October 15, 2020 • 22 mins
Former Falcons receiver Harry Douglas talks about working in the media, adjusting to life in quarantine, how players and coaches are dealing with COVID-19, what it's like to play through a midseason coaching change and more with Matt Tabeek on Bird Noises presented by Bose. **0:59** – The all-important question: Do you (still) love the name 'Bird Noises'? Douglas gives a somewhat different responses from his previous visit ([listen to episode No. 8 here](https://www.atlantafalcons.com/video/bird-noises-harry-douglas-unfiltered)). **1:48** – Douglas talks about all of his media obligations, juggling the responsibilities of fatherhood while living in quarantine. **4:28** – Douglas talks about how he's developed some cooking skills and names his favorite wine. **6:07** – Douglas explains the challenges of playing during the pandemic – the daily testing, all the safety precautions and guidelines, no preseason games, all the online meetings, playing in empty stadiums, games being postponed and rescheduled, and on and on – from the player's perspective. **8:35** – Some developing trends in the NFL after five games: An alarming amount of injuries and high-scoring games. Douglas talks about the lack of "normalcy" and how no preseason games and/or joint practices has affected the game. **10:18** – Douglas gives a very interesting answer as to why he thinks offenses are scoring so many points. **11:20** – With no crowd noise, do offenses have the advantage? Not so, says Douglas. He explains why. **12:05** – How the lack of fans has affected the game. Is it hurting the game? **13:50** – Going through the ups and downs as a player, Tabeek talks about highs and lows for Douglas in both Atlanta and Tennessee. **14:50** – Tabeek asks Douglas what it was like going through a midseason coaching with the Titans in 2015, from Ken Whisenhunt to Mike Mularkey. **15:40** – Douglas explains what goes through players' and coaches' minds when there is a coaching change. "Everything is under a microscope" and "everything is being watched," Douglas said. **16:45** – Douglas has a message for Falcons players right now. **17:40** – What's the challenge for an interim coach, like Raheem Morris. Douglas explains the positives that Morris has in front of him. **18:59** – Tabeek asks Douglas what is the one thing that should give Falcons fans the most hope with this current team. **21:35** – Will Harry make his wild and wacky bird sounds or not?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, Today we have a first for this show.
We have our first returning guest ever to Bird Noises
the twentieth episodes. Only fitting that we have the funniest
guest I've ever had on this show. We are joined
by former Falcons Receiver slash Media personality slash Analysts slash
(00:22):
mister Twitter Breakdown slash husband slash dad slash mister Harry Douglas, Harry, Welcome,
Welcome to Bird Noises. No problem at all. I'm glad
to be returning and to be the first returning guests
on Bird Noises. You were on episode eight. Today it
(00:42):
is episode twenty, and it seems like a lifetime ago
that you and I were doing this last year in
studio in Flower Brench lots changed. Ay, they lot have
changed a lot. Let me ask you one thing, because
I ask everybody, and I asked you last time. Do
(01:03):
you still love the name Burden Lays? Do I still
love the name Burton Noises? Let's see. Yeah, I had
a chance to watch the Goodie Mob episode, so I'm
not gonna take it. I'm not gonna take it to
that extent, but that was definitely funny. But burd Noises
is cool. His own distinctive thing to it. Listen, all right,
(01:26):
you loved it last time, loved it, all right. Hey,
we can't. We don't. We don't dwell in the past though,
you know what I mean. We're moving forward. We're moving forward,
all right. Yeah you look so, I take it you
like the name. Uh c lo uh want the name? Yes, yes,
I love that name with a capital L as in love. Okay,
(01:47):
Well that's good to know. So listen. You know, I
tried getting a hold of you today and you're in
to talk to you before the show, and you're like, hey,
I'm doing a hit in Charlotte and doing it. I
hit Nashville, I got LA, I got in New York.
I to be doing something for Vegas, but I'll squeeze
in for five at some point in between my other
(02:07):
my obligations for I don't know what else you were doing,
but you're a busy man. I am, I am, I'm,
I'm I'm currently in media member. I love it. I
enjoy it so much. Last year. I know you're doing
like stuff with ESPN and the reaction, rankings, the rankings,
reaction sorry in Falcons Radio network what And I know
(02:28):
you're doing stuff for Fox five too with the Rise
Up Tonight. So just if you can just walk me
through everything you're doing again so far this year, I'm
doing the pregame post game halftime show. But Atlanta Falcons
do a show that I co host with Kelly Pryce
on every Friday night, let's call Rise Up Tonight. So
at twelve midnight every Friday night, you guys and ladies
(02:51):
need to tune in and check that out. It's a
cool show. I actually love it. It's dear to my heart.
