On this special episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff sits down with Washington Commanders General Manager Adam Peters for an in-depth conversation about his journey through the NFL and the lessons he learned from some of the league’s most successful organizations.
Adam discusses how he first broke into the NFL, what it was like working inside the Patriots' dynasty under Bill Belichick, and the invaluable experience he gained during New England’s championship run. He also shares why he decided to leave the Patriots for an opportunity with John Elway and the Denver Broncos, and how those years helped shape his front-office philosophy.
The conversation then turns to Peters’ time with the San Francisco 49ers, where he learned the art of negotiation and roster building while working alongside John Lynch and one of the NFL’s premier front offices.
John and Adam also dive into the Commanders' recent draft decisions, including the controversy surrounding Jayden Daniels’ Topgolf visit during the pre-draft process and what ultimately made Daniels the right choice to lead Washington's future. Plus, Peters explains what stood out about Sonny Styles and why the Commanders were excited to bring him into the organization.
From career advice and front-office strategy to quarterback evaluations and draft-day decisions, this is a fascinating look inside the mind of one of the NFL’s top general managers on 3 & Out.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
What is going on? My people? How are we doing?
John Middlecoff Three and Out Podcast, Big Show Today, GM
of the Washington Commanders Adam Peters, who has been the
GM now he's going into his third year. He started
working for Belichick back in three or four, then work
(00:35):
with John Elway and Peyton Manning and then Kyle Shanahan
and John Lynch. So I had a He's seen some stuff,
that's for sure. So we'll talk to him a lot
about his career and uh, yeah, you guys know the drill.
If you guys listen on Collins Feed, make sure you
subscribe to three and Out if you want to watch it,
we're on Netflix. Just hit the alert button. Anything that
(00:55):
doesn't make this show and I still want to rant
about we put on the three and Out YouTube page.
You can check that out as well. I do want
to open up and start the show though, before we
dive into Adam with something that's been bothering me, and
I'm as guilty as anyone. It's easy to get excited.
We get to talk about sports. If you notice, most
(01:17):
people in politics are always angry, like people covering sports
should be enjoying it. It's fun it's not that serious.
It's an enjoyable experience. It's fun to bullshit about teams, players, rankings.
It's kind of the you know, in a weird way,
in a roundabout way, what this whole business was kind
(01:40):
of predicated on, to start right, arguing who's better. It's
the most basic element of just sports talk, who's a
better player. I worked in the NFL. It's no different
personnel rank the players one through ten, one through twenty
one through fifty, and I think sometimes things get thrown around,
(02:00):
and I'm, like I said, I am guilty of this
as well. After a game, we do a lot of
records Thursday night, Sunday night, Monday night, after games, and
you're excited, you're worked up, you have an angle, you
have a take over what you just saw. And I
don't blame people for doing this. And there's not one
individual who's guilty of this, but there has been a
(02:22):
consistent theme over the course of I don't know the
last several months, when I hear Victor Webbin Yama's name
was san Antonio that he has a chance to be
the greatest player ever. Do you know how crazy it
is to say that? Do you know the likelihood that
he's going to be better than Michael Jordan or Lebron
(02:42):
James is slim. The nune to negative zero, Like it's
not happening. And he's a young guy. He's twenty two
years old, and he's getting cooked in this series now.
In fairness, Karl Anthony Towns number one overall pick has
been one of the best offensive bigs in the NBA
his entire career, and it feels like he's kind of
(03:03):
unlocked some secret sauce and is playing as well as
he's ever played just in terms of his impact, but
he is. He has beaten Victor wembin Yama like a
fucking drum and I just think for the hype train
on this guy to be the greatest player of all time.
He's an excellent talent. He's seven foot seven, he could
(03:24):
shoot threes. He's a great defensive player. But the majority
of his offense either shooting threes or catching a lob
over some dude that's six', Five like that's the majority
of his, offense you. Know so it's, like that's gonna
be better Than Michael jordan Or Magic johnson Or Larry
bird Or Kobe bryant Or Steph, curry can we pump
the fucking? Breaks how about do you think maybe one
(03:46):
time he could be a top ten player of all?
Time some things we agree on relatively, fast, right Show Hey.
Otani it's, Like i've never seen anything like. This, well
what do you, mean, boy he's hitting five hundred foot home.
Runs he runs like a. Deer oh, yeah and if
he actually just, pitched he would be a top three
or four pitcher in the big. Leagues and like every
(04:08):
once in a while you'll look up it's, like, oh
Show io. Pitched oh he hit a home, run he let,
off and then he pitched seven innings and he had ten.
Ks it's, like, Yeah i'm pretty. SURE i know there's
a legendary nostalgia that comes With Babe, ruth but Like
i've seen some pictures of the, gut and, UH i
feel pretty confident even THOUGH i never saw the babe.
Live i'm taking Show hey over The.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Babe.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Now are there individual better pitchers than Shoe Hey otani
over the course of the last fifty?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Years?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Sure are there individual better hitters Than? Otani, okay there's
never been the combination of it both and it's just universally,
agreed Even. Mahomes it started getting a little crazy because
he had won the third Super, bowl he'd been, to you,
know five Super bowls in six. Years like could he Catch?
Brady it's, like probably, Not and the answer is, like,
no they're not Catching. Brady But kenny established himself as
(04:56):
one of the best two or three quarterbacks of all
time one hundred. Percent he. Can he already has more
Super bowls Than Brett fahr Of Aaron, Rodgers Peyton. Manning
he's won away From joe Freaking. Montana all. Right so it's, like,
yeah probably never Catching brady in terms of, resume but his,
resume if at any, today is better than the majority
of the guys that were in the top. Ten but
we're still, arguing like, This mahomes the fourth best quarterback
(05:18):
of all, time second. Fifth it's an, argument but the,
hype but look at what he had to accomplish to
get in that. Argument everyone's, like, oh you have victor.
Woman yam's got a chance to be the greatest greatest
player of all. Time he's got a chance to be
the greatest player of all. Time are we're sure the greatest?
Player do you think your greatest player of all? Time
(05:40):
is gonna look like? That like that, SKINNY i know
he's really, skilled uh just in terms of you, know
hand eye coordination for a, guy that's. All But i'm
pretty confident shorting that. Opinion, Again i'm not trying to
shit on the guy because he's getting worked in THE nba.
Finals he's twenty two years. Old is he gonna win
an end? Championship you would bet? On is he gonna win?
(06:02):
Multiple more than? Likely look at his, Team but this, notion,
like are sure he's gonna be a top ten player
of all? Time can we pump the fucking? Breaks Because
i've just seen three guys over the course of the
last fifteen twenty, years maybe, four that are clearly TOP i,
Mean lebron's a top two or three player of all,
(06:22):
Time curry's a top ten to eleven. Player jokic And
Kevin durant are top twenty, players like he got a
long way to go to be.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
THAT i mean in terms of their overall skill, set
because catching dunks over guys that are six six when
you're seven to six is not that.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Impressive it's just not and, uh you should be able
to do. It it's like you ever played pick up
when you're fourteen years old against some of your little
brother or younger cousin's friends and they're like, eight it's
like big advantage. You SO i just think the hype
train on, this AND i get. It THE nba was.
Desperate they needed. It then the next along and they
(07:00):
didn't even need that hype train because The knicks are
just gonna carry the. Day but holy, SHIT i, mean
for so, long you, know golf was like next Tiger,
Woods next Tiger. Woods, guys there's never gonna be another Tiger.
Woods it is never ever. HAPPENING i promise you. That
it doesn't mean there won't be other great, players other
(07:21):
guys that accomplish a. Lot there is never going to
be another Tiger.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Woods it ain't, happening you.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Know SO i it's just one of those. Things i've
heard so many people say, it AND i didn't really
pay that much attention to. IT i was, like, oh
this guy's got a lot of. Hype but IF i
watched those first TWO Nba finals games and A Keem elijah,
ONE i, Mean Karl Anthony towns does that to. You
no one's allowed to say that for like four more
years no one's allowed to utter those. Words let's see
(07:51):
the guy accomplish win THE, mvp be the best player
in the. World uh, BE i don't, know have an
offensive skill set that is more than just dunk and shooting,
threes you. Know So i'm not anti the. Guy i'm
not just anti him because He's. French seems like a
very focused all. IN i admire everything, that by All
(08:13):
accountcy stands. For but the hype train behind, Him Holy,
Conoley let's just pump the brakes a little. Bit let's
dive Into Adam. Peters today's show is brought to you
by our presenting sponsored Hard Rock Bet Florida. Sportsbook we
(08:35):
talk a lot of football on the, show but it's
THE Nba. Finals not gonna. LIE i don't like The.
KNICKS i love The. KNICKS i got in on him
probably ten days ago at four to. One now they're.
Here they are currently on Hard Rock bet plus one
sixty to win THE Nba. Finals they are also an
underdog In game one In San antonio On wednesday. Night
(08:57):
they're four and a half point. Underdog you, Know victor
Web minyama's favor to win THE. Mvp San antonio's favored
to win this. SERIES i believe it's the next, time and,
obviously if you're gonna bet him to win the, series
it's hard to bet Against Jalen brunson being THE. Mvp
we have had some recent examples, though a couple of
years Ago Jalen. BROWN i remember When Andrea gudala won.
(09:18):
IT i think if you, go, well who could win
THE mvp if it Wasn't Jalen. Brown if you Are Jalen.
Brunson if you wanted to get some, odds you Know
Karl Anthony towns twenty to, One OG's forty to. One
bridges is one hundred and fifty to, One SO i
think the safe bet Is, brunson but they got a
lot of firepower defensively to throw at. HIM i can't
(09:39):
wait for this series. Again i'm on The. KNICKS i
think The knicks win. IT i think it's gonna be.
Excellent BUT i think this Is New york's. Time so
same game. Parlays you want to Bet victor Web benyama
triple double Or Karl Anthony, towns you, know double. Double
With Jalen brunson's over on, points you can do whatever
you want to. DO i Think Jalen brunston goes nuts
(10:03):
And victor goes. NOW i think it's gonna be. Fantastic
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(10:25):
Michigan down the Hard Rock bet app. Today let's get
the party. Started, okay very. Excited have a Guy i've
known for a long. Time, ACTUALLY i think he played
football with my cousin way back in the day AT
Ucla Nick, amidola back when you know people FORGET ucla
(10:47):
in THE i was a big fan in the nineties
and early two, thousands was the prominent program in Southern.
