November 9, 2022 • 34 mins
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talks to Mike Silver about how the Jets got to a 6-3 record in the loaded AFC East, then discusses Zach Wilson's steady improvement, the highs of the 2022 NFL draft, the realities of "keeping receipts" for the media members who criticize him, and the difficulties of rebuilding a team in New York after winning only 4 games last season. Saleh also takes us back to the reason he changed careers from finance to coaching football, the thing that made Kyle Shanahan the most angry at him, and his days as an intern for the Houston Texans. #volume #Herd
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. All right, we're here on open mic. And
my next guest. He arrived as the forty Niners defensive
coordinator for the seventeen season. And for two years I
heard fans and people in my business just crushing this guy.
(00:24):
I thought his first name was fire because I just
could not hear anything other than this guy is killing us.
And then in your three suddenly the Robert Salas sideline
experience took the NFL by storm, and now he is
the toast of the big Apple. Hello, Mr Selah was
(00:47):
like a man, I'm great and uh and you are
in your bye week and kind enough to join us,
And I'm still trying to process all this because you
and I sat together or back of the Spring Uh
in Morristown, New Jersey, had a great meal and talked
about some of the challenges you were facing. If we
(01:08):
had been sitting there that night and I had told
you no Mackay Beckton, no Elijah Vera Tucker, George Pant
would go out, you draft a guy named Bruce Hall
who was tearing it up, and then he was out,
and you'd be sitting here six and three, would you
have looked at me funny? I would have taken it.
(01:29):
But guys have been doing a good job. You know,
it's uh testament all the coaches, all the players. It's
been a good first half of the season, but we
gotta gotta final way to keep it rolling. You took
a high profile job in a in a big place,
and year one with a team that was kind of
reeling from past years. You went four and thirteen, and
(01:51):
of course it's New York's and nobody reacted very strongly
or anything. And you know, you have quarterback Zack Wilson
you drafted last year who's still growing into it. UM,
and so you had challenges. UM. You came out after
the opener, which didn't go well, had started talking about
all the criticism you guys have been getting and the negativity.
(02:15):
UM was that intentional? And kind of what was your
thinking when you when you talked about that, Um, it
was kind of it was in the moment, um, but
trying to really just trying to keep the attention off
the locker room, the negative attention anyway, UM, positive attention.
(02:36):
Have at it, give it, give and don't worry about
the coaches. Give it all the players please, UM. But
from a negative standpoint, especially with such a young roster. Um.
I think why it's so hard to build in New
York is because it's instant coffee. Everybody wants it now,
and and so just the appreciation of growth isn't always
(02:57):
recognized until the growth actually happens. It's like, don't don't.
I don't want to see the baby. I want I
want the adult right now, right And in that moment,
it was just you know, trying to find a way
to give breathing room to such a young roster so
they can uh play free, uh mentally free and have
(03:18):
have kind of a positive atmosphere too. When Robert Big
said kid analogy, he had his very amazic wife have
seven children, So you know what you're talking about? Their
seven blissingers. Man, that's amazing. Uh you've got any big
bye week plans? By the way, I mean, first of all,
you have seven kids, so there's a lot going on. Secondly,
(03:39):
are we gonna need like to get you some bodyguards
if you go out to Manhattan? Well, first off, so
seven kids a big family. My wife has a list
about ten miles long. And so I've got to clean
out the garage, I gotta i gotta give my office
up and running. I got there's some odds and thens,
like I gotta go through the punch lists for the
(04:00):
contractor to make sure we get one more one more
walk through. And so I'm working, I don't get to
go anywhere. Maybe maybe my wife and I will be
able to do something better for day night on Friday.
We go dates every Friday, and so hopefully we can
do something good. But she's got she's got me grinded.
I want to offer you a chance. You are six
and three, so it's it's a work in progress. There's
a long way to go. But you did say that
(04:22):
you were taking receipts, uh and that you know, when
things turned around, you might you might be cash again
on some of those received You want to cash in
on something there's nothing cash And yeah, I've said it before.
We we gotta win a heck of a lot more
than six games one game, um, you know, and one
of my you know, the the ultimately received the entire
(04:45):
New York media and or the whole NFL world has
on me is that you know, our goal is me
and my opening press conference sing that we want to
win championships. So hopefully can cash Hopefully we can cash
in on that receipt first before anything else. Have you
had one moment though, where you're just like, I can't
believe this person is crushing us this bad. I can't
(05:08):
believe that this was said. Um, you know, I do
my best to stay away from at all our media guys.
They do a really good job, you know, keeping us
abreast of what's happening with our players. I think that's
so much more important to me, um, with regards than
us to just see where the mentals of our our athletes.
But you know, um, the only time I ever know
(05:32):
anything happens if it's brought to my attention. So I
think the only one was when when Rex had the
big one. But but Rex is awesome and I have
had a lot of conversations since then and he's awesome,
So it's uh. But other than that, I really don't.
I really don't know who's saying with Yeah, and if
I recall Rex Ry informer Jets coach went on the
radio and said don't or TV said don't ever compare
(05:55):
this guy to me. You responded by saying, dude, you
know where to find me, I'm right here. And then
and then he called you and you guys got to
a better place. We we got to sit in at
the Senior Bowl too, and has had a really cool
conversation and we've had a lot of conversations are going.
He's he's helped a lot too. You know, he's been
a head coach at two different locations, and he's been
(06:15):
able to share his experiences with me. And he's been
an awesome resource for me with regards to just how
to adjust better at my share and share that I'm
in now. Him being in this chair, this exact chair,
has been very helpful for me. So he's been he's
been awesome. I mean, it is true. One thing I
(06:35):
told my kids as they were growing up playing sports
and that I use off as you know, losing just
sucks and everybody, you know, it just tears everybody up
and people react differently. Uh, And so I could see
I could see some of that. You guys are both
emotional guys. But it's uh, it's euphoria disaster. I mean,
(06:56):
should I come home after loss and you think we're
in an middle of a funeral, My wife and kids
are just all laid out, you know, just but it's uh,
it comes with territories. Why that's why it's it's also
the cool thing about our profession, right every week the
emotions you feel you I always tell my wife even
after loss, the like thing about, honey, we're living life,
(07:16):
Like how many people have to get to experience the
emotional roller coaster that we get to experience. We're so
blessed and that every week we were It's just like
we're living life where we get to experience all all
the human emotions that God bless us with them. It's, uh,
we're very fortunate. So and you know, you chose a
(07:37):
profession that is, uh, that's very taxing and um, from
what I understand, it kind of traces back to nine
eleven and and your brother being in the South Tower
that day. Yeah, you know you have one of those
aha moments. And you know, the unfortunate part is that
it was tragedy that triggered yaha moment for me. But
through tragedy, you know, uh, um, there's always stories and
(08:03):
I'm not the only one. There's a lot of stories
in this world that I've been able to connect myself
to where or been have been told to me of
success stories that have stemmed from nine eleven and uh,
obviously there's there's all the tragedies in lives that were
lost too. And but you know, it's just one of
those moments, you know where you're you know, you're just
having one of those uh self reflecting, look in the mirror,
(08:25):
are you doing what you want to do? Moments? And uh,
I'm very fortunate to have had to have the family
that I have, who support who supported me through it,
because it's it is not easy being a g A
and it's very it's not a cost effective life. Yeah.
