The Season with Peter Scheger is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. What's Up, Everybody, Welcome to the Season with Peter Schrager. I'm sitting here covered in egg all over my face. I've got crow in my mouth. Last night was a shell lacking of epic proportions. Yes, I'm recording this on a Tuesday morning, and I'm trying not to be knee jerk guy. But after I spent an entire summer on every major podcast, including this one and a national television show, waxing poetic on the New York Jets being a one seed in the AFC and Aaron Rodgers being an MVP, they got the snot kicked out of them. I have this weird internal dialogue, and the internal dialogue starts with fear because the Jets are supposed to be one of these teams that prides themselves on their defense. Where last year with seven wins, they still managed seven wins despite unspeakably bad quarterback play between Trevor Simmey and Tim Boyle, Zach Wilson and whoever else, and the year before they won a bunch of games with Chris Streveler and the motley crew that they had backing up Zach Wilson with a Joe Flacco that was not the version we saw last year in Cleveland. I'm like, if they won those games there and they added to the offensive line, which, by the way, last year suited up twenty different players and had thirteen different combinations, surely they're gonna be much improved because the defense is so dan good. Last night, the defense was awful. They couldn't stop anything. Jordan Mason is an undrafted player at a Georgia Tech. He's been with the Niners for a couple of years. But when Christian McCaffrey's ruled inactive, of people fantasy football fans aside, who are like, oh my gosh, the Jets have this thing in the bag because mccaffery's everything. For Jordan Mason to go twenty eight carries for one hundred and forty nine yards in a touchdown right up the gut on a defense that prides itself on its front seven. All I heard about this summer was how they didn't need Hassan Reddick necessarily. It was a nice to have, not a must have, because they were so loaded in the front seven. Think about their roster as a whole. You're talking about Quinn Williams, who's an All Pro. You're talking about Quincy Williams's brother, who's an All Pro. You're talking about first round picks up and down the roster, whether it be Will McDonald or it be Jermaine Johnson, or in the last couple of years, you've had guys who've been joining the team like Tac McKinley or Javon Kinlaw and then Moseley's a first round pick. I mean, the front seven is supposed to be the strength of the team and they were man handled last night. So my immediate reaction is, look at time of possession, look at the rushing yards, Look at the way on third down the Jets defense couldn't get the Niners off the field. In my imedy reaction, it's like they're not competing with the Chiefs and the Ravens this year. That team isn't. They're not. They might win eight games, they might take care of business against some inferior part they're not. They're not beating the Chiefs of the Ravens. They're certainly not gonna beat any of the AFC East teams. If they're in full swing, like they're not going out there and you're gonna sweep the Bills and the Dolphins, which is what it would take to be the one seed. So I feel foolish, I feel dumb. I feel like I led you on. I feel like I did their preseason game and went to a few practices and got and got duped. And then I then I take a sober moment and I'm like, well, Rogers looked pretty good when he had an opportunity to throw the ball. Garrett Wilson looked damn good. Lazard got a few touches after the initial drop in the first series, and Lazard looked all right, and the offensive line kept Aaron Rodgers upright. And oh yeah, by the way, the forty nine ers are absolutely loaded. They just played the defending NFC champions, who are pissed they lost the Super Bowl, and they played them in their building after a week of build up with everyone else playing, and it was like they just unloaded on them. So the Jets play the Titans on Sunday in Nashville. The Titans, who their head coach, Brian Callahan, I think had the quote of the year when he was basically like if we just took every first down and punted it, we would have won this game. Like that's how down he was about how the offense performed, and he's an offensive coach, Like they should beat the Titans, and then they have a short week and they've got a Patriots team though, want to know, are rather untested, and we're not supposed to be world beaters this year. They should beat them too. So three games in ten days, it's a big ask. And yet, as much as I want to fly off the handle and Jets fans, I hear you, you're listening, I'm trying to be more rational here. They could be two in one heading into October and then we're like, all right, all is good and we're okay the other team across town. I have no positive things to say. Again, really fell for this Giants one hundred thing. Thought it was awesome. Thought it was going to add some mystique to this opening week, that the fans are going to be in a fervor and they're on the least in these new uniforms. You've got lt in the building, you got Sims in the building, You've got Kaughlin, gosh, you've got Bill parcels in the building. You're honoring all these people. You got the NFL to give you a one o'clock start against a Vikings team. Now, I don't think anybody really thinks is going to Super Bowl this year. And they lost. They look terrible, and so much so that Daniel Jones is getting booed at the end of the game. I don't have a sobering thought for Giants fans. I didn't see many positive signs. And I feel for Joe Shane, I really do, because he didn't ask for Hard Knocks cameras to be analyzing every offseason move and as he's being filmed, as they let Saquon Barkley walk, and they let Xavier McKinney walk, and you see Julian Love getting interceptions up there is Seattle and you see what's his name, Leonard Williams absolutely dominating for the for the Seahawks. You start saying, oh, well, we went through all this and we're analyzing it, and well what happened there was all on film brutals start to the season for the Giants. The joke I made on air is that like the pumpkin patches and the hay rides, and the East Coast have not opened yet, like it's an early start to the season. It's right after Labor Day. Like there's a place Hanks that's out in Long Island, like I know it, like they it is not open yet. And in a lot of ways, like Giants fans to the other, season's over and it's before we even can go on pumpkin patches, it's before we can even go on hay rides. Like this, you can't even apple pick yet. Kids are showing up to school in shorts still and the season's over, Like that's that's demoralizing. I don't feel that way. I feel like it's a long season and I've learned long enough that week one is a liar. A lot of times teams lose in week one and then figure a way out to figure things out the rest of the season and they can bounce back. And we never know how seasons go. But Jets I feel about Giants don't feel so hot. Chiefs feel very good about. The other team I picked in the Super Bowl though, were the Packers, And I didn't realize that, you know what their backup quarterbacks and Malik Willison, Sean Clifford. I got to think about all these things, and Jordan Love goes down. Malik Willison, sew and Sean Clifford are not winning them a super Bowl, They're not winning them an MC title. So we got to get Jordan Love back if the Packers are gonna have to fill my NFC championship prediction. At the very least, their offense was moving with Love under center, and I thought that game could have gone either way. Playing in Brazil after a twelve hour flight on a stadium surface that didn't see my ideal. I'm not gonna say that's the version of the Packers or the Eagles we're gonna get. I'm amost gonna say asterisk there. Most impressive teams, Chiefs. I think the way they looked as oppressive, forty nine ers, the way they looked as impressive. I'm gonna throw in the Saints just to come out of the gates the way they did. And then I love Tampa in the NFC South. I love the way that they performed. They came out there and they just lit it up and said everyone's picking the Falcons, look at us. Most disappointing teams Browns, no idea what that was, you know, You're opening on a big stage with Brady in the booth and everyone's watching, and it's a week one game on Fox with that booth and that spotlight, and no other Fox games in that window. So the entire country's getting that. And for you to lay an egg like that with Watson, major disappointment. Giants, major disappointment, Falcons major disappointment. What was that to bring in Cousins? Cousins does not look one hundred percent. That offense looks even more anemic than it did under Arthur Smith last year. Can't be happy with that. And then another disappointing team that you know, not a lot of people are talking about as far as like disappointments because what were we expecting. I don't know, the Bears win, but what the hell was that offense? The Bears offense. I was hoping for fireworks and for lightning and for thunder and for all this stuff, and hard knocks were talking up Caleb. Not a great offensive debut, very concerning. You're not gonna win many games playing that way. And now they've got a Sunday night battle against the Houston Texans. That's four up for down. Some thoughts on New York Brady. Everyone's asking me what you think of Brady? It's a what's it? Is he submitting an Emmy reel based on that performance? Probably not, But it's a long season and he's gonna get better, and I think that there are shades of some glimpses of what he could do. But it's also like, all right, back to the drawing board. If that wasn't the home run out of the Gates that everyone expected, You've got plenty of weeks now to work on it. And I think he's gonna get better every week. And I thought Burke Cahrt was fantastic. And when Brady's you know, talking, it was a blowout game. There wasn't really many opportunities. What do you want to do? You want to bury Deshaun Watson for for sixty minutes? He didn't do that. I'm not making any excuses. We'll see. I enjoyed it, but I also changed the channel because the game was a blowout, and I started watching Seattle Denver and I'm watching Adam Archiletta, and it just tells you like the broadcast matters, but also I want the competitive game. All in all, an amazing week one. You think about the first two primetime games, the one on Thursday night, the one on Friday night, How can you top it? The Sunday Night one was even better. Between the Rams and the Lions, one of my favorite games. I've seen it forever. Just an epic matchup, and I wouldn't be shocked if we see all those two teams squaring off in January. And then last night's Monday Night game just tells you, like, you know, all the hype in the world, you got to go deliver. The biggest upset of the week came from the Patriots. They beat a Bengals team that a lot of people have winning the AFC North. They did it so in a physical fashion and up beat fashion, and in a way that was like, Oh, they're going to compete this year. They're not going to be a walk over. They're not going to lose thirty seven nothing to any teams. They're too proud and they're too disciplined, and they're too well coached. To get an inside look at it. I wanted to bring on one of my favorite guys to play the game, and I guess that I'm excited to have on former Patriots quarterback, but he also has played for just about every other team in the NFL, and he's played with all the greats. Brian Hoyer is our guest after this, with no further ado, I want to bring on our guest, one of my favorite guys in the league. I've covered him for nearly two decades when he was a quarterback in the NFL, and now he's doing a bit of the media game as he's not currently on an NFL roster, and he's been so cool to join us as our Week one reaction, our Week two look ahead, but lots of talk about on teams that he used to play for. The great Brian Hoyer joins us, Brian, what's up? Man?

