Pro Bowl running back and Indiana University alum Jordan Howard joins the pod this week and talks UCLA and USC's decision to join Indiana in the Big Ten Conference in 2024, what it was like playing for University of Alabama Birmingham when they abruptly cancelled the entire program in 2014, making the jump from his stint at Indiana to the NFL after being drafted by the Chicago Bears, his breakout rookie year that landed him a spot in the Pro Bowl, and the story of his career since then where he learned the reality of the NFL's cutthroat business.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume What's Up everybody? Welcome back to the Inside
of Garage podcast from Cala Hamilton along with Andre Wallace,
Hunter Allien and Cam Hart. And today we got Sir
(00:22):
Jordan Howard with us. Jordan, how are you doing? Oh good?
On watch you'll so NFL players got some downtime right now?
Where you at? Where are you training out right now?
I'm turning in Bama Rido or down in Florida, Miami, Florida.
How far outside of Miami is at avatur So it's
like thirty minutes. You did everything there? You look like
trained for the combine? There you every right? Yeah? I
(00:45):
did my draft combin and turning from there and then
like ever since then, I've just been going back every
year in the whole season to turn there. Got you, Jordan,
we actually met in month of May when I was
trained down at Bama Rido and Jordan was one of
the guys who helped me out get the lay of land.
He's his agents, actually someone was pretty close to me.
Decent card and I appreciate you coming on the part today.
(01:08):
So first we wanted to touch on your opinions on
the USC and U c l A. Moving to the
Big Ten. Obviously you went to Indiana, well you transfer
attend and correct h where um, and there's a how
do you feel about them moving to the conference obviously
there in California and all the other teams in the
Midwest East coast and that's like a big um describacy
(01:32):
right now. So what's your thoughts on not um, I'm
shocked to see that happen, honestly, just because like how
far away it is, gonna be had a lot more travel. Um.
I feel like it's gonna be good, you know, just
like USC California, that's a big market, big brand. U
c l A. They're big brand as well. But my football,
I feel like it's gonna those guys probably gonna be
(01:53):
too happy, but I have enough play cold games. But
I feel like it's definitely a bigger picture. It's it's
far just works like just for the money. So that's
how much you feel like because that was that was
my first thought when I had seen the move and everything,
and I was like, I don't think the boys from
calire gonna be ready for Midwest college. I just don't
think it's gonna be a I don't think that's gonna
(02:13):
happen because I mean, coming up from the South, Kyle,
you know I was the first winner there. Like I
was hurting. I got it like light so well, USC,
Like the only time to play as at the end
of the year is if it's at USC. Remember like
that we played them during the middle of the year
when it's year, but they always refused to play at
the end. But Jordan, I gotta ask, so I know
that you what we all know, you went to U
(02:34):
A B and then transferred. I you in two years.
Where do you think your loyalty lies with? Like about
the same as each school or as one or the other.
I feel like about the same. Um. I probably I've
been at u AB more since I got in the
NFL than Indiana, but just because so you AB like
in my hometown Burmham, Alabama, so it's just easy for
me to stop by there. But actually when I was transferred,
(02:57):
I was considered Notre Dame so too the business there.
I enjoyed my business stuff and I was like seriously
thinking about going, but they told me, like none of
my creds are gonna really transfer, so I didn't know
if I'd be lgible to play. So It's like I
(03:17):
didn't want to risk not being able to play. I
wanna asked because he was on the team when um,
the football team got got shut down right at you
a B. And that's what was that locker room Like
it was. It was crazy Like during the season, we're
saying stuff like here and stuff, but like they're gonna
shut it down. Were like, there's no way they're really
gonna do that. And then we had like a decent
(03:39):
season for like compared to what we had been doing,
like got both eligible for like the first time like
seven or eight years. And then we had a meeting
after that last game we came both eligible and the
president just told us. He was like, yeah, it just
hurts this hurts me more than the hurst you guys
that we got to shut the program down because we
don't have enough money or whatever. M Like like he
(04:02):
didn't really care, Like he just told us then like
we just had to like deal with the basically, this
is your this is your sophomore year. Yeah, you know
my sophomore year. That's crazy. Imagine being a freshman walking
into that. I'd be like I remember seeing a video.
I don't know if you guys saw this but somebody
had a video of that meeting. Actually one of your teammates.
(04:24):
You end it up and it was like like on
the ViRGE of tears, like talking about I got a kid,
like I got stuff take care of and I think
just from reading like you he would just had like
a breakout season that year, right, Yeah, yeah, Like whe'd
that leave you and like everybody else and obviously with you,
but what you talking So that team man who stood
up and spoke, he was like he went to the
(04:45):
military first, so he was like basically like thirty, so
he's like experienced life already and stuff. Um. It was
pretty crazy actually because I had to like take business
and stuff. It was like I had to get ready
for final exams, but I still had to like take
business and I decided where I wanted to go because
I was trying to get there before the next semester.
But coming out of high school, I didn't really have
(05:06):
any offers on the umb was my only offer, so
I didn't take any recruiting visits and like wasn't many
teams hit me up, so it was like very different,
like a lot of schools that I was trying to
get to hit me up and recruit me. They weren't
recruiting me, but now they were like just coming up
people just coming to campus, just trying to talk to
us and just get a whole bunch of deals on Twitter.
So it was definitely wild process. But I enjoyed it
(05:29):
because I didn't get experienced that in high school. So
I definitely enjoyed it. But some guys it was rough
because they didn't really get to play much, so they
didn't really have any film to like go off of,
and some guys had like transferred down the level. He said,
a lot of guys that didn't end up continue to
play football like just left off. Yeah, they were required
a few, but some guys they decided to stay because
(05:49):
if you stayed, you still had the scholarship and you
can still go to school and stuff. But a lot
of guys end up staying and then when they brought
the team back, what would they reinstated it. They were
just working out for like a year and a half.
But a lot of a lot of those guys end
up like getting their masters and stuff just because they
stayed in schools getting paid for and they was still
(06:09):
playing football. So I couldn't imagine just working out for
a year and a half. I didn't understanding. Now I
got balled to look forward to like I'm just working out,
no true motive to work out. That's crazy. Why did
you choose I? You couts some pretty like Alabama. I
have to you, it's a pretty big change. Uh well,
(06:31):
I told you so. I used like one of the
first schools that reached out to me, Vanderbilt. I didn't
really consider Vanderbill, but it was like only SEC school.
And then of course another day and then my head
coach from my freshman year, you be, he was at
Louisville h he was off the coordinator. He wanted me
to come, but I didn't really consider, just because I
didn't like the way uh he had left for us.
(06:52):
They had timn Coleban the year before. He had just
ran for two thousand yards old line coming back, and
they didn't have any backs with any experience, and so
I was like, it's just a perfect fit. And then
I hit it out for my running back coach, Dealing mcculus,
the right back coach to day, man, what's your opinion
(07:12):
of coach d Oh? He know, man like outside of
the ball, like cool, like we probably like one of
the realest coaches I've ever had, Like you just know
he always gonna in your life, Like, um, it's bigger
than football with him. But you're a great dude. He's
gonna get it at you. But you definitely have fun
talking about how you obviously made the switch from you
MB too, how you like, what was the biggest jump
(07:34):
you had to make? H the biggest jump? First off,
like the weather, Like when I got there was like
snowing and stuff like and I'm like back home, like
Alabama's for ever snow, like school cancer, every clos' even
I thought if he's even have thought of snow just canceled?
Had it still go? And then like you ain't b
I could walk to all my classes, but Indiana like
(07:56):
so you had to catch buses. And when I got there,
into him like which buses I had to get on,
Like it was like different bus you had to take
to get onto campus. So I didn't really know. I
just got on the bus. But luckily one of my
cousins series like my cousin, he went to Indiana like
a few years before, so I called him. He kind
of helped me out. But like that first week, I
was like late to like all of my classes. But
(08:16):
another big difference like the way we worked out, Like
they were working out way harder than we were doing
that you ain't being just it was just like it
was kind of shock at first, but but football was
like playing. It wasn't much of a difference. The only
difference I saw it was like on the old line
D line, because I feel like that's where the difference becomes.
