November 30, 2021 • 27 mins
Aqib talks with the former NFL star about his career at Ohio State, being a star in the NFL and having it all taken away in the blink of an eye.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
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sports book dot vandel dot com. We're catching face. We
got old state legend, his bird still a legend, two
time pro bowler and now author. My guy Ryan Shay
(01:29):
is here. What's up, my boy? What's up? Man? What's up? Man?
I'm glad to be on, glad to be all. Know
what I'm saying. I'm saying, you're good. I can't com
playing man, my family good. You know. I'm my author now,
so you know what that means and stuff. So I
need to notice process, right because I'm thinking about doing
the book and ship too. Right, So what's the process
(01:50):
on writing a book. I'm not gonna lie. I actually
had some help with me write my book. You gotta
hell help for sure, Yeah, because if I wrote it
would have been about tim page ages. You know what
I'm saying now. So so basically, I had talked to
my agent and told him I wanted to write a book,
and then we talked to a few different authors and
figure out who is the best fit for me and
(02:13):
was the writing style. So I read a few different
books from a few different authors than me. Larry Platt,
who was the author for my book, I read his
so he wrote Stewart Scott book he wrote. He wrote
a book I think for Orison and Charles Barkley, um,
and I just I seen how he made the book
sound like it was them, you know, it was actually
(02:34):
like their boys. So I started talking to him. And
then as we started talking and I started feeling more uncomfortable,
I was like, man, this guy actually and then when
I talked to him, he put it back on paper
and it made it sound just like me. You know,
obviously it's it's it's it's a few things here and there.
He may say that I won't say that. I was
just like, hey, you can change this up and change
that up. But then it started to feel more like myself,
(02:57):
and I'm like, man like, because I was able to
tell my story is just I wouldn't have been able
to write it, you know, So so it was it
was dope, you know. But the thing is, it's it
takes a while to trust him because at first you
was like, man like interviews, Yeah, I feel like the interview.
You feel like an interview, so you basically interviewing with him,
(03:18):
but instead of like you know, when the interview asked
you questions, it's like they asked you the same old stuff.
He like literally like diving into stuff, and that you
might tell him something that I might talk about a
hill state and you were like, all right, what did
you do at a hill state? And then you're just
you're explaining it, but here like go deeper, you know,
and it's like how did you get to this moment?
And then like and then go deeper. And it really
(03:39):
made me feel good because it's all right, this guy
not just writing a book, like he's just not writing
a story, you know, just like to get to it. Bit.
He's really trying to get all the information he can
to make my story sound as good as I wanted
to be. That's dope. That's dope. How long it take
you to do it? How long did the whole process take?
So it probably took me about like two and a
half years, and then with COVID kind of slowed it down.
(04:03):
So I first met him, I was still rocking with
the team a little bit, and we went to New
York because he lived in Philly, So we went to
New York and we met at the Jets game. It
was like two years too. It was like two and
a half years ago when I was still with the team,
and we met in the hotel in the morning and
then uh COVID happened. So normally when we meet in person,
(04:24):
but then we have to do everything over the phone.
So it took at it took a little bit longer
than the normally take. But you're about two and a
half years. Oh yeah, that's that's what's up, man. So
in the book, did you tell them how you fell
in love with football? So I really did? Right now, man,
tell us, man, how you how did you fall in
love with football? So the way I fell a love
(04:45):
of football, man, is I ain't even like I can't
even remember how I feel in love with football because
I've been playing the game for so long. Like yeah,
like my first time not playing football was like when
I got hurt. Other than that, I was playing of
football since like you was allowed to play football, so
like like my dad was a coach growing up, but
(05:06):
he had passed it now, but he was a high
school coach. So at the age of two three years old,
I'm at high school football games. And that's the answer
right there. Look, that's how you fell in love with it.
You can remember you was at them high school games
with your dad and what I'm saying, and that's the
answer right there. Bro, your dad coaching high school football,
(05:26):
introduce you to and I'm saying, yeah, I love it.
I've been holding the ball ever since. I know, like
I played tag of football like six years old, so
from like six, like there's another but football. You know
what I'm telling you. That's how they're doing That's how
they're doing it out here. So you wasn't you was
(05:47):
playing in Plantation, Florida. You end up in Old State.
Now usually ask people like how you end up in
Old State? But it is Old State. I'm saying, we
know how you ended up being Old State. It's Old State.
Whatever situations did you have on you on your plate?
You know what I'm saying, before before you pick old
State and what was and what made you finally pick
Old State? No, so I wasn't actually going there though,
(06:08):
like I was actually going to Florida. So so yeah,
so I was. I ain't allow. I was blessed even
in the NFL. I was blessed. I had like speed
and you know, size and stuff. But and so I
wouldn't to Blanchely High School my freshman year, we say
the Publano Beach Publano Beach, Florida, and that's where Pat
Peterson went to school. So like he was a senior,
(06:30):
I was a freshman. We played. We played one year
together and then I end up I end up getting
a lot of fights my freshman year and I end
up tearing my rotated cup in high school, and my
parents didn't like high like the school kind of like
treated this situation. So then I transferred the Plantation. When
I was a Plantation my sophomore year, I started getting
all the offers. My favorite school growing up, Florida State.
(06:51):
So like you know most kids growing up and you
get your favorite school, you're like, no matter what matter. Yeah.
So so like so basically Florida State came to my
school and I told my dad line, man, I might commit,
and he's like, man, you don't know that about the
school yet, and like you just like school. So then
we started looking it up and then I ain't up
going to Florida me and then I end up talking
to Florida, spent time with Florida. Coach Meyer was there.