The Season with Peter Scheger is a production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. What's Up, Everybody, Welcome to the Season with Peter Schrager. I'm sitting here covered in egg all over my face. I've got crow in my mouth. Last night was a shell lacking of epic proportions. Yes, I'm recording this on a Tuesday morning, and I'm trying not to be knee jerk guy. But after I spent an entire summer on every major podcast, including this one and a national television show, waxing poetic on the New York Jets being a one seed in the AFC and Aaron Rodgers being an MVP, they got the snot kicked out of them. I have this weird internal dialogue, and the internal dialogue starts with fear because the Jets are supposed to be one of these teams that prides themselves on their defense. Where last year with seven wins, they still managed seven wins despite unspeakably bad quarterback play between Trevor Simmey and Tim Boyle, Zach Wilson and whoever else, and the year before they won a bunch of games with Chris Streveler and the motley crew that they had backing up Zach Wilson with a Joe Flacco that was not the version we saw last year in Cleveland. I'm like, if they won those games there and they added to the offensive line, which, by the way, last year suited up twenty different players and had thirteen different combinations, surely they're gonna be much improved because the defense is so dan good. Last night, the defense was awful. They couldn't stop anything. Jordan Mason is an undrafted player at a Georgia Tech. He's been with the Niners for a couple of years. But when Christian McCaffrey's ruled inactive, of people fantasy football fans aside, who are like, oh my gosh, the Jets have this thing in the bag because mccaffery's everything. For Jordan Mason to go twenty eight carries for one hundred and forty nine yards in a touchdown right up the gut on a defense that prides itself on its front seven. All I heard about this summer was how they didn't need Hassan Reddick necessarily. It was a nice to have, not a must have, because they were so loaded in the front seven. Think about their roster as a whole. You're talking about Quinn Williams, who's an All Pro. You're talking about Quincy Williams's brother, who's an All Pro. You're talking about first round picks up and down the roster, whether it be Will McDonald or it be Jermaine Johnson, or in the last couple of years, you've had guys who've been joining the team like Tac McKinley or Javon Kinlaw and then Moseley's a first round pick. I mean, the front seven is supposed to be the strength of the team and they were man handled last night. So my immediate reaction is, look at time of possession, look at the rushing yards, Look at the way on third down the Jets defense couldn't get the Niners off the field. In my imedy reaction, it's like they're not competing with the Chiefs and the Ravens this year. That team isn't. They're not. They might win eight games, they might take care of business against some inferior part they're not. They're not beating the Chiefs of the Ravens. They're certainly not gonna beat any of the AFC East teams. If they're in full swing, like they're not going out there and you're gonna sweep the Bills and the Dolphins, which is what it would take to be the one seed. So I feel foolish, I feel dumb. I feel like I led you on. I feel like I did their preseason game and went to a few practices and got and got duped. And then I then I take a sober moment and I'm like, well, Rogers looked pretty good when he had an opportunity to throw the ball. Garrett Wilson looked damn good. Lazard got a few touches after the initial drop in the first series, and Lazard looked all right, and the offensive line kept Aaron Rodgers upright. And oh yeah, by the way, the forty nine ers are absolutely loaded. They just played the defending NFC champions, who are pissed they lost the Super Bowl, and they played them in their building after a week of build up with everyone else playing, and it was like they just unloaded on them. So the Jets play the Titans on Sunday in Nashville. The Titans, who their head coach, Brian Callahan, I think had the quote of the year when he was basically like if we just took every first down and punted it, we would have won this game. Like that's how down he was about how the offense performed, and he's an offensive coach, Like they should beat the Titans, and then they have a short week and they've got a Patriots team though, want to know, are rather untested, and we're not supposed to be world beaters this year. They should beat them too. So three games in ten days, it's a big ask. And yet, as much as I want to fly off the handle and Jets fans, I hear you, you're listening, I'm trying to be more rational here. They could be two in one heading into October and then we're like, all right, all is good and we're okay the other team across town. I have no positive things to say. Again, really fell for this Giants one hundred thing. Thought it was awesome. Thought it was going to add some mystique to this opening week, that the fans are going to be in a fervor and they're on the least in these new uniforms. You've got lt in the building, you got Sims in the building, You've got Kaughlin, gosh, you've got Bill parcels in the building. You're honoring all these people. You got the NFL to give you a one o'clock start against a Vikings team. Now, I don't think anybody really thinks is going to Super Bowl this year. And they lost. They look terrible, and so much so that Daniel Jones is getting booed at the end of the game. I don't have a sobering thought for Giants fans. I didn't see many positive signs. And I feel for Joe Shane, I really do, because he didn't ask for Hard Knocks cameras to be analyzing every offseason move and as he's being filmed, as they let Saquon Barkley walk, and they let Xavier McKinney walk, and you see Julian Love getting interceptions up there is Seattle and you see what's his name, Leonard Williams absolutely dominating for the for the Seahawks. You start saying, oh, well, we went through all this and we're analyzing it, and well what happened there was all on film brutals start to the season for the Giants. The joke I made on air is that like the pumpkin patches and the hay rides, and the East Coast have not opened yet, like it's an early start to the season. It's right after Labor Day. Like there's a place Hanks that's out in Long Island, like I know it, like they it is not open yet. And in a lot of ways, like Giants fans to the other, season's over and it's before we even can go on pumpkin patches, it's before we can even go on hay rides. Like this, you can't even apple pick yet. Kids are showing up to school in shorts still and the season's over, Like that's that's demoralizing. I don't feel that way. I feel like it's a long season and I've learned long enough that week one is a liar. A lot of times teams lose in week one and then figure a way out to figure things out the rest of the season and they can bounce back. And we never know how seasons go. But Jets I feel about Giants don't feel so hot. Chiefs feel very good about. The other team I picked in the Super Bowl though, were the Packers, And I didn't realize that, you know what their backup quarterbacks and Malik Willison, Sean Clifford. I got to think about all these things, and Jordan Love goes down. Malik Willison, sew and Sean Clifford are not winning them a super Bowl, They're not winning them an MC title. So we got to get Jordan Love back if the Packers are gonna have to fill my NFC championship prediction. At the very least, their offense was moving with Love under center, and I thought that game could have gone either way. Playing in Brazil after a twelve hour flight on a stadium surface that didn't see my ideal. I'm not gonna say that's the version of the Packers or the Eagles we're gonna get. I'm amost gonna say asterisk there. Most impressive teams, Chiefs. I think the way they looked as oppressive, forty nine ers, the way they looked as impressive. I'm gonna throw in the Saints just to come out of the gates the way they did. And then I love Tampa in the NFC South. I love the way that they performed. They came out there and they just lit it up and said everyone's picking the Falcons, look at us. Most disappointing teams Browns, no idea what that was, you know, You're opening on a big stage with Brady in the booth and everyone's watching, and it's a week one game on Fox with that booth and that spotlight, and no other Fox games in that window. So the entire country's getting that. And for you to lay an egg like that with Watson, major disappointment. Giants, major disappointment, Falcons major disappointment. What was that to bring in Cousins? Cousins does not look one hundred percent. That offense looks even more anemic than it did under Arthur Smith last year. Can't be happy with that. And then another disappointing team that you know, not a lot of people are talking about as far as like disappointments because what were we expecting. I don't know, the Bears win, but what the hell was that offense? The Bears offense. I was hoping for fireworks and for lightning and for thunder and for all this stuff, and hard knocks were talking up Caleb. Not a great offensive debut, very concerning. You're not gonna win many games playing that way. And now they've got a Sunday night battle against the Houston Texans. That's four up for down. Some thoughts on New York Brady. Everyone's asking me what you think of Brady? It's a what's it? Is he submitting an Emmy reel based on that performance? Probably not, But it's a long season and he's gonna get better, and I think that there are shades of some glimpses of what he could do. But it's also like, all right, back to the drawing board. If that wasn't the home run out of the Gates that everyone expected, You've got plenty of weeks now to work on it. And I think he's gonna get better every week. And I thought Burke Cahrt was fantastic. And when Brady's you know, talking, it was a blowout game. There wasn't really many opportunities. What do you want to do? You want to bury Deshaun Watson for for sixty minutes? He didn't do that. I'm not making any excuses. We'll see. I enjoyed it, but I also changed the channel because the game was a blowout, and I started watching Seattle Denver and I'm watching Adam Archiletta, and it just tells you like the broadcast matters, but also I want the competitive game. All in all, an amazing week one. You think about the first two primetime games, the one on Thursday night, the one on Friday night, How can you top it? The Sunday Night one was even better. Between the Rams and the Lions, one of my favorite games. I've seen it forever. Just an epic matchup, and I wouldn't be shocked if we see all those two teams squaring off in January. And then last night's Monday Night game just tells you, like, you know, all the hype in the world, you got to go deliver. The biggest upset of the week came from the Patriots. They beat a Bengals team that a lot of people have winning the AFC North. They did it so in a physical fashion and up beat fashion, and in a way that was like, Oh, they're going to compete this year. They're not going to be a walk over. They're not going to lose thirty seven nothing to any teams. They're too proud and they're too disciplined, and they're too well coached. To get an inside look at it. I wanted to bring on one of my favorite guys to play the game, and I guess that I'm excited to have on former Patriots quarterback, but he also has played for just about every other team in the NFL, and he's played with all the greats. Brian Hoyer is our guest after this, with no further ado, I want to bring on our guest, one of my favorite guys in the league. I've covered him for nearly two decades when he was a quarterback in the NFL, and now he's doing a bit of the media game as he's not currently on an NFL roster, and he's been so cool to join us as our Week one reaction, our Week two look ahead, but lots of talk about on teams that he used to play for. The great Brian Hoyer joins us, Brian, what's up? Man?

