July 23, 2025 • 45 mins
Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic to check in on the start of training camp and discuss the different vibes around the Raiders and Colts (02:00), give you the five injuries they are keeping an eye on (11:45), and talk about Philip Rivers retiring as a Charger (19:45). After the break, Panthers legend Luke Kucehly joins the show to talk about his illustrious career and tell you which opponent was his toughest assignment (25:27). Plus, a special announcement to wrap up the show (42:26)!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're always looking for an
excuse to talk about Philip Rivers. Yeah, I'm Greg Rosenthal
here in the Chris Westling podcast studio with my friend
Jordan Rodrigue for the first time since got back from Tokyo.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome Jordan.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Excited for this show, Excited to welcome one of the
greatest players that you ever covered.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Later on in the show, Luke Keikley will be joining us. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
That was a this is your life kind of moment
for me watching him pop up on the screen. That
dude has not changed at all. He still is so
serious and handles everything with such preparation and clarity. It
just it's so it was he's like a time capsule.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, peek behind the curtain, Like he wanted to know,
like does he need to prepare for anything on the show.
I was like, no, you do, man, do were you're
Luke Keikley? But that was that was a great conversation.
So we will listen to that a little bit later.
And yeah, it's interesting he's already, you know, going for
his second year, potentially being considered for the Hall of Fame.
But he's only thirty four years old. Obviously because that
(01:09):
early retirement and messes with you. He really is that young.
We are going to hit some news at the top
as we do. We're going to highlight just five injury situations.
That's a lot of the news that's happening in these
first days of training camp. As we're taping Wednesday, the
majority of the league is having their very first practice
of training camp on Wednesday. And we also have a
(01:33):
little fun kind of inside the show news.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I'm wearing a shirt with a smiley face on Smiley Face.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's related to Jordan, So stick around for the end.
I'm excited to talk about.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Whip Bash for the listener. After a whole episode about
death earlier this week, now we're talking about smiley face
t shirt.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I enjoyed the hell out of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So yes, check out my conversation with Colleen Woolf about
the mortality that we all have to face every day,
including with our own careers. But first, let's go positive.
Let's listen to the most positive coach we have love
to have, Pete Carroll back in the league, talking about
whether people like me are right to be just irrationally
(02:17):
exuberant about the Raiders.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
We got, we win a ton, we win a bunch
of games.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
I can't even imagine anything. I haven't winning ten games
a year for twenty years or something, you know, I mean,
what are my expectations? We don't win a bunch and
I don't care. You know who hears that? I mean,
it doesn't matter to me. It ain't about what anybody hears.
It's about what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I love him so much, He's just I am all
the way in, man. I have been high on the
Raiders since John Spytech and Pete Carroll took over shop
over there. I am high on the moves that they made,
the Gino Smith trade I loved, and I am all
the way in. I mean, I know that is a
crazy The AFCUS is crazy, like literally like crazy people
(02:57):
are coaching these teams. But also, oh my gosh, I'm
all the way in on the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
You can't fake belief, and it's really such a tricky
thing I think for a young coaches or coaches in
general to have, because I truly do believe in the
Raiders more because of the way Pete Carroll talks and
the way he carries himself and the way he does
believe in the way it has worked ten wins a
year now. I will point out, you know, his first
year in Seattle, they were under five hundred. You know,
(03:25):
it took a minute to get it going. But I
do think that is an intangible, tangible that the belief
that he has that's genuine can go across that building
and it can actually make a difference. But also, there's
only like one peak Carroll. You can't really fake it
in like so, I know the secondary doesn't look great
(03:49):
on paper, the linebackers, and yet I kind of believe
they'll overcome it. On the flip side, I feel like
the Colts have relatively bad vibes like over the last
handful of years, but especially this year because their young
franchise quarterback is in a position battle. Anthony Richardson was
on the field throwing passes with Daniel Jones on Wednesday.
(04:11):
Let's listen to Chris Ballard, their general manager, talk about
the number four pick from a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Do you think people regret Baker Mayfield's timeline, Sam Darnold's timeline.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Let's just go.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Exactly and so how about a little Sometimes you gotta
have a little patience with a guy and let them
grow through things. Now there's got to be like, if
you just know this guy, no he can't do it.
But if you think, hey, he's on the right trajectory,
why are you gonna Why are you gonna flush him
(04:49):
just because people outside think you should flush him?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Okay. The first thing that when we were going over
this sound before the show, the first thing both of
us said was, hang on a minute. Those guys that
he mentioned had their best success as reclamation projects for
other teams with better vibes and better hands on and
really developmental coaching. But I do appreciate someone, does my
(05:14):
colleague get the athletic James Boyd does try to say
this and interject and point this out hearing this.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Does anyone regret it?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And it's like, yeah, two teams, the Browns with Babe
Mayfield though that they had some fun with him, and
definitely the Jets with Darnold they regret that.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
At the point was attempted and he goes exactly, but
it's like, no, no, that's not what he was. That's
you're disagreeing with the point while agreeing with yourself. It's
just oh Man Dower comes to mind. Dower are the
vibes over there.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It's a difficult situation because I think Chris Ballard and
the Colts are talking a little bit out of both
sides of their mouth where I agree with what Chris
Ballard is saying. I mean, Anthony Richardson is so young,
of course, Yeah, you have to be patient.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
And so toolsy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I also think the team is the one that has
put out very publicly that he needs to be under
pressure and that he needs competition, and that frankly, based
on what I've picked up, and it's not that hard
to connect the dots of whoever the sources are, I
think they're inside the building. I think Daniel Jones has
a great chance to win this job in week one.
(06:19):
I hope it doesn't happen. But it's tricky because you
immediately start seeing like videos from training camp, and the
first one I saw was Anthony Richardson skying like a
twelve yard pass that should be very simple over his
tight end, and Colts fans and other fans are like
laughing in the mentions and it's just the well's a
little bit poisoned there. But I'm rooting for it because
(06:41):
I want exciting football, and he is much more.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, I think the hard thing and probably the thing
that's difficult in the scouting and evaluation process of it
is sometimes he'll do this thing that breaks your brain
with how unbelievably awesome it is. I remember that throw.
It was candidate for Throw of the Year with you
guys last year on the Recap Show, just on a
line all the way down the field, like just incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But his floor is higher than Daniel Jones's ceiling almost.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I really it's interesting because I do feel like this
also is a Shane Styke in conversation. It certainly is
a Chris Ballard conversation, but it's also Shane styke in
conversation because Shane Stiken, you could see it when he
sort of blew up on the field at Gardner Minshew
when Gardner Minshew was spot starting for them and missed
a fourth down pass. And Shane Stiken strikes me as
the person who just really wants to finally run the offense.
(07:31):
He wants to run right, and even if the guy
that could do that doesn't have a high ceiling, and
even though the guy that could possibly do that does
have a low floor, to get a guy in there
like Daniel Jones, who's just gonna run the offense that
Shane Styken wants to run. This is going to get
complicated down the line. I believe the Colts that they're
sticking with him. I believe it. I believe them, and
(07:52):
I think they're being honest about that. And I do
believe that quarterbacks should get more time than they generally do.
But this is going to get complicated between what the
coach wants and what the organization has to show.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I also believe Brian Dabole that Russell Wilson is the
starter in New York. He tried to poo poo our
Position Battles podcast from Monday, saying it's not a position battle.
He didn't say that exactly, but what he said is
that Russell Wilson will definitely be the starter. I get that,
But Jackson Dart is kind of playing against the future
version of Russell Wilson. So I think Russell Wilson is
(08:24):
the Week one starter. Jackson Dart has camp to basically
show that he's a better option than Russell Wilson in
Week three, after Russell Wilson struggles and Jameis Winston, I
think has a chance to show that he's a better
option too if Jackson Dart is not working out, And
so that's kind of how that battle is going to
play out in my mind. Also in the NFC East,
(08:45):
Terry McLaurin is not at training camp. Just kind of
wanted to cross that tee that he actually is holding out.
It's pretty rare in these times that actually you get
a legitimate holdout with this CBA. But Terry McLaurin is
not there at Washington camp. And then we got news
Jordan that Chris Godwin had another ankle surgery. And we'll
(09:06):
pivot after this to the other the five injuries we
want to keep an eye on, but I thought this
was worth mentioning just separately. Chris Godwin had a separate
ankle surgery, and even though Todd Bowles is saying, you know,
they're hopeful for week one, it's a reminder when they
gave him that contract, there was kind of no guarantees
and it was a really serious injury he is coming
off of.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, I like a few things about what how the
Bucks have handled this. Obviously they're giving him as much
of a timeline as possible. That was a heartbreaking thing
to watch grim last year, and then I sort of
looked at some of this contract that he did get
his back pay for out producing the previous contract. Great
point he was also working on. He's a franchise face
and an absolute team class guy, captain class guy. I
(09:48):
like the team building that they've done, not basically holding
out hope for a timeline that they're still unsure of.
This is still one of the deepest and best receiving
corps in the entire and this is still a team
that is going to be super competitive on offense. Even
with a couple of key figures Tristenwurfs included missing for
at least the first couple of weeks, They've got enough
(10:10):
around them to still be an effective team. And it's
not always a bad thing when key players join the
team late. If you think you're a team that's going
to make a postseason run because you're fresh in November
when you come.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Back, that's fair. It's just with that big of an injury,
you just hope for the best. Because he's one of
the best dudes in the league. And it was a
reminder actually it took him a while to come off
his last ACL He didn't really look like Chris Godwin,
like for real, for really another season, so that could
happen again. I think they have the depth, but it's
just a reminder, you know, sliding doors moments other you know,
(10:42):
the Patriots tried to give Godwin a huge deal and
the Bucks ended up matching it, and now the Patriots
have Stefan Diggs.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I just I just like that. They didn't say, Okay,
yes we've got Mike Evans, Yes we've got Jalen McMillan,
who is outstanding. Yes we have Sterling Shepherd, so okay,
we've got a three. That's our three Intel, like Intel
being Intel, Chris gets back. They instead, they didn't stand
pat They went out there and they got a player
who is very similar to Chris Godwin in terms of
(11:10):
the range and ability and personality and like readiness for
the pros. And Amikabuka one of my favorite players as
you know, coming into this draft class. And I feel
like this is a team that knows it's in their
window right now. Has Baker Mayfield playing the best football
of his career and needs to push and needs to
not just wait for things to be okay, needs to
(11:33):
sort of force the issue in a way.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Yeah, and it might be just one of those things
where you're lucky if you catch the Bucks early. They
might be a team that you don't want to face
later in the season. But we already know what the
worst and the Godwin injury, like it might take them
a new offensive coordinator, like a little while to get going,
just like this show does sometimes. But we're we're often,
we're flying this time. And what we're gonna do just
quickly go back and forth. We're going to go do
(11:57):
five injuries because I have this huge list of guys
that are hurt to start camp, and I might list
out some of them afterwards, but these guys to me
were at a higher level. So just five injuries that
have caught her I early in camp. We'll start with
one you were there for at Rams camp. Yeah, on
I'm losing Jack A day's already Tuesday, Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I want to go take the listener inside Baseball just
a little bit. So the Rams sent out there list
of players who would be available for media appearances this week.