They were a lot bigg about skill position wise. I
(08:38):
feel right there. What do you like about Bloomington? Uh,
it was a lot different from you ain't b so
you ain't be It's like a commuter school, so pretty
much everybody's just on campus and like live at home.
They don't really lived at campus, so it's not really
like a you really get the college experience really Like
they didn't have like sorority houses, a fraternity house, any
of that. So it was just like it was a
(08:59):
big deer friends. So I actually got like a colleaguist
friends because Bluemanton was a college town and it was
like a party school. To talk about going into the
nfl um Why did you leave after three years and
I stayed to two more years or stuff like that.
So when I got to Indiana. My plan was like
if I did yeah well enough that I was gonna leave.
Like the first four games, I like leading the national
(09:20):
Russian and play Ohio State. Got hurt second quarter ankle
spring and talking like four to six weeks. I'm like, damn.
But then I only missed two weeks. Came. I had
heard my knee in like preseason, but I didn't think
anything governing. So he played Michigan lost like dumb old time.
I had like two thirty yards. The next day, I
woke up a kind of walk because like my knee,
(09:40):
so I had like tore my own niscus. And then
but I still like like twelve I played like eight
and a half nine games, end up like twelve hours
of yards, and then I was gonna try to come back.
I had any searches, like around Thanksgiving. I was gonna
try to come back for the bowl game. So I
like practice and stuff, but it just wasn't like feeling right. Uh,
so I decided to sit out. But I was like,
(10:01):
I felt like I proved that I could play up
a level, so I felt like I was ready. I know,
I know they was picking you apart at the combo
huh oh wow, because I had a knee surgery. So
when I got to like draft relp like training, they
like slowed me down because my knee was like still
like bugging me and stuff. But yeah, when I got
to the combine, they had had to tell them like
my injuries and stuff. Um, I spent like two hours
(10:24):
one night doing like mrs On like different body parts.
Like it was a lot. Who is your opinion on
the comment like the whole experience. Um, Like on the
outside looking in, like when you watching this stuff, you're like, oh,
I can't wait to be a party combine and stuff.
But when you actually experience, you like it's not what
you thought it would because you had to get up
early for a drug test, like super early. It just
(10:48):
early four o'clock. Yeah, like you get down like more
if you get down like four, you had to like
wait in line, so I didn't get right down and
for as that the wedding line and stuff about your car.
Holy did you have to get up? That was the
same thing. I got back to my room like eleven
thirty because like you don't get done and I'm sure
(11:10):
during the same way, like I don't know if you
did your agency have like a sweet or something that
like you get like treatment and stuff like why trying
that they had a sweet. So we were that kind
of like just getting worked on and yeah, I got
like probably that and I probably got like four hours
of sleep and then get up, dude, your my eyes
everything the next day and it's just but I mean
(11:30):
you'll you'll see it's fun, but it's not fun. It's funny.
What was your main gold con into like Ricky Minicamp.
If you remember like man go going to Mini camp
L T A S. So like before the draft, I
thought I was gonna go like second and third round
and end up going filth round. I remember my agent
Carmen I was like crying and stuff. It was like
it was like you gonna like use this motivation, but
(11:51):
you're gonna go in. You're gonna win the job and stuff.
Ricky Minicamp. I end up like pulling my hamstring like
the first day, so I was out like Ricky. I
was out from my Ricky manicount into the manout. That's
when I started practicing again. So I didn't really get
to do much. I was just having to learn by
like looking and stuff. So I just tried to come
back into best shape, Like when we came back for
training camp and stuff, and it was five of us,
(12:14):
Like sometimes, uh, they have like seven or eight backs,
but it's like five of us. I was gonna get
a decent amount of reps and stuff, and then it
just slowly started progressing, like to get more reps and stuff,
and who is any room at that time? We're running
back Jeremy lank for cadem carry Jaqueers, Rogers and snores.
Perry forgot about him. Yeah. I started off like field
(12:37):
and then two of the guys got hurt. So we
did joint practice the Patriots and it was just like
three of us and we were like dying. That's crazy.
Use attempt running back taking in what drive? Um? What
was what was the motivation factor coming into the league
and how do you did that play any any role
(12:58):
in your motivation that? Did you care about that you
think about it? Uh? Yeah, I definitely added a chill
because I felt like only like two two of those
guys should have been drafted ahead of me, like gag Herry,
Zikie Elliott. But it was those guys I didn't really
feel like they should have been draft ahead of me.
But I just used it like it's more motivation because
like coming out of high school and they had one offer,
(13:19):
I just felt like I was just always overlooked. So
it definitely added motivation to me. Then the preseason, like
the first game, I didn't really played that my second game, Uh,
played a little bit in the third game when it
used to be four games. You don't even played that
much the third game because that's when the starters got
a lot of playing times. So but then the fourth game, uh,
that's when they said the starters are and I got
to play a lot. I was like kind of unaware
(13:40):
because I didn't really know anybody, like before I got
in the league. I don't really know anybody who had
like played in the field, So I was unaware that
like if I probably would have did well in the
last preseason game, might not have made the team. So
I might even get cut and like put on the
practice squad for sure. But I end up making the team,
so they kept three of us. The first game of season,
I was active, but me and the backup quarterback, we're
(14:00):
the only ones that play because I was like back
up on special teams and stuff, so I was like
the only one didn't play besides him, and it was
like wake up call because it's like never being like
a case where like I mean maybe when I was
the first in high school where I just didn't get
in the game at all, but uh, they definitely like
a wake up experience. But then in next game they
put me on special teams. The third game of the game,
(14:21):
out of dad, I was the second guy didn't started,
got hurt, and fourth game is just me like I'm starting,
and so I was just like I always just told myself,
like take advantage of every opportunity you get. Um had
a hundre yards of my first game, second game had
a hundred yards. In third game, I had like forty yards.
And then like those guys who started like getting that healthy,
(14:41):
they were really trying to give me the job still
like I was still having trying to pool myself and
I had a big game on Monday night, and I
guess like this when they sided, like oh yeah, he's
gonna be right guy. And it's crazy fact that it happened,
like you go from almost peace squad special teams that
now you man looking like five weeks at that level.
It just happened like that. Then all what you mean
you went you went on to reach the Pro Bowl.
(15:03):
You were only the second bearers running back to do
that in the rookie year, which is I think the
last guy did was like nineteen seventy five. So like
when you go from being at tenth throwing back taking
like a frustrating draft for you and then like I'm
not a frustrating first couple of games and then you
win and then you go to the Pro Bowl. I mean,
what were your thoughts at the end of the season.
Was it like a little bit of satisfaction and you're like, no,
(15:24):
like I have to put my head down and keep working,
like I want to do this again and again and again.
You know, Um, it was a combination of both, because
like I knew I had the ability to do that,
to do those things, I just didn't know if I
have the opportunity to like rush for that many yards
and make the Pro Bowl my first year. So I
just didn't know if I was going to at the opportunity.
But I always had like confidence in myself. But I
(15:46):
definitely like wanted more after that, and that's courage to do.
I feel like a lot of people don't take an
account how much injuries complaining to it feel like you're
going into the season while I'm not just starting the
second stream and thirst streaming, and then that can can
kind of play on the mental. But then this that
fast you first stream, So you gotta be ready, like
you gotta prepared, like like they say, you got prepared
(16:06):
like you just started. Like so I had to be ready. Yeah,
I was just great and asked what are some of
the things you told yourself nicely or actually had to do?