What's up? Peter? Thanks for having me on Man kind of got me down this road. One of my first and media appearances was zooming in with you guys on Good Morning Football, and that went so well. They're like, hey, why don't you come back, you know, the Friday before the Super Bowl, And I was on the show with you down there in New York, which was awesome, And now I'm kind of just trying to navigate my way through it all.

What's up? Peter? Thanks for having me on Man kind of got me down this road. One of my first and media appearances was zooming in with you guys on Good Morning Football, and that went so well. They're like, hey, why don't you come back, you know, the Friday before the Super Bowl, And I was on the show with you down there in New York, which was awesome, And now I'm kind of just trying to navigate my way through it all.

All right, So for the listeners, you're like Brian Hoyer, All right, thinking about him as a Patriot. Last year you were with the Raiders.

All right, So for the listeners, you're like Brian Hoyer, All right, thinking about him as a Patriot. Last year you were with the Raiders.

Raiders, that's right.

Raiders, that's right.

How's it end there and what's the what's the future for you personally? Are you, Donnie hanging them up? If there's a call, you know, I see Green Bay lost Jordan Love. If they're like, we need a veteran quarterback, is your is your phone line open?

How's it end there and what's the what's the future for you personally? Are you, Donnie hanging them up? If there's a call, you know, I see Green Bay lost Jordan Love. If they're like, we need a veteran quarterback, is your is your phone line open?

Yeah? Of course. I look at the Joe Flacco model. I mean, Joe waited around, waited around, and then all of a sudden comeback Player of the Year. So you know, I'm still you know, the thing about quarterback is is I'll still I'll be able to throw till I'm fifty. So if I'm in you know, good health, and it's the right situation, it's always something that you know, I tell my agents just you know, let me know, and then it's then you've got to make that decision if it's best for your family too. Because I was at my son's seventh grade football practice yesterday watching him try to play quarterback for the first time. So there's some things that there's some benefits to not having, you know, to be in meetings and practice all day but you know, I love the game and that's why I'm staying involved covering it, but also stay in shape in case that call comes good.

Yeah? Of course. I look at the Joe Flacco model. I mean, Joe waited around, waited around, and then all of a sudden comeback Player of the Year. So you know, I'm still you know, the thing about quarterback is is I'll still I'll be able to throw till I'm fifty. So if I'm in you know, good health, and it's the right situation, it's always something that you know, I tell my agents just you know, let me know, and then it's then you've got to make that decision if it's best for your family too. Because I was at my son's seventh grade football practice yesterday watching him try to play quarterback for the first time. So there's some things that there's some benefits to not having, you know, to be in meetings and practice all day but you know, I love the game and that's why I'm staying involved covering it, but also stay in shape in case that call comes good.

You mentioned that we had you on Good Morning Football and that was like your national media like whatever, that's fine. You and I go back to the twenty fourteen season. The Browns get off to this red hot start. You guys beat Tennessee in dramatic fashion, and I fly into Cleveland for the Fox NFL pregame show to interview their quarterback, not Johnny Manziel, no Brian Hoyer, because you had them off to that red hot start, and everyone in Cleveland was a buzz a wild ride then. And this is nearly ten years later, and dude, you still can sling it. It's a pretty cool NFL career you've had. Dude.

You mentioned that we had you on Good Morning Football and that was like your national media like whatever, that's fine. You and I go back to the twenty fourteen season. The Browns get off to this red hot start. You guys beat Tennessee in dramatic fashion, and I fly into Cleveland for the Fox NFL pregame show to interview their quarterback, not Johnny Manziel, no Brian Hoyer, because you had them off to that red hot start, and everyone in Cleveland was a buzz a wild ride then. And this is nearly ten years later, and dude, you still can sling it. It's a pretty cool NFL career you've had. Dude.