So your brother had made it out of the South
(08:45):
Tower thankfully. Yeah. And I was in the American Banking
World headquarters downtown Detroit. I was credit analysts and um
making good money fresh out of college and just trying
to get into the commercial real estate business. And uh,
it was sitting in a cubicle. It's not for me.
It's it's like I just said, you know, you just
you you go to work, you leave, It's like, what
(09:09):
what's the emotional charge? And it just wasn't triggering and
uh and so just like I said, I was, I
was very fortunate to be aby had the opportunity to
pursue coach trying to envision the cell of Chris Pump
in a cubicle after like a successful loan. But there's
(09:31):
a lot of people that you know, they get a
lot of success out of that too. So there's a
million ways to make money in this country. That's what dart.
And then all of a sudden you're working at Central
Bichogan with Batt Lafleur and you get invited to a
party famously at then head coach Brian Kelly's house. You
know what that that the story it was, It was
I don't want to say it was taken out of context,
(09:53):
but because I said what I said, but that's not
what I meant. Um, you know, it was we you know,
we were at Brian. It was it's a it's a
rite of passage, you know. And you're a g A.
You go get long through, you go make coffee, you
make them do the food run. That's that's just what
you do, at least back when I was at g A.
And uh, you know it's um. You know in the
comment I made, you know, which got blown out, was
(10:15):
made it sound like I was younger, just not just
you know, I was gonna do something different. That doesn't
make it right or wrong. It just but Brian was
very good to us, he realized and uh, and I'm
really happy for him in the success that he's having
an l s U. And and I know that that
article got a lot of attention, but it wasn't It
wasn't like anything I was mad at big Um. It
(10:36):
was just it was funny, you know, it's just telling
a funny story about the things we have to do.
Is as there's I have one story when I was
at g A. I'm not gonna say who coaches. I'm
gonna for anyone in Blast, but well, I'm sitting at
my desk, I'm working and he comes in, uh sweating
is brob come here and he's in panic and he grew.
We grab a laundry bag and he gives me football
(10:56):
gloves and we get in this car like where we're
going because you'll see, And we drive to this parking
lot and there's a squirrel with a yogurt cup stuck
on its head and he can't get out, and he
goes go get the cup off the squirrel's head. I
was like, really, he goes yeah, and he gives me
the gloves and the and I'm chasing the squirrel with
that cup over his head and I got the squirrel,
(11:17):
got the cup out a bit at the glove and
took off. I was like, what the heck just happened?
But so this was a coach who was concerned with
the welfare of a squirrel. Yeah. Yeah, it's a good thing.
But but the stuff you do is that I was like,
you can do this. You ran all the way back
to the facility to get to get you. So did
(11:39):
I Were you concerned that the squirrel was gonna give
you rabies or something there? You're like, you know, it's just,
you know, squirrel starts chasing anybody. I don't care how
big you are, how tough you think you are, A
squirrel starts chasing You're can run. I don't care what
anyone says. But yeah, but but it was just, you know,
an example of all the things that is throughout the country,
(12:00):
and I'm sure it still is today that you have
to do. Not that you have to, but you you're
asked to do. And it's, uh, you know, it's a
write of passage. It's it's a it's a cool thing,
not necessarily make good thing. I feel like there's a
squirrel who has like a little mini jets hat who's
going around going, hey, go to the Jets. That guy
gotta cup off me one time. That's awesome. So yeah,
(12:23):
so you and Mount Lafloor, I could just pick because
the story is that Brian Kelly invited you to a
party in his house. You guys are thinking like, awesome,
We're going to the party, and in fact you were
the snow shovelers at Valet parking people. But I can
also picture Matt being such a warrior, like stressing out
about getting the cars parked right or you know, doing
(12:44):
the assignment that is too perfection. Um So Mike McDaniel,
another mutual friend of ours who's now your coaching rival
and the loaded a f C East by the way,
Um he all the story recently about arriving in Houston
where Kyle Shanahan was coming in and uh Don Papers
(13:08):
had been leaving and Gary Kubiak was coming in as
the head coach and he described you as a squat
or somebody who just refused to leave his office. And
I think you were making five bucks an hour at
a time, you know what was going on there, so
you know I was an intern. Um you know before
the quality control was a quality control, you know, UM,
(13:31):
Houston needed a guy to kind of do all the
phone breakdown all that stuff. So it was right before
the season I got hired with Don Papers. Vic Fangio
was the defensive coordinator, so I was his assistant. And
this office was huge, was an enormous office and for
the staff in the stadium at then Reliance Stadium and
UM and I was in one corner all by myself.
(13:52):
And so when when the staff got fired, I had
made a really good impression on Charlie Castle just in conversation.
Uh and uh, So I couldn't get fired as an intern.
I wasn't technically that wasn't a coach. So my internship
wasn't gonna end until like the end of February. And
Gary comes in and I walked into the building because
(14:12):
I wasn't fired yet, and I just hung out and
uh and like Mike said, I was squatting. I popped
in his office. Coach you need anything, He had to
take these boxes go thrown away, coaches, go work out.
Just I was just any questions he had about anyone,
any person in the building. Personnel watched them tape and
and as Mike recalls. You know, he comes in and
(14:34):
you know, I offered Mike's and Mike, can I do
anything for you? I'm just I'm kind of sitting there,
you know, just trying to trying to find a way
to keep my job. And you know, to be honestly,
Coach Kuby, I could have kept me as an intern
and I would have been excited and uh, but he
gave me that. My first coach's contract is the defensive
quality Control. I love it. It's kind of like a
George can Stanza move, just like I'm just gonna keep
(14:57):
coming to work and see whatever. Like that was a
guy from from office space. Yeah, what does mean? That's amazing.
So you had a really cool career with Pete Carroll
in Seattle and the Super Bowl and then going with
Gus Bradley to Jacksonville. Um, kind of seeing the other
(15:17):
side of that and then, um, your forty Niner experience
was interesting because they locked you in when Kyle got
the job as the linebackers coach, but you were still,
you know, trying to stay in the running for for
the d C. John. Yeah, the transition with Kyle, you know,
we we built the top five defense in Jacksonville, and
(15:38):
it's well documented he went after VIC, went after Gus Bradley,
and Gus Bradley and I were gonna be kind of
like a little package deal. UM. And he was just
really worried about hiring a first time coordinator and the
guys that he really wanted our system, that whole Seattle system.
Long story short, he was I was going to go
(15:58):
to the Chargers. People. I don't know people realize that
Gus Radley went to the Chargers. I was going to
the Chargers and um, and Kyle promised me a legitimate
interview if I if I committed to him as linebackers
coach and um, and that's all. And I just wanted
to promise that. And I know everyone knows Kyle like
Kyle is, UM, he's a man of his word, and
(16:20):
he's always gonna if he promises you something, he's gonna
he's gonna live up to it. So I know it
wasn't gonna be a sham. At the same time, it
felt like it was time for me to kind of
branch off, um, you know, because everyone knows how close
I am Gus. He's such a phenomenal man. But UH,
did the interview, and I guess it did something right.
