Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Here we go. It is a Wednesday, Tom Brady later in the show, Wednesday Live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. The coffee tastes a little better today. That's what happens when you watch Stanley Cup final action. I'm telling you jmack connor McDavid pulled me in last night, not saying I'm leading with it, but it was riveting hockey action. I don't know the blue line from the blue Man group, I mean hockey ut wow, I'm Frescolvin. Yeah, God, come in. You got to commit to the art form that's the American sports. So there's a lot of different things to talk about today. You know, people kind of poke fun at Magic Johnson's Twitter account because he's really good at stating the obvious as if it's a revelation. But whatever. He did have a tweet yesterday the former Laker Great, and he said, I hate that the Celtics officially have more championships than us. Now, well, actually a lot more. The Boston Celtics have eighteen and the Los Angeles Lakers have only twelve. But what really makes it most impressive is that the Lakers have twelve. I'm not going to count the five in Minneapolis. You know, I don't count George Miken. Okay, the Lakers have had three of the top four or five centers of her Wilt Kareem Shack. The Lakers have had the best point guard ever, Magic Johnson, a revelation six eight and a half point guard. They had past his prime or late prime, Lebron James arguably the greatest player not to mention the logo, Kobe Bryant, you know, James Worthy, Anthony Davis. They've had ten twelve all time great players, Elgin Baylor, warm winter weather in a sport that's always been about culture and entertainment too. They're in Los Angeles. The entertainment capital of North America. They have a destination advantage over Boston, and it's a star driven city and the NBA has always been star driven and player driven. Now the Celtics have had Bill Russell and John Havelchek, Bob Coosey, I'm not doubting, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, kg, Kevin McHale. They've had some stars too, though not Lakers stars. But there's not a lot to do when it's twenty one degrees in the winter in Boston. It's a provincial town more than a big city. It's mostly famous for stuff in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, if you want to be honest about their history. And yet there is no reason the Celtics should be this good. I mean really well, why it's not like players in the Winner say, get me to one of the coldest cities, one of the most geographically isolated cities. No, not really. And yet brain power, red Arbach, the Danny Ainge trades and now Brad Stevens has been the difference. That's been the difference. In fact, if you were to guess there was an Eastern city that should be great, it should be the new York Knicks. Madison Square Garden is called the basketball mecca again, a star fame, Broadway driven town. It's a bigger, cooler, richer city, Rucker Park, basketball history tram But yet it's the Celtics, I mean Los Angeles. Even the coaches are stars here, Harbaugh, McVeigh, Lincoln Riley stars like LA Stars seek La, Matt Stafford, Lebron James. They had a lot options, Shoeo Tawny had a lot of options. They choose Los Angeles, and they have usually chosen the Lakers over the Celtics if they're a free agent. But the difference between eighteen championships and twelve is even greater because it looks like Boston because of the way they're built. They still maintain most of their top picks. Next five years has eighteen and you would not be surprised if they rattled off with this group two or three more in the next five or six years. And the Lakers appear to be miles away from winning another one that in sports. Even in the artistic, stylistic, flashy NBA smart Trump's Sizzle, the Celtics have been, on average a much smarter basketball operation. Now Jerry West pat Riley Phil Jackson were involved. It didn't feel that way. But like the Dallas Cowboys, those guys all leave the parcels. Jimmy Johnson leaves and they are as we've found in Los Angeles with the Lakers, very very hard to replace. As the Lakers will be announcing a new basketball coach this week, what is that the seventh in thirteen years? Smart wins So. I saw this this morning Sportiko published you NBA team evaluations. How much your WNBA team's worth?

Here we go. It is a Wednesday, Tom Brady later in the show, Wednesday Live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. The coffee tastes a little better today. That's what happens when you watch Stanley Cup final action. I'm telling you jmack connor McDavid pulled me in last night, not saying I'm leading with it, but it was riveting hockey action. I don't know the blue line from the blue Man group, I mean hockey ut wow, I'm Frescolvin. Yeah, God, come in. You got to commit to the art form that's the American sports. So there's a lot of different things to talk about today. You know, people kind of poke fun at Magic Johnson's Twitter account because he's really good at stating the obvious as if it's a revelation. But whatever. He did have a tweet yesterday the former Laker Great, and he said, I hate that the Celtics officially have more championships than us. Now, well, actually a lot more. The Boston Celtics have eighteen and the Los Angeles Lakers have only twelve. But what really makes it most impressive is that the Lakers have twelve. I'm not going to count the five in Minneapolis. You know, I don't count George Miken. Okay, the Lakers have had three of the top four or five centers of her Wilt Kareem Shack. The Lakers have had the best point guard ever, Magic Johnson, a revelation six eight and a half point guard. They had past his prime or late prime, Lebron James arguably the greatest player not to mention the logo, Kobe Bryant, you know, James Worthy, Anthony Davis. They've had ten twelve all time great players, Elgin Baylor, warm winter weather in a sport that's always been about culture and entertainment too. They're in Los Angeles. The entertainment capital of North America. They have a destination advantage over Boston, and it's a star driven city and the NBA has always been star driven and player driven. Now the Celtics have had Bill Russell and John Havelchek, Bob Coosey, I'm not doubting, Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, kg, Kevin McHale. They've had some stars too, though not Lakers stars. But there's not a lot to do when it's twenty one degrees in the winter in Boston. It's a provincial town more than a big city. It's mostly famous for stuff in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds, if you want to be honest about their history. And yet there is no reason the Celtics should be this good. I mean really well, why it's not like players in the Winner say, get me to one of the coldest cities, one of the most geographically isolated cities. No, not really. And yet brain power, red Arbach, the Danny Ainge trades and now Brad Stevens has been the difference. That's been the difference. In fact, if you were to guess there was an Eastern city that should be great, it should be the new York Knicks. Madison Square Garden is called the basketball mecca again, a star fame, Broadway driven town. It's a bigger, cooler, richer city, Rucker Park, basketball history tram But yet it's the Celtics, I mean Los Angeles. Even the coaches are stars here, Harbaugh, McVeigh, Lincoln Riley stars like LA Stars seek La, Matt Stafford, Lebron James. They had a lot options, Shoeo Tawny had a lot of options. They choose Los Angeles, and they have usually chosen the Lakers over the Celtics if they're a free agent. But the difference between eighteen championships and twelve is even greater because it looks like Boston because of the way they're built. They still maintain most of their top picks. Next five years has eighteen and you would not be surprised if they rattled off with this group two or three more in the next five or six years. And the Lakers appear to be miles away from winning another one that in sports. Even in the artistic, stylistic, flashy NBA smart Trump's Sizzle, the Celtics have been, on average a much smarter basketball operation. Now Jerry West pat Riley Phil Jackson were involved. It didn't feel that way. But like the Dallas Cowboys, those guys all leave the parcels. Jimmy Johnson leaves and they are as we've found in Los Angeles with the Lakers, very very hard to replace. As the Lakers will be announcing a new basketball coach this week, what is that the seventh in thirteen years? Smart wins So. I saw this this morning Sportiko published you NBA team evaluations. How much your WNBA team's worth?

Not much?

Not much?