Yeah, it's been quite a journey. And you know, I'm thankful for my family for you know, being a part of it. It's not easy being the wife and having to you know, pick up and move. There was a time three years in a row it was a different city and and you know, luckily my kids were still young. You could pull them out of school, put them in a new school. But now we've kind of established our roots here in New England and that's why I'm covering the Patriots. It's really easy for me to do. Haven't been here for a long time. But it was a great ride and I met a lot of great people. And the thing that you know, sitting there watching these games on Sunday and I missed the most is just being around the guys. Know, And that's something that you take for granted because you go in every day and it's the grind of Mondays are reviewing the game and Wednesday practice and meetings and all these things. But those are the things now where you know, I'm sitting there and missing those because it was such a built in camaraderie, built in brotherhood. And it was pretty cool watching the Patriots win that game when no one expected them to, and you see them dumping the gate ray on Girod and you know, just the unity and the belief that they built and just in that one game, you know, I know those feelings you talked about coming back down twenty eight to three in Tennessee. You know the locker room after that game. There was some video of me even doing some crazy dance and I don't even know what I was doing, but those are the moments that you miss, you know, when you're not playing. So it's you know, like I said, open to that possibility, but also I'm enjoying kind of venturing into this this media world too.

Yeah, it's been quite a journey. And you know, I'm thankful for my family for you know, being a part of it. It's not easy being the wife and having to you know, pick up and move. There was a time three years in a row it was a different city and and you know, luckily my kids were still young. You could pull them out of school, put them in a new school. But now we've kind of established our roots here in New England and that's why I'm covering the Patriots. It's really easy for me to do. Haven't been here for a long time. But it was a great ride and I met a lot of great people. And the thing that you know, sitting there watching these games on Sunday and I missed the most is just being around the guys. Know, And that's something that you take for granted because you go in every day and it's the grind of Mondays are reviewing the game and Wednesday practice and meetings and all these things. But those are the things now where you know, I'm sitting there and missing those because it was such a built in camaraderie, built in brotherhood. And it was pretty cool watching the Patriots win that game when no one expected them to, and you see them dumping the gate ray on Girod and you know, just the unity and the belief that they built and just in that one game, you know, I know those feelings you talked about coming back down twenty eight to three in Tennessee. You know the locker room after that game. There was some video of me even doing some crazy dance and I don't even know what I was doing, but those are the moments that you miss, you know, when you're not playing. So it's you know, like I said, open to that possibility, but also I'm enjoying kind of venturing into this this media world too.

Yeah, let's quickly before we get into the football analysis, kind of give a top level on the media stuff. So you mentioned you're doing Patriots postgame. Where is that?

Yeah, let's quickly before we get into the football analysis, kind of give a top level on the media stuff. So you mentioned you're doing Patriots postgame. Where is that?

Then?

Then?

I also know I saw you you're doing serious satellite radio as well, right.

I also know I saw you you're doing serious satellite radio as well, right.

Yeah, so NBC Sports Boston. I have a weekly kind of offensive game plan show that I record on Wednesdays that comes out on NBC Sports Boston doing Sirius XM radio Opening Drive with Solomon Willcott's a guy who used to cover me when I was playing, so now teaming up with him and one cool thing that I'm really excited about and just kind of getting off the ground doing a podcast. Everybody you know we're doing yours, a lot of them out there, but a really unique one with Patriots center David Andrews. So we're kind of joining back up as teammates and it's me not playing him still playing active and we just recorded it dropped late last night, but we had Matt light On as a guest, and it's been a lot of fun. And you know, for me to do it with a guy who's still in it and get his perspective, and you know, we reviewed the Bengals game a little bit, but also some storytelling and and anytime you have Matt light On as a guest, you know, it's it's for sure going to be some fun. So that'll be a weekly thing. Looking at Danny Amandola coming on next week, talk about Dancing with the Stars, talk about talk about the teammate that he was and the incredible player that he was, and so it'll be a fun thing to do each week. And and that's one I'm really excited about too.

Yeah, so NBC Sports Boston. I have a weekly kind of offensive game plan show that I record on Wednesdays that comes out on NBC Sports Boston doing Sirius XM radio Opening Drive with Solomon Willcott's a guy who used to cover me when I was playing, so now teaming up with him and one cool thing that I'm really excited about and just kind of getting off the ground doing a podcast. Everybody you know we're doing yours, a lot of them out there, but a really unique one with Patriots center David Andrews. So we're kind of joining back up as teammates and it's me not playing him still playing active and we just recorded it dropped late last night, but we had Matt light On as a guest, and it's been a lot of fun. And you know, for me to do it with a guy who's still in it and get his perspective, and you know, we reviewed the Bengals game a little bit, but also some storytelling and and anytime you have Matt light On as a guest, you know, it's it's for sure going to be some fun. So that'll be a weekly thing. Looking at Danny Amandola coming on next week, talk about Dancing with the Stars, talk about talk about the teammate that he was and the incredible player that he was, and so it'll be a fun thing to do each week. And and that's one I'm really excited about too.

I was texting with Danny yesterday because he posted this video of him shirtless playing tennis in La at like the Beverly Hills Country Club, and I'm like, yeah, enough with the thirst traps, Like I'm good.

I was texting with Danny yesterday because he posted this video of him shirtless playing tennis in La at like the Beverly Hills Country Club, and I'm like, yeah, enough with the thirst traps, Like I'm good.

I'm all right, I see not one of the coolest people you ever. I mean literally, when I think like someone who's the coolest guy is Danny A Mendolas like comes to mind. And he was out there in Vegas to me last year, so we got to spend some time and and just he's he's literally one of the most genuine like my son loves him. He's he comes and he gives my son, Garrett a big hug when we're at Tom's Hall of Fame. Enshrinman here in in Foxborough and just but then he's out there, like you said, the thirst traps. He's he's doing uh you know, surfing on on out there. And then he's out in Alaska. I mean just literally like international man of Mystery and great.

I'm all right, I see not one of the coolest people you ever. I mean literally, when I think like someone who's the coolest guy is Danny A Mendolas like comes to mind. And he was out there in Vegas to me last year, so we got to spend some time and and just he's he's literally one of the most genuine like my son loves him. He's he comes and he gives my son, Garrett a big hug when we're at Tom's Hall of Fame. Enshrinman here in in Foxborough and just but then he's out there, like you said, the thirst traps. He's he's doing uh you know, surfing on on out there. And then he's out in Alaska. I mean just literally like international man of Mystery and great.

You know, I've I've had a really cool opportunity to get to know him really well, gron really well. And now through Fox I deal with Edelman a lot. And it's like, as someone who's in those Patriot locker rooms, you think about like you know, Belichick and this like serious like you know, Castid shadow over like the fun Factor. Yet you talk about those three and I'm not even including some of the bigger personalities that I don't know, but like those three Gronk, Edelman and Danny, like you're not gonna find three cooler dudes who are going to enjoy life more.

You know, I've I've had a really cool opportunity to get to know him really well, gron really well. And now through Fox I deal with Edelman a lot. And it's like, as someone who's in those Patriot locker rooms, you think about like you know, Belichick and this like serious like you know, Castid shadow over like the fun Factor. Yet you talk about those three and I'm not even including some of the bigger personalities that I don't know, but like those three Gronk, Edelman and Danny, like you're not gonna find three cooler dudes who are going to enjoy life more.

Not at all. I mean stories for days about those guys, but just I mean you look at them and it's like they're living that young. You know, I got kids, I'm busy, you know, I look at that. I just live vicariously through them sometimes. But all three guys who you know, unbelievable players, but even better friends and teammates. And you know, it's always fun to see people doing well. And so whether it's Julian with his podcasts and and you know on NFL you know, game Day and Gronk doing his thing, and Danny's you know, Dancing with the Stars, so with some kind of moves he has out there. But it's until good when you see your friends do well.