California and you land a guy Like Adam peters out
of junior college to set the. Edge you, know they
really knew what they were doing A gm of the.
Commanders what's up, man what's?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Up? JOHN i think that's when we started getting bad
once they started getting guys like. Me but, yeah we
were good for a while and then and then not so.
Good But Bob chesney's doing a great. JOB i, think you,
KNOW i have high hopes for The bruins coming back
and getting back to those eighties and nineties when we
(11:23):
were the top team in Southern. California but thanks for
having me.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
On, dude IF i would have told you back, then
when you had finished playing and started working for the,
program that you would be a part of the hiring
committee one day later on in your, career in your,
forties would you believe?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Me, no not one. BIT i didn't know WHAT i
was doing back. Then so it's definitely was an honor
and it was a cool process to be a part.
Of and, like, HONESTLY i don't know if we want
to get into this all, day but the second WE
i talked To, BOB i was, like we got to
hire this. Guy it wasn't even like forget the. Process
(11:58):
this is the. Guy and it was really really interesting BECAUSE,
i you, Know i've never been a part of a
process like, That so it was really cool to be,
involved and especially in a place THAT i care so
much about AT. Ucla and it sucks because one of
my good friends was the coach before, that And DeShawn and,
he you, KNOW i don't know that he got the
(12:19):
best opportunity, there and so it was a LITTLE i
had mixed feelings about doing it BECAUSE i was close With.
SHAWN i talked with him a, lot and so to
be a part of the process right after they let him,
go it definitely wasn't something it was LIKE i definitely
wanted to dive. Into BUT i care about the program
enough and it was really neat to be a part.
(12:40):
Of AND i think we hit a home run With, Bob.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
So, YEAH i planned on Having bob. On we were
supposed to HAVE mam WHEN i was down With colin
and the schedules didn't. Match BUT i you, know you
guys Have Dan, quinn who really became something For. Seattle
so many of these college, guys whether It's, saban Whether Urban,
meyer whether it's. Whoever it's pretty rare when you kind of,
GUYS i mean even you you, Know Bill, Belichick John,
elway this guy did IT i, mean it just doesn't
(13:06):
happen anymore when you look at his, resume did not
come but it's, like, well, yeah he coached For Kirby
smart At. Georgia, no, no, no this Guy's John. Hopkins.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah. Yeah and that's WHEN i first because they gave
me all these different packets of, here here's the guys
who were, interviewing AND i saw and, obviously being a college,
SCOUT i know all the small, colleges SO i knew
where they. Were but IF i, wasn't like what Is Salve?
Regina you, KNOW Johns hopkins has a football team and an,
assumption and but what you saw every place was an
(13:38):
incredible amount of program building and winning every single. Time
he's the head coach of all those places, REALLY i
mean except for the early, parts but being a head
coach for so, long just being able to rebuild those
like three different, programs it was extremely. Impressive and then
the SECOND i got on the phone with, HIM i knew.
Why and you, know that's what we. Needed we needed
(13:58):
someone who could bring energy to back to the. Program
and he's done. That he's doing a great job in.
Recruiting we got to do a better. Job we got
to get more. Money that's the name of the game
now with college, football as you, got it's. Money so,
unfortunately but he's selling the school for what it, is
and it's a great. University it's a great, INSTITUTION i
mean incredible shape my life and, SHOOT i WISH i
(14:20):
could go back there right now and be Like Fan, wilder.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
WELL i want to get INTO i get so many
questions about how do you get into the, business how
do you get, started how do you get your foot
in the. Door i've always, said like my store is
a little like your college football and BACK i mean
you're a little older than. Me it did not, exist
Like derek ray is THE gm at court for that.
Position it was unheard of fifteen twenty years. Ago so
(14:48):
you basically just had to like almost do you, know
be a coffee runner and it wasn't even a position
where now these scouting, DEPARTMENTS i mean you're going into these,
Schools is there that much of a difference at all
the tops in their scouting departments in your scouting departments
in terms of, Staff, yeah now.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Where they're getting it's they had more people BECAUSE i
think they have more resources to hire or even just
have interns. Right so even back before they got him
into THE gm era which we're in right, now in college,
football like places Like, alabama they had twenty thirty guys
just running around there all the time because they have
the resources and those bigger schools In, georgia and they
(15:28):
had tons of kids running around and working hard in
the recruiting. Area and then they started building and making
these different titles and. Roles but there is from The
alabama's to even just the other powerful conferences which were
not powerful back, then but just the lower end Like
DIVISION i. SCHOOLS i, mean there was a stark difference
(15:49):
from how many guys they had working for. Them and,
shoot like you, said WHEN i was, working they didn't
have a position for. ME i finished football AND i
know what to, do SO i just said any kind
of come work For and so like you, SAID i
was running, COFFEE i was doing, VIDEO i was doing,
RECRUITING i was doing. WHATEVER i was sitting in the
coaches meetings breaking down. Tape and BUT i was the only.
One you, know NOW i got like forty. Guys it
(16:12):
was just, me and they didn't have one before. Then
so it's changed, dramatically and it's cool for the sport
because you have a lot of people that can who
have so much passion for football and love, it and
now there's more positions for people to work.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
In, well that's HOW i got to meet guys like.
You you guys would come Through Fresne state and it's just.
Me it was just just the coaches And Coach hill AND.
Ucla but the difference Of Fresne state and there was no.
Difference you, KNOW i would have had the same role AT,
ucla where now you, know there's a clear hierarchy at
some of these. Places you, KNOW i didn't know, this
(16:47):
BUT i knew.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It AT.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ucla you got to meet people that were coming. Through
but on your wiki page it said that your breakthrough
with The patriots was one day That Scott pioli And
Jason light came through when your boss was out of
town or. Something, yeah and you got to interact with
him directly and that led to you to going to
that Early patriot.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Dynasty, yeah it's it's really it was really. Fortuitous and
the Great Randy, taylor who was my, BOSS i don't
know if he interacted with him at, all but he
was our director of football operations for a while and
he was the one who handled the scouts when they
came in and he's a great mentor of. MINE i
still talk to him to this.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Day but.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
He's he was out of town and so he's, like,
hey can you we got some guys coming in from The.
Patriots can you just take care of? Him and SO i.
Did and if he was out of town the next
week or you, know the previous week or, WHATEVER i.
DON'T i don't Think i'm sitting. Here and SO i
was really lucky to be able to meet with those
guys who obviously you Know scott who was basically a
(17:49):
general manager for The patriots at the, time and Then
jason who's now still a general manager at The bucks
and certainly one of the, best if not you, know
the count him as one of the BEST gms was
in the league for how well he's done. There being
able to sit and have lunch with those guys and
then stay in, touch and they invited me out to
(18:10):
The East West shrine, game which was actually at The
Giants San Francisco Giants. Stadium it's kind of where you're
playing football. THERE i remember that At Bell. Park, yeah
so they had me running and trying to get, interviews
AND i remember LIKE i was, Nervous LIKE i was
nervous talking to these college, guys like trying to get
interviews with. Them i'm like their same age as. Me
but for whatever, REASON i just, Like, god this is.
(18:30):
Hard BUT i got to meet a lot of people
there and they ended up hiring me and my first
day of work was at The combine in two thousand and.
Three it's.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
COOL i, REMEMBER i think it was a couple of years,
ago maybe When questi got the. Job you had worked
with him and you know how he has a, Guy
Andrew berry's brother who came back from Like Goldman. Sachs
these guys leave college and they started like one hundred
and fifty. K now it's a, grind but it's they're
making a lot of. Money safe to, say you get
your foot in the Door New. England and what Did
(19:00):
Dante scarnecci the twenties and twenties or something was it, was.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah twenty years, old twenty hours a, day twenty, thousand
WHICH i didn't make twenty. THOUSAND i was, eighteen SO
i was twenty twenty, eighteen but it was definitely the
twenty hours a day, there and, YEAH i, MEAN i always, thought,
like what AM i doing? Here like these guys that
are working like half as hard as me making a one
(19:24):
hundred Grand i'm Making AND i really didn't make that
much money for ten, years you, KNOW i didn't even
get to that number for ten. Years and it's not
as glamorous as it. LOOKS i can tell you that
from the, outside but it sure it's.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Fun can we describe BECAUSE i think that you know
what happened To bill over the last couple of, years
BUT i know so many people that worked for, him you,
know for the, decade multiple, decades and it was just
stuff of like, lore, right like what actually goes on in?
THERE i, mean you you work for The patriots when
they were Winning Super bowls With Tom. Brady but this
(19:58):
isn't you, know the Recent this Is Vrabel, Bruskie, Yeah Charlie,
Weiss Romeo, Crenell like what it was, Like, like what
was a day like for you back?
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Then? Yeah it was LIKE i said, earlier day was, long,
right and usually it was pretty, scary you, know in
terms of all, right don't do, this don't do. That
make sure you, know there's a lot of there's expectations
were so, high AND i always, say LIKE i, WOULD i.
WOULDN'T i wouldn't trade it for the. World first of,
(20:28):
all because the level of detail and thoroughness and everything
that is expected in that building set the foundation for
myself and my career in terms of what what the
standards are for me and everywhere we. Go and so
while it wasn't always, fun because it wasn't AND i
got you, KNOW i don't know if you could swear
(20:49):
on this, show BUT i got a, lot a, lot
a lot By bill Or Scott, scott mostly Mostly, scott
a couple of times By, bill but Mostly. Uh and
but it helds you do a really high. Standard and he,
understood LIKE i, mean if you were just doing one
thing at a, time and it's like you weren't working hard,
(21:10):
enough you had to be like doing two or three
things at a, time and in order to get all
your work. Done and but like you, said you had,
ROOM i mean countless head. Coaches i'll probably forget half of.
Them be At romeo you Had Charlie, weiss you Had Matt,
Patricia Brian, Flores josh. McDaniels i, mean who AM i
Forgetting Brian? Dable, Yeah i'm probably missing four or five
(21:33):
more and then gms LIKE i, worked you know with
a ton of LIKE gm types OR. MONI i worked
With Jason. Light Nick cassio was a mentor of. Mine
nick Nick asseia is my first roommate as a matter
of fact as.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Well, yeah so you moved back there and live With Nick? Asseio,
yeah it.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Was it was so. Cool he is such a cool
guy and such a great like great hearted. Person but,
somebody LIKE i, said my first day was at The
combi AND i AND i walk. In it's the Old
Crown plaza and it was. WEIRD i don't know what's going.
