Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner Are Super Bowl Champs & Drew Brees Talks Hall of Fame | EP 179

Get a good question everyone wants to know have you slept has it just been a non-stop party his eyes not working travels You already went over this is not working. So the sleep hasn't been asleep hasn't been great Come on now. I woke up this morning at six o'clock. Why do I wait? I'm in a great But I mean I've asked so much gratitude for this journey for what what this year's been and Yeah You can't have a meaningful moment with them Welcome back to new heights ladies and gentlemen boys and girls of all ages of all over the world the 92% Centers we love you and we can't wait to get into this post Super Bowl Sunday Conversation new heights is a one-dress show brought to you by Xfinity where your host I'm Travis Kelsey my big brother Jason Kelsey representing the U.S. of a Subscribed on YouTube laundry plus wherever you get your podcast and follow the show on all social media at new heights show with one S for fun clips throughout the week Jason We have one of my favorite shows of all time and is the end of the season It is the end of the NFL season today should be one of those made-up holidays that you absolutely hate But can you just tell the people where we have coming up? Well, it's kind of crazy travel This is actually the first year we've done this show where the Eagles are chiefs haven't won the Super Bowl That is fucking wild so because neither one of us are in any way a part of our teams winning the Super Bowl We have decided to invite two of the Super Bowl 60 champions on this show today That's I Cooper Cup and AJ Bonner are on the program today and we're gonna get everything else we got into in San Francisco As well as get to do an incredible conversation with first ballot Hall of Fame or Drew All right, it's an absolutely stacked episode but before we get any of that we're gonna get into what we always get into and that's a little bit of that New news is brought to you by American Express How about it, man? We got some scheduling updates for you guys. That's right. Ninety percenters. We got a lot of guests coming up We have been hot. We've been working. We've been working. That's right We've we've been talking to all the people we've always wanted to talk to and we're looking forward to bringing those conversations to you guys We have a short little break, but the episodes will be coming out. Don't worry. We've got some dudes is we got Troy Ackman Randy Monts, John Hanne, Chris Stapleton We're gonna let you know in all of these guests episodes are releasing And if you still need more kill senior life Travis finally appeared on not gonna lie That's right Kylie Kelsey's podcast not gonna lie trap. How was it? I'm not gonna lie It was kind of more fun talking to her than you I'm not gonna lie Understand why you married her a long time ago, but she asked me one question that was like I sat there and I thought about it And I wish I would have answered it better My first impressions of her were that she was such a sweetheart And I said this that your guys is wedding when I when I did the wedding speech But I was like she is such a sweetheart. She's so nice. She is, but I was like, you don't just win Jason's love You don't win him over in terms of like doing things Getting him to do the things that you want him to do like be a like respectable human being You don't view those kind of things by just being a sweetheart So I knew there was an underlining like toughness to her that I hadn't and then we went to the shore And she started talking butt butter. She's talking water. She started talking I can't even fucking do them Philly accent like like it needs to be done But I saw her in her element and that's where I knew I was like, oh she's got him wrapped up around her finger This dude is lost in this he doesn't know anything but Kai and from that point on It's just been that and I've loved having her as a as a sister-in-law And it's been so cool to see her take off in her own right and not gonna lie. It was a fucking blast dude That's awesome. Yeah, I do the episode turned out great. You had Kai's chemistry and anything that you do you just like Have like a I'm serious the second child man. The second child's the best dude No doubt we relate we relate Well, you also admitted that you have never read a rundown which I'm sure the producers of the show love that They were very appreciative. What's a rundown? All righty highly also adopted an otter in your name apparently Something I didn't even know Uncle Travis over there in the Philly Zoo man. We got to get over there man I got to meet this this I think it's a it's a wild or like a A great river otter. I forget the the actual name of this honor. It's not the otter that's in my dreams But it is An honor to be a part of the Philly Zoo like that So I got to get over there and say what's up? We'll get over there next time you come into town That'd be a great out of the house segment. We also got to talk about Travis dominating in front of thousands of people over the waste management Dominating I mean at least on whole 16 we don't need to look at all the other snow the biggest hole in the whole friggin thing to part three in front of the grandstands Thousands of people's eyes are on Travis Kelsey. It felt like I was walking into the galaxy There's like a little tunnel and I got a cool video uh Chris Pearson was was this kind of following us around. He got a cool video of us like walking into the dude It is such an epic like you have to do it golf lovers everywhere You have to go to this hole the 16th hole or at waste management at the Phoenix Open is un Believable is such a unique like experience and it honestly it's not just the 16th hole So 17th and 18th is the is how you finish it off It's like nothing I've ever been a part of in my life But you walk into that 16th hole. It's an arena. It's an arena of just people that will either boo you or get high or get excited over Like you getting close to the fucking pin. I was in my element You give me a bunch of drunk people with an opportunity to get them fired up. I feel like that's like my that's like my home That's like my home and I felt very comfortable I will say this though my god my caddy Patrick Bacon. He's taking a lot of credit for this. I went last Everybody that went had the number was short. They all went short and I'm looking at this too And I'm like questioning in my mind should I club up or should I just trust my strength over there's like I'm hold I'm in my head about this and Patrick Bacon comes up to me and says hey What do you got in your hand? You should probably rethink this and go get a club And not that I wasn't already thinking that but he gave me the reassurance. So I'll give patty bakes the the whole He called he called me off and told me to club up. I'll give him the compliment there, but he's uh He's taking full credit for it. Yeah, I'm sure I know which he should which he should. That's what caddies do You know, I mean they're part of this a team game. Well, I don't think a lot of caddies do take credit But bacon does for sure. It was a 150 shot and I or 155 whatever it is And I went from holding a pitch pitching wedge to holding a nine iron and the nine iron stuck two feet from it And when I tell you I stood over the ball for I don't even know how long somebody sent me a video And I was I was like I was staring at the ball this long I don't remember doing that It's intimidating. It really puts it in a perspective for like these guys like Rory and these guys making these like Puts to win the entire tournament and way more as it's steak. That's got to be crazy That wasn't even the hardest part. Oh, what was the hardest part standing over the two foot put That was the hardest part dude though When I was back there holding the nine iron I'm like I'm just gonna give this thing a fucking run and throw it up there and the thing fucking drool Where I felt like I hit it further it up in the air than I hit it further Distance that thing went high that thing went so fucking high in the air The first thing the guy on the mic that was doing the the entire like 16th hole he was introducing everybody as soon as I hit it. He was like whoa Look at that thing went high up in the air Like waiting for that thing to fucking come down and then it just stuck it didn't do much after After it hit and it was perfect man So are you saying you probably actually hit the wrong club? You probably hit it a couple grooves high which made it actually the right club. It was the perfect club All right, all right I didn't catch any grass. I think it was teed him just a little bit and I hit it in smooth and it was It was so much fun Just being at that event though. I got to hang with Scotty Sheffler I got to hang with Brooks Keppka Shout out to Brooksford for being such a good dude and being back into the madness and Scotty He was over there with his kid and it was such a fucking unique Event and these programs are so fucking cool And I had that as a bucket list item in my mind of like yeah There's unbelievable courses all over the world But if I could ever get a shot at the 16th hole at waste management I can't pass that up. Oh, it's so it's like no sweetie. I have to go I'm sorry. I have to do this. This is the mecca. This is like reaching the Super Bowl of like golf world And um and it was and it didn't disappoint Wasted management crowd is so fucking they're so lit and so excited and so there for those moments that it didn't disappoint And it was so much fun. Well, that's awesome brother. It was an incredible shot. I love watching every bit of it Where do you think your ranks in your athletic achievements of all time? I mean, it's number one in my golf achievements for sure Nothing that even comes close. That was the closest I've ever gotten to a hole in one like that was it was like the perfect shot for the perfect time That that I'll I'll live through forever. I'll be able to watch those videos forever. I had Jim Nance Talking about it during the fucking Friday broadcast or the set the Saturday Sunday broadcast if Jim Nance is talking about my golf I'm doing something Well, once again, new news is brought to you by American Express. Let's keep this thing moving. Let's get to some bold Topics Super Bowl edition. How about it? Both topics is brought to you by Pepsi one of our favorites We were Pepsi household grown up. I'm a wild cherry Pepsi fan myself big-eyed Kelsey likes a nice little diet Pepsi Michelle, that's all the Pepsi out there. Seahawks are your Super Bowl 60 Champions and we love the old Northeast Ohio ball player Mike Braeble and a lot of the Patriots over there But the Seahawks they had the juice going into it, man And they defeated the Patriots 29 13. I'm not gonna lie I kind of imagine this would happen and it and it definitely was a good game And there was a point there when Drake Bay started getting the fucking juices going and the Yeah, late third early fourth and and they started to make a run at it But man the Seahawks just had too much man with Kenneth Walker with our guy A.J. Barner and Cooper Cup, man They just had the juice and I couldn't be happier for the guys over there because a lot of the guys are guys you could root for man Yeah, I mean listen, it's it's a Super Bowl. All both of these teams are very good Both of their defenses had been playing you know out of their minds all postseason and Seattle Is just loaded across the board like they don't set team that really doesn't have a weakness Which is kind of why I thought that they would prevail like it felt like they were the more talented group across the board But you never know I mean the Patriots were such a good team so well coach Yeah, by coach Vrabs and Josh McDaniel's like all year they just had been overachieving and yes Seattle just proved to be a little bit too much, man They're unbelievable on the defensive side of the ball offensively. They didn't make the mistakes that you know They kind of been prone to you right like Sam Donald had a bunch of turnovers in the regular season Doesn't have any in the postseason, and he didn't do that by being conservative. He was still taking his chances He was still being aggressive through the air. He got some love to the kicker. How about this? We're giving love to the kickers Pinn and some guys down inside the five Make-and-field goals. I am Jason Myers. I mean I do the first half. It was only field goals Sky was nailing everything. This guy went over with Pat McAfee trying to kick a field going all of a sudden He has appreciation for the kicking game now. I mean this is the biggest game in the year I'm freaking nailing kicks. Those are huge. Trailed for one minute and 35 seconds Total this entire playoffs. How fucking insane is that? That is crazy So they just got out to the jump and just freaking were leading all the way. I mean they blew out Sam frame Then the big one was the Rams game Which that was the teammates struggled with and had the closest battles with all season So yeah, I mean it is a problem. I mean they were the best team football this year the reality was like if you look at it across the board It was really them and LA those two teams in that division were the most consistently great teams all season alone and like yeah The Patriots had an incredible season on the in the AFC sort of the Broncos But I thought that those two teams in particular were the best all year they continued that throughout the playoffs And they continued in the football and it's a credit to Sam Donnell for where he's come in his career All the ups and downs and being with five different