Matthew Stafford was not on it. Quarterback always talks in
week one if he's throwing the football, So to me,
my immediate flag was, oh, he must not be throwing
this week. So then of course you prepare and you
get ready to go for opening when Sean McVay rolls
(12:38):
out onto the podium, onto the lectern with his latest
Matthew Stafford update. As we remember last year, this was
a contract situation. This year a little bit less serious
than a lingering contract situation, but it's back soreness for
a thirty seven year old quarterback who's dealt with this
specific thing, according to Sean before in his career, this
very specific type of back issue that he's dealing with.
(13:00):
So he's gonna work to the side for the first
five days of training camp, and then they were already
planning on coming into camp with a modified throwing program
for him to begin with. So this isn't serious until
it potentially gets serious. I'm not, you know, raising the
alarm bells quite yet, but at thirty seven and missing
the first part of camp, this is something to keep
(13:20):
an eye on.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I think it's a general or just reminder with him.
He's been dealing with his back injury for a while
that there's a reason why they played a hardball with him.
There is some risk to this Stafford contract at this age.
There's really that risk with any player at this.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Aga, or any thirty seven year old, frankly.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Or any football player, because it's like a car crash
every single play, but especially Stafford at this stage. So
that's a reminder. Joe Mixon is another guy I'm worried about.
Aaron Wilson reported that he underwent another ankle surgery and
it was spun very positively that he will be back
in camp and they're expecting him to be ready and
it's all good, but that ankle injury essentially ruined his
(13:57):
last season and then he needed to get an another surgery,
So it's kind of like godwin when you're coming back
for another one and then you find out at the
start of camp. To me, that is a pretty big
red flag. And they signed Nick Chubb to add to
the depth. Damien Pierce is also on the pup list.
The Texans have eleven players on the pup list. You
never want to be leading the league in pop to start,
(14:18):
and I'm pretty sure the Texans are leading the league
an injured players. So something to keep an eye on
with mix and let's go to the Giants for the
next one.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Andrew Thomas. Yes, oh my goodness, the difference you pointed
this out on a previous show, Greg, the difference in
the Giants offensive line having Andrew Thomas on the field
also during joint practices, because I remember he was going
back and forth with a guy at joint practice that
sparked a fight last year, and not having him on
the field at least for a little bit, especially when
you're dealing with three new situations at quarterback. Andrew Thomas
(14:50):
is going to miss the first part of camp.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Yeah, and it's not a shock coming off the surgery.
He is, but we didn't know and he's just someone
to watch. I'm not necessarily concerned. Malik Neighbors, by the way,
is practicing to our camp. So I think more than
any player that doesn't play quarterback in the league, Andrew
Thomas can affect wins and losses in terms of an
injury situation that we're watching. Another guy that reminds me
of a little bit is Trent Williams when he is
(15:12):
out for the forty nine ers. He's fine, but Brandon
Ayuk and Ricky pearsall are out of practice to start camp.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Ayuk, that's not a surprise.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
But I mentioned him because John Lynch, the way he
talked about the extent of the damage to Ayuk makes
me worried that he's not going to be ready for
a lot of this season, or might not be the
Brandon Ayuk we're used to for a lot of this
season we'll see. The bigger concern to me is Ricky Pearsall,
who's still dealing with this hamstring injury, and besides that,
(15:40):
that tragic shooting that affected him last year. He had
a lot of different injuries before and after that happened too,
and so they're really thin there.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
They have the contract situation with Jennings.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Let's wrap up our five injuries to watch with yes,
a downer in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
It's not all yeah, I you know, Christian Wilkins is
still not ready to go. He missed all of OTU
while recovering from this Jones fracture, and he also is
going to miss the at least the first part of camp.
This is a little bit tricky because these types of injuries,
with especially trench players, can be so fickle. Jones fracture
is a fracture in your foot, bottom of your foot,
(16:15):
and so obviously all of the weight that's going on
to your feet if you are a defensive lineman or
an offensive lineman in this case, Christian Wilkins being one
of the better defensive linemen in the league, and I
just I know that they built this defensive line out
to try to get him to compliment and free up
even more opportunities for Max Crosby as much as possible.
They're a little bit thin, a lot of young guys
(16:36):
behind him, so this is going to be one to watch.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
There was some good news there on the defensive line
that Malcolm Koontz, who's coming off at torn acl is practicing.
And they also added an old Pete Carroll. I was
gonna say favorite, but was Jabal Adams a favorite of
Pete Carroll's in Seattle? I didn't think so. But he's
now a member of the Raiders. So just a couple
little nugs before we get to our interview. Michael park
(17:00):
Parsons is also sitting out of practice with a quote
unquote back injury. It seems more like a contract related thing, yea.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
He told our colleague Jane Slater. He told her that
he was protecting himself a little bit, but also wanted
to be there for his teammates do everything possible versus
other than like put his body in danger.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It was very funny seeing Trevon Diggs, who said his
feelings were hurt by them taking away this five hundred
thousand dollars bonus for not showing up. That's not what's funny.
I totally understand that. It was funny to me him
being at Parsons media availability and just kind of standing
there and every once in a while being like, yeah,
that's messed up and stuff like that. He was very
(17:41):
much like the flavor flave to Michael Parsons Chuck d
and was just kind of like rallying, like how messed
up it is how they're treating Parsons. So they were
almost presenting a united front. I love that stuff. A
couple other just news and nuggets. Julian Blackman, who's been
on my top one to one free agent's list over
the years a couple of times, was signed by the
(18:01):
Saints to replace Tyron Matthew. The Panthers cut Josie Jewel.
I feel really bad for him. A concussion that he
hasn't been able to overcome is really affecting him. The
Titans saw one of their Ed rushers Lorenzo Carter, who's
had a really solid career retire at the start of
training camp. There's always a couple of those guys and
(18:22):
then a few more puplisters.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That just caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Kay Walker had an ankle surgery over the off season.
That the Packers linebacker Lagerious Snead is still not ready
to practice. Darren Waller coming off that retirement is not
ready to go. Elkton Jenkins is very similar to the
maybe Parsons situation where maybe it's contract related and then
Taysom Hill is still not ready to go for the Saints.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yeah, you sprinkled in Taysom Hill there at the end.
I was watching the Google doc. I was like, oh, yeah,
Taysom Hill. So yeah, the Darren Waller think he told
local reporters over there in Miami that they just were
going to onboard him gradually at his age and also
having spent some time out of football making music videos.
That's obviously important on board slowly, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah, he was very reflective and.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Was talking about sometimes he was not being the man
that he was saying that he was and not really
walking the walk when he was talking to talk and
he was talking very specifically about his recovery from addiction.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
So we really wish Darren Waller the.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Best with Frank Smith, by the way, as somebody who
was a really strong figure for him during that time.
I know we talked about it on a previous show,
but those two back together, hoping for the best for
him in that journey and sort of self discovery and.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Might have a really big role for that Dolphins team
who is looking for some more offensive weapons outside their
top two receivers. So I had to get this into
the show. We didn't have time for it with Colleen,
and we'll be quick on it. But Philip Rivers suddenly
retired again on Monday, officially as a member of the Chargers.
Now officially, he actually had retired a couple of years.
(19:59):
He hasn't played in the NFL since twenty twenty, but
every year you saw those stories where Philip Rivers is
coaching a high school team and he's like, Hey, if
anyone wants to call, I want to play. So it
actually took him a little while to officially retire. But
the Chargers are actually practicing fully in pads of the
first team to do that in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
This week.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
They had one on Tuesday, They're gonna have another on Wednesday.
So I think that all matched up. And man, I
love me some Philip Rivers, and they did such a
good job with this, like video of Rivers announcing how
he wanted to retire as a member of the Chargers.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Thankful for the most sixteen years and for and trusting
me to be the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
And certainly never took it for granted. No, keep fighting,
just keep fighting. I never took it for granted.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Didn't suit up and leave the charters for shoot two
hundred and forty something games in a row. Let's take
a break onll that.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Oh golly, I'm not a I'm not ashamed to say
that when Rivers was saying golly, and he cries earlier
in that video too. It's getting a little misty up
in Santa Monica me watching that. One of my favorite
players and I think one of the most underrated players
of his generation.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yeah, it's interesting. I have some longtime friends who are
San Diego Chargers fans who were San Diego Chargers fans
who have been disappointed for a couple of years just
about everything, the move and all of that. But one
thing everyone can agree on is Philip Rivers and the
fact that the team and himself collaborated on this, the
(21:36):
fact that they're practicing in San Diego in the Harbaugh regime.