You know what I'm saying more than the other guys
to stay ready just like so I had to do
like I get like a few ups on office, like
during the practice week before I became the starter, but
most of it was just being like scout team. So
I had to do the scout team looks and just
(16:27):
try to get those guys a good little too, just
like work on my condition and just like paying attention
because as a running back, you're not gonna get on
the field nless you can take the quarterback. So like
the running game, it's easy, easy to pick up the
running game and stuff like you've been running all your life,
but the past protection and stuff, that's what becomes difficult
and stuff so I had to lock in on that. Really,
what's the relationship like with the first and second stream
(16:49):
when they started to get back healthy, but you're doing
so well, what was the running back room like when
you are now started? It was still cool. I never
felt any innimosity from those guys. But another thing, it
was the oldest guy in the room. He was like
a third year guy could deem. He was just in
his third year and Jereman was in his second year.
So we were all like still young and stuff like,
so we're all just trying to compete and make each
(17:10):
other better. But I never felt any animosity towards him
or anything. How'd you like being in Chicago? I love it. Uh.
When I first got drafted and got up there, I
thought we were gonna be back in the city, but
then I found out were like in the suburbs of
North Suburbs, so we're like forty fifty minutes outside of
the city and that's like no tram fic. But I
(17:32):
enjoyed the city, like there's so much to do there,
the great city in great football town. But I didn't
really enjoyed the weather, like that was cold like any
other code. That was a different type of call. Yeah,
but my first two years we didn't. Like my first
year we won three games. Damn, what's up? What's up
with the Bears field? Yeah, everybody nobody likes to feel
(17:56):
because the city takes care of the feeld, so like
the team doesn't get the like take care of the field,
so only the city like does and like everybody complains
about it. We played Wisconsin in Chicago this year, Um,
that sold your field obviously, And I remember, like the
day before we went out to take a picture or something,
I'm walking on the grass. I'm like, this is like uncut,
like front lawn grass, Like it was like up to
(18:19):
my ankles. It was kind of crazy. I was like, damn,
I thought they would be like cut down. But everybody, apparently,
everybody said, like you said, that's just how Chicago is.
So this year, you've been in the league six years, right, ye,
six going on seven, So what what's been the biggest
change in perception of the league? Like since you got drafted.
You came in and too now, like what's one thing
(18:41):
you've been like, Oh, this is actually different from what
I thought I came in. I like learned like the
business out of some like my third year, we got
a new coach, fired my coach. Uh the second after
my second season, he came in and he like the
office like just evolved around me. Like my first year
he was just running pretty much because we didn't have
any receivers, like they were getting hurt and stuff. I'm
just that like a lot of improving guys. So third year,
(19:03):
he came in and changed the offense. Uh, kind of
got away from what we were doing, like ruining wise.
So I didn't really get the touches, but we want
a lot of games, so I couldn't really complain. But
then they traded me because I was like going to
my third year, I was thinking like if I do
well enough, I can get the extension. So I was
going like for extension. But then my agent approaching by extension,
they were like no, we're looking to trade him and stuff.
(19:26):
And I didn't really want to leave and stuff because
I was like that's all I knew, Like I don't
want to leave my team and I felt like we
had a chance to win the super Bowl the next year.
Then they signed the guy and I'm like, okay, like
they're really for really they're gonna trade me. Um, But
then they traded me, and then the head coach wanted
to talk to me. Still it was just like basically
want to scamp back, but I don't. I never really
(19:48):
understood that because we had to record at the time.
I'm like, he does all this stuff, but um, you
got traded. It's like like damn, sh turns fast. Because
like just before that any camp, the GM was like
writing me, like saying, UM decided for this year and stuff,
and a lot of the progress you made and stuff
like that. Didn't like to after the season, like they
(20:09):
traded me, and the GM he never even called me,
like so I never even talked to him, like I
got traded and stuff. But it was just like a
lot of emotions when I got traded. Um, then I
went to Philly, I started doing well. I got hurt
for the rest of the season. Then I was a
free agent. I said, that's so that's my country. I
got hurt of my country a gear. It sounded dolphiness,
but my injuries like still affected me, like working out
(20:29):
while so I wasn't where I wanted to be or
where I needed to be. The office. I thought I
was going to turn out not to be the offense
it was. It was so and the end up telling
me I wasn't like I didn't fit the office they
wanted to run. So the like called milk guards, like
why would yall bring me here if you hadn't want
me in the offense and stuff. So and then it's
like I'm not saying like I was doing any thing wrong,
but it's like other people messing up. But it was
(20:51):
like I don't know when that was getting punished for
it every time, and I didn't feel like that was fair.
So then I went to the head coach and like
just like like what was up? And like while I'm
not getting these opportunities and stuff while I'm only like
because it made me like only a goal I bet
I didn't really like that role. I didn't really sign
up for that role. And it was like sometimes you
try to let your coaches coach and the next week
nothing change. Then we got to that I don't know,
(21:13):
it was in practice, like I'm not getting any reps
like at all. I wouldn't get any reps all, but
nobody even came up and talked to me like and
told me like, oh, you're gonna being active this week.
So my running back coach. He told me the day
before the game, was like, yeah, you probably know, but
you're gonna being acted this game and stuff. But I'm like,
I never even told me anything, like I just had
to like figure that out on my own. Seeing so
(21:35):
I went to the office coordinator and he was all
the only when they kept it reels like yeah, you
don't really feel what we want to do. So then
I'm being active and made us like go to the games,
but we couldn't even be on the sideline because it's
like COVID here, so I had to sit in there
and like up in the sweet to watch the games
and stuff. And then I had to work out before
the game, and then I couldn't even locker room. I
had to just go up to the suite to watch
(21:57):
the game on the game done, get on the bus
and stuff like that. So I was actually probably like
three three or four weeks, damn, like I really actually
I never thought I'd be in a position. Then two
of the guys got hurt, so they had to bring
me up. But they had just traded for a guy
over the COVID rules. He had to sit out a
week to get clear, and then so I started and
then it was still like they just because they had,
(22:23):
just because they had to. But then you gotta get
in the game. It's just like personnel twenty one personnel
just like loaded the box up and stuff like that
just spread out. We had a undrafted Rickie. It was
his first game. He starting to play more than me
that game, and they were like giving him like different
types of stuff like draws words out the shotgun, all this,
and then and then like the next week, I'm back
(22:45):
and act don't say anything to me. So at that point,
I was just like fed up. So I went to
the head coach doing practice and I was like, what's up? Like,
why I'm not playing? Why I'm not getting opportunity. I
was like, I'm not trying to blame people, like every
time I'm man something was wrong. And he was like, yeah,
we feel like other people give us a better chance
when stuff goes wrong. And I was like, but I
(23:05):
never even got the chance. Can you say that? I
was like, you'll bring me here. He's like, sometimes stuff
just don't work out. I feel like just like messing
my career because I like, it's what have you done
for me? Lady League? That Monday after the game, the
gym called me. I had never even talked to GM.
He called me actual time I was coming. I told
him I was coming in and he called me. He
was like, you're coming earlier and then I was like, yeah,
they're releasing me and stuff. But he was like, y'all
(23:27):
love every game and stuff. I'm like, how do you
love my game? But you let me go and stuff.
M and so then after that, after that, I ended
up going back to Philly on the practice squad. I
got off for like two games, but I didn't really
played much. And then so that all season, nobody really
wanted to sign me just because of how my season
winning Philly, I mean in Miami. So I'm like, damn,
what can I do? Then Philly they end upside of
(23:49):
me get me a chance. I didn't get any guaranteed money,
just like the basic training camp was going well. I
started off like the Twols. Then the first preseason game
I started because they didn't start to the start, and
of that game, I probably got like four kiders in
preseason because they called me into the office and let
me go, and I was like like super shop and
like confused, and I'm like I did everything like I
(24:09):
couldn't do it more and it was like still wasn't enough,
And it basically just came down to the fact that
he wanted to go younger and cheaper and it's like
basically nothing I can do about it, because like once
you're not their guy. When you when they don't feel
like they need you and they feel like you need
them more, they need you, Um, they feel like they
don't really they don't really care at their point, So
that's crazy. How did that, um that COVID year going
(24:35):
from inactive to starting back to that had that on
your mentor Yeah, that's a lot. It was. It was
definitely tough. Another thing because the COVID year, we didn't
do like O T S and all that stuff, so
I didn't really get to know like me and my
team into like training campus stuff. So it was definitely
tough just because like I was getting paid and stuff.