(07:12):
You know, they won a national championship like a year
or two before. Um there was like Florida was like
hot at the moment, like it was the hottest school
at the moment. So then I was like, all right,
then I'm gonna go to Florida. And then coach Meyer
reson like of like almost three weeks before I went
to school, and then right before I went to school,
(07:33):
he uh like I was taking my online classical. I
went to school early. I went in in January instead
of like going in July. And when he when he
switched up LU State, was both at my school. So
I talked to both the coaches and I was like, Hey,
if I'm gonna go to y'all school, I gotta busy
y'r school like this week because I'm going to school
(07:54):
and in in in the month. So basically, so I
went to l s U literally the next day, like
the coaches at my house, I mean when coaches at
my school. The next day I flew to. I flew
the l s U. I was there for three days,
came back through the Ohio State were there for three days,
(08:14):
and a lot of my states. It was terrible. It
was like super cold because it was in the winter,
so it was like when I landed there, it was
like negative foe degrees. It was snow and the team
was going out of town because it was going to
the bowl game. So it was it was like a
lot of like maybe like most most people didn't think
I was gonna come there because I when I went
from home, it was eighty degrees. You know what I'm saying.
(08:36):
When Coach Meyer resign, I kind of like, man, I
gotta think about what's the best situation from me? And
then while I'm gonna play at you know and how
state was it? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, so when you get
what's coach when you got there? No, he came to
year after me, So it worked out good. Yeah, we're
out good. So like so it was coach Trussell and
(08:57):
then it was coach Trussell, then on to real stuff
blew up. Then I had coach for one year and
then we had coach Mayer. Okay, so you so you
playing for coach my? Uh? He won in Florida, he
won an old state with y'all boys. Man, you think
he could duplicate that in the league? Is he is?
He gonna turn that program around over there in Jacksonville. Now,
(09:20):
the thing is, coach is a winner. I think he's
a winner. I think he just I think the biggest
thing for him is he just don't have to realize
the difference between dealing with professionals and college kids. You know,
like in college you've got way more control over to somebody.
In the professional level, you don't have asked much control.
I would say, you noticed, but New England probably has
(09:40):
the most control over the players, more than most other teams.
But I feel like you have to understand that, Hey,
guys are grown and you know the way you hand
the situations maybe a little bit different than you hand
in the college. But if you understand that he has
a psychology major, so you know how to deal with
you know people. So uh, I think he can win.
(10:01):
You don't how to win, and he got he got
the pieces at quarterbacks, so he's gotta build a run
the quarterback. Yeah, I think. I think. I always say
whenever you hear me talk on different shows and ship
that winning is a skill. Bro. Some people just know
how to win. Some people is like good good winners
to add to your team, and some people just they're
just not winners, see what I'm saying. And mind, he
(10:23):
definitely one of them winners you put them in a situation.
He knows how to attract winners. You know how to
get to put the right guys in the right places.
What I'm saying, So, I think he's gonna do it. Bro,
I think he's gonna have that young creak, gonna build
around that young quarterback like you said. And uh, I
think I think he's gonna be able to do it. Man,
all right, So back to you what I'm saying, Go ahead.
(10:43):
The thing is over the NFL. I don't know about that.
I don't know about the super Bowl. But I think
he'll get closer. I think he'll get closer. The NFL
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gambler dot net in West Virginia. Yeah. I mean well,
I feel like if you, if you, if you establish
herself as one of the division bullies. See what I'm saying,
we always win this division and we go playing a
tournament every year, that's a winner in the league. That's
the NFL. That's if you. If you invite yourself to
(12:49):
the tournament every year, that's a winner. What I'm saying.
I think I think him and Trevor Lawrence, they get
to that point where Jacksonville they've running that a FC
South and data playoff team who come about the FC South,
I think it won't be that long. Think it would
be that long before before they get to that point. Uh.
Let's let's get back to Ryan Shay zero though. So
I'm saying Ran stays here, he comes hit the lead,
(13:12):
man go crazy, second year, third year Pro Bowl, all
that good stuff. Bamn. Then you had this, this, this
career in the adversity man. Uh at that moment? Talk
about that? Man? Did you did you feel like it
was over? Did you feel like now I'm I'm gonna
play football again? Man? How did you feel about that
whole situation. So this one thing I'm at I'd be
(13:33):
happy to bring up in my book, you know. Like
I actually always had like a real positive mindset, like
even when I was at the Pro Bowl, like you
always like I was. I'm always like a real positive
guy like all the time, you know. So, um, I
just always told myself like, no matter what, I'm gonna
get through this. You know, I'm an overcoming I'm gonna
be back out there playing. And that's just the mindset
I had. And my daughter he was like, man, Ryan,
(13:56):
like the rate you're coming back, you would definitely be
able to play. But but this is one thing also
that you know affected me and you noticed too, like
you are what you put on film, you know. So
to me, I looked at that, and I looked at
what I had on film before. I was like, man,
I can't go back out there slacking. I can't go
back out there not being myself. Yeah, So it was
(14:18):
more like I had in my mind, I'm gonna get
back out there. I'm a big get back out there
and play. But once I started getting real close to
like being at that that point, I was like, man,
I like I know, I I can I can play
but I wasn't gonna be where I wanted to be,
you know what I'm saying. It's like and I just
know myself, like I'm, like you said, I'm a winner,
Like I'm I'm I'm gonna go get her. And it's
(14:41):
like I can't imagine like trying to go get it
every single day and I can't actually be what I
want to be, you know. So that's kind of that's
kind of one thing that you know, maybe consider retiring.
