williams.

I thought Quincy Williams, who once upon a time was known as Quinn's brother, even though he's older than Quinn, same draft class. A couple of rounds later, is now an All Pro linebacker for the Jets. But we found this amazing nugget about him. Okay, there was a time in his life growing up in Birmingham. You guys watched it where he had to choose either you can pursue football, where he went on to be an All Pro, or you can pursue your passion for swimming, where he was on the path to go to the Olympics. Not joking, he was going to be an Olympic swimmer. And I think, well, we heard that and we were.

Like, we were like, okay, how good is he?

And we got we got footage.

This is the linebacker for the Jets, number thirty two ranked player in the NFL Top one hundred, going through his pre ritual. Here, he's got a lot of water bottles. He's putting on the goggles muscular. No, no cap, no cap.

I can't say no, cad.

Let's see what stroke we're gonna do here. We're gonna push off.

It's not backstroke. Go ahead, Quincy, on your marks, get set and go Okay, we're doing a straightforward style.

Damn good.

He should be in Paris right now here.

It's good.

Honestly, for a second I thought it was solid.

It's not.

It's not. You know the technique of if you swim next to.

Somebody and there's like the wave that you can benefit on the time, like, can you imagine the draft that this guy the wake that is left behind him.

My goodness, gracious, oh nice strokes.

To russing around. He looks good.

Peter, you've you've run every clip of players playing high school basketball back in the day, Quentin Nelson.

We can name a million guys. You find the video.

We've never seen swimming.

We've got Davante Adams doing a three sixty donk, Jamal Jayalen Ramsey doing back. We have beat a Vega dunkin basketball. We have never found a player in the pool. And it's so appropriate that now we're in the Olympics and y gosh, they say the pool is slow this year, and slow pool.

That was not a slow pool. Quincy Williams, unbelievable.

Field only on Good Morning Football, Quincy and Ladecki. Maybe we can make that happen. Good right, it's a lowly pack sports, so we don't have to worry about him getting hurt.

I want to see that.

I want to see that.

Happen so true.

Good for the social America.

Gentlemen, you are also representing America and the New York Jets today for GMTP. We appreciate you. We'll see you when we return. You're going to catch Sauce Gardner, Solomon Thomas, Quincy Williams. The interviews have been plentiful. Peter and Kyle are holding it down and they're at Giants tomorrow Joina's training camp.

We're going to talk to him then too. Seeing a bit