You know, it speaks quietly and also loudly of the
efforts that are trying. They're trying to do as an
organization and as a team. And Philip Rivers is like
this universal. I mean, I could listen to every single
micd up of him that's ever existed. I could listen
to him read the dictionary as long as he sprinkled
(21:58):
in his version of expletives gosh, golly all darn.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And one of the And I love all that about
him too, And we're going to go to break with
him actually kind of talking about some of that trash stock.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
But also just the way he played football I think
brought people in. I mean, I don't think he was
a gun slinger, because I don't think he made He
wasn't reckless, but with that throwing motion to be as
vertical a quarterback as he was, he is still one
of the all time leaders in NFL history in yards
per attempt And he's going to be up for the
(22:30):
Hall of Fame soon and like, if Eli Manning makes
it ahead of Philip Rivers, I'll go insane because at
every single point, in every single year of their career,
the entire NFL would have taken Philip Rivers over Eli Manning,
and Philip Rivers got MVP votes a couple of times
he was top five quarterback.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I would say, never miss Ames.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
I did the QB Index and stuff, and he was
very often a top five quarterback throughout his career, probably
six seven, eight years of his career, which to me
is not you know, stamp him into the hall right away,
but it means it's a guy that will probably get
there and should get there eventually, and was certainly a
better player than Eli Manning.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I'm I'm just saying.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And when he pointed out and it is one of
the things they lost moving from San Diego. The atmosphere
and what he remembers is riding down that hill into
Qualcomm and the parking lot San Diego charges fans used
to get grief. It was one of the best atmospheres
in the entire You would smell they would be tailgating
the entire day. You would smell that food. You would
smell that weed and it was just thousands and thousands
(23:32):
of people and it was an incredible atmosphere. And they're
essentially renting this Sofi stadium and that's one thing they've
they've really lost, and I think was really unfortunate. I
don't think that should be lost either. So when Rivers
said that, that really stuck with me because I was
at one of the last games, last couple games at
Qualcomm and it was just awesome happen.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
And let's be clear, he is a San Diego Charger
until the end. Because this. I know I'm not the
only one cares about this, but sometimes it feels like
these little gestures just get so lost in are just
collective zeitgeist and all the things that happened all the time,
But the class with which he showed the local newspaper
(24:12):
people that covered him for so many years for the
San Diego Union Tribune. He announced his first retirement to
the local columnist who had covered him for so long,
been in the trenches, watched him grow up, essentially Kevin Ace,
and I will never forget that that was a big
moment for somebody of that platform to go to the
local people versus the national platforms to announce something that significant.
(24:36):
It just that homy vibe that Philip Rivers always had,
that like that locality. I feel like it was just
a big part of who he was.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Great dude, I almost kind of forget he was an
LA charger taking the you know, the trip up to
up the four h five and through some big time
touchdowns to Mike Williams, who just retired this week. I
remember in that game against Kansas City in Arrowhead. We
will be back on the other side of the break
with lou Keikley. But yeah, let's first listen on the
(25:03):
way out to Rivers talking a little trash good night.
There's some clips that I'll look at and just shake
my head.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Gord I go dang hounds.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'm just having fun. Yeah, is there an edginess to it?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
You know?
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Are you trying to get under the skin of the opponent?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Of course?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Is there someone who is just a lot of fun?
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Number fourteen, Luke Keickley.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Yick to top ten, third five, right side AJ one.
There's little Chickle up there.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
That's little Chicky, very quiet, goes onto the field, flips
the switch, won't it thy?
Speaker 6 (25:46):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I'm all over him. Hey, we gotta go now shut.
Speaker 7 (25:54):
Ain't nobody know you? Third and three and here the
comments kick Lee who gets them back at the.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Nine favorite blitz shit in.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
These linebackers open side and Luke Keighley just so fast.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Luke Keith clep.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
He reminds me of Peyton Manning, guy that is totally prepared,
that is going to know what's going to happen before
it takes place because he has studied so much. On
second down, Rombo looking to throw has time, sings it
and it's.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Intercepted at the thirty eight yard line. Keith Lee has it.
Speaker 6 (26:23):
He's gonna go into the house.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
HiT's the second pick six of the game for the
Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Yes, my choice as the number fourteen player of the
last twenty five years. The great linebacker of the Carolina Panthers,
Luke Keighley is joining the show. And Luke, you've been
out of the game now for five years. I'm sure
you're not thinking at the time. You know, when you're
(26:50):
winning Defensive Player of the Year in your second year
and you're making these big plays and leady a super
bowlun like I hope I get on a list in
five years on some podcasts that might beat writer Jordan
Rodriguez on but you were on that list, and can
you at least look back and maybe not about the list,
but but enjoy the body of work that you put
out there as a player back then.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Yeah, it makes me feel It makes me feel old.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
You feel like you just got out of the NFL
and it's it's been five full years. I'm going into
year six being out and it's, Uh, you watched those
videos and you're like, man, I looked so.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Young in those pictures. But h man, it was. It
was so fun I had. I had.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
That's the thing that I tell everybody is I had
so much fun playing the game of football. I loved
being in Carolina. I loved Ron Rivera, all the guys
in our team we were super close with, and it
was a special time for me. It was a special
time for my family, and I think I was just
so fortunate to have the opportunity to play in Carolina
for that team, for that organization, inside of that defense.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
I think it really helped me during my career.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yeah, you know, Luke, I remember my first day, you know,
scared out of my mind by the way young journalists,
young be going into this team of absolute superstars. And
I was talking to your pal JJ Jansen last week.
He's still going somehow, I mean, long snapper and linebacker
a little bit different, but somehow he's the iron Man still.
(28:14):
And just to me, you seemed so veteran at that time,
and yeah, you'd been in the league for a while.
We were the same age, but you seemed beyond anything
I could even comprehend because of the level that you
were playing at and because of how everybody in that
locker room respected you, but you were able to cut
loose with them and vibe with them a little bit too.
(28:35):
I remember the first day I walked in, music was
playing Tolbert. I think had brought the boombox in. Yeah,
it just those days were so much fun, and it's
cool that you remember him that way.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
Yeah, we had such a good group, and I think
that's really what it came down to. And I got
into the locker room as a twenty one year old player.
Our best players were our best guys, and you know,
you look at the older guys in the team that
we're just our dudes were Steve and Jordan Gross, and
then that middle tier group of guys that I really
(29:07):
grew up behind and learned from and modeled my game after.
You know, you look in my room, it was Thomas
and then Charles Johnson, and then you know, on the
offense side of the ball was Greg and Khalil and
Stu and we just always had really good veteran guys
and beasts. Was in that room. You know, my first
(29:27):
couple of years in the linebacker room, you saw what
it looked like. Not only did I have success on
the field, but you saw what it looked like to
handle yourself correctly off the field as well, and in
meetings in the locker room with the media in public.
And so when I got into the NFL, it's like, hey, look,
I want to have success like John Beeson and Thomas
Davis on the field, and you know, I'm going to
(29:49):
watch how they practice, how they prepare, And then you know,
you get in the locker room and you look around
the locker room. You know, guys like Thomas with his charity,
and you know Greg Olsen is what he does with
the heart, with his with his foundation.
Speaker 6 (30:02):
It's just unbelievable what they're able to do.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
And you say, hey, I want to be a lot
like those guys, and what can I do to to emulate.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I kind of want to get into, like what made
you know you stand out as a player, because I
thought it was interesting in that clip to hearing Tony
Dungee said, you're like a Peyton manning on the defensive side.
Obviously like your speed, speeding explosiveness, they pop, but it
felt like watching you sometimes you were half a step
ahead with what a broadcaster we'll call instincts. But I
(30:31):
know a lot of preparation goes into that. So maybe
like walk through for a listener what it took preparation
wise to to get to that point.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
I think a lot of it started when I was
in high school. So when I was in high school,
or head coach Steve Spet he's actually still coaching there now,
won a bunch of state championships throughout his time at
Saint Xavior.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
He would bring guys in during lunch and we'd go
bring our luncheon.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
To the to his office and he'd put on an
old v HS tape And now I'm sounding old, but
you put a VHS tape on or a DVD or
whatever it was, and we'd watch the team that we're
getting ready to play against. And when you're in high school,
you don't really know what you're doing. You don't know
what you're looking at. But every once in a while,
SPEC would be like, Hey, look like this is one
(31:17):
of their top concepts. This is what defense I anticipate
us being in. Would just talk through responsibilities, run fits,
pass responsibilities, where we need to be. So then the
game would roll around and you know, you'd be like, wow,
like here's that. Here's what Speck was talking about. And
a lot of times for me early on, I know
(31:38):
what happened after the play was over, so the play
would happen, I'd be like, oh, man, that was that
play that he was talking about. But then what it
did teach you was, hey, if I prepared during the
week and I'm prepared to pre snap and I know
what's going to happen, I can be one step ahead.
So I wasn't very good at putting it all together
as a young freshman or you know, young high school kid.
(31:59):
But then when you got the college, then it's all
digital and I can sort everything. I can sort you know,
personnel groupings down in distance situations, who's in.
Speaker 6 (32:08):
The game, all of that stuff.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
And I had an older guy that I learned from
named Wes Davis that was a big tape guy, and
he did the same thing that spected, Hey, here's a look,
here's a play, here's a formation. This is how we're
going to be lined up on the defense side of
the ball. This is what we need to do to
be to have success. So then I really kind of
learned it from a young age, and then going into
(32:30):
in the college, I had access to way more information
and data and you know, resources, and I learned a
lot from Wes, and then I took that as a
freshman through my sophomore, in my junior year, and then
when I got to Carolina, it was just I was
just continuing to try to refine my pre pregame routine
and my preparation and I think we always talked about
(32:51):
what how are you able to differentiate yourself before the
ball gets snapped and you know, rest recovery, are you
in good shape, you are you healthy? And then you know,
obviously this one the preparation side of where do I
need to be, where do I fit inside the defense?
And then ultimately what is the offense trying to do
to us?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah, including, by the way, preparation to the point where
I remember the story Ron Rivera likes to tell where
he made you go home on Christmas because you are
the only one with the light on in the tape room.
By the way, Yeah, no one.
Speaker 6 (33:21):
My parents weren't town you saw.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I'm like, hey, longer as much time as you can get, Luke.
