July 18, 2022 • 30 mins
Safety Tony Jefferson becomes the first of Kyle's new Ravens teammates to swing by ITG, and on this week's pod the eight-year NFL veteran talks to the guys about the six(!) different schools he committed to before finally winding up at Oklahoma, Brian Polian pulling for him to choose Notre Dame, going undrafted but then finding himself starting in a Cardinals secondary alongside All-Pros Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, and gives his first impressions of Kyle as Baltimore is getting ready for training camp.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to Insall Garage Podcast.
I'm Cayl Hamilton along with A. J. Wallace on rad
again cam Heart. Today we got our very own Baltimore
(00:23):
raven Tony Jefferson. Um, you're in Cali right now, right,
San Diego, California, my guy, pretty mid city. Um, just whatever,
just from whatever, I just know from you just said,
my guy, guy. But I appreciate you coming on t J.
(00:44):
So obviously we got some downtime right now. What you've
been doing, Honestly, Bro, I just been training, working working
out on a couple of places on the weekends, but
for the most part, I've just been trying to get
the body right, getting pressed for this training camp. Honestly,
you know, being with the family. You know, life's good,
Brofe's good. From San Diego, Yeah, Born and race, Like
(01:05):
you said, get ready for camp was because obviously it's
my first NFL camp. What's NFL training camp like compared
to like college football in europinion or just like the
Ravens training camp, or like regular our our training camp
is like, uh, I feel like it's not like many
other training camps we go. Ham basically like we're really good.
(01:28):
After the weather doesn't make any better. It's really it's
really a tough camp. But um, but at the end
of the day, after being in it so long and
then missing it last year, I'm kind of looking looking
forward to it. Always found out like the harder the
camp store and training camp. That clash of the teams
are the team is like during the seasons because you know,
(01:48):
everybody literally has to go up to that grind together.
Just like any camp, you get tired of seeing the
same people every day, be are on the same dudes
every day. I think it brings us closer at the
end of the day, So I'm looking forward to. Why
do you think the Ravens do a little differently or
go a little harder For the most part, I think
the mindset just not with not with the players, but
(02:09):
like with everyone in the building from the top down.
I feel like the mindsets is different. Like we we
train hard, we work hard, and we reap the benefits
of it. And I think that's why that's the reason
the organization is the way it is, UM primarily because
you know, we work and it's it's not just the players,
it's upstairs that their mental's kind of the same way
(02:30):
that if you look in our weight room, then Kyle
can tell you we got a bunch of our coaches,
front office guys. They're all working out, coming at six am,
do their workout. So it's kind of like a whole
organizational thing. I feel like, and um, I feel like
keeping that type of like mindset is gonna continue to
help them be the organization they are for sure. I
(02:54):
was you can't hear you, bro, Cage can carry it out,
but he's not going to save your your thro bro,
just take it off, Bren, y'all hear me? Now, Yeah,
(03:19):
I don't know what that was. First of all, at
least say, uh, how long is training camp for y'all?
Set up for us at last and month in college,
but I mean, how long does the NFL trainney camp last? Well,
NFL training camp like, so when we first get there,
everybody has some going to the hotel, We stay in
(03:40):
the hotels. I believe after like two and a half weeks,
the coach, let's the coach, that's the bets going back home.
But now there's only three preseason games, so so I
would say it's roughly around maybe six weeks we started
July and then first game September eleven. So the cuts
be September four. So July through September four really is
(04:06):
gonna be the full duration of training camp under the
rookies get to go home. Do you know, Kyler, you
have no idea the rookies. They don't. They can't go
back to their house until after the last preseason. So cool. Yeah,
that's news to me. So yeah, the Bringer ether that
(04:30):
core bro Wifish. Oh yeah, for sure. My roommates already know.
I got the hundred ft ether net that ran through
the whole house. Had to tape it on the walls
so I could play my game. So, like you said,
from San Diego, went to o U with Oklahoma. Talk
about that experience you left in three to share, like
how the experience it was. I know you'all played another
Dame I think no Dame Beach, All right, Yeah it was.
(04:54):
It was a smooth little night game. You know you
had you had draw quarterback number five. I forgethers amble
ever since every ghost, every yeah, every every Ghoston. Yeah,
he tried to run a QB draw smack that boy
later off the ground. He laying on the ground like
two minutes he came back in the game. Yeah, yeah,
(05:15):
I went to I went to Oklahoma. Bro, I'm from
San Diego, so that was kind of like a culture
shock to me once I got there. Yeah, why why
did you decided to go to Owe? You well, Bro,
it was so hard for me to like pick a
school and like stick with it. Like I committed to
like six different schools in high school. But they kept
(05:38):
minding me, Bro, every life sounded good. I was like,
all right, I'm gonna committ well. First off, like after
my freshman year, my very first offer was from Stafford.
It was from Harbor's brother. So I committed right on
the spotlight. Yeah I'm coming here. So then, like I
think it was the following year that they asked me,
like retake my essay tars some so I was like, yeah,
(06:01):
bus out like that happened everything like that. After that,
ended up committed to uh U c l A. You know,
I was up the street, my boy. Yeah, I went there,
So I was going to u c l A all
the time. From there, I committed to USC. So this
is actually a funny story. When I was at I
(06:21):
was committed to u c l A at the time,
and then I took an unofficial visit to USC while
they were playing U C. L A. And from straight minutes,
I'm on the side. I'm on the sideline of USC,
like there are warm ups and all the players like,
I said, I haven't going up to you said like
like almost every other weekend like hang with the players
(06:44):
and stuff. And they saw me on the sideline, they like, oh,
like cursed. They're cussing me out, like talking about all
this mess. So then I'm on the USC side and
they're like, man, damn man. I'm like, yeah, so I
committed to you, committed to sc man, I'm like, yeah,
(07:05):
he's my brother's last was Irvan Meyer at Florida. He
almost he almost got me bro. He was telling me
that I was gonna be the starting running back because
I played running back at this time. I like verbally
committed there, and then he ended up getting sick or
whatever happened with him at Florida, something happened. I ended
(07:29):
up committing in Oklahoma just because I needed to go
somewhere where the coaching was like stable, because when I
was at the Army on American Game, Pete Carey got
in trouble with this thing m hmm. I think that's
a Reggie Bush thing. So I just committed to Oklahoma. BA.