If you want to see the Caitlin Clark effect here. It is bad team, small market and they are worth more the Indiana Fever, than the Los Angeles Sparks, the Dallas, Atlanta, Washington teams, and almost equal to a team in Chicago. This is a bad team in a small market. I feel like I'm watching a little bit like when Tiger Woods a little bit came to the PGA tour. Suddenly within a year two or three, all the purses, all the golf purses started to explode. It lifted all boats. But the difference is Bryce Harper to baseball, Tiger Woods to golf. Let's say Connor McGregor to the UFC. They did not save those sports. Golf was making money, Baseball's always made a ton of money. Dana White and UFC were making money. It did, however, illuminate those sports to a greater level. More people watched, more people were interested. But the WNBA, since its inception in nineteen ninety six, I think ninety seven was the first year they played, they've lost big money every year. The losses aren't as sizable last year in the previous seven or eight years, but they were like ten million dollars losing money. In fact, so much so that in twenty eighteen teams moved to smaller arenas. In a city of ten million people, New York, the Liberty were averaging seventeen hundred people a game. The WNBA Finals this past year got seven hundred thousand viewers, about half of what the newly formed UFL Championship game got. Caitlin Clark, to some degree, is saving the WNBA. This is not Connor McGregor. The UFC was ascending and profitable. This is not Bryce Harper to baseball. Teams in baseball are and remain flush with cash. This wasn't exactly Tiger Woods to golf. You still had legendary tournaments like the US Open, the British Open, the Masters, that people watch and coveted. That's not so with the WNBA. It is an incredibly harsh truth. This league was in some trouble. They weren't making money, they were downsized and arenas. Nobody's watching the final. And it has been totally subsidized, not sort of, kind of remotely, totally subsidized by the NBA. But that's okay, That is okay. Lots of businesses have to be subsid Lots of businesses need a catalyst to take them from nonprofit to big profit. But never forget this. This is the Caitlyn Clark effect. She may not be good enough to be on the Olympic team, but she is easily the greatest player without even playing half a season. She is the greatest player for business in the history of the league. And it's not close. These valuations all throw it out there, will be worth three times this much. Okay, so right now, the Indian Fever's worth ninety million and they've been around for years. These will triple, These will triple. Within twenty four months, the evaluations of these teams will triple. The LAS Vegas as is will be worse somewhere in the three hundred. Think I'm crazy. It's amazing what Beckham and Messi did to the MLS. They got that big Apple TV contract. It's amazing what a star can do. It's okay that it was subsidized by the WNB. It's okay that it wasn't a big profit center. A lot of companies need a catalyst. Well, let's not kid ourselves here. Caitlin Clark is easily the greatest player in that league's history in terms of business. And the only reason these lights are on in this studio is not sports, it's business. J Mac, we have quite a show today. Tom Brady will be stopping by in a couple of hours. Did you see the story where Justin Fields is struggling a little in Pittsburgh?

If you want to see the Caitlin Clark effect here. It is bad team, small market and they are worth more the Indiana Fever, than the Los Angeles Sparks, the Dallas, Atlanta, Washington teams, and almost equal to a team in Chicago. This is a bad team in a small market. I feel like I'm watching a little bit like when Tiger Woods a little bit came to the PGA tour. Suddenly within a year two or three, all the purses, all the golf purses started to explode. It lifted all boats. But the difference is Bryce Harper to baseball, Tiger Woods to golf. Let's say Connor McGregor to the UFC. They did not save those sports. Golf was making money, Baseball's always made a ton of money. Dana White and UFC were making money. It did, however, illuminate those sports to a greater level. More people watched, more people were interested. But the WNBA, since its inception in nineteen ninety six, I think ninety seven was the first year they played, they've lost big money every year. The losses aren't as sizable last year in the previous seven or eight years, but they were like ten million dollars losing money. In fact, so much so that in twenty eighteen teams moved to smaller arenas. In a city of ten million people, New York, the Liberty were averaging seventeen hundred people a game. The WNBA Finals this past year got seven hundred thousand viewers, about half of what the newly formed UFL Championship game got. Caitlin Clark, to some degree, is saving the WNBA. This is not Connor McGregor. The UFC was ascending and profitable. This is not Bryce Harper to baseball. Teams in baseball are and remain flush with cash. This wasn't exactly Tiger Woods to golf. You still had legendary tournaments like the US Open, the British Open, the Masters, that people watch and coveted. That's not so with the WNBA. It is an incredibly harsh truth. This league was in some trouble. They weren't making money, they were downsized and arenas. Nobody's watching the final. And it has been totally subsidized, not sort of, kind of remotely, totally subsidized by the NBA. But that's okay, That is okay. Lots of businesses have to be subsid Lots of businesses need a catalyst to take them from nonprofit to big profit. But never forget this. This is the Caitlyn Clark effect. She may not be good enough to be on the Olympic team, but she is easily the greatest player without even playing half a season. She is the greatest player for business in the history of the league. And it's not close. These valuations all throw it out there, will be worth three times this much. Okay, so right now, the Indian Fever's worth ninety million and they've been around for years. These will triple, These will triple. Within twenty four months, the evaluations of these teams will triple. The LAS Vegas as is will be worse somewhere in the three hundred. Think I'm crazy. It's amazing what Beckham and Messi did to the MLS. They got that big Apple TV contract. It's amazing what a star can do. It's okay that it was subsidized by the WNB. It's okay that it wasn't a big profit center. A lot of companies need a catalyst. Well, let's not kid ourselves here. Caitlin Clark is easily the greatest player in that league's history in terms of business. And the only reason these lights are on in this studio is not sports, it's business. J Mac, we have quite a show today. Tom Brady will be stopping by in a couple of hours. Did you see the story where Justin Fields is struggling a little in Pittsburgh?

Oh yeah, so terrible to see that Justin Fields struggling in a defensive situation in Pittsburgh with Mike Tomlin as the head coach. We'll see no quarterbacks have been able to succeed there since Big Ben.

Oh yeah, so terrible to see that Justin Fields struggling in a defensive situation in Pittsburgh with Mike Tomlin as the head coach. We'll see no quarterbacks have been able to succeed there since Big Ben.

Well even big Ben in his latter years. It was that's fair to say. It wasn't as good as you know. They didn't have any big wins as last several years against no big playoff wins, no better rough go. Well, it's a defensive culture. It's why Green Bay dos quarterbacks. Well, it could be Mike Hongren, Mike McCarthy, Matt Lafleur. It's an offensive culture. Packer fans don't like that their defense usually underachieves, but they're on the right side of the ball going forward.

Well even big Ben in his latter years. It was that's fair to say. It wasn't as good as you know. They didn't have any big wins as last several years against no big playoff wins, no better rough go. Well, it's a defensive culture. It's why Green Bay dos quarterbacks. Well, it could be Mike Hongren, Mike McCarthy, Matt Lafleur. It's an offensive culture. Packer fans don't like that their defense usually underachieves, but they're on the right side of the ball going forward.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Hey, it's me Rob Parker.

Hey, it's me Rob Parker.

Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, We've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, So do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the iHeartRadio app or where wherever you get your podcast.

Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, We've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, So do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the iHeartRadio app or where wherever you get your podcast.