And did you know, you know I do a hit
for it. I actually see you. Sometimes I have my
one minute of fame. Man, let me hold on to that,
all right. Hey, listen, sometimes that's all you need. Maybe
(03:13):
you don't need an hour of fame. You just need
you one of thirty seconds, two minutes of fame, and
that's all you can get. Get what you can get one.
Beggars can't be choosers now. Actually I rotate with Dave
Archer every other week, so if anybody missed me, it's
it's understandable. Well, you're a busy man, and I know
(03:33):
you're juggling a ton of stuff, as you just explained,
and your dad and you're doing so many other things.
How is life in quarantine going with you? Well, life
and quarantine for me was man. It actually started in March. Yeah, man,
(03:53):
we just now. I think last week allowed my daughter
to go back to school, so that's been cool. But
to have a four year old and a one year
old at home for about six or seven months straight
is it's definitely challenging. But one thing I can actually say,
usually I would have been on the road, traveling, doing
media stuff and things of that nature. But I actually
(04:14):
got to spend a ton of time with my kids.
And when me and my wife we look back on it,
I literally have not been home that long, probably since
I was in high school. Wow. So that was the
good part about it. I had a chance to let
my chef skills come on out. A lot of people
didn't know I can cook, but I actually can cook
(04:34):
very well. And part of the reason why I wasn't
doing so much of it because I was always so
busy with football, with media, doing things of that nature
and such. So I had a chance to showcase my
talents on social media in the cooking department. I've seen
some of those meals I following on Instagram and stuff
like that. So I haven't been able to sample any
(04:56):
And I can give you my address if you know
you wanna do a contact less delivery here. It's fun.
I'll take care of you at some point. I got you.
What would you say, is your is your specialty? Dish
doesn't matter. I can cook whatever. The only seafood I
eat a shrimp and I can think anything in the
seafood department without even having to taste it. That's that's
(05:18):
called faith, believing in your abilities, that is. And I
know you. I know you appreciate your wines too, of
course I do. I'm a wine guy. My favorite is
Doug Horn Merlot. That's my number one. Wow. Okay, yep,
well maybe post pandemic, we'll have to have to check
this stuff out here. So I was going to ask
(05:39):
you what the best thing to come out of the pandemic,
and you just you just did. You're just telling that
all the family time. That's awesome. I'm always one step ahead, man,
I'm always one step ahead. I know. That's why we
love you. I don't if you stay ready, you don't
have to get ready. Well, you are listening to bird
noises presented by Bows in Atlanta Falcons podcast about football
(05:59):
and mostly everything else. And we're sitting here talking to
former Falcons receiver Harry Douglas um. So, Harry, you know,
we talked a little bit about how the pandemic has
kind of hit you and and it's changed all our
lives like that, and you being a former player, and
you being so connected to and having so many relationships
(06:20):
with players ex players, coaches and teams and the Falcons.
I know you're not playing right now, GM owners, Can
you add all of that into it? Okay? If you're
gonna say it's say say everything. Okay, thank you Matty
and owners and GMS and the team presidents. Thank you
(06:42):
that you are well connected as the point um and
you played, And that's where I'm really getting at. And so,
you know, when you think about the pandemic and the
players and the challenges that they're going through with the
daily testing, the safety precautions, the guidelines, no preseason games,
(07:05):
online meetings, virtual meetings. You know before camp training camp
was way different, playing in empty stadiums with games being
postponed now moved in a moment's notice. When you think
of that, and it goes on and on and on
how difficult do you think this would be or do
(07:26):
you when you talk to players, is it from the
player's perspective, it's definitely different because as a player, you're
so used to a routine. You're used to doing certain
things every day, every week, and you have that balance,
but you have that structure, and that's part of your
emo to have a success in the NFL and any
(07:47):
sport that you actually play. So when you throw in
the daily tests, things might get thrown off hand. There.
You see, we we've had a halt in some games
and games being postponed and that whole debacle in you
have to deal with that the night before games, and
now it's going to be the day of games in
the NFL, I think just announced that they're going to
start testing players in personnel the day of games, the
(08:11):
morning of. So when you have to deal with those things,
it's it's it's difficult. It's difficult. But I always say,
especially when the pandemic started hitting, I start of telling everyone,
and because I heard a lot of people saying, Hey,
I can't wait till we get back to our normal life. Listen,
there's no such thing anymore. This is life now, So
you have to normalize yourself into the world to day
and adapt to what's going on. Yeah, those are great points, Harry.