I was like whatever, Like I took a visit to
Oklahoma and I had like the worst visit like I
could possibly ever have. Like my my host just left
(07:51):
me at a party by myself. I was like, and
then and then then he took the money. You know
they give you a little recruit money. Yeah, like my
man like my man's bag. That didn't give me no
food or nothing. So I was like, yeah, I'm having
back here. But Bro, so you was thinking about going
(08:15):
to what six schools and one year? Bro, it was
like picking it was like picking a prom dress, like
well not for me, but you know the reference. I
didn't know you played running back too, all right, so
you in the B gap US safety you are running back?
(08:35):
Who wins me against me? You against you? You against
you get one yard line. It's a rap stop that
stop that stop that stop stop bro Kyle stop Bro.
You should my practice ships like randomly like doing routes
like bro stop like he played played played DV. Yeah,
(09:00):
the sever you spoke about like how hard Okaoma was
coming in at what point in time to like click
for you because you left after three So was it
your freshman year or your sophomore year? My freshman year,
like the football part wasn't hard. It was like the workouts,
Like I guess I just wasn't like that in tune
with like how hard workouts would be. But like when
(09:21):
when the past come on, like in the spring and
like in the spring game and stuff like, I was
bawling up. So I ended up starting like my freshman year,
I got a freshman All American. It wasn't It wasn't
like the the football part. It was just like the
other going to class and going like waking up at
five am, being on the track, then going to class.
You would have hated another dame. Yeah, it was about
to stay another day. Brian Pulling recruited me heavy out
(09:45):
another day. Yeah, you want you want to be there bad,
Just like Stafford. They brought up the S A. T. S. Brough.
I'm telling you, like once they brought that up, but
I was not doing that. I was not redoing my
sat S. So obviously you had a great career at
(10:06):
OE you and decided to leave early going to the draft,
went undrafted. I know that wasn't what you thought. Was
gonna happen going into it. Just talk about like your
whole mental throughout that process, like even making a decision
to come out, like how it was received, all that stuff.
I had a really pretty solid career. Um my first years,
I didn't play safety at all. I played uh nickel
(10:27):
and like that out that backg roll, So I didn't
I didn't move to safety till my last year. I
came out early because they you know, they did a
little meeting and they tell you what you're great, like
great they give you. I had a second round grade,
second and third round grade, and at that point, bro,
I felt like I had did what I was supposed
to do, like on the football shield for the next level.
I took my chance and I went to the I
(10:47):
went to the draft. Stoops wasn't too like happy about
the decision that I had made, but I already had
made up my mind. I saw what I was gonna do.
I went in the eighth round. I was eighth round,
first pick. And show me when I was training for
the draft, I'm not gonna lie like I thought. I
had it in the bag. I think if I could
go back, I wouldn't have trained in Hollywood in l A.
(11:09):
You wouldn't have or you would have. I wouldn't have
explain that, like would you. I was training in Hollywood, Bro,
like man's pretty stuff, and I had I had just
turned to me one like that, So Bro, I was
I was outside, bro, first time in l A, having
(11:30):
a little cash my pocket. Like I don't think you know,
I don't think I was as focused on us as
I should have been. Two days before my combine, I
like strained Miami. You know me, I'm competitive. I'm like
if I'm gonna just go, I'm gonna I'm gonna compete anyway.
I go running forty run, run slow as hell. But Bro,
can y'all answer this? Maybe y'all canswer because that's something
(11:52):
got this answer? So, like my first unfisal round with
four six to second unofficial rund was four six four?
How the hell do they come up with the official
time at four point seven five? B? Yeah that makes sense. Yeah,
it was weird this year too, because like the officials
would go up and then officials would go down, like
(12:12):
because it's hand started, like it's a right there hand
starting it. So like what's the official time going from?
There's no way that like you could, like even if
they were talking about my unofficials hand time, there's no
way it's what like the hand time is a bad
way off from that. I don't know. I still understand
how that happened. But I had to run a four
(12:34):
seving five and then my first drills I did with
the dB, I pop my hamstring. I didn't really have
no numbers besides my four point seven five and my tape.
So teams felt like I didn't fit the prototypical size
and safety and they probably they felt like all slow.
So I went on drafted, signed with a Z, and
(12:55):
I just went on from there. I was playing e
zy with Matthew. Was that pretty cool? What was he
like as a teammate. He's probably one of the better
leaders I've been around. Um, he can motivate you. I
was kind of like throwing into the fire as a
as a rookie, because especially as undrafted rookie, like when
(13:15):
you're undrafted, like they're not accounting for you to like
make the team, so like you're there to want to
be a camp body because they need bodies so that
their starters and the guys that they know they were
going to make the team can have some rest and
to you're just a cheaper option for them, like towards
the town end of the roster. And I still kind
of had a hamstring like issue, like the first couple
(13:37):
of weeks. So we had our rookie minicamp. I think
I did okay, nothing like flashy, and then um, once
a training camp came around. I don't know what was
going on, but like I was on the scout team
and I'll go against like our ones against Carson Palmer,
and like Larks, I was just catching like everything, like
from the center field. I was just picking everything off.
So they started giving me more reps and it was
(13:59):
unforced because one of the auto guys I got injured.