On and this guy who's a stranger to, me he
comes up to me and, says, hey welcome to the.
Team It's Nick. Assario he's, like where are you living
when you move out? THERE i was, like, DUDE i
(22:12):
have no, idea and he, GOES i want to live with.
ME i was like, Sure so five hundred bucks all,
in you, know, no, no, nothing just straight five hundred
bucks a. Month AND i was, In so we live
in where do we? Live In Rhode? Island, Lincoln Rhode, Island,
Lincoln Rhode island in a two bedroom apartment and so
never saw him ever because he's always. WORKING i was always.
(22:33):
Working it was like two ships passing in the. Night
but that's the kind of guy and he still is
to this.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Day similar diets you, too Because i've heard his. Diet
it's pretty pretty.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Dialed, no not even, close LIKE i. Remember still he'll
probably kill me for telling this. Story but so we
had Pizza fridays Every. Friday that was like actually really.
Fun they delivered pizza and there was like the one
time where we actually had, fun but it was like an.
Hour right then he got back to, work but he
had an hour and just everybody's sitting around the draft
room eating, pizza telling stories and. Everything And nick never
(23:07):
participated because, HE i, mean the guy's diet was like,
incredible just. Regimented everything was. Regimented and one day he
decides he's gonna have a couple of pieces of pizza
and he like passed out because it's the. Body he's
like rejecting. It and we had to have like the
trainers come. Up but, man HE i, Mean i've never
(23:27):
seen a work ethic like. His i've never seen just
so much structure and. Everything he could do so many
things and such a short amount of, time and it
was just a matter of time before he became A
gm and a really good, one and so you, KNOW
i talked to him all the. Time still he's super
helpful and we'll do deals. Together you, know he's we,
(23:48):
hired you, know head of medical who's working. There he
gave him a great. Recommendation so but, yeah just the
relationships and the PEOPLE i worked with during that, TIME
i think that's THE i, mean as hard as it,
was we all had each, other, right and we all
worked together so, well and we were like trauma, bonded
if you want to, say in terms of like JUST
(24:09):
i still talk to all those guys till.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Today, well you, know we talk a lot about like building.
CONFIDENCE i don't care what you, do and young, people
you get put in, situations whether it's getting hired at
a finance firm or getting the opportunity to work For
bill Freaking. BELICHICK i would imagine early, on BECAUSE i
remember feeling like this With Pat, hill and then again
WHEN i went To, philly LIKE i don't know IF
i belong. Here this is. Insane, Yeah and you kind
(24:34):
of feel like you're getting fired every, day and then
the next day comes and everything's, fine so you kind
of become numb to just that. Environment but, like was
there a specific moment maybe LIKE i did this well
and someone says. SOMETHING i don't know if they give
out many compliments back In New, england but you were just, Like,
Okay i'm gonna make, it because there had to be
some times early on when you're, LIKE i don't know
If i'm gonna make.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
It, yeah, yeah there's there's definitely a lot of times
WHERE i wasn't gonna make, it you. Know and you
know person that really helped me a, lot and she
just retired a few weeks ago Was Nancy, meyer and
she really you, know you, know every TIME i, thought you,
KNOW i wasn't gonna make, it OR i was like
this is too much or, WHATEVER i talked To. Nancy
she topped me off the. Ledge AND i mean she
(25:16):
Was she's a pillar there for fifty years AND i
wasn't the only one who she. Helped and she was
just like an incredible person who did so many things
there behind the scenes that really kept that place. Going
but there's a lot of those times that WHERE i
didn't THINK i was going to make. It Her Andre
tippett was a great resource every TIME i THOUGHT i
was going to lose my mind and go See andre,
(25:37):
too and he's A hall Of famer but really A
hall Of fame person. Too BUT i think probably the
first TIME i, Thought, OKAY i have what it takes
at least to make it as a scout was WHEN
i was an area scout AND i was kind of
cheating BECAUSE i was AT. UCLA i WAS i was
in The west and SO i was AT ucla AND
(25:58):
i had actually Recruited Matt. Slater and when we Signed Matt,
slater he was like a receiver SAFETY i had, SURVIED i,
think and that first recruiting class WHEN i was working,
THERE i got to know, him and so he was
a really unknown person and player when he's coming out
of a college because all he did is play special.
Teams he kind of switched back and forth from offense and,
(26:20):
defense but he was like an elite special teams. Player
and back then there wasn't a lot of scouts really
watching all the special. Teams it watched the, offense the,
defense and cut. Out but BECAUSE i knew who he
was and knew what he could, DO i, MEAN i
watched every single special teams play he had and documented
it and did all, that and sure enough we drafted
(26:42):
him and drafted him in the fifth, round AND i
just felt really, good, Like, okay like IF i do this,
work AND i do with all the extra, work AND
i make sure That i'm extremely, THOROUGH i could do.
This and so that was probably one that sticks in
my mind of like staying AT ucla late and watching
all the tape and really getting into, it really enjoying.
It you. KNOW i mean that one probably told me, That,
(27:04):
okay if you do all, this you're gonna be all.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Right so IF i fast, forward probably a little under a,
decade you're you're one of the main guys For elway
and The broncos and those great. Teams and you, know
by the TIME. C. J anderson's, retiring he's crediting. YOU
i would say safe to. SAY i, MEAN i guess
you got there Before elway got, there but you stayed
on and moved up your. Confidence by that, time you,
(27:27):
know was was pretty well established that you were good
at your gig and you could do, it and you
BECAME i, MEAN i think it's. UNDERRATED i know at the,
end it got a little weird by the time you
were in with the forty nine ers For, john those
teams WERE i was Doing raider games for. Radio they
were elite at every. POSITION i mean you you guys
the defensive, line Like Derek wolf And Malik jackson are
(27:48):
underrated players because the two edges get all the. CREDIT
i mean that every guy on that defense was a dominant.
Player so speak to your time working For, john who's
obviously just a legendary football. Figure but the confidence wise
built from getting screened up By bill And.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Scott, yeah AND i don't want to say it wasn't
all bad In New. ENGLAND i mean obviously when you're
winning like, THAT i, mean, shoot my first two years
we won A Super, bowl SO i was, like, ah
this is, easy and then didn't didn't get another until
we went To. Denver but going To, DENVER i actually
went With Matt, russell who's who's a, great great, scout
(28:24):
a great, dude and he was with me In New.
England got hired as the director of college scouting In,
denver and he brought me over and then you, Know
josh McDaniels got hired there as a head, Coach SO
i Knew, josh so it was a good step for
me in moving up because we had so many great
people In New, england, like there was no room for
me to move. UP i, mean THERE'S gms in front of,
(28:44):
Me John, robinson you, know Many austin Fort nick was.
THERE i, Mean jason had just come. Back SO i was, like,
GOSH i got to find somewhere WHERE i could. Grow
and so that's WHY i, left not BECAUSE i totally wanted,
to BUT i, thought, maybe you, know that would help,
me and so it was a RISK i. Took And
matt was really good to take me over there and give, me,
(29:05):
uh you, know a really good opportunity to. Grow and
Then josh got fired like a year and a half into.
That i'm, like oh my, gosh AND i never experienced,
That and the whole building is kind of weird when
when you're when somebody gets, fired it's really like everybody's
on eggshells and what are we going to? Do, Oh
we're Hiring John hillway and everybody and everybody's paranoid about
that Because john hadn't done anything in, personnel you. KNOW i,
(29:28):
mean he's a brilliant guy and a great football, player
but he hadn't done anything in. Personnel so people were
weird about, that and so we didn't know what to,
expect but it ended up being. Great And john incredible,
leader h incredible. Listener you, know he he knew what
he didn't, know and so he Put matt in charge
of the of the personnel and he's, LIKE i don't
know how to run a personnel, department BUT i know
(29:50):
HOW i know. Football so you run this and then
we'll work together and find the. Players and we ended
up winning Five big five in a row division titles
and it was really really impressive in terms of what
the team that he built and how a recipe. Was,
obviously we don't Get Peyton manning if we don't Have John.
Elway we just. Don't it doesn't have, yeah, right and
(30:11):
then you don't Get Emmanuel, sanders or you don't get
all these free AGENTS Tj ward to keep to leave.
With you, know those guys don't come unless you don't
have unless you have somebody Like john in. Charge and
then he did a really good job. DRAFTING i Drafted Von,
miller which sounds like an easy pick at the time but,
now but at the time it. Wasn't you, know he
had him And Marcel, darius and he, really you, know
(30:33):
did a great job of, like you, know including everybody
in that. Process obviously he had to make the decision
on his own at the, end BUT i was really
impressed with him listening and including everybody in the process
and getting all the information and coming up with his own,
decision WHICH i. Didn't i've never seen that. Before and
just the way he brought us all, together you, know
(30:53):
he he brought us all in the, mornings the whole
scouting staff could go lift weights with Him John elway
in the. Morning so imagine, that you, know you're just
sitting there lifting weights With John. Owen after a while
you get. Normal but at First i'm just like and
then Then i'm PLAYING i played racquetball against them a,
(31:14):
lot AND i don't know the guy LIKE i would
be beating. Him i'd be you, KNOW i beat him this,
time and then he would just turn it. On, man
some guys just have. It where he was just, then
he just kicked the shit out of. Me and he
was like twenty years older than. Me so but being
able to see that and see his leadership style and
to try to emulate that as much AS i, could
(31:35):
Well i'll still be in, myself you, know him And
matt that that was really, cool and there's like you,
said LIKE i gained, confidence but there's also ups and.
Downs you, know there's a ton of ups and downs of, like,
OH i Think i'm doing really well and then kind
of get knocked on a. Pedestal and so having to
figure out the ways to make myself valuable If i'm
not really like in the total decision making process was.
(31:57):
Cool and so things like getting C. J anderson and, right,
like how CAN i help make this team better If
i'm not going to be involved right directly in the
first couple of rounds of the, draft and so trying
to find ways to make myself valuable at the end
of the, DRAFT i think was something that it took
me a little while to figure, out AND i probably
pouted for a little while because it wasn't totally involved
(32:18):
in all that. Stuff but that was cool to to
kind of grow in that that way.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Too so then you had Met lynch through he had come.