Not at all. I mean stories for days about those guys, but just I mean you look at them and it's like they're living that young. You know, I got kids, I'm busy, you know, I look at that. I just live vicariously through them sometimes. But all three guys who you know, unbelievable players, but even better friends and teammates. And you know, it's always fun to see people doing well. And so whether it's Julian with his podcasts and and you know on NFL you know, game Day and Gronk doing his thing, and Danny's you know, Dancing with the Stars, so with some kind of moves he has out there. But it's until good when you see your friends do well.

All right, So Brady's now one game into this side of it, and there were some people who took their wax publicly. I have no thoughts. I think it's just like an NFL season. Let's give it the full year before we start weighing in on Brady the broadcaster. Did you speak to him beforehand? Have you had any chance to listen to the game, and what is just your overall thoughts of Tom Brady now buttoned up suit broadcaster for FOXX.

All right, So Brady's now one game into this side of it, and there were some people who took their wax publicly. I have no thoughts. I think it's just like an NFL season. Let's give it the full year before we start weighing in on Brady the broadcaster. Did you speak to him beforehand? Have you had any chance to listen to the game, and what is just your overall thoughts of Tom Brady now buttoned up suit broadcaster for FOXX.

Who I texted him because he was in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio for his first game, so I said, hey, hope, my hometown's treating you well. Good luck tomorrow. And then you know, as you mentioned, I was doing the Patriots postgame show, so I didn't get to see a lot of the early stuff, but I walked in and back home and he was breaking down Dak's touchdown pass and I was like, man, this is this is it for me. This is a play that we used to run versus a bliit zero look and Tom nailed it. And you know, but there's a thing, there's a transition. I'm learning it too, and you realize in the media there's a cadence. I remember doing the Good Morning Football Show with you and it's like, you guys made it so comfortable for me because you're the pros, and it was like, you know, you passed it to me and I knew when to speak, but you know when you're and I did a little bit of the Patriots preseason games and it's like, okay, it's my time to speak. Get it in before the next play. And so I think there's a rhythm that you have to learn. And I think Tom Brady is the type of person if you told him, hey, we're gonna make you, you know, go play the piano. You know, give him some time and he'll be great at playing the piano. So I think, you know, he'll he'll he'll learn from it, just like he learned when he was playing football. And then you know, I think, like anything, it'll it'll come to him naturally as the season goes on.

Who I texted him because he was in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio for his first game, so I said, hey, hope, my hometown's treating you well. Good luck tomorrow. And then you know, as you mentioned, I was doing the Patriots postgame show, so I didn't get to see a lot of the early stuff, but I walked in and back home and he was breaking down Dak's touchdown pass and I was like, man, this is this is it for me. This is a play that we used to run versus a bliit zero look and Tom nailed it. And you know, but there's a thing, there's a transition. I'm learning it too, and you realize in the media there's a cadence. I remember doing the Good Morning Football Show with you and it's like, you guys made it so comfortable for me because you're the pros, and it was like, you know, you passed it to me and I knew when to speak, but you know when you're and I did a little bit of the Patriots preseason games and it's like, okay, it's my time to speak. Get it in before the next play. And so I think there's a rhythm that you have to learn. And I think Tom Brady is the type of person if you told him, hey, we're gonna make you, you know, go play the piano. You know, give him some time and he'll be great at playing the piano. So I think, you know, he'll he'll he'll learn from it, just like he learned when he was playing football. And then you know, I think, like anything, it'll it'll come to him naturally as the season goes on.

All right, so we've seen Brady goes like Belichick the media, Darling, did you see that coming? Seven different medias everywhere Manning cast last night inside the NFL to night. I mean, it's a lot. And here's Belichick. Did you ever see him, you know, turn the cameras on, I want to talk publicly.

All right, so we've seen Brady goes like Belichick the media, Darling, did you see that coming? Seven different medias everywhere Manning cast last night inside the NFL to night. I mean, it's a lot. And here's Belichick. Did you ever see him, you know, turn the cameras on, I want to talk publicly.

Never and especially the way he trained us to deal with the media. So it's kind of like a role reversal seeing him all over the place. I was laughing last night watching the Maning cast because you talk about a rhythm, you're doing it via zoom kind of how we're doing. And every time Peyton would go to talk, Bill would say something. At one point Peyton kind of laughed and he reared his head back. He's like, all right, Bill, now you know what is your thoughts here? But it's funny. And I was sitting there watching with my son. I said, here, now you can experience what it was like to sit in one of Bill's meetings. He's like Wilson, Wilson, I mean, just double the guy. And it's just like, I think people will get to see Bill from a different side and it'll be fun for everyone. But I mean, god, he's everywhere Instagram, instaface. I mean he used to talk to us about, you know, stay off of insta face and my Twitter and all this stuff, and now to see him everywhere, it's pretty funny.

Never and especially the way he trained us to deal with the media. So it's kind of like a role reversal seeing him all over the place. I was laughing last night watching the Maning cast because you talk about a rhythm, you're doing it via zoom kind of how we're doing. And every time Peyton would go to talk, Bill would say something. At one point Peyton kind of laughed and he reared his head back. He's like, all right, Bill, now you know what is your thoughts here? But it's funny. And I was sitting there watching with my son. I said, here, now you can experience what it was like to sit in one of Bill's meetings. He's like Wilson, Wilson, I mean, just double the guy. And it's just like, I think people will get to see Bill from a different side and it'll be fun for everyone. But I mean, god, he's everywhere Instagram, instaface. I mean he used to talk to us about, you know, stay off of insta face and my Twitter and all this stuff, and now to see him everywhere, it's pretty funny.

No joke though. Like Julian was on our show on Sunday and Edelman says, the team he's watching is the Atlanta Falcons, and I'm like, oh, yeah, they got fun team and they designed cousins. He goes, I'm watching the Atlanta Falcons because Bill Belichick interviewed for that job and did not get it, and they chose someone else, Rahie Morris over them. If they're a win now team and they chose someone over coach, I know there's this mystique. And there's also some recon years where Belichick missed the playoffs and his teams didn't compete for any AFC titles and he is in his seventies. Where do you stand on Belichick twenty twenty five NFL head coach? Do you see that still happening or do you think this is a nice smooth transition to media.

No joke though. Like Julian was on our show on Sunday and Edelman says, the team he's watching is the Atlanta Falcons, and I'm like, oh, yeah, they got fun team and they designed cousins. He goes, I'm watching the Atlanta Falcons because Bill Belichick interviewed for that job and did not get it, and they chose someone else, Rahie Morris over them. If they're a win now team and they chose someone over coach, I know there's this mystique. And there's also some recon years where Belichick missed the playoffs and his teams didn't compete for any AFC titles and he is in his seventies. Where do you stand on Belichick twenty twenty five NFL head coach? Do you see that still happening or do you think this is a nice smooth transition to media.

I mean we'll see, right, I mean it will. He may go and do these media things and just enjoy it, and you know, you always never know what opportunities present themselves. I don't think Bill's going to go to a team that's in a rebuilding mode. I think it'd be, you know, somewhere like Dallas or Philly, somewhere that he knows he can go in and has a roster and can kind of come in right away and win football games. So it'll be interesting to see. Obviously, he's doing a lot of the media stuff right now, keeping himself busy, but a lot of that is too, is keeping an eye on the leak. You know, we were talking before we started recording, Like for me, this is a whole new world because I'm doing Patriots postgame show, but I'm also covering some of the national stuff too, So I'm trying to scramble to watch all these you know, all these games. I got like six screens up and you know, so for him, it's it's good because he's staying involved and he's covering a lot of football, so he'll have a really good in depth knowledge of different teams, what they need, you know, what teams maybe he's looking and hoping for if he gets back into coaching.