And so this was our third, uh third preseason game
and I got two picks. I got the game with
an interception. That game really like solidified my spot on
on the roster. During those years, we were called like
no flies on I think or some savage or some
some man, but we were we were fired. I was
(14:22):
able to like watch them. What's big for me, it's
like people's mindsets, like when they're playing, Like where's their
mind at? Like how do they react to things? Not
just football wise, but like what's their attitude? I got
to build off of their energy. Um, they taught me
a lot just from the standpoint of like covering, because
when I got into the league, I wasn't really that
big of a cover guy. But like they took the
(14:44):
time out of their day after practice to help me
with techniques and stuff. So you always called like no
flies on. But y'allways in the same and we kind
of talked about about this a little bit, like y'all
are in the same division as the Seahawks, right, was
that when they were like coming up like Legion of
Boom and all that stuff at the same time. Yeah,
when I came in there, the Leason of Boom was
like they were in their prime, Like they were where
(15:08):
they're supposed to be at Earl Cam. Sure they were
on point, like every time like we played them, and um,
you know, we we had our battles. I just remember,
like our thing was like we're never really too worried
about them. We were more worried about ourselves because we're
pretty fly to, you know what I mean. So it
wasn't really tripping off what they had going on. Would
(15:29):
you say the biggest difference, Um, coming in as an
undrafted free agent to being a VET on Ravens. Now,
what do you what do you think the biggest difference
is mindset wise, how you approach coming into a season,
the most part being undrafted, like you really have to
like earn your reps as a VET. Especially with me
being on the Rams. I've been there for a while.
I feel like they know what they're gonna get out
(15:51):
of me. It's just a matter of like showing like
my movements and that type of stuff. So like like
everything is about like keeping your body fresh, keeping me
like everything like intact diet, because like when you're when
you're a rookie and you're young, like you can get
away with that stuff. Like I used to when I
was an aazy. When I was a rookie, I used
(16:12):
to I was wilding because I wasn't starting. I was.
I was out in scott I was on a s
U S campus, Like I went there, bro, Like I
was on mill app Like, Bro, They're like, bro, don't
you play for the Cardinals. I'm like, yeah, I'm only
twenty one though, so it's good. Bro. I could go
out and I can do all that, and I could
(16:34):
wake up at six seven in the morning and go
run and sprint and do all that. Like now I
can't do that. I know, I need my paper rest.
I know, I gotta like diet correctly or I'm gonna
get fat like stuff like that. Me being on the rabies,
I kind of get a glimpse of what it's like
and how different it can be around the league, just
(16:54):
in terms of how teams are operating, like how day
to the schedule is, and like you obviously know that,
like you've been with San fran being with Daisy, being Baltimore.
What would you say is like one thing that's consistent
with all three teams and then the one thing that
is consistently different with everything go on. I can't really
speak too much about San France because like I was
only there for like a few months. But what I
(17:18):
do know is like Shanahan great coach, um one of
the smartest like offensive like gurus that I got to
like go against. I just remember being a training camp
like and I'm trying to I'm going home. I'm trying
to figure out this dude's offense, like just by tendencies
and stuff, and like he just does somebody like crazy
like same tendency, but total different play So I really
(17:40):
respected him. Um, you know the aspect of like being
a play caller. When I was in San France, I
got like that Cali feel like things were just like
a little laid back practice. It was more about it
was more mental practices and physical practices. Um, it was
more about keeping guys fresh. And like in Baltimore, it's
it was more like we're gonna put our hardcaps on
(18:02):
and gonna go to work. It's more family oriented. In Baltimore.
You're more kind of free to be who you are,
like Harbor says, you're allowed to just like let your
your personality shine, you know what I mean. So it's
not like that everywhere. And as I was, I felt
like I was walking on eggshells every day. And a
(18:22):
lot of that came with the uncertainty of like me
being on the roster just because I was undrafted. But
it wasn't very like family oriented, like you not just
like bringing your kids in when when you want. There's
no like day cares. It wasn't like how it is
in Baltimore, Like it was more like business business structure.
I felt like I was walking on egg shows every year.
(18:44):
I was in that Oh god, I never felt safe.
I never felt like they truly respected what I had
done on the football field while I was there, even
even up until my last year, because what they what
they had for me when I was because at that
time I was the number I was like the number
one or two safety the league at that time. When
(19:06):
I came out my pay day, which was after my
twenty sixteen years, I still felt like they didn't like
appreciate my talents. When I was there, it was just
so much uncertainty. I'm like where I was gonna be at?
How do you deal with that? Like, because obviously you
gotta go home every day and come back to facility
like going into free agency. Also, did you know, like
all I need to go somewhere where I know I'm wanted,
(19:27):
I know I'm needed, like appreciated. Ione Lie, it was
tough in the league, Like everything is like a weekly
basis thing. So you can have a great game week two,
and then if week three your average, and then week
four you play bad, Week five your average, week six
you play bad weekcept me play like if you're constantly
(19:48):
like just not like putting out like consistent good tape,
it's gonna mess with you mentally, and like for my
first couple of years and a zy, like my tape
was just like average and good, like I had splash
space here and there, but like I never really had
the opportunity because I wasn't a full starter. So it's
like I wasn't truly getting my opportunity until my last year.
(20:09):
So like coming home week to week and I'm like, dang,
I don't even know if they want me here, Like
they just signed another safety They're probably bringing them in
to replace me. Like I've had those conversations so many times,
so that just added a lot of stress. But I
have my son and then I just had to I
just have a great support system, I feel like from
my family when things like we're seeming dark, like in
certain situations, they were always there. So not to get mushy,
(20:32):
but family, like the family did kind of like keep
me up uphill, like during like certain situations, going to
a place that you knew because like you said, Baltimore's
family oriented and like you signed a contract with them.
That's some of that playing to it. Like coming from
easy where like it felt a little like kind of
cold at times somewhere that's more warmer. Yeah, so like
(20:55):
the consensus around the league. I think everybody knows this.
When once you like if you're gonna like obviously, you
get treated differently than like undrafted or a guy who's
gonna pay like bat minimum. My agent had told me, like,
you're gonna get a lot of money. So we had
a bunch of teams like hand us up and we're
trying to figure it out. But what stood out to
me was obviously my boy Eric went don't have hit
(21:18):
me up. You know, I ran some a couple of times.
