March 9, 2021 • 50 mins
The Lions new general manager and North Carolina A&T grad joins Steve and Jim to talk about why trading for Jared Goff won’t stop him from drafting a QB at #7 overall, if there’s a good fit (37:51). It’s a wonder Brad got the job considering he wasn’t on the Lions initial candidate list (15:21). Now in the head seat, he talks of being intentional in building a diverse coaching staff (20:49), strengthening the GM diversity pipeline (18:25) and why he’s good with the knee-cap-biting energy of his head coach Dan Campbell (23:20). Plus, Dak Prescott gets his $160 million pay day and Steve and Jim are all the way here for it (00:46).
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's a Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors and
you're you're watching watching the podcast. It's a Stephen Curry
from Golden State Warriors and listening to the Huddle and
Flow podcast. We're here once again on the Huddle and
(00:31):
Flow podcast. Brought you by into it the produc makers
of Turbo Tax, QuickBooks and Mint. I am Steve White.
You with my dude, Jim trot Our, two thirds of
the Howard University Mob Our producer Thomas Warren on the
ones and the twos he completes the Howard Mob Puzzle,
and Jim, we are here on franchise tag day right
with the Dallas Cowboys. They learned their lesson last year
(00:52):
after the franchise Dak Prescott, and they saw that price
tag go where it is because on Monday they signed
him to a four year, one dred and sixty billion
dollar deal. Jim with a hundred and twenty six million guarantee.
That got his Yeah, and we knew he was gonna
(01:12):
get a Steve either way. He was sitting in a
great position. If he doesn't sign a long term deal
this year, he gets nearly forty million in salary this
year to go with the thirty plus he had last year,
So he's sitting in a great spot either way. And
what I love about this again is this is a
player betting on himself and winning. You know, Kirk Cousins
(01:35):
set that model for quarterbacks in my opinion a few
years back, with the way that he did it, playing
on the franchise tag and back to back years forcing
teams to pay him what he wanted and give him
what he wanted. And you go back even further than that,
I think back to Nomindi awesome back in in the day,
you know, the corner where he was playing on back
to back franchise tags. I believe and and had all
(01:57):
the leverage and used it. So to me, this is
another lesson to players that you have leverage, you have power,
you know, use it. I get why they take certain
deals because careers in the NFL are so finite and
you gotta make your money while you can. But if
you're willing to bet on yourself, this shows you can
be successful in terms of getting everything you want. And
(02:19):
as you say, you know, you and I have talked.
It's funny that now we say he got a long
term deal, it's four years he's young enough. He's gonna
be backbiting at that apple real soon at a time
when these television contracts have kicked in and the salary
caps should jump exponentially. So Dak Prescott, he's doing all right. Tonight,
(02:39):
he is doing all right. And Jim, in a few minutes,
we're gonna be joined by Lions first year general manager
Brad Holmes, so we're gonna talk to him about some
of the machinations of of what he's got to do
with his club, including a franchise tag situation. Why receiver
Kenny Golladay looks like, uh, he can be the guy
that they're really gonna try to target if they decided
to go that route. But as you said, Jim, Dak
(03:00):
is gonna be thirty one when this deal expires, which
means they'll probably revisit a renegotiation the year before. Can
you imagine what salaries are are are going to be like?
And this also brings up an interesting conundrum because now
the Baltimore Ravens are seeing this any year where the
cap number goes down, but because Lamar Jackson has two
(03:21):
years left on his deal, they can wait another year.
He's still on his rookie deal. They can wait another
year to get this done. But you wait another year,
DA's averaging forty it's gonna be forty two forty three.
Do you think in any way this would be a
driving impetus for the Ravens to try to come to
(03:41):
a longer term deal this year with Lamar instead of
waiting a year. I'm not sure, Steve. This Lamar situation,
to me is somewhat unique. From this standpoint. They have
built that offense around Lamar. Um, he has a very
unique skill set and that coaching staff has done everything
to make sure that he succeeds using that skill set.
(04:04):
Are other teams willing to build their offense around Lamar?
It's not that simple as with Dad. Dad can play
in virtually any system you know. Um, he has mobility,
he works well from the pocket. Um, he's more quote
unquote traditional, if you will, then Lamar is So I'm
the Lamar Jackson situation more than Dak or any other
(04:27):
quarterback is the one that truly intrigues me because if
a team, let's say he were to hit the open market,
right and I'm not saying he will, but let's say
he did hit the open market. Are you, as a
franchise willing to revamp your offense to fit his skill set?
And if you're not, then why are you going to
pay him a lot of money? And that's why I
(04:48):
say it's interesting how how this is gonna play out.