(08:35):
And you know when you look at like the first
four or five games of the season, now there's some
developing trends, some good, some not so good. You look
at the alarming amount of injuries, and I don't know
how much that has to do with no preseason games
and then all of these high scoring games too. You know,
(08:56):
you can say that the offenses have an advantage maybe
with the empty stadiums, or is it more you know
what what what do you think is a former? Is
a receiver? Uh? You know, when you look at these
scores and you look at what's happening to some of
these defenses, what do you what's your take on it? Well,
(09:17):
I'll start with the injuries. Man. I think, um, not
being able to have the normacy and having the no
preseason games, training camp, not really being uh what players
are accustoming used to. I think that played a big
part of injuries. And I remember we went through a
week where it was just a CL at the ACL
at the ACL. I've been through that a CL. I
(09:38):
don't wish the ACL injury on my worst enemy. But
you see all these Nixon bruises, these soft tissue issues,
and it's because the body is not familiar um with
whether with with what with whether it's used to when
you're starting a season, and that's having training camp, that's
having to joint practice practices that you normally have against
other teams. That's the pre season games where your body
(10:01):
can get adjusted to being contacted and and you working
your leverage versus another guy's leverage and getting that natural
lean in a in a football game. So I think
I think the lack of uh normacy has played a
big part in the injuries. And as far as the
offense is a lot of high scoring games, I think
(10:22):
the offensives are just ahead. The defenses didn't have an
all season to really prepare for certain things that that
they may see offensive offensive offensively, and I think it's
it's it's hurting these defenses. But I also think it
plays a part in the NFL tailoring and the rules
towards the offense also because nowadays it's it's just it
(10:42):
makes me so damn sick to see that you have
these targeting calls, these abenalties, the defenseless receivers and just
play the game of football. Man. The game of football
is made to be contacted. But at the same time,
players have to adapt because those are the rules and
and I don't think they're going to change them time,
so so you have to adapt to it. I love
(11:03):
the fact that you're a receiver and you're saying that,
by the way, I agree with you. But yeah, it's yeah,
that's interesting too. I was going to ask you though,
if you thought that, you know, when you know, you
look at this past Sunday or or just any game
right now. Yeah, I know on TV it has the
crowd noise pumped in. But when guys are at the
(11:26):
at the line of scrimmage and there's no crowd noises
and they need to change a play, um, you know,
it's pretty easy to do, right, It's definitely pretty easy.
And if defenses study film and we're a lot more smarter,
you would understand a lot of things that's going on
on the offensive side of the ball. So it works
both ways. You're saying, yeah, it works both ways, and okay,
(11:48):
and sometimes you may have an offense because you can
hear everything, may signal everything or go to the silent
count and things of that nature. You have a guy
like Aaron Rodgers who may use the the snap count
to his advantage, as we've seen him do so much
this year. But fans bring a different dimension to the
(12:09):
game of football. Players love fans. I love fans in
the stadium, in the stands, in the stadiums. Fans love
being there. And they're there, they're allowed, they're they're harassing
the opponent. So the lack of fans is I won't
say it's hurting the game of football right now, but
you can truly say the fans have been missed. Yeah,
(12:30):
the energy they bring right Oh yeah, if you ever
played now, you know nothing. I'm not taking a knock
here Jonesborough High School or anything, but no, it's it's okay,
it's okay. You know, I'm sure. But I mean, do
you ever recall playing in an empty stadium in high school,
college and anywhere? We see how I'm looking at you
(12:50):
right now, Hey, I gotta ask the questions, man, These
are tough questions. Can't you see my eyes roll them? Well? Hey,
I know you had your big white out and your
black out Louisville. You know, my West Virginia Mountaineers were
the victim in one of those one night. Uh, you
better believe it better. I'm still smart over that one.
(13:14):
But uh, you know, but I'll tell you I'll tell
you this. I'll tell you this, Matt so Um what
a lot of people ask me would it be different
for players um before the season started. I told them no,
because of this. You practice every day without fans. Right.
(13:34):
The only times you actually had you actually have fans
out there is when you played the football game. So
it's not a it's not much of a difference for
players or an adjustment for players. It's just that players
do love the fans being there in the atmosphere making
a lot of noise. Yeah. And Plus, these guys are
up such competitors, right, I mean when you're out there
(13:54):
on the field and you're lined up on a dB
and he wants to shut you down and you want
to break his ankles, right, I mean, the competitor and
you is going to bring out the best in you. Yes,
look at you. You're trying to get somewhere. I don't
know where you're trying to get right now, but you're
trying to bring that fire out of me. Because you know,
I'm a passionate guy. Well, I know you're passionate, and uh,
(14:16):
I know you played here with the Falcons, and I
know you've been through some ups and downs as a player.
Your tenure here with the Falcons was twenty eight to fourteen,
and it was with Mike Smith the entire time, and
then you played in Tennessee for twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen,
twenty seventeen. You actually went through When we talk about
(14:38):
some of these ups and downs, you had a four
and twelve and a six and ten season here in
Atlanta at the end. But the first part of your
tenure here in Atlanta, you guys were pretty good record
wise too. And then in Tennessee though, you guys, you
actually went through what this team's gone through. A coaching change.