And it's like I started spending way more time with
my family. You know, as a player, you spend time
with your family in the all season and stuff, but
like it nothing like spending time with your family every
(15:01):
single day all day. You know. It's it's so different.
It changed, but it made me retire. It literally made
me retire. Bro that whole COVID thing, I got to
come home and I was with my family every day.
I'm like, I can't change this no more. What I'm
saying that I'm gonna do this. But uh, that situation though,
Uh how you get through it? Who some of the
(15:22):
people help you get through that situation? Like? Why are
you going through it? Man? You clearly see like I'm
not gonna play no more. I don't want to play
no more because I ain't gonna be myself, you know
what I'm saying. So how how was that transition, man,
to to this next part of your life? So it
was it was a few people that really helped me out.
So like for instance, uh, the Stillers, and then like
a lot of my old teammates and it was always
(15:42):
close to me, and then they like the thing is
like they always appreciated me when I was still not
not playing, So that kind of helped me out, like
kind of helped me, like, you know, calm the storm
as I always transitioning, but then listen to my my wife,
my my my you know, my family and my mom
my dad, but didn't The one thing that that really
was was big for me, Man, I started getting close
(16:04):
with people that weren't involved in a game, you know,
And and that's one thing that kind of helped me
transition to being and seeing like other people in life
that's doing real successful things and they didn't have to
do anything that involved a ball, and like it really
kind of opened my mind just started thinking about her, Man,
what's other ways Ryan can be like a leader and
(16:27):
his family? What another way, Ryan can you know, provide
for his family and just be the man in the
household like once was. And I started spending more time
with them, and a lot of them actually older than me,
you know, but dashly just helped me just you know,
calm the mind and actually just think about, you know,
what's next instead of just you know, man, I gotta
(16:47):
get out here and play. Are you know my next
step from playing this coaching? You know, I started thinking about, like,
it's way more stuff I can do to be, uh,
you know, a productive person in life and then start
helping others. When I started helping others and started my
fund and seeing that, you know, I could bring life
and enjoy the others, and it really it really helped
me out a lot. Yeah, that's that's that's that makes
(17:12):
sense to me. I'm saying. I definitely could feel that
because I mean, the game wasn't taken from me like
it was taken from you. But I mean we all
all come to an ending point eventually, right, So when
you were tired, I feel like it really was kind
of refreshing from me. Bro. It was like I've been
doing football all this time, right, so then it was
like now, like what else am I good at? Bro
(17:33):
Let me see what else I'm good at? Let me
let me broaden my horizons, see what I'm saying. So
it was it was kind of refreshing for me. Man,
Was it was it? Did you feel that way like
once once it was took it from you, you had
to do other stuff and and explore a different part
of your brain. Was it refreshing for you? It was
a little bit refreshing because there's a combination of two things.
And you noticed, like were you playing like obviously you
(17:55):
love playing football from the kids you the time you
was a kid, you know, like and this is me,
I love playing people from the Towers kid. But it's
always like pressure that's with that, Like no matter what.
That's the part they don't see. That's the part that
people they watched on TV, they don't see the pressure
levels what I'm saying, that's the pressure meter on top
of your head. They don't see that. It's just so
much pressure. And it's and like not even like not
(18:17):
even involved, just playing the game and just out there
just you know, on Sundays, just like pressure with within
your family and it's not even like you provided for
your family but it's just like everybody your household, no
like who you are and what you're doing. It's like
it's just that's pressure, you know. So I remember the
day I retired. I retired. My mom birthday was like
(18:38):
a week later, and I stayed in Florida and I
had like running out of yard and we went on
and I went on the boat and I went on
the jet ski and I was just like just cruising
on the jet ski and it's just like now I
felt free. Like I was just like yeah, you know,
it really felt like a relief, like because I was like, man,
I've been doing this my whole life. I've been having
a lot of people playing for me, a lot of
people you know, believing in me, and is you know,
(19:00):
wishing that I can get back to this moment. And
I got here and it was like, man, actually knocked
and decide what I want to do, and like I
actually made a decision to move on and and see
what I what else I can do with without without
playing football. Man, it was like a real refreshing moment
for me when I actually like you know, retired. It
was obviously it's a sad and you know, emotional moment.
(19:23):
But it was definitely refreshing transition. It's a transition. But
now I'd be like I just watched football on Sundays,
I'll be a real fan, you know, like what this
game on? With this game on, I'm saying, So it
is what it is. Maybe what I'm saying, it's it's
we're more than just football players, you know what I'm
saying that. And when football is done for us, we
(19:43):
get to explore our brain and I'm saying and be
more than football players. What I'm saying. So let's fast forward,
fast forward to nine days in this AFC Northern. Man,
these bangals they jumped out yesterday, Man, they jumped out
look crazy like they're the best team in the league.
Again afterday, man, So what's up with this ANFC Northman?
Is Pittsburgh gonna gonna win a division? That they're gonna
(20:06):
make these playoffs? Man? What they're gonna do? Right? I? Um,
you know that's the young that's the young boys term nowadays. CAP.
I ain't gonna cap now. But I said before the season,
I didn't think we was gonna win a division. I
think we're gonna go to the playoffs. But but the
way we're playing is just so up and down. Man,
(20:27):
it's the deepens is our deepense beyond point, but offense
sometimes it's up and down. So I think we can
squeeze it to the playoffs because the one thing, like
you said before and at the beginning of this interview,
some people are winners and one thing coach Tomlins winner
that man know how to win, you know. So I
think I think we're gonna figure out a way to
make it to the playoffs. Um, but I don't know
(20:49):
who winning this division, like honestly, because the rabist obviously
like they they beating people, but I don't know how
they win it, you know, I see it did, but
the Bengals they showed that they had the best ability
to win, and then the Browns had the most challenges.