Like I was getting paid and stuff, I'm like, I'm
still not happy because I'm not getting to do what
(24:55):
I love. Like a lot of people like they would
have got their money would be cool, like they wouldn't
care they weren't playing enough, but like I was getting paid,
but like I'm not getting a place of like what's
the point? But last year was probably the reference for me,
just because I felt like I should have been on
team and I was just on practice spot like the
first few weeks, Like I asked this thought about like
(25:16):
walking away at that point because I'm like, what am
I doing? I'm just wasting my job? Talked about how
do you want to go younger and cheaper? Is that
you think a lot of that places and the fact
that you play running back, you feel me like he's
that because I know that's a position where there's a
lot of wear in telling your body and things like that.
So oh yeah, definitely, like I wouldn't I would like
I love been running back, like I would never probably
(25:36):
want to play a different position. But it's just like
they definitely value us, and like like growing up, everybody
wants to be running back and stuff. They get the
ball a lot of stuff, but you get to the
NFL that you value and like if you're not like
a high draft, they'll do what they can the usually
up and stuff, but then like they just move on
to the next guy because they feel like they can
get running back from lay around or drafted. So they
(25:57):
don't really like value us that there. Well, is there
any coaches of players that you're out in your corner
in the NFL that you really looked out for you
and you can go to a for advice and stuff
like that. Oh yeah, I definitely uh coaches like last year,
like because I was having a hard time last year.
That's probably like the first time in my life. I
was like really down for like a few weeks just
because like I didn't see any hope and I just
(26:18):
had to be on the sideline like the whole time
just watching and then I had to like a workout
on Friday, like out the practice just because it was development,
I guess, but I just didn't see anything changing unless
somebody got hurt, and I really I didn't really want
that to be the case. Work like that's why I
got to place. But I definitely had like some coaches,
you know, like I talked to Coaching Color a little
bit about it, and just like coaches on the team
(26:39):
that told me just like stay ready, to be ready
for a moment and stuff. So I definitely like coaches
and my teammates they were helping me out. It's really
like you said, it's really just trade business. And I
don't want to speak for you, but I feel like
in your situation, it's kind of like they already made
up their mind about you before, like even like giving
you the real opportunity. And that's gotta hurt because you
know what you can do, you know what you've been
(26:59):
proven before, and it's like you're not even getting the
shot to show them that. But at the end of
the day, I think that kind of as people to fire.
Like you said, like you've been down before and so
there's really nothing new. You can overcome that too. So
like in my situation, I was, I've seen like super
talented people not not get the opportunity even in college,
Like we've all seen it, like super super talented people
(27:21):
just don't work out the way that it probably should
just because of politics. But that's one of the things
about the sports, like it's so political at times, like
gets unfair that people actually playing it. So you got
definitely got sacrificed a lot. But I mean, at the
end of day, when it's working, it's it's the best.
But stay up though I know I know you're working
right now. You're down there grinding you see it. So yeah,
(27:42):
I mean, and we all didn't seen it before. So
who do you lean on the most, Like, like you said,
using tough times, like your parents, like old teammates. Who
is it you call like when you really down? My mom?
I definitely like later my mom. She's like my she
like my super HEROO, so on her a lot. My
agent of Diesel. Uh, they're gonna more than what I
need there, Like you know what I want to here,
(28:02):
gonna tell me what I need here. You're gonna keep
it real me and just like he always motivated me
and stuff like that. But definitely my mom is who
I land on the most. Your mom is staying in
Alabama still right now, that's just the Alabama still. That's
that's dope. That's your agent, Like even through all the
ups and downs you've been through, Like he's still die
your side. Because I know it's a shady business and
a lot of people would have just done whatever. But
(28:23):
that's that's dope. You've got somebody beside you like that.
What advice would you give to high school athletes young
athletes who have to battle through adversity and figure out
if they really want to do this or not. You
need to go through adversity because you becoming battle tested,
you you learn more about yourself. Um, you might thought
you couldn't possibly get through, you can definitely get through them.
(28:45):
So they gotta fight like life's not gonna be fair. Uh,
everybody wants life to be perfect, but it's not always
gonna be fair. You're gonna have your ups and downs.
You just gotta know how to bounce back from because
God's never gonna get you more than you can handle. Um,
so you just gotta know that you got a person.
What do you think is like your best moment in
the league, like that one' carry like like you said
(29:05):
talking to your grandkids, like go look up this this
runt or something like what what's what's one run like that?
Probably a run I had against the Ravens my second year.
It was like over time. My squad we got the
ball first over time and were playing, got the ball back.
We're like backed up, it's the outside. A few guys
(29:27):
he touched me, they're like fell off. Then I got
to Eric Wildele and I guess he thought he was
gonna be able to strip the ball because I had
in one hand and covered up and he end up
falling off and end up like getting fift three yards
and then we end up getting the field goal rage
and won the game. So I was trying to garage
(29:49):
just like a second where like fans and stuff saying
question to us. This week's question comes from Brandon Riddle.
It said, if you can instantly become an expert in
any subject, what subject would it be? Let me start
with you. Probably math now math to science, probably just
because I could be a doctor. I've been a doctor.
(30:12):
I would say economics, politics one to the other. So
tough because like no one would think you're expert, you know,
they would just think that, like yeah, and every president.
I probably say economic stuff for for all. Yeah, I
was gonna say economics, definitely economics money, knowing how that works.
(30:32):
It's actually about to be my major text. So I
would say oncology, like cancer research, because that would be
pretty cool to be an expert on um, A lot
of stuff you could do with that. I probably say history,
like more specifically like sports history, so I never lose
a sports argument. I can pull out facts just like that,
like on anything. And I wouldn't every sports argument classic
(30:57):
chyle of like people know history this that's just like
a flex. They just know everything. Yeah, yeah, that was nine. Yeah,
how do you know that? This three Jordan? We got
a little segment that we do with our guests. It's
called rapid Questions, so it's real quick. First answer that
comes to your mind. First question morning afternoon, person more
(31:22):
King Paul or pool? Cool? You like the country more
the city? First place you're traveling? Two in Europe? London?
It's your favorite movie? Oh, the woldet Lake Beach's your
favorite artists right now? And then what's your favorite artists
all time? Right now? N b A all time? Probably
(31:43):
gotta go with Little Way, Big Dogs or small Dogs
Big Dogs? Which one you want? A yacht or private jet,
private vacation spot? Um? Probably Greece. Would you rather travel
to the past with the future? Uh? I probably the past?
Phone call and faced on most underrated running back in
(32:04):
the league beside you. Would you rather be able to
speak to animals? Or speak every language in the world?
Every language in the world everorite pizza? Topic for simple?
Do you have any any talents that we don't know about?
I'm learning blady piano, m hm learning now, No, you
already know I'm learning now driving a flying oh even
(32:28):
Friday night out or at night in would you rather
sleep in late or take a long that mid day alone? Now?
What's your go to karaoke song? Well, it used to
be saying girl, but you know I can't really do
the only seeing us part. If you could be any animal,
(32:48):
what would you be? A line? Your favorite time I
day to work out? Morning? Midwest of the East coast? Oh,
what's the East coast? Last question? Do you believe in ghosts?
No Ah? You all interesting. They're gonna come get you,
make you believe you. John. We appreciate you, Matt, thank
(33:11):
you for coming on. Bro, no problem. Thanks, appreciate you
coming on. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jordan Howard
for coming on. If you guys have any suggestions on
who you want us to get on the pod, you
know we got like cam Hart, we got Ory, and
we got a bunch of guys got connections and stuff
like that, so we'll try to reach out to them
make it happen. But again, appreciate you all for listening.