By he used to sit in the in the personnel,
meetings right and L way told, him because they're, close
you can take one guy and he takes. You, Yeah
and that that had to be your biggest role to,
date in most influential role and from a from a personnel,
staff you, know when you guys got to The, niners
it was pretty. BAD i mean the team was not.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Good it was really. Bad.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Yeah a couple of years, later you're you're in The
Super bowl with the lead Against Patrick. Mahomes SO i,
mean uh, Yeah and Now i'm watching a CLIP i you,
KNOW i want to get into some of YOUR gm.
STUFF i, know you get he has got practice coming,
up BUT i watched The Laramie tunzel. Clip at, First i'm,
thinking you, know kind Of John Gruden Antonio, brown like
(33:07):
where's this thing? Going and then it, says, okay it's pretty.
Normal you guys. Negotiating how do you? Learn i'm sure
while you're with the forty nine ers you're taking on
doing some stuff with agents and, stuff but, like where
do you learn to negotiate in your scouting?
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Career, yeah that's a great, question and you don't unless
you have somebody who's willing to help, you you, Know
and that that's what was cool about The niners is you,
know first Like john was, Incredible lynch was. Incredible One
eli is, great and very gracious to let me go
and come back home that's Where i'm. From and then
Obviously john Empowering lynch empowered me to do a lot
(33:44):
of stuff, too and helping him run the personnel, department
similar to How elwa Allowed Matt russell to do. That
Because John lynch also didn't have a lot of you,
know scouting background other than the stuff he did with
us In. Denver so you, know he empowered me to
do a lot of. Things and we had two people
In San francisco that were really influential and the negotiating,
(34:05):
part uh Brog, marat who's you, know you, know probably
the gold standard and. That and then Then Brian, hampton
who's a little you, KNOW i DON'T i don't think
people know Who Brian hampton, is but the league. Does
And Agent stu and he's an outstanding, negotiator a brilliant.
Guy so both of those guys who worked in that
really helped, me like teach me how to, negotiate or
(34:27):
teach me like, okay Because i'd be so, Gullible i'd
get you, know bent over every, time you, know, like
oh you're not gonna do, this all, Right i'll give
it to, you you, know and so they're, like, no they're.
BLUFFING i was, like, no how do you know they're?
Bluffing and like they're telling you they're, bluffing so they'd
show you the other. Side And i'm not good by
any means right. Now please don't think That I'M i
Think i've made. It but he was in a. NEGOTIATION i,
(34:49):
lost you, know a. Negotiator laramie got me pretty good.
Too but but those guys taught, me you know, there
it's really. Cool the collaboration In San francisco was something
that really impressed, me between you, know salary cap and
scouting AND r AND d and analytics and, coaching everybody
working together really. Well and that's something THAT i really
(35:10):
wanted to take with me WHENEVER i got A gm.
Jobs just the collaboration and the whole building working, together not,
siloed not you, know competing against each. Other but those
were the guys that had a big influence on me
to do.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
THAT i felt, like you, Know i'm three thousand miles.
Away but last year when the quarterback thing with the top,
golf you took a lot of Shit and is that
fair to? Say or we took a.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Lot of shit for. THAT i didn't really REALIZE i understand,
why AND i still, don't but, yeah we did. It
we got a lot of shit for.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That so, basically you, know FOR i, mean it's been a,
while you took you, know Beside, kleb the group of
quarterbacks that were going to get drafted in the first.
Round you brought them all in on the same thirty
visit and took them all to the top Golf at the.
Time you did not know for sure you were Taking.
Jayden is it safe to say that WE.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
I, mean it was like it was pretty darn close
to being one hundred, percent you, know but.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
But you wanted to see them all interact as a group, essentially.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Well not, REALLY i think you, know that was that
was a result of. IT i, think you, know just
seeing how they interact not just with the other, quarterbacks
just with the other guys and and really it's it's
VERY i don't want to say, convenient but just really
helpful for us to do it all on one. Day
and we did it In San. Francisco that's so that's
something THAT i took To washington. Here BUT i don't
(36:31):
MAYBE i didn't, realize like how much publicity it would
get because of the. Quarterbacks but we did In San
francisco over and over again and it worked. Great you,
know you got everybody, together it was relaxed. Atmosphere you
got a chance to really they let their guards. Down you,
know it's. Fun you're not trying to LIKE i think
we people. Thought we thought we were trying to see
if they're, competitive or who was going to do this
or who was going to do, That but it was
(36:52):
really just like it is a fun thing to. Do
this is their last day of thirty. Visits let's all have.
Fun like that's only three hours of the thirty, visit.
Right the rest of, it the guys are in the
classroom with the, coaches they're meeting with different. People so
that's just a small portion of. It and it's actually
the fun portion of it where they all can kind
of relax and let their. Guarden and we still do
it today and we get a great benefit out of
(37:15):
it in terms of getting to know the.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Guys so, no no top golf with seven other linebackers
in sunny styles this.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Year i'm telling you we had an All american team
this year Because i'm picking, seven WHICH i don't ever
want to be doing. Again but there was one moment
WHERE i looked down all the bays AND i, Mean
i'm trying to think of who we. Had but you,
know he Had Cornel, tate he Had Sunny, Styles Caleb,
downs we had All Arvelle, reese we had all those.
Guys we Had mansword De, lane we HAD i, mean who.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Else you're, right it's the, quarterbacks because that's the top
ten of the. Draft no one says a peep we had.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
It we Had Ruben. BAIN i, Mean i'm telling you
we had An all, star like Both All american, teams
everything except we had some like later round. Quarterbacks but
Like i'm telling, you like we could kick the shit
out of anybody with those the. Guys we had a
top golf and but, yeah it's not you, know it's.
Nothing there's no ulterior. Motive, really it's, just hey, man
(38:12):
let's have. Fun let's go like and you see the
guys like guys they suck at, golf like suck like
them are. Terrible you, Know i've never even picked up
a golf. Club but they go out there and they have,
fun make fun of each. Other it's it's It's it's
a cool interaction that we keep doing until we, don't
until we.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Can't is it safe to, say, because like you, Said,
vaughn not that it was, polarizing but it, was you,
Know darius was a high level prospect and some people,
thought like a number one overall level. Guy, uh you,
know the sunny styles, thing the easiest pick in terms
of just a stick and, pick because you probably didn't
think he was going to be. There once he's, there
probably since Like nick bosat number two when you were
(38:50):
with The, niners like that level of like no brainer for, You.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
YEAH i, think, yeah Definitely nick was. One jaden easy there.
Too but then this, one when the draft went the
way it, WENT i was REALLY i was really. SURPRISED
i MEAN i thought there WAS i thought there was.
Four there's there's a lot of places Where sonny could have,
gone and once he was the one sitting, there and
(39:14):
And Caleb downs is an excellent player, too you, know
and that was another player we're definitely. Considering But, SONNY i,
mean just the total package of, everything and it was
a really easy decision in terms of just the, leadership the,
athleticism the, size just that who he was as a
person on and off the, field in the locker room
on the is JUST i, mean and, man it's fun watching.
(39:38):
It right. Now i'm looking to the windows out here
seeing what he's doing out. There but he. Is he's
a freak, man and he's he's already like one of
the hardest workers on our. Team you. Know we had
our director at pro scouting was here On, saturday uh
taking a walk on the, treadmill and there's one player
in the weight room and it's sunny, styles you, know
and so all that stuff that we heard about him
(39:59):
is true and in. Spades it's really cool to see
and he's gonna be a really great player here for
a long.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
TIME i don't want to put you on the spot making,
bold you, know proclamations about, players BUT i was told
by people in the, league AND i think it's, fair
Right Keith, Lee Roquan, smith these were top ten. Linebackers
but in terms of a, prospect this guy six,' five
two fifty runs a four to THREE or, i mean
it's like he's truly one of the best linebacker prospects
(40:26):
Of the. INTERNET era, I mean i'm talking about. Coming
in i'm not saying what he's going to become IN.
The nfl you got to. Prove that but coming out,
of college is He's the is he the best linebacker
prospect you've?
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Ever, done gosh it's a. Good question trying to look
back AND see I Mean Luke luke keithley was a
guy who we THOUGHT was i don't know if we
thought he's gonna be as good as, he was but
he was. Up THERE but i mean in terms of the, total,
PACKAGE yeah, I mean sonny's got a chance to be
one of, the best and he. Really does he has
(40:56):
every opportunity to, do that and, he's got, you know
the the, skill set the mindset to. Do that so,
you know obviously you're not we're not, crowning them you know. We're,
not yeah we're not put them In the Hall of
fame today by. Any means but really excited about what he.
Can be and, YOU know, i think, you know sky's.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
The, LIMIT yeah, i know you got to get out.
To practice you got big vacation plans. This summer you
can Come. Back california what do you?
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Guys do you know what. WE don't i don't get
Back to. CALIFORNIA enough i feel feel awful. About that
we'll be out There With clynton Niners, in october which would.
Be good we're Going to we Go to montauk every
year and it's like the End Of.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Long island, oh, yeah yeah you're living. Well NOW long
a long way from being that nineteen thousand dollars you
know Grinder from.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Bill eighteen it was eighteen that extra thousand when to.
Help me but, but yeah that's so that's what. We're
doing it'll. Be fun we do that. Every year the
girls like, love it they absolutely. Love it they look forward.
To itever you have two daughters and so that's. Our
thing and, you know everybody has. Their thing, you know
everybody as, you know everybody gets the same time off
(42:02):
and it's it's really, you know cherished and valued by,
everybody here, you know. In football and so that'd. Be
Fun but i'm really excited about, this. Team man so,
you know we're in. No tas we got, you know
three more next week in the. Mini camp but guys were.
Working hard we got two. New coordinators so even though
it'll be having fun a little bit in, the summer
(42:23):
like a lot of one eye on the season and
really excited about what.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
We're doing you start smelling that summer. Heat grass, you
know it just smells, like football. Doesn't it, you, know yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
It does. It's awesome you know what the best smell
of grass is. THE rosewall i don't KNOW if i
don't know what they do, to it but it smells
different than. Anything else we walk out on There and
i'll go back there for games or, you know all
star games, or WHATEVER and i walk out there and
it just brings me back about twenty five.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Years, now shit back when you were setting the Edge
against oregon and. Making, sure, yeah YEAH when i WAS.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
When i was getting in garbage Time against cal when
we were winning like fifty six, to seven and then
that was my time to get in there and get
a couple.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Of, Stats well i'd say it's all, Worked. Out adam
thanks for coming on and enjoy practice and look forward
to watching you guys play.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
This, fall yeah, thanks man thanks for having. Me on
i'm glad we. Did, it no it's been, a Minute
so i'm glad we finally got a chance to.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Do, It Awesome, Thanks Bro.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Thanks bake the volume
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
What is going on? My people? How are we doing?