I know a lot about him because he played for
the Sender with Charges, so he's kind of like a
legend out here. I just had great conversations with him,
and like throughout the whole free agency process, like I
feel like the Ravens was like kind of the only
team that I just did everything like correctly, and like
that kind of mattered to me. I just felt like
(21:40):
they really wanted me, and it kind of made the
decision kind of easy just because I played defense and
you just think about the history of the Ravens defense
and like being a part of that, we kind of
made that. It's just an easy for me. I only
hear the inside scoop and uh, pretend Coles now here,
you know, what's the inside scoop and Coles of teammate
is we'd is we know. Yeah, he's a little goopball.
(22:02):
You know, he'd be trying to like hide it. But
I'll see right I see, I see right through. He's
a troll like me, bro, we get it. But he's cool.
He's cool. I mean on the field, you know, the
front of the time we've doing on the field together,
Like it's been straight a couple of times we want
him to shut up because you called the wrong call.
(22:29):
A couple of times form like yo, like I got
I got this, They're gonna be they're gonna be saying
lee and it's robbed my guy. Like it's definitely been
like two times when there was no post and that
was that was definitely what I mean, we bro, But yeah,
(22:51):
that's straight. I mean for a rookie, and our defense
is not that easy. And I feel like Cows done
a good job picking it up. Um, you know he's
there was like one day I don't know if like
him and his girlfriend like arguing or whatever, but he
like came in he was like acting all sad, like like, bro,
(23:11):
you're you okay? What the fuck? I called him out
on it and it hasn't happened since, so we're good.
I mean, but him like as a teammate, like it's
like off the field and stuff, like he's solid, but
he's like, wait, disrespectful. I asked him to like doing
(23:31):
me a favor. I can you go kick me up?
I said, can you go kick me up something? Bro?
He's like, oh, yeah sure. I was like, yeah, I'll
reimburse you, like when you get it. Before he left,
I was like, oh yeah, bro, can you please give
me a case or that. I'm like, He's like, yeah,
for sure, Bro, I got you. So he like brings
it in the next day. I'm like, bro, where's the
case at bro? And he's like, oh, I forgot. You
(23:54):
couldn't remember what I was like, it was a lot
going on, Like I was just like that playbook at
the time, like it was just too much going on
my head. That's me. That's what I mean. I won't
(24:15):
forget next time, though. It's all good as a vet
for like a younger dB coming in be usually assumed
like the big brother roll or do you just let
him figure out it on his own, and then help
him out once he makes doing the stakes that you
have made or know that he's gonna make. I like
to let the rookies like settling themselves first get used
(24:36):
to it, and then when you said the big brother roll,
like I view everybody on my team as like a brother,
you know, like whether you're older or younger, Like I
treat everybody the same. Just like I don't be trying
to like bully or like you know, be negative. I'm not.
I'm not a negative person. So like everybody that's in
the locker room was like free game, you're getting roasted
(24:57):
or like we're just gonna have some fun or whatever.
When I see something, obviously from rookie, I'm gonna say something,
whether you know, whether it's on the shild off the field.
But other than now, once we're on the team together,
like I just dread everybody, it was like family. T J.
Outside of the garage is like this little segment that
we had where people sending questions like fun stuff or whatever.
Did you just check yourself out? Yeah? Well I was
(25:20):
making sure like uh so, like people sending questions or whatever,
it's like fun stuff and you just give your opinion
or your answer to it. This week's questions comes from
John Paul Lewis. It says you get to pick any
song to become America's new national anthem. What song are
you picking? Oh, that's a good one. I'm gonna have
(25:42):
to go with uh in a minute, my little baby
bro as a national anthem? Are you asking me? Or like,
do you want to say I respected? Respected? Yam? Have
to go with the Empire state of Mind? By jeez,
(26:02):
expect that. That's a good choice. I was gonna say
sweater weather um to hear it all the time. All Right,
you're not finished a say like everybody's charts, but mind bro,
Well you guys are just like hello, random, like Cam's
like New York related, like Empire state of Mind, like
Connor is a classic, like in a minute, came out
to like you know what I'm saying, Like, come a
(26:25):
little hard. You guessed it you. I'm gonna go with
Daddy's Birthday young, Okay, expect everybody, So I'm gonna go
party in the USA Miley cyrus by the Bank. Why
(26:49):
are you laughing? Right? You want that? You would want
that to be the national anthem? Bro? I never heard
that song and been like, dang, I don't really want
to hear this surrep bro rapid questions. I'm just gonna
rally off like a twenty five or so questions you
(27:11):
anthon as stats, you can okay, whatever first thing comes
to mind, all right? Every year Tory Proba, Country or
city City, pancakes or waffles, pancakes, my guy two picks
or game saving interception games. It's gotta be a game, bro,
Midwest or West Coast. Al Right, we already know that
(27:33):
home we're away games as a player or coach as
a player? Uh, home games as a coach away game?
Cake or ice cream? Ice cream? Favorite pizza topping Pepperoni?
Would you rather have Calvin Johnson or Randy Moss on
your team? Calvin Johnson beat your lake beach? Would you
(27:56):
rather Coverico or TiO for a whole game too? Favorite
Halloween costume as a kid. My parents don't let me
so dress up or celebrate ho Bro, but stop stopping
for pops getting mad? All right? I was just leave
it at that big ear Tupac tupac. Last thing you cook?
(28:21):
I don't cook, all right, Rather have a lizard a
snake all mess with snakes like that lizard. Favorite holiday,
favorite holidays, Christmas? FaceTime you text text please, And that's
I appreciate that because I FaceTime to you the other day. Uh,
just text you next time. My faults her breakfast or
(28:43):
dinner breakfast favorite spot on o US campus, pickle pizza,
chicken or steak steak. Favorite restaurant in Baltimore Jimmy seafood.
What don't you just throw up? Yo? Received for I'm
(29:05):
trying to get coming on this lane. Uh last four
Chipotle or Chick fil A, Instagram or Twitter Twitter. Most
underrated DV in the league. Most underrated d Jimmy Ward.
I did not put this on here, Kyle or Marlon Humphrey.
I don't know what the criteria is, but I'm just
(29:30):
you're Rockie. Bro. That all right. I think you did
well on that. I think you did well. Uh yeah,
So that's it. We're gonna wrap it up there. T
J P. You coming on. I'll see you pretty soon.