So what's the angriest Kyle ever got at you on
(16:43):
the sideline or in the media group or or anywhere. Uh,
there's a lot of times. Um, I think the a
one of them. So there's a I've told the story before,
but my first year as a coordinator, it's our first
game carol Anna Panthers and they're winning. They're they're beating us.
You know, it's it's like twenty eight or some of
(17:05):
our six or whatever the heck the score was. We
have no chance. It's the game's pretty much over and
they're they're in four minute mode. It's third and six,
and they put eleven personnel on the field and I
was like shooting because I wanted a different personnel grouping.
And I was like how And I was stuck and
I couldn't find Kyle. So I called the time up
and Kyle and and so we get the personnel grouping
(17:29):
we want, and he still they still get a first down.
They're a QB power with freaking Cam Newton. They get
a first down and it's like cut down and Kyle
is just absolutely going nuts on the side. Like I've
been a coordinator for ten years, I've never called the
time out, just going and you know, Kyle red just
I was like, oh my god, he still gives me
(17:51):
craph for it to this day that I called the
time out. But he's but I've I've pissed him off
a lot, all deserved probably, So you mentioned Gus, he's
a great coach. It's such a tough business. Frank Raik
just got fired mid season abruptly by the Colts. Um.
(18:12):
I kind of looked at that for a couple of
hours and was like, well, Gus is the logical guy
on that staff to be interim and interims a tough job.
Were you were you thinking Guts would end up getting
that for a couple of hours and yeah, I thought
I thought maybe Guess or dot Fox even too very
well respected head coaches Johnson to a couple of US
(18:33):
super Bowls. But you know, he's you know, I'm sure
Jeffers Done has done something and I know he's consulted
over there, so I'm sure there's something there that that's
going to give him an opportunity, and the opportunity. You know,
he's a he's a bright football mind. He's played football
for a real long time, and um, he's got a
tremendous personality and all that stuff, and from everything I've
(18:55):
heard about him is that he's an awesome human being.
So um, good luck to him. And hopefully, you know,
they're still in striking distance they can still win that business.
I think the only two games out and they still
they still have to play a lot of teams in
front of them, so there are seasons nowhere near close
to over there. Gus. You know, they've got top five
defense right now when you look at the statistics, So
(19:17):
they're doing a great job and you never know, you know,
Frank reich Is is a phenomenal football coach too, so
I'd be shocked if he doesn't have another opportunity to
hedge job this upcoming coaching cycle. Yeah, I feel like
it's gonna be hard for Jeff because I know the
business and I know how hard people have grinded to
get in position to possibly advance, and then to walk
(19:39):
into a room with coaches who have been grinding and
be like, well, yeah I was. I coached a couple
of years of high school and here I am. Guys,
he probably has some work to do right right around. Well,
one thing I'll say, and I don't want to speak
for Gus Um, but knowing that people who are on
that staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball, um,
(20:00):
he will be welcome with open arms and Gus is
going to do everything you can to help him succeed
at that's Gus, and that's Richard Smith and Milo and
Nate Ali, They're they're all I mean, it's going to
be um. I promise you not one person in that
building is looking at that from a cynical view and
uh and if and they're gonna do everything they can
(20:22):
to make sure that they're successive at that head coaching chair.
So let's talk about your quarterback. You guys took him
at number two overall, and you know we're in an
earraw where guys end up playing right away and and
go through growing pains. Um, you know, where is he
in his in his growth process and what needs to improve?
(20:42):
He's still a pup. You know, it's uh in this
day and age, you know, it's it's different than back
when I first got the league, where quarterbacks sat for
a couple of years and then you know you you
like Aaron Rodgers sent for three years behind Brett and
then his first couple of years weren't all peaches and cream.
But you saw a young man who's got potential would
be really really good, And all of a sudden it
just clicks. They go to the Super Bowl, they win
(21:05):
it and say, damn, this guy's good. Um, and now
it's one of the best quarterbacks ever. H everyone is
that everyone is looking for the animally, everyone's looking for
the the Joe Burrows, the Herbert's the and so they're
they're one, you know, and they happen, but it's it's
not as common. It's usually takes them a couple of years.
(21:26):
And if you just stick with them and you just
have patience and you build around them, and you give
m a chance to to grow into the roller in
quarterback is the hardest position in all of sports. I
think your opiniata back there just getting You've got two
point five seconds to make a decision or you're just
gonna get crushed by a three pound madman, right, and
(21:48):
and so you got the whole team on your on
your shoulders for the most part. And but you know
he's he's been getting a lot better. I think anyone
who doesn't acknowledge the fact that he is light years
ahead of where he is a year ago. Um isn't
really watching football and not paying attention. And anyone who
doesn't think he'll be light years from where he is
now next year from where he is now, UM, doesn't.
(22:12):
You know, you don't have faith in him. We have
faith that he's going to continue to get better, and
we see signs of it in practice, we see signs
of it in games. Unfortunately, you're judged by the mistakes
you make, and kind of like a golfer, you're only
as good as you're you're worse your your worse miss
and but his his misses are getting there, getting tighter
and uh um. And he's doing everything he needs to
(22:34):
do to make sure we're winning football games. And that's
why he's since he's been back, we've been five and one.
He got a lot of tension in New York back
in July for a story that surfaced on social media.
Did you guys do you joke about that? At already
came back? You know, we're mom jokes, fair game? How
did it go? I leave that for the locker? Probably
(22:59):
gonna yeah. Um, by the way, you've got the bye
week coming up and I know you and I talked
over the off season a lot about guys how they
handle the off season year one to year two. And
you know you can only supervise so much when they're
not with you. Across town. Safety on the Giants, Xavier
(23:20):
McKinney is out for a few weeks. Apparently he went
to Cabo during the bye week got an a TV accident.
Fortunately it was only his hand that was hurt. Um,
you know, what do you tell guys about handling um
the bye week, especially, you know when when things are
going well and guys are feeling good. Yeah, it's unfortunate
what happened that young man. You never wish that on anybody. UM.
(23:44):
You know, there are rule number one in our organizations,
protect the team. And that doesn't mean it goes from
everything in the building, out the building, on the football field. UM,
it's rule on protect the team. So don't don't expose
yourself to anything that you expose yourself because you're getting
injured is not protecting the team. Um, take care of
(24:05):
your business, consume what you need to consume in terms
of keeping your body connected to the season, working out region. Um,
and understand this isn't a week off, it's more of
a breather and uh and every decision you may during
the bye week as a reflection of the team, because
we still have we sta have games to play. So
you know, you're just leaving with that mindset that every
(24:27):
decision they make is about protecting the team, and if
if their decisions are not at that moment, if you
don't think the decision is protecting the team, and just
don't do it. And you know, so hopefully hopefully our
guys come back strong. We'll see you know, this is
one of those deals with the coach. Coaches were an
organization GM. I can speak for Joe on this one
that you know, we're gonna go to bed, say oh,
(24:47):
prayer across our fingers and hopefully we can get back
to Monday with everybody intact. They won't they won't all
be cleaning out the garage like coach. I'm glad, I'm
glad you met you, Joe. You guys had such a
cool draft, and you know, I think a lot of
people around the league we're rooting for you guys, just
knowing what what you've been through and um, you know
(25:08):
what the hyper focus has been. But you know, you
never know if these guys are actually gonna be as
good as you think they are when you pick them. Um.