John Middlecoff Three and Out Podcast, Big Show Today, GM
of the Washington Commanders Adam Peters, who has been the
GM now he's going into his third year. He started
working for Belichick back in three or four, then work
(00:35):
with John Elway and Peyton Manning and then Kyle Shanahan
and John Lynch. So I had a He's seen some stuff,
that's for sure. So we'll talk to him a lot
about his career and uh, yeah, you guys know the drill.
If you guys listen on Collins Feed, make sure you
subscribe to three and Out if you want to watch it,
we're on Netflix. Just hit the alert button. Anything that
(00:55):
doesn't make this show and I still want to rant
about we put on the three and Out YouTube page.
You can check that out as well. I do want
to open up and start the show though, before we
dive into Adam with something that's been bothering me, and
I'm as guilty as anyone. It's easy to get excited.
We get to talk about sports. If you notice, most
(01:17):
people in politics are always angry, like people covering sports
should be enjoying it. It's fun it's not that serious.
It's an enjoyable experience. It's fun to bullshit about teams, players, rankings.
It's kind of the you know, in a weird way,
in a roundabout way, what this whole business was kind
(01:40):
of predicated on, to start right, arguing who's better. It's
the most basic element of just sports talk, who's a
better player. I worked in the NFL. It's no different
personnel rank the players one through ten, one through twenty
one through fifty, and I think sometimes things get thrown around,
(02:00):
and I'm, like I said, I am guilty of this
as well. After a game, we do a lot of
records Thursday night, Sunday night, Monday night, after games, and
you're excited, you're worked up, you have an angle, you
have a take over what you just saw. And I
don't blame people for doing this. And there's not one
individual who's guilty of this, but there has been a
(02:22):
consistent theme over the course of I don't know the
last several months, when I hear Victor Webbin Yama's name
was san Antonio that he has a chance to be
the greatest player ever. Do you know how crazy it
is to say that? Do you know the likelihood that
he's going to be better than Michael Jordan or Lebron
(02:42):
James is slim. The nune to negative zero, Like it's
not happening. And he's a young guy. He's twenty two
years old, and he's getting cooked in this series now.
In fairness, Karl Anthony Towns number one overall pick has
been one of the best offensive bigs in the NBA
his entire career, and it feels like he's kind of
(03:03):
unlocked some secret sauce and is playing as well as
he's ever played just in terms of his impact, but
he is. He has beaten Victor wembin Yama like a
fucking drum and I just think for the hype train
on this guy to be the greatest player of all time.
He's an excellent talent. He's seven foot seven, he could
(03:24):
shoot threes. He's a great defensive player. But the majority
of his offense either shooting threes or catching a lob
over some dude that's six', Five like that's the majority
of his, offense you. Know so it's, like that's gonna
be better Than Michael jordan Or Magic johnson Or Larry
bird Or Kobe bryant Or Steph, curry can we pump
the fucking? Breaks how about do you think maybe one
(03:46):
time he could be a top ten player of all?
Time some things we agree on relatively, fast, right Show Hey.
Otani it's, Like i've never seen anything like. This, well
what do you, mean, boy he's hitting five hundred foot home.
Runs he runs like a. Deer oh, yeah and if
he actually just, pitched he would be a top three
or four pitcher in the big. Leagues and like every
(04:08):
once in a while you'll look up it's, like, oh
Show io. Pitched oh he hit a home, run he let,
off and then he pitched seven innings and he had ten.
Ks it's, like, Yeah i'm pretty. SURE i know there's
a legendary nostalgia that comes With Babe, ruth but Like
i've seen some pictures of the, gut and, UH i
feel pretty confident even THOUGH i never saw the babe.
Live i'm taking Show hey over The.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Babe.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Now are there individual better pitchers than Shoe Hey otani
over the course of the last fifty?
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Years?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Sure are there individual better hitters Than? Otani, okay there's
never been the combination of it both and it's just universally,
agreed Even. Mahomes it started getting a little crazy because
he had won the third Super, bowl he'd been, to you,
know five Super bowls in six. Years like could he Catch?
Brady it's, like probably, Not and the answer is, like,
no they're not Catching. Brady But kenny established himself as
(04:56):
one of the best two or three quarterbacks of all
time one hundred. Percent he. Can he already has more
Super bowls Than Brett fahr Of Aaron, Rodgers Peyton. Manning
he's won away From joe Freaking. Montana all. Right so it's, like,
yeah probably never Catching brady in terms of, resume but his,
resume if at any, today is better than the majority
of the guys that were in the top. Ten but
we're still, arguing like, This mahomes the fourth best quarterback
(05:18):
of all, time second. Fifth it's an, argument but the,
hype but look at what he had to accomplish to
get in that. Argument everyone's, like, oh you have victor.
Woman yam's got a chance to be the greatest greatest
player of all. Time he's got a chance to be
the greatest player of all. Time are we're sure the greatest?
Player do you think your greatest player of all? Time
(05:40):
is gonna look like? That like that, SKINNY i know
he's really, skilled uh just in terms of you, know
hand eye coordination for a, guy that's. All But i'm
pretty confident shorting that. Opinion, Again i'm not trying to
shit on the guy because he's getting worked in THE nba.
Finals he's twenty two years. Old is he gonna win
an end? Championship you would bet? On is he gonna win?
(06:02):
Multiple more than? Likely look at his, Team but this, notion,
like are sure he's gonna be a top ten player
of all? Time can we pump the fucking? Breaks Because
i've just seen three guys over the course of the
last fifteen twenty, years maybe, four that are clearly TOP i,
Mean lebron's a top two or three player of all,
(06:22):
Time curry's a top ten to eleven. Player jokic And
Kevin durant are top twenty, players like he got a
long way to go to be.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
THAT i mean in terms of their overall skill, set
because catching dunks over guys that are six six when
you're seven to six is not that.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Impressive it's just not and, uh you should be able
to do. It it's like you ever played pick up
when you're fourteen years old against some of your little
brother or younger cousin's friends and they're like, eight it's
like big advantage. You SO i just think the hype
train on, this AND i get. It THE nba was.
Desperate they needed. It then the next along and they
(07:00):
didn't even need that hype train because The knicks are
just gonna carry the. Day but holy, SHIT i, mean
for so, long you, know golf was like next Tiger,
Woods next Tiger. Woods, guys there's never gonna be another Tiger.
Woods it is never ever. HAPPENING i promise you. That
it doesn't mean there won't be other great, players other
(07:21):
guys that accomplish a. Lot there is never going to
be another Tiger.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Woods it ain't, happening you.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Know SO i it's just one of those. Things i've
heard so many people say, it AND i didn't really
pay that much attention to. IT i was, like, oh
this guy's got a lot of. Hype but IF i
watched those first TWO Nba finals games and A Keem elijah,
ONE i, Mean Karl Anthony towns does that to. You
no one's allowed to say that for like four more
years no one's allowed to utter those. Words let's see
(07:51):
the guy accomplish win THE, mvp be the best player
in the. World uh, BE i don't, know have an
offensive skill set that is more than just dunk and shooting,
threes you. Know So i'm not anti the. Guy i'm
not just anti him because He's. French seems like a
very focused all. IN i admire everything, that by All
(08:13):
accountcy stands. For but the hype train behind, Him Holy,
Conoley let's just pump the brakes a little. Bit let's
dive Into Adam. Peters today's show is brought to you
by our presenting sponsored Hard Rock Bet Florida. Sportsbook we
(08:35):
talk a lot of football on the, show but it's
THE Nba. Finals not gonna. LIE i don't like The.
KNICKS i love The. KNICKS i got in on him
probably ten days ago at four to. One now they're.
Here they are currently on Hard Rock bet plus one
sixty to win THE Nba. Finals they are also an
underdog In game one In San antonio On wednesday. Night
(08:57):
they're four and a half point. Underdog you, Know victor
Web minyama's favor to win THE. Mvp San antonio's favored
to win this. SERIES i believe it's the next, time and,
obviously if you're gonna bet him to win the, series
it's hard to bet Against Jalen brunson being THE. Mvp
we have had some recent examples, though a couple of
years Ago Jalen. BROWN i remember When Andrea gudala won.
(09:18):
IT i think if you, go, well who could win
THE mvp if it Wasn't Jalen. Brown if you Are Jalen.
Brunson if you wanted to get some, odds you Know
Karl Anthony towns twenty to, One OG's forty to. One
bridges is one hundred and fifty to, One SO i
think the safe bet Is, brunson but they got a
lot of firepower defensively to throw at. HIM i can't
(09:39):
wait for this series. Again i'm on The. KNICKS i
think The knicks win. IT i think it's gonna be.
Excellent BUT i think this Is New york's. Time so
same game. Parlays you want to Bet victor Web benyama
triple double Or Karl Anthony, towns you, know double. Double
With Jalen brunson's over on, points you can do whatever
you want to. DO i Think Jalen brunston goes nuts
(10:03):
And victor goes. NOW i think it's gonna be. Fantastic
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Michigan down the Hard Rock bet app. Today let's get
the party. Started, okay very. Excited have a Guy i've
known for a long. Time, ACTUALLY i think he played
football with my cousin way back in the day AT
Ucla Nick, amidola back when you know people FORGET ucla
(10:47):
in THE i was a big fan in the nineties
and early two, thousands was the prominent program in Southern.
California and you land a guy Like Adam peters out
of junior college to set the. Edge you, know they
really knew what they were doing A gm of the.
Commanders what's up, man what's?
Speaker 1 (11:02):
Up? JOHN i think that's when we started getting bad
once they started getting guys like. Me but, yeah we
were good for a while and then and then not so.
Good But Bob chesney's doing a great. JOB i, think you,
KNOW i have high hopes for The bruins coming back
and getting back to those eighties and nineties when we
(11:23):
were the top team in Southern. California but thanks for
having me.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
On, dude IF i would have told you back, then
when you had finished playing and started working for the,
program that you would be a part of the hiring
committee one day later on in your, career in your,
forties would you believe?