So you gotta report bro Monday, this upcoming Monday. Oh
(29:53):
that's trick. No, I'm getting more working. I'm getting that
working early. You feel mesh stop, Bro, appreciate you coming on, Bro,
yeh see you appreciate you h
The volume. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to Insall Garage Podcast.
I'm Cayl Hamilton along with A. J. Wallace on rad
again cam Heart. Today we got our very own Baltimore
(00:23):
raven Tony Jefferson. Um, you're in Cali right now, right,
San Diego, California, my guy, pretty mid city. Um, just whatever,
just from whatever, I just know from you just said,
my guy, guy. But I appreciate you coming on t J.
(00:44):
So obviously we got some downtime right now. What you've
been doing, Honestly, Bro, I just been training, working working
out on a couple of places on the weekends, but
for the most part, I've just been trying to get
the body right, getting pressed for this training camp. Honestly,
you know, being with the family. You know, life's good,
Brofe's good. From San Diego, Yeah, Born and race, Like
(01:05):
you said, get ready for camp was because obviously it's
my first NFL camp. What's NFL training camp like compared
to like college football in europinion or just like the
Ravens training camp, or like regular our our training camp
is like, uh, I feel like it's not like many
other training camps we go. Ham basically like we're really good.
(01:28):
After the weather doesn't make any better. It's really it's
really a tough camp. But um, but at the end
of the day, after being in it so long and
then missing it last year, I'm kind of looking looking
forward to it. Always found out like the harder the
camp store and training camp. That clash of the teams
are the team is like during the seasons because you know,
(01:48):
everybody literally has to go up to that grind together.
Just like any camp, you get tired of seeing the
same people every day, be are on the same dudes
every day. I think it brings us closer at the
end of the day, So I'm looking forward to. Why
do you think the Ravens do a little differently or
go a little harder For the most part, I think
the mindset just not with not with the players, but
(02:09):
like with everyone in the building from the top down.
I feel like the mindsets is different. Like we we
train hard, we work hard, and we reap the benefits
of it. And I think that's why that's the reason
the organization is the way it is, UM primarily because
you know, we work and it's it's not just the players,
it's upstairs that their mental's kind of the same way
(02:30):
that if you look in our weight room, then Kyle
can tell you we got a bunch of our coaches,
front office guys. They're all working out, coming at six am,
do their workout. So it's kind of like a whole
organizational thing. I feel like, and um, I feel like
keeping that type of like mindset is gonna continue to
help them be the organization they are for sure. I
(02:54):
was you can't hear you, bro, Cage can carry it out,
but he's not going to save your your thro bro,
just take it off, Bren, y'all hear me? Now, Yeah,
(03:19):
I don't know what that was. First of all, at
least say, uh, how long is training camp for y'all?
Set up for us at last and month in college,
but I mean, how long does the NFL trainney camp last? Well,
NFL training camp like, so when we first get there,
everybody has some going to the hotel, We stay in
(03:40):
the hotels. I believe after like two and a half weeks,
the coach, let's the coach, that's the bets going back home.
But now there's only three preseason games, so so I
would say it's roughly around maybe six weeks we started
July and then first game September eleven. So the cuts
be September four. So July through September four really is
(04:06):
gonna be the full duration of training camp under the
rookies get to go home. Do you know, Kyler, you
have no idea the rookies. They don't. They can't go
back to their house until after the last preseason. So cool. Yeah,
that's news to me. So yeah, the Bringer ether that
(04:30):
core bro Wifish. Oh yeah, for sure. My roommates already know.
I got the hundred ft ether net that ran through
the whole house. Had to tape it on the walls
so I could play my game. So, like you said,
from San Diego, went to o U with Oklahoma. Talk
about that experience you left in three to share, like
how the experience it was. I know you'all played another
Dame I think no Dame Beach, All right, Yeah it was.
(04:54):
It was a smooth little night game. You know you
had you had draw quarterback number five. I forgethers amble
ever since every ghost, every yeah, every every Ghoston. Yeah,
he tried to run a QB draw smack that boy
later off the ground. He laying on the ground like
two minutes he came back in the game. Yeah, yeah,
(05:15):
I went to I went to Oklahoma. Bro, I'm from
San Diego, so that was kind of like a culture
shock to me once I got there. Yeah, why why
did you decided to go to Owe? You well, Bro,
it was so hard for me to like pick a
school and like stick with it. Like I committed to
like six different schools in high school. But they kept
(05:38):
minding me, Bro, every life sounded good. I was like,
all right, I'm gonna committ well. First off, like after
my freshman year, my very first offer was from Stafford.
It was from Harbor's brother. So I committed right on
the spotlight. Yeah I'm coming here. So then, like I
think it was the following year that they asked me,
like retake my essay tars some so I was like, yeah,
(06:01):
bus out like that happened everything like that. After that,
ended up committed to uh U c l A. You know,
I was up the street, my boy. Yeah, I went there,
So I was going to u c l A all
the time. From there, I committed to USC. So this
is actually a funny story. When I was at I
(06:21):
was committed to u c l A at the time,
and then I took an unofficial visit to USC while
they were playing U C. L A. And from straight minutes,
I'm on the side. I'm on the sideline of USC,
like there are warm ups and all the players like,
I said, I haven't going up to you said like
like almost every other weekend like hang with the players
(06:44):
and stuff. And they saw me on the sideline, they like, oh,
like cursed. They're cussing me out, like talking about all
this mess. So then I'm on the USC side and
they're like, man, damn man. I'm like, yeah, so I
committed to you, committed to sc man, I'm like, yeah,
(07:05):
he's my brother's last was Irvan Meyer at Florida. He
almost he almost got me bro. He was telling me
that I was gonna be the starting running back because
I played running back at this time. I like verbally
committed there, and then he ended up getting sick or
whatever happened with him at Florida, something happened. I ended
(07:29):
up committing in Oklahoma just because I needed to go
somewhere where the coaching was like stable, because when I
was at the Army on American Game, Pete Carey got
in trouble with this thing m hmm. I think that's
a Reggie Bush thing. So I just committed to Oklahoma. BA.