So I thought this was interesting, and we'll go to Pittsburgh less than one hour from now. Talk to Mark Coboli, who wrote this story this morning that Justin Fields, the former electric, often dynamic quarterback for the Chicago Bears who was moved for only a six round pick to be the backup in Pittsburgh, has struggled early and Russell Wilson, as we predicted, has completely separated. First quarterback first team QB one snaps has been accurate. It's according to Koboli, and we'll go to him live in an hour. It's not terribly close. That's what we thought. And here's the thing with Justin Fields, it's a cautionary tale. Got to learn from your mistakes right in life. Is that you can see him peel off a forty yard run once a game or make a big time throw down the field. You see the gifts, but quarterback is the only position in a mayor and sports that much of the greatness you can't see Brady Breeze, Peyton Manning, pre snap movement, audibling in the yards and out of trouble. That accounts for about thirty to forty percent of this game. The ability for a quarterback to feel the game and see the game. This has been my knock on Justin Fields and Trevor Wilson, both athletic both move well, both good arms. I don't think they can see the field. I think people are open. Highlights and tape have shown it and they can't see it. By the way, not a huge Rock Purty fan, but both Kyle Shanahan and Sam Dartle when he was a Niner, both had publicly said Brock Purdy at the line of scrimmage, pre snap and post snap, really sees the field, really gets himself in the yards and out of trouble. That is a big chunk of this league. So athleticable ability can really be fools go because you can see it all and Justin Fields is an unbelievable athlete. Yet he was over the last three seasons the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. He couldn't audible out of sacks. And you say, oh, it's the offensive line. Did you know last year by the end of the year, PFF ranked the Bears offensive line above the Niners. I watched the games. It was better, and it was in the same class as the Kansas City Chiefs. The difference is Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purty audible out of sacks. This is what I've said with Justin Fields and Zach Wilson. I can see the talent, you can see why they're drafted high first round. Both have live arms, both moved really well. I mean even the report this week in Denver, Zack Wilson has the best arm, not bow Nicks, Zack Wilson easily the lively arm. But so much of playing quarterback is what you don't see, and that's where Russell is going to have an advantage over Justin Fields.

So I thought this was interesting, and we'll go to Pittsburgh less than one hour from now. Talk to Mark Coboli, who wrote this story this morning that Justin Fields, the former electric, often dynamic quarterback for the Chicago Bears who was moved for only a six round pick to be the backup in Pittsburgh, has struggled early and Russell Wilson, as we predicted, has completely separated. First quarterback first team QB one snaps has been accurate. It's according to Koboli, and we'll go to him live in an hour. It's not terribly close. That's what we thought. And here's the thing with Justin Fields, it's a cautionary tale. Got to learn from your mistakes right in life. Is that you can see him peel off a forty yard run once a game or make a big time throw down the field. You see the gifts, but quarterback is the only position in a mayor and sports that much of the greatness you can't see Brady Breeze, Peyton Manning, pre snap movement, audibling in the yards and out of trouble. That accounts for about thirty to forty percent of this game. The ability for a quarterback to feel the game and see the game. This has been my knock on Justin Fields and Trevor Wilson, both athletic both move well, both good arms. I don't think they can see the field. I think people are open. Highlights and tape have shown it and they can't see it. By the way, not a huge Rock Purty fan, but both Kyle Shanahan and Sam Dartle when he was a Niner, both had publicly said Brock Purdy at the line of scrimmage, pre snap and post snap, really sees the field, really gets himself in the yards and out of trouble. That is a big chunk of this league. So athleticable ability can really be fools go because you can see it all and Justin Fields is an unbelievable athlete. Yet he was over the last three seasons the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. He couldn't audible out of sacks. And you say, oh, it's the offensive line. Did you know last year by the end of the year, PFF ranked the Bears offensive line above the Niners. I watched the games. It was better, and it was in the same class as the Kansas City Chiefs. The difference is Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purty audible out of sacks. This is what I've said with Justin Fields and Zach Wilson. I can see the talent, you can see why they're drafted high first round. Both have live arms, both moved really well. I mean even the report this week in Denver, Zack Wilson has the best arm, not bow Nicks, Zack Wilson easily the lively arm. But so much of playing quarterback is what you don't see, and that's where Russell is going to have an advantage over Justin Fields.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noone Easter, not a em Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noone Easter, not a em Pacific.

Well, the man needs no introduction. He is now at Fox. You're going to see a lot of him. His process has changed. Tom Brady, seven time Super Bowl champ, five time MVP, It's great to finally see in person.

Well, the man needs no introduction. He is now at Fox. You're going to see a lot of him. His process has changed. Tom Brady, seven time Super Bowl champ, five time MVP, It's great to finally see in person.

Same here.

Same here.

I know I ended up on one of your documentaries saying stuff that I regret now.

I know I ended up on one of your documentaries saying stuff that I regret now.

Now that we're teammates.

Now that we're teammates.

Now we are teammates, I apologize for everything. Tom. Let me start with this. You're a process guy, and my wife and I talk about this. She's a project woman. I'm a processed guy. She likes big projects, and I think to myself, you were the ultimate process guy, like Saban Belichick, you like your process people, and the process goes Yeah, did you wake up a week after and think maybe I should play golf? Like was losing the process? Has it been a challenge?

Now we are teammates, I apologize for everything. Tom. Let me start with this. You're a process guy, and my wife and I talk about this. She's a project woman. I'm a processed guy. She likes big projects, and I think to myself, you were the ultimate process guy, like Saban Belichick, you like your process people, and the process goes Yeah, did you wake up a week after and think maybe I should play golf? Like was losing the process? Has it been a challenge?

I think anytime you transition into something new there's a bit of a challenge because you're so programmed and wired to do things a certain way. As an athlete, there's so much physical prep that goes along with your life. Even an offseason, I was always thinking about was I prepared? If there was a game on Sunday? Could I play? And I would think about that in April, in May and June and July, and I would watch other great athletes. Floyd Mayweather comes to mind, like he always seemed ready to go. If someone called him, say hey, you got a fight on Saturday, he'd be like cool. And I think that's how I always physically train my body. Mentally, it was a little bit different because there was old game plan element to the process or preparing for the games. So I think the biggest challenge for me is I just the structure is very different now in my life because you don't have the routine. But I actually believe that the broadcasting at Fox this year, for the first time will give me a lot more structure like I'm used to, and I really actually will look forward to.

I think anytime you transition into something new there's a bit of a challenge because you're so programmed and wired to do things a certain way. As an athlete, there's so much physical prep that goes along with your life. Even an offseason, I was always thinking about was I prepared? If there was a game on Sunday? Could I play? And I would think about that in April, in May and June and July, and I would watch other great athletes. Floyd Mayweather comes to mind, like he always seemed ready to go. If someone called him, say hey, you got a fight on Saturday, he'd be like cool. And I think that's how I always physically train my body. Mentally, it was a little bit different because there was old game plan element to the process or preparing for the games. So I think the biggest challenge for me is I just the structure is very different now in my life because you don't have the routine. But I actually believe that the broadcasting at Fox this year, for the first time will give me a lot more structure like I'm used to, and I really actually will look forward to.

That in the booth this weekend UFL Championship, So it's kind of your first taste of doing it. You've also been probably a half dozen times that I'm aware of, been practicing upstairs. So I want you to take me from the first time you put on a headset upstairs, Yeah, until the UFL game and your last you may have practiced today. When you watch the tapes, do you notice the difference with you?

That in the booth this weekend UFL Championship, So it's kind of your first taste of doing it. You've also been probably a half dozen times that I'm aware of, been practicing upstairs. So I want you to take me from the first time you put on a headset upstairs, Yeah, until the UFL game and your last you may have practiced today. When you watch the tapes, do you notice the difference with you?