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Me, no not one. BIT i didn't know WHAT i
was doing back. Then so it's definitely was an honor
and it was a cool process to be a part.
Of and, like, HONESTLY i don't know if we want
to get into this all, day but the second WE
i talked To, BOB i was, like we got to
hire this. Guy it wasn't even like forget the. Process
(11:58):
this is the. Guy and it was really really interesting BECAUSE,
i you, Know i've never been a part of a
process like, That so it was really cool to be,
involved and especially in a place THAT i care so
much about AT. Ucla and it sucks because one of
my good friends was the coach before, that And DeShawn and,
he you, KNOW i don't know that he got the
(12:19):
best opportunity, there and so it was a LITTLE i
had mixed feelings about doing it BECAUSE i was close With.
SHAWN i talked with him a, lot and so to
be a part of the process right after they let him,
go it definitely wasn't something it was LIKE i definitely
wanted to dive. Into BUT i care about the program
enough and it was really neat to be a part.
(12:40):
Of AND i think we hit a home run With, Bob.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
So, YEAH i planned on Having bob. On we were
supposed to HAVE mam WHEN i was down With colin
and the schedules didn't. Match BUT i you, know you
guys Have Dan, quinn who really became something For. Seattle
so many of these college, guys whether It's, saban Whether Urban,
meyer whether it's. Whoever it's pretty rare when you kind of,
GUYS i mean even you you, Know Bill, Belichick John,
elway this guy did IT i, mean it just doesn't
(13:06):
happen anymore when you look at his, resume did not
come but it's, like, well, yeah he coached For Kirby
smart At. Georgia, no, no, no this Guy's John. Hopkins.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah. Yeah and that's WHEN i first because they gave
me all these different packets of, here here's the guys
who were, interviewing AND i saw and, obviously being a college,
SCOUT i know all the small, colleges SO i knew
where they. Were but IF i, wasn't like what Is Salve?
Regina you, KNOW Johns hopkins has a football team and an,
assumption and but what you saw every place was an
(13:38):
incredible amount of program building and winning every single. Time
he's the head coach of all those places, REALLY i
mean except for the early, parts but being a head
coach for so, long just being able to rebuild those
like three different, programs it was extremely. Impressive and then
the SECOND i got on the phone with, HIM i knew.
Why and you, know that's what we. Needed we needed
(13:58):
someone who could bring energy to back to the. Program
and he's done. That he's doing a great job in.
Recruiting we got to do a better. Job we got
to get more. Money that's the name of the game
now with college, football as you, got it's. Money so,
unfortunately but he's selling the school for what it, is
and it's a great. University it's a great, INSTITUTION i
mean incredible shape my life and, SHOOT i WISH i
(14:20):
could go back there right now and be Like Fan, wilder.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
WELL i want to get INTO i get so many
questions about how do you get into the, business how
do you get, started how do you get your foot
in the. Door i've always, said like my store is
a little like your college football and BACK i mean
you're a little older than. Me it did not, exist
Like derek ray is THE gm at court for that.
Position it was unheard of fifteen twenty years. Ago so
(14:48):
you basically just had to like almost do you, know
be a coffee runner and it wasn't even a position
where now these scouting, DEPARTMENTS i mean you're going into these,
Schools is there that much of a difference at all
the tops in their scouting departments in your scouting departments
in terms of, Staff, yeah now.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Where they're getting it's they had more people BECAUSE i
think they have more resources to hire or even just
have interns. Right so even back before they got him
into THE gm era which we're in right, now in college,
football like places Like, alabama they had twenty thirty guys
just running around there all the time because they have
the resources and those bigger schools In, georgia and they
(15:28):
had tons of kids running around and working hard in
the recruiting. Area and then they started building and making
these different titles and. Roles but there is from The
alabama's to even just the other powerful conferences which were
not powerful back, then but just the lower end Like
DIVISION i. SCHOOLS i, mean there was a stark difference
(15:49):
from how many guys they had working for. Them and,
shoot like you, said WHEN i was, working they didn't
have a position for. ME i finished football AND i
know what to, do SO i just said any kind
of come work For and so like you, SAID i
was running, COFFEE i was doing, VIDEO i was doing,
RECRUITING i was doing. WHATEVER i was sitting in the
coaches meetings breaking down. Tape and BUT i was the only.
One you, know NOW i got like forty. Guys it
(16:12):
was just, me and they didn't have one before. Then
so it's changed, dramatically and it's cool for the sport
because you have a lot of people that can who
have so much passion for football and love, it and
now there's more positions for people to work.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
In, well that's HOW i got to meet guys like.
You you guys would come Through Fresne state and it's just.
Me it was just just the coaches And Coach hill AND.
Ucla but the difference Of Fresne state and there was no.
Difference you, KNOW i would have had the same role AT,
ucla where now you, know there's a clear hierarchy at
some of these. Places you, KNOW i didn't know, this
(16:47):
BUT i knew.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It AT.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Ucla you got to meet people that were coming. Through
but on your wiki page it said that your breakthrough
with The patriots was one day That Scott pioli And
Jason light came through when your boss was out of
town or. Something, yeah and you got to interact with
him directly and that led to you to going to
that Early patriot.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Dynasty, yeah it's it's really it was really. Fortuitous and
the Great Randy, taylor who was my, BOSS i don't
know if he interacted with him at, all but he
was our director of football operations for a while and
he was the one who handled the scouts when they
came in and he's a great mentor of. MINE i
still talk to him to this.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Day but.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
He's he was out of town and so he's, like,
hey can you we got some guys coming in from The.
Patriots can you just take care of? Him and SO i.
Did and if he was out of town the next
week or you, know the previous week or, WHATEVER i.
DON'T i don't Think i'm sitting. Here and SO i
was really lucky to be able to meet with those
guys who obviously you Know scott who was basically a
(17:49):
general manager for The patriots at the, time and Then
jason who's now still a general manager at The bucks
and certainly one of the, best if not you, know
the count him as one of the BEST gms was
in the league for how well he's done. There being
able to sit and have lunch with those guys and
then stay in, touch and they invited me out to
(18:10):
The East West shrine, game which was actually at The
Giants San Francisco Giants. Stadium it's kind of where you're
playing football. THERE i remember that At Bell. Park, yeah
so they had me running and trying to get, interviews
AND i remember LIKE i was, Nervous LIKE i was
nervous talking to these college, guys like trying to get
interviews with. Them i'm like their same age as. Me
but for whatever, REASON i just, Like, god this is.
(18:30):
Hard BUT i got to meet a lot of people
there and they ended up hiring me and my first
day of work was at The combine in two thousand and.
Three it's.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
COOL i, REMEMBER i think it was a couple of years,
ago maybe When questi got the. Job you had worked
with him and you know how he has a, Guy
Andrew berry's brother who came back from Like Goldman. Sachs
these guys leave college and they started like one hundred
and fifty. K now it's a, grind but it's they're
making a lot of. Money safe to, say you get
your foot in the Door New. England and what Did
(19:00):
Dante scarnecci the twenties and twenties or something was it, was.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah twenty years, old twenty hours a, day twenty, thousand
WHICH i didn't make twenty. THOUSAND i was, eighteen SO
i was twenty twenty, eighteen but it was definitely the
twenty hours a day, there and, YEAH i, MEAN i always, thought,
like what AM i doing? Here like these guys that
are working like half as hard as me making a one
(19:24):
hundred Grand i'm Making AND i really didn't make that
much money for ten, years you, KNOW i didn't even
get to that number for ten. Years and it's not
as glamorous as it. LOOKS i can tell you that
from the, outside but it sure it's.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Fun can we describe BECAUSE i think that you know
what happened To bill over the last couple of, years
BUT i know so many people that worked for, him you,
know for the, decade multiple, decades and it was just
stuff of like, lore, right like what actually goes on in?
THERE i, mean you you work for The patriots when
they were Winning Super bowls With Tom. Brady but this
(19:58):
isn't you, know the Recent this Is Vrabel, Bruskie, Yeah Charlie,
Weiss Romeo, Crenell like what it was, Like, like what
was a day like for you back?
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Then? Yeah it was LIKE i said, earlier day was, long,
right and usually it was pretty, scary you, know in
terms of all, right don't do, this don't do. That
make sure you, know there's a lot of there's expectations
were so, high AND i always, say LIKE i, WOULD i.
WOULDN'T i wouldn't trade it for the. World first of,
(20:28):
all because the level of detail and thoroughness and everything
that is expected in that building set the foundation for
myself and my career in terms of what what the
standards are for me and everywhere we. Go and so
while it wasn't always, fun because it wasn't AND i
got you, KNOW i don't know if you could swear
(20:49):
on this, show BUT i got a, lot a, lot
a lot By bill Or Scott, scott mostly Mostly, scott
a couple of times By, bill but Mostly. Uh and
but it helds you do a really high. Standard and he,
understood LIKE i, mean if you were just doing one
thing at a, time and it's like you weren't working hard,
(21:10):
enough you had to be like doing two or three
things at a, time and in order to get all
your work. Done and but like you, said you had,
ROOM i mean countless head. Coaches i'll probably forget half of.
Them be At romeo you Had Charlie, weiss you Had Matt,
Patricia Brian, Flores josh. McDaniels i, mean who AM i
Forgetting Brian? Dable, Yeah i'm probably missing four or five
(21:33):
more and then gms LIKE i, worked you know with
a ton of LIKE gm types OR. MONI i worked
With Jason. Light Nick cassio was a mentor of. Mine
nick Nick asseia is my first roommate as a matter
of fact as.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Well, yeah so you moved back there and live With Nick? Asseio,
yeah it.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Was it was so. Cool he is such a cool
guy and such a great like great hearted. Person but,
somebody LIKE i, said my first day was at The
combi AND i AND i walk. In it's the Old
Crown plaza and it was. WEIRD i don't know what's going.
On and this guy who's a stranger to, me he
comes up to me and, says, hey welcome to the.
Team It's Nick. Assario he's, like where are you living
when you move out? THERE i was, like, DUDE i
(22:12):
have no, idea and he, GOES i want to live with.
ME i was like, Sure so five hundred bucks all,
in you, know, no, no, nothing just straight five hundred
bucks a. Month AND i was, In so we live
in where do we? Live In Rhode? Island, Lincoln Rhode, Island,
Lincoln Rhode island in a two bedroom apartment and so
never saw him ever because he's always. WORKING i was always.