They don't know what they're doing, you know. So uh So,
to me, I don't know who gonna win this division.
We're just gonna all beat up on each other. And
(21:10):
I think I think the Bengals are probably gonna end
up winning the division. You know, But to me, it's
kind of sad how to how to the Browns look
and I know, like you know, you kind of hate
on your your division and all that. But to me,
I feel like the Browns one of the most challenged
teams in the NFL, and for them to be like,
for them to be playing like this, it showing you
(21:31):
that it's it's some serious problems going on over there. Yeah,
they need they need something. You don't really know what
it is, but some type of leadership man, some some
of the some of the events gotta take ownership of it. Uh.
I don't know what it is, because, like you said,
they are talented groups. Uh, they should be better. And
at times they look like they're gonna win the a
(21:52):
f C. I'm saying that times they look like they
look yesterday. If it's if there's anybody who could turn
the Stillest situation around his mke teath even if even
if the Stillers don't do much this year, how long
you think the fans and that that that city gonna
get my team? Man? Is he on the hot seat
(22:12):
right now? We would he be on the hot seat?
That's when I'm I'm just I don't really understand it either,
but it sounds like it's sometimes when they know I'm
saying he in the playoffs, he might te I don't
really see it. You say, no, he in on the
hot seat. No to me, you know when whenever something
looked bad, like yo, you get blown out fire man.
(22:33):
You know, like he's like you you lose, you you
don't win a super Bowl fither Man. But it's like, man,
like the name another coach that never lost, Like, think
about it. You don't saying that. I don't know that,
you know what, I'm that body of work. Yeah, Like
and then you look at him like he has never
had a losing season. So man, it's come on, man.
(22:55):
He obviously he one of the best coaches in history
of football. So like, why would you change that out?
You know? To me, obviously, I think it's some things
that we have to do, you know with the lineup
and then like the team, we're going to change that
around a little bit. But I think coach thomlan Man,
I think he gets to go where he wanted to
go and think the Ruin is listening to none of that, honestly. Yeah,
(23:15):
as you know how Pittsburgh do anywhere, they they ride
with theirs, you know what I'm saying. They ride with
their home grown people for show. I love that about
about Pittsburgh. The organization, Uh who the who, the who,
the top who, the top inside lineback in the league
right now? And see, the thing is like when you
say inside linebacker is tricky because like do you count
(23:36):
three folds off ball? Linebackers? Insult linebackers because like, you
know what I'm saying, because it's it's like to me,
I'll say, the best linebacker the league right now is
there is no they can see him outside, you know
what I'm saying, because he in the pot three, No
pot three and the pote three. All three of linebackers
(24:00):
are inside basically, and then the two inside ones that's
the inside one. So outside linebackers and the ends it's
the same category now, you know what I'm saying. So
for three, all the three of them linebackers inside linebackers. Yeah,
so I'm gonna have to rock. I'm gonna have to
rock with Darius Lennard. I'm gonna to dog here, dog
(24:21):
I like, I like Fred Warner. I like Fred Warner,
but I'm gonna have to roll with Daris. Then. I
feel like he gave his team so many opportunities. Yeah,
opportunities you're gonna win, man, and uh one, dude, I like,
right now, who's been killing is Michael Parsons. Parsons one
of them twins though you can put him on the end,
he outside linebacker, the end, or he could play Mike
(24:42):
for you, Yeah, play everything. So I like he went
deep for Rickie and Rickey deepens. People like that's that's
what he should he should get it or they or
they're playing games? Uh super Bowl? Who you like? I
said the round? I said the rounds? But man, man,
(25:06):
you know you your dog dead and the team ain't
looking too good right now. Man. I ain't saying oh
for a reason, but uh, but I man, man, James
gonna get on me for this one too, because I
do a podcast with James Jones. I'm about to go
with the Packers. Man, they looking good, man. The thing
(25:29):
is to me, bro, I don't understand why people ain't
really giving Cardinals the credit though, Like the Cardinals been
smacking people right, but no, but I don't feel like
nobody's saying they're gonna win the chip though, like and
I like Colin Murray, but I'm gonna have to go
with Green Babe. I'm to go and then are ain't
gonna leave and kind of pick so, so who you say?
(25:50):
Who you say, I don't think. I don't think I
heard the oh oh man, the way it's looking like
the damn Patriots, the pages Patriots packers. No, I think, man,
a f C. Man, you don't never know who's gonna win.
Um that thing wide open. Bro's wide open. Bro like
(26:14):
I will I'm I'm gonna be honest, but I won't
be surprised to patrires go Bro. I might to go
patrires Tank. I like it. I like it. That's your prediction.
You can nobody argue with that, man. I let you
get up out of here, man, tell us where we
can find a book at Yeah, so you can. You
can get it on Walking Miracle book dot com. Or
you can go on Amazon and just Walking Miracle, just
(26:35):
a book, Walking Miracle. You try to Amazon is gonna
pop up if you order the day, you can get
it the mom So man, uh, I'm really excited about
this book, man, especially with everything going on man, and
with this COVID environment and everybody going through adversity and
hard times. I feel like my book is a good
a good uh document for people to read to be
(26:55):
able to see how to overcome, you know, tough times
and struggle and things like that question. This thing needs
so I think everybody. I love it. That's what's up, man,
Ryan Shades here. We're catching phase, baby, Damn sure. Appreciate you, bro.
I'm damn sore. Gonna check out the book myself too. Man.
Appreciate you for coming on my boy. Now, I appreciate
you for having me. You already know, man, that's Ryan
(27:17):
Shades here. Baby. We're catching phase.