When as you're in the league, you know, because in
part of defense is like yours and and like what
you guys were able to do in Carolina, the league
started changing faster than ever, and these coaches of these
younger coaching trees started coming up and taking from you know,
(33:44):
the Shanahan's, the mcvays, from the older patrons of that
offense and trying to like literally move you because and
other talented and signed linebackers because of what you were
so able to do and how you're able to affect
the game and all of these pre snap motions and
at snap motions and these shifts and these formations started
(34:04):
really taking over and changing offense faster than ever. So
how did you surf that wave? Because preparation was always
such a gift of yours and understanding the cycles and
the philosophical shifts of the league when it starts moving
faster than ever for somebody who is the quarterback of
the defense, how did you try to keep defenses from
(34:27):
being reactive and more so assertive.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
I think we always.
Speaker 7 (34:31):
Thought about was we need to have our feet set
when the ball is snapped right, So, you know, you
look at you referenced all these guys, the Shanahans and mcveigh's,
La Floors and McDaniels, Ben Johnson in Chicago now and
the list goes on with you know, there's a pre
snap shift and then there's a motion and then on
the when the ball is snapped.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Like you said, you nailed it.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
What they're trying to do is get guys moving sideways
pre snap, and when the ball gets snapped.
Speaker 6 (34:56):
They're not able to get downhill right away.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
So what we always talked about was, you know, what
is the final formation off of this motion? So once
that guy goes in motion, get to your new alignment immediately,
get your feet set, put your eyes on your new key,
and go. I think when people get in trouble is
they they're following this jet motion and they're moving sideways
(35:19):
and they're high and their feet aren't set and they're
looking at the wrong thing, and then the ball gets
snapped and their eyes are on the wrong key and
they have a they're slow to pick up you know
what the play concept might be.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
So our thought process always.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Was get aligned, get set, have our feet in the ground,
and be able to put our foot in the ground
and get vertical and get downhill right.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Like watching some of the tape that we're showing if
you're watching us on YouTube, is a lot of look
Eegley in coverage, and I think that is what you
symbolized for a lot of people watching the game, was
this new type of linebacker. It was almost a transition
back when the other linebacker on this list, ray Lewis,
(36:03):
was playing from run stopping as your primary objective too.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You have to be able to read.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
The keys in coverage and that was obviously a strength
of yours. Like when you look at the game today
and even back when you were doing it, kind of
what were the keys to being a complete linebacker that
can survive because it's become one of the toughest positions. Luke,
I'm sure you've seen in the NFL where now there's
only one of you on the field a lot of
the times because it's so hard for linebackers to survive
(36:33):
in that part of the game and coverage.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
I think, you know, I think I'm gonna go back
to the scheme. You know, I've talked a lot about
scheme in Carolina. And the one guy that allowed me
to do what I did really well, which was I
felt like I was better in past coverage. We had
a really good blitzing linebacker and Thomas Datus And that
was the big thing for me that was super helpful.
Speaker 6 (36:53):
Was I rather playing coverage and Thomas rather pressure.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
And our coaches understood that and knew that and weren't
too proud to say, you know what you like doing that,
TV like doing this, let's kind of make it work.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
So I think I think that helped me a lot.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
And then, you know, the one thing when you get
line when you play inside linebacker, especially early in my career,
you get matched up on tight ends a lot. You know,
you're on tight ends, you're on the number three receiver,
a lot of stuff is going over the middle of
the field, and you know, we always had we always
had Greg And so you're in OTAs and training camp
and I always trained with Greg in the offseason, and
(37:30):
to have somebody like Greg that you got to practice
against who was the best tight end in the NFL.
He could do everything he could. He was vertically fast,
he had great feel in zone coverage, he knew how
to get open in small places. But then he can
also be in line and block and you wouldn't come
out of the game. You got you got a really
good feel at least you know, we did on the
defense side of the ball for what a real tight
(37:51):
end looks like, what it feels like. A guy that
not only physically can do it, but mentally was way
above everybody else. So I think that helped me a
lot as well, was just having the opportunity to practice
against a really good player in Greg my whole career.
And then, like I said, Thomas was the pressure guy,
so I could sit back and coverage and let Thomas
go do his thing.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
I'm a sucker for just hearing who were like the
toughest guys to go against. So you had Greg Olsen
in practice, but you mentioned you're always lined up against
tight ends who were some of the toughest that you
had to face. Between a tight end and a quarterback,
while we're here.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Yeah, I mean, I you know, tight ends and quarterback.
I think I'm going to kind of go to a
different direction. I thought Marshawn Lynch at the running back.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Oh, yeah, was as big of a challenge.
Speaker 7 (38:36):
I felt like that we had on a consistent basis.
Obviously they were not a division opponent of us. Obviously
they're an NFC team, but we played them pretty much
every year and sometimes twice a year in the playoffs.
When I was playing in Carolina and he was so
he hit so many natural physical abilities from I felt
(38:57):
how he was built to his power, in his speed
and how he ran the ball. He was kind of wide.
He had a very wide base, and it allowed him
to get very lateral very quickly. He could sink down
in his hips, so he could change direction really well.
He had great bursts, but he could also put his
shoulder down and run right through. So it was one
(39:17):
of those guys where you had to really be smart
with how you attacked him and what angle you attacked him,
because if he got you head up, he had so
many tools in his pocket that he could do. He
could put his head down and run through you. He
could slow speed you down slow. You know, he could
slow down, speed up, He could put a stiff arm
in your chest and push you away or just run
away from you. So and he was built so physically
(39:38):
strong and thick and dense, and he and he ran
with an edge, and he was a fun guy to
play against. But when you when you played against Marshawn Lynch,
You're like, man, I better buckle it up, because this
is a real running back.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Yeah, it's I think those were some of the most underrated,
like became a rivalry. Really not a lot of people
talk about that. Everyone talks about divisions and conferences that,
but you guys in the Carolina and the Seahawks, I mean,
the trash talk was unreal leading up to those games
and in those games, and the energy was insane.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Luke.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I know we're running on time here. But when I
covered you, I did a story about you and fly
fishing and your hobby and one of your passions, and
you said something that I have never forgotten and it
broke my heart at the time listening to it because
it was so real about what your life was like
at that time. And for those listeners who don't know
(40:32):
fly fishing is such a meticulous craft and you are
natural for Luke because you study so much about the
movement of the river and the movement of the patterns
of the ecosystem around you. And you have to tie
your own flies, and the real fly fishermen tie their
own flies. But you told me, and this crushed me,
that you couldn't tie your own flies during football season
because your hands were so messed up. It killed me.
(40:55):
I've never forgotten it about the physicality and the sheer
dedication to year craft have to ask, can you finally
tie your own flies?
Speaker 2 (41:03):
And do you still tell you what?
Speaker 3 (41:05):
You know?
Speaker 6 (41:05):
What?
Speaker 7 (41:05):
It's whatever you said? Five six years out, I feel
pretty dagon good. Announced there's not much that I can't
do physically, which is hopefully stays that way for a
long time.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
And yeah, as we mentioned, you're you're on the show
in park, you know because you and Jordan have a
history together, but mostly because, yeah, you were on this list.
So let's let's put up the list here for a second.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
You were.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
You were number fourteen on our list. I mentioned like
the the other linebacker on the list was was ray
Lewis there up there at eight? I got a lot
I got heat from Panthers fans.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
He's not high enough. Kickley's got to be higher. And
then some people are like, he got.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Heat for me, Luke, he's not high at us.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
You don't have to admit Jordan had had nothing to
do with the making of this list. I said, don't,
don't falter, but that that's pretty great. I mean, it's
tough when you have all time legends, you have Hall
of famers ahead of you and and behind you. I know, uh,
you will be a finalist for the Hall of Fame
this year. The way it works now, they revealed you
were in the top seven last year, so you're automatically
(42:05):
a finalist this year.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
So we wish you luck.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
And to me, this isn't even greater honor than the
Hall of Fame there, Luke, So congratulations.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
My god, this is what I deal with.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Luke.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Come on now, this is come.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
On, like, appreciate you coming on the show. Thanks Luke.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
Yeah, thanks guys, thanks again to the great Luke Keigley.
And before we say goodbye to this show, I want
to announce something I'm very excited about that Jordan Rodrieg
is not only going to be back with NFL, daily
for another season, but is going to be with us
(42:41):
more often in an expanded role. Like you wanted more,
Jordan rodrig you got her. She will be part of
the show. We're hoping three times a week all season long.
I'm really excited.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Please don't tell me yes.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
So congrats. I'm really excited. It's one of the things.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
Obviously, we've been talking about this a long time, our
vision for the show, and I look at it as
our vision, you having a a big.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Voice in that.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
I just I'm grateful. I mean, I feel like, I mean,
the first day on the show kind of out of nowhere,
being you know, at you calling me asking if I
could help out, and me thinking it was just going
to be a short term thing, and crying, and of
course becoming the person that feels all the things all
the time on the show. I just I've learned so
(43:28):
much and I like working with you because, first of all,
you're so supportive, and you're such an advocate, and you
say you said recently, you said recently on the show
you're trying to get better at taking compliments. So this
is a test for you here. I mean, you changed
my life, honestly, and I've said that to you before,
and I never thought I could get an opportunity to
(43:51):
do this in this studio. That means a great deal
to me to sit in and to sit in more
frequently than I was last season. And I just want
to keep getting better, and I want to keep sharing
with people how much love I have for football and
how much joy I find in even the mundane, tiny
(44:11):
details of football. And I want to thank you and
and the folks that I heard, and NFL media and
everybody's been so invested in helping me get better. And
I just want to keep growing.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
And we're going to do that. It's going to be
onwards and upwards and kind of related to that. Yeah,
Jordan's on the show Thursday, so get used to.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
Oh I'm going to sit right between you and Bridge
at Condon.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Oh yeah, we're having really.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Wilt in my chair as they trained. It'll be fine,
Northeast Bostonian insults.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
It'll be fine. Yes, we're going to talk a little
bit on Thursday show. Of course, update you with all
the news, but we're also introducing you to the corridor
of insert look when when we're getting a big contract
sign not just the NFL teams to start training cam Man.
You know football is back pumped. Jordan's gotta be with
(45:02):
us three times a week.