I was like whatever, Like I took a visit to
Oklahoma and I had like the worst visit like I
could possibly ever have. Like my my host just left
(07:51):
me at a party by myself. I was like, and
then and then then he took the money. You know
they give you a little recruit money. Yeah, like my
man like my man's bag. That didn't give me no
food or nothing. So I was like, yeah, I'm having
back here. But Bro, so you was thinking about going
(08:15):
to what six schools and one year? Bro, it was
like picking it was like picking a prom dress, like
well not for me, but you know the reference. I
didn't know you played running back too, all right, so
you in the B gap US safety you are running back?
(08:35):
Who wins me against me? You against you? You against
you get one yard line. It's a rap stop that
stop that stop that stop stop bro Kyle stop Bro.
You should my practice ships like randomly like doing routes
like bro stop like he played played played DV. Yeah,
(09:00):
the sever you spoke about like how hard Okaoma was
coming in at what point in time to like click
for you because you left after three So was it
your freshman year or your sophomore year? My freshman year,
like the football part wasn't hard. It was like the workouts,
Like I guess I just wasn't like that in tune
with like how hard workouts would be. But like when
(09:21):
when the past come on, like in the spring and
like in the spring game and stuff like, I was
bawling up. So I ended up starting like my freshman year,
I got a freshman All American. It wasn't It wasn't
like the the football part. It was just like the
other going to class and going like waking up at
five am, being on the track, then going to class.
You would have hated another dame. Yeah, it was about
to stay another day. Brian Pulling recruited me heavy out
(09:45):
another day. Yeah, you want you want to be there bad,
Just like Stafford. They brought up the S A. T. S. Brough.
I'm telling you, like once they brought that up, but
I was not doing that. I was not redoing my
sat S. So obviously you had a great career at
(10:06):
OE you and decided to leave early going to the draft,
went undrafted. I know that wasn't what you thought. Was
gonna happen going into it. Just talk about like your
whole mental throughout that process, like even making a decision
to come out, like how it was received, all that stuff.
I had a really pretty solid career. Um my first years,
I didn't play safety at all. I played uh nickel
(10:27):
and like that out that backg roll, So I didn't
I didn't move to safety till my last year. I
came out early because they you know, they did a
little meeting and they tell you what you're great, like
great they give you. I had a second round grade,
second and third round grade, and at that point, bro,
I felt like I had did what I was supposed
to do, like on the football shield for the next level.
I took my chance and I went to the I
(10:47):
went to the draft. Stoops wasn't too like happy about
the decision that I had made, but I already had
made up my mind. I saw what I was gonna do.
I went in the eighth round. I was eighth round,
first pick. And show me when I was training for
the draft, I'm not gonna lie like I thought. I
had it in the bag. I think if I could
go back, I wouldn't have trained in Hollywood in l A.
(11:09):
You wouldn't have or you would have. I wouldn't have
explain that, like would you. I was training in Hollywood, Bro,
like man's pretty stuff, and I had I had just
turned to me one like that, So Bro, I was
I was outside, bro, first time in l A, having
(11:30):
a little cash my pocket. Like I don't think you know,
I don't think I was as focused on us as
I should have been. Two days before my combine, I
like strained Miami. You know me, I'm competitive. I'm like
if I'm gonna just go, I'm gonna I'm gonna compete anyway.
I go running forty run, run slow as hell. But Bro,
can y'all answer this? Maybe y'all canswer because that's something
(11:52):
got this answer? So, like my first unfisal round with
four six to second unofficial rund was four six four?
How the hell do they come up with the official
time at four point seven five? B? Yeah that makes sense. Yeah,
it was weird this year too, because like the officials
would go up and then officials would go down, like
(12:12):
because it's hand started, like it's a right there hand
starting it. So like what's the official time going from?
There's no way that like you could, like even if
they were talking about my unofficials hand time, there's no
way it's what like the hand time is a bad
way off from that. I don't know. I still understand
how that happened. But I had to run a four
(12:34):
seving five and then my first drills I did with
the dB, I pop my hamstring. I didn't really have
no numbers besides my four point seven five and my tape.
So teams felt like I didn't fit the prototypical size
and safety and they probably they felt like all slow.
So I went on drafted, signed with a Z, and
(12:55):
I just went on from there. I was playing e
zy with Matthew. Was that pretty cool? What was he
like as a teammate. He's probably one of the better
leaders I've been around. Um, he can motivate you. I
was kind of like throwing into the fire as a
as a rookie, because especially as undrafted rookie, like when
(13:15):
you're undrafted, like they're not accounting for you to like
make the team, so like you're there to want to
be a camp body because they need bodies so that
their starters and the guys that they know they were
going to make the team can have some rest and
to you're just a cheaper option for them, like towards
the town end of the roster. And I still kind
of had a hamstring like issue, like the first couple
(13:37):
of weeks. So we had our rookie minicamp. I think
I did okay, nothing like flashy, and then um, once
a training camp came around. I don't know what was
going on, but like I was on the scout team
and I'll go against like our ones against Carson Palmer,
and like Larks, I was just catching like everything, like
from the center field. I was just picking everything off.
So they started giving me more reps and it was
(13:59):
unforced because one of the auto guys I got injured.
And so this was our third, uh third preseason game
and I got two picks. I got the game with
an interception. That game really like solidified my spot on
on the roster. During those years, we were called like
no flies on I think or some savage or some
some man, but we were we were fired. I was
(14:22):
able to like watch them. What's big for me, it's
like people's mindsets, like when they're playing, Like where's their
mind at? Like how do they react to things? Not
just football wise, but like what's their attitude? I got
to build off of their energy. Um, they taught me
a lot just from the standpoint of like covering, because
when I got into the league, I wasn't really that
big of a cover guy. But like they took the
(14:44):
time out of their day after practice to help me
with techniques and stuff. So you always called like no
flies on. But y'allways in the same and we kind
of talked about about this a little bit, like y'all
are in the same division as the Seahawks, right, was
that when they were like coming up like Legion of
Boom and all that stuff at the same time. Yeah,
when I came in there, the Leason of Boom was
like they were in their prime, Like they were where
(15:08):
they're supposed to be at Earl Cam. Sure they were
on point, like every time like we played them, and um,
you know, we we had our battles. I just remember,
like our thing was like we're never really too worried
about them. We were more worried about ourselves because we're
pretty fly to, you know what I mean. So it
wasn't really tripping off what they had going on. Would
(15:29):
you say the biggest difference, Um, coming in as an
undrafted free agent to being a VET on Ravens. Now,
what do you what do you think the biggest difference
is mindset wise, how you approach coming into a season,
the most part being undrafted, like you really have to
like earn your reps as a VET. Especially with me
being on the Rams. I've been there for a while.