I'm fascinated by it to be. To be honest with you, Well,
I bet you the Chicago Bears would. I bet you
there's some coaches one in the Green Mile and he'd
be like, we'll take him, We'll pay him. It will
see if you can figure that out. Yeah, but it's
it's see, that's the thing what you just said, we'll
see if we can figure it out. The Ravens had
figured it out. They brought in Greg Roman, you know
(05:10):
who ran um that R p L system so well
with Colin Kaepernick and and everything that they have done
is to fit Lamar for another team to say we'll see,
I'm not so sure that's the right way to go.
You gotta say not, we'll see, but we know. And
that's why I say it. It's it's gonna be a
fascinating situation. Um. And look, I'm not saying this to
(05:32):
say Lamar doesn't deserve his money. He does in my opinion,
I'm just saying you and I know the business of
the NFL, and for instance, with Dak, it never should
have taken this long for Dak to get done, but
it did. And therefore, even with Lamar, I'm not so
sure it'll be cut and dry that it will be
a simple negotiation and gets done quickly or at a
time where where he wants or even the team wants.
(05:56):
And what's the most intriguing thing about the Dak Prescott situation, Jim,
It took a season ending injury for them to realize, Okay,
we need him long term because we're not going anywhere
without him, and we're not in a situation where we
can with Mike McCarthy as our coach. We're trying to
figure out what he is, go ahead and make that
change at quarterback and not have the type of certainty
(06:18):
that we absolutely want, all right, Jim, So we we've
talked about Dak, we talked about the situation. We had
a great special guest here and Brad Holmes, one of
the three black general managers who was hired this year.
He comes um, he had a great story behind him,
and he also comes from the Rams. He was the
director of college scouting. So um, I can't wait to
get to him to see if maybe his expertise in
(06:39):
college scotting he's gonna help him in a year where
the access to some of these players in these prospects
has been really limited. Jim. So on that note, let's
get to Lions general manager Brad Holmes. All right, Jane,
we're John by our special get today new Lions general
(07:01):
manager Brad Holmes and Bratt what what was so much
of the podcast? And you know, we gotta get started.
We got keep a realized to jump. Now you're you're
you're a n T a anti Aggie, we're Howard Man's
I love But you know what time it is? Well,
you know I will say, now it's been some I'm
watching this. I'm watching this Howard University. You know Banner
(07:26):
back there behind Jim, and it is giving me some flashbacks.
I never forget the first year. I want to say,
I was a sophomore. We played um, we we played
Ted White and uh he was I never forget. You know,
we had a pass rusher Chris me Neil. You know
that was a Bucky Cannon Award Winners Hold Directors for Saxon.
(07:48):
He hit Ted White and Ted White fell down and
he just started doing push ups around and I was like, Okay,
this is a different, different guy. But and I saw
Ted White at the QB something in Atlanta a few
years ago and had reminded him about about that same time.
But you know, definitely some some some battles there are
highly highly respected, a lot of a lot of great players,
(08:10):
a lot of great memories on those battles with Howard.
You know, Brad, I wanted to ask you something just
before we get into anything serious here, but there were
two first time minority jams higher this year in terms
of yourself and Terry Fontino, and both of you began
your careers either in the marketing department or the PR department.
(08:31):
So is that now the pipeline, the road to becoming
an NFL GM to go through the marketing or PR department.
You know, it was cool when because I did not
know that about Terry until til just recently when I
found that out, which I thought was really really cool.
But you know, it's just another you know, it's just
another you know, story and just another way just of
(08:54):
like it's it's it's it's hard to get in. Man,
it's hard to get in the league and it's all
about who you know. And you know, when I came
out of college, you know, I thought I had in
in a connection and I couldn't get in at all. So,
you know, luckily that I had, Luckily, I had a
degree in pr to utilize to get in with not
(09:18):
even the NFL, but with the NBA. I had to
take that route and get a media relationship training job.
You know. Arthur Trish hired me, you know, as a
mere relations training and he he introduced me to Dwayne
Lewis with the Rams, and I'm at the NBA All
Star Game and had to start my my path there
and met Wilber Montgomery my my first year during there,
(09:39):
and he introduced so a longer journey, a longer path,
but I will say it did actually worked out perfectly
because I've always had a passion to write and so
even higher passion for football. So it just kind of
just messed perfectly in terms of when I first started
up being able to write scouting reports. It was it
was a but I'm happy for Terry, you know, but
(10:02):
that was cool to hear that he had to take
a little bit of a different route as well. At
the begin you picked up, you picked a good year
to be in the Hawks PR department. That the All
Star Game was in Atlanta that year and that was
last All Star Game, right I was there. Okay, so
then I killed it. I think Kobe ruined it all,
(10:27):
you know what. That same year, Um, so when Jordan
was with the Wizards, he actually you know, they came
to Phillips Arena and one of my jobs as a
me to trainee was to do the visiting locker room
postgame quotes. And you know, I had the old school
recorder and the big not not the not the new
(10:47):
advanced ones that are tiny like the big thick ones.