Welcome to NFL Daily, where we're always looking for an
excuse to talk about Philip Rivers. Yeah, I'm Greg Rosenthal
here in the Chris Westling podcast studio with my friend
Jordan Rodrigue for the first time since got back from Tokyo.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome Jordan.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Excited for this show, Excited to welcome one of the
greatest players that you ever covered.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Later on in the show, Luke Keikley will be joining us. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
That was a this is your life kind of moment
for me watching him pop up on the screen. That
dude has not changed at all. He still is so
serious and handles everything with such preparation and clarity. It
just it's so it was he's like a time capsule.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, peek behind the curtain, Like he wanted to know,
like does he need to prepare for anything on the show.
I was like, no, you do, man, do were you're
Luke Keikley? But that was that was a great conversation.
So we will listen to that a little bit later.
And yeah, it's interesting he's already, you know, going for
his second year, potentially being considered for the Hall of Fame.
But he's only thirty four years old. Obviously because that
(01:09):
early retirement and messes with you. He really is that young.
We are going to hit some news at the top
as we do. We're going to highlight just five injury situations.
That's a lot of the news that's happening in these
first days of training camp. As we're taping Wednesday, the
majority of the league is having their very first practice
of training camp on Wednesday. And we also have a
(01:33):
little fun kind of inside the show news.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
I'm wearing a shirt with a smiley face on Smiley Face.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
It's related to Jordan, So stick around for the end.
I'm excited to talk about.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Whip Bash for the listener. After a whole episode about
death earlier this week, now we're talking about smiley face
t shirt.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
I enjoyed the hell out of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
So yes, check out my conversation with Colleen Woolf about
the mortality that we all have to face every day,
including with our own careers. But first, let's go positive.
Let's listen to the most positive coach we have love
to have, Pete Carroll back in the league, talking about
whether people like me are right to be just irrationally
(02:17):
exuberant about the Raiders.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
We got, we win a ton, we win a bunch
of games.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Nothing.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
I can't even imagine anything. I haven't winning ten games
a year for twenty years or something, you know, I mean,
what are my expectations? We don't win a bunch and
I don't care. You know who hears that? I mean,
it doesn't matter to me. It ain't about what anybody hears.
It's about what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I love him so much, He's just I am all
the way in, man. I have been high on the
Raiders since John Spytech and Pete Carroll took over shop
over there. I am high on the moves that they made,
the Gino Smith trade I loved, and I am all
the way in. I mean, I know that is a
crazy The AFCUS is crazy, like literally like crazy people
(02:57):
are coaching these teams. But also, oh my gosh, I'm
all the way in on the Raiders.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
You can't fake belief, and it's really such a tricky
thing I think for a young coaches or coaches in
general to have, because I truly do believe in the
Raiders more because of the way Pete Carroll talks and
the way he carries himself and the way he does
believe in the way it has worked ten wins a
year now. I will point out, you know, his first
year in Seattle, they were under five hundred. You know,
(03:25):
it took a minute to get it going. But I
do think that is an intangible, tangible that the belief
that he has that's genuine can go across that building
and it can actually make a difference. But also, there's
only like one peak Carroll. You can't really fake it
in like so, I know the secondary doesn't look great
(03:49):
on paper, the linebackers, and yet I kind of believe
they'll overcome it. On the flip side, I feel like
the Colts have relatively bad vibes like over the last
handful of years, but especially this year because their young
franchise quarterback is in a position battle. Anthony Richardson was
on the field throwing passes with Daniel Jones on Wednesday.
(04:11):
Let's listen to Chris Ballard, their general manager, talk about
the number four pick from a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Do you think people regret Baker Mayfield's timeline, Sam Darnold's timeline.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Let's just go.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Exactly and so how about a little Sometimes you gotta
have a little patience with a guy and let them
grow through things. Now there's got to be like, if
you just know this guy, no he can't do it.
But if you think, hey, he's on the right trajectory,
why are you gonna Why are you gonna flush him
(04:49):
just because people outside think you should flush him?
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Okay. The first thing that when we were going over
this sound before the show, the first thing both of
us said was, hang on a minute. Those guys that
he mentioned had their best success as reclamation projects for
other teams with better vibes and better hands on and
really developmental coaching. But I do appreciate someone, does my
(05:14):
colleague get the athletic James Boyd does try to say
this and interject and point this out hearing this.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Does anyone regret it?
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And it's like, yeah, two teams, the Browns with Babe
Mayfield though that they had some fun with him, and
definitely the Jets with Darnold they regret that.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
At the point was attempted and he goes exactly, but
it's like, no, no, that's not what he was. That's
you're disagreeing with the point while agreeing with yourself. It's
just oh Man Dower comes to mind. Dower are the
vibes over there.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
It's a difficult situation because I think Chris Ballard and
the Colts are talking a little bit out of both
sides of their mouth where I agree with what Chris
Ballard is saying. I mean, Anthony Richardson is so young,
of course, Yeah, you have to be patient.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
And so toolsy. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I also think the team is the one that has
put out very publicly that he needs to be under
pressure and that he needs competition, and that frankly, based
on what I've picked up, and it's not that hard
to connect the dots of whoever the sources are, I
think they're inside the building. I think Daniel Jones has
a great chance to win this job in week one.
(06:19):
I hope it doesn't happen. But it's tricky because you
immediately start seeing like videos from training camp, and the
first one I saw was Anthony Richardson skying like a
twelve yard pass that should be very simple over his
tight end, and Colts fans and other fans are like
laughing in the mentions and it's just the well's a
little bit poisoned there. But I'm rooting for it because
(06:41):
I want exciting football, and he is much more.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, I think the hard thing and probably the thing
that's difficult in the scouting and evaluation process of it
is sometimes he'll do this thing that breaks your brain
with how unbelievably awesome it is. I remember that throw.
It was candidate for Throw of the Year with you
guys last year on the Recap Show, just on a
line all the way down the field, like just incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But his floor is higher than Daniel Jones's ceiling almost.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
I really it's interesting because I do feel like this
also is a Shane Styke in conversation. It certainly is
a Chris Ballard conversation, but it's also Shane styke in
conversation because Shane Stiken, you could see it when he
sort of blew up on the field at Gardner Minshew
when Gardner Minshew was spot starting for them and missed
a fourth down pass. And Shane Stiken strikes me as
the person who just really wants to finally run the offense.
(07:31):
He wants to run right, and even if the guy
that could do that doesn't have a high ceiling, and
even though the guy that could possibly do that does
have a low floor, to get a guy in there
like Daniel Jones, who's just gonna run the offense that
Shane Styken wants to run. This is going to get
complicated down the line. I believe the Colts that they're
sticking with him. I believe it. I believe them, and
(07:52):
I think they're being honest about that. And I do
believe that quarterbacks should get more time than they generally do.
But this is going to get complicated between what the
coach wants and what the organization has to show.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
I also believe Brian Dabole that Russell Wilson is the
starter in New York. He tried to poo poo our
Position Battles podcast from Monday, saying it's not a position battle.
He didn't say that exactly, but what he said is
that Russell Wilson will definitely be the starter. I get that,
But Jackson Dart is kind of playing against the future
version of Russell Wilson. So I think Russell Wilson is
(08:24):
the Week one starter. Jackson Dart has camp to basically
show that he's a better option than Russell Wilson in
Week three, after Russell Wilson struggles and Jameis Winston, I
think has a chance to show that he's a better
option too if Jackson Dart is not working out, And
so that's kind of how that battle is going to
play out in my mind. Also in the NFC East,
(08:45):
Terry McLaurin is not at training camp. Just kind of
wanted to cross that tee that he actually is holding out.
It's pretty rare in these times that actually you get
a legitimate holdout with this CBA. But Terry McLaurin is
not there at Washington camp. And then we got news
Jordan that Chris Godwin had another ankle surgery. And we'll
(09:06):
pivot after this to the other the five injuries we
want to keep an eye on, but I thought this
was worth mentioning just separately. Chris Godwin had a separate
ankle surgery, and even though Todd Bowles is saying, you know,
they're hopeful for week one, it's a reminder when they
gave him that contract, there was kind of no guarantees
and it was a really serious injury he is coming
off of.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, I like a few things about what how the
Bucks have handled this. Obviously they're giving him as much
of a timeline as possible. That was a heartbreaking thing
to watch grim last year, and then I sort of
looked at some of this contract that he did get
his back pay for out producing the previous contract. Great
point he was also working on. He's a franchise face
and an absolute team class guy, captain class guy. I
(09:48):
like the team building that they've done, not basically holding
out hope for a timeline that they're still unsure of.
This is still one of the deepest and best receiving
corps in the entire and this is still a team
that is going to be super competitive on offense. Even
with a couple of key figures Tristenwurfs included missing for
at least the first couple of weeks, They've got enough
(10:10):
around them to still be an effective team. And it's
not always a bad thing when key players join the
team late. If you think you're a team that's going
to make a postseason run because you're fresh in November
when you come.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Back, that's fair. It's just with that big of an injury,
you just hope for the best. Because he's one of
the best dudes in the league. And it was a
reminder actually it took him a while to come off
his last ACL He didn't really look like Chris Godwin,
like for real, for really another season, so that could
happen again. I think they have the depth, but it's
just a reminder, you know, sliding doors moments other you know,
(10:42):
the Patriots tried to give Godwin a huge deal and
the Bucks ended up matching it, and now the Patriots
have Stefan Diggs.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I just I just like that. They didn't say, Okay,
yes we've got Mike Evans, Yes we've got Jalen McMillan,
who is outstanding. Yes we have Sterling Shepherd, so okay,
we've got a three. That's our three Intel, like Intel
being Intel, Chris gets back. They instead, they didn't stand
pat They went out there and they got a player
who is very similar to Chris Godwin in terms of
(11:10):
the range and ability and personality and like readiness for
the pros. And Amikabuka one of my favorite players as
you know, coming into this draft class. And I feel
like this is a team that knows it's in their
window right now. Has Baker Mayfield playing the best football
of his career and needs to push and needs to
not just wait for things to be okay, needs to
(11:33):
sort of force the issue in a way.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Yeah, and it might be just one of those things
where you're lucky if you catch the Bucks early. They
might be a team that you don't want to face
later in the season. But we already know what the
worst and the Godwin injury, like it might take them
a new offensive coordinator, like a little while to get going,
just like this show does sometimes. But we're we're often,
we're flying this time. And what we're gonna do just
quickly go back and forth. We're going to go do
(11:57):
five injuries because I have this huge list of guys
that are hurt to start camp, and I might list
out some of them afterwards, but these guys to me
were at a higher level. So just five injuries that
have caught her I early in camp. We'll start with
one you were there for at Rams camp. Yeah, on
I'm losing Jack A day's already Tuesday, Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
I want to go take the listener inside Baseball just
a little bit. So the Rams sent out there list
of players who would be available for media appearances this week.