teams Cooper Cup gets cast out in LA comes back Surgeons in Seattle, and it's just a remarkable story of a team and How great they ended up being across the board. It reminds me a lot of You know our 17 season and I mean a lot of Super Bowl teams But you get like just the right group of guys that all come together man And it feels like everything's clicking the chemistry's there. I mean Sam Donnell is now everybody's talking about being a star But certainly not while the whole season was happening You know it doesn't have that like star studded MVP quarterback I mean, I think Leonard Williams is unbelievable. It doesn't have the you know Aaron Donnell or like the Miles Garrett like they're just so all Really really good across the board. They were a great team and it's an incredible year for that city and that franchise and Mike McDonnell In his second year in Seattle and how about that man Mike McDonnell's the same age as Jason Kelsey We just heard an offensive court and it's 33 years old It's not man I mean teams keep hiring these younger coaches, and I think it's for a reason man I think these young guys come in and they're very smart, but they have a they have a mindset that's open They're eager to prove themselves not though. I mean listen the old ball coaches have great strengths and what not to a lot of experience But I think it's interesting that it appears that you know the lead keeps going younger and younger with a lot of these coaching Hires grass so Mike McDonnell you finally gets to see his son Do you've heard enough of our thoughts on the game? Let's get to someone who actually played in it Please welcome back to the two-time Super Bowl champion and the first ever in NFL history To lead two different franchises of receiving yards and a Super Bowl win Mr. Cooper Thank you guys God, congrats big guy. Thank you. That was a hell of a game. How are you feeling? Yeah, you know it's net positive. We're in that positive state right now Yeah, it's been incredible. Tortell still is still hanging on right now or what? We're doing great. We're doing great over here Yeah, you know my my left eye is not working great. It's been you know now I'll hold up sleep the last couple days But it's been fantastic. It's been fantastic as it should be is the left eye not working a Result of the game or not sleeping. It's just not sleeping. It's just commitment to party. Yeah, I'm going to go. This is the thing guys Foxy and I'm party with my boys. I wish had a great story for you guys, but this is what happened Our boys and y'all got three little boys and well, I'm with the family of the game You know they they had a long day. They were pumped. They were out there screaming their their lungs out They started crashing around 12 o'clock, you know, it's so so it was Really what what the issue was getting them Very for bed, you know, I was I'm we're changing diapers. We're getting pajamas on pajamas have holes in them, which obviously aren't gonna work. They're not gonna work for that time Yeah, I get those yeah, I get it from jammers. It was it was it's the family stuff now. It's the family stuff life goes on You win a championship. You won a cerebral all stuff, but man life goes on It is funny because I was fortunate to win one in 17 before I had kids And it was a nonstop party for like four or five days And then the cerebral we've lost the cerebral so that was part of it too. I didn't I mean I was with my family the moment the game was over and you're just like basking in that So I'm sure you've you've experienced it a couple different ways at this point, right? Like pretty awesome Yeah, it is. It's amazing. I asked what I mean you have your moment in the locker room with the guys and that's such a special thing But then it's like I quit. Can I find my family be with me with my boys be with my wife and that was I mean sharing this it was like When we're not we're not jumping around the room screaming. It was just like the silence of this meal Old my boys have my wife right next to me like that was That was all I wanted. That's awesome brother. Congratulations. Yeah, thank you. Congrats again brother the two-time Cooper cup the the first time is always the sweetest man the second time has to be fucking epic for you right now especially because it's It's with a team that that it seemed like you guys just had the fucking like You guys just had the juice man, and it's and it's such a unique thing when you see the team loving each other like it was like you told us the stories Last week, and it was just you could tell how close you guys were yeah Mike Mcdonald your coach after the game you even say Cooper is an absolute force multiplier and absolute stud of a person Stud of a team at the have you been called a stud this many times in your life? It's a lot of it's a lot of stud. It's a lot of stud There we go. So net positive guy. Yeah, yep, yeah Did you look past this though this this should cement him in the Hall of Fame in my opinion Super Bowl MVP two-time champion all-time great teammate The guy was just loving you up at at the end of it, man It just shows how close you guys are man. Yeah, and we got we got a great grip real quick. Yeah, plunge that plunge that French press for me Yeah, there we go. Port yourself man is down you just Okay, in the future you just a nice slow nice slow press. Nice. That's too much really too fast. There's a little fast. We're so okay in the future That's a good color. Yeah, that's a good looking cup of coffee. Yeah, this is this this group. This group. We were so much fun to be a part of This is unbelievable. It's still going out. Yeah, this group was so much fun. It was so much fun to be a part of this this team and You know, I've appreciated working with Mike. He's been unbelievable and I mean all those things he said you don't get You don't go to the Hall of Fame for being a great teammate But you don't go to the Hall of Fame for winning six super balls either. We just learned right so I mean Yeah, what is what exactly are the credentials to give me in the hall. Yeah, it's up for debate right now apparently, but he'll be in You'll be in that. Sorry, I just had to go into my head as I was telling him. I feel like you've only had coaches under the age of 40, which is insane. Like, what is that every day like? Because I've literally only been in a building where it feels like my football dad or like my fucking like uncle is like looking at me like you need to pick this shit up. And it's like there's like an authority figure that's like there that's like has like the years of wisdom through like the like red far of it. And like the legends that we grew up playing like I only have that understanding through through that. Like what is it like playing for a guy that's like young high energy like not to say that Andy's not but go ahead. Oh, yeah. No, I mean, it is it's that that's all I know. So, you know, I've had young coaches. Yeah, basically my entire life. I mean, they think in college. So, I don't know any different energy and all that stuff is fantastic. And there's no there's never been an issue in terms of the like wisdom piece or the authority piece. I was like, yeah, like lack of lack of wisdom. Yeah. But I think what I appreciate is there's a there's like from Mike, there's been a humility that I think is really special. And, you know, I think the like accountability is a big part of that being able to admit that you don't know everything. And that's a that's a huge part of being a leader that is, you know, undervalued. And, you know, if you think you know it all, it's tough to it's tough to collaborate and collaboration is where football lives. You know, for sure, you know, he's been he's been awesome about that. And, uh, yeah. So I've really enjoyed being with Mike. Because I can't agree more like I've had young coach of it. Old coaches in don't give our Andy reads a one-on-one draft. But I find a lot of the times these young coaches that are hungry and really trying to make it do have this growth mindset just inherently. Like they're they want knowledge. They're trying to grow as much as possible. And they don't think they have everything figured out. And that's certainly one of their advantages. Uh, and as far as like leading anybody, like don't get wrong. If you've done something before, it's you get that initial buy in easier. But at the end of the day, players just if you as a coach or a leader as a player in the team, if I feel like you genuinely want me to be a better football player, not for any alter your motive of like career further man or like whatever other bullcrab gets in the way. Like if you genuinely, I can tell that you just want to like me to be the best version of myself I can be, dude, I will follow that guy like wherever. Like he's honest or like authentic, all that stuff. And it feels like Mike has that in spades. Obviously you guys had that like incredibly all year round. You could feel the tightness to this team. Yeah, let me let me get this back to the game. No, yeah, it's just how the game was expected to go. Like what did you guys think as the game was going around? Yeah, I mean, we expected to go out there and win the thing. Come on, it's just what we expect to go out there, but there's, but you know, you're playing us to really really good football team. You're not in this. You don't get to the cerebral regardless of all the storylines around. Like they had to navigate the storylines about. You know, whether they deserve to be all this stuff. And that's just, it's all, it's all baloney, right? They are in the Super Bowl for a reason. They're a good football team. They're well coached. There's good players over there. So you know, you're playing against the best in the world. It's the best in the world. Like you know, then I fell you're playing as the best in the world. But the expectation wants to go out there and win. And I thought they had a really good plan early on. I thought offensively, you know, we were uphill on a lot of plays early on. Where it's like, man, they've, they've got a good feel for stuff. They're, they're putting their players in really good positions. And, and we were making some mistakes that allow us to finish drives. And luckily, you know, JMI was unbelievable finishing drives and field goals for us. But then what I'm into the day, the, the defense just played lights out. And that's, that gives you so much confidence offensively. When those guys are just like, stop after stop after stop. And you know, the hey guys, some, some of these drives like, like, an eight played drive. That, that eats up clock and flips the field is a win offensively at this point in the game, right? Right. Right. It's crazy, man. We play this game, we just do the things right. Like we don't need to play outside of our own stuff that they've got a good plan for us. Let's make some plays. Let's finish these drives. The defense is going to get us into a short field and we're going to go finish it. Get scored touchdown and put the game away. And I thought as the game went on and that became clear. This is a game that we can be in that space. We did a good job adjusting and being able to be in a place where it's like, hey, we can just, we can grind this game out. Where it's not even a chance you're going to give him a chance to do anything. Amen, brother. And you guys did just that. Yeah. Do you have any idea what's, what's the store for the future? If you thought about that, are you still in reflection mode, at least for the next foreseeable few days? I mean, yeah, I think you take a couple days and enjoy this. It's the NFL. You know, like this, this team that we had this year is not going to be the same. And I'm enjoying, you know, we got today, tomorrow is the parade. And we get, you know, our last two days to be with this team and what this 2025, 26 CLC ox team was about. But then it's, then it's going to be look forward. And, you know, you loved it. I love to be a part of this organization and what these guys are doing and what's been being built here. And then the goal is then like, hey, you, you've got, you got six weeks until, you know, six weeks until. All right, it's eight weeks until okay, start. So how are we going to start building for what this organization is going to do for the next year? And it doesn't be, it doesn't stop time keeps going on. And we got, we got like CLC ox of 22, 26, 27. If technically starts now, you know, and so we're already, we're behind. I love it. I love it. It isn't a crazy. You win the freaking Super Bowl. And then immediately you're already thinking about what I'm going to get back there. But that's, that's why you have to and I have to say you have to enjoy the journey. The journey is everything because if you're living for this, if you're living for this week, like this is one, this is one week. You get to enjoy the game, do your family reflect on it. The parade happens and it's like, you got to move forward. And this is, you're not going to find everyone's, everyone here's going to be like, man, it hasn't hit me yet. It's not going to hit you. It's not, it's not like a moment that's like, oh, suddenly it's going to happen. It's like, no, we're going to remember is, you know, some of this, some of this week, but what you're going to remember is, you know, the training camp, like the grind of things and being like, man, I remember the, when we were exhausted, so the conversation we had in the locker room, guys are so tired that they're laughing. They're like giggling because they're just so delusional. You know, but it's like, man, those are so, those moments, it's all those things. They're going to be so valuable, all