Yeah, I would say yes, And I also think there's still so much more room for improvement. And I just it's almost like when I was a player, I never felt like I did things the right way. There were games where I'd go in afterward and think, God, I'm the worst quarterback in the NFL, Like, why would they even want me to play quarterback for this team? And I'm sure I'm going to feel that way here at Fox where I finish a game and I go, God, I didn't even give them what they wanted. And it's a very challenging thing in your own mind. I have asked a few people, how do you know that you did a good job.

Yeah, I would say yes, And I also think there's still so much more room for improvement. And I just it's almost like when I was a player, I never felt like I did things the right way. There were games where I'd go in afterward and think, God, I'm the worst quarterback in the NFL, Like, why would they even want me to play quarterback for this team? And I'm sure I'm going to feel that way here at Fox where I finish a game and I go, God, I didn't even give them what they wanted. And it's a very challenging thing in your own mind. I have asked a few people, how do you know that you did a good job.

And I think for me, so much of this is going to come down to.

And I think for me, so much of this is going to come down to.

The preparation and did I feel like I was prepared that I feel like our crew was prepared, that I give them the best over the course of the week so that we could give ourselves the best opportunity to be successful for the fans, because really the game is the show. We're there to add our take on it in our analysis, but it's also did we feel like we added to the broadcast? And from my standpoint, I'm going to work as hard as I can the process of it, as you talked about earlier, to make sure that I do deliver, because I don't want to let anyone down. I don't want to let the people with Fox are down, and I certainly don't want to watch let the great NFL fans down either.

The preparation and did I feel like I was prepared that I feel like our crew was prepared, that I give them the best over the course of the week so that we could give ourselves the best opportunity to be successful for the fans, because really the game is the show. We're there to add our take on it in our analysis, but it's also did we feel like we added to the broadcast? And from my standpoint, I'm going to work as hard as I can the process of it, as you talked about earlier, to make sure that I do deliver, because I don't want to let anyone down. I don't want to let the people with Fox are down, and I certainly don't want to watch let the great NFL fans down either.

Well, both quarterback and broadcaster takes the ability to compartmentalize and then quickly pull things and put them in a game or so It's very similar is that when you went into a football game, there were things that you practiced, waited to see that may not happen until the fourth quarter, and then you have to take that film study fourth quarter loud crowd can't hear and implement it. That's what broadcasting is. I've said this before, Tom, I think what you're doing is the hardest thing in sports. Two hundred times for eight seconds. Be smart. Yeah, and if you have one, if you I kick it all the time.

Well, both quarterback and broadcaster takes the ability to compartmentalize and then quickly pull things and put them in a game or so It's very similar is that when you went into a football game, there were things that you practiced, waited to see that may not happen until the fourth quarter, and then you have to take that film study fourth quarter loud crowd can't hear and implement it. That's what broadcasting is. I've said this before, Tom, I think what you're doing is the hardest thing in sports. Two hundred times for eight seconds. Be smart. Yeah, and if you have one, if you I kick it all the time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

People are just used to it.

People are just used to it.

You're not to do pretty good.

You're not to do pretty good.

I'm fun done.

I'm fun done.

Fine?

Fine?

Are there nerves for Tom Brady? You haven't had nerves forever?

Are there nerves for Tom Brady? You haven't had nerves forever?

Right? Your I always had nerves because it's a performance.

Right? Your I always had nerves because it's a performance.

When you go out there on the field and you would feel like you put a lot into it. There was probably anxiousness and there were nerves because you the outcomes weren't guaranteed for any of us. You'd go into a game, you'd feel like, oh, we got a great advantage this week. They got a few of their guys out. We're playing at home. This is exactly the game we want. Next thing, you know, it's middle of the third quarter and it's a dogfight. So it's you never really know how sports are going to go, which was why we all tune in. We tune in because the outcomes are very unexpected, which if they're unexpected, there's a chance of winning and losing, and because of that, there's anxiety and there's nerves going into every single one of those games. So the only way that I knew how to combat the nerves and the anxiousness of the game was to prepare. So I was someone that got really, really good at my preparation. Over the course of my career, I got really efficient with my time, especially as you added a lot of the things to your life like children.

When you go out there on the field and you would feel like you put a lot into it. There was probably anxiousness and there were nerves because you the outcomes weren't guaranteed for any of us. You'd go into a game, you'd feel like, oh, we got a great advantage this week. They got a few of their guys out. We're playing at home. This is exactly the game we want. Next thing, you know, it's middle of the third quarter and it's a dogfight. So it's you never really know how sports are going to go, which was why we all tune in. We tune in because the outcomes are very unexpected, which if they're unexpected, there's a chance of winning and losing, and because of that, there's anxiety and there's nerves going into every single one of those games. So the only way that I knew how to combat the nerves and the anxiousness of the game was to prepare. So I was someone that got really, really good at my preparation. Over the course of my career, I got really efficient with my time, especially as you added a lot of the things to your life like children.

You know, that's a big addition.

You know, that's a big addition.

So it's how can I prepare knowing that I have other things going on in my life and I really want to be efficient with my time to make sure the time I am spending preparing is really worth it. I'm working on the things that are actually going to add to the broadcast rather than I'm just working on things to work on them that will actually never come up.

So it's how can I prepare knowing that I have other things going on in my life and I really want to be efficient with my time to make sure the time I am spending preparing is really worth it. I'm working on the things that are actually going to add to the broadcast rather than I'm just working on things to work on them that will actually never come up.

I'll throw a theory at you, and I've used you as an example on this show. On Matt Stafford offensive lines matter. I believe offensive line play has deteriorated due to the CBA. They practice less. I think it's the most cohesive unit in there practicing less outside of the Lions. I'm not sure there's a great O line in the league right now. Their feels to me very powerful. What worries me. I saw this with Russell first year in Denver. I saw it with Aaron first year with the Jets. The reason I think you succeeded in Stafford did and Kirk Cousins will because older quarterbacks are a bit more reliant on guard center guard protection.

I'll throw a theory at you, and I've used you as an example on this show. On Matt Stafford offensive lines matter. I believe offensive line play has deteriorated due to the CBA. They practice less. I think it's the most cohesive unit in there practicing less outside of the Lions. I'm not sure there's a great O line in the league right now. Their feels to me very powerful. What worries me. I saw this with Russell first year in Denver. I saw it with Aaron first year with the Jets. The reason I think you succeeded in Stafford did and Kirk Cousins will because older quarterbacks are a bit more reliant on guard center guard protection.

It's very important.

It's very important.

In Tampa you got Tristan Wurf's Yep, you were very good guard center guard, sure, and you got very comfortable quickly. That's what I worry about the Jets is that two things are converging. Tom.

In Tampa you got Tristan Wurf's Yep, you were very good guard center guard, sure, and you got very comfortable quickly. That's what I worry about the Jets is that two things are converging. Tom.

Yeah.

Yeah.

One they've got all new offensive linemen and two many are older. An older offensive linemen don't play in the preseason anymore.

One they've got all new offensive linemen and two many are older. An older offensive linemen don't play in the preseason anymore.

Yeah, I don't worry about Aaron, But to.

Yeah, I don't worry about Aaron, But to.

Take me through that, you went through it with Tampa, where you had to move it when you wanted grownk It may have been for blocking as much as catching.

Take me through that, you went through it with Tampa, where you had to move it when you wanted grownk It may have been for blocking as much as catching.

Sure.

Sure.

Yeah, there's so many nuances to the success of an offense. I don't think you can ever make a bad O line good, and over the course of my career, I always I believe I played with the best offensive line coach in the history of the NFL and Dante Scarnecia, and regardless of who we drafted free agents, we got free agents in the draft, free agents, in free NFL free agency, veteran free agency.