You guys went from Ken Weason Hunt to uh, mister Malarkey,
(14:58):
Mike Malarkey. What was that like from a player's perspective,
walk us through, you know the feelings you have? Well
at first when it when it happened, it was a
little weird because I have never experienced that before in
my life. Here in Atlanta, we did things so good
(15:20):
and so well, and we had that stability that I
didn't have to go through that actually through throughout a season.
But the thing that made it easier for me is
that the fact that the guy who was my offensive
coordinator for a lot of years became the head coach
and I knew his mindset and what he wanted to accomplish.
He wanted to change the coachure they in Nashville, and
(15:40):
he did that. Now, I will say this, when things
like that transpire, everybody is under a microscope. Players the
way they walk into the building, the way they study,
the way they take notes, the way they practice, the
way they eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, everything is under
a microscope. And from a coach's perspective, they are also
(16:00):
because they're basically auditioning for other jobs if they happen
to not be there the following year. So everything is
being watched. So one of the things I knew I
never forget this. Sevestal crom was our running backs coach
and Sean Jefferson. They came to me one day and
it was like, man, keep doing what you're doing so
you can show these young kids the way and how
(16:22):
to approach things. I never let it affect me. My
approach was the same. I came to work every day.
I took notes, even though I knew the offense, I
took notes as if it was my first day there.
I was running after the ball in practice, following the
ball carrier fifteen twenty thirty yards down the field and
just going hard man because that was just my m
(16:44):
and that was me period. So if I have one
message to two players now here in Atlanta is don't
don't let your guard down. Right now, everybody's under the microscope.
And it it doesn't matter if you're the highest plaid player,
if you're the lowest paid play player. Everyone is under
school right now. Yeah. It's a you know, they have
the pressure. You know, you talk about this team, any
(17:06):
team every Sunday. You you have to go out. It's
a performance based league, it's and you have to win games.
And U you know, I was just curious, you know,
having gone through that, if you if you you do
go into like a self preservation mode or if you
feel are there guys that feel like, hey, maybe I
have a clean slate now, or hey or is it
(17:28):
just business as usual, your pro you do your thing
and or is it you know, like you said, the
microscope's on you feel like you're auditioning that kind of thing.
It's really fascinating, but it's it's one of the things
that you know, the new coach, the interim coach is
going to have to bring everybody together and get that
focus there. And I mean, the Falcon's got you know,
(17:50):
a great guy in Raheem Morris, who Um. You know,
he knows both sides of the ball, and he's a
he knows, he's got his finger on the heartbeat of
this team, and you know, I hope he does well.
Definitely a guy I have the most respect for. Um.
Very knowledgeable of the game. Players respect him one hundred percent.
I think that's another reason why mister Blank made that decision.
(18:11):
And whenever you can have a guy, first of all,
he was already a head coach. He's coached a lot
of big time players in this league. But whenever you
have a guy who can go from offense, I mean,
go from defense to the offensive side of the ball
and then in the middle of the year go back
to the defensive side of the ball. Um, that's a
lot to be said because not everyone can do that.
And I know, Righthem, he puts the work in, he
(18:33):
puts the time in and he has that connection with
the players one hundred percent and they respect him, and
that's that's all you can ask for. Yeah, they've got
eleven games to go, and uh, it's it's not like
it's just like a two game, three game deal here.
And well, and so he's he's gonna have a chance
to really make an impact and and there's a lot
(18:56):
of a lot of football left to play. Yep. So
that's where I kind of want to wrap this up
with you. And when you look at this team, Harry Douglas,
what is the one thing when you look at this
Falcons twenty twenty team. I know the expectations coming in,
we know what is on this roster, But what is
the one thing when you look at this team that
(19:17):
you say to yourself, hey, in you know, as a
Falcons fan, you know they want to hear this from me,
But like when a team goes through a major transition
like this, what is the one thing that you think
gives Falcons fans the most hope or what is the
one thing that when you look at this team that
makes you feel good about this team? I will say
(19:40):
you still when you watch these games and a few
of the losses that they did have, they were actually
up big in those games. And you have guys on
this team who can actually play the game of football
and have a lot of They have a lot of promise.
And when you have a roster that has a lot
of promise, now, I do believe that the guys need
(20:01):
to be more detail oriented. Um, the small things, a
little things, because the little things and the details turn
into big things. And we've seen what's what's what's what
transpired because of those details and little things. Uh. I
won't say not being at the forefront, but guys not
executing those details and little things to correct in the
(20:23):
correct manner. But I say going forward, Man, Listen, you're
in the city of Atlanta, you have a great owner,
you have a coach right now in Raheem Morris, who
I believe in one percent, and you have players at
certain certain positions that can get you where you need
to be. And when you have those things, then I
(20:46):
think they'll be there. They're gonna be Okay, They're gonna
be this. This talent is not I'm sorry, this roster
is not devoid of talent. There are guys that are
very very good on this roster. And uh and I'm
gonna cut you off unlocked, unlike you have teams in
the NFL right now, Like yeah, there are teams out
there right now who don't have guys period on their roster.