the adversity that you deal with, all those things. How, how low did we go? How all these moments that were like, man, you're at the bottom, that make the top feel so much better. And you're going to remember that journey. And that's what's the most valuable piece of this whole thing, dude. You're going to be fired up, right? Seriously, I'm good goosebumps. That shit's epic, man. We do got a rap. I got one more question. Pray tomorrow. What, what are we rolling with for the parade? You got an outfit selected. You, I'm talking to the costume. I'm actually talking to the outfit after you. I want to do something. I want to do something cool. You know, I want to do, I've had thoughts like, do a getting, do you get me each hero jersey? Do you do like, do you do something like that? You know, there's, I don't know. Listen, Jason, if you got an idea, you, you send it over to me and we, maybe, maybe, if it aligns, you make something happen. You know, I mean, you know, okay? You let me know. Let me, I'm going to get this coffee in me and then these ideas just start flowing. That's how it works. Going. Yeah, we're up some ideas. We got our guy, AJ Barnett, pulling up after this. Let's go. So pumped for Barnyard, man. Hey, that place was almost a disaster. It was almost a disaster. How? Oh, we were, we were all out there. Like, look, there was a, there was a problem. I think it was on the wristband, but we called the play Jackson is out at the time he's going through his protocol to get back out. The call ended up being like the formation was backwards to what the play called. And so we end up like me and Rashid ended up on the same side. I'm like, dude, we're like, no, you're on the other side. But then formations backwards, I see AJ running towards me. I'm like, oh my gosh. I'm about to run the wrong route. So I changed it on the fly. We almost had. Let's go. We got done. We got done. Ball player. I don't know if you, I don't know if you'll, I don't know if you'll even be aware of it. I almost ran right into him because I was about to run the wrong route. And actually, at the snap, I'm like, oh, I have to fix it. That was a great play to whoever, whoever fucking put that together. That was an awesome fucking play. Oh no. Down now. We lost him. Come on. Just come back, come back. What an electric story, though. That's epic. The athlete forward has been found we're in business. Cooper, I believe you were talking about the play, AJ Barner play. And you're saying he might not know, might not be aware of what was happening on the outside. And the consternation I was happening between me and Rashid, knowing that we were told the play was being run the opposite direction, you know. Yes. Yeah. But who knows? Maybe he's so dialed in out there. he was aware and was going to make it happen, you know. So did you go from like running like a backside dagger to like a, like a, like a hitch? Uh, no, I went from running a, a backside basic to a take two post. Oh, take two. You cleared it out for him. Yeah, but I don't know that the coverage really did my job on that job. At the end of the day, my, I just need to get out of the way. My coverage we got, the coverage we got was perfect. I just had to get out of there. But it would've been bad. How's running a bit? If I was running a basic, there's a chance I'm just collisioning a J coming out of the, out of that wingspot. Who knows? All player, man, just a ball player. That's why it pays them smart players, man. It's what pays to have guys that work with the QBs at 6 a.m. And are in the fucking blitz meetings. Exactly. We had said if this ever gets called backwards, remember you guys guys. Hi, we're not going to keep you any longer, man. We appreciate you coming back on your course. Congrats again, brother. Thank you guys so happy for you, man. Enjoy the parade. Join me in a champion. King of the castle. King of the castle. He's his favorite saying of the day, saying of the day. Hi, thank you to our presenting sponsor, Xfinity. Xfinity knows that a lock and change in five years. So they created Xfinity five year price guarantee. Oh, how about that? Xfinity members, you don't have to worry about their internet price changing. That's right. Get one price for five years guarantee. No contracts, no commitments, just reliable Wi-Fi all at the same price. Five years from now, who knows where will be, but Xfinity members, they'll know one thing. That's right. They're still going to be paying that same internet price. They locked in today. Get it now at xfinity.com. Xfinity, imagine that restrictions apply. Select plans only. Thank you to our partner, American Express. All right. Now 92% is question for you. What's the number one most stressful part of traveling? I mean, it's got to be the airport, right? Bingo. You could have it all planned out. Then find yourself running through the terminal coat half on phone at 3%. It's chaos. But after years of constant travel, I've learned something very important, Travis. Here we go. Jason, hit him with that veteran wisdom rushing to your flight isn't to play. You got to find an escape inside the airport. That's where American Express Platinum card comes in handy. Yes, because when you're a card member, you can step away from the chaos and into the comfort of a lounge. Who doesn't love a good lounge? I love a good lounge. With Amics Platinum, you can enjoy access to over 1,550 airport lounges through the largest global lounge network has compared to other credit card companies as of July 2025. You walk in. It's calm, relax. Enjoy a top notch meal, maybe. It's a destination before the destination. If you're catching what I'm saying, I'm catching what you're saying. That's right. It makes airports more enjoyable. That's the bottom line. And that's a better and move. If you travel a lot, you know award winning service when you see it. That's right. And it's true what they say. There's nothing like Platinum terms apply learn more and American Express dot com slash with Platinum. Thank you to our partner, Raising Cains coming off the big game in San Francisco. We wanted to give a big shout out to Raising Cains and founder Todd Gray's for coming out to the new high party. Good food. Good times. Two things. Cains and Todd know a thing or two about. That's right. We had to check and figure some cane sauce all at the party. And got me. No things are good. All right. Now in this week, Cains is hosting a fan event that Seahawks Sam Donald is going on a super bowl quarterback shift at Cains. That's right. He's going to be working at registers serving a box combos in the kitchen, making Cains sauce. I didn't even know they made that sauce. I thought that sauce was already made. And obviously he's going to be celebrating a championship with the fans. Well, there's going to be a fun partnership Cains does and we can't wait to see it. Shout out to Todd Graves and shout out to Raising Cains delicious chicken finger meals. Hope that wraps up Cooper Cups interview. Let's move it on over to our next guest. Our next champion, man. I can't wait for you guys to meet old barnhouse. Yeah, Cleveland boys. Come on, Jason, I never met you, bro. AJ, good to meet you. Good to meet you, AJ. Always good to meet a little North East Ohio guy. Yes, Claire. We stick together, dog. Just a ball player ball. Let's go. We just play ball, rain, snow, parking lots, cement, turf, super motor, pick the place. I'll be there. There we go. And you got a touch in the game. Man, we needed that. We needed that. Well done. Well done. All right, we're going to do an intro and then we're going to get right to it. I was good. And 92% of us, we are not done. We've got one more world champion channel. See Hawk for you. Our next guest is six foot six Titan from Aurora, Ohio. He's on a national title at the University of Michigan. And now he is a super champion with the Seattle sea. Thanks. Thank you, percentage. Please welcome to the show. Swatchamp, AJ Barnyard, Burner. Yeah, baby. The touchy in the Super Bowl, dude. Did you black out before you hit the fucking on a man? You know how it is just yes, blacked out slow motion. Everything just becomes slow motion. And then just all the boys find you. And it's just like it's hard to collect yourself after that and be like, all right, like let me finish this game and be ready to go make another play. Dude, it's so epic dog. And it was a big time touched on the only touchdown, man. We had Cooper on this thing talking about how he heard the play might have been flipped or there might have been just like a little bit of like a miscommunication on where yeah. Did you know that that was going on? I just caught wind of that. And like, you know how this step I heard. I heard yada yada wise scissors. I'm like, all right, bed. I know the play. Like it's going out. I know where to line up. You boys line up. Let's get this damn play called. Yeah. So fucking good dog. You came through. So it's a great fucking play design, by the way. Fucking awesome. I'm sure you guys had had ran the run to that where you got you're helping out to the outside zone to it and everything. I've ran that play once or twice in my day from the backfield. Being from the backfield or running a corner, the hardest part is getting through the linebacker coming to meet you. And you sell it. You just fucking slid up just a little bro. If he fucking wrecked like if he collisions you, that plays a completed play. No, no walk us through it, man. You saw him coming through the fucking hole. Let's hold on. We got it on tape. Let's play it. And then do you want to talk over it if you want, AJ? Yeah, let's bring out the broadcast in the guy. Let's go. I'm going to have this a tee you next year. You're going to be on the fucking draw on board dude. Thanks. I was going to bust your balls below. I was going to say, man, like people don't say that. Trap blocks. Trap does block for sure. But some of the dns be working with travel a little bit. I don't know what we're going to do. But they show love a little bit. Good union. We didn't work. Good. Yeah, you're good. So we run out. We run the shit out of outside zone. This is Zoro concept. I'm sure you guys know Zoro. Yeah. And like this combination is two tight ends, Zoro blocking and N big to like usually the corner, the safety who's down who's this guy who's down there. So I'm back here. Yep. Yeah. So obviously we're going two for two there. We've ran the hell out of it. And like Travis said, pre snap. Like I'm looking over there. I guess the formation was messed up. And I'm trying to get a guy. Who am I going to have to navigate here to get out. And again, like it's like, I feel like the route is what it is on the paper. But it's like, all right, like how can I get out and just get free? Get free. Yeah. If you run it, just navigate it out of there. And as soon as I seem to clear, I was just off his hip. And then could have been a little bit smoother. But could have been smoother. What are you talking about? You got to touch that is super low. Now, bro, are you kidding me? No, no, no, no, no, for sure. Maybe going to stay up, but I'll get out of here. I'm just like running, bro, when you got through second level clean, where you like, I'm open. I'm open. I'm open. Bro, that's like, my work is just like, yeah, yeah. It's like, where's this ball that I'm trying to find to track it? I know it's coming. And you know how it is, too, like I'm looking for the quarterback. Yeah, I'm trying to find the quarterbacks eyes and like where he's at in the pocket. You see it in there. The trajectory of it. Finally, like once you locate the quarterback. And then it's just like, all right, let me go glue this. There we go, baby. And then boom, the wheel stops slow motion. Yeah, but I feel like you live those moments out before they happen. Like the only reason I want to play this back is you guys do such a good job of selling this. The backers actually run through, right? Yeah, and that's why I want to give a Arnold surprise he stands there and delivers this with, he knows he's about to get crushed. Oh, yeah. Linebacker is coming down right on top of him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like right in front of him. Yeah. Doesn't bat and I knows that you're going to be there. Sammy's a dog, man. Just well done by both of you guys. Sammy's a dog. Physical cat too. Played linebacker in high school. So if you're playing ball for this D-hawks, you better be able to lower some pads. You just spoke to Jason's soul when you said he played linebacker in high school. Damn straight. Damn straight. Oh, yeah. Well, how you feeling, bud? Super bowl champion. Feeling really good. Feeling really good. Yeah. Our team's a little like we got some vets on the team on our offense. I'm definitely a young cat. Swag champ, though, baby. You already know you bring the juice. Yes, sir. You bring the juice for the old cat, dog. You already know. You got to. Somebody's got to do it. I'm going to enjoy it for sure. But quite honest, I'm trying to take it all in. Dude, I'm so happy for you. Have you slept yet? Yeah, bro, after the game, I was honestly just with the fan. Like we were in San Jose like way outside the city. So we got after a little bit, but like you guys know how it is, too. Like the peak is that confetti falling down. Like is the club in San Jose going to do it for me after that? Like. Probably not. Probably not. Probably not. But eventually I'm going to celebrate in it in the right way. Well, you better be here. You got to parade tomorrow, right? For sure. You know what you're wearing? I might channel my inner Jason on the mic. Let's go. I can't wait to hear this. Oh, yeah, it's going