Matthew Stafford was not on it. Quarterback always talks in
week one if he's throwing the football, So to me,
my immediate flag was, oh, he must not be throwing
this week. So then of course you prepare and you
get ready to go for opening when Sean McVay rolls
(12:38):
out onto the podium, onto the lectern with his latest
Matthew Stafford update. As we remember last year, this was
a contract situation. This year a little bit less serious
than a lingering contract situation, but it's back soreness for
a thirty seven year old quarterback who's dealt with this
specific thing, according to Sean before in his career, this
very specific type of back issue that he's dealing with.
(13:00):
So he's gonna work to the side for the first
five days of training camp, and then they were already
planning on coming into camp with a modified throwing program
for him to begin with. So this isn't serious until
it potentially gets serious. I'm not, you know, raising the
alarm bells quite yet, but at thirty seven and missing
the first part of camp, this is something to keep
(13:20):
an eye on.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I think it's a general or just reminder with him.
He's been dealing with his back injury for a while
that there's a reason why they played a hardball with him.
There is some risk to this Stafford contract at this age.
There's really that risk with any player at this.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Aga, or any thirty seven year old, frankly.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Or any football player, because it's like a car crash
every single play, but especially Stafford at this stage. So
that's a reminder. Joe Mixon is another guy I'm worried about.
Aaron Wilson reported that he underwent another ankle surgery and
it was spun very positively that he will be back
in camp and they're expecting him to be ready and
it's all good, but that ankle injury essentially ruined his
(13:57):
last season and then he needed to get an another surgery,
So it's kind of like godwin when you're coming back
for another one and then you find out at the
start of camp. To me, that is a pretty big
red flag. And they signed Nick Chubb to add to
the depth. Damien Pierce is also on the pup list.
The Texans have eleven players on the pup list. You
never want to be leading the league in pop to start,
(14:18):
and I'm pretty sure the Texans are leading the league
an injured players. So something to keep an eye on
with mix and let's go to the Giants for the
next one.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Andrew Thomas. Yes, oh my goodness, the difference you pointed
this out on a previous show, Greg, the difference in
the Giants offensive line having Andrew Thomas on the field
also during joint practices, because I remember he was going
back and forth with a guy at joint practice that
sparked a fight last year, and not having him on
the field at least for a little bit, especially when
you're dealing with three new situations at quarterback. Andrew Thomas
(14:50):
is going to miss the first part of camp.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Yeah, and it's not a shock coming off the surgery.
He is, but we didn't know and he's just someone
to watch. I'm not necessarily concerned. Malik Neighbors, by the way,
is practicing to our camp. So I think more than
any player that doesn't play quarterback in the league, Andrew
Thomas can affect wins and losses in terms of an
injury situation that we're watching. Another guy that reminds me
of a little bit is Trent Williams when he is
(15:12):
out for the forty nine ers. He's fine, but Brandon
Ayuk and Ricky pearsall are out of practice to start camp.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Ayuk, that's not a surprise.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
But I mentioned him because John Lynch, the way he
talked about the extent of the damage to Ayuk makes
me worried that he's not going to be ready for
a lot of this season, or might not be the
Brandon Ayuk we're used to for a lot of this
season we'll see. The bigger concern to me is Ricky Pearsall,
who's still dealing with this hamstring injury, and besides that,
(15:40):
that tragic shooting that affected him last year. He had
a lot of different injuries before and after that happened too,
and so they're really thin there.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
They have the contract situation with Jennings.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Let's wrap up our five injuries to watch with yes,
a downer in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
It's not all yeah, I you know, Christian Wilkins is
still not ready to go. He missed all of OTU
while recovering from this Jones fracture, and he also is
going to miss the at least the first part of camp.
This is a little bit tricky because these types of injuries,
with especially trench players, can be so fickle. Jones fracture
is a fracture in your foot, bottom of your foot,
(16:15):
and so obviously all of the weight that's going on
to your feet if you are a defensive lineman or
an offensive lineman in this case, Christian Wilkins being one
of the better defensive linemen in the league, and I
just I know that they built this defensive line out
to try to get him to compliment and free up
even more opportunities for Max Crosby as much as possible.
They're a little bit thin, a lot of young guys
(16:36):
behind him, so this is going to be one to watch.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
There was some good news there on the defensive line
that Malcolm Koontz, who's coming off at torn acl is practicing.
And they also added an old Pete Carroll. I was
gonna say favorite, but was Jabal Adams a favorite of
Pete Carroll's in Seattle? I didn't think so. But he's
now a member of the Raiders. So just a couple
little nugs before we get to our interview. Michael park
(17:00):
Parsons is also sitting out of practice with a quote
unquote back injury. It seems more like a contract related thing, yea.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
He told our colleague Jane Slater. He told her that
he was protecting himself a little bit, but also wanted
to be there for his teammates do everything possible versus
other than like put his body in danger.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
It was very funny seeing Trevon Diggs, who said his
feelings were hurt by them taking away this five hundred
thousand dollars bonus for not showing up. That's not what's funny.
I totally understand that. It was funny to me him
being at Parsons media availability and just kind of standing
there and every once in a while being like, yeah,
that's messed up and stuff like that. He was very
(17:41):
much like the flavor flave to Michael Parsons Chuck d
and was just kind of like rallying, like how messed
up it is how they're treating Parsons. So they were
almost presenting a united front. I love that stuff. A
couple other just news and nuggets. Julian Blackman, who's been
on my top one to one free agent's list over
the years a couple of times, was signed by the
(18:01):
Saints to replace Tyron Matthew. The Panthers cut Josie Jewel.
I feel really bad for him. A concussion that he
hasn't been able to overcome is really affecting him. The
Titans saw one of their Ed rushers Lorenzo Carter, who's
had a really solid career retire at the start of
training camp. There's always a couple of those guys and
(18:22):
then a few more puplisters.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That just caught my eye.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Kay Walker had an ankle surgery over the off season.
That the Packers linebacker Lagerious Snead is still not ready
to practice. Darren Waller coming off that retirement is not
ready to go. Elkton Jenkins is very similar to the
maybe Parsons situation where maybe it's contract related and then
Taysom Hill is still not ready to go for the Saints.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yeah, you sprinkled in Taysom Hill there at the end.
I was watching the Google doc. I was like, oh, yeah,
Taysom Hill. So yeah, the Darren Waller think he told
local reporters over there in Miami that they just were
going to onboard him gradually at his age and also
having spent some time out of football making music videos.
That's obviously important on board slowly, you know.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Yeah, he was very reflective and.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Was talking about sometimes he was not being the man
that he was saying that he was and not really
walking the walk when he was talking to talk and
he was talking very specifically about his recovery from addiction.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
So we really wish Darren Waller the.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Best with Frank Smith, by the way, as somebody who
was a really strong figure for him during that time.
I know we talked about it on a previous show,
but those two back together, hoping for the best for
him in that journey and sort of self discovery and.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Might have a really big role for that Dolphins team
who is looking for some more offensive weapons outside their
top two receivers. So I had to get this into
the show. We didn't have time for it with Colleen,
and we'll be quick on it. But Philip Rivers suddenly
retired again on Monday, officially as a member of the Chargers.
Now officially, he actually had retired a couple of years.
(19:59):
He hasn't played in the NFL since twenty twenty, but
every year you saw those stories where Philip Rivers is
coaching a high school team and he's like, Hey, if
anyone wants to call, I want to play. So it
actually took him a little while to officially retire. But
the Chargers are actually practicing fully in pads of the
first team to do that in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
This week.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
They had one on Tuesday, They're gonna have another on Wednesday.
So I think that all matched up. And man, I
love me some Philip Rivers, and they did such a
good job with this, like video of Rivers announcing how
he wanted to retire as a member of the Chargers.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Thankful for the most sixteen years and for and trusting
me to be the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
And certainly never took it for granted. No, keep fighting,
just keep fighting. I never took it for granted.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Didn't suit up and leave the charters for shoot two
hundred and forty something games in a row. Let's take
a break onll that.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Oh golly, I'm not a I'm not ashamed to say
that when Rivers was saying golly, and he cries earlier
in that video too. It's getting a little misty up
in Santa Monica me watching that. One of my favorite
players and I think one of the most underrated players
of his generation.
Speaker 3 (21:14):
Yeah, it's interesting. I have some longtime friends who are
San Diego Chargers fans who were San Diego Chargers fans
who have been disappointed for a couple of years just
about everything, the move and all of that. But one
thing everyone can agree on is Philip Rivers and the
fact that the team and himself collaborated on this, the
(21:36):
fact that they're practicing in San Diego in the Harbaugh regime.