(21:09):
Now when you look at this Atlanta Falcons roster, they
have guys everywhere, and you have players that you can
build up of and that that's a that's a major promise.
That's a great point in a great place to end this.
And I know you're a busy, busy man, and I'm
so so glad that you took twenty thirty minutes out
(21:30):
of your day here to squeeze in a little time
on bird noises, because we know just how much you
love being here exactly. And I'm pretty sure you're waiting
on me at some point to do the bird noise.
No no, no, no, See, I've listened. This is a
new year, Okay, listen, I'm mature even more within that
(21:53):
year and time frame. Okay, yeah, Well I like the
wild and crazy hairy. Well sometimes the wild and crazy
hairy it needs to be packed up. Okay, alright, alright,
there we go, Harry. Always good to see you, man,
you too, But h
All right, Today we have a first for this show.
We have our first returning guest ever to Bird Noises
the twentieth episodes. Only fitting that we have the funniest
guest I've ever had on this show. We are joined
by former Falcons Receiver slash Media personality slash Analysts slash
(00:22):
mister Twitter Breakdown slash husband slash dad slash mister Harry Douglas, Harry, Welcome,
Welcome to Bird Noises. No problem at all. I'm glad
to be returning and to be the first returning guests
on Bird Noises. You were on episode eight. Today it
(00:42):
is episode twenty, and it seems like a lifetime ago
that you and I were doing this last year in
studio in Flower Brench lots changed. Ay, they lot have
changed a lot. Let me ask you one thing, because
I ask everybody, and I asked you last time. Do
(01:03):
you still love the name Burden Lays? Do I still
love the name Burton Noises? Let's see. Yeah, I had
a chance to watch the Goodie Mob episode, so I'm
not gonna take it. I'm not gonna take it to
that extent, but that was definitely funny. But burd Noises
is cool. His own distinctive thing to it. Listen, all right,
(01:26):
you loved it last time, loved it, all right. Hey,
we can't. We don't. We don't dwell in the past though,
you know what I mean. We're moving forward. We're moving forward,
all right. Yeah you look so, I take it you
like the name. Uh c lo uh want the name? Yes, yes,
I love that name with a capital L as in love. Okay,
(01:47):
Well that's good to know. So listen. You know, I
tried getting a hold of you today and you're in
to talk to you before the show, and you're like, hey,
I'm doing a hit in Charlotte and doing it. I
hit Nashville, I got LA, I got in New York.
I to be doing something for Vegas, but I'll squeeze
in for five at some point in between my other
(02:07):
my obligations for I don't know what else you were doing,
but you're a busy man. I am, I am, I'm,
I'm I'm currently in media member. I love it. I
enjoy it so much. Last year. I know you're doing
like stuff with ESPN and the reaction, rankings, the rankings,
reaction sorry in Falcons Radio network what And I know
(02:28):
you're doing stuff for Fox five too with the Rise
Up Tonight. So just if you can just walk me
through everything you're doing again so far this year, I'm
doing the pregame post game halftime show. But Atlanta Falcons
do a show that I co host with Kelly Pryce
on every Friday night, let's call Rise Up Tonight. So
at twelve midnight every Friday night, you guys and ladies
(02:51):
need to tune in and check that out. It's a
cool show. I actually love it. It's dear to my heart.
And did you know, you know I do a hit
for it. I actually see you. Sometimes I have my
one minute of fame. Man, let me hold on to that,
all right. Hey, listen, sometimes that's all you need. Maybe
(03:13):
you don't need an hour of fame. You just need
you one of thirty seconds, two minutes of fame, and
that's all you can get. Get what you can get one.
Beggars can't be choosers now. Actually I rotate with Dave
Archer every other week, so if anybody missed me, it's
it's understandable. Well, you're a busy man, and I know
(03:33):
you're juggling a ton of stuff, as you just explained,
and your dad and you're doing so many other things.
How is life in quarantine going with you? Well, life
and quarantine for me was man. It actually started in March. Yeah, man,
(03:53):
we just now. I think last week allowed my daughter
to go back to school, so that's been cool. But
to have a four year old and a one year
old at home for about six or seven months straight
is it's definitely challenging. But one thing I can actually say,
usually I would have been on the road, traveling, doing
media stuff and things of that nature. But I actually
(04:14):
got to spend a ton of time with my kids.