Yeah, there's so many nuances to the success of an offense. I don't think you can ever make a bad O line good, and over the course of my career, I always I believe I played with the best offensive line coach in the history of the NFL and Dante Scarnecia, and regardless of who we drafted free agents, we got free agents in the draft, free agents, in free NFL free agency, veteran free agency.

We always pieced.

We always pieced.

Together a unit that played really well to get other and all of them may not have been Pro bowlers, but as a unit, they played as well as any team in the league. And that was tough challenge for every D line you would play, You'd go, Okay, I know they're gonna block us. Well, I know Brady's the ball is gonna come out quick. I know they're gonna have good plans. When we play man coverage, they're gonna have man beaters. I know when we get into Redder, they're gonna challenge us. They're gonna have some different schemes in there in the run game that we're gonna prepare for. We put a lot of pressure on the defense all the time to do things the right way as opposed to the five the offensive linemen having a draft first round pick, first round pick, first round pick to put together a great o line, so.

Together a unit that played really well to get other and all of them may not have been Pro bowlers, but as a unit, they played as well as any team in the league. And that was tough challenge for every D line you would play, You'd go, Okay, I know they're gonna block us. Well, I know Brady's the ball is gonna come out quick. I know they're gonna have good plans. When we play man coverage, they're gonna have man beaters. I know when we get into Redder, they're gonna challenge us. They're gonna have some different schemes in there in the run game that we're gonna prepare for. We put a lot of pressure on the defense all the time to do things the right way as opposed to the five the offensive linemen having a draft first round pick, first round pick, first round pick to put together a great o line, so.

So much of great on line play.

So much of great on line play.

It's a great on line coach, and I think we could talk about there's not a lot of great on line coaches anymore.

It's a great on line coach, and I think we could talk about there's not a lot of great on line coaches anymore.

Yeah, No, Jimmy Johnson has said for years. Yeah, there's about six good ones on the planet at any one time.

Yeah, No, Jimmy Johnson has said for years. Yeah, there's about six good ones on the planet at any one time.

Absolutely, And there's probably about six eight good quarterbacks on the planet. And there's probably about six six to eight good head coaches, and there's about six to eight good defensive coordinators. So to try to get all the things right, which is why the NFL is so competitive in my mind, because there's so many challenges to keeping people together.

Absolutely, And there's probably about six eight good quarterbacks on the planet. And there's probably about six six to eight good head coaches, and there's about six to eight good defensive coordinators. So to try to get all the things right, which is why the NFL is so competitive in my mind, because there's so many challenges to keeping people together.

Because when you.

Because when you.

Have a good old line and everyone says, oh, this is the first rank or second rank or third ranked offensive line, well, in free agency, all the teams come in, they pick those guys out of that team and say, right, well, we were gonna bring you from the Patriots to the Bengals, We're gonna be from the Patriots to the Chargers because they knew that our guys were developed really well. Also, so we would lose a lot of offensive line and you'd have to replace them, and you'd have to develop them.

Have a good old line and everyone says, oh, this is the first rank or second rank or third ranked offensive line, well, in free agency, all the teams come in, they pick those guys out of that team and say, right, well, we were gonna bring you from the Patriots to the Bengals, We're gonna be from the Patriots to the Chargers because they knew that our guys were developed really well. Also, so we would lose a lot of offensive line and you'd have to replace them, and you'd have to develop them.

And I think one of the pet peeves I have.

And I think one of the pet peeves I have.

One of the great things I would say in my experience with the Patriots was every player was coached even if you were on the practice squad, even if the scout team offense was out there. Dante Scarneki was coaching the scout team offensive line as if it was the starting offensive line.

One of the great things I would say in my experience with the Patriots was every player was coached even if you were on the practice squad, even if the scout team offense was out there. Dante Scarneki was coaching the scout team offensive line as if it was the starting offensive line.

And I think a lot.

And I think a lot.

Of coaches coach, hey, I'll just coach the starter, maybe a few backups, as opposed to I'm gonna coach every single position. So when people go down, we're gonna fill those guys in and they're gonna they're gonna just step in and play a great role for us because they're gonna know all the calls. They're gonna know the timing, they're gonna know the precision, they're gonna know exactly what we want to do on every play. So that was the development part, and I think, yeah, the CBA changed a lot. There's less practice time. I don't necessarily love that. There's a lot of areas of say the techniques and fundamentals, which because you don't have the time tackling, run after catch. You know, special teams has basically been eliminated from the NFL with a lot of the rules, so that saves some time, but you know, you lose the kicking game.

Of coaches coach, hey, I'll just coach the starter, maybe a few backups, as opposed to I'm gonna coach every single position. So when people go down, we're gonna fill those guys in and they're gonna they're gonna just step in and play a great role for us because they're gonna know all the calls. They're gonna know the timing, they're gonna know the precision, they're gonna know exactly what we want to do on every play. So that was the development part, and I think, yeah, the CBA changed a lot. There's less practice time. I don't necessarily love that. There's a lot of areas of say the techniques and fundamentals, which because you don't have the time tackling, run after catch. You know, special teams has basically been eliminated from the NFL with a lot of the rules, so that saves some time, but you know, you lose the kicking game.

Parts of the kicking game so I.

Parts of the kicking game so I.

Think there's a lot of because we don't have as much time on task, there's a lot of less time for us to develop the techniques and fundamentals that these players need to be successful. So they go to the outside and they look for coaches in the offseason to develop some of those things.

Think there's a lot of because we don't have as much time on task, there's a lot of less time for us to develop the techniques and fundamentals that these players need to be successful. So they go to the outside and they look for coaches in the offseason to develop some of those things.

Some of it works.

Some of it works.

It may work as an individual, but at the same time, football as a team sport. So I would see quarterbacks throwing to receivers that weren't their receivers. Well, that's fine. It might be good for you, but it's not good for let's say the team.

It may work as an individual, but at the same time, football as a team sport. So I would see quarterbacks throwing to receivers that weren't their receivers. Well, that's fine. It might be good for you, but it's not good for let's say the team.

That's right, you know, you know I I But before I get into some other stuff, I'm going to be a little bit of a fan on my last question. But I want to ask you this. I have another theory, Yeah, is that this is subconscious and you were able in better spot to handle this. But I have been arguing for years that number one receivers there's a duality to it. They're great, Randy Moss is great, But subconsciously, even a great quarterback will feel to some degree he's indebted to get him the ball always. And I thought when Dak Prescott broke into the League. He was better without the great des Brian the pressure left. Sometimes receivers are verbal, yah, and I'd stuff on Diggs. I would take on any team, but he's verbal. Brandon Ayucu is verbal on his social Sure, and I want you to go to that is I have argued now justin Jefferson to me is too good not to sign Sure. But I have always had this feeling and if you could subconsciously when Randy was there, he rewarded you. But was there a feeling? Sometimes where's Randy?

That's right, you know, you know I I But before I get into some other stuff, I'm going to be a little bit of a fan on my last question. But I want to ask you this. I have another theory, Yeah, is that this is subconscious and you were able in better spot to handle this. But I have been arguing for years that number one receivers there's a duality to it. They're great, Randy Moss is great, But subconsciously, even a great quarterback will feel to some degree he's indebted to get him the ball always. And I thought when Dak Prescott broke into the League. He was better without the great des Brian the pressure left. Sometimes receivers are verbal, yah, and I'd stuff on Diggs. I would take on any team, but he's verbal. Brandon Ayucu is verbal on his social Sure, and I want you to go to that is I have argued now justin Jefferson to me is too good not to sign Sure. But I have always had this feeling and if you could subconsciously when Randy was there, he rewarded you. But was there a feeling? Sometimes where's Randy?