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(01:07):
one eight hundred gambler. See full terms and conditions at
sports book dot vandel dot com. We're catching face. We
got old state legend, his bird still a legend, two
time pro bowler and now author. My guy Ryan Shay
(01:29):
is here. What's up, my boy? What's up? Man? What's up? Man?
I'm glad to be on, glad to be all. Know
what I'm saying. I'm saying, you're good. I can't com
playing man, my family good. You know. I'm my author now,
so you know what that means and stuff. So I
need to notice process, right because I'm thinking about doing
the book and ship too. Right, So what's the process
(01:50):
on writing a book. I'm not gonna lie. I actually
had some help with me write my book. You gotta
hell help for sure, Yeah, because if I wrote it
would have been about tim page ages. You know what
I'm saying now. So so basically, I had talked to
my agent and told him I wanted to write a book,
and then we talked to a few different authors and
figure out who is the best fit for me and
(02:13):
was the writing style. So I read a few different
books from a few different authors than me. Larry Platt,
who was the author for my book, I read his
so he wrote Stewart Scott book he wrote. He wrote
a book I think for Orison and Charles Barkley, um,
and I just I seen how he made the book
sound like it was them, you know, it was actually
(02:34):
like their boys. So I started talking to him. And
then as we started talking and I started feeling more uncomfortable,
I was like, man, this guy actually and then when
I talked to him, he put it back on paper
and it made it sound just like me. You know,
obviously it's it's it's it's a few things here and there.
He may say that I won't say that. I was
just like, hey, you can change this up and change
that up. But then it started to feel more like myself,
(02:57):
and I'm like, man like, because I was able to
tell my story is just I wouldn't have been able
to write it, you know, So so it was it
was dope, you know. But the thing is, it's it
takes a while to trust him because at first you
was like, man like interviews, Yeah, I feel like the interview.
You feel like an interview, so you basically interviewing with him,
(03:18):
but instead of like you know, when the interview asked
you questions, it's like they asked you the same old stuff.
He like literally like diving into stuff, and that you
might tell him something that I might talk about a
hill state and you were like, all right, what did
you do at a hill state? And then you're just
you're explaining it, but here like go deeper, you know,
and it's like how did you get to this moment?
And then like and then go deeper. And it really
(03:39):
made me feel good because it's all right, this guy
not just writing a book, like he's just not writing
a story, you know, just like to get to it. Bit.
He's really trying to get all the information he can
to make my story sound as good as I wanted
to be. That's dope. That's dope. How long it take
you to do it? How long did the whole process take?
So it probably took me about like two and a
half years, and then with COVID kind of slowed it down.
(04:03):
So I first met him, I was still rocking with
the team a little bit, and we went to New
York because he lived in Philly, So we went to
New York and we met at the Jets game. It
was like two years too. It was like two and
a half years ago when I was still with the team,
and we met in the hotel in the morning and
then uh COVID happened. So normally when we meet in person,
(04:24):
but then we have to do everything over the phone.
So it took at it took a little bit longer
than the normally take. But you're about two and a
half years. Oh yeah, that's that's what's up, man. So
in the book, did you tell them how you fell
in love with football? So I really did? Right now, man,
tell us, man, how you how did you fall in
love with football? So the way I fell a love
(04:45):
of football, man, is I ain't even like I can't
even remember how I feel in love with football because
I've been playing the game for so long. Like yeah,
like my first time not playing football was like when
I got hurt. Other than that, I was playing of
football since like you was allowed to play football, so
like like my dad was a coach growing up, but
(05:06):
he had passed it now, but he was a high
school coach. So at the age of two three years old,
I'm at high school football games. And that's the answer
right there. Look, that's how you fell in love with it.
You can remember you was at them high school games
with your dad and what I'm saying, and that's the
answer right there. Bro, your dad coaching high school football,
(05:26):
introduce you to and I'm saying, yeah, I love it.
I've been holding the ball ever since. I know, like
I played tag of football like six years old, so
from like six, like there's another but football. You know
what I'm telling you. That's how they're doing That's how
they're doing it out here. So you wasn't you was
(05:47):
playing in Plantation, Florida. You end up in Old State.
Now usually ask people like how you end up in
Old State? But it is Old State. I'm saying, we
know how you ended up being Old State. It's Old State.
Whatever situations did you have on you on your plate?
You know what I'm saying, before before you pick old
State and what was and what made you finally pick
Old State? No, so I wasn't actually going there though,
(06:08):
like I was actually going to Florida. So so yeah,
so I was. I ain't allow. I was blessed even
in the NFL. I was blessed. I had like speed
and you know, size and stuff. But and so I
wouldn't to Blanchely High School my freshman year, we say
the Publano Beach Publano Beach, Florida, and that's where Pat
Peterson went to school. So like he was a senior,
(06:30):
I was a freshman. We played. We played one year
together and then I end up I end up getting
a lot of fights my freshman year and I end
up tearing my rotated cup in high school, and my
parents didn't like high like the school kind of like
treated this situation. So then I transferred the Plantation. When
I was a Plantation my sophomore year, I started getting
all the offers. My favorite school growing up, Florida State.
(06:51):
So like you know most kids growing up and you
get your favorite school, you're like, no matter what matter. Yeah.
So so like so basically Florida State came to my
school and I told my dad line, man, I might commit,
and he's like, man, you don't know that about the
school yet, and like you just like school. So then
we started looking it up and then I ain't up
going to Florida me and then I end up talking
to Florida, spent time with Florida. Coach Meyer was there.