You know, it speaks quietly and also loudly of the
efforts that are trying. They're trying to do as an
organization and as a team. And Philip Rivers is like
this universal. I mean, I could listen to every single
micd up of him that's ever existed. I could listen
to him read the dictionary as long as he sprinkled
(21:58):
in his version of expletives gosh, golly all darn.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And one of the And I love all that about
him too, And we're going to go to break with
him actually kind of talking about some of that trash stock.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
But also just the way he played football I think
brought people in. I mean, I don't think he was
a gun slinger, because I don't think he made He
wasn't reckless, but with that throwing motion to be as
vertical a quarterback as he was, he is still one
of the all time leaders in NFL history in yards
per attempt And he's going to be up for the
(22:30):
Hall of Fame soon and like, if Eli Manning makes
it ahead of Philip Rivers, I'll go insane because at
every single point, in every single year of their career,
the entire NFL would have taken Philip Rivers over Eli Manning,
and Philip Rivers got MVP votes a couple of times
he was top five quarterback.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I would say, never miss Ames.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
I did the QB Index and stuff, and he was
very often a top five quarterback throughout his career, probably
six seven, eight years of his career, which to me
is not you know, stamp him into the hall right away,
but it means it's a guy that will probably get
there and should get there eventually, and was certainly a
better player than Eli Manning.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I'm I'm just saying.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
And when he pointed out and it is one of
the things they lost moving from San Diego. The atmosphere
and what he remembers is riding down that hill into
Qualcomm and the parking lot San Diego charges fans used
to get grief. It was one of the best atmospheres
in the entire You would smell they would be tailgating
the entire day. You would smell that food. You would
smell that weed and it was just thousands and thousands
(23:32):
of people and it was an incredible atmosphere. And they're
essentially renting this Sofi stadium and that's one thing they've
they've really lost, and I think was really unfortunate. I
don't think that should be lost either. So when Rivers
said that, that really stuck with me because I was
at one of the last games, last couple games at
Qualcomm and it was just awesome happen.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
And let's be clear, he is a San Diego Charger
until the end. Because this. I know I'm not the
only one cares about this, but sometimes it feels like
these little gestures just get so lost in are just
collective zeitgeist and all the things that happened all the time,
But the class with which he showed the local newspaper
(24:12):
people that covered him for so many years for the
San Diego Union Tribune. He announced his first retirement to
the local columnist who had covered him for so long,
been in the trenches, watched him grow up, essentially Kevin Ace,
and I will never forget that that was a big
moment for somebody of that platform to go to the
local people versus the national platforms to announce something that significant.
(24:36):
It just that homy vibe that Philip Rivers always had,
that like that locality. I feel like it was just
a big part of who he was.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Great dude, I almost kind of forget he was an
LA charger taking the you know, the trip up to
up the four h five and through some big time
touchdowns to Mike Williams, who just retired this week. I
remember in that game against Kansas City in Arrowhead. We
will be back on the other side of the break
with lou Keikley. But yeah, let's first listen on the
(25:03):
way out to Rivers talking a little trash good night.
There's some clips that I'll look at and just shake
my head.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Gord I go dang hounds.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I'm just having fun. Yeah, is there an edginess to it?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
You know?
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Are you trying to get under the skin of the opponent?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Of course?
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Is there someone who is just a lot of fun?
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Number fourteen, Luke Keickley.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Yick to top ten, third five, right side AJ one.
There's little Chickle up there.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
That's little Chicky, very quiet, goes onto the field, flips
the switch, won't it thy?
Speaker 6 (25:46):
Alright?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
I'm all over him. Hey, we gotta go now shut.
Speaker 7 (25:54):
Ain't nobody know you? Third and three and here the
comments kick Lee who gets them back at the.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Nine favorite blitz shit in.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
These linebackers open side and Luke Keighley just so fast.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Luke Keith clep.
Speaker 7 (26:08):
He reminds me of Peyton Manning, guy that is totally prepared,
that is going to know what's going to happen before
it takes place because he has studied so much. On
second down, Rombo looking to throw has time, sings it
and it's.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Intercepted at the thirty eight yard line. Keith Lee has it.
Speaker 6 (26:23):
He's gonna go into the house.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
HiT's the second pick six of the game for the
Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Yes, my choice as the number fourteen player of the
last twenty five years. The great linebacker of the Carolina Panthers,
Luke Keighley is joining the show. And Luke, you've been
out of the game now for five years. I'm sure
you're not thinking at the time. You know, when you're
(26:50):
winning Defensive Player of the Year in your second year
and you're making these big plays and leady a super
bowlun like I hope I get on a list in
five years on some podcasts that might beat writer Jordan
Rodriguez on but you were on that list, and can
you at least look back and maybe not about the list,
but but enjoy the body of work that you put
out there as a player back then.
Speaker 6 (27:11):
Yeah, it makes me feel It makes me feel old.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
You feel like you just got out of the NFL
and it's it's been five full years. I'm going into
year six being out and it's, Uh, you watched those
videos and you're like, man, I looked so.
Speaker 6 (27:24):
Young in those pictures. But h man, it was. It
was so fun I had. I had.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
That's the thing that I tell everybody is I had
so much fun playing the game of football. I loved
being in Carolina. I loved Ron Rivera, all the guys
in our team we were super close with, and it
was a special time for me. It was a special
time for my family, and I think I was just
so fortunate to have the opportunity to play in Carolina
for that team, for that organization, inside of that defense.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
I think it really helped me during my career.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Yeah, you know, Luke, I remember my first day, you know,
scared out of my mind by the way young journalists,
young be going into this team of absolute superstars. And
I was talking to your pal JJ Jansen last week.
He's still going somehow, I mean, long snapper and linebacker
a little bit different, but somehow he's the iron Man still.
(28:14):
And just to me, you seemed so veteran at that time,
and yeah, you'd been in the league for a while.
We were the same age, but you seemed beyond anything
I could even comprehend because of the level that you
were playing at and because of how everybody in that
locker room respected you, but you were able to cut
loose with them and vibe with them a little bit too.
(28:35):
I remember the first day I walked in, music was
playing Tolbert. I think had brought the boombox in. Yeah,
it just those days were so much fun, and it's
cool that you remember him that way.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
Yeah, we had such a good group, and I think
that's really what it came down to. And I got
into the locker room as a twenty one year old player.
Our best players were our best guys, and you know,
you look at the older guys in the team that
we're just our dudes were Steve and Jordan Gross, and
then that middle tier group of guys that I really
(29:07):
grew up behind and learned from and modeled my game after.
You know, you look in my room, it was Thomas
and then Charles Johnson, and then you know, on the
offense side of the ball was Greg and Khalil and
Stu and we just always had really good veteran guys
and beasts. Was in that room. You know, my first
(29:27):
couple of years in the linebacker room, you saw what
it looked like. Not only did I have success on
the field, but you saw what it looked like to
handle yourself correctly off the field as well, and in
meetings in the locker room with the media in public.
And so when I got into the NFL, it's like, hey, look,
I want to have success like John Beeson and Thomas
Davis on the field, and you know, I'm going to
(29:49):
watch how they practice, how they prepare, And then you know,
you get in the locker room and you look around
the locker room. You know, guys like Thomas with his charity,
and you know Greg Olsen is what he does with
the heart, with his with his foundation.
Speaker 6 (30:02):
It's just unbelievable what they're able to do.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
And you say, hey, I want to be a lot
like those guys, and what can I do to to emulate.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I kind of want to get into, like what made
you know you stand out as a player, because I
thought it was interesting in that clip to hearing Tony
Dungee said, you're like a Peyton manning on the defensive side.
Obviously like your speed, speeding explosiveness, they pop, but it
felt like watching you sometimes you were half a step
ahead with what a broadcaster we'll call instincts. But I
(30:31):
know a lot of preparation goes into that. So maybe
like walk through for a listener what it took preparation
wise to to get to that point.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
I think a lot of it started when I was
in high school. So when I was in high school,
or head coach Steve Spet he's actually still coaching there now,
won a bunch of state championships throughout his time at
Saint Xavior.
Speaker 6 (30:53):
He would bring guys in during lunch and we'd go
bring our luncheon.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
To the to his office and he'd put on an
old v HS tape And now I'm sounding old, but
you put a VHS tape on or a DVD or
whatever it was, and we'd watch the team that we're
getting ready to play against. And when you're in high school,
you don't really know what you're doing. You don't know
what you're looking at. But every once in a while,
SPEC would be like, Hey, look like this is one
(31:17):
of their top concepts. This is what defense I anticipate
us being in. Would just talk through responsibilities, run fits,
pass responsibilities, where we need to be. So then the
game would roll around and you know, you'd be like, wow,
like here's that. Here's what Speck was talking about. And
a lot of times for me early on, I know
(31:38):
what happened after the play was over, so the play
would happen, I'd be like, oh, man, that was that
play that he was talking about. But then what it
did teach you was, hey, if I prepared during the
week and I'm prepared to pre snap and I know
what's going to happen, I can be one step ahead.
So I wasn't very good at putting it all together
as a young freshman or you know, young high school kid.
(31:59):
But then when you got the college, then it's all
digital and I can sort everything. I can sort you know,
personnel groupings down in distance situations, who's in.
Speaker 6 (32:08):
The game, all of that stuff.
Speaker 7 (32:10):
And I had an older guy that I learned from
named Wes Davis that was a big tape guy, and
he did the same thing that spected, Hey, here's a look,
here's a play, here's a formation. This is how we're
going to be lined up on the defense side of
the ball. This is what we need to do to
be to have success. So then I really kind of
learned it from a young age, and then going into
(32:30):
in the college, I had access to way more information
and data and you know, resources, and I learned a
lot from Wes, and then I took that as a
freshman through my sophomore, in my junior year, and then
when I got to Carolina, it was just I was
just continuing to try to refine my pre pregame routine
and my preparation and I think we always talked about
(32:51):
what how are you able to differentiate yourself before the
ball gets snapped and you know, rest recovery, are you
in good shape, you are you healthy? And then you know,
obviously this one the preparation side of where do I
need to be, where do I fit inside the defense?
And then ultimately what is the offense trying to do
to us?
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah, including, by the way, preparation to the point where
I remember the story Ron Rivera likes to tell where
he made you go home on Christmas because you are
the only one with the light on in the tape room.
By the way, Yeah, no one.
Speaker 6 (33:21):
My parents weren't town you saw.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I'm like, hey, longer as much time as you can get, Luke.
When as you're in the league, you know, because in
part of defense is like yours and and like what
you guys were able to do in Carolina, the league
started changing faster than ever, and these coaches of these
younger coaching trees started coming up and taking from you know,
(33:44):
the Shanahan's, the mcvays, from the older patrons of that
offense and trying to like literally move you because and
other talented and signed linebackers because of what you were
so able to do and how you're able to affect
the game and all of these pre snap motions and
at snap motions and these shifts and these formations started
(34:04):
really taking over and changing offense faster than ever. So
how did you surf that wave? Because preparation was always
such a gift of yours and understanding the cycles and
the philosophical shifts of the league when it starts moving
faster than ever for somebody who is the quarterback of
the defense, how did you try to keep defenses from
(34:27):
being reactive and more so assertive.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
I think we always.