Were there some solid fist bub you know, leaping moments
during the draft of the in the war room. Um, yeah,
when when my sauce felt was that for we're all
(25:31):
pretty not excited because we we we thought Houston was
gonna take them and ended up with thing stingly as
a phenomenal football player too. So he's uh, but you
know it's just to each his own. Um, but you
can say one A, one B, and both those guys
are both deserving them where they where they were drafted. Um.
And then Garrett obviously him, you know, it was him
(25:55):
getting to us that ten was awesome. I thought he'd
end up going to Atlanta. And then uh, just just
the excitement of Joe just working the phone starting at
fourteen to try to go get Jermaine, and Jermaine made
a big, big play, Like we wanted Jermaine for his
length and speed as athleticism because we need to be
able to chase Josh Allen up and he did in
(26:16):
the game. You know, it's like as soon as it happens,
like well, that's why we drafted him. You know, it's
just just that big, long body that can keep up
with with Josh and uh you know, so those there
are a lot of moments in there. There's getting getting
up to go get briefs, you know, and we you know,
it's documented we tried to go get briefs in the
first round. Um went on, took took a bite, and
(26:37):
we're able to make a move up over. I think
it was Houston to go get Greece. Wasn't sure if
Houston was going to take him or not. Um. You know.
So it's a really cool draft and just watching Joe operate, Uh,
it's pretty cool to watch. It's his game day and
he's as calm and cool and collected as you would
you would hope how to your general manager. Yeah, when
(26:58):
when you guys got bree I was kind of like, okay,
enough guy, this is like it's getting it's getting ridiculous.
It was a good class. It's a good class and uh,
you know, the trick isn't year one, and the trick
is your two or three four, so they just, um,
so that's gonna be a battle. You know, you had
(27:21):
a lot of suitors after and you had almost gotten
the Brown's job the year before, and obviously, even with
a defense that was super impacted by injuries, you guys
had a really good, you know year as a unit. Um.
A lot of people kind of thought, well, he's from
the Detroit area, the Lions are are gonna end up
(27:43):
being the fit. But you had to evaluate. You know,
they're evaluating you. You're evaluating all these jobs. What the
best fit is? Uh? You know what, did you ask
some hard questions when you were talking to the powers
that be at the Jets. Yeah, because you you want
to make sure there's a fit. One of the biggest
things is, uh, you know, people try to train you
(28:05):
for every situation, and it's if I'm talking to people,
to coaches who are about to go interview, just be
yourself because if yourself isn't good enough for the organization,
then you don't want to be there in the first place.
If you have to fake your way through an interview,
eventually that's gonna bite you in the butt, especially when
adversity hits because if they're not if they feel like
they didn't hire the person they thought they were getting,
(28:26):
it gets bad quick. And and so I wasn't for
for me, I was gonna ask questions that you know, like,
this is who I am, this is what you're getting, um,
And if it's good enough for you, great, let's let's
go do something with it. If it's not, I'm good.
I would have been more than had people back to
San Francisco. Uh, Kyle does an unbelievable job out there.
(28:46):
He makes a very family oriented and John Lynch and
hell of the defense, great players, um, great weather, terrible taxes,
but out with more than happy people back. But you,
I think it's so important. It's just don't don't chase
a job just to get a job. I think it's
you know, you work so hard to get to you know,
(29:08):
from top of the coaches, you worked so hard to
get to where you are, and you've got this one opportunity.
To make sure you pick the right opportunity. I'll ask
you one dark question and then bring it back to
the light before we get let you get out of here.
But was there a moment, either last year or earlier
this year where you were just like, man, you know,
you put so much into it and it's so hard
(29:28):
to turn the team around. What did you have a
moment where you were just thinking this is really really rough.
You always do you that's uh, you know you're not
human if you're not second guessing yourself in adversity. But
but at the same time, you've you've got to reach
to your past. Um. We built a top five defense
in JACKSONPO. We built a championship team in Seattle. I
(29:49):
saw that in San Francisco. You said it, and the
when this thing started that I was, I was, I was,
I was, I was on the firing line. I was.
I was the reason why we stopped in San Francisco.
And those first two years was, uh, it was not
easy being questioned, and it was funny. When I talked
to Kyle about it, goes like, don't worry about it.
(30:11):
You're not in trouble until the media starts asking me,
like no one cares. Then a week later they started
asking the solid deserves to be back. Then here we are.
We got like the thirteenth rank defensive yards and all that,
but we can't get a takeaway to save our lives.
And I'm like, this is BS and and that's why
(30:31):
that's why I have such an appreciation for Kyle Um
because and he showed me in terms of it's not
about firing people. It's it's about building something special and
building continuity. I think Cincinnati is a good example where um,
Zach Taylor could have fired lou on a couple of occasions,
but he stuck with it. And if you you know,
(30:54):
like the the anomalies and the one hit wonders, it's
not that's not the norm. Building things that last, building
have building a foundation as will last. And so to
answer your question, you know, yeah, it's tough, but I
know that if we just stick to our guns, we
stay true to who we are, UM, and we have
(31:14):
conviction and the things we believe, and if we don't
try to reinvent the wheel just to reinvent the wheel,
we just stick to it, we're all going to end
up on the same page and we're going to be
a more efficient football team. And um, that's why teams
like New England, when people look at them, they're like, god,
how are they winning? They're winning because they know that
they know how to coach it and the players know
how to play it. And and why we won that year.
You know you mentioned our two thousand twenty team, its
(31:36):
year four for our defense, it is like what jeez,
you guys had but we we we played well on
defense because all the guys who stepped in knew exactly
what was being asked of them, and the coaches knew
how to coach it. You know, we're convicted in our schemes.
So we were able to play with tremendous efficiency in
a year where there's so much chaos with all the
zoom meetings and all that stuff. And so at the
(31:57):
end of the day, football is it's a fifty three
and sport. Like you have eleven players that have to
play in unison and it's not eleven contractors. It's eleven
players working together. And the more the longer they're together,
the better they're going to be. And uh, yeah, it
gets tough, but I know what's at the end of
the tunnel. It's a It's a great point about Lou
(32:19):
and a ruma who all of a sudden you're in
an an FC championship game and Patrick Mahomes maybe one
of the only times where he didn't look like he
knew what he was seeing for a second and obviously
he'll bounce back, but yeah, they stuck with with Lou.
You have a first time offensive coordinator in Michael floor
Younger brother, much younger brother of Matt. Did they start
(32:43):
asking about him? I'm trying to remember did you start
getting the Mike lafloor questions even last year? So this
is funny. Um, it was like week four of the
first season and I get a question from one of
our b I know who the beat right was, but
I'm not going to put him up. Blast asked me
about Mike Lafleur and whether or not I think he's
(33:05):
doing a good job, and I and I was like, geez,
in my back of my mind, I answered the question.
I go to last It took a year and fourteen
game for me to get questions about my job security already.