(07:12):
You know, they won a national championship like a year
or two before. Um there was like Florida was like
hot at the moment, like it was the hottest school
at the moment. So then I was like, all right,
then I'm gonna go to Florida. And then coach Meyer
reson like of like almost three weeks before I went
to school, and then right before I went to school,
(07:33):
he uh like I was taking my online classical. I
went to school early. I went in in January instead
of like going in July. And when he when he
switched up LU State, was both at my school. So
I talked to both the coaches and I was like, Hey,
if I'm gonna go to y'all school, I gotta busy
y'r school like this week because I'm going to school
(07:54):
and in in in the month. So basically, so I
went to l s U literally the next day, like
the coaches at my house, I mean when coaches at
my school. The next day I flew to. I flew
the l s U. I was there for three days,
came back through the Ohio State were there for three days,
(08:14):
and a lot of my states. It was terrible. It
was like super cold because it was in the winter,
so it was like when I landed there, it was
like negative foe degrees. It was snow and the team
was going out of town because it was going to
the bowl game. So it was it was like a
lot of like maybe like most most people didn't think
I was gonna come there because I when I went
from home, it was eighty degrees. You know what I'm saying.
(08:36):
When Coach Meyer resign, I kind of like, man, I
gotta think about what's the best situation from me? And
then while I'm gonna play at you know and how
state was it? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, so when you get
what's coach when you got there? No, he came to
year after me, So it worked out good. Yeah, we're
out good. So like so it was coach Trussell and
(08:57):
then it was coach Trussell, then on to real stuff
blew up. Then I had coach for one year and
then we had coach Mayer. Okay, so you so you
playing for coach my? Uh? He won in Florida, he
won an old state with y'all boys. Man, you think
he could duplicate that in the league? Is he is?
He gonna turn that program around over there in Jacksonville. Now,
(09:20):
the thing is, coach is a winner. I think he's
a winner. I think he just I think the biggest
thing for him is he just don't have to realize
the difference between dealing with professionals and college kids. You know,
like in college you've got way more control over to somebody.
In the professional level, you don't have asked much control.
I would say, you noticed, but New England probably has
(09:40):
the most control over the players, more than most other teams.
But I feel like you have to understand that, Hey,
guys are grown and you know the way you hand
the situations maybe a little bit different than you hand
in the college. But if you understand that he has
a psychology major, so you know how to deal with
you know people. So uh, I think he can win.
(10:01):
You don't how to win, and he got he got
the pieces at quarterbacks, so he's gotta build a run
the quarterback. Yeah, I think. I think. I always say
whenever you hear me talk on different shows and ship
that winning is a skill. Bro. Some people just know
how to win. Some people is like good good winners
to add to your team, and some people just they're
just not winners, see what I'm saying. And mind, he
(10:23):
definitely one of them winners you put them in a situation.
He knows how to attract winners. You know how to
get to put the right guys in the right places.
What I'm saying, So, I think he's gonna do it. Bro,
I think he's gonna have that young creak, gonna build
around that young quarterback like you said. And uh, I
think I think he's gonna be able to do it. Man,
all right, So back to you what I'm saying, Go ahead.
(10:43):
The thing is over the NFL. I don't know about that.
I don't know about the super Bowl. But I think
he'll get closer. I think he'll get closer. The NFL
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gambler dot net in West Virginia. Yeah. I mean well,
I feel like if you, if you, if you establish
herself as one of the division bullies. See what I'm saying,
we always win this division and we go playing a
tournament every year, that's a winner in the league. That's
the NFL. That's if you. If you invite yourself to
(12:49):
the tournament every year, that's a winner. What I'm saying.
I think I think him and Trevor Lawrence, they get
to that point where Jacksonville they've running that a FC
South and data playoff team who come about the FC South,
I think it won't be that long. Think it would
be that long before before they get to that point. Uh.
Let's let's get back to Ryan Shay zero though. So
I'm saying Ran stays here, he comes hit the lead,
(13:12):
man go crazy, second year, third year Pro Bowl, all
that good stuff. Bamn. Then you had this, this, this
career in the adversity man. Uh at that moment? Talk
about that? Man? Did you did you feel like it
was over? Did you feel like now I'm I'm gonna
play football again? Man? How did you feel about that
whole situation. So this one thing I'm at I'd be
(13:33):
happy to bring up in my book, you know. Like
I actually always had like a real positive mindset, like
even when I was at the Pro Bowl, like you
always like I was. I'm always like a real positive
guy like all the time, you know. So, um, I
just always told myself like, no matter what, I'm gonna
get through this. You know, I'm an overcoming I'm gonna
be back out there playing. And that's just the mindset
I had. And my daughter he was like, man, Ryan,
(13:56):
like the rate you're coming back, you would definitely be
able to play. But but this is one thing also
that you know affected me and you noticed too, like
you are what you put on film, you know. So
to me, I looked at that, and I looked at
what I had on film before. I was like, man,
I can't go back out there slacking. I can't go
back out there not being myself. Yeah, So it was
(14:18):
more like I had in my mind, I'm gonna get
back out there. I'm a big get back out there
and play. But once I started getting real close to
like being at that that point, I was like, man,
I like I know, I I can I can play
but I wasn't gonna be where I wanted to be,
you know what I'm saying. It's like and I just
know myself, like I'm, like you said, I'm a winner,
Like I'm I'm I'm gonna go get her. And it's
(14:41):
like I can't imagine like trying to go get it
every single day and I can't actually be what I
want to be, you know. So that's kind of that's
kind of one thing that you know, maybe consider retiring.
And it's like I started spending way more time with
my family. You know, as a player, you spend time
with your family in the all season and stuff, but
like it nothing like spending time with your family every
(15:01):
single day all day. You know. It's it's so different.