Sure?

Sure?

I want to make sure Randy's happy?

I want to make sure Randy's happy?

Sure?

Sure?

Yeah, you always felt like you had to do something to get them the ball. And if they hadn't touched the ball in practice, I'd make sure. O God, you know, hey, I got to get so and so ball because I want him to keep on and hard and I want him to be ready for when the ball does come and you know, you see it a lot in NFL games.

Yeah, you always felt like you had to do something to get them the ball. And if they hadn't touched the ball in practice, I'd make sure. O God, you know, hey, I got to get so and so ball because I want him to keep on and hard and I want him to be ready for when the ball does come and you know, you see it a lot in NFL games.

Been practicing a lot of these games.

Been practicing a lot of these games.

I want to see the best players touch the ball early so they can break a sweat, they can get into the flow of the game. And good coaches do that when you script plays at the beginning of the game. You're saying, Okay, you're the Niners coach. I'm going to make sure McCaffrey touches it either first or second in the game. I want to make sure Deebo Samuel touches it first or second in the game. I'm going to throw it to him quick somehow. I know the ball is going to be in his hands so he can do something with it. I want to get him into the flow. So we would always try to script so that everybody would feel like they were in the flow of the game. The last thing you want is your number one receiver to go two and a half quarters into a game and not see a ball to get one target, because he's going to get discouraged. He's got to go out there. He's got to break the huddle. He's got to run out twenty five yards to his alignment. He's got to run down the field as fast as he can try to get open.

I want to see the best players touch the ball early so they can break a sweat, they can get into the flow of the game. And good coaches do that when you script plays at the beginning of the game. You're saying, Okay, you're the Niners coach. I'm going to make sure McCaffrey touches it either first or second in the game. I want to make sure Deebo Samuel touches it first or second in the game. I'm going to throw it to him quick somehow. I know the ball is going to be in his hands so he can do something with it. I want to get him into the flow. So we would always try to script so that everybody would feel like they were in the flow of the game. The last thing you want is your number one receiver to go two and a half quarters into a game and not see a ball to get one target, because he's going to get discouraged. He's got to go out there. He's got to break the huddle. He's got to run out twenty five yards to his alignment. He's got to run down the field as fast as he can try to get open.

He's got to run back to the huddle. It's a lot of effort.

He's got to run back to the huddle. It's a lot of effort.

That he's putting into not getting the ball. Now, when you can reward that guy early in the game and fair, Okay, where's he at? How do I get him the ball? Certain guys that are really easy to get the ball too. Certainly, the guys that line up closer to the ball, the tight ends and the slot receivers, there's way more route options for them. It's way easier to get them the ball because they can go to basically every part of the field. Whereas that perimeter receiver, he's got the sideline to deal with, he really can't break out. If he breaks out, he's got five or six yards to deal with. A receiver at to the tight end position or in the slot when he breaks out, he's got eighteen yards to deal with, so you have much more space to get him actually the ball. So you know, it wasn't hard to get Welker the ball. It wasn't hard to get Edelman the ball, wasn't hard to get Gronkowski the ball. It was hard to get a perimeter receiver of the ball. If they decide that they want to take a perimeter receiver out of the game, you just roll the.

That he's putting into not getting the ball. Now, when you can reward that guy early in the game and fair, Okay, where's he at? How do I get him the ball? Certain guys that are really easy to get the ball too. Certainly, the guys that line up closer to the ball, the tight ends and the slot receivers, there's way more route options for them. It's way easier to get them the ball because they can go to basically every part of the field. Whereas that perimeter receiver, he's got the sideline to deal with, he really can't break out. If he breaks out, he's got five or six yards to deal with. A receiver at to the tight end position or in the slot when he breaks out, he's got eighteen yards to deal with, so you have much more space to get him actually the ball. So you know, it wasn't hard to get Welker the ball. It wasn't hard to get Edelman the ball, wasn't hard to get Gronkowski the ball. It was hard to get a perimeter receiver of the ball. If they decide that they want to take a perimeter receiver out of the game, you just roll the.

Coverage to him. You can play cover two.

Coverage to him. You can play cover two.

You jam him at the line of scrimmage with someone over the top, and it's very, very difficult to get that guy the ball. But that also gives up a lot of the things, and you've got to be able to take advantage of those things, and that number one receiver has to understand, Okay, they're making concerted effort to take me away. Therefore, my other teammates have to produce when they're playing these coverages.

You jam him at the line of scrimmage with someone over the top, and it's very, very difficult to get that guy the ball. But that also gives up a lot of the things, and you've got to be able to take advantage of those things, and that number one receiver has to understand, Okay, they're making concerted effort to take me away. Therefore, my other teammates have to produce when they're playing these coverages.

Sean McVay years ago did something that it was kind of a Maverick move, kind of baller move. He said, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna play my veteran stars one snap in preseason and people are like, whoa, whoa, Yeah, you're not going to be ready. They want eight and no to start the season. And now people look at it and go, yeah, kind of, I don't want anybody hurt. Now there is a line here because you're gonna want a couple series of snaps. Like, I get it, you don't want to go cold. But it is interesting that I believe, and you have touched on this, that the NFL is the shield and corporate and a lot of these coaches there's a dogma and a rigidity and they just don't want to change stuff, and it's hard to flip the telescope. And I think coaches struggle allowing quarterbacks like you and breeze, it's your offense. Go to the line and call what you see. I think, coach, I think quarterbacks can be over coached at the line of scrimmage, not at practice. Sure you have touched on the fact that you don't think quarterbacks are developing that sort of precense snap. Is some of it the rigidity of coaching, Yeah, okay, so it is.

Sean McVay years ago did something that it was kind of a Maverick move, kind of baller move. He said, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna play my veteran stars one snap in preseason and people are like, whoa, whoa, Yeah, you're not going to be ready. They want eight and no to start the season. And now people look at it and go, yeah, kind of, I don't want anybody hurt. Now there is a line here because you're gonna want a couple series of snaps. Like, I get it, you don't want to go cold. But it is interesting that I believe, and you have touched on this, that the NFL is the shield and corporate and a lot of these coaches there's a dogma and a rigidity and they just don't want to change stuff, and it's hard to flip the telescope. And I think coaches struggle allowing quarterbacks like you and breeze, it's your offense. Go to the line and call what you see. I think, coach, I think quarterbacks can be over coached at the line of scrimmage, not at practice. Sure you have touched on the fact that you don't think quarterbacks are developing that sort of precense snap. Is some of it the rigidity of coaching, Yeah, okay, so it is.

Yeah, and the ability to develop that player to give him the tools so that when he gets to the line of scrimmage and he sees blitz. Okay, if they're blitzing me, these are the two protections I can use when they blitz. These are the two or three routes that I can signal to my receivers that can beat the blitz or vice versa. We have we're anticipating blitz, so we call a play that's gonna protect and nope, they're actually playing a very safe zone. I want to make sure I can get all my players out into the route and I can change the call, the protection and the routes that everybody can get into the defense. So what are you trying to do. You're trying to give the quarterback to really be a field general. Quarterback you got the last swipe at the pencil. You know, the defense can call their play. They're gonna line up. Offense calls a play in huddle, they walk the line scrimmage. Defense calls a play, they adjust to the formation, offense is lined up in they have their call set. It was always my job to say, well, I know what my play is. Now I look at the defense. Okay, I think I know what they're in. Does what I have call? Is it going to work? And that was my judgment and they would have to live and die with my judgment the entire team. Now, I developed the trust within the team, my teammates in the organization to say, Tom, we want you to have that.