My Jesus were, man, well, right right below you when
(33:27):
people can't see, there's a giant bucket of receipts that
you are. You know, that's just another one that you
threw in there. So I don't know what's going to
happen this year, but eventually we're gonna have you dip
into that giant bucket of receipts and uh, let it
fly on the show. Hopefully it's hopefully it's after a
super Bowl, but we'll see right. Well, thank you so
(33:50):
much for enlightening us and enlivening our our little show here,
and we really appreciate you. I appreciate you. Mike in
third s
The volume. All right, we're here on open mic. And
my next guest. He arrived as the forty Niners defensive
coordinator for the seventeen season. And for two years I
heard fans and people in my business just crushing this guy.
(00:24):
I thought his first name was fire because I just
could not hear anything other than this guy is killing us.
And then in your three suddenly the Robert Salas sideline
experience took the NFL by storm, and now he is
the toast of the big Apple. Hello, Mr Selah was
(00:47):
like a man, I'm great and uh and you are
in your bye week and kind enough to join us,
And I'm still trying to process all this because you
and I sat together or back of the Spring Uh
in Morristown, New Jersey, had a great meal and talked
about some of the challenges you were facing. If we
(01:08):
had been sitting there that night and I had told
you no Mackay Beckton, no Elijah Vera Tucker, George Pant
would go out, you draft a guy named Bruce Hall
who was tearing it up, and then he was out,
and you'd be sitting here six and three, would you
have looked at me funny? I would have taken it.
(01:29):
But guys have been doing a good job. You know,
it's uh testament all the coaches, all the players. It's
been a good first half of the season, but we
gotta gotta final way to keep it rolling. You took
a high profile job in a in a big place,
and year one with a team that was kind of
reeling from past years. You went four and thirteen, and
(01:51):
of course it's New York's and nobody reacted very strongly
or anything. And you know, you have quarterback Zack Wilson
you drafted last year who's still growing into it. UM,
and so you had challenges. UM. You came out after
the opener, which didn't go well, had started talking about
all the criticism you guys have been getting and the negativity.
(02:15):
UM was that intentional? And kind of what was your
thinking when you when you talked about that, Um, it
was kind of it was in the moment, um, but
trying to really just trying to keep the attention off
the locker room, the negative attention anyway, UM, positive attention.
(02:36):
Have at it, give it, give and don't worry about
the coaches. Give it all the players please, UM. But
from a negative standpoint, especially with such a young roster. Um.
I think why it's so hard to build in New
York is because it's instant coffee. Everybody wants it now,
and and so just the appreciation of growth isn't always
(02:57):
recognized until the growth actually happens. It's like, don't don't.
I don't want to see the baby. I want I
want the adult right now, right And in that moment,
it was just you know, trying to find a way
to give breathing room to such a young roster so
they can uh play free, uh mentally free and have
(03:18):
have kind of a positive atmosphere too. When Robert Big
said kid analogy, he had his very amazic wife have
seven children, So you know what you're talking about? Their
seven blissingers. Man, that's amazing. Uh you've got any big
bye week plans? By the way, I mean, first of all,
you have seven kids, so there's a lot going on. Secondly,
(03:39):
are we gonna need like to get you some bodyguards
if you go out to Manhattan? Well, first off, so
seven kids a big family. My wife has a list
about ten miles long. And so I've got to clean
out the garage, I gotta i gotta give my office
up and running. I got there's some odds and thens,
like I gotta go through the punch lists for the
(04:00):
contractor to make sure we get one more one more
walk through. And so I'm working, I don't get to
go anywhere. Maybe maybe my wife and I will be
able to do something better for day night on Friday.
We go dates every Friday, and so hopefully we can
do something good. But she's got she's got me grinded.
I want to offer you a chance. You are six
and three, so it's it's a work in progress. There's
a long way to go. But you did say that
(04:22):
you were taking receipts, uh and that you know, when
things turned around, you might you might be cash again
on some of those received You want to cash in
on something there's nothing cash And yeah, I've said it before.
We we gotta win a heck of a lot more
than six games one game, um, you know, and one
of my you know, the the ultimately received the entire
(04:45):
New York media and or the whole NFL world has
on me is that you know, our goal is me
and my opening press conference sing that we want to
win championships. So hopefully can cash Hopefully we can cash
in on that receipt first before anything else. Have you
had one moment though, where you're just like, I can't
believe this person is crushing us this bad. I can't
(05:08):
believe that this was said. Um, you know, I do
my best to stay away from at all our media guys.
They do a really good job, you know, keeping us
abreast of what's happening with our players. I think that's
so much more important to me, um, with regards than
us to just see where the mentals of our our athletes.
But you know, um, the only time I ever know
(05:32):
anything happens if it's brought to my attention. So I
think the only one was when when Rex had the
big one. But but Rex is awesome and I have
had a lot of conversations since then and he's awesome,
So it's uh. But other than that, I really don't.
I really don't know who's saying with Yeah, and if
I recall Rex Ry informer Jets coach went on the
radio and said don't or TV said don't ever compare
(05:55):
this guy to me. You responded by saying, dude, you
know where to find me, I'm right here. And then
and then he called you and you guys got to
a better place. We we got to sit in at
the Senior Bowl too, and has had a really cool
conversation and we've had a lot of conversations are going.
He's he's helped a lot too. You know, he's been
a head coach at two different locations, and he's been
(06:15):
able to share his experiences with me. And he's been
an awesome resource for me with regards to just how
to adjust better at my share and share that I'm
in now. Him being in this chair, this exact chair,
has been very helpful for me. So he's been he's
been awesome. I mean, it is true. One thing I
(06:35):
told my kids as they were growing up playing sports
and that I use off as you know, losing just
sucks and everybody, you know, it just tears everybody up
and people react differently. Uh, And so I could see
I could see some of that. You guys are both
emotional guys. But it's uh, it's euphoria disaster. I mean,
(06:56):
should I come home after loss and you think we're
in an middle of a funeral, My wife and kids
are just all laid out, you know, just but it's uh,
it comes with territories. Why that's why it's it's also
the cool thing about our profession, right every week the
emotions you feel you I always tell my wife even
after loss, the like thing about, honey, we're living life,
(07:16):
Like how many people have to get to experience the
emotional roller coaster that we get to experience. We're so
blessed and that every week we were It's just like
we're living life where we get to experience all all
the human emotions that God bless us with them. It's, uh,
we're very fortunate. So and you know, you chose a
(07:37):
profession that is, uh, that's very taxing and um, from
what I understand, it kind of traces back to nine
eleven and and your brother being in the South Tower
that day. Yeah, you know you have one of those
aha moments. And you know, the unfortunate part is that
it was tragedy that triggered yaha moment for me. But
through tragedy, you know, uh, um, there's always stories and
(08:03):
I'm not the only one. There's a lot of stories
in this world that I've been able to connect myself
to where or been have been told to me of
success stories that have stemmed from nine eleven and uh,
obviously there's there's all the tragedies in lives that were
lost too. And but you know, it's just one of
those moments, you know where you're you know, you're just
having one of those uh self reflecting, look in the mirror,
(08:25):
are you doing what you want to do? Moments? And uh,
I'm very fortunate to have had to have the family
that I have, who support who supported me through it,
because it's it is not easy being a g A
and it's very it's not a cost effective life. Yeah.
So your brother had made it out of the South
(08:45):
Tower thankfully. Yeah. And I was in the American Banking
World headquarters downtown Detroit. I was credit analysts and um
making good money fresh out of college and just trying
to get into the commercial real estate business. And uh,
it was sitting in a cubicle. It's not for me.