It changed, but it made me retire. It literally made
me retire. Bro that whole COVID thing, I got to
come home and I was with my family every day.
I'm like, I can't change this no more. What I'm
saying that I'm gonna do this. But uh, that situation though,
Uh how you get through it? Who some of the
(15:22):
people help you get through that situation? Like? Why are
you going through it? Man? You clearly see like I'm
not gonna play no more. I don't want to play
no more because I ain't gonna be myself, you know
what I'm saying. So how how was that transition, man,
to to this next part of your life? So it
was it was a few people that really helped me out.
So like for instance, uh, the Stillers, and then like
a lot of my old teammates and it was always
(15:42):
close to me, and then they like the thing is
like they always appreciated me when I was still not
not playing, So that kind of helped me out, like
kind of helped me, like, you know, calm the storm
as I always transitioning, but then listen to my my wife,
my my my you know, my family and my mom
my dad, but didn't The one thing that that really
was was big for me, Man, I started getting close
(16:04):
with people that weren't involved in a game, you know,
And and that's one thing that kind of helped me
transition to being and seeing like other people in life
that's doing real successful things and they didn't have to
do anything that involved a ball, and like it really
kind of opened my mind just started thinking about her, Man,
what's other ways Ryan can be like a leader and
(16:27):
his family? What another way, Ryan can you know, provide
for his family and just be the man in the
household like once was. And I started spending more time
with them, and a lot of them actually older than me,
you know, but dashly just helped me just you know,
calm the mind and actually just think about, you know,
what's next instead of just you know, man, I gotta
(16:47):
get out here and play. Are you know my next
step from playing this coaching? You know, I started thinking about, like,
it's way more stuff I can do to be, uh,
you know, a productive person in life and then start
helping others. When I started helping others and started my
fund and seeing that, you know, I could bring life
and enjoy the others, and it really it really helped
me out a lot. Yeah, that's that's that's that makes
(17:12):
sense to me. I'm saying. I definitely could feel that
because I mean, the game wasn't taken from me like
it was taken from you. But I mean we all
all come to an ending point eventually, right, So when
you were tired, I feel like it really was kind
of refreshing from me. Bro. It was like I've been
doing football all this time, right, so then it was
like now, like what else am I good at? Bro
(17:33):
Let me see what else I'm good at? Let me
let me broaden my horizons, see what I'm saying. So
it was it was kind of refreshing for me. Man,
Was it was it? Did you feel that way like
once once it was took it from you, you had
to do other stuff and and explore a different part
of your brain. Was it refreshing for you? It was
a little bit refreshing because there's a combination of two things.
And you noticed, like were you playing like obviously you
(17:55):
love playing football from the kids you the time you
was a kid, you know, like and this is me,
I love playing people from the Towers kid. But it's
always like pressure that's with that, Like no matter what.
That's the part they don't see. That's the part that
people they watched on TV, they don't see the pressure
levels what I'm saying, that's the pressure meter on top
of your head. They don't see that. It's just so
much pressure. And it's and like not even like not
(18:17):
even involved, just playing the game and just out there
just you know, on Sundays, just like pressure with within
your family and it's not even like you provided for
your family but it's just like everybody your household, no
like who you are and what you're doing. It's like
it's just that's pressure, you know. So I remember the
day I retired. I retired. My mom birthday was like
(18:38):
a week later, and I stayed in Florida and I
had like running out of yard and we went on
and I went on the boat and I went on
the jet ski and I was just like just cruising
on the jet ski and it's just like now I
felt free. Like I was just like yeah, you know,
it really felt like a relief, like because I was like, man,
I've been doing this my whole life. I've been having
a lot of people playing for me, a lot of
people you know, believing in me, and is you know,
(19:00):
wishing that I can get back to this moment. And
I got here and it was like, man, actually knocked
and decide what I want to do, and like I
actually made a decision to move on and and see
what I what else I can do with without without
playing football. Man, it was like a real refreshing moment
for me when I actually like you know, retired. It
was obviously it's a sad and you know, emotional moment.
(19:23):
But it was definitely refreshing transition. It's a transition. But
now I'd be like I just watched football on Sundays,
I'll be a real fan, you know, like what this
game on? With this game on, I'm saying, So it
is what it is. Maybe what I'm saying, it's it's
we're more than just football players, you know what I'm
saying that. And when football is done for us, we
(19:43):
get to explore our brain and I'm saying and be
more than football players. What I'm saying. So let's fast forward,
fast forward to nine days in this AFC Northern. Man,
these bangals they jumped out yesterday, Man, they jumped out
look crazy like they're the best team in the league.
Again afterday, man, So what's up with this ANFC Northman?
Is Pittsburgh gonna gonna win a division? That they're gonna
(20:06):
make these playoffs? Man? What they're gonna do? Right? I? Um,
you know that's the young that's the young boys term nowadays. CAP.
I ain't gonna cap now. But I said before the season,
I didn't think we was gonna win a division. I
think we're gonna go to the playoffs. But but the
way we're playing is just so up and down. Man,
(20:27):
it's the deepens is our deepense beyond point, but offense
sometimes it's up and down. So I think we can
squeeze it to the playoffs because the one thing, like
you said before and at the beginning of this interview,
some people are winners and one thing coach Tomlins winner
that man know how to win, you know. So I
think I think we're gonna figure out a way to
make it to the playoffs. Um, but I don't know
(20:49):
who winning this division, like honestly, because the rabist obviously
like they they beating people, but I don't know how
they win it, you know, I see it did, but
the Bengals they showed that they had the best ability
to win, and then the Browns had the most challenges.