to be awesome. Have you thought about what you're going to say? If you're going to get on the mic? No. No, let's let it go. I'm one of the guys to like, let's get coop on the mic. Let's get Sammy on the mic. I'll vibe with the crowd. I'm going to live life and just enjoy the moment. And see where it takes me. Are you are you more of a beer or liquor guy? What are we going beer? For sure. If I could tell you one advice, Midwest beer. If I could give you one bit of advice. Dude, if you stick with the light beer, you're going to be good, right? The moment you start pouring the shots down and everybody's over. We want to do. Yeah, no. Yeah, I want that. You're going to be bad. It's a marathon. Yeah, no doubt. You know when the beers are when the beers are starting to kick. Yes. And the liquor, the liquor will hit you out of nowhere. Sneaks up on it. Yeah. Give me that right hook. For sure. This guy's won a title before. How does this feel compared to when you won at Michigan? I just feel like when you have a team, like the ingredients are there. Like y'all have won championships before. Like there's a lot of similarities between championship teams. And I felt that with this team. And I'm a little bit spoiled because like I've had the confetti and reached the pinnacle at that level. Obviously, it's different. But to have the experience just two short years ago. It's been incredible. And obviously like the super pro is a whole another level. But like quite frankly, I feel like the vibe that you get with this team is like. We just kind of expected to be here. And now it's happened. And it's like holy shit. Like we did it. You know, so I think it's just going to continue to settle in and be better and better. But you know, we're going to enjoy it. And then shit next year is going to roll around and roll. We'll have a target on our back. That's how it goes, baby. Well, you'll definitely have the target on your back. But that's what you want. It's it's good to have the target on your back. Yeah. It's an honor to have the target on your bad man. So best should ever. Bags, bro. Bags. Well, your first year. Do you have a welcome to the NFL moment? I mean, I guess it's one of the true ball. That's a hell of a lot. Man. All right, man. I've been. I've been saving this story for a great podcast. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Please. Here. Bless us. Please. Here. And I got to look at my guy Rich here because I've been saving this one. And we'll see where it goes. But okay. So Cooper caught mentioned that like I'm like, uh, you know, just like you never know what you're going to get. Of course. And Cooper had mentioned to the media this story about me being capped in hook. Yeah. So many different directions. Yes. If you know me like, I'm going to have fun always, but like I'm always being in control. And that's besides the point, but but y'all will figure that out. But anyway, okay. All right. Week six. Jaguars away. Yes. Yes. Pull up to the stadium. You know how it is like got to go to the bathroom before the game and you know that bathroom's got to and you know that bathroom is going to be a nightmare. What the longer you wait. Multiple ways. So I get up in there. I get up in there. One of the first people to get in the locker. I'm like, but I'm going to go do my thing. Whatever. Yeah, man. Do five day. DJ Lair. Get down to the bathroom. Big, big guy. Y'all know how it is in the stall. I go to like lean forward and sit back. Crack my head on this hook. That's like. Oh, bro. Yeah. And it's one of those moments where like you you kick your dresser like something in the house and you're like mother. Mother. Yeah. I sit down. I sit down. Yeah. I'm like, yo, so I get up. Don't do my business. I get up and like my teammates know me. I'm like. Fuck, where's the training room? Like the fuck I just put my head open, bro. Like looking around the training room, bro. Finally make the training room. I get up in there. They're obviously like, bro, what just happened. And I'm like trying to elaborate to them. I'm trying to get ready for the game. There's blood rushing on my face. The next thing they hit me with is we're going to have to cut your hair. I'm like. Not that I had not the lead. Bro. But the lead is I just got a trail. Are you kidding me? Yeah, yeah. They cut out this little patch, which I still low. You have a little bald spot. No stitches. Thank God. Thank God. Yeah. Yeah. We put a piece of guys in it. I wear, I wear a skull cap. I go back to that same stall. Got to finish my business in that stall. Just to let that stall know it's not going to have power over me. I'm sure my dominance. Yeah, to let that stall know. The fuck had to let it go. Captain Hook had to let the stall know the barnyard was there. And then went out. One of the game had my season high and receiving yards. Basically off one catch that. And we won the game and I cracked my head open. And that's it. Captain Hook. Captain Hook. There we go. Crazy. That's so crazy. But y'all can only imagine like just getting in that frame of mind for the game. And next thing you know, you just cut your head open and just blood. I was like, bro, like, what are we doing? So it was epic. I've only known one story from that in college. We had a guy. I won't say his name. Everybody from the university will know him. But he would bash his head through the drywall right before the game. We don't assimilate in this like one area. We don't know that one guy. Yeah. And he would bang it. And there were just wall holes in all the walls. We go. We go to the bowl game in Canada. The International Bowl. And my guy goes to do it again. And he hits a stud. And this is the time your head. No, he could have played. Could have played the game. You didn't play. Could have played. Yeah. Dude. I forget that. That would be the guy that would be like, hey, I'm still playing. I think you wanted to. They didn't let him. He definitely wanted to. Everyone knows that guy. Yeah, exactly. You need one of them on the team. And if you're from Cleveland, you may or may not have been that guy. Exactly. Exactly. There you go. I've been there. All right. One more. One more before we let you go. We got to ask you about this quote blocking for Kenneth Walker. All right. Grind meat, carry water. We get it done in the trenches, baby. All right. No, that's a fucking right. All right. Where did this come from? The bottom. The bottle. The bottle. I would have heard it like your replacement or something like that. Bro, like you guys said, like sometimes the boys need a little pick me up on offense. I play tight end. I'm next to the old line. Like I kind of got my cred for being a blocker, even though. Okay. You know, you know, oh, yeah, I get after in the trenches and I love my old line. I love running the rock. And I played a Michigan and we run the piss out of the ball. Yeah. And when you're wearing on a team, you're grinding frickin' meat. When it comes down to the end of the game, you need a four-minute drill. Grind meat. So it just became like some of the guys at first. You know how some of the guys are? I'm like, man, let's grind this meat. So it just became a thing like the old line loved it for 60 minutes of your life. We're about to fucking grind this goddamn meat. Goddamn it for the fuck. It's terrible. I love it. We're about to grind meat and just run the piss out of the ball and just bro. Yeah. So that's what it became. And I feel like everyone knows the saying like chop wood, carry water. So it just became grind meat, carry water. And that's just the mentality that the hawks play with. Like we play bully ball. We want to get after in the trenches and that's what it is. I love it. I love it. I'm stealing it too. I love it. Grind meat. Yeah. Grind meat. Dude. AJ. Not enough time with your dog, but we're going to let you go, bro. So such a fucking honor to be able to get you on the pod. You already know north. He's so high. Well, bro, since I mentioned you, you're going to fucking keep doing great things, man. So happy. I appreciate that. Oh, we got it. We got to tap in. I just want to pick your brain on some on some ball and obviously, you know, talk, talk ball and all that. So if you want me to Jason, appreciate you guys having me on here, man. It's been an honor and got a lot of love for you guys, man. Honors all ours. Congratulations, brother. Appreciate you guys. Captain. Yeah. Yeah. Hi, I thank you to Cooper Cup and AJ Barner. Let's hit on some non football Super Bowl stuff. How about that, right? I just fucking love those dudes, man. Both of them A1 people, ball players, God damn, it's got to be a fun fucking team to be on right now. I can't wait to see the brand of all. Oh, it's going to be epic. We got out of the house. San Francisco at the Super Bowl this week. The ESPD. What was the best party? The fucking New Heights party. It was the best suit and I may be biased because New Heights is New Heights, but we had everybody that I could have ever wanted to come through. We got to play some fucking arcade games. I never get around arcade games enough. Like I left that, like I left that party being like, man, I wish I could just play a few more games. Like, why did they have to just end the night like that? You're right. Everybody that was there. There were so many incredible people. I don't even want to start listing them just because it's like, where do you stop? And where do you start? Yeah. It was, it was star studded. It was a ton of people that helped put the show on, shout out to everyone and the New Heights production and with one degree in Amazon and it was just, it was awesome on every single level. And we had a blast. Oh, best place you chugged a beer dude. You were all over the place. I like going to places whenever we get into these cities and checking things out and getting a good feel and doing the tourist thing and had an idea to, I'm going to drink a beer in all these places like that. I've always wanted to visit and be at and have a beer at. So, you know, we avoided getting any fines for open containers because I just drink them as fast as possible before the cops can show up and then it's you. So we just have a good time. All right. There's jacket that I wore to the New Heights party is from a store called Love on Hate. Got to shout them out over in the history of San Francisco where the hippie movement basically started with the really. And Janice Chaplin, yeah, man, a lot of awesome. Oh, yeah, man. Pretty cool. It's a tie-dye shop. Apparently, we'll always be a tie-dye shop. I love some good tie-dye men. The thing is epic. San Francisco was an awesome city, probably drank about 60 to 70 beers throughout the week. So I'm going to recharge it. Had a blast. Did you DJ anywhere? No, I'm not, I'm not a DJ quite yet, but I am a, I am a like proud supporter of DJs everywhere. I am a big, big music guy and I'll go everywhere. I saw two of my favorites over in loud luxury at the tight ends of Friends Party with George and Claire and hung out with the chain smokers, saw my guy disco lines. Did you see Shabuzy? I did. I depth up Shabuzy. He came over to the hotel, I was like, I was just with your brother, I'm like, oh, okay, no. So it was like a drive-by, depth up, man, love you, you're the best and kept it moving man, but Shabuzy is fucking awesome, dude. Yeah, it was a, I felt like that was, that's 90% of my conversations at the Super Bowl. I never get a fucking good, like, hang with anybody. Even if I've known you my entire life, it's always just like a quick, like, how are things? Well, there's, yeah, great. We got to catch up, I got to keep moving and there's a lot of, yeah. But it was, it was awesome to see them and I ended up catching a Stapleton live, man. That was the coolest performance I think I've ever seen at a Super Bowl. Being Stapleton in person, in a venue like that, it was a very, I want, I don't want to say it was intimate, but whoever's event that was, which I just showed up because it's Christableto. But whoever's event that was was fucking, they'd played it perfectly. Stapleton went up there and fucking rocked the stage as he always does, it was just such a vibe, man. Kylie and I've been to a number of Stapleton shows at this point, I mean, he does not disappoint in any venue, but there is something, we saw him last year's Super Bowl and it was a similar environment where it's not like small, small, but there's something about it where it's like intimate. He's like right there and he's just got so much character and feel to his voice in the songs. Well, we got the interview coming up with him that we, that we got that we'll be releasing at a later date. Awesome. Chris is the man. Best show I've ever been do still, like love going to his shows. Shout out to Stapleton. Shout out to San Francisco. Awesome. Did a great job hosting this Super Bowl. It's the second time I've been in the San Fran for Super Bowl, man, and both of them were so much fun, man. The only negative is like how far the stadium is away from the San Francisco, like city area, like you're driving to go to it, but most of the stuff throughout the week is centrally located in San Fran, which isn't that bad. We grew up in an era of like fandom and Cleveland did this to his Cleveland had all sporting events in one located area. The Gateway District in Cleveland was that it was the, you had the tribe, you had Jacob's field, you have Gondorina, you had Gondorina, you know what I mean, they kept it all downtown right there. And it was just, it was, it made it easy and it made so much sense in our minds. The owners, they, they get so much more opportunity getting to the outskirts of the city. And it's