It's it's like I just said, you know, you just
you you go to work, you leave, It's like, what
(09:09):
what's the emotional charge? And it just wasn't triggering and
uh and so just like I said, I was, I
was very fortunate to be aby had the opportunity to
pursue coach trying to envision the cell of Chris Pump
in a cubicle after like a successful loan. But there's
(09:31):
a lot of people that you know, they get a
lot of success out of that too. So there's a
million ways to make money in this country. That's what dart.
And then all of a sudden you're working at Central
Bichogan with Batt Lafleur and you get invited to a
party famously at then head coach Brian Kelly's house. You
know what that that the story it was, It was
I don't want to say it was taken out of context,
(09:53):
but because I said what I said, but that's not
what I meant. Um, you know, it was we you know,
we were at Brian. It was it's a it's a
rite of passage, you know. And you're a g A.
You go get long through, you go make coffee, you
make them do the food run. That's that's just what
you do, at least back when I was at g A.
And uh, you know it's um. You know in the
comment I made, you know, which got blown out, was
(10:15):
made it sound like I was younger, just not just
you know, I was gonna do something different. That doesn't
make it right or wrong. It just but Brian was
very good to us, he realized and uh, and I'm
really happy for him in the success that he's having
an l s U. And and I know that that
article got a lot of attention, but it wasn't It
wasn't like anything I was mad at big Um. It
(10:36):
was just it was funny, you know, it's just telling
a funny story about the things we have to do.
Is as there's I have one story when I was
at g A. I'm not gonna say who coaches. I'm
gonna for anyone in Blast, but well, I'm sitting at
my desk, I'm working and he comes in, uh sweating
is brob come here and he's in panic and he grew.
We grab a laundry bag and he gives me football
(10:56):
gloves and we get in this car like where we're
going because you'll see, And we drive to this parking
lot and there's a squirrel with a yogurt cup stuck
on its head and he can't get out, and he
goes go get the cup off the squirrel's head. I
was like, really, he goes yeah, and he gives me
the gloves and the and I'm chasing the squirrel with
that cup over his head and I got the squirrel,
(11:17):
got the cup out a bit at the glove and
took off. I was like, what the heck just happened?
But so this was a coach who was concerned with
the welfare of a squirrel. Yeah. Yeah, it's a good thing.
But but the stuff you do is that I was like,
you can do this. You ran all the way back
to the facility to get to get you. So did
(11:39):
I Were you concerned that the squirrel was gonna give
you rabies or something there? You're like, you know, it's just,
you know, squirrel starts chasing anybody. I don't care how
big you are, how tough you think you are, A
squirrel starts chasing You're can run. I don't care what
anyone says. But yeah, but but it was just, you know,
an example of all the things that is throughout the country,
(12:00):
and I'm sure it still is today that you have
to do. Not that you have to, but you you're
asked to do. And it's, uh, you know, it's a
write of passage. It's it's a it's a cool thing,
not necessarily make good thing. I feel like there's a
squirrel who has like a little mini jets hat who's
going around going, hey, go to the Jets. That guy
gotta cup off me one time. That's awesome. So yeah,
(12:23):
so you and Mount Lafloor, I could just pick because
the story is that Brian Kelly invited you to a
party in his house. You guys are thinking like, awesome,
We're going to the party, and in fact you were
the snow shovelers at Valet parking people. But I can
also picture Matt being such a warrior, like stressing out
about getting the cars parked right or you know, doing
(12:44):
the assignment that is too perfection. Um So Mike McDaniel,
another mutual friend of ours who's now your coaching rival
and the loaded a f C East by the way,
Um he all the story recently about arriving in Houston
where Kyle Shanahan was coming in and uh Don Papers
(13:08):
had been leaving and Gary Kubiak was coming in as
the head coach and he described you as a squat
or somebody who just refused to leave his office. And
I think you were making five bucks an hour at
a time, you know what was going on there, so
you know I was an intern. Um you know before
the quality control was a quality control, you know, UM,
(13:31):
Houston needed a guy to kind of do all the
phone breakdown all that stuff. So it was right before
the season I got hired with Don Papers. Vic Fangio
was the defensive coordinator, so I was his assistant. And
this office was huge, was an enormous office and for
the staff in the stadium at then Reliance Stadium and
UM and I was in one corner all by myself.
(13:52):
And so when when the staff got fired, I had
made a really good impression on Charlie Castle just in conversation.
Uh and uh, So I couldn't get fired as an intern.
I wasn't technically that wasn't a coach. So my internship
wasn't gonna end until like the end of February. And
Gary comes in and I walked into the building because
(14:12):
I wasn't fired yet, and I just hung out and
uh and like Mike said, I was squatting. I popped
in his office. Coach you need anything, He had to
take these boxes go thrown away, coaches, go work out.
Just I was just any questions he had about anyone,
any person in the building. Personnel watched them tape and
and as Mike recalls. You know, he comes in and
(14:34):
you know, I offered Mike's and Mike, can I do
anything for you? I'm just I'm kind of sitting there,
you know, just trying to trying to find a way
to keep my job. And you know, to be honestly,
Coach Kuby, I could have kept me as an intern
and I would have been excited and uh, but he
gave me that. My first coach's contract is the defensive
quality Control. I love it. It's kind of like a
George can Stanza move, just like I'm just gonna keep
(14:57):
coming to work and see whatever. Like that was a
guy from from office space. Yeah, what does mean? That's amazing.
So you had a really cool career with Pete Carroll
in Seattle and the Super Bowl and then going with
Gus Bradley to Jacksonville. Um, kind of seeing the other
(15:17):
side of that and then, um, your forty Niner experience
was interesting because they locked you in when Kyle got
the job as the linebackers coach, but you were still,
you know, trying to stay in the running for for
the d C. John. Yeah, the transition with Kyle, you know,
we we built the top five defense in Jacksonville, and
(15:38):
it's well documented he went after VIC, went after Gus Bradley,
and Gus Bradley and I were gonna be kind of
like a little package deal. UM. And he was just
really worried about hiring a first time coordinator and the
guys that he really wanted our system, that whole Seattle system.
Long story short, he was I was going to go
(15:58):
to the Chargers. People. I don't know people realize that
Gus Radley went to the Chargers. I was going to
the Chargers and um, and Kyle promised me a legitimate
interview if I if I committed to him as linebackers
coach and um, and that's all. And I just wanted
to promise that. And I know everyone knows Kyle like
Kyle is, UM, he's a man of his word, and
(16:20):
he's always gonna if he promises you something, he's gonna
he's gonna live up to it. So I know it
wasn't gonna be a sham. At the same time, it
felt like it was time for me to kind of
branch off, um, you know, because everyone knows how close
I am Gus. He's such a phenomenal man. But UH,
did the interview, and I guess it did something right.
So what's the angriest Kyle ever got at you on
(16:43):
the sideline or in the media group or or anywhere. Uh,
there's a lot of times. Um, I think the a
one of them. So there's a I've told the story before,
but my first year as a coordinator, it's our first
game carol Anna Panthers and they're winning. They're they're beating us.