(33:31):
We'll be back next week. Keep saying us outside of
the grous questions all that stuff, and again appreciate you all,
and we'll see you
The volume What's Up everybody? Welcome back to the Inside
of Garage podcast from Cala Hamilton along with Andre Wallace,
Hunter Allien and Cam Hart. And today we got Sir
(00:22):
Jordan Howard with us. Jordan, how are you doing? Oh good?
On watch you'll so NFL players got some downtime right now?
Where you at? Where are you training out right now?
I'm turning in Bama Rido or down in Florida, Miami, Florida.
How far outside of Miami is at avatur So it's
like thirty minutes. You did everything there? You look like
trained for the combine? There you every right? Yeah? I
(00:45):
did my draft combin and turning from there and then
like ever since then, I've just been going back every
year in the whole season to turn there. Got you, Jordan,
we actually met in month of May when I was
trained down at Bama Rido and Jordan was one of
the guys who helped me out get the lay of land.
He's his agents, actually someone was pretty close to me.
Decent card and I appreciate you coming on the part today.
(01:08):
So first we wanted to touch on your opinions on
the USC and U c l A. Moving to the
Big Ten. Obviously you went to Indiana, well you transfer
attend and correct h where um, and there's a how
do you feel about them moving to the conference obviously
there in California and all the other teams in the
Midwest East coast and that's like a big um describacy
(01:32):
right now. So what's your thoughts on not um, I'm
shocked to see that happen, honestly, just because like how
far away it is, gonna be had a lot more travel. Um.
I feel like it's gonna be good, you know, just
like USC California, that's a big market, big brand. U
c l A. They're big brand as well. But my football,
I feel like it's gonna those guys probably gonna be
(01:53):
too happy, but I have enough play cold games. But
I feel like it's definitely a bigger picture. It's it's
far just works like just for the money. So that's
how much you feel like because that was that was
my first thought when I had seen the move and everything,
and I was like, I don't think the boys from
calire gonna be ready for Midwest college. I just don't
think it's gonna be a I don't think that's gonna
(02:13):
happen because I mean, coming up from the South, Kyle,
you know I was the first winner there. Like I
was hurting. I got it like light so well, USC,
Like the only time to play as at the end
of the year is if it's at USC. Remember like
that we played them during the middle of the year
when it's year, but they always refused to play at
the end. But Jordan, I gotta ask, so I know
that you what we all know, you went to U
(02:34):
A B and then transferred. I you in two years.
Where do you think your loyalty lies with? Like about
the same as each school or as one or the other.
I feel like about the same. Um. I probably I've
been at u AB more since I got in the
NFL than Indiana, but just because so you AB like
in my hometown Burmham, Alabama, so it's just easy for
me to stop by there. But actually when I was transferred,
(02:57):
I was considered Notre Dame so too the business there.
I enjoyed my business stuff and I was like seriously
thinking about going, but they told me, like none of
my creds are gonna really transfer, so I didn't know
if I'd be lgible to play. So It's like I
(03:17):
didn't want to risk not being able to play. I
wanna asked because he was on the team when um,
the football team got got shut down right at you
a B. And that's what was that locker room Like
it was. It was crazy Like during the season, we're
saying stuff like here and stuff, but like they're gonna
shut it down. Were like, there's no way they're really
gonna do that. And then we had like a decent
(03:39):
season for like compared to what we had been doing,
like got both eligible for like the first time like
seven or eight years. And then we had a meeting
after that last game we came both eligible and the
president just told us. He was like, yeah, it just
hurts this hurts me more than the hurst you guys
that we got to shut the program down because we
don't have enough money or whatever. M Like like he
(04:02):
didn't really care, Like he just told us then like
we just had to like deal with the basically, this
is your this is your sophomore year. Yeah, you know
my sophomore year. That's crazy. Imagine being a freshman walking
into that. I'd be like I remember seeing a video.
I don't know if you guys saw this but somebody
had a video of that meeting. Actually one of your teammates.
(04:24):
You end it up and it was like like on
the ViRGE of tears, like talking about I got a kid,
like I got stuff take care of and I think
just from reading like you he would just had like
a breakout season that year, right, Yeah, yeah, Like whe'd
that leave you and like everybody else and obviously with you,
but what you talking So that team man who stood
up and spoke, he was like he went to the
(04:45):
military first, so he was like basically like thirty, so
he's like experienced life already and stuff. Um. It was
pretty crazy actually because I had to like take business
and stuff. It was like I had to get ready
for final exams, but I still had to like take
business and I decided where I wanted to go because
I was trying to get there before the next semester.
But coming out of high school, I didn't really have
(05:06):
any offers on the umb was my only offer, so
I didn't take any recruiting visits and like wasn't many
teams hit me up, so it was like very different,
like a lot of schools that I was trying to
get to hit me up and recruit me. They weren't
recruiting me, but now they were like just coming up
people just coming to campus, just trying to talk to
us and just get a whole bunch of deals on Twitter.
So it was definitely wild process. But I enjoyed it
(05:29):
because I didn't get experienced that in high school. So
I definitely enjoyed it. But some guys it was rough
because they didn't really get to play much, so they
didn't really have any film to like go off of,
and some guys had like transferred down the level. He said,
a lot of guys that didn't end up continue to
play football like just left off. Yeah, they were required
a few, but some guys they decided to stay because
(05:49):
if you stayed, you still had the scholarship and you
can still go to school and stuff. But a lot
of guys end up staying and then when they brought
the team back, what would they reinstated it. They were
just working out for like a year and a half.
But a lot of a lot of those guys end
up like getting their masters and stuff just because they
stayed in schools getting paid for and they was still
(06:09):
playing football. So I couldn't imagine just working out for
a year and a half. I didn't understanding. Now I
got balled to look forward to like I'm just working out,
no true motive to work out. That's crazy. Why did
you choose I? You couts some pretty like Alabama. I
have to you, it's a pretty big change. Uh well,
(06:31):
I told you so. I used like one of the
first schools that reached out to me, Vanderbilt. I didn't
really consider Vanderbill, but it was like only SEC school.
And then of course another day and then my head
coach from my freshman year, you be, he was at
Louisville h he was off the coordinator. He wanted me
to come, but I didn't really consider, just because I
didn't like the way uh he had left for us.
(06:52):
They had timn Coleban the year before. He had just
ran for two thousand yards old line coming back, and
they didn't have any backs with any experience, and so
I was like, it's just a perfect fit. And then
I hit it out for my running back coach, Dealing mcculus,
the right back coach to day, man, what's your opinion
(07:12):
of coach d Oh? He know, man like outside of
the ball, like cool, like we probably like one of
the realest coaches I've ever had, Like you just know
he always gonna in your life, Like, um, it's bigger
than football with him. But you're a great dude. He's
gonna get it at you. But you definitely have fun
talking about how you obviously made the switch from you
MB too, how you like, what was the biggest jump
(07:34):
you had to make? H the biggest jump? First off,
like the weather, Like when I got there was like
snowing and stuff like and I'm like back home, like
Alabama's for ever snow, like school cancer, every clos' even
I thought if he's even have thought of snow just canceled?
Had it still go? And then like you ain't b
I could walk to all my classes, but Indiana like
(07:56):
so you had to catch buses. And when I got there,
into him like which buses I had to get on,
Like it was like different bus you had to take
to get onto campus. So I didn't really know. I
just got on the bus. But luckily one of my
cousins series like my cousin, he went to Indiana like
a few years before, so I called him. He kind
of helped me out. But like that first week, I
was like late to like all of my classes. But
(08:16):
another big difference like the way we worked out, Like
they were working out way harder than we were doing
that you ain't being just it was just like it
was kind of shock at first, but but football was
like playing. It wasn't much of a difference. The only
difference I saw it was like on the old line
D line, because I feel like that's where the difference becomes.