I mean we'll see, right, I mean it will. He may go and do these media things and just enjoy it, and you know, you always never know what opportunities present themselves. I don't think Bill's going to go to a team that's in a rebuilding mode. I think it'd be, you know, somewhere like Dallas or Philly, somewhere that he knows he can go in and has a roster and can kind of come in right away and win football games. So it'll be interesting to see. Obviously, he's doing a lot of the media stuff right now, keeping himself busy, but a lot of that is too, is keeping an eye on the leak. You know, we were talking before we started recording, Like for me, this is a whole new world because I'm doing Patriots postgame show, but I'm also covering some of the national stuff too, So I'm trying to scramble to watch all these you know, all these games. I got like six screens up and you know, so for him, it's it's good because he's staying involved and he's covering a lot of football, so he'll have a really good in depth knowledge of different teams, what they need, you know, what teams maybe he's looking and hoping for if he gets back into coaching.

Okay, Patriots. Everyone coming into this season said it's going to be a rebuilding year. Drake May is going to be a long term project, so let's not rush him out of the dugout just yet. Let's just start with your Kobe, see what we can do. And then there's this thing called survivor pools, which you pick one team in the each week and you can't use him again and good Morning football. I was the victim of this. They said, Peter, pick one team that you feel most confident in winning this week. I said, well, Cincinnati's at home against a Patriots team that we have no idea what they're going to get. And sure enough, I'm out of the survivor pool after one week. Yet you didn't seem so surprised. Brian. I'm watching you, and I was watching you this entire preseason. You were one of the few people who did not seem surprised that this Patriots team came out and absolutely outmanned, was more disciplined, and was better shape, it seemed like than this Bengals team who was playing at home with all pros all over the roster.

Okay, Patriots. Everyone coming into this season said it's going to be a rebuilding year. Drake May is going to be a long term project, so let's not rush him out of the dugout just yet. Let's just start with your Kobe, see what we can do. And then there's this thing called survivor pools, which you pick one team in the each week and you can't use him again and good Morning football. I was the victim of this. They said, Peter, pick one team that you feel most confident in winning this week. I said, well, Cincinnati's at home against a Patriots team that we have no idea what they're going to get. And sure enough, I'm out of the survivor pool after one week. Yet you didn't seem so surprised. Brian. I'm watching you, and I was watching you this entire preseason. You were one of the few people who did not seem surprised that this Patriots team came out and absolutely outmanned, was more disciplined, and was better shape, it seemed like than this Bengals team who was playing at home with all pros all over the roster.

Well, and I said on the pregame show, my first time making a prediction on a game. And I said, maybe I'm just too close to it. Maybe I'm just too you know, close to being a player and being positive. But you know, I watched the Patriots in the preseason and a lot was made. You know, Okay, who's going to be the quarterback? Okay, you put that behind you. You go with the veteran Jacoby because of his experience, his knowledge of the system, you know what he brings to the table. And then okay, the offensive line's the what's the lineup gonna be? What are they gonna do? But when I looked at the matchup, you know, the Bengals weren't a great run defense the past few years. The Patriots all they've been talking about is establishing the run in this new era with Alex van Pelt. And on top of that, you weren't really sure was Jamar Chase gonna play? Was T Higgins gonna play? And look, I was a long time Patriot, but last year when I was in Vegas, I had to come in and play against the Patriots, and I realized, you know, I knew the defense was always good, but playing against them in a game, they make it so hard on you with how much they switched up. The fronts are different, the coverages are different. It's it's a tough day. I mean, you have to be as a quarterback on your p's and q's the entire game because the moment you're not and they fool you, it turns into a really bad play. And so the defense did a great job. Obviously, Judon traded away, but it was kind of a pass rush by committee. Christian Zalez does a great job, you know, locking up Jamar Chase, who you know, in all reality, didn't practice much their in training camp, so the rhythm's kind of off there, and I thought it was kind of a perfect storm. And plus on top of that, having been a teammate of Drawd Mayo, a friend of Girod Mayo, and seeing him push these guys in training camp, you could see that these guys believe in Girod. They wanted to win for Jrod, and you saw that in the postgame celebration, the exuberance that was there, and and them just kind of, you know, building the foundation for the program that they're trying to build. And you know, I thought, if things went right, if the Patriots didn't turn the ball over, if they ran the football, if they could avoid you know, the pressure from an Arumu and Hendrickson, which they did tremendous job, they'd be in it. It'd be a close game. And so I predicted them to win seventeen fourteen. So I was off by a few points, but it played out kind of how I thought it would.

Well, and I said on the pregame show, my first time making a prediction on a game. And I said, maybe I'm just too close to it. Maybe I'm just too you know, close to being a player and being positive. But you know, I watched the Patriots in the preseason and a lot was made. You know, Okay, who's going to be the quarterback? Okay, you put that behind you. You go with the veteran Jacoby because of his experience, his knowledge of the system, you know what he brings to the table. And then okay, the offensive line's the what's the lineup gonna be? What are they gonna do? But when I looked at the matchup, you know, the Bengals weren't a great run defense the past few years. The Patriots all they've been talking about is establishing the run in this new era with Alex van Pelt. And on top of that, you weren't really sure was Jamar Chase gonna play? Was T Higgins gonna play? And look, I was a long time Patriot, but last year when I was in Vegas, I had to come in and play against the Patriots, and I realized, you know, I knew the defense was always good, but playing against them in a game, they make it so hard on you with how much they switched up. The fronts are different, the coverages are different. It's it's a tough day. I mean, you have to be as a quarterback on your p's and q's the entire game because the moment you're not and they fool you, it turns into a really bad play. And so the defense did a great job. Obviously, Judon traded away, but it was kind of a pass rush by committee. Christian Zalez does a great job, you know, locking up Jamar Chase, who you know, in all reality, didn't practice much their in training camp, so the rhythm's kind of off there, and I thought it was kind of a perfect storm. And plus on top of that, having been a teammate of Drawd Mayo, a friend of Girod Mayo, and seeing him push these guys in training camp, you could see that these guys believe in Girod. They wanted to win for Jrod, and you saw that in the postgame celebration, the exuberance that was there, and and them just kind of, you know, building the foundation for the program that they're trying to build. And you know, I thought, if things went right, if the Patriots didn't turn the ball over, if they ran the football, if they could avoid you know, the pressure from an Arumu and Hendrickson, which they did tremendous job, they'd be in it. It'd be a close game. And so I predicted them to win seventeen fourteen. So I was off by a few points, but it played out kind of how I thought it would.

All right, So you mentioned your teammates with him. You're also there all training camp. Give me a good Girrod Mayo's story, because a lot of people nationally, they don't they know the name. They remember when he was drafted, they remember him as a player. But like Patriots people swear by this dude when he got that gig, and everyone was like, what about Vrabel, what about Anyone inside that organization was like no, no, no, you don't get it. Gird Mayo is the guy. So tell us about Mayo because I personally don't have much of a relationship.

All right, So you mentioned your teammates with him. You're also there all training camp. Give me a good Girrod Mayo's story, because a lot of people nationally, they don't they know the name. They remember when he was drafted, they remember him as a player. But like Patriots people swear by this dude when he got that gig, and everyone was like, what about Vrabel, what about Anyone inside that organization was like no, no, no, you don't get it. Gird Mayo is the guy. So tell us about Mayo because I personally don't have much of a relationship.