And when me and my wife we look back on it,
I literally have not been home that long, probably since
I was in high school. Wow. So that was the
good part about it. I had a chance to let
my chef skills come on out. A lot of people
didn't know I can cook, but I actually can cook
(04:34):
very well. And part of the reason why I wasn't
doing so much of it because I was always so
busy with football, with media, doing things of that nature
and such. So I had a chance to showcase my
talents on social media in the cooking department. I've seen
some of those meals I following on Instagram and stuff
like that. So I haven't been able to sample any
(04:56):
And I can give you my address if you know
you wanna do a contact less delivery here. It's fun.
I'll take care of you at some point. I got you.
What would you say, is your is your specialty? Dish
doesn't matter. I can cook whatever. The only seafood I
eat a shrimp and I can think anything in the
seafood department without even having to taste it. That's that's
(05:18):
called faith, believing in your abilities, that is. And I
know you. I know you appreciate your wines too, of
course I do. I'm a wine guy. My favorite is
Doug Horn Merlot. That's my number one. Wow. Okay, yep,
well maybe post pandemic, we'll have to have to check
this stuff out here. So I was going to ask
(05:39):
you what the best thing to come out of the pandemic,
and you just you just did. You're just telling that
all the family time. That's awesome. I'm always one step ahead, man,
I'm always one step ahead. I know. That's why we
love you. I don't if you stay ready, you don't
have to get ready. Well, you are listening to bird
noises presented by Bows in Atlanta Falcons podcast about football
(05:59):
and mostly everything else. And we're sitting here talking to
former Falcons receiver Harry Douglas um. So, Harry, you know,
we talked a little bit about how the pandemic has
kind of hit you and and it's changed all our
lives like that, and you being a former player, and
you being so connected to and having so many relationships
(06:20):
with players ex players, coaches and teams and the Falcons.
I know you're not playing right now, GM owners, Can
you add all of that into it? Okay? If you're
gonna say it's say say everything. Okay, thank you Matty
and owners and GMS and the team presidents. Thank you
(06:42):
that you are well connected as the point um and
you played, And that's where I'm really getting at. And so,
you know, when you think about the pandemic and the
players and the challenges that they're going through with the
daily testing, the safety precautions, the guidelines, no preseason games,
(07:05):
online meetings, virtual meetings. You know before camp training camp
was way different, playing in empty stadiums with games being
postponed now moved in a moment's notice. When you think
of that, and it goes on and on and on
how difficult do you think this would be or do
(07:26):
you when you talk to players, is it from the
player's perspective, it's definitely different because as a player, you're
so used to a routine. You're used to doing certain
things every day, every week, and you have that balance,
but you have that structure, and that's part of your
emo to have a success in the NFL and any
(07:47):
sport that you actually play. So when you throw in
the daily tests, things might get thrown off hand. There.
You see, we we've had a halt in some games
and games being postponed and that whole debacle in you
have to deal with that the night before games, and
now it's going to be the day of games in
the NFL, I think just announced that they're going to
start testing players in personnel the day of games, the
(08:11):
morning of. So when you have to deal with those things,
it's it's it's difficult. It's difficult. But I always say,
especially when the pandemic started hitting, I start of telling everyone,
and because I heard a lot of people saying, Hey,
I can't wait till we get back to our normal life. Listen,
there's no such thing anymore. This is life now, So
you have to normalize yourself into the world to day
and adapt to what's going on. Yeah, those are great points, Harry.
(08:35):
And you know when you look at like the first
four or five games of the season, now there's some
developing trends, some good, some not so good. You look
at the alarming amount of injuries, and I don't know
how much that has to do with no preseason games
and then all of these high scoring games too. You know,
(08:56):
you can say that the offenses have an advantage maybe
with the empty stadiums, or is it more you know
what what what do you think is a former? Is
a receiver? Uh? You know, when you look at these
scores and you look at what's happening to some of
these defenses, what do you what's your take on it? Well,
(09:17):
I'll start with the injuries. Man. I think, um, not
being able to have the normacy and having the no
preseason games, training camp, not really being uh what players
are accustoming used to. I think that played a big
part of injuries. And I remember we went through a
week where it was just a CL at the ACL
at the ACL. I've been through that a CL. I
(09:38):
don't wish the ACL injury on my worst enemy. But
you see all these Nixon bruises, these soft tissue issues,
and it's because the body is not familiar um with
whether with with what with whether it's used to when
you're starting a season, and that's having training camp, that's
having to joint practice practices that you normally have against
other teams. That's the pre season games where your body
(10:01):
can get adjusted to being contacted and and you working
your leverage versus another guy's leverage and getting that natural
lean in a in a football game. So I think
I think the lack of uh normacy has played a
big part in the injuries. And as far as the
offense is a lot of high scoring games, I think
(10:22):
the offensives are just ahead. The defenses didn't have an
all season to really prepare for certain things that that
they may see offensive offensive offensively, and I think it's
it's it's hurting these defenses. But I also think it
plays a part in the NFL tailoring and the rules
towards the offense also because nowadays it's it's just it
(10:42):
makes me so damn sick to see that you have
these targeting calls, these abenalties, the defenseless receivers and just
play the game of football. Man. The game of football
is made to be contacted. But at the same time,
players have to adapt because those are the rules and
and I don't think they're going to change them time,
so so you have to adapt to it. I love
(11:03):
the fact that you're a receiver and you're saying that,
by the way, I agree with you. But yeah, it's yeah,
that's interesting too. I was going to ask you though,
if you thought that, you know, when you know, you
look at this past Sunday or or just any game
right now. Yeah, I know on TV it has the
crowd noise pumped in. But when guys are at the
(11:26):
at the line of scrimmage and there's no crowd noises
and they need to change a play, um, you know,
it's pretty easy to do, right, It's definitely pretty easy.