They don't know what they're doing, you know. So uh So,
to me, I don't know who gonna win this division.
We're just gonna all beat up on each other. And
(21:10):
I think I think the Bengals are probably gonna end
up winning the division. You know, But to me, it's
kind of sad how to how to the Browns look
and I know, like you know, you kind of hate
on your your division and all that. But to me,
I feel like the Browns one of the most challenged
teams in the NFL, and for them to be like,
for them to be playing like this, it showing you
(21:31):
that it's it's some serious problems going on over there. Yeah,
they need they need something. You don't really know what
it is, but some type of leadership man, some some
of the some of the events gotta take ownership of it. Uh.
I don't know what it is, because, like you said,
they are talented groups. Uh, they should be better. And
at times they look like they're gonna win the a
(21:52):
f C. I'm saying that times they look like they
look yesterday. If it's if there's anybody who could turn
the Stillest situation around his mke teath even if even
if the Stillers don't do much this year, how long
you think the fans and that that that city gonna
get my team? Man? Is he on the hot seat
(22:12):
right now? We would he be on the hot seat?
That's when I'm I'm just I don't really understand it either,
but it sounds like it's sometimes when they know I'm
saying he in the playoffs, he might te I don't
really see it. You say, no, he in on the
hot seat. No to me, you know when whenever something
looked bad, like yo, you get blown out fire man.
(22:33):
You know, like he's like you you lose, you you
don't win a super Bowl fither Man. But it's like, man,
like the name another coach that never lost, Like, think
about it. You don't saying that. I don't know that,
you know what, I'm that body of work. Yeah, Like
and then you look at him like he has never
had a losing season. So man, it's come on, man.
(22:55):
He obviously he one of the best coaches in history
of football. So like, why would you change that out?
You know? To me, obviously, I think it's some things
that we have to do, you know with the lineup
and then like the team, we're going to change that
around a little bit. But I think coach thomlan Man,
I think he gets to go where he wanted to
go and think the Ruin is listening to none of that, honestly. Yeah,
(23:15):
as you know how Pittsburgh do anywhere, they they ride
with theirs, you know what I'm saying. They ride with
their home grown people for show. I love that about
about Pittsburgh. The organization, Uh who the who, the who,
the top who, the top inside lineback in the league
right now? And see, the thing is like when you
say inside linebacker is tricky because like do you count
(23:36):
three folds off ball? Linebackers? Insult linebackers because like, you
know what I'm saying, because it's it's like to me,
I'll say, the best linebacker the league right now is
there is no they can see him outside, you know
what I'm saying, because he in the pot three, No
pot three and the pote three. All three of linebackers
(24:00):
are inside basically, and then the two inside ones that's
the inside one. So outside linebackers and the ends it's
the same category now, you know what I'm saying. So
for three, all the three of them linebackers inside linebackers. Yeah,
so I'm gonna have to rock. I'm gonna have to
rock with Darius Lennard. I'm gonna to dog here, dog
(24:21):
I like, I like Fred Warner. I like Fred Warner,
but I'm gonna have to roll with Daris. Then. I
feel like he gave his team so many opportunities. Yeah,
opportunities you're gonna win, man, and uh one, dude, I like,
right now, who's been killing is Michael Parsons. Parsons one
of them twins though you can put him on the end,
he outside linebacker, the end, or he could play Mike
(24:42):
for you, Yeah, play everything. So I like he went
deep for Rickie and Rickey deepens. People like that's that's
what he should he should get it or they or
they're playing games? Uh super Bowl? Who you like? I
said the round? I said the rounds? But man, man,
(25:06):
you know you your dog dead and the team ain't
looking too good right now. Man. I ain't saying oh
for a reason, but uh, but I man, man, James
gonna get on me for this one too, because I
do a podcast with James Jones. I'm about to go
with the Packers. Man, they looking good, man. The thing
(25:29):
is to me, bro, I don't understand why people ain't
really giving Cardinals the credit though, Like the Cardinals been
smacking people right, but no, but I don't feel like
nobody's saying they're gonna win the chip though, like and
I like Colin Murray, but I'm gonna have to go
with Green Babe. I'm to go and then are ain't
gonna leave and kind of pick so, so who you say?
(25:50):
Who you say, I don't think. I don't think I
heard the oh oh man, the way it's looking like
the damn Patriots, the pages Patriots packers. No, I think, man,
a f C. Man, you don't never know who's gonna win.
Um that thing wide open. Bro's wide open. Bro like
(26:14):
I will I'm I'm gonna be honest, but I won't
be surprised to patrires go Bro. I might to go
patrires Tank. I like it. I like it. That's your prediction.
You can nobody argue with that, man. I let you
get up out of here, man, tell us where we
can find a book at Yeah, so you can. You
can get it on Walking Miracle book dot com. Or
you can go on Amazon and just Walking Miracle, just
(26:35):
a book, Walking Miracle. You try to Amazon is gonna
pop up if you order the day, you can get
it the mom So man, uh, I'm really excited about
this book, man, especially with everything going on man, and
with this COVID environment and everybody going through adversity and
hard times. I feel like my book is a good
a good uh document for people to read to be
(26:55):
able to see how to overcome, you know, tough times
and struggle and things like that question. This thing needs
so I think everybody. I love it. That's what's up, man,
Ryan Shades here. We're catching phase, baby, Damn sure. Appreciate you, bro.
I'm damn sore. Gonna check out the book myself too. Man.
Appreciate you for coming on my boy. Now, I appreciate
you for having me. You already know, man, that's Ryan
(27:17):
Shades here. Baby. We're catching phase.
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