just, it, it's hard to argue with those opportunities, and I'm, and we're dealing with it right now in Kansas City, like we're, we're going over to Kansas, but at the same time, it's like, if you look at that deal in terms of a owner, like that's one of the greatest opportunities you could ever get as an owner. And I think it's going to be unbelievable once it's finally set in stone, but it is going to be kind of heartbreaking knowing that the chiefs are going to move away from Arrowhead and that, that, that side of like the Missouri side of Kansas City. And it's just, it's, yeah, it's just a part of the old, you know, professional sports, you know, it is a business at the end of the day. And I think a lot of circling back to the San Fran deal, man, it was still awesome to be around the city of San Francisco, feel the culture, feel the excitement that was going on all week inside that city. And then it's still a beautiful stadium that, that they played Super Bowl at. So. Well, listen, I, I hear what you're saying, and if I was an owner, I might feel differently, but fuck that, keep those stadiums in the cities. I know you guys want to make all your money and you want to have your shows and you want to do all this stuff. I hear you, man. The fans pay a lot of the money for you guys to have all these things. And for the NFL to exist. And I just, I don't like the stadiums moving. I don't like the Cleveland's moving out of Cleveland. I don't like that. Well, the Arrowhead's already outside of Arrowhead. So I don't really care that much whether it's in Missouri or Kansas. But like, I don't know, man, these, these cities, there's something awesome about going downtown into the heart of Cleveland to go see a Browns game. They could figure out a way to build a new stadium downtown. But you could build a big, beautiful stadium right down there. And you can do the same thing in Kansas City. You could do the same thing in all these places, and then it wouldn't be an hour and a half drive out there. I get that these owners want to make money, but at the same time, I don't know why I don't like it. I don't like it. I hear you, dude. I hear you. We're both on the same train in that regard. Yeah. It's just kind of how we're built, man. Once again, both topics is brought to you by Pepsi. And let's move on to some steps of the week, steps of the week is brought to you by Raising Canes. Our friends over at Raising Canes through a bunch of fucking parties. I met Todd Graves for the first time. Nice. You actually got to stay with some too? He's at the New Heights party. Nice, man. I don't need to read any other nominee. I know where I'm going. Stay with the week goes. The Jeff Stoutlin, listen, Jeff Stoutlin resigned from his post with the Philadelphia Eagles. This past week, you know, after 13 years, the offensive line coach, I mean, just coached a ton of incredible players, Jason Peters, Todd Herrmann's Evan Mathis, myself, Lane Johnson. Jordan, a lot of turn him from a rugby player into an all pro left tackle. Got Cam Jones through a pro bowl last year, landing Dickerson, do some pro bowls. Isaac Salem, Maloo, like he's just, he's done such an incredible job within the Philadelphia Eagles organization. And he's been such a mainstay throughout multiple head coaches at this point. You know, it just sucks to see him go selfishly. As an Eagles fan, and as somebody who played with him and somebody that I still goes to the, you know, still goes the facility, I still go to Nova Care on a regular basis. And I'm not going to be able to see Stout anymore. And that's just, you know, it's frustrating for me. And I think frustrating for a lot of people that I'm building, because he was, he was a personality that was, you know, a lot of people gravitated towards. And, you know, this is the reality of the business coach. I love you. I don't know what's next, but whatever it is, whether it's coaching or whatever. I know you're going to be great at it, as you always are. And, you know, I get that the team is trying to move forward and really embrace this new system and, you know, really redesign what this offense is. I wish Stout could have been a part of that, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. And, um, anyways, love your coach. Couldn't be more happy to have been coached by in 27 Pro Bowl linemen, who were with Stout over the 13 years. Wow. You already know, man, we got so much respect for him. And he's one of those guys that you meet and cross and crossing just because you were playing for him. Or I got to meet and crossing just because you were playing for him. And he's one of those guys that you would fucking just know you'd love playing for, man. And it's across the board. Anybody that runs into him knows you're going to get everything this guy has. And on top of that, he's going to be real about it and we're going to get shit done. of the best ball coaches that I've known from afar. and could it be more proud to say, could grads on everything that your career has gotten to this point, Coach Stopman. We love you over there and at the same time, if you ever wanna come on a podcast and talk some ball with some old, has Ben's man, come on over dude. - Always welcome, just love that. - Always. - Hi, what else do we wanna get into? - Who do I wanna give a shout out to? The quarterback of the Super Bowl. Sammy Darnold, man, you get my fucking stamp of the week, stamp of the year, man. - There we go. - We're so fucking happy for you, man. And the world is happy for you. You've weathered the storm perfectly to where everybody's fucking rooting for you. And I'm so fucking, I'm so just, you know, the static for you dog, stamp of the week because you fucking fought through the bull shit and you're the fucking crown champion, man. You're at the top of the fucking mountain. Couldn't be happier for you, man. - And that wraps up stamp of the week, brought to you by Raising Canes. Get to your Raising Canes and enjoy some chicken. - And some toast, don't forget the toast. - Thanks to our partner, Expedia. - When we travel, we like to keep things simple. - Of course we do, Expedia is the all-in-one travel shop. When planning trips, flights, hotels, vacation rentals, cars, activities, you name it. It has all of it right there. - It does, and that's easily the best thing about using it, is that it is all right there. You don't have to go to 15 different sites and yada, yada, but it being by the boom, you can package it all up in one bundle on Expedia. That's what I've always enjoyed about it. And listen, especially when you're doing it with a big family trip or a trip with the guys, it gets complicated if you're having to go to all these different things, right? So that's where it really comes in handy for me. - With Expedia, you can book however you want, lock everything in at once or book it piece by piece, flight by flight, and then house by house and then car by car, you can just do it by your needs. And when you bundle on Expedia, you can save up to 30%. - It just makes sense, one place, everything you need, no balancing between apps. - Expedia, the one place you go to go places. - Members only say things very and see the site for details. - Thank you to our partner, Pepsi. - Oh, I love it, good, wow, Jay Pepsi. Over the weekend, you probably saw Pepsi's new spot with the polar bear doing the Pepsi challenge. And look, we got to talk about it because it's actually kind of wild. - It is, it's the Pepsi paradox basically. When you take the labels off and just go by taste, people choose Pepsi every single time. - Everybody knows this, they brought back the Pepsi challenge. - And get this, two thirds of people said, Pepsi zero sugar tastes better than the competition. - And Pepsi zero sugar won in 100% of the markets they tested. That's not just winning, that's dominating. - Break out the brooms because that's what I call it, clean sweep. - Don't trust us, find Pepsi zero sugar near you and let your taste decide. - 'Cause you deserve taste, you deserve Pepsi. - Thank you to our sponsor, Allstate. - Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance, that's smart. - Not checking the weather before a work trip. (sighs) Not smart. - Nothing says professional like shivering on the sideline. - Yeah, checking first is smart. - So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds, you're in good hands with Allstate. - Potential saving is very subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate, North American insurance company and affiliates in Northbrook, Illinois. Let's get to the Hall of Fame portion of today's show. That's right, first ballot, Hall of Famer, Drew Breeze. We had a chance to talk to him over in San Francisco and it did not disappoint. Get ready. Oh, quick shout out to Chase Daniel, sorry, in advance. It was not us. Our guest today is a former walk on quarterback from Purdue. He is a five time all pro, 13 time pro boy, two time NFL offensive player of the year, NFL comeback player of the year, the second most passing yards in NFL history, Super Bowl champions, you playing VP, and also now officially a first ballot Hall of Famer. Please welcome Drew Breeze. - I made it. - Cheers to that, baby. (laughing) Drew, you're the man, brother. Thank you so much for coming on. - Thank you. - We gotta start with the Hall of Fame. It just happened. - Yeah, it's fresh. - Dan Foults, that's how you found out. - Yeah, yeah, that not came about three weeks ago. It was a great set up. - Supercharger himself. - I know. So I share a birthday with my oldest son, day one, so he's one of my 30th birthday. So we had a birthday weekend. It's always Martin Luther King weekend. So really the weekend's about him, just doing whatever he wants to do. So then Monday rolls around and my daughter, who's 11, is like the light of my life, just says that I don't wanna take you out to eat. I'm like, oh, nice. This is the greatest. So my wife, my daughter, they're ready to go. Five o'clock, be ready. We're gonna take you out to eat. So I'm ready and the boys are messing around doing some upstairs. I'm like, boys, let's go, you know, Ryland wants to take that out to eat. Let's go. And they're messing around. So now I'm starting to get a little fired up. I'm like, you know, Ryland said, five o'clock, we're leaving the house. I'm like about to get in the car and leave the wall, right? And then all of a sudden, here's the knocking door. And now I'm a little, I'm like, who's knocking the door now? We're trying to leave, you know, my daughter set this up. I just want this to be special for her. And then there's Mr. Supercharger Dan Foults himself in the whole jacket, welcoming me into the Hall of Fame. So it was, they had me. It was a good setup. What happens when you feel that? Like do you like think about your career? Like you think about, like, it's gotta be crazy in that moment, right? Yeah, it was, like I said, like, my mind was totally elsewhere. So it was such a, it was such a shock. And I mean, obviously cameras, you know, and NFL films and everything too. And then all of a sudden, it is. It's the rush of emotion. And just thinking about getting to that moment and just everything that's transpired. And I immediately look at my family. And I mean, honestly, I played so much longer than I ever thought I would. And in many cases, I did it because I wanted my kids to remember what that did. So cool, man. And then I'm looking at them and, you know, I see their eyes well and up and just, you know, lost it. That's awesome, brother. So beautiful. So beautiful family walk on to Hall of Fame or, brother. Not many can say that, dog. I only know one that may have a chance. You shut up. (laughs) So what's the process now? Have you already thought about like, what picture you're going to use for your bust? Like, are you, who's going to introduce you? - I know who's going to introduce me. But I can't say because I want to make that special. But yeah, yeah, it's, you start thinking about those. I mean, literally each moment since then has gotten me a little closer to reality. You know, at that time, it's still so surreal. And you just want to pinch yourself and you're not sure if it's just a dream. But I'd say yesterday, before they announced it at honors, a couple of hours before all our class of Hall of Famers, you know, got into a room. So Larry Fitzgerald blew out of his hair. Yeah, Roger Craig. - I mean, they're all, I mean, it was a trap. You got it to us. - Oh, we're sitting there. We got the front row seat, the whole thing. And we're seeing everybody come out. You're the last one. He taps me all the way. I was like, dude, this is a great class. I'm like, yeah, Jason, it's the Hall of Fame. (laughter) You do expect to not know anyone they were saying. - But how many first ballet guys? Like, I don't know. - It does feel like a special while. - I always say this. - I don't know the last time you actually went and looked at each class in Hall of Famers. - It's been a while. - Since they started doing this. - Yeah, okay. - But literally every class, it's almost like each one is like, whoa, that was a great class. - Cheers. - Like that was a great, I mean, every one of them, it just makes you realize just how elite it is. And I think the feeling last night after we were called onto the stage and then all the Hall of Famers start matriculating out of the crowd and coming up on stage. - Yeah, absolutely. - I mean, it's like this indoctrination, like, welcome. - Yeah. - I mean, it's like, wow. - So do you go, I know you retire as a certain franchise usually. Do you go into the Hall of Fame as a specific one? - Organization? - Yeah. - Oh, I mean, it's