And I never forget I recorded the post game you
know quote with Jordan's and just kept that thing with
the taping and all, and just taped it up. Acted
up and said, I am never getting rid of this thing.
It's got to be I mean, I'm really getting it
to my son and maybe you know, give it to
hit something. But you know, um it was one of
(11:09):
the greatest, one of the greatest moments because it was
Jordan's last last one and it was that was one
of the things I never ever forget Well, are you
still have it? Still have it to this day? Got
the recorder, got a note on it, says Michael Jordan's
postgame interview. Still have Yeah, incredible, man. I don't think
(11:30):
I have any of the tapes, you know, because I
covered those Washington teams for a couple of years and
working in DC. I don't think got anything other than memories,
you know, because I mean I get rid of stuff
that I get rid of it. But but you know,
you you talked about who you know um and and
how much that helps in this process. And you know,
Jim and I we have talked about inclusion and you know,
(11:52):
trying to get rid of the cronyism and things like this.
But when you talk about who you know with your
pat and talked about how Wilber Montgomery got you into
this when you were in St. Louis with the Rams.
But along that way, who else did you meet who
continued to advocate and be an ally to help you
get to where you were in positioned to get this shot. Yeah,
(12:15):
that's a good question. So there's guys that you know obviously,
Like I mentioned that, Wilber Montgomery just kind of introducing
me to Charlie arm and giving my shot. But once
I got once I got into and I also I
brought up Arthur Trish obviously who introduced me to the
right place of getting the rams. But when I got
(12:35):
into scouting. Um, you know, there were some mentors that
you know, I still um, I still view them as
a mentors today. In terms of Lawrence McCutcheon, you know
of him taking the time out to really show me
the ropes and you know, the dudes and the don'ts
to to to be successful, and you know, like a
Dick Daniels, you know, he was the one that actually
(12:58):
you know, took me, you know, down to All Star
games and took the time out to say, look, this
is how you created something. This is how he started
in because they actually saw something in me that motivated
them to want to take the time out and show
me how things are done. I owe them everything. UM.
I still tell them to this day. They're strong mentors. UM.
(13:21):
I wouldn't be at the level that I'm at now
without without their help, without their guidance, without their mentorship.
And then even along the way, you know, obviously had
a lot of influential people. Um our assistant GM reagnew. Um,
he's he's actually been with me the entire time I
was with the Rams, and you know, he he's been
(13:43):
a mentor, you know, since I've been to me, and
just his wisdom and his faith and him as a
human being has has has has served me very very
well throughout my journey. And then you know, as the
journey climb, you know, then you start, you know, meeting
up you know, a less need who's had a lot
of influence, you know, on on my career, and you know,
(14:06):
it's offered a lot of insight and been extremely helpful
to get to where I've been at. You know, brand
I'm curious there are some who are on the fast
track for a gam job, and then there are others
who have to wait nearly two decades. Why do you
think you have to wait that long? Uh? You know, Uh,
it's all about I think it's a little bit of timing,
(14:28):
It's a little bit of opportunity. Um, but I do
think that you know, you know, sometimes it says that
you know that I was on the fast track, and
you know that I can climbed the ladder rather quickly,
and then some others, you know, it takes a little
bit longer, um, but but hopefully just um with you
(14:51):
know these hires, you know, with seeing these younger gems
especially that's have had success, especially with you know, this
is says that Andrew Barry has had as a recently,
the success that Chris Greer has had as a recently
you know, um, and then hopefully you know Terry myself
can you know, have similar paths to have those opportunities
(15:15):
provided quicker and then not having to wait. But you know,
I've always said that, you know, uh, what was very
telling in this process is when you know, which I
was unaware of, was at my introductor press conference that
Sheila Hemp said that I was not even really on
the initial radar. Is is on the list? And so
(15:38):
and I was very telling you that's like, wow, how
many other people which I know so many others are
qualified and justified to to to be in this chair.
But it's just about when you're gonna get that that
that opportunity and also timing as well. But Brad, did
you ask her or have a conversation about why was
not on that list? Not so much for you person,
(16:00):
no league, but for as you say, there are others
out there who are qualified and their names are not
on that list either. Have you have you ever sat
down with her and asked, why wasn't not on that list? Yeah?