They were a lot bigg about skill position wise. I
(08:38):
feel right there. What do you like about Bloomington? Uh,
it was a lot different from you ain't b so
you ain't be It's like a commuter school, so pretty
much everybody's just on campus and like live at home.
They don't really lived at campus, so it's not really
like a you really get the college experience really Like
they didn't have like sorority houses, a fraternity house, any
of that. So it was just like it was a
(08:59):
big deer friends. So I actually got like a colleaguist
friends because Bluemanton was a college town and it was
like a party school. To talk about going into the
nfl um Why did you leave after three years and
I stayed to two more years or stuff like that.
So when I got to Indiana. My plan was like
if I did yeah well enough that I was gonna leave.
Like the first four games, I like leading the national
(09:20):
Russian and play Ohio State. Got hurt second quarter ankle
spring and talking like four to six weeks. I'm like, damn.
But then I only missed two weeks. Came. I had
heard my knee in like preseason, but I didn't think
anything governing. So he played Michigan lost like dumb old time.
I had like two thirty yards. The next day, I
woke up a kind of walk because like my knee,
(09:40):
so I had like tore my own niscus. And then
but I still like like twelve I played like eight
and a half nine games, end up like twelve hours
of yards, and then I was gonna try to come back.
I had any searches, like around Thanksgiving. I was gonna
try to come back for the bowl game. So I
like practice and stuff, but it just wasn't like feeling right. Uh,
so I decided to sit out. But I was like,
(10:01):
I felt like I proved that I could play up
a level, so I felt like I was ready. I know,
I know they was picking you apart at the combo
huh oh wow, because I had a knee surgery. So
when I got to like draft relp like training, they
like slowed me down because my knee was like still
like bugging me and stuff. But yeah, when I got
to the combine, they had had to tell them like
my injuries and stuff. Um, I spent like two hours
(10:24):
one night doing like mrs On like different body parts.
Like it was a lot. Who is your opinion on
the comment like the whole experience. Um, Like on the
outside looking in, like when you watching this stuff, you're like, oh,
I can't wait to be a party combine and stuff.
But when you actually experience, you like it's not what
you thought it would because you had to get up
early for a drug test, like super early. It just
(10:48):
early four o'clock. Yeah, like you get down like more
if you get down like four, you had to like
wait in line, so I didn't get right down and
for as that the wedding line and stuff about your car.
Holy did you have to get up? That was the
same thing. I got back to my room like eleven
thirty because like you don't get done and I'm sure
(11:10):
during the same way, like I don't know if you
did your agency have like a sweet or something that
like you get like treatment and stuff like why trying
that they had a sweet. So we were that kind
of like just getting worked on and yeah, I got
like probably that and I probably got like four hours
of sleep and then get up, dude, your my eyes
everything the next day and it's just but I mean
(11:30):
you'll you'll see it's fun, but it's not fun. It's funny.
What was your main gold con into like Ricky Minicamp.
If you remember like man go going to Mini camp
L T A S. So like before the draft, I
thought I was gonna go like second and third round
and end up going filth round. I remember my agent
Carmen I was like crying and stuff. It was like
it was like you gonna like use this motivation, but
(11:51):
you're gonna go in. You're gonna win the job and stuff.
Ricky Minicamp. I end up like pulling my hamstring like
the first day, so I was out like Ricky. I
was out from my Ricky manicount into the manout. That's
when I started practicing again. So I didn't really get
to do much. I was just having to learn by
like looking and stuff. So I just tried to come
back into best shape, Like when we came back for
training camp and stuff, and it was five of us,
(12:14):
Like sometimes, uh, they have like seven or eight backs,
but it's like five of us. I was gonna get
a decent amount of reps and stuff, and then it
just slowly started progressing, like to get more reps and stuff,
and who is any room at that time? We're running
back Jeremy lank for cadem carry Jaqueers, Rogers and snores.
Perry forgot about him. Yeah. I started off like field
(12:37):
and then two of the guys got hurt. So we
did joint practice the Patriots and it was just like
three of us and we were like dying. That's crazy.
Use attempt running back taking in what drive? Um? What
was what was the motivation factor coming into the league
and how do you did that play any any role
(12:58):
in your motivation that? Did you care about that you
think about it? Uh? Yeah, I definitely added a chill
because I felt like only like two two of those
guys should have been drafted ahead of me, like gag Herry,
Zikie Elliott. But it was those guys I didn't really
feel like they should have been draft ahead of me.
But I just used it like it's more motivation because
like coming out of high school and they had one offer,
(13:19):
I just felt like I was just always overlooked. So
it definitely added motivation to me. Then the preseason, like
the first game, I didn't really played that my second game, Uh,
played a little bit in the third game when it
used to be four games. You don't even played that
much the third game because that's when the starters got
a lot of playing times. So but then the fourth game, uh,
that's when they said the starters are and I got
to play a lot. I was like kind of unaware
(13:40):
because I didn't really know anybody, like before I got
in the league. I don't really know anybody who had
like played in the field, So I was unaware that
like if I probably would have did well in the
last preseason game, might not have made the team. So
I might even get cut and like put on the
practice squad for sure. But I end up making the team,
so they kept three of us. The first game of season,
I was active, but me and the backup quarterback, we're
(14:00):
the only ones that play because I was like back
up on special teams and stuff, so I was like
the only one didn't play besides him, and it was
like wake up call because it's like never being like
a case where like I mean maybe when I was
the first in high school where I just didn't get
in the game at all, but uh, they definitely like
a wake up experience. But then in next game they
put me on special teams. The third game of the game,
(14:21):
out of dad, I was the second guy didn't started,
got hurt, and fourth game is just me like I'm starting,
and so I was just like I always just told myself,
like take advantage of every opportunity you get. Um had
a hundre yards of my first game, second game had
a hundred yards. In third game, I had like forty yards.
And then like those guys who started like getting that healthy,
(14:41):
they were really trying to give me the job still
like I was still having trying to pool myself and
I had a big game on Monday night, and I
guess like this when they sided, like oh yeah, he's
gonna be right guy. And it's crazy fact that it happened,
like you go from almost peace squad special teams that
now you man looking like five weeks at that level.
It just happened like that. Then all what you mean
you went you went on to reach the Pro Bowl.
(15:03):
You were only the second bearers running back to do
that in the rookie year, which is I think the
last guy did was like nineteen seventy five. So like
when you go from being at tenth throwing back taking
like a frustrating draft for you and then like I'm
not a frustrating first couple of games and then you
win and then you go to the Pro Bowl. I mean,
what were your thoughts at the end of the season.
Was it like a little bit of satisfaction and you're like, no,
(15:24):
like I have to put my head down and keep working,
like I want to do this again and again and again.
You know, Um, it was a combination of both, because
like I knew I had the ability to do that,
to do those things, I just didn't know if I
have the opportunity to like rush for that many yards
and make the Pro Bowl my first year. So I
just didn't know if I was going to at the opportunity.
But I always had like confidence in myself. But I
(15:46):
definitely like wanted more after that, and that's courage to do.
I feel like a lot of people don't take an
account how much injuries complaining to it feel like you're
going into the season while I'm not just starting the
second stream and thirst streaming, and then that can can
kind of play on the mental. But then this that
fast you first stream, So you gotta be ready, like
you gotta prepared, like like they say, you got prepared
(16:06):
like you just started. Like so I had to be ready. Yeah,
I was just great and asked what are some of
the things you told yourself nicely or actually had to do?
You know what I'm saying more than the other guys
to stay ready just like so I had to do
like I get like a few ups on office, like
during the practice week before I became the starter, but
most of it was just being like scout team. So
I had to do the scout team looks and just
(16:27):
try to get those guys a good little too, just
like work on my condition and just like paying attention
because as a running back, you're not gonna get on
the field nless you can take the quarterback. So like
the running game, it's easy, easy to pick up the
running game and stuff like you've been running all your life,
but the past protection and stuff, that's what becomes difficult
and stuff so I had to lock in on that. Really,
what's the relationship like with the first and second stream
(16:49):
when they started to get back healthy, but you're doing
so well, what was the running back room like when
you are now started? It was still cool. I never
felt any innimosity from those guys. But another thing, it
was the oldest guy in the room. He was like
a third year guy could deem. He was just in
his third year and Jereman was in his second year.