And if defenses study film and we're a lot more smarter,
you would understand a lot of things that's going on
on the offensive side of the ball. So it works
both ways. You're saying, yeah, it works both ways, and okay,
(11:48):
and sometimes you may have an offense because you can
hear everything, may signal everything or go to the silent
count and things of that nature. You have a guy
like Aaron Rodgers who may use the the snap count
to his advantage, as we've seen him do so much
this year. But fans bring a different dimension to the
(12:09):
game of football. Players love fans. I love fans in
the stadium, in the stands, in the stadiums. Fans love
being there. And they're there, they're allowed, they're they're harassing
the opponent. So the lack of fans is I won't
say it's hurting the game of football right now, but
you can truly say the fans have been missed. Yeah,
(12:30):
the energy they bring right Oh yeah, if you ever
played now, you know nothing. I'm not taking a knock
here Jonesborough High School or anything, but no, it's it's okay,
it's okay. You know, I'm sure. But I mean, do
you ever recall playing in an empty stadium in high school,
college and anywhere? We see how I'm looking at you
(12:50):
right now, Hey, I gotta ask the questions, man, These
are tough questions. Can't you see my eyes roll them? Well? Hey,
I know you had your big white out and your
black out Louisville. You know, my West Virginia Mountaineers were
the victim in one of those one night. Uh, you
better believe it better. I'm still smart over that one.
(13:14):
But uh, you know, but I'll tell you I'll tell
you this. I'll tell you this, Matt so Um what
a lot of people ask me would it be different
for players um before the season started. I told them no,
because of this. You practice every day without fans. Right.
(13:34):
The only times you actually had you actually have fans
out there is when you played the football game. So
it's not a it's not much of a difference for
players or an adjustment for players. It's just that players
do love the fans being there in the atmosphere making
a lot of noise. Yeah. And Plus, these guys are
up such competitors, right, I mean when you're out there
(13:54):
on the field and you're lined up on a dB
and he wants to shut you down and you want
to break his ankles, right, I mean, the competitor and
you is going to bring out the best in you. Yes,
look at you. You're trying to get somewhere. I don't
know where you're trying to get right now, but you're
trying to bring that fire out of me. Because you know,
I'm a passionate guy. Well, I know you're passionate, and uh,
(14:16):
I know you played here with the Falcons, and I
know you've been through some ups and downs as a player.
Your tenure here with the Falcons was twenty eight to fourteen,
and it was with Mike Smith the entire time, and
then you played in Tennessee for twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen,
twenty seventeen. You actually went through When we talk about
(14:38):
some of these ups and downs, you had a four
and twelve and a six and ten season here in
Atlanta at the end. But the first part of your
tenure here in Atlanta, you guys were pretty good record
wise too. And then in Tennessee though, you guys, you
actually went through what this team's gone through. A coaching change.
You guys went from Ken Weason Hunt to uh, mister Malarkey,
(14:58):
Mike Malarkey. What was that like from a player's perspective,
walk us through, you know the feelings you have? Well
at first when it when it happened, it was a
little weird because I have never experienced that before in
my life. Here in Atlanta, we did things so good
(15:20):
and so well, and we had that stability that I
didn't have to go through that actually through throughout a season.
But the thing that made it easier for me is
that the fact that the guy who was my offensive
coordinator for a lot of years became the head coach
and I knew his mindset and what he wanted to accomplish.
He wanted to change the coachure they in Nashville, and
(15:40):
he did that. Now, I will say this, when things
like that transpire, everybody is under a microscope. Players the
way they walk into the building, the way they study,
the way they take notes, the way they practice, the
way they eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, everything is under
a microscope. And from a coach's perspective, they are also
(16:00):
because they're basically auditioning for other jobs if they happen
to not be there the following year. So everything is
being watched. So one of the things I knew I
never forget this. Sevestal crom was our running backs coach
and Sean Jefferson. They came to me one day and
it was like, man, keep doing what you're doing so
you can show these young kids the way and how
(16:22):
to approach things. I never let it affect me. My
approach was the same. I came to work every day.