I feel like they know what they're gonna get out
(15:51):
of me. It's just a matter of like showing like
my movements and that type of stuff. So like like
everything is about like keeping your body fresh, keeping me
like everything like intact diet, because like when you're when
you're a rookie and you're young, like you can get
away with that stuff. Like I used to when I
was an aazy. When I was a rookie, I used
(16:12):
to I was wilding because I wasn't starting. I was.
I was out in scott I was on a s
U S campus, Like I went there, bro, Like I
was on mill app Like, Bro, They're like, bro, don't
you play for the Cardinals. I'm like, yeah, I'm only
twenty one though, so it's good. Bro. I could go
out and I can do all that, and I could
(16:34):
wake up at six seven in the morning and go
run and sprint and do all that. Like now I
can't do that. I know, I need my paper rest.
I know, I gotta like diet correctly or I'm gonna
get fat like stuff like that. Me being on the rabies,
I kind of get a glimpse of what it's like
and how different it can be around the league, just
(16:54):
in terms of how teams are operating, like how day
to the schedule is, and like you obviously know that,
like you've been with San fran being with Daisy, being Baltimore.
What would you say is like one thing that's consistent
with all three teams and then the one thing that
is consistently different with everything go on. I can't really
speak too much about San France because like I was
only there for like a few months. But what I
(17:18):
do know is like Shanahan great coach, um one of
the smartest like offensive like gurus that I got to
like go against. I just remember being a training camp
like and I'm trying to I'm going home. I'm trying
to figure out this dude's offense, like just by tendencies
and stuff, and like he just does somebody like crazy
like same tendency, but total different play So I really
(17:40):
respected him. Um, you know the aspect of like being
a play caller. When I was in San France, I
got like that Cali feel like things were just like
a little laid back practice. It was more about it
was more mental practices and physical practices. Um, it was
more about keeping guys fresh. And like in Baltimore, it's
it was more like we're gonna put our hardcaps on
(18:02):
and gonna go to work. It's more family oriented. In Baltimore.
You're more kind of free to be who you are,
like Harbor says, you're allowed to just like let your
your personality shine, you know what I mean. So it's
not like that everywhere. And as I was, I felt
like I was walking on eggshells every day. And a
(18:22):
lot of that came with the uncertainty of like me
being on the roster just because I was undrafted. But
it wasn't very like family oriented, like you not just
like bringing your kids in when when you want. There's
no like day cares. It wasn't like how it is
in Baltimore, Like it was more like business business structure.
I felt like I was walking on egg shows every year.
(18:44):
I was in that Oh god, I never felt safe.
I never felt like they truly respected what I had
done on the football field while I was there, even
even up until my last year, because what they what
they had for me when I was because at that
time I was the number I was like the number
one or two safety the league at that time. When
(19:06):
I came out my pay day, which was after my
twenty sixteen years, I still felt like they didn't like
appreciate my talents. When I was there, it was just
so much uncertainty. I'm like where I was gonna be at?
How do you deal with that? Like, because obviously you
gotta go home every day and come back to facility
like going into free agency. Also, did you know, like
all I need to go somewhere where I know I'm wanted,
(19:27):
I know I'm needed, like appreciated. Ione Lie, it was
tough in the league, Like everything is like a weekly
basis thing. So you can have a great game week two,
and then if week three your average, and then week
four you play bad, Week five your average, week six
you play bad weekcept me play like if you're constantly
(19:48):
like just not like putting out like consistent good tape,
it's gonna mess with you mentally, and like for my
first couple of years and a zy, like my tape
was just like average and good, like I had splash
space here and there, but like I never really had
the opportunity because I wasn't a full starter. So it's
like I wasn't truly getting my opportunity until my last year.
(20:09):
So like coming home week to week and I'm like, dang,
I don't even know if they want me here, Like
they just signed another safety They're probably bringing them in
to replace me. Like I've had those conversations so many times,
so that just added a lot of stress. But I
have my son and then I just had to I
just have a great support system, I feel like from
my family when things like we're seeming dark, like in
certain situations, they were always there. So not to get mushy,
(20:32):
but family, like the family did kind of like keep
me up uphill, like during like certain situations, going to
a place that you knew because like you said, Baltimore's
family oriented and like you signed a contract with them.
That's some of that playing to it. Like coming from
easy where like it felt a little like kind of
cold at times somewhere that's more warmer. Yeah, so like
(20:55):
the consensus around the league. I think everybody knows this.
When once you like if you're gonna like obviously, you
get treated differently than like undrafted or a guy who's
gonna pay like bat minimum. My agent had told me, like,
you're gonna get a lot of money. So we had
a bunch of teams like hand us up and we're
trying to figure it out. But what stood out to
me was obviously my boy Eric went don't have hit
(21:18):
me up. You know, I ran some a couple of times.
I know a lot about him because he played for
the Sender with Charges, so he's kind of like a
legend out here. I just had great conversations with him,
and like throughout the whole free agency process, like I
feel like the Ravens was like kind of the only
team that I just did everything like correctly, and like
that kind of mattered to me. I just felt like
(21:40):
they really wanted me, and it kind of made the
decision kind of easy just because I played defense and
you just think about the history of the Ravens defense
and like being a part of that, we kind of
made that. It's just an easy for me. I only
hear the inside scoop and uh, pretend Coles now here,
you know, what's the inside scoop and Coles of teammate
is we'd is we know. Yeah, he's a little goopball.