So she you know, they actually get those lists from
different different outlets, you know, from some from the league office,
(16:21):
you know, different you know, um advisors search from with
those initial lists. And I have been told before prior
to it that I wasn't on you know, certain les
quote unquote list, and so I was always wondering, well,
if I'm not on a list, then how do I
get But the one thing that the one opportunity that
(16:42):
I did get was to get a video interview, uh
for you know, inspiring gms and head coaches at the Combine.
And I did one, you know, about eight years ago,
and um, actually, you know, I of my first year
as a director of a college director and I actually
(17:03):
felt like I didn't do a great job at it,
you know, and um, I was like, now I'm not
on any lists. And then I get this opportunity to
do this video interview, and you know, me being hard myself,
I'm like, now I'm really not going to get an
opportunity if someone sees that. But I got an opportunity
to do it again and felt a lot more confident,
had a lot more knowledge, And that was actually the
(17:26):
way that I was able to get on the list
because Mike Disner saw that video interview and so you know,
I think that's one outlet to you know, that can
be utilized heavily. So regardless of whatever list it is,
you know, to have that opportunity to do that video
inteview at the combine Um definitely had bode well for
(17:47):
me to get my opportunity. I'm just curious how much
to do other diverse as aspiring jams talk about this,
because to me, there are a lot of talented people
out there who all they need is an opportunity. They
paid their dues, So if the process is such that
(18:08):
they aren't even being discussed among the people who are
making these decisions, there needs to be a real conversation
about how do we get them in a position to
be discussed or to be known about. Do you all
sit back and have those conversations? Yeah, And you know,
I'm glad you brought that up because I truly think
(18:29):
that you know, it's it's always it's always talked about
at the very top of GM and and I was like, well,
lack of diversity at the end of GM share, which
which it is. That's that's very clear, you know, even
coming to this one before, you know, tearing myself in
(18:50):
Martin where we're hired, you know, it's you know, you know,
having two black gems, that's that's that's low. And then
but I was looking at well, it's low of only
having one black assistant gem, you know, across the league.
And so you know why you're having these conversations that
why you know the opportunities aren't coming. Okay, then you
(19:13):
got to shift the conversation up. Okay, well what can
I can can control? And then what can I actually do?
So when I was given the opportunity, uh, the first
thing is you know, to to higher more diversity, to
have another black assistant gem, and not just because of Ray,
(19:35):
just because now because Ray I knew was black, he
is extremely qualified and justified. Just as we talked about that,
there's others out there that are very very qualified. But
that's the part that I could do to help strengthen
the pipeline, because if the pipeline isn't strengthened, then the
top is not is gonna still be be be very
(19:56):
very low. So you know, I do think that hopefully
we can continue to strengthen the pipeline. There's a lot
of avenues um that are being exercised. Not the results
that we want, clearly, but the main thing is that
we can't give up either, you know, and we can't
sender our hands, but we're just kinda gonna have to
keep pushing to find there's more opportunities and avenues. Yeah,
(20:21):
Brad on that. You know, I did talk to Ma
Shila ford hamp about a week ago or so when
she talked about how she made it a point to
tell people we are casting as wide a Vanetta as possible,
a diverse Anetta's possible. That's on Mike Disner, she said.
Mike Disner came up and said, you've got this archive
video that she needs to look at, and that's how
they found you. And I love what you just said about, Hey,
(20:44):
it's our job to kind of go out and try
to increase the pipeline. We look at your your your
Dan Campbell's coaching staff as well. You know, we got
black coordinators, You've got black coaches all the way through,
and you know, was that intentional as well? In terms
of when you and Dan talk like, hey, we need
to do this, or we say like, oh no, Aaron
(21:06):
Glenn is somebody who should be a defensive coordinator. Anthony
Lynn has shown himself, although he's not an eight tea anymore,
he should be an offensive coordinator for us. And how
is that decided on? Yeah, no, you know, it's that's
a great question. And when when when Dan and I
first talked about you know, staffing, and this is this
(21:26):
is before uh, Dan and I even had the job.
We we were talking about and he was kind of
going over potential guys that he would be able to
add to his staff. And then you know the people
that I vetted more, you know, speaking with other guys
that had coach with Dan, you know, and one of
the things that kepp was a recurring theme that kept
(21:48):
hearing about staff and you know, ability to create a
great staff. And what kept hearing is that oh, no
coaches would be would be run into coach with with
with Dan. So when when it got even deeper, we
both got in these shares and we're talking about staff.