So we were all like still young and stuff like,
so we're all just trying to compete and make each
(17:10):
other better. But I never felt any animosity towards him
or anything. How'd you like being in Chicago? I love it. Uh.
When I first got drafted and got up there, I
thought we were gonna be back in the city, but
then I found out were like in the suburbs of
North Suburbs, so we're like forty fifty minutes outside of
the city and that's like no tram fic. But I
(17:32):
enjoyed the city, like there's so much to do there,
the great city in great football town. But I didn't
really enjoyed the weather, like that was cold like any
other code. That was a different type of call. Yeah,
but my first two years we didn't. Like my first
year we won three games. Damn, what's up? What's up
with the Bears field? Yeah, everybody nobody likes to feel
(17:56):
because the city takes care of the feeld, so like
the team doesn't get the like take care of the field,
so only the city like does and like everybody complains
about it. We played Wisconsin in Chicago this year, Um,
that sold your field obviously, And I remember, like the
day before we went out to take a picture or something,
I'm walking on the grass. I'm like, this is like uncut,
like front lawn grass, Like it was like up to
(18:19):
my ankles. It was kind of crazy. I was like, damn,
I thought they would be like cut down. But everybody, apparently,
everybody said, like you said, that's just how Chicago is.
So this year, you've been in the league six years, right, ye,
six going on seven, So what what's been the biggest
change in perception of the league? Like since you got drafted.
You came in and too now, like what's one thing
(18:41):
you've been like, Oh, this is actually different from what
I thought I came in. I like learned like the
business out of some like my third year, we got
a new coach, fired my coach. Uh the second after
my second season, he came in and he like the
office like just evolved around me. Like my first year
he was just running pretty much because we didn't have
any receivers, like they were getting hurt and stuff. I'm
just that like a lot of improving guys. So third year,
(19:03):
he came in and changed the offense. Uh, kind of
got away from what we were doing, like ruining wise.
So I didn't really get the touches, but we want
a lot of games, so I couldn't really complain. But
then they traded me because I was like going to
my third year, I was thinking like if I do
well enough, I can get the extension. So I was
going like for extension. But then my agent approaching by extension,
they were like no, we're looking to trade him and stuff.
(19:26):
And I didn't really want to leave and stuff because
I was like that's all I knew, Like I don't
want to leave my team and I felt like we
had a chance to win the super Bowl the next year.
Then they signed the guy and I'm like, okay, like
they're really for really they're gonna trade me. Um, But
then they traded me, and then the head coach wanted
to talk to me. Still it was just like basically
want to scamp back, but I don't. I never really
(19:48):
understood that because we had to record at the time.
I'm like, he does all this stuff, but um, you
got traded. It's like like damn, sh turns fast. Because
like just before that any camp, the GM was like
writing me, like saying, UM decided for this year and stuff,
and a lot of the progress you made and stuff
like that. Didn't like to after the season, like they
(20:09):
traded me, and the GM he never even called me,
like so I never even talked to him, like I
got traded and stuff. But it was just like a
lot of emotions when I got traded. Um, then I
went to Philly, I started doing well. I got hurt
for the rest of the season. Then I was a
free agent. I said, that's so that's my country. I
got hurt of my country a gear. It sounded dolphiness,
but my injuries like still affected me, like working out
(20:29):
while so I wasn't where I wanted to be or
where I needed to be. The office. I thought I
was going to turn out not to be the offense
it was. It was so and the end up telling
me I wasn't like I didn't fit the office they
wanted to run. So the like called milk guards, like
why would yall bring me here if you hadn't want
me in the offense and stuff. So and then it's
like I'm not saying like I was doing any thing wrong,
but it's like other people messing up. But it was
(20:51):
like I don't know when that was getting punished for
it every time, and I didn't feel like that was fair.
So then I went to the head coach and like
just like like what was up? And like while I'm
not getting these opportunities and stuff while I'm only like
because it made me like only a goal I bet
I didn't really like that role. I didn't really sign
up for that role. And it was like sometimes you
try to let your coaches coach and the next week
nothing change. Then we got to that I don't know,
(21:13):
it was in practice, like I'm not getting any reps
like at all. I wouldn't get any reps all, but
nobody even came up and talked to me like and
told me like, oh, you're gonna being active this week.
So my running back coach. He told me the day
before the game, was like, yeah, you probably know, but
you're gonna being acted this game and stuff. But I'm like,
I never even told me anything, like I just had
to like figure that out on my own. Seeing so
(21:35):
I went to the office coordinator and he was all
the only when they kept it reels like yeah, you
don't really feel what we want to do. So then
I'm being active and made us like go to the games,
but we couldn't even be on the sideline because it's
like COVID here, so I had to sit in there
and like up in the sweet to watch the games
and stuff. And then I had to work out before
the game, and then I couldn't even locker room. I
had to just go up to the suite to watch
(21:57):
the game on the game done, get on the bus
and stuff like that. So I was actually probably like
three three or four weeks, damn, like I really actually
I never thought I'd be in a position. Then two
of the guys got hurt, so they had to bring
me up. But they had just traded for a guy
over the COVID rules. He had to sit out a
week to get clear, and then so I started and
then it was still like they just because they had,
(22:23):
just because they had to. But then you gotta get
in the game. It's just like personnel twenty one personnel
just like loaded the box up and stuff like that
just spread out. We had a undrafted Rickie. It was
his first game. He starting to play more than me
that game, and they were like giving him like different
types of stuff like draws words out the shotgun, all this,
and then and then like the next week, I'm back
(22:45):
and act don't say anything to me. So at that point,
I was just like fed up. So I went to
the head coach doing practice and I was like, what's up? Like,
why I'm not playing? Why I'm not getting opportunity. I
was like, I'm not trying to blame people, like every
time I'm man something was wrong. And he was like, yeah,
we feel like other people give us a better chance
when stuff goes wrong. And I was like, but I
(23:05):
never even got the chance. Can you say that? I
was like, you'll bring me here. He's like, sometimes stuff
just don't work out. I feel like just like messing
my career because I like, it's what have you done
for me? Lady League? That Monday after the game, the
gym called me. I had never even talked to GM.
He called me actual time I was coming. I told
him I was coming in and he called me. He
was like, you're coming earlier and then I was like, yeah,
they're releasing me and stuff. But he was like, y'all
(23:27):
love every game and stuff. I'm like, how do you
love my game? But you let me go and stuff.
M and so then after that, after that, I ended
up going back to Philly on the practice squad. I
got off for like two games, but I didn't really
played much. And then so that all season, nobody really
wanted to sign me just because of how my season
winning Philly, I mean in Miami. So I'm like, damn,
what can I do? Then Philly they end upside of
(23:49):
me get me a chance. I didn't get any guaranteed money,
just like the basic training camp was going well. I
started off like the Twols. Then the first preseason game
I started because they didn't start to the start, and
of that game, I probably got like four kiders in
preseason because they called me into the office and let
me go, and I was like like super shop and
like confused, and I'm like I did everything like I
(24:09):
couldn't do it more and it was like still wasn't enough,
And it basically just came down to the fact that
he wanted to go younger and cheaper and it's like
basically nothing I can do about it, because like once
you're not their guy. When you when they don't feel
like they need you and they feel like you need
them more, they need you, Um, they feel like they
don't really they don't really care at their point, So
that's crazy. How did that, um that COVID year going
(24:35):
from inactive to starting back to that had that on
your mentor Yeah, that's a lot. It was. It was
definitely tough. Another thing because the COVID year, we didn't
do like O T S and all that stuff, so
I didn't really get to know like me and my
team into like training campus stuff. So it was definitely
tough just because like I was getting paid and stuff.