With him right. A few things come to mind. We used to be neighbors. We lived together next to each other for three years, so we would go play NHL hockey on PlayStation or FIFA, and I mean these were competitive. You hear the stories about Tom Brady like throwing the remote so the game would like glitch. I mean, these were intense battles. So that's the type of competitor he is. And then you know we were talking that we interviewed Matt light And for our podcast and Macco's Jiraw was a coach the moment he stepped on the field as a player. That's the type of intelligence level. And I remember these battles between Brady and Gerard where we would have you know, we'd call two plays in the huddle. Tom would come up, He'd see the look, he'd alert to the second play. Giro would change the defense, then Tom would go back to the original play, then Giab would go back to the other. It was like a mental chess game going on. And so you saw it as a player, and he dealt with some injuries and one funny story when I played against Gerard when I was playing for Houston, we were playing the Patriots. I'll never forget this, but this is just who he is. I stepped up, I threw a seam ball. It was going to be a touchdown. Our tight end dropped the ball, and Girod was like just starts laughing in my face. He's like, man, that was a great throw. That was going to get a touchdown. And it was just one of those demoralizing like oh my god, you know, just one of those competitive things like get under your skin. But you could see the leader he was as a player. He kind of stepped away from football a little bit, worked in the business world, you know, leadership skills there and comes back. And I was there when I came back when he was starting to coach, and you could just see the guys gravitate to him. And I think you look at Gerard and you say, Okay, he's a former player, stands what I'm going through. And I think that's what allowed him to kind of push these guys in training camp, and they talked about it, this is one of the most physical training camps they've had.

With him right. A few things come to mind. We used to be neighbors. We lived together next to each other for three years, so we would go play NHL hockey on PlayStation or FIFA, and I mean these were competitive. You hear the stories about Tom Brady like throwing the remote so the game would like glitch. I mean, these were intense battles. So that's the type of competitor he is. And then you know we were talking that we interviewed Matt light And for our podcast and Macco's Jiraw was a coach the moment he stepped on the field as a player. That's the type of intelligence level. And I remember these battles between Brady and Gerard where we would have you know, we'd call two plays in the huddle. Tom would come up, He'd see the look, he'd alert to the second play. Giro would change the defense, then Tom would go back to the original play, then Giab would go back to the other. It was like a mental chess game going on. And so you saw it as a player, and he dealt with some injuries and one funny story when I played against Gerard when I was playing for Houston, we were playing the Patriots. I'll never forget this, but this is just who he is. I stepped up, I threw a seam ball. It was going to be a touchdown. Our tight end dropped the ball, and Girod was like just starts laughing in my face. He's like, man, that was a great throw. That was going to get a touchdown. And it was just one of those demoralizing like oh my god, you know, just one of those competitive things like get under your skin. But you could see the leader he was as a player. He kind of stepped away from football a little bit, worked in the business world, you know, leadership skills there and comes back. And I was there when I came back when he was starting to coach, and you could just see the guys gravitate to him. And I think you look at Gerard and you say, Okay, he's a former player, stands what I'm going through. And I think that's what allowed him to kind of push these guys in training camp, and they talked about it, this is one of the most physical training camps they've had.

Uh.

Uh.

He made them run the hill every day, just like Bill and You talked about being in better shape. At the end of that game, they run, they run the ball, you know, when Cincinnati knows they're going to run the ball and finish with the ball and taking a knee. And so I think that game really embody probably who Gerard was as a player. That's how that team played. It's exactly what you know, I thought they they should and could look like. And now you just got to go out and do it again. We were talking about it like, Okay, you laid one brick. Now you got a tough Seattle team coming in. They're they're flying across the country early eastern start, early window, and so you have you can't just take this momentum and say, yeah, it was a great story, but you got to go on and repeat it and repeat it and repeat it. And I think they have a formula now, and David Andrews hit on. He goes, you know, if we just changed two of those fuels and the touchdowns when we get in that red area, it's a much larger deficit for a team to overcome. So I think they laid one brick in that foundation, and they continue to try to do that the rest of the year.

He made them run the hill every day, just like Bill and You talked about being in better shape. At the end of that game, they run, they run the ball, you know, when Cincinnati knows they're going to run the ball and finish with the ball and taking a knee. And so I think that game really embody probably who Gerard was as a player. That's how that team played. It's exactly what you know, I thought they they should and could look like. And now you just got to go out and do it again. We were talking about it like, Okay, you laid one brick. Now you got a tough Seattle team coming in. They're they're flying across the country early eastern start, early window, and so you have you can't just take this momentum and say, yeah, it was a great story, but you got to go on and repeat it and repeat it and repeat it. And I think they have a formula now, and David Andrews hit on. He goes, you know, if we just changed two of those fuels and the touchdowns when we get in that red area, it's a much larger deficit for a team to overcome. So I think they laid one brick in that foundation, and they continue to try to do that the rest of the year.

I got some more questions on this current team and what we saw on Sunday. So you mentioned the training camp in a post twenty twenty CBA World. I feel like training camp is almost akin to summer camp in a way, where yes, you're going to work out, but like everything we heard out of New England was that it was the toughest training camp and it was so hard, And yet when you watch them on the field on Sunday, they're grinding out those extra yards and they're able to play at a different pace than maybe Cincinnati was. So knowing the barriers of the CBA and there's no more two A days and you can't do stuff in certain ways with pads. What did Mayo do that is so specific that makes this team ready to go and seem like they're in midseas informed when their opponent did not look like that.

I got some more questions on this current team and what we saw on Sunday. So you mentioned the training camp in a post twenty twenty CBA World. I feel like training camp is almost akin to summer camp in a way, where yes, you're going to work out, but like everything we heard out of New England was that it was the toughest training camp and it was so hard, And yet when you watch them on the field on Sunday, they're grinding out those extra yards and they're able to play at a different pace than maybe Cincinnati was. So knowing the barriers of the CBA and there's no more two A days and you can't do stuff in certain ways with pads. What did Mayo do that is so specific that makes this team ready to go and seem like they're in midseas informed when their opponent did not look like that.

Well, I think you just preached competition the whole training camp. It was like, no matter who's out there, we're competing. And then there was a few days where they went full live tackling. You know, they went pads a lot within the new rules of the CBA. He pushed them and then every day, you know, just like we used to do with Bill was had they got the hill over there, he'd run over the hill and make sure they're in shape because a lot of these guys aren't playing a lot of plays in the preseason, so you got to get them in shape somehow, some way. And I think, you know, you see it. I saw a few quotes today. Guys want to run through a brick wall for Giradimeo. And when guys feel like that about your head coach, you can push them as much as you want and then to go out there and validate that by winning the results on the board, the results, and that allows you to push it a little bit more and and hold people accountable a little bit more, and people buy in a little bit more. And so you know, like I said, it's one brick in that foundation. And you could see it. You could see the reactions in the locker room Girod getting the game ball. One thing that struck me was Jacoby Brissette was like, yeah, I was emotional, you know, emotional for the opportunity. I cry. You know. Girod came up to me and said, hey man, I believe in you. You're going to ball out and win us this game. He's like I've never really had a coach talk to me that way before. And I think Girod, being a young guy, a guy who played, understands the value of knowing that you know, when the players know you care about them, they will they will literally run through a brick wall for you.

Well, I think you just preached competition the whole training camp. It was like, no matter who's out there, we're competing. And then there was a few days where they went full live tackling. You know, they went pads a lot within the new rules of the CBA. He pushed them and then every day, you know, just like we used to do with Bill was had they got the hill over there, he'd run over the hill and make sure they're in shape because a lot of these guys aren't playing a lot of plays in the preseason, so you got to get them in shape somehow, some way. And I think, you know, you see it. I saw a few quotes today. Guys want to run through a brick wall for Giradimeo. And when guys feel like that about your head coach, you can push them as much as you want and then to go out there and validate that by winning the results on the board, the results, and that allows you to push it a little bit more and and hold people accountable a little bit more, and people buy in a little bit more. And so you know, like I said, it's one brick in that foundation. And you could see it. You could see the reactions in the locker room Girod getting the game ball. One thing that struck me was Jacoby Brissette was like, yeah, I was emotional, you know, emotional for the opportunity. I cry. You know. Girod came up to me and said, hey man, I believe in you. You're going to ball out and win us this game. He's like I've never really had a coach talk to me that way before. And I think Girod, being a young guy, a guy who played, understands the value of knowing that you know, when the players know you care about them, they will they will literally run through a brick wall for you.