saints, obviously. (cheering) - That was the one thing that was a ring. - You already know. - Nothing against Fouls. - But that was a little thing that was surprising to me. Is there like a personal connection there? Like, why chargers and not like a former saint? - So he was one of the first guys that I spoke with when I was drafted, was Dan Fouls, obviously, his legendary status. - He didn't tell you to just throw to the biggest guy on the field or what, yeah. (laughing) - Yeah, exactly. - Yeah, like the beginning of like this era of title. - Oh man, Charlie Joyner and Chandler and they were, there were some dudes. You know, he was, he's been great to me ever since I signed, you know, first signed him in the league and obviously a charger legend. Ironically, that Coriale offense was one that we ran when I was first in San Diego. - Yeah. - So there was a connection there too. So that was, that was pretty unique. - Give me all the ins and outs, man. That's awesome dog. - You're going in with a division rival. Luke Keekley. Did he give you as many headaches as, he did to me, he'd try to forget. - I love my kicks. - He would call me on our plays. Like I'm like, what are you stealing to say? How are you this good at knowing what we're about to do? - I'll be honest, I think again, and you never know how the class is going to shake out, but especially Larry Fitzgerald and Luke Keekley. Like I've always had a real special bond with Larry. - He's the best dude. - Funny 'cause, you know, you see each other from afar, I know he was never going to get out Arizona and I was certainly never going to leave New Orleans. Only time I had a chance to play to go, it was in Pro Bulls. I mean, how awesome are Pro Bulls? You have a chance to be with these guys that you just have so much respect for. - I sure remember you calling out the mic at one of my Pro Bulls. I'm laughing in the droopries. - Hey, buddy. - Are you wired man? (laughing) - I only know one way. - I only know one way. - Yeah. - I know. - I think Jay's just saying these, man. - Yeah. - I got this wrong. - You got this. - You know, Lee, Ray, Lee, let's go over here. - I would get you a double on Aaron Donnell over here real quick. So like my first Pro Bull touchdown pass was Larry Fitzgerald. Like, we've had a bond our whole career and really leaned on each other for a lot of things. And then, honestly, Luke Keekley, best defense player I've ever played. - Seriously. - And it was in the division obviously. And like, so when I truly say like an iron sharpens iron, guys that just make you better, like because you have to be, like you knew going into that game, like I have to be my absolute best against this dude. And so he just brought out the best in me and us. And so I really appreciate that about him, such an unbelievable competitor. But like off the field, like the most genuine dude, like I've spent more time with him over the last 24 hours. - I'm like, dude, I love this guy. - Yeah, I love this guy. - I know, he's got a bright personality. - I like my Ohio ball players and my Texas guns. - Yeah, you know what I'm saying? - Takes a cab of ranchers. - The biggest surprise that Larry Fitzgerald to me was that he found a pair of corduroy pants that fit him. I mean, that thing, that he is thick on the bottom half now. - I guarantee you, he can move to the tight end room right now and still go for fucking a thousand charge. - Solid genetics, solid genetics. - No, Larry's the man. What I still remember in my first college experience was Larry Fitzgerald playing Notre Dame over in Pitt, man. - Making freakish catches. - Watching him in just like routes on air or a pack and go and I'm just sitting there and I'm like, man, this dude is the fucking man. - It was before him. - Same thing. - Yeah, it was insane. - It was just like, man, this dude's fucking. - He's different. - He's different. - But even honestly, the play that I remember the most from his career, which is stupid, that he probably will hate that I say this. - The James Harrison interception. - Oh, the effort. - Yes, yes. - He is completely out of the play, running out of bounds, like, over woods and tree trunks and doing anything you can to try and make this tackle. I'm just like, dude, that's a mate. Like, that is the effort in like, what makes somebody different. Like, who is gonna give that amount of effort? And not just like a special team's guy who has to kind of do that to survive. A Hall of Fame level, like, best receiver of all times. When the class was announced, I started just reflecting on all the plays that I can remember all these guys making. Obviously, that Super Bowl stood out. And like, we've all had those moments where, look, you're in a game like that. There's a ton of exceptional players on the field. But then there's those times where like, one just rises above the rest. And you're just like, for this entire game, that is the best player on the field. That game was a moment like that. We're used like that play. And then the one where they took the lead at the end before the Steelers went down. It's like two men and he beats the corner inside on like just a little delay routes. Blitz, the safety isn't gone. You're like, yeah, this dude is the best player on the field. Seriously, right? It was still young as career. I mean, it was like year five, maybe, right? Yeah, something like that. Yeah, he was young. What a guy, man. So we did have a potential Hall of Famer come out of retirement this year. Oh, what's it? What's our call when Bonix went down? You had to do that. I would say I've had some conversation and I've had some moments. Yeah, I've had some moments. I would say this, like my body feels great. My mind sharp as ever. Shoulder wrists, not having it. And like to the point where there was a moment this year where literally I was drinking a tequila and something happened where I thought there might be a chance I would play that week. And I literally switched to water. And I started thinking about going to bed early and getting up the next day and getting my body nice and loose and going out and throwing to see if I could even pull it off. And boy, I was like so mentally right, got up. Got the body loose, went out there, ran the ball, threw a couple, my 13 year old son was catching for me. Let's go. And it was just like, I would have been able to like break that glass 10 feet away. You have to take the toward all first, you said the toward is going to say yeah. The good stuff was not in the system, right. The good stuff was not in the system. But no, it's honestly, look, I really think I'd still be playing. If the shoulder and the wrist wouldn't have started to let me down. Sure. I just started to lose quite a bit of pop, you know. And it's one of those things where you know where to go with the ball. But can I get it from point A to point B? And the amount of time that it needs to get there in order to be effective. And unfortunately, that left. Man, oh man, I'm dude, you played with some fucking legends in the tight end room. Obviously, Tonyo, Jimmy Graham, the years that I was turning into a tight end in college, where you and Jimmy just going absolutely nuts, man. And that really changed those years with like Gage, Jimmy being those basketball guys and like really being able to be that mismatch. And then you obviously grunk you throwing to the fold. Do you feel that Jimmy, I don't know, I want to say this the wrong way? I feel like he's never gotten the true respect that he deserves at the tight end position. I want to give Jimmy some love because what he's done to change the game. I don't think it's talked about enough. Okay. I agree. And 1000%. Jimmy was so rare. I mean, he was a guy who played four years of basketball Miami, right? And he had a fifth year of eligibility and it was just like, you know, I played a little high school football. I'll go out here and see if I can, you know, run some red zone fates, you know, which I think you call it 11 balls, seven tuddies, senior year, fifth year, senior year, and at that point, look, I credit, I credit Sean, I credit art, Scott in the park, like those guys had a Mac for seeing like some raw talent. And but even seeing through that to like this guy, once we polish him up and like get him in this system, and he's going to be exceptional. So we brought Jimmy in as a third round pick in 2011. We had shock. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. That was trash. Very good. You already know, man. You want to talk about attitude, man. Yeah. And we were doing some interesting things with shock that, that honestly, like we did with gates in San Diego, but it was kind of like this at any time, just display some split them out to the single receiver side. We had this whole system of signals. You know, we try to get, we try to do a man situation. So we got some favorable matchup and then we just go to town over here, right? I can. I can relate. I became Jimmy's thing. But man, Jimmy was just a gazelle. He was just kind of, he was a deer at first. It was like, man, he could run, but he had, yeah, he had an edge. He had something to prove, like chip on his shoulder big time, but it was, it was a great first year opportunity for him because shock, he was the guy. And then Jimmy was kind of like the bring him in in certain situations and just bring him along. And by the time 2011 came around, it was like he was ready. And then that was his breakout year. We're literally grown. We're him and Grant, like going into that last season, though, that last game, we were playing Carolina. I can't remember who knew England was playing, but they were fighting for, I think it was most yards by tied in and touchdowns right? They both ended up with over 15 that year, yeah, but literally like from drive to drive, it was, I'd come over to the silent and be like, where's wrong? Like that? I would. And you're saying that. Okay. Well, let's run. That's how cornered the Jimmy, right? That's a good teammate right there. But unfortunately, our game ended first, so Ron got the record, but literally it was one of those like, I wonder if they were doing the same thing. Oh, totally. Yeah. You know, they're keeping track, right? Exactly, for sure. That's the best way. Honestly, the most unfortunate thing, and literally when I say like, Jimmy and I cried on the phone together when we traded them, cried on the phone together. He was with us for five years. And could you imagine what five more years would have been like, you know, at a point where we were just so like the chemistry was so strong, right? You guys created a whole new play like there was like the goal line fade. And then there was the Jimmy Graham just fucking throw it to him. This dude would literally just go and post up like in the paint. And it was, it was like it was a fade, but it wasn't a fade. It was more just like a jump ball. We had five different backshoulders. It's crazy. It's crazy. It was the DBs here, back shoulder, or I'm just going to stand in front of them and you throw it up. There's the bottom line is if you're six, seven, two, seven, two, seven. There is. Dude, could he standing right next to you, there's still a place I can throw the ball to you. Man. It's crazy. It's crazy. It's different than that to 70. This does bring up something to me that I do want to, I have never understood why, like why doesn't every team just have one guy that's a monster that is a guaranteed touchdown? Like think about like the push, right? That's a guaranteed first time. Every time you're, there are so many goal line stands throughout a year that happened inside the fire. If you could all every time know you got a six, ten, just get an NBA guy that wasn't quite good enough in the NBA and just throw him a jump ball. I don't know. Are you part of that? Am I making this? Yes. It's way harder than what you're making. Are you giving me? Okay. Well, I don't, that's why I'm asking. I'm asking two guys that would know. I don't think it looks that hard. And maybe we have him rush on kick block too, so he can be, you know, he's got a little special team's value. There you go. That's all you need. You just bring Shaq out of retirement and throw him the ball. He's still going to catch it. Right? But two point. I think there was like, I think Gates revolutionized the game in a lot of ways. I mean, really before that, were you with Tody Gonzalez and Tonyo Gates, Jimmy Graham, right? These kind of basketball guys that came over and applied a lot of that skill set to what they were doing is, as, as tight ends, Jimmy was all heart man, all heart. And I really wish we would have could have had five, seven more years together. Yeah. I know. I had to show him some love dogs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate that. So Hall of Fame, but it wasn't always roses, right? It wasn't always the easiest thing mentioned earlier. Walk on it. Purdue. Early career. Like a lot of turmoil coming from the chargers to the saints. What was that like? Like a lot of people, you have the injury and, you know, what's going on with the shoulder, all this stuff. What was that like for you at that moment? The injury was devastating in San Diego because I really, there was a moment where I thought I wouldn't play football again. I mean, I've been through a lot with the chargers. I got drafted there in the second round to back up Doug Flutey, which was the best thing that ever could have happened to me because Doug Flutey was my style of quarterback. You're both undersized, right? He was five, nine and a half, a buck 80, right? But the guy had played 22 years. years of professional football for a different league. He was my homes before my homes