Speaker 7 (34:31):
Thought about was we need to have our feet set
when the ball is snapped right, So, you know, you
look at you referenced all these guys, the Shanahans and mcveigh's,
La Floors and McDaniels, Ben Johnson in Chicago now and
the list goes on with you know, there's a pre
snap shift and then there's a motion and then on
the when the ball is snapped.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Like you said, you nailed it.
Speaker 7 (34:51):
What they're trying to do is get guys moving sideways
pre snap, and when the ball gets snapped.
Speaker 6 (34:56):
They're not able to get downhill right away.
Speaker 7 (34:59):
So what we always talked about was, you know, what
is the final formation off of this motion? So once
that guy goes in motion, get to your new alignment immediately,
get your feet set, put your eyes on your new key,
and go. I think when people get in trouble is
they they're following this jet motion and they're moving sideways
(35:19):
and they're high and their feet aren't set and they're
looking at the wrong thing, and then the ball gets
snapped and their eyes are on the wrong key and
they have a they're slow to pick up you know
what the play concept might be.
Speaker 6 (35:32):
So our thought process always.
Speaker 7 (35:34):
Was get aligned, get set, have our feet in the ground,
and be able to put our foot in the ground
and get vertical and get downhill right.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Like watching some of the tape that we're showing if
you're watching us on YouTube, is a lot of look
Eegley in coverage, and I think that is what you
symbolized for a lot of people watching the game, was
this new type of linebacker. It was almost a transition
back when the other linebacker on this list, ray Lewis,
(36:03):
was playing from run stopping as your primary objective too.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You have to be able to read.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
The keys in coverage and that was obviously a strength
of yours. Like when you look at the game today
and even back when you were doing it, kind of
what were the keys to being a complete linebacker that
can survive because it's become one of the toughest positions. Luke,
I'm sure you've seen in the NFL where now there's
only one of you on the field a lot of
the times because it's so hard for linebackers to survive
(36:33):
in that part of the game and coverage.
Speaker 7 (36:35):
I think, you know, I think I'm gonna go back
to the scheme. You know, I've talked a lot about
scheme in Carolina. And the one guy that allowed me
to do what I did really well, which was I
felt like I was better in past coverage. We had
a really good blitzing linebacker and Thomas Datus And that
was the big thing for me that was super helpful.
Speaker 6 (36:53):
Was I rather playing coverage and Thomas rather pressure.
Speaker 7 (36:57):
And our coaches understood that and knew that and weren't
too proud to say, you know what you like doing that,
TV like doing this, let's kind of make it work.
Speaker 6 (37:05):
So I think I think that helped me a lot.
Speaker 7 (37:07):
And then, you know, the one thing when you get
line when you play inside linebacker, especially early in my career,
you get matched up on tight ends a lot. You know,
you're on tight ends, you're on the number three receiver,
a lot of stuff is going over the middle of
the field, and you know, we always had we always
had Greg And so you're in OTAs and training camp
and I always trained with Greg in the offseason, and
(37:30):
to have somebody like Greg that you got to practice
against who was the best tight end in the NFL.
He could do everything he could. He was vertically fast,
he had great feel in zone coverage, he knew how
to get open in small places. But then he can
also be in line and block and you wouldn't come
out of the game. You got you got a really
good feel at least you know, we did on the
defense side of the ball for what a real tight
(37:51):
end looks like, what it feels like. A guy that
not only physically can do it, but mentally was way
above everybody else. So I think that helped me a
lot as well, was just having the opportunity to practice
against a really good player in Greg my whole career.
And then, like I said, Thomas was the pressure guy,
so I could sit back and coverage and let Thomas
go do his thing.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
I'm a sucker for just hearing who were like the
toughest guys to go against. So you had Greg Olsen
in practice, but you mentioned you're always lined up against
tight ends who were some of the toughest that you
had to face. Between a tight end and a quarterback,
while we're here.
Speaker 7 (38:25):
Yeah, I mean, I you know, tight ends and quarterback.
I think I'm going to kind of go to a
different direction. I thought Marshawn Lynch at the running back.
Speaker 2 (38:32):
Oh, yeah, was as big of a challenge.
Speaker 7 (38:36):
I felt like that we had on a consistent basis.
Obviously they were not a division opponent of us. Obviously
they're an NFC team, but we played them pretty much
every year and sometimes twice a year in the playoffs.
When I was playing in Carolina and he was so
he hit so many natural physical abilities from I felt
(38:57):
how he was built to his power, in his speed
and how he ran the ball. He was kind of wide.
He had a very wide base, and it allowed him
to get very lateral very quickly. He could sink down
in his hips, so he could change direction really well.
He had great bursts, but he could also put his
shoulder down and run right through. So it was one
(39:17):
of those guys where you had to really be smart
with how you attacked him and what angle you attacked him,
because if he got you head up, he had so
many tools in his pocket that he could do. He
could put his head down and run through you. He
could slow speed you down slow. You know, he could
slow down, speed up, He could put a stiff arm
in your chest and push you away or just run
away from you. So and he was built so physically
(39:38):
strong and thick and dense, and he and he ran
with an edge, and he was a fun guy to
play against. But when you when you played against Marshawn Lynch,
You're like, man, I better buckle it up, because this
is a real running back.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Yeah, it's I think those were some of the most underrated,
like became a rivalry. Really not a lot of people
talk about that. Everyone talks about divisions and conferences that,
but you guys in the Carolina and the Seahawks, I mean,
the trash talk was unreal leading up to those games
and in those games, and the energy was insane.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
Luke.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
I know we're running on time here. But when I
covered you, I did a story about you and fly
fishing and your hobby and one of your passions, and
you said something that I have never forgotten and it
broke my heart at the time listening to it because
it was so real about what your life was like
at that time. And for those listeners who don't know
(40:32):
fly fishing is such a meticulous craft and you are
natural for Luke because you study so much about the
movement of the river and the movement of the patterns
of the ecosystem around you. And you have to tie
your own flies, and the real fly fishermen tie their
own flies. But you told me, and this crushed me,
that you couldn't tie your own flies during football season
because your hands were so messed up. It killed me.
(40:55):
I've never forgotten it about the physicality and the sheer
dedication to year craft have to ask, can you finally
tie your own flies?
Speaker 2 (41:03):
And do you still tell you what?
Speaker 3 (41:05):
You know?
Speaker 6 (41:05):
What?
Speaker 7 (41:05):
It's whatever you said? Five six years out, I feel
pretty dagon good. Announced there's not much that I can't
do physically, which is hopefully stays that way for a
long time.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
And yeah, as we mentioned, you're you're on the show
in park, you know because you and Jordan have a
history together, but mostly because, yeah, you were on this list.
So let's let's put up the list here for a second.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
You were.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
You were number fourteen on our list. I mentioned like
the the other linebacker on the list was was ray
Lewis there up there at eight? I got a lot
I got heat from Panthers fans.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
He's not high enough. Kickley's got to be higher. And
then some people are like, he got.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Heat for me, Luke, he's not high at us.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
You don't have to admit Jordan had had nothing to
do with the making of this list. I said, don't,
don't falter, but that that's pretty great. I mean, it's
tough when you have all time legends, you have Hall
of famers ahead of you and and behind you. I know, uh,
you will be a finalist for the Hall of Fame
this year. The way it works now, they revealed you
were in the top seven last year, so you're automatically
(42:05):
a finalist this year.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
So we wish you luck.
Speaker 1 (42:08):
And to me, this isn't even greater honor than the
Hall of Fame there, Luke, So congratulations.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
My god, this is what I deal with.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
Luke.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Come on now, this is come.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
On, like, appreciate you coming on the show. Thanks Luke.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
Yeah, thanks guys, thanks again to the great Luke Keigley.
And before we say goodbye to this show, I want
to announce something I'm very excited about that Jordan Rodrieg
is not only going to be back with NFL, daily
for another season, but is going to be with us
(42:41):
more often in an expanded role. Like you wanted more,
Jordan rodrig you got her. She will be part of
the show. We're hoping three times a week all season long.
I'm really excited.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Please don't tell me yes.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
So congrats. I'm really excited. It's one of the things.
Speaker 1 (42:58):
Obviously, we've been talking about this a long time, our
vision for the show, and I look at it as
our vision, you having a a big.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Voice in that.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
I just I'm grateful. I mean, I feel like, I mean,
the first day on the show kind of out of nowhere,
being you know, at you calling me asking if I
could help out, and me thinking it was just going
to be a short term thing, and crying, and of
course becoming the person that feels all the things all
the time on the show. I just I've learned so
(43:28):
much and I like working with you because, first of all,
you're so supportive, and you're such an advocate, and you
say you said recently, you said recently on the show
you're trying to get better at taking compliments. So this
is a test for you here. I mean, you changed
my life, honestly, and I've said that to you before,
and I never thought I could get an opportunity to
(43:51):
do this in this studio. That means a great deal
to me to sit in and to sit in more
frequently than I was last season. And I just want
to keep getting better, and I want to keep sharing
with people how much love I have for football and
how much joy I find in even the mundane, tiny
(44:11):
details of football. And I want to thank you and
and the folks that I heard, and NFL media and
everybody's been so invested in helping me get better. And
I just want to keep growing.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
And we're going to do that. It's going to be
onwards and upwards and kind of related to that. Yeah,
Jordan's on the show Thursday, so get used to.
Speaker 3 (44:32):
Oh I'm going to sit right between you and Bridge
at Condon.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
Oh yeah, we're having really.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Wilt in my chair as they trained. It'll be fine,
Northeast Bostonian insults.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
It'll be fine. Yes, we're going to talk a little
bit on Thursday show. Of course, update you with all
the news, but we're also introducing you to the corridor
of insert look when when we're getting a big contract
sign not just the NFL teams to start training cam Man.
You know football is back pumped. Jordan's gotta be with
(45:02):
us three times a week.
Host
Gregg Rosenthal
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