Yeah, and the ability to develop that player to give him the tools so that when he gets to the line of scrimmage and he sees blitz. Okay, if they're blitzing me, these are the two protections I can use when they blitz. These are the two or three routes that I can signal to my receivers that can beat the blitz or vice versa. We have we're anticipating blitz, so we call a play that's gonna protect and nope, they're actually playing a very safe zone. I want to make sure I can get all my players out into the route and I can change the call, the protection and the routes that everybody can get into the defense. So what are you trying to do. You're trying to give the quarterback to really be a field general. Quarterback you got the last swipe at the pencil. You know, the defense can call their play. They're gonna line up. Offense calls a play in huddle, they walk the line scrimmage. Defense calls a play, they adjust to the formation, offense is lined up in they have their call set. It was always my job to say, well, I know what my play is. Now I look at the defense. Okay, I think I know what they're in. Does what I have call? Is it going to work? And that was my judgment and they would have to live and die with my judgment the entire team. Now, I developed the trust within the team, my teammates in the organization to say, Tom, we want you to have that.

We trust you.

We trust you.

To have that final swipe at that pencil, but we're not going to snap the ball into Let's say there's a safety blitzing off the right side and I got to run right at the right side, and I know that nobody can block him. I'm not going to snap the ball and run it into the strong safety blitzing and tackle our running back four yards in the backfield. I'd say, okay, if the strong safety's coming on the right and we got to play to the right. What do you want me to do? You want me to run to the left, you want me to check to a pass. Those are the options. That's how I would think about the game. There was always a reason why I did something. If he was blitzing off the left and I wanted to run the right, great, let's snap the ball. Everything was intentional. Yeah, there wasn't a time I would hope that I would have never snapped the ball into a bad defense.

To have that final swipe at that pencil, but we're not going to snap the ball into Let's say there's a safety blitzing off the right side and I got to run right at the right side, and I know that nobody can block him. I'm not going to snap the ball and run it into the strong safety blitzing and tackle our running back four yards in the backfield. I'd say, okay, if the strong safety's coming on the right and we got to play to the right. What do you want me to do? You want me to run to the left, you want me to check to a pass. Those are the options. That's how I would think about the game. There was always a reason why I did something. If he was blitzing off the left and I wanted to run the right, great, let's snap the ball. Everything was intentional. Yeah, there wasn't a time I would hope that I would have never snapped the ball into a bad defense.

Now did I?

Now did I?

Of course I did, because sometimes the defenses wanted to disguise a lot of things they didn't want to show me. Okay, Brady likes to get a great pre snap read. Let's really mess with him. Let's, you know, kind of toggle the safeties back and forth, and we're going to make it challenging for him to really decipher Buffalo. When I played Buffalo, they wouldn't move until after the ball was snapped. So if the safety was coming down on the left, we're on the right.

Of course I did, because sometimes the defenses wanted to disguise a lot of things they didn't want to show me. Okay, Brady likes to get a great pre snap read. Let's really mess with him. Let's, you know, kind of toggle the safeties back and forth, and we're going to make it challenging for him to really decipher Buffalo. When I played Buffalo, they wouldn't move until after the ball was snapped. So if the safety was coming down on the left, we're on the right.

They were going to do it after.

They were going to do it after.

The snap all the time, and they would just play in this little shell defense. Ball be snapped in, here they go, They rotate because every defense has strengths and weaknesses to it.

The snap all the time, and they would just play in this little shell defense. Ball be snapped in, here they go, They rotate because every defense has strengths and weaknesses to it.

My job as a quarterback was always.

My job as a quarterback was always.

To delineate where the strengths and weaknesses were and was the play that I had called was it able to take advantage of the weaknesses of the defense? And if it couldn't, then I was supposed to get to a play that would. And I think that's part of the development that I had as a player, was they gave me the tools to be able to do that, and they gave me the trust over a period of time that I was ultimately going to make the right decision for the team.

To delineate where the strengths and weaknesses were and was the play that I had called was it able to take advantage of the weaknesses of the defense? And if it couldn't, then I was supposed to get to a play that would. And I think that's part of the development that I had as a player, was they gave me the tools to be able to do that, and they gave me the trust over a period of time that I was ultimately going to make the right decision for the team.

Intentional is sometimes can for intensity. Knowing and reading the temperature in the room is important. And there's a story about John Wooden, the late legendary coach, and he was very strict, you know, the pyramid of success, and he felt his team before a championship game was tight, and so he made the decision. He said, all we're doing is dunking at practice today and everybody was having fun, and he sensed the temperature in the room. My team is tight. We gotta have a fun practice. You had what I would view as a highly efficient, don't mess around head coach. Were there times.

Intentional is sometimes can for intensity. Knowing and reading the temperature in the room is important. And there's a story about John Wooden, the late legendary coach, and he was very strict, you know, the pyramid of success, and he felt his team before a championship game was tight, and so he made the decision. He said, all we're doing is dunking at practice today and everybody was having fun, and he sensed the temperature in the room. My team is tight. We gotta have a fun practice. You had what I would view as a highly efficient, don't mess around head coach. Were there times.

That's a polite way to say that.

That's a polite way to say that.

Yes, I'm trying to be very difficult.

Yes, I'm trying to be very difficult.

Good job.

Good job.

I would think you would have to provide the question I'm going to ask, were there times, because of Bill's manner that you felt on a Saturday night when you go into that meeting way too tight? I got a light in this room up a little.

I would think you would have to provide the question I'm going to ask, were there times, because of Bill's manner that you felt on a Saturday night when you go into that meeting way too tight? I got a light in this room up a little.

I think the answer would be no. And I think that's where Bill was actually so great, and no one saw him in those moments like we did and Saturday night we were so prepared and so focused.

I think the answer would be no. And I think that's where Bill was actually so great, and no one saw him in those moments like we did and Saturday night we were so prepared and so focused.

We were the opposite of tight.

We were the opposite of tight.

Really, we were always relaxed because we had the answers to the test.

Really, we were always relaxed because we had the answers to the test.

I knew that.

I knew that.

I went through the call sheet, and let's say we had one hundred and fifty calls on the call sheet. There was a meeting at a squad meeting eight o'clock. I would meet with the quarterbacks starting at six thirty in the offense corner. We'd go through every single play on the call sheet, and we do exactly what we did. Okay, this is a play, this is the run. What's the one thing that could mess this run up?

I went through the call sheet, and let's say we had one hundred and fifty calls on the call sheet. There was a meeting at a squad meeting eight o'clock. I would meet with the quarterbacks starting at six thirty in the offense corner. We'd go through every single play on the call sheet, and we do exactly what we did. Okay, this is a play, this is the run. What's the one thing that could mess this run up?

Oh?

Oh?

A safety blitz off the right side? Okay, great, what do you want to do if that happens? So i'd walk to the line of scrimmage that call, that call was made, I'd break the hood.

A safety blitz off the right side? Okay, great, what do you want to do if that happens? So i'd walk to the line of scrimmage that call, that call was made, I'd break the hood.