The names that he was bringing up was just like
(22:10):
like almost to the point was like can you really
get can you really get them? Like come on, you know,
I mean like like me and Rod Wood were to
you know, Rob Wood, Rob, Like if you said that
you were gonna get that entire staff, I wouldn't even
believe you, you know. But you know, I will say
that it wasn't like an approach of like we have
to get these guys because of these are former players,
(22:33):
or because these are diverse candidates. But you know, he
truly was trying to find the best, you know, and
I think that the coordinators they found in place that
Aaron Glenn he was going on you know, head coaching interviews.
You know, Anthony Lane to have been a prior head
coach for Dan, that is a first year head coach,
you know, and the success that he has you know. Um,
(22:56):
but so those are the things that just trying to
find the best guy eyes that it's been phenomenal. Um
it's been a phenomenal staff that Dan was able to
put together. And um again, uh, great not only great coaches,
but you know, great human beings. And it it's been
a real joy just to come to work every day
(23:17):
and get getting to know these guys more brand you know,
I gotta ask you about coach campbell Um, particularly that
introductory press conference. I've never heard the head coach get
up in front of the media and talk about biting
people's kneecaps. It just sat there. What is going through
(23:37):
in your mind when you heard that? You know? The
only thing it was two things that I was happy
I was. I was happy that I went first and
I didn't have to follow up after that. But the
second thing was that it was cool to actually be
sitting front row live at that because I never got
texted my wife afterwards and I said, I literally felt
(23:58):
like I was front row at a concert. You know
what I mean, like just just but it is Dan
being Dan. I mean that energy, that energy and passion
and that just determination and grid it is that is
not that is one authentic, genuine that is Dan. Now
(24:19):
it's not knee caps bitten off on a regular everyday basis,
but that kind of energy and passion and juice that
he brings that is legit in his life, that every day.
And I couldn't be happier though two to work with
Dan on a regular, everyday basis. Yeah. I got a
few texts from players who know him well and they're
excited for him. But even they were like, that's that's
(24:43):
a bit much there. So you know, um, but but
but Brett, he hasn't comment down he came, I wouldn't laughing.
I love how we're beat heads. I love how people
are are saying this. I mean, I just think it's
great how you guys are let him be him, Like, hey,
you don't listen, i' be doing here. You guys are
letting him be in him. I mean that's kind of great.
Oh yeah, no, he is, like you know, we had
(25:05):
you know, we we often obviously, um, you know, we
we speak often with the Ford family, and you know, Dan,
Dan starts going and it's like, you know, it's it's
it's been virtual a lot of times, and you know
it's just I just look at you know, Sheila's siblings,
is that they're all ready to strap on and play
(25:26):
after Dan just gets going. And it's the same thing
with me. It's like me and Dan are going over
roster and just like at the end of the meeting
after an hour, I'm just like all right, I'm I'm
juiced up, I'm I'm ready to go. So you know, again,
it's totally authentic, and you know, it's it's it's never
in it, but it's been it's been fun, been very
fun so far. You know, brand they get to on
(25:50):
some serious notes here about football. Um, I know you
can't talk specifically about the trade until it actually is official,
but I think we can ask you what is it
that you saw that makes you believe that God is
a better fit for you all than than Matthew Stafford was,
Because again being frank, I think most people on the
(26:11):
outside are gonna say they believe that Matthew Stafford is
a better quarterback than Jared Goff. So from your standpoint,
why make that both Well, you know he's not on
the roster yet, you know, so you know, I I
can't be at liberty to speak with you know, speak
(26:31):
about you know, either one that aren't on the roster,
but you know, um, but but I can Matt is
still on the roster now right, Well, you know Matt,
Matt uh very very and I've said this before, Matt
very talented quarterback and you know, um, going going through
(26:54):
going through the process and me you know, even taking
the job, you know, being being excited to work with
with with the quarterback of of his skill set and
talent level, but you know, um, but but that but
at the end of the day, you know, um, you know,
you know, uh, it was best for both and I
(27:14):
do think that you know, um, wish them all the best.
But you know, obviously can't really discuss further in terms
of that regards. Can you discuss whether or not it
was a long term move for a short term move? Uh,
in terms of what being best for the organization? Uh? Yeah, definitely. Um,
I think every everything that I would say, not even
(27:36):
I think, um, everything that all decisions made are always
best long term for the organization, whether it looks you
know from the outside on the surface that it looks
more immediate and right now. And you do have to
you can't ignore the present because you have to compete
in the present. But you know, but but it's always
(27:57):
with the