There also seems to be this, you know, air of secrecy and paranoia and whatever it was under Belichick that seems to be lifted. Like Girod talks, he runs his mouth. He's free to have these players talk. You can say whatever you want. Just be ready to play. Does it feel lighter in New England now? Like nothing against coach Belichick, but this is a younger generation, and quite frankly, it seems like Mayo is connecting with them in a different way.

There also seems to be this, you know, air of secrecy and paranoia and whatever it was under Belichick that seems to be lifted. Like Girod talks, he runs his mouth. He's free to have these players talk. You can say whatever you want. Just be ready to play. Does it feel lighter in New England now? Like nothing against coach Belichick, but this is a younger generation, and quite frankly, it seems like Mayo is connecting with them in a different way.

Yeah, one hundred percent. And I think the one thing, you know, when I thought, okay, who replaces Bill the greatest coach of all time? Those are tough shoes to fill no matter what. And I know the last two years, few years weren't what they were, but it's still tough because those are the memories you have of coach Belichick. But the thing that Girod did, he played for Bill, so he knows the culture. He knows, you know, what he wants it to be, like he coached under Bill, and I think he looked at it like, I know what it takes to win, and I've been a part of those winning organizations. But times are different. I want to put my own spin on it. But I can still be tough. I mentioned to him in one of our preseason you know meetings, I said, you know, you're a player's coach, and he kind of pushed back, and they said, I just want to be a good coach. And I said, I don't think you're a players coach because you're you know, friends with the players, or you take it easy on him. I said, you're a player's coach because you're a former player. And those guys look at you. And when you sit up in front of a group a team meeting and you address them, no one's questioning, like, man, this guy's never been through it. He doesn't know what he's talking about. And there's a lot of great coaches who never played. But I think you talk about a younger generation and they come in and they say, wow, this guy was an All Pro player, he was a captain. You know right away you grab some of these young guys attention, it's different era guys coming in with Nio money. We had guys out in Vegas last year who took a pay cut to come play for the Raiders. So it's just a different you know, mentality and these players, you know, they come in and that's the times that we're living in. And I think that with young guys, and we talked about it before, Now they'll believe them a little bit more. They'll they'll buy in a little bit more, and they'll they'll work a little bit harder. And that doesn't mean they're going to go to the playoffs and win the super Bowl. But a lot of times, you know, with organizations and transition, building the foundation, sometimes it might take a seven and nine year and and Ayton nine year whatever it is. But then in year two you've built that foundation and you you stack them together and you're in the playoffs and then all of a sudden you're making a run for it. So you know, a lot like I look at the Houston Texans, a sneaky team, a young quarterback. They've Nick Casseroo done a tremendous job, obviously a former New England guy, building a unit around a rookie quarterback before you've got to go pay them this massive extension and make a run at it. And they a similar situation, a young defensive minded coach who played a lot of great football on Demico Ryans and I think you're starting to see kind of that model, you know, Dan Campbell and Detroit. It's kind of out there in Las Vegas where I was here to say, and so you know, that doesn't necessarily make you a great coach. I think Girad benefits not only from being a former player, but also learning from Bill not only as the player, but also he was in those coaching meetings for the past four years, so he's seen it from both sides and learned from Bill and now is taking you know, what he learned and putting his own spin and flavor on it. And you can see the guys really.

Yeah, one hundred percent. And I think the one thing, you know, when I thought, okay, who replaces Bill the greatest coach of all time? Those are tough shoes to fill no matter what. And I know the last two years, few years weren't what they were, but it's still tough because those are the memories you have of coach Belichick. But the thing that Girod did, he played for Bill, so he knows the culture. He knows, you know, what he wants it to be, like he coached under Bill, and I think he looked at it like, I know what it takes to win, and I've been a part of those winning organizations. But times are different. I want to put my own spin on it. But I can still be tough. I mentioned to him in one of our preseason you know meetings, I said, you know, you're a player's coach, and he kind of pushed back, and they said, I just want to be a good coach. And I said, I don't think you're a players coach because you're you know, friends with the players, or you take it easy on him. I said, you're a player's coach because you're a former player. And those guys look at you. And when you sit up in front of a group a team meeting and you address them, no one's questioning, like, man, this guy's never been through it. He doesn't know what he's talking about. And there's a lot of great coaches who never played. But I think you talk about a younger generation and they come in and they say, wow, this guy was an All Pro player, he was a captain. You know right away you grab some of these young guys attention, it's different era guys coming in with Nio money. We had guys out in Vegas last year who took a pay cut to come play for the Raiders. So it's just a different you know, mentality and these players, you know, they come in and that's the times that we're living in. And I think that with young guys, and we talked about it before, Now they'll believe them a little bit more. They'll they'll buy in a little bit more, and they'll they'll work a little bit harder. And that doesn't mean they're going to go to the playoffs and win the super Bowl. But a lot of times, you know, with organizations and transition, building the foundation, sometimes it might take a seven and nine year and and Ayton nine year whatever it is. But then in year two you've built that foundation and you you stack them together and you're in the playoffs and then all of a sudden you're making a run for it. So you know, a lot like I look at the Houston Texans, a sneaky team, a young quarterback. They've Nick Casseroo done a tremendous job, obviously a former New England guy, building a unit around a rookie quarterback before you've got to go pay them this massive extension and make a run at it. And they a similar situation, a young defensive minded coach who played a lot of great football on Demico Ryans and I think you're starting to see kind of that model, you know, Dan Campbell and Detroit. It's kind of out there in Las Vegas where I was here to say, and so you know, that doesn't necessarily make you a great coach. I think Girad benefits not only from being a former player, but also learning from Bill not only as the player, but also he was in those coaching meetings for the past four years, so he's seen it from both sides and learned from Bill and now is taking you know, what he learned and putting his own spin and flavor on it. And you can see the guys really.

Like, yeah, no doubt rapping with the Patriots. I think it's interesting that they came out and they performed that way. You know Brissette really well. Obviously having been you know, Patriots quarterback and yourself having such a connection to the team, have you had a chance to get to know Drake May at all for the Patriots fans listening, just a little sprinkle of maybe what we can see with Drake May down the line. Yeah.

Like, yeah, no doubt rapping with the Patriots. I think it's interesting that they came out and they performed that way. You know Brissette really well. Obviously having been you know, Patriots quarterback and yourself having such a connection to the team, have you had a chance to get to know Drake May at all for the Patriots fans listening, just a little sprinkle of maybe what we can see with Drake May down the line. Yeah.

I mean I had him in one production meeting and you know, he comes in, says all the right things, is working hard. You know, talk to Alex van Pelt about him. You know, he's doing everything and more that they're asked of him, you know, with talking about technology and this generation, this Apple Vision pro if someone's developed a three D model that these guys can go in and take extra rep So I know he's doing a lot of that in this car time and yeah, it's really cool. So you know, he's working really hard. And the one thing that I've always said is, and Tom Brady kind of echoed this, it's always good for a young guy if you can come in and learn from a really good veteran. And I had the privilege to come in and watch Tom for my first four years of my career and just soak it all in. And I think, you know, say what you want about Jacoby, but he's been a successful quarterback. He's you know, nine seasons in, he started for multiple teams, and he does it the right way. I was there with him in Indianapolis when that was his first year as a starter, Andrew Luck, you know, suddenly retires. I thought there to be his backup, and immediately from day one, he was a leader on that team. He ran the meetings, He had good meetings with the receivers and they were on the same page. And I think, you know, just seeing that from a pro and coming in every day and seeing how Jacoby's going to prepare and all those things that will do wonders for drake Ma and his career if he just sits there, you know, uses this time to not only make himself better, but see how a real pro approaches the game.