I took notes, even though I knew the offense, I
took notes as if it was my first day there.
I was running after the ball in practice, following the
ball carrier fifteen twenty thirty yards down the field and
just going hard man because that was just my m
(16:44):
and that was me period. So if I have one
message to two players now here in Atlanta is don't
don't let your guard down. Right now, everybody's under the microscope.
And it it doesn't matter if you're the highest plaid player,
if you're the lowest paid play player. Everyone is under
school right now. Yeah. It's a you know, they have
the pressure. You know, you talk about this team, any
(17:06):
team every Sunday. You you have to go out. It's
a performance based league, it's and you have to win games.
And U you know, I was just curious, you know,
having gone through that, if you if you you do
go into like a self preservation mode or if you
feel are there guys that feel like, hey, maybe I
have a clean slate now, or hey or is it
(17:28):
just business as usual, your pro you do your thing
and or is it you know, like you said, the
microscope's on you feel like you're auditioning that kind of thing.
It's really fascinating, but it's it's one of the things
that you know, the new coach, the interim coach is
going to have to bring everybody together and get that
focus there. And I mean, the Falcon's got you know,
(17:50):
a great guy in Raheem Morris, who Um. You know,
he knows both sides of the ball, and he's a
he knows, he's got his finger on the heartbeat of
this team, and you know, I hope he does well.
Definitely a guy I have the most respect for. Um.
Very knowledgeable of the game. Players respect him one hundred percent.
I think that's another reason why mister Blank made that decision.
(18:11):
And whenever you can have a guy, first of all,
he was already a head coach. He's coached a lot
of big time players in this league. But whenever you
have a guy who can go from offense, I mean,
go from defense to the offensive side of the ball
and then in the middle of the year go back
to the defensive side of the ball. Um, that's a
lot to be said because not everyone can do that.
And I know, Righthem, he puts the work in, he
(18:33):
puts the time in and he has that connection with
the players one hundred percent and they respect him, and
that's that's all you can ask for. Yeah, they've got
eleven games to go, and uh, it's it's not like
it's just like a two game, three game deal here.
And well, and so he's he's gonna have a chance
to really make an impact and and there's a lot
(18:56):
of a lot of football left to play. Yep. So
that's where I kind of want to wrap this up
with you. And when you look at this team, Harry Douglas,
what is the one thing when you look at this
Falcons twenty twenty team. I know the expectations coming in,
we know what is on this roster, But what is
the one thing when you look at this team that
(19:17):
you say to yourself, hey, in you know, as a
Falcons fan, you know they want to hear this from me,
But like when a team goes through a major transition
like this, what is the one thing that you think
gives Falcons fans the most hope or what is the
one thing that when you look at this team that
makes you feel good about this team? I will say
(19:40):
you still when you watch these games and a few
of the losses that they did have, they were actually
up big in those games. And you have guys on
this team who can actually play the game of football
and have a lot of They have a lot of promise.
And when you have a roster that has a lot
of promise, now, I do believe that the guys need
(20:01):
to be more detail oriented. Um, the small things, a
little things, because the little things and the details turn
into big things. And we've seen what's what's what's what
transpired because of those details and little things. Uh. I
won't say not being at the forefront, but guys not
executing those details and little things to correct in the
(20:23):
correct manner. But I say going forward, Man, Listen, you're
in the city of Atlanta, you have a great owner,
you have a coach right now in Raheem Morris, who
I believe in one percent, and you have players at
certain certain positions that can get you where you need
to be. And when you have those things, then I
(20:46):
think they'll be there. They're gonna be Okay, They're gonna
be this. This talent is not I'm sorry, this roster
is not devoid of talent. There are guys that are
very very good on this roster. And uh and I'm
gonna cut you off unlocked, unlike you have teams in
the NFL right now, Like yeah, there are teams out
there right now who don't have guys period on their roster.
(21:09):
Now when you look at this Atlanta Falcons roster, they
have guys everywhere, and you have players that you can
build up of and that that's a that's a major promise.
That's a great point in a great place to end this.
And I know you're a busy, busy man, and I'm
so so glad that you took twenty thirty minutes out
(21:30):
of your day here to squeeze in a little time
on bird noises, because we know just how much you
love being here exactly. And I'm pretty sure you're waiting
on me at some point to do the bird noise.
No no, no, no, See, I've listened. This is a
new year, Okay, listen, I'm mature even more within that
(21:53):
year and time frame. Okay, yeah, Well I like the
wild and crazy hairy. Well sometimes the wild and crazy
hairy it needs to be packed up. Okay, alright, alright,
there we go, Harry. Always good to see you, man,
you too, But h
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