Like I was getting paid and stuff, I'm like, I'm
still not happy because I'm not getting to do what
(24:55):
I love. Like a lot of people like they would
have got their money would be cool, like they wouldn't
care they weren't playing enough, but like I was getting paid,
but like I'm not getting a place of like what's
the point? But last year was probably the reference for me,
just because I felt like I should have been on
team and I was just on practice spot like the
first few weeks, Like I asked this thought about like
(25:16):
walking away at that point because I'm like, what am
I doing? I'm just wasting my job? Talked about how
do you want to go younger and cheaper? Is that
you think a lot of that places and the fact
that you play running back, you feel me like he's
that because I know that's a position where there's a
lot of wear in telling your body and things like that.
So oh yeah, definitely, like I wouldn't I would like
I love been running back, like I would never probably
(25:36):
want to play a different position. But it's just like
they definitely value us, and like like growing up, everybody
wants to be running back and stuff. They get the
ball a lot of stuff, but you get to the
NFL that you value and like if you're not like
a high draft, they'll do what they can the usually
up and stuff, but then like they just move on
to the next guy because they feel like they can
get running back from lay around or drafted. So they
(25:57):
don't really like value us that there. Well, is there
any coaches of players that you're out in your corner
in the NFL that you really looked out for you
and you can go to a for advice and stuff
like that. Oh yeah, I definitely uh coaches like last year,
like because I was having a hard time last year.
That's probably like the first time in my life. I
was like really down for like a few weeks just
because like I didn't see any hope and I just
(26:18):
had to be on the sideline like the whole time
just watching and then I had to like a workout
on Friday, like out the practice just because it was development,
I guess, but I just didn't see anything changing unless
somebody got hurt, and I really I didn't really want
that to be the case. Work like that's why I
got to place. But I definitely had like some coaches,
you know, like I talked to Coaching Color a little
bit about it, and just like coaches on the team
(26:39):
that told me just like stay ready, to be ready
for a moment and stuff. So I definitely like coaches
and my teammates they were helping me out. It's really
like you said, it's really just trade business. And I
don't want to speak for you, but I feel like
in your situation, it's kind of like they already made
up their mind about you before, like even like giving
you the real opportunity. And that's gotta hurt because you
know what you can do, you know what you've been
(26:59):
proven before, and it's like you're not even getting the
shot to show them that. But at the end of
the day, I think that kind of as people to fire.
Like you said, like you've been down before and so
there's really nothing new. You can overcome that too. So
like in my situation, I was, I've seen like super
talented people not not get the opportunity even in college,
Like we've all seen it, like super super talented people
(27:21):
just don't work out the way that it probably should
just because of politics. But that's one of the things
about the sports, like it's so political at times, like
gets unfair that people actually playing it. So you got
definitely got sacrificed a lot. But I mean, at the
end of day, when it's working, it's it's the best.
But stay up though I know I know you're working
right now. You're down there grinding you see it. So yeah,
(27:42):
I mean, and we all didn't seen it before. So
who do you lean on the most, Like, like you said,
using tough times, like your parents, like old teammates. Who
is it you call like when you really down? My mom?
I definitely like later my mom. She's like my she
like my super HEROO, so on her a lot. My
agent of Diesel. Uh, they're gonna more than what I
need there, Like you know what I want to here,
(28:02):
gonna tell me what I need here. You're gonna keep
it real me and just like he always motivated me
and stuff like that. But definitely my mom is who
I land on the most. Your mom is staying in
Alabama still right now, that's just the Alabama still. That's
that's dope. That's your agent, Like even through all the
ups and downs you've been through, Like he's still die
your side. Because I know it's a shady business and
a lot of people would have just done whatever. But
(28:23):
that's that's dope. You've got somebody beside you like that.
What advice would you give to high school athletes young
athletes who have to battle through adversity and figure out
if they really want to do this or not. You
need to go through adversity because you becoming battle tested,
you you learn more about yourself. Um, you might thought
you couldn't possibly get through, you can definitely get through them.
(28:45):
So they gotta fight like life's not gonna be fair. Uh,
everybody wants life to be perfect, but it's not always
gonna be fair. You're gonna have your ups and downs.
You just gotta know how to bounce back from because
God's never gonna get you more than you can handle. Um,
so you just gotta know that you got a person.
What do you think is like your best moment in
the league, like that one' carry like like you said
(29:05):
talking to your grandkids, like go look up this this
runt or something like what what's what's one run like that?
Probably a run I had against the Ravens my second year.
It was like over time. My squad we got the
ball first over time and were playing, got the ball back.
We're like backed up, it's the outside. A few guys
(29:27):
he touched me, they're like fell off. Then I got
to Eric Wildele and I guess he thought he was
gonna be able to strip the ball because I had
in one hand and covered up and he end up
falling off and end up like getting fift three yards
and then we end up getting the field goal rage
and won the game. So I was trying to garage
(29:49):
just like a second where like fans and stuff saying
question to us. This week's question comes from Brandon Riddle.
It said, if you can instantly become an expert in
any subject, what subject would it be? Let me start
with you. Probably math now math to science, probably just
because I could be a doctor. I've been a doctor.
(30:12):
I would say economics, politics one to the other. So
tough because like no one would think you're expert, you know,
they would just think that, like yeah, and every president.
I probably say economic stuff for for all. Yeah, I
was gonna say economics, definitely economics money, knowing how that works.
(30:32):
It's actually about to be my major text. So I
would say oncology, like cancer research, because that would be
pretty cool to be an expert on um, A lot
of stuff you could do with that. I probably say history,
like more specifically like sports history, so I never lose
a sports argument. I can pull out facts just like that,
like on anything. And I wouldn't every sports argument classic
(30:57):
chyle of like people know history this that's just like
a flex. They just know everything. Yeah, yeah, that was nine. Yeah,
how do you know that? This three Jordan? We got
a little segment that we do with our guests. It's
called rapid Questions, so it's real quick. First answer that
comes to your mind. First question morning afternoon, person more
(31:22):
King Paul or pool? Cool? You like the country more
the city? First place you're traveling? Two in Europe? London?
It's your favorite movie? Oh, the woldet Lake Beach's your
favorite artists right now? And then what's your favorite artists
all time? Right now? N b A all time? Probably
(31:43):
gotta go with Little Way, Big Dogs or small Dogs
Big Dogs? Which one you want? A yacht or private jet,
private vacation spot? Um? Probably Greece. Would you rather travel
to the past with the future? Uh? I probably the past?
Phone call and faced on most underrated running back in
(32:04):
the league beside you. Would you rather be able to
speak to animals? Or speak every language in the world?
Every language in the world everorite pizza? Topic for simple?
Do you have any any talents that we don't know about?
I'm learning blady piano, m hm learning now, No, you
already know I'm learning now driving a flying oh even
(32:28):
Friday night out or at night in would you rather
sleep in late or take a long that mid day alone? Now?
What's your go to karaoke song? Well, it used to
be saying girl, but you know I can't really do
the only seeing us part. If you could be any animal,
(32:48):
what would you be? A line? Your favorite time I
day to work out? Morning? Midwest of the East coast? Oh,
what's the East coast? Last question? Do you believe in ghosts?
No Ah? You all interesting. They're gonna come get you,
make you believe you. John. We appreciate you, Matt, thank
(33:11):
you for coming on. Bro, no problem. Thanks, appreciate you
coming on. Thank you, thank you, thank you Jordan Howard
for coming on. If you guys have any suggestions on
who you want us to get on the pod, you
know we got like cam Hart, we got Ory, and
we got a bunch of guys got connections and stuff
like that, so we'll try to reach out to them
make it happen. But again, appreciate you all for listening.
(33:31):
We'll be back next week. Keep saying us outside of
the grous questions all that stuff, and again appreciate you all,
and we'll see you
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