from the perspective of like the niftiness and just make it happen outside. And we would do a lot under center stuff because it was kind of a bit more pro style, two back, eye back field, running power, running different weak lead schemes and the actual right and Lorenzo Neil as our pullback, right? Right. Lolo. Yeah. And Doug Flutey at times would back pedal a seven step drop from under center. This is the last time you saw that, this is like fran torquington stuff, you know? But like he was just an old school dude, he did push ups, sit ups, ran hills and played basketball. That was his strength and conditioning program and just through the ball, just played ball. It was like backyard ball. But he was he was the epitome of, oh, I got to get the ball out a little bit sooner than normal. Just put a layer under it. Right? So that little tree ball man, right? Just lay it over the wheel in front of the safety to that end cut before he's out of the great. That's the level of timing and anticipation was second to none. So I learned so much just from observation and watching him had a chance to compete against him my second year won the job. And then he backed me up for three years after that. Now it was bench three times in those three years with Marty Shahnheimer. The first one I deserved it, the second one, the third one I didn't think I deserved it and I was pissed and had a knock down drag out screaming match with Marty Shahnheimer on the sideline in December in Pittsburgh and then in the hallway after and then in his office the next day, at the end of the day, like I knew this, he, Marty was always making decisions that he thought were the best interests of the team, even if I didn't agree with them. But I love the man and he he developed me in so many ways character leadership. But I love and respect that man so much. But finally kind of got to the point where through those ups and downs and through that adversity, I earned the starting spot, made my first probable and all four kind of team goes to the playoffs. I know they drafted Philip Rivers, Flutey was still there, like I was the guy and I'd kind of established myself. And then last game of the season, you know, five, going into an off season where I didn't have a contract, but I was hoping to get like that long term commitment. Yeah. And I go down with a dislocated throwing shoulder, right? Literally arm stuck like this, walking off the field, like get to the sideline, they pop that thing back in. I'm just going, man, I'm probably never going to put a charge uniform on again. And it's like, I mean, football again, some doctors told me I had a 25% chance to come back and play it again. So I'm just absolutely devastating. And yet I mean, tested me in so many ways, but also I think strengthened just my faith and in the unseen and unknown that you guys got a plan for me and it's awesome. It may not be in San Diego and that's okay. I just have to trust it. And that's that's how New Orleans, the out New Orleans opportunity came along. No doubt. No sailor from there. I dude, you very, do you think the QBs in today's game are on a real short leash? Does it feel like that? Or do you think it's fair still that, you know, you got to, you got to show up when, when you're called upon? I think we do most of the disservice, I mean, look, there's high expectations, right? Exactly. And I think the coaches are on short leashes, you know, the fan bases, you know, what, want to win her now, I mean, you look at Sam Darnell and everything that he's overcome. I think it's a highly inspirational, you know, story and journey. And there's a few others like that Baker Mayfield, you know, kind of a similar, similar situation. I think there's so much to play in this position, as you know, you know, that's why I got out of there, dude. Former, former, former Q, always ready for the double pass, whenever, always ready for the double pass. I said, I don't know if I can get it there anymore, so I'll just, yeah, I can still pitch it five yards. I'm good. Yeah, I think there's, in most cases, to these high draft picks are going to teams that obviously have, have a lot of holes to fill as well, you know, I think, well, who was the Ackman was saying, I mean, when you play the game long enough, you can pinpoint it. You can see which ones that are, you know, maybe getting that disturbance that you're talking about and others that are just, you know, need to make those strides. I would say this, I mean, look, I sat for a year behind Flutey. So valuable for me, my home sat for a year behind Alex Smith. I'm sure so valuable for him. Raining sat for a year behind Blitz through Air Rogers, sat for three years, Jordan Love, sat for three years behind him. There is something to sitting for a period of time, because you will glean a ton. And then when it is your time, a little more of like feeling like you've earned it to, you know, and this is my opportunity. I've been preparing for this opportunity. Here we go. As opposed to, if you're going to throw a guy in the fire right away, man, there's going to be ups and downs. You just got to be ready for it. You got to be patient with it. No doubt. I think it's also like when you go into a room with a guy that's been doing it for a long time, so many of these guys, like the coaches, one thing, but seeing a player playing the position and how they prepare, like I do remember this vividly when we drafted Carson Wentz, they purposely wouldn't got chased Daniels because he was with you in New Orleans. And like they were doing is like showing Carson how you prepared. Yeah. We're going to get in at 6 a.m. We're going to do this. This is how Drew prepared and like all of that, like it's so important to have that perspective of it for some of these young cues as well. I have two theories around when a quarterback is going to be ready. Number one is having a great veteran backup or veteran starter who starts in front of you for a period of time before you then have the opportunity, which is kind of what we just talked about. The second is I think you need roughly 50 high level starts before you are really like there and ready. Those high level starts could be college. Like plenty of times we've seen this potential drafted, but they only had 15 college starts. Well, if that's the case, it's going to take them three years before they're ready. I'm just telling you, right? So then start looking at the guys like Brock Purdy. Brock Purdy, a undersized, all these things like 50 college starts at Iowa State. So I can tell you, most of the times when they step foot on field, they were the underdogs. Right. He was having a play. He was throwing a lot of bullets. Well, above their fight and weight, all my texts are still in the conference. Right. So he comes in and you're like, okay, he's got some experience, like he's got something to him. Hence why maybe this success happened a little bit quicker and he's playing for a really good team with some good players, right? There's some other examples of that. But yeah, I think it's the number of starts really has a lot to do with their readiness. Yeah. I think to step into that role too. Okay. I like it. I've got Chase Daniels making a hell of a fucking living in a bell. I know, Chase lives down the street for me, I think the last that I saw the most money earned per snap in the NFL than any man in history that saves that I think it's got to be well done. Well done. Packed it. Hey, but to his credit, always fucking ready. Always ready. Always prepared. Everyone in last one out, guy, you talk about like chip on the shoulder. I missed her chase. I'm like, dude, him and Mizzou was fucking fun to watch him and Jay Mac. Yeah. I was like, I've never seen a quarterback in the NFL shaped like high school nose guard. Bro, you did it. No, you did it. Huh? You made it. Oh my gosh. You did it. That's great. That is great. Chasing bad. I love you, Chase. That's so good. Back to your career. You go from the chargers and you end up in Norris. How close? Well, how close were you to me? Ending up a Miami, don't I mean, yeah. Close. Paper. Like, that was a, that was an obvious decision. It was Miami all the way. Miami had Nick Saban. They had just come off a nine and seven. And he's where the one like the last seven in a row. So they, they kind of had it figured out. Defense was lights out. Zack Thomas, Jason Taylor. Oh, yeah. They're offense. I loved all their coaching staff. Mike Malarkey was the OC, Jason Garrett, quarterback coach. Hudson Halp was our line coach who had been our line coach the year before when we'd won the division. Love, HUD. They were running the same offense that we were running. Like Miami Dolphins. I'm sitting there eating dinner on Wayne Heising as yacht. He's there at dinner, talking about, hey, we're going to go, we're going to go play golf in Scotland every, every summer with Dan, which I got a helicopter over there. We're just going to hop around. No state income tax. I'm like, dude, this is my paper Miami. Here I come. Yeah. And then on the flip side, you got New Orleans, right? Six months post Katrina, some unknown head coach named Sean Peyton, right? Yeah. This is guy. Right. And five years previous when I was being, when I was being, I get in the draft, Tom Condon my agent, I had probably 15 teams that I thought might draft me and he's like, we're going through that list leading up to draft day and he's like, man, you got all these great possibilities. He's like, man, you know, honestly, the only one I would really not want you to go to is the New Orleans Saints, like kind of dysfunctional party town. This and that. Like, so I had that ringing in my head as well, right? So again, on paper, it's like, this is so obvious. And I'm not leaving anything to chance. I'm going to go and I'm going to give each one like its fair opportunity. And like the Miami trip was amazing. With the exception of, they put me through the ringer like six hours of these mismedical testing because I was only two like eight weeks post op on an eight month rehab. So I was nowhere club. I mean, my arm, you know, I'm still kind of in a sling, you know, and I can't do anything. And they're, they do the, you know, the sailing solution, the contrast MRI. So I'm like, in an MRI, two for two hours, just aching, right? I get out of that. They stick these big needles in my shoulder to test nerve endings. They're, they're, they're wanting to test everything. So I just, I got this feeling of like doubt, like they don't really, and, and their doctors were the ones who told Sabin, we think he's got a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again. And I go to New Orleans and it's like you are our guy, like Sean Payton, Mickey Lemissier our guy, we're building this offense around you. They did everything they could to kind of roll out the red carpet despite all the circumstances. I mean, New Orleans was still destroyed. Right. Right. Right. And the epic story is Sean Payton after this great visit there gets lost in the late view neighbors. hood and we're driving through there and houses are off of foundations. Chevy truck upside down a living room, all of a sudden car stops. There's a tugboat in the middle of road and I'm looking at my wife. Like, are you seeing what I'm seeing? But there's also one of those moments like, man, this is so much bigger than just football. Like we get to be a part of one of them, you know, the resurrection of one of America's greatest cities. Like, this is God's calling in our life. And so that was the determining factor. There's so much beauty down there that got restored through you guys bringing that happiness to a man. Like in Kudos brother. That's amazing. That's a crazy story, though. You went from literally being like, that's what free agency is like. You get to go on yachts and like, yeah, you told you get to golf all over the world with everyone to like sit in an MRI, do for two hours. That's crazy, man. You end up with Sean Payton. Yeah. What are your first impressions of Sean and what was it like to be coach? Yeah, I would say this. I there were moments and look, this, this stayed true for 15 years where I thought Bill Parcels was standing in front of us, you know, really, well, he was a boy. Like I would say, look, his big, his biggest influence is John Grood and Bill Parcels. Like when he would get up and start installing offensive football, you know, what I'm doing here, uh, it was like John Grood, right? But then when he would get pissed off and like, like, go try to go toe to toe with somebody or challenge somebody or get confrontational, dude, it was Parcels, man. Yeah, it was all Parcels. Like in fact, there were those moments where I could tell he would get up in the team, meaning I could just watch him walk in. I'd be like, ah, shit, he's gonna be one of these. I died because I could feel it, you know, and we were gonna get it, you know, but it was good. I mean, it was always just, it was wisdom. You see him in bone X's relationship and see a little bit of the, oh, yeah. And there's a fire, yeah, there's some fire. Well, both throws it back at him too. Dude, absolutely. And I think Sean appreciates that. That's when I was gonna, I was gonna say the same thing. We had Howard Mudd early in my career in Philly. Oh, yeah. And I felt like he used to sometimes just yell at you to see what your response would be. And I think that sometimes it's like even mental. Like he, they want that like fire out of a guy. And like if you're willing to answer that, you want to stick up for yourself. Like, no, coach, I think that this is what you told me. And I'm, you know what I mean? That goes a little bit with those