(22:33):
Working it was like two ships passing in the. Night
but that's the kind of guy and he still is
to this.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Day similar diets you, too Because i've heard his. Diet
it's pretty pretty.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Dialed, no not even, close LIKE i. Remember still he'll
probably kill me for telling this. Story but so we
had Pizza fridays Every. Friday that was like actually really.
Fun they delivered pizza and there was like the one
time where we actually had, fun but it was like an.
Hour right then he got back to, work but he
had an hour and just everybody's sitting around the draft
room eating, pizza telling stories and. Everything And nick never
(23:07):
participated because, HE i, mean the guy's diet was like,
incredible just. Regimented everything was. Regimented and one day he
decides he's gonna have a couple of pieces of pizza
and he like passed out because it's the. Body he's
like rejecting. It and we had to have like the
trainers come. Up but, man HE i, Mean i've never
(23:27):
seen a work ethic like. His i've never seen just
so much structure and. Everything he could do so many
things and such a short amount of, time and it
was just a matter of time before he became A
gm and a really good, one and so you, KNOW
i talked to him all the. Time still he's super
helpful and we'll do deals. Together you, know he's we,
(23:48):
hired you, know head of medical who's working. There he
gave him a great. Recommendation so but, yeah just the
relationships and the PEOPLE i worked with during that, TIME
i think that's THE i, mean as hard as it,
was we all had each, other, right and we all
worked together so, well and we were like trauma, bonded
if you want to, say in terms of like JUST
(24:09):
i still talk to all those guys till.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Today, well you, know we talk a lot about like building.
CONFIDENCE i don't care what you, do and young, people
you get put in, situations whether it's getting hired at
a finance firm or getting the opportunity to work For
bill Freaking. BELICHICK i would imagine early, on BECAUSE i
remember feeling like this With Pat, hill and then again
WHEN i went To, philly LIKE i don't know IF
i belong. Here this is. Insane, Yeah and you kind
(24:34):
of feel like you're getting fired every, day and then
the next day comes and everything's, fine so you kind
of become numb to just that. Environment but, like was
there a specific moment maybe LIKE i did this well
and someone says. SOMETHING i don't know if they give
out many compliments back In New, england but you were just, Like,
Okay i'm gonna make, it because there had to be
some times early on when you're, LIKE i don't know
If i'm gonna make.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
It, yeah, yeah there's there's definitely a lot of times
WHERE i wasn't gonna make, it you. Know and you
know person that really helped me a, lot and she
just retired a few weeks ago Was Nancy, meyer and
she really you, know you, know every TIME i, thought you,
KNOW i wasn't gonna make, it OR i was like
this is too much or, WHATEVER i talked To. Nancy
she topped me off the. Ledge AND i mean she
(25:16):
Was she's a pillar there for fifty years AND i
wasn't the only one who she. Helped and she was
just like an incredible person who did so many things
there behind the scenes that really kept that place. Going
but there's a lot of those times that WHERE i
didn't THINK i was going to make. It Her Andre
tippett was a great resource every TIME i THOUGHT i
was going to lose my mind and go See andre,
(25:37):
too and he's A hall Of famer but really A
hall Of fame person. Too BUT i think probably the
first TIME i, Thought, OKAY i have what it takes
at least to make it as a scout was WHEN
i was an area scout AND i was kind of
cheating BECAUSE i was AT. UCLA i WAS i was
in The west and SO i was AT ucla AND
(25:58):
i had actually Recruited Matt. Slater and when we Signed Matt,
slater he was like a receiver SAFETY i had, SURVIED i,
think and that first recruiting class WHEN i was working,
THERE i got to know, him and so he was
a really unknown person and player when he's coming out
of a college because all he did is play special.
Teams he kind of switched back and forth from offense and,
(26:20):
defense but he was like an elite special teams. Player
and back then there wasn't a lot of scouts really
watching all the special. Teams it watched the, offense the,
defense and cut. Out but BECAUSE i knew who he
was and knew what he could, DO i, MEAN i
watched every single special teams play he had and documented
it and did all, that and sure enough we drafted
(26:42):
him and drafted him in the fifth, round AND i
just felt really, good, Like, okay like IF i do this,
work AND i do with all the extra, work AND
i make sure That i'm extremely, THOROUGH i could do.
This and so that was probably one that sticks in
my mind of like staying AT ucla late and watching
all the tape and really getting into, it really enjoying.
It you. KNOW i mean that one probably told me, That,
(27:04):
okay if you do all, this you're gonna be all.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Right so IF i fast, forward probably a little under a,
decade you're you're one of the main guys For elway
and The broncos and those great. Teams and you, know
by the TIME. C. J anderson's, retiring he's crediting. YOU
i would say safe to. SAY i, MEAN i guess
you got there Before elway got, there but you stayed
on and moved up your. Confidence by that, time you,
(27:27):
know was was pretty well established that you were good
at your gig and you could do, it and you
BECAME i, MEAN i think it's. UNDERRATED i know at the,
end it got a little weird by the time you
were in with the forty nine ers For, john those
teams WERE i was Doing raider games for. Radio they
were elite at every. POSITION i mean you you guys
the defensive, line Like Derek wolf And Malik jackson are
(27:48):
underrated players because the two edges get all the. CREDIT
i mean that every guy on that defense was a dominant.
Player so speak to your time working For, john who's
obviously just a legendary football. Figure but the confidence wise
built from getting screened up By bill And.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Scott, yeah AND i don't want to say it wasn't
all bad In New. ENGLAND i mean obviously when you're
winning like, THAT i, mean, shoot my first two years
we won A Super, bowl SO i was, like, ah
this is, easy and then didn't didn't get another until
we went To. Denver but going To, DENVER i actually
went With Matt, russell who's who's a, great great, scout
(28:24):
a great, dude and he was with me In New.
England got hired as the director of college scouting In,
denver and he brought me over and then you, Know
josh McDaniels got hired there as a head, Coach SO
i Knew, josh so it was a good step for
me in moving up because we had so many great
people In New, england, like there was no room for
me to move. UP i, mean THERE'S gms in front of,
(28:44):
Me John, robinson you, know Many austin Fort nick was.
THERE i, Mean jason had just come. Back SO i was, like,
GOSH i got to find somewhere WHERE i could. Grow
and so that's WHY i, left not BECAUSE i totally wanted,
to BUT i, thought, maybe you, know that would help,
me and so it was a RISK i. Took And
matt was really good to take me over there and give, me,
(29:05):
uh you, know a really good opportunity to. Grow and
Then josh got fired like a year and a half into.
That i'm, like oh my, gosh AND i never experienced,
That and the whole building is kind of weird when
when you're when somebody gets, fired it's really like everybody's
on eggshells and what are we going to? Do, Oh
we're Hiring John hillway and everybody and everybody's paranoid about
that Because john hadn't done anything in, personnel you. KNOW i,
(29:28):
mean he's a brilliant guy and a great football, player
but he hadn't done anything in. Personnel so people were
weird about, that and so we didn't know what to,
expect but it ended up being. Great And john incredible,
leader h incredible. Listener you, know he he knew what
he didn't, know and so he Put matt in charge
of the of the personnel and he's, LIKE i don't
know how to run a personnel, department BUT i know
(29:50):
HOW i know. Football so you run this and then
we'll work together and find the. Players and we ended
up winning Five big five in a row division titles
and it was really really impressive in terms of what
the team that he built and how a recipe. Was,
obviously we don't Get Peyton manning if we don't Have John.
Elway we just. Don't it doesn't have, yeah, right and
(30:11):
then you don't Get Emmanuel, sanders or you don't get
all these free AGENTS Tj ward to keep to leave.
With you, know those guys don't come unless you don't
have unless you have somebody Like john in. Charge and
then he did a really good job. DRAFTING i Drafted Von,
miller which sounds like an easy pick at the time but,
now but at the time it. Wasn't you, know he
had him And Marcel, darius and he, really you, know
(30:33):
did a great job of, like you, know including everybody
in that. Process obviously he had to make the decision
on his own at the, end BUT i was really
impressed with him listening and including everybody in the process
and getting all the information and coming up with his own,
decision WHICH i. Didn't i've never seen that. Before and
just the way he brought us all, together you, know
(30:53):
he he brought us all in the, mornings the whole
scouting staff could go lift weights with Him John elway
in the. Morning so imagine, that you, know you're just
sitting there lifting weights With John. Owen after a while
you get. Normal but at First i'm just like and
then Then i'm PLAYING i played racquetball against them a,
(31:14):
lot AND i don't know the guy LIKE i would
be beating. Him i'd be you, KNOW i beat him this,
time and then he would just turn it. On, man
some guys just have. It where he was just, then
he just kicked the shit out of. Me and he
was like twenty years older than. Me so but being
able to see that and see his leadership style and
to try to emulate that as much AS i, could
(31:35):
Well i'll still be in, myself you, know him And
matt that that was really, cool and there's like you,
said LIKE i gained, confidence but there's also ups and.
Downs you, know there's a ton of ups and downs of, like,
OH i Think i'm doing really well and then kind
of get knocked on a. Pedestal and so having to
figure out the ways to make myself valuable If i'm
not really like in the total decision making process was.
(31:57):
Cool and so things like getting C. J anderson and, right,
like how CAN i help make this team better If
i'm not going to be involved right directly in the
first couple of rounds of the, draft and so trying
to find ways to make myself valuable at the end
of the, DRAFT i think was something that it took
me a little while to figure, out AND i probably
pouted for a little while because it wasn't totally involved
(32:18):
in all that. Stuff but that was cool to to
kind of grow in that that way.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Too so then you had Met lynch through he had come.
By he used to sit in the in the personnel,
meetings right and L way told, him because they're, close
you can take one guy and he takes. You, Yeah
and that that had to be your biggest role to,
date in most influential role and from a from a personnel,
staff you, know when you guys got to The, niners
it was pretty. BAD i mean the team was not.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Good it was really. Bad.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Yeah a couple of years, later you're you're in The
Super bowl with the lead Against Patrick. Mahomes SO i,
mean uh, Yeah and Now i'm watching a CLIP i you,
KNOW i want to get into some of YOUR gm.