You know, it's it's like twenty eight or some of
(17:05):
our six or whatever the heck the score was. We
have no chance. It's the game's pretty much over and
they're they're in four minute mode. It's third and six,
and they put eleven personnel on the field and I
was like shooting because I wanted a different personnel grouping.
And I was like how And I was stuck and
I couldn't find Kyle. So I called the time up
and Kyle and and so we get the personnel grouping
(17:29):
we want, and he still they still get a first down.
They're a QB power with freaking Cam Newton. They get
a first down and it's like cut down and Kyle
is just absolutely going nuts on the side. Like I've
been a coordinator for ten years, I've never called the
time out, just going and you know, Kyle red just
I was like, oh my god, he still gives me
(17:51):
craph for it to this day that I called the
time out. But he's but I've I've pissed him off
a lot, all deserved probably, So you mentioned Gus, he's
a great coach. It's such a tough business. Frank Raik
just got fired mid season abruptly by the Colts. Um.
(18:12):
I kind of looked at that for a couple of
hours and was like, well, Gus is the logical guy
on that staff to be interim and interims a tough job.
Were you were you thinking Guts would end up getting
that for a couple of hours and yeah, I thought
I thought maybe Guess or dot Fox even too very
well respected head coaches Johnson to a couple of US
(18:33):
super Bowls. But you know, he's you know, I'm sure
Jeffers Done has done something and I know he's consulted
over there, so I'm sure there's something there that that's
going to give him an opportunity, and the opportunity. You know,
he's a he's a bright football mind. He's played football
for a real long time, and um, he's got a
tremendous personality and all that stuff, and from everything I've
(18:55):
heard about him is that he's an awesome human being.
So um, good luck to him. And hopefully, you know,
they're still in striking distance they can still win that business.
I think the only two games out and they still
they still have to play a lot of teams in
front of them, so there are seasons nowhere near close
to over there. Gus. You know, they've got top five
defense right now when you look at the statistics, So
(19:17):
they're doing a great job and you never know, you know,
Frank reich Is is a phenomenal football coach too, so
I'd be shocked if he doesn't have another opportunity to
hedge job this upcoming coaching cycle. Yeah, I feel like
it's gonna be hard for Jeff because I know the
business and I know how hard people have grinded to
get in position to possibly advance, and then to walk
(19:39):
into a room with coaches who have been grinding and
be like, well, yeah I was. I coached a couple
of years of high school and here I am. Guys,
he probably has some work to do right right around. Well,
one thing I'll say, and I don't want to speak
for Gus Um, but knowing that people who are on
that staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball, um,
(20:00):
he will be welcome with open arms and Gus is
going to do everything you can to help him succeed
at that's Gus, and that's Richard Smith and Milo and
Nate Ali, They're they're all I mean, it's going to
be um. I promise you not one person in that
building is looking at that from a cynical view and
uh and if and they're gonna do everything they can
(20:22):
to make sure that they're successive at that head coaching chair.
So let's talk about your quarterback. You guys took him
at number two overall, and you know we're in an
earraw where guys end up playing right away and and
go through growing pains. Um, you know, where is he
in his in his growth process and what needs to improve?
(20:42):
He's still a pup. You know, it's uh in this
day and age, you know, it's it's different than back
when I first got the league, where quarterbacks sat for
a couple of years and then you know you you
like Aaron Rodgers sent for three years behind Brett and
then his first couple of years weren't all peaches and cream.
But you saw a young man who's got potential would
be really really good, And all of a sudden it
just clicks. They go to the Super Bowl, they win
(21:05):
it and say, damn, this guy's good. Um, and now
it's one of the best quarterbacks ever. H everyone is
that everyone is looking for the animally, everyone's looking for
the the Joe Burrows, the Herbert's the and so they're
they're one, you know, and they happen, but it's it's
not as common. It's usually takes them a couple of years.
(21:26):
And if you just stick with them and you just
have patience and you build around them, and you give
m a chance to to grow into the roller in
quarterback is the hardest position in all of sports. I
think your opiniata back there just getting You've got two
point five seconds to make a decision or you're just
gonna get crushed by a three pound madman, right, and
(21:48):
and so you got the whole team on your on
your shoulders for the most part. And but you know
he's he's been getting a lot better. I think anyone
who doesn't acknowledge the fact that he is light years
ahead of where he is a year ago. Um isn't
really watching football and not paying attention. And anyone who
doesn't think he'll be light years from where he is
now next year from where he is now, UM, doesn't.
(22:12):
You know, you don't have faith in him. We have
faith that he's going to continue to get better, and
we see signs of it in practice, we see signs
of it in games. Unfortunately, you're judged by the mistakes
you make, and kind of like a golfer, you're only
as good as you're you're worse your your worse miss
and but his his misses are getting there, getting tighter
and uh um. And he's doing everything he needs to
(22:34):
do to make sure we're winning football games. And that's
why he's since he's been back, we've been five and one.
He got a lot of tension in New York back
in July for a story that surfaced on social media.
Did you guys do you joke about that? At already
came back? You know, we're mom jokes, fair game? How
did it go? I leave that for the locker? Probably
(22:59):
gonna yeah. Um, by the way, you've got the bye
week coming up and I know you and I talked
over the off season a lot about guys how they
handle the off season year one to year two. And
you know you can only supervise so much when they're
not with you. Across town. Safety on the Giants, Xavier
(23:20):
McKinney is out for a few weeks. Apparently he went
to Cabo during the bye week got an a TV accident.
Fortunately it was only his hand that was hurt. Um,
you know, what do you tell guys about handling um
the bye week, especially, you know when when things are
going well and guys are feeling good. Yeah, it's unfortunate
what happened that young man. You never wish that on anybody. UM.
(23:44):
You know, there are rule number one in our organizations,
protect the team. And that doesn't mean it goes from
everything in the building, out the building, on the football field. UM,
it's rule on protect the team. So don't don't expose
yourself to anything that you expose yourself because you're getting
injured is not protecting the team. Um, take care of
(24:05):
your business, consume what you need to consume in terms
of keeping your body connected to the season, working out region. Um,
and understand this isn't a week off, it's more of
a breather and uh and every decision you may during
the bye week as a reflection of the team, because
we still have we sta have games to play. So
you know, you're just leaving with that mindset that every
(24:27):
decision they make is about protecting the team, and if
if their decisions are not at that moment, if you
don't think the decision is protecting the team, and just
don't do it. And you know, so hopefully hopefully our
guys come back strong. We'll see you know, this is
one of those deals with the coach. Coaches were an
organization GM. I can speak for Joe on this one
that you know, we're gonna go to bed, say oh,
(24:47):
prayer across our fingers and hopefully we can get back
to Monday with everybody intact. They won't they won't all
be cleaning out the garage like coach. I'm glad, I'm
glad you met you, Joe. You guys had such a
cool draft, and you know, I think a lot of
people around the league we're rooting for you guys, just
knowing what what you've been through and um, you know
(25:08):
what the hyper focus has been. But you know, you
never know if these guys are actually gonna be as
good as you think they are when you pick them. Um.