(22:02):
You know, he'd be trying to like hide it. But
I'll see right I see, I see right through. He's
a troll like me, bro, we get it. But he's cool.
He's cool. I mean on the field, you know, the
front of the time we've doing on the field together,
Like it's been straight a couple of times we want
him to shut up because you called the wrong call.
(22:29):
A couple of times form like yo, like I got
I got this, They're gonna be they're gonna be saying
lee and it's robbed my guy. Like it's definitely been
like two times when there was no post and that
was that was definitely what I mean, we bro, But yeah,
(22:51):
that's straight. I mean for a rookie, and our defense
is not that easy. And I feel like Cows done
a good job picking it up. Um, you know he's
there was like one day I don't know if like
him and his girlfriend like arguing or whatever, but he
like came in he was like acting all sad, like like, bro,
(23:11):
you're you okay? What the fuck? I called him out
on it and it hasn't happened since, so we're good.
I mean, but him like as a teammate, like it's
like off the field and stuff, like he's solid, but
he's like, wait, disrespectful. I asked him to like doing
(23:31):
me a favor. I can you go kick me up?
I said, can you go kick me up something? Bro?
He's like, oh, yeah sure. I was like, yeah, I'll
reimburse you, like when you get it. Before he left,
I was like, oh yeah, bro, can you please give
me a case or that. I'm like, He's like, yeah,
for sure, Bro, I got you. So he like brings
it in the next day. I'm like, bro, where's the
case at bro? And he's like, oh, I forgot. You
(23:54):
couldn't remember what I was like, it was a lot
going on, Like I was just like that playbook at
the time, like it was just too much going on
my head. That's me. That's what I mean. I won't
(24:15):
forget next time, though. It's all good as a vet
for like a younger dB coming in be usually assumed
like the big brother roll or do you just let
him figure out it on his own, and then help
him out once he makes doing the stakes that you
have made or know that he's gonna make. I like
to let the rookies like settling themselves first get used
(24:36):
to it, and then when you said the big brother roll,
like I view everybody on my team as like a brother,
you know, like whether you're older or younger, Like I
treat everybody the same. Just like I don't be trying
to like bully or like you know, be negative. I'm not.
I'm not a negative person. So like everybody that's in
the locker room was like free game, you're getting roasted
(24:57):
or like we're just gonna have some fun or whatever.
When I see something, obviously from rookie, I'm gonna say something,
whether you know, whether it's on the shild off the field.
But other than now, once we're on the team together,
like I just dread everybody, it was like family. T J.
Outside of the garage is like this little segment that
we had where people sending questions like fun stuff or whatever.
Did you just check yourself out? Yeah? Well I was
(25:20):
making sure like uh so, like people sending questions or whatever,
it's like fun stuff and you just give your opinion
or your answer to it. This week's questions comes from
John Paul Lewis. It says you get to pick any
song to become America's new national anthem. What song are
you picking? Oh, that's a good one. I'm gonna have
(25:42):
to go with uh in a minute, my little baby
bro as a national anthem? Are you asking me? Or like,
do you want to say I respected? Respected? Yam? Have
to go with the Empire state of Mind? By jeez,
(26:02):
expect that. That's a good choice. I was gonna say
sweater weather um to hear it all the time. All Right,
you're not finished a say like everybody's charts, but mind bro,
Well you guys are just like hello, random, like Cam's
like New York related, like Empire state of Mind, like
Connor is a classic, like in a minute, came out
to like you know what I'm saying, Like, come a
(26:25):
little hard. You guessed it you. I'm gonna go with
Daddy's Birthday young, Okay, expect everybody, So I'm gonna go
party in the USA Miley cyrus by the Bank. Why
(26:49):
are you laughing? Right? You want that? You would want
that to be the national anthem? Bro? I never heard
that song and been like, dang, I don't really want
to hear this surrep bro rapid questions. I'm just gonna
rally off like a twenty five or so questions you
(27:11):
anthon as stats, you can okay, whatever first thing comes
to mind, all right? Every year Tory Proba, Country or
city City, pancakes or waffles, pancakes, my guy two picks
or game saving interception games. It's gotta be a game, bro,
Midwest or West Coast. Al Right, we already know that
(27:33):
home we're away games as a player or coach as
a player? Uh, home games as a coach away game?
Cake or ice cream? Ice cream? Favorite pizza topping Pepperoni?
Would you rather have Calvin Johnson or Randy Moss on
your team? Calvin Johnson beat your lake beach? Would you
(27:56):
rather Coverico or TiO for a whole game too? Favorite
Halloween costume as a kid. My parents don't let me
so dress up or celebrate ho Bro, but stop stopping
for pops getting mad? All right? I was just leave
it at that big ear Tupac tupac. Last thing you cook?
(28:21):
I don't cook, all right, Rather have a lizard a
snake all mess with snakes like that lizard. Favorite holiday,
favorite holidays, Christmas? FaceTime you text text please, And that's
I appreciate that because I FaceTime to you the other day. Uh,
just text you next time. My faults her breakfast or
(28:43):
dinner breakfast favorite spot on o US campus, pickle pizza,
chicken or steak steak. Favorite restaurant in Baltimore Jimmy seafood.
What don't you just throw up? Yo? Received for I'm
(29:05):
trying to get coming on this lane. Uh last four
Chipotle or Chick fil A, Instagram or Twitter Twitter. Most
underrated DV in the league. Most underrated d Jimmy Ward.
I did not put this on here, Kyle or Marlon Humphrey.
I don't know what the criteria is, but I'm just
(29:30):
you're Rockie. Bro. That all right. I think you did
well on that. I think you did well. Uh yeah,
So that's it. We're gonna wrap it up there. T
J P. You coming on. I'll see you pretty soon.
So you gotta report bro Monday, this upcoming Monday. Oh
(29:53):
that's trick. No, I'm getting more working. I'm getting that
working early. You feel mesh stop, Bro, appreciate you coming on, Bro,
yeh see you appreciate you h
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