STUFF i, know you get he has got practice coming,
up BUT i watched The Laramie tunzel. Clip at, First i'm,
thinking you, know kind Of John Gruden Antonio, brown like
(33:07):
where's this thing? Going and then it, says, okay it's pretty.
Normal you guys. Negotiating how do you? Learn i'm sure
while you're with the forty nine ers you're taking on
doing some stuff with agents and, stuff but, like where
do you learn to negotiate in your scouting?
Speaker 1 (33:21):
Career, yeah that's a great, question and you don't unless
you have somebody who's willing to help, you you, Know
and that that's what was cool about The niners is you,
know first Like john was, Incredible lynch was. Incredible One
eli is, great and very gracious to let me go
and come back home that's Where i'm. From and then
Obviously john Empowering lynch empowered me to do a lot
(33:44):
of stuff, too and helping him run the personnel, department
similar to How elwa Allowed Matt russell to do. That
Because John lynch also didn't have a lot of you,
know scouting background other than the stuff he did with
us In. Denver so you, know he empowered me to
do a lot of. Things and we had two people
In San francisco that were really influential and the negotiating,
(34:05):
part uh Brog, marat who's you, know you, know probably
the gold standard and. That and then Then Brian, hampton
who's a little you, KNOW i DON'T i don't think
people know Who Brian hampton, is but the league. Does
And Agent stu and he's an outstanding, negotiator a brilliant.
Guy so both of those guys who worked in that
really helped, me like teach me how to, negotiate or
(34:27):
teach me like, okay Because i'd be so, Gullible i'd
get you, know bent over every, time you, know, like
oh you're not gonna do, this all, Right i'll give
it to, you you, know and so they're, like, no they're.
BLUFFING i was, like, no how do you know they're?
Bluffing and like they're telling you they're, bluffing so they'd
show you the other. Side And i'm not good by
any means right. Now please don't think That I'M i
Think i've made. It but he was in a. NEGOTIATION i,
(34:49):
lost you, know a. Negotiator laramie got me pretty good.
Too but but those guys taught, me you know, there
it's really. Cool the collaboration In San francisco was something
that really impressed, me between you, know salary cap and
scouting AND r AND d and analytics and, coaching everybody
working together really. Well and that's something THAT i really
(35:10):
wanted to take with me WHENEVER i got A gm.
Jobs just the collaboration and the whole building working, together not,
siloed not you, know competing against each. Other but those
were the guys that had a big influence on me
to do.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
THAT i felt, like you, Know i'm three thousand miles.
Away but last year when the quarterback thing with the top,
golf you took a lot of Shit and is that
fair to? Say or we took a.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Lot of shit for. THAT i didn't really REALIZE i understand,
why AND i still, don't but, yeah we did. It
we got a lot of shit for.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That so, basically you, know FOR i, mean it's been a,
while you took you, know Beside, kleb the group of
quarterbacks that were going to get drafted in the first.
Round you brought them all in on the same thirty
visit and took them all to the top Golf at the.
Time you did not know for sure you were Taking.
Jayden is it safe to say that WE.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
I, mean it was like it was pretty darn close
to being one hundred, percent you, know but.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
But you wanted to see them all interact as a group, essentially.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Well not, REALLY i think you, know that was that
was a result of. IT i, think you, know just
seeing how they interact not just with the other, quarterbacks
just with the other guys and and really it's it's
VERY i don't want to say, convenient but just really
helpful for us to do it all on one. Day
and we did it In San. Francisco that's so that's
something THAT i took To washington. Here BUT i don't
(36:31):
MAYBE i didn't, realize like how much publicity it would
get because of the. Quarterbacks but we did In San
francisco over and over again and it worked. Great you,
know you got everybody, together it was relaxed. Atmosphere you
got a chance to really they let their guards. Down you,
know it's. Fun you're not trying to LIKE i think
we people. Thought we thought we were trying to see
if they're, competitive or who was going to do this
or who was going to do, That but it was
(36:52):
really just like it is a fun thing to. Do
this is their last day of thirty. Visits let's all have.
Fun like that's only three hours of the thirty, visit.
Right the rest of, it the guys are in the
classroom with the, coaches they're meeting with different. People so
that's just a small portion of. It and it's actually
the fun portion of it where they all can kind
of relax and let their. Guarden and we still do
it today and we get a great benefit out of
(37:15):
it in terms of getting to know the.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Guys so, no no top golf with seven other linebackers
in sunny styles this.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Year i'm telling you we had an All american team
this year Because i'm picking, seven WHICH i don't ever
want to be doing. Again but there was one moment
WHERE i looked down all the bays AND i, Mean
i'm trying to think of who we. Had but you,
know he Had Cornel, tate he Had Sunny, Styles Caleb,
downs we had All Arvelle, reese we had all those.
Guys we Had mansword De, lane we HAD i, mean who.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Else you're, right it's the, quarterbacks because that's the top
ten of the. Draft no one says a peep we had.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
It we Had Ruben. BAIN i, Mean i'm telling you
we had An all, star like Both All american, teams
everything except we had some like later round. Quarterbacks but
Like i'm telling, you like we could kick the shit
out of anybody with those the. Guys we had a
top golf and but, yeah it's not you, know it's.
Nothing there's no ulterior. Motive, really it's, just hey, man
(38:12):
let's have. Fun let's go like and you see the
guys like guys they suck at, golf like suck like
them are. Terrible you, Know i've never even picked up
a golf. Club but they go out there and they have,
fun make fun of each. Other it's it's It's it's
a cool interaction that we keep doing until we, don't
until we.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
Can't is it safe to, say, because like you, Said,
vaughn not that it was, polarizing but it, was you,
Know darius was a high level prospect and some people,
thought like a number one overall level. Guy, uh you,
know the sunny styles, thing the easiest pick in terms
of just a stick and, pick because you probably didn't
think he was going to be. There once he's, there
probably since Like nick bosat number two when you were
(38:50):
with The, niners like that level of like no brainer for, You.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
YEAH i, think, yeah Definitely nick was. One jaden easy there.
Too but then this, one when the draft went the
way it, WENT i was REALLY i was really. SURPRISED
i MEAN i thought there WAS i thought there was.
Four there's there's a lot of places Where sonny could have,
gone and once he was the one sitting, there and
(39:14):
And Caleb downs is an excellent player, too you, know
and that was another player we're definitely. Considering But, SONNY i,
mean just the total package of, everything and it was
a really easy decision in terms of just the, leadership the,
athleticism the, size just that who he was as a
person on and off the, field in the locker room
on the is JUST i, mean and, man it's fun watching.
(39:38):
It right. Now i'm looking to the windows out here
seeing what he's doing out. There but he. Is he's
a freak, man and he's he's already like one of
the hardest workers on our. Team you. Know we had
our director at pro scouting was here On, saturday uh
taking a walk on the, treadmill and there's one player
in the weight room and it's sunny, styles you, know
and so all that stuff that we heard about him
(39:59):
is true and in. Spades it's really cool to see
and he's gonna be a really great player here for
a long.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
TIME i don't want to put you on the spot making,
bold you, know proclamations about, players BUT i was told
by people in the, league AND i think it's, fair
Right Keith, Lee Roquan, smith these were top ten. Linebackers
but in terms of a, prospect this guy six,' five
two fifty runs a four to THREE or, i mean
it's like he's truly one of the best linebacker prospects
(40:26):
Of the. INTERNET era, I mean i'm talking about. Coming
in i'm not saying what he's going to become IN.
The nfl you got to. Prove that but coming out,
of college is He's the is he the best linebacker
prospect you've?
Speaker 1 (40:36):
Ever, done gosh it's a. Good question trying to look
back AND see I Mean Luke luke keithley was a
guy who we THOUGHT was i don't know if we
thought he's gonna be as good as, he was but
he was. Up THERE but i mean in terms of the, total,
PACKAGE yeah, I mean sonny's got a chance to be
one of, the best and he. Really does he has
(40:56):
every opportunity to, do that and, he's got, you know
the the, skill set the mindset to. Do that so,
you know obviously you're not we're not, crowning them you know. We're,
not yeah we're not put them In the Hall of
fame today by. Any means but really excited about what he.
Can be and, YOU know, i think, you know sky's.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
The, LIMIT yeah, i know you got to get out.
To practice you got big vacation plans. This summer you
can Come. Back california what do you?
Speaker 1 (41:22):
Guys do you know what. WE don't i don't get
Back to. CALIFORNIA enough i feel feel awful. About that
we'll be out There With clynton Niners, in october which would.
Be good we're Going to we Go to montauk every
year and it's like the End Of.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Long island, oh, yeah yeah you're living. Well NOW long
a long way from being that nineteen thousand dollars you
know Grinder from.
Speaker 1 (41:42):
Bill eighteen it was eighteen that extra thousand when to.
Help me but, but yeah that's so that's what. We're
doing it'll. Be fun we do that. Every year the
girls like, love it they absolutely. Love it they look forward.
To itever you have two daughters and so that's. Our
thing and, you know everybody has. Their thing, you know
everybody as, you know everybody gets the same time off
(42:02):
and it's it's really, you know cherished and valued by,
everybody here, you know. In football and so that'd. Be
Fun but i'm really excited about, this. Team man so,
you know we're in. No tas we got, you know
three more next week in the. Mini camp but guys were.
Working hard we got two. New coordinators so even though
it'll be having fun a little bit in, the summer
(42:23):
like a lot of one eye on the season and
really excited about what.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
We're doing you start smelling that summer. Heat grass, you
know it just smells, like football. Doesn't it, you, know yeah.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
It does. It's awesome you know what the best smell
of grass is. THE rosewall i don't KNOW if i
don't know what they do, to it but it smells
different than. Anything else we walk out on There and
i'll go back there for games or, you know all
star games, or WHATEVER and i walk out there and
it just brings me back about twenty five.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Years, now shit back when you were setting the Edge
against oregon and. Making, sure, yeah YEAH when i WAS.
Speaker 1 (42:56):
When i was getting in garbage Time against cal when
we were winning like fifty six, to seven and then
that was my time to get in there and get
a couple.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
Of, Stats well i'd say it's all, Worked. Out adam
thanks for coming on and enjoy practice and look forward
to watching you guys play.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
This, fall yeah, thanks man thanks for having. Me on
i'm glad we. Did, it no it's been, a Minute
so i'm glad we finally got a chance to.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
Do, It Awesome, Thanks Bro.
Speaker 1 (43:20):
Thanks bake the volume
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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