guys. What I appreciate so much about Sean was he had an ability to order the chaos, like to block out all the noise and just give you a very key, a very defined like keys to victory. And narrow it down to the point where, hey, man, this is our vision. Like this is the path to get there and now like go execute. He instilled confidence in guys. He had a way to motivate guys through kind of humor. You know, his coaches just have a knack like, I give an example. It was like, we had a safety one time who was getting all kinds of interceptions. But he wanted to bust his balls and practice just to kind of keep him honest. So he's like, hey, you know, DB's like, he's going to intercept it. But we got to block everybody because he's slow. He's slow as molasses. He's, he's, they were hawking before he gets the in zone. So we got to block everybody in order for him to get in. He would make comments like that. Like just like just, just in case you started, you know, getting a little bit to go to about yourself. You know, like he just keep you honest. Killed you accountable, you know. So he had an act for that. And then I would say just like his opening honesty to you, he was always open to our policy. Come see me anytime you want. If you want to talk about anything, you may not like what I have to tell you. But I'm always going to be honest with you. Come on now. So guys come on there. I'm not happy about my playing time or this and that. He's like, okay, well, let me tell you why. But now let me tell you how we can rectify that or how we can fix it. How we can do better than that. And he would give you that path and that vision. And he was amazing at that. That's all so the kind of guys you want to play for, man. I got to ask this to like. Very opinionate guy, offensive genius Sean Peyton. Yeah. Hall of Famer, one of the most brilliant minds in the game. Yeah. What was it like game playing with you guys? There's like, who's are you getting plays? Like, how does that go? Was it full trust or were you throwing in your input on the Mondays and Tuesdays, getting up to the Wednesdays? I'd say, I mean, it was very collaborative. Nice to meet you. It's funny. I went back and looked at a 2006 call sheet, which was our first year. And this in 2020, I was like, hey, pull up a '06 call sheet. And bro, it was like third grade compared to where we had evolved to. Sure. And a lot of that though was because we had been together so long that it's not like you really eliminate. You just kind of like add little layers to everything. It's just little wrinkles. His ability just to walk and be like, hey, you remember in 2010, we're playing the Eagles and we're down there in the red zone. And it's like, oh, yeah, Coach, it's amazing the recall you have. I can't remember what to have for breakfast yesterday. But I can recall the game 15 years ago. In the red zone. I can recall more of the times that it didn't happen though. So somebody says, oh, it happened because those little ones, I sit there and I think about for the next three days on how to defeat it if I get it again. Yeah. So those are the ones that just get like implemented in my brain. It's, it's trauma. I've thought about this a lot. It's literally like you have these traumatic experiences on game day because it's either something that was like a disappointment that then just lingered and you just like hyper-analyzed for the next week. Dude, right? Or it was kind of like one of those like a bit of fear and it was like some chemical reaction in your brain that just like seared it. I'm getting used to your brain. I don't think about this. Yeah, yeah, sure. Yeah, for sure. But trauma, I like that. No, it's there and at the ceiling. Why didn't I go left? Outside releases. Oh, yeah, that's all I had to do. No, but you're right there. I wonder what it would be like as a, then a young quarterback coming into a system though that was literally like a 15 years worth of, you know, PhD work to get it to that point. Right. And then all of a sudden it's like kind of having to go back to, you know, square one. Right. Because we did evolve so much and there was such a level of trust. Like it got to the point where I knew what he was going to call when, how, why, right? That whole play call was intent. I mean, we were just so much on the same page. That's all. And then the communications on the sideline were awesome. I'm like, fourth down. You got to play you like. Hell yeah, coach, I got one. All right, let's go. That's awesome. Hell yeah, he's the best kind of Moe was, man. Right, we got to ask you this. We've been asking this one a bit, fill in the blank. People forget that blank was a problem. Kind of like somebody that like we already kind of did a little bit with Jimmy, but he's not really that forgot. I mean, yeah, I'm going to get a plug for my guy. Jory Evans. Jory Evans. You know, you got to teach us a little something. This is a right guy. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It was him and Carl Nick's both of those guys. Absolutely. Having those two dudes. Unbelievable. You want to hear a good Carl Nick story? Please. Please. All right. So we draft Carl Nick's out in Nebraska like fifth round, which I was a steal just like because he was one of those giant human beings you've ever seen right? Like 64, 360 or something. So we have a bunch of injuries. All of a sudden he's starting a left guard. This is 08 is rookie year like week two or three. So like, dude, he's fish out of water. And we're short now at O'Line too because the guy had gotten hurt. So we're hot practice outside New Orleans. And he's taken every rep first team, second team. So he's like 35 consecutive plays in. And he's just drag and sucking air like it's thick outside. And O'Line coach Doug Morone is just on him. And on him. And like, I'm stepping up into the huddle again to call a play. And Carl has just kind of been over just sucking air. And Morone just to kind of make a point. He goes into the huddle to grab Nick's to like, you know, stand him up. And I don't know what came over me. But like, I just have a rule that when I step in the huddle, it's my huddle. I want all eyes on me. I'm leading this. Yeah. And so when Morone stepped into the huddle, I didn't even think about it. I just reacted. I grabbed Doug Morone and I threw him out of the huddle. Oh my gosh. And I said, I got him. Yeah. And I looked at Nick's and I was going to kind of help him up and be like, come on big fellow, let's go, you know, 10 more plays, whatever. Yeah. And Nick's just kind of stood up. Like Bowie's chest down. He looked at me and he's like, man, nobody's ever going to touch you. Like, you got my back where I got to live for life. Awesome. Holy cow, that's great. And then four years later, Highs Pay Garden football. That's right. Unfortunately, one with us. We went to the box, but both of those guys together were awesome. They were a problem. That's badass. We always ended with one question. We got to take it back to the early days. Doug, what was your welcome to the NFL moment? Oh, dude, I'll tell you, the hardest I've ever been hit was Zach Thomas. 2003 in Miami. Again, one of these like trauma moments. Uh-huh. So we run, we run like this, uh, this little fake, uh, counter-week play action play. You know, the line is slamming it down. Here comes the guard to kick out the end. Back just kind of chipping off the edge on the flatten. And you have some, you know, exotic down the field route concept. And so here's Zach Thomas. He reads this guard pool. So he just kind of comes over here. And I come off this play action fake. And my eyes are, you know, trying to look down the field. But I see it was like the parting of the Red Sea. And then it's me and Zach Thomas. But he's like 15 yards away. Four on each zone, it's zone. Zach, you're supposed to be like deep metal or like look over here. You're right. But it's one of those like, oh, nobody's account. I see it. And he just starts hauling ass. And it's one of the lives like, oh, no. I mean, like, I got time. He's got to take like 15 steps to get to me, right? He closed that gap so fast. And I had to cut this ball loose so much earlier than I wanted to. And I just felt like this is going to be bad. And I threw it and just kind of tried to like spin turn. He hit me so hard. Like I think I did like a double back flip. Landing on my head. Now they did throw the flag because he did. He had me squint on the side of the head. Dude, like, I under throw the ball by like 15 yards. Gets picked. Oh, snap. Pass your 10 or one of those. Guys, but they fill the flags when we get the play, but I was just like, oh my God. Like, is that how hard these dudes hit? - Yeah, that's amazing. - That's amazing, I do wanna ask you. Darren Sprouls, we didn't talk about you already know. What was Sproul, I mean, one of my all time favorite teammates. - All time favorites. So first thing I'd say is like, leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. - All right, no. - That dude did not have to say a word. Like you just watch the way he works and watch the way he approached his craft. Every rep was a super bowl rep, a full speed rep. Like I, I love that dude so much. He was my workout partner in San Diego forever, like just in the off seasons. And actually the story goes, 2011 is the lockout year. I start to get the feeling as we're working out that off season that Reggie's gonna get traded, right? And we're all on our own, like we're not back to the facility. So there's a lot of just craziness. And right before the season start, we trade Reggie to Miami Dolphins. And in the meantime, like I'm calling Sean Payton and I'm like, we have to get Sprouls. Like I'm sitting here throwing with him every day. And he was having a little riff with the chargers. And I was like, if we're trading Reggie, we have to get this guy. So sure enough that happens. We have him for three years. Like we were together. He was drafted to the San Diego Charging05 when I was there. - Okay. - So our running back room was Vadanian Tolson. Mike the burner turner. You remember Mike Turner? - Yeah, yeah, everybody. - Big Mike T. And then Dan Sprouls. And Dan Sprouls was our little scout back. But he, he's a generational player. - Oh yeah. - I think if you're gonna watch it like a choice route real, like how do you just arc release out of the backfield, set a line back her up with a vertical stem, and then break out cross face, hook it up. - It used to drive me crazy. We, anytime we would get, and this is before they started doing like the five man fronts with the run and zone. Every other time they built a bear front, it was man cars, I'm like, why the hell? Are we not just throwing it to Darren Sprouls? Every, I'm dead serious. It used to make me mad. - Man, I told you. - Like nobody's gonna guard this dude in space. Just throwing the ball. Who's gonna tackle him? Like I just, it used to, I was furious. - Here's my other Sproulsie story. We're on a two minute drive, 2013 against the Niners, and Niners' defense was stout, right? So here you are, Nevara Bowman, Patrick Willis, okay? - Yes, studs. - We're kind of approaching midfield. All we need to feel goes. So they start trying to light us up, right? And I remember, at one occasion, I know it's gonna be man, and here these two guys are lined up in the A gaps, and they're gonna hit it. And I know I got Jimmy Graham mashed up on the matchup I want, but I also know we're gonna have to hold up for a second. - So I remember just like looking over at Sproulsie, and I was like, it's gonna be like, you know, Nevara Bowman. I'm like, hey, bro, just blow up just one time, hold me here. (laughing) - Sproulsie gets in there. - No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. - He was underrated a blocker, man. - Seriously? - Like this low center of gravity? - Yeah. - He was freaking on hard, man. - He was on hard on effort. - I love the dude, like he would step up and do that whenever you needed. He was a stud. One of my all time favorites, man. - That's awesome. - Drew, you're the man. - Thank you so much. - Thank you for the story, bro. - Congratulations, man. - Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. - Hi there, wraps up another episode of New Heights. Thank you to Drew Breeze. - Hey Drew. - He's so much. - He was so electric. - Did not disappoint for one second. - Oh, that's the best. - It's incredible. Oh, let's also not forget about AJ Barnard Cooper Cup Super Bowl champions. Can't wait to see what you guys do in the big parade tomorrow. Thanks for coming on the show. Reminder, we are off next week, but we will be back with fresh New Heights starting February 25th. Make sure you're subscribed to the New Heights channel and YouTube and follow New Heights in the winery app program. Each podcast, you can listen to new episodes of New Heights ad free right now, by joining OneGrey Plus in the OneGrey app or on Apple Podcasts. - Once again, New Heights, a one-dream show and brought to you by Xfinity. Xfinity's got a crazy five-year plan where you don't get to pay a dollar more throughout the entire five years. It's crazy stuff you guys should look into. If all the show and all social media at New Heights show with one S for fun clips throughout the week, we're gonna have a bunch for you. After this one, and thanks to the New Heights production crew for always making us look way better. And thank you guys for going to Hell of a fucking party. Hell of a fucking Super Bowl week. We love you guys. And also the 92% is for always tuning in. You guys make this thing possible. So we got a bunch of fun stuff coming up, but I'm gonna go get some sleep. I love you guys. (upbeat music)