I'd look at the line scrimge.

I'd look at the line scrimge.

I'd say, Okay, the only problem I have on this play is if the safety is blitzing off the right side, and then I would just.

I'd say, Okay, the only problem I have on this play is if the safety is blitzing off the right side, and then I would just.

Look for it. Oh and he only did it, let's say five percent of the time.

Look for it. Oh and he only did it, let's say five percent of the time.

So most coaches would just say, I just run the play whatever if they get lucky and call at the same time one for them. And that's not how I played, because that one play could mean everything. So I would say, no, no, no, no. If it's a five percent chance it could happen, what should I do if it happened.

So most coaches would just say, I just run the play whatever if they get lucky and call at the same time one for them. And that's not how I played, because that one play could mean everything. So I would say, no, no, no, no. If it's a five percent chance it could happen, what should I do if it happened.

So we're all on the same page.

So we're all on the same page.

So I would tell the line, Okay, if this guy's is what I'm doing, I'm gonna check to this play called wolf for a called beatle or called python, whatever we wanted to call it. This is what I'm gonna do, or I'm gonna check to a screen Liz rip, I'm gonna change the protection and go to greto or grape. So there was all these different code words what we had that we can get them so quickly because it's hard to do when they're seventy thousand fans, you know, it's hard to do with to communicate to everybody in ten seconds to go from one play to another play. But that's what the continuity allowed us to do over a long period of time. That's what the same coordinator, the similar core group of players could do. The same offensive line coach. Oh yeah, we did that two years ago. Yeah, I like that solution at work. Great, that allows us to win the game.

So I would tell the line, Okay, if this guy's is what I'm doing, I'm gonna check to this play called wolf for a called beatle or called python, whatever we wanted to call it. This is what I'm gonna do, or I'm gonna check to a screen Liz rip, I'm gonna change the protection and go to greto or grape. So there was all these different code words what we had that we can get them so quickly because it's hard to do when they're seventy thousand fans, you know, it's hard to do with to communicate to everybody in ten seconds to go from one play to another play. But that's what the continuity allowed us to do over a long period of time. That's what the same coordinator, the similar core group of players could do. The same offensive line coach. Oh yeah, we did that two years ago. Yeah, I like that solution at work. Great, that allows us to win the game.

Great. We gained confidence in it.

Great. We gained confidence in it.

So that continuity that we had with all of us allowed us to succeed. And those little small percentage chances that they did something or made a call that could beat what we were doing, and I think so much. That's that's what the beautiful part about the sport is. That's the chess game in football. It's not checkers. It's not soccer where everything's reaction, not hockey, not basketball.

So that continuity that we had with all of us allowed us to succeed. And those little small percentage chances that they did something or made a call that could beat what we were doing, and I think so much. That's that's what the beautiful part about the sport is. That's the chess game in football. It's not checkers. It's not soccer where everything's reaction, not hockey, not basketball.

They're all set pieces, they're all they all there's a play.

They're all set pieces, they're all they all there's a play.

And when I looked at the real field generals when I played growing up with where that was John Elway, Dan Reno. Then you got to the Peyton Mannings and Drew Brees and Philip rivers Like, that's all we tried to do. We tried to say, what's the defense doing and how can we beat the defense on every single play? And then we'd come out of the game. That's how we would judge ourselves. Did I make the right call there?

And when I looked at the real field generals when I played growing up with where that was John Elway, Dan Reno. Then you got to the Peyton Mannings and Drew Brees and Philip rivers Like, that's all we tried to do. We tried to say, what's the defense doing and how can we beat the defense on every single play? And then we'd come out of the game. That's how we would judge ourselves. Did I make the right call there?

Not always? Did I make the right throw?

Not always? Did I make the right throw?

Did I snap the ball into a defense that that play would actually work?

Did I snap the ball into a defense that that play would actually work?

This will be really dorky, but I always thought you had a you were the best cold weather thrower because of your torque I'd ever seen. Yeah, didn me you had the best arm. You're the best cold weather thrower, and you made a throw. This is so darky. Chicago bears Soldier field down the left side line the Dion branch, and I was like, does everybody understand what it's like to throw in Chicago? It was terrible.

This will be really dorky, but I always thought you had a you were the best cold weather thrower because of your torque I'd ever seen. Yeah, didn me you had the best arm. You're the best cold weather thrower, and you made a throw. This is so darky. Chicago bears Soldier field down the left side line the Dion branch, and I was like, does everybody understand what it's like to throw in Chicago? It was terrible.

Yeah, we actually called a draw play on there, and I was like, I'm not throwing a draw here. There was only like eleven seconds left in the half and I was like, no, no, these guys can't move out there. And there was a play called toga two goes. One was up the sideline. The safety major right couldn't move off the hash. I kind of looked them inside. I had time because they were pretty tired on defense, and just fired it up the sideline of Dion. We scored a touchdown right before halftime.

Yeah, we actually called a draw play on there, and I was like, I'm not throwing a draw here. There was only like eleven seconds left in the half and I was like, no, no, these guys can't move out there. And there was a play called toga two goes. One was up the sideline. The safety major right couldn't move off the hash. I kind of looked them inside. I had time because they were pretty tired on defense, and just fired it up the sideline of Dion. We scored a touchdown right before halftime.

Windy, cold, snow.

Windy, cold, snow.

It was horrible, but it was perfect.

It was horrible, but it was perfect.

That's the throw of your life. I always think people just don't get the disadvantage a lot of quarterbacks.

That's the throw of your life. I always think people just don't get the disadvantage a lot of quarterbacks.

Foxborough, Yeah, was.

Foxborough, Yeah, was.

Not a great quarterback setting October twentieth.

Not a great quarterback setting October twentieth.

On and I give that credit again to the coaches. We practiced in the bad weather every single day, and so.

On and I give that credit again to the coaches. We practiced in the bad weather every single day, and so.

It was we just got so used to it.

It was we just got so used to it.

I just expected ten to fifteen mile in our wins every time I took the field. I went to domes and I was like, it's like this all the time. And when you look at like dome stats and dome quarterbacks different, there's probably a three or four three to five completion percentage advantage for the dome quarterback.

I just expected ten to fifteen mile in our wins every time I took the field. I went to domes and I was like, it's like this all the time. And when you look at like dome stats and dome quarterbacks different, there's probably a three or four three to five completion percentage advantage for the dome quarterback.

Question, the yards per attempt is going to go up. It's just cleaner football.

Question, the yards per attempt is going to go up. It's just cleaner football.

It's like shooting a basketball and the wind for shooting basketball, you know, at one of the great arenas here. And remember but we were an outdoor sport, so we were going to play in Buffalo. We were going to play off New England. We were going to play in the Metallands, every those three outdoor stadiums in the Northeast.

It's like shooting a basketball and the wind for shooting basketball, you know, at one of the great arenas here. And remember but we were an outdoor sport, so we were going to play in Buffalo. We were going to play off New England. We were going to play in the Metallands, every those three outdoor stadiums in the Northeast.

Then you had the other teams you knew.

Then you had the other teams you knew.

You play, so Bill would just make sure we got out there and played in any condition. I knew exactly what I had to wear in every single climate that we were going to play. I knew I wasn't I didn't have too much on, I didn't have not enough on. I was always had the right amount of handwarmers in my muff just because if it was really cold, I didn't want to have six hand warmers and I want to had one or two.