Were there some solid fist bub you know, leaping moments
during the draft of the in the war room. Um, yeah,
when when my sauce felt was that for we're all
(25:31):
pretty not excited because we we we thought Houston was
gonna take them and ended up with thing stingly as
a phenomenal football player too. So he's uh, but you
know it's just to each his own. Um, but you
can say one A, one B, and both those guys
are both deserving them where they where they were drafted. Um.
And then Garrett obviously him, you know, it was him
(25:55):
getting to us that ten was awesome. I thought he'd
end up going to Atlanta. And then uh, just just
the excitement of Joe just working the phone starting at
fourteen to try to go get Jermaine, and Jermaine made
a big, big play, Like we wanted Jermaine for his
length and speed as athleticism because we need to be
able to chase Josh Allen up and he did in
(26:16):
the game. You know, it's like as soon as it happens,
like well, that's why we drafted him. You know, it's
just just that big, long body that can keep up
with with Josh and uh you know, so those there
are a lot of moments in there. There's getting getting
up to go get briefs, you know, and we you know,
it's documented we tried to go get briefs in the
first round. Um went on, took took a bite, and
(26:37):
we're able to make a move up over. I think
it was Houston to go get Greece. Wasn't sure if
Houston was going to take him or not. Um. You know.
So it's a really cool draft and just watching Joe operate, Uh,
it's pretty cool to watch. It's his game day and
he's as calm and cool and collected as you would
you would hope how to your general manager. Yeah, when
(26:58):
when you guys got bree I was kind of like, okay,
enough guy, this is like it's getting it's getting ridiculous.
It was a good class. It's a good class and uh,
you know, the trick isn't year one, and the trick
is your two or three four, so they just, um,
so that's gonna be a battle. You know, you had
(27:21):
a lot of suitors after and you had almost gotten
the Brown's job the year before, and obviously, even with
a defense that was super impacted by injuries, you guys
had a really good, you know year as a unit. Um.
A lot of people kind of thought, well, he's from
the Detroit area, the Lions are are gonna end up
(27:43):
being the fit. But you had to evaluate. You know,
they're evaluating you. You're evaluating all these jobs. What the
best fit is? Uh? You know what, did you ask
some hard questions when you were talking to the powers
that be at the Jets. Yeah, because you you want
to make sure there's a fit. One of the biggest
things is, uh, you know, people try to train you
(28:05):
for every situation, and it's if I'm talking to people,
to coaches who are about to go interview, just be
yourself because if yourself isn't good enough for the organization,
then you don't want to be there in the first place.
If you have to fake your way through an interview,
eventually that's gonna bite you in the butt, especially when
adversity hits because if they're not if they feel like
they didn't hire the person they thought they were getting,
(28:26):
it gets bad quick. And and so I wasn't for
for me, I was gonna ask questions that you know, like,
this is who I am, this is what you're getting, um,
And if it's good enough for you, great, let's let's
go do something with it. If it's not, I'm good.
I would have been more than had people back to
San Francisco. Uh, Kyle does an unbelievable job out there.
(28:46):
He makes a very family oriented and John Lynch and
hell of the defense, great players, um, great weather, terrible taxes,
but out with more than happy people back. But you,
I think it's so important. It's just don't don't chase
a job just to get a job. I think it's
you know, you work so hard to get to you know,
(29:08):
from top of the coaches, you worked so hard to
get to where you are, and you've got this one opportunity.
To make sure you pick the right opportunity. I'll ask
you one dark question and then bring it back to
the light before we get let you get out of here.
But was there a moment, either last year or earlier
this year where you were just like, man, you know,
you put so much into it and it's so hard
(29:28):
to turn the team around. What did you have a
moment where you were just thinking this is really really rough.
You always do you that's uh, you know you're not
human if you're not second guessing yourself in adversity. But
but at the same time, you've you've got to reach
to your past. Um. We built a top five defense
in JACKSONPO. We built a championship team in Seattle. I
(29:49):
saw that in San Francisco. You said it, and the
when this thing started that I was, I was, I was,
I was, I was on the firing line. I was.
I was the reason why we stopped in San Francisco.
And those first two years was, uh, it was not
easy being questioned, and it was funny. When I talked
to Kyle about it, goes like, don't worry about it.
(30:11):
You're not in trouble until the media starts asking me,
like no one cares. Then a week later they started
asking the solid deserves to be back. Then here we are.
We got like the thirteenth rank defensive yards and all that,
but we can't get a takeaway to save our lives.
And I'm like, this is BS and and that's why
(30:31):
that's why I have such an appreciation for Kyle Um
because and he showed me in terms of it's not
about firing people. It's it's about building something special and
building continuity. I think Cincinnati is a good example where um,
Zach Taylor could have fired lou on a couple of occasions,
but he stuck with it. And if you you know,
(30:54):
like the the anomalies and the one hit wonders, it's
not that's not the norm. Building things that last, building
have building a foundation as will last. And so to
answer your question, you know, yeah, it's tough, but I
know that if we just stick to our guns, we
stay true to who we are, UM, and we have
(31:14):
conviction and the things we believe, and if we don't
try to reinvent the wheel just to reinvent the wheel,
we just stick to it, we're all going to end
up on the same page and we're going to be
a more efficient football team. And um, that's why teams
like New England, when people look at them, they're like, god,
how are they winning? They're winning because they know that
they know how to coach it and the players know
how to play it. And and why we won that year.
You know you mentioned our two thousand twenty team, its
(31:36):
year four for our defense, it is like what jeez,
you guys had but we we we played well on
defense because all the guys who stepped in knew exactly
what was being asked of them, and the coaches knew
how to coach it. You know, we're convicted in our schemes.
So we were able to play with tremendous efficiency in
a year where there's so much chaos with all the
zoom meetings and all that stuff. And so at the
(31:57):
end of the day, football is it's a fifty three
and sport. Like you have eleven players that have to
play in unison and it's not eleven contractors. It's eleven
players working together. And the more the longer they're together,
the better they're going to be. And uh, yeah, it
gets tough, but I know what's at the end of
the tunnel. It's a It's a great point about Lou
(32:19):
and a ruma who all of a sudden you're in
an an FC championship game and Patrick Mahomes maybe one
of the only times where he didn't look like he
knew what he was seeing for a second and obviously
he'll bounce back, but yeah, they stuck with with Lou.
You have a first time offensive coordinator in Michael floor
Younger brother, much younger brother of Matt. Did they start
(32:43):
asking about him? I'm trying to remember did you start
getting the Mike lafloor questions even last year? So this
is funny. Um, it was like week four of the
first season and I get a question from one of
our b I know who the beat right was, but
I'm not going to put him up. Blast asked me
about Mike Lafleur and whether or not I think he's
(33:05):
doing a good job, and I and I was like, geez,
in my back of my mind, I answered the question.
I go to last It took a year and fourteen
game for me to get questions about my job security already.
My Jesus were, man, well, right right below you when
(33:27):
people can't see, there's a giant bucket of receipts that
you are. You know, that's just another one that you
threw in there. So I don't know what's going to
happen this year, but eventually we're gonna have you dip
into that giant bucket of receipts and uh, let it
fly on the show. Hopefully it's hopefully it's after a
super Bowl, but we'll see right. Well, thank you so
(33:50):
much for enlightening us and enlivening our our little show here,
and we really appreciate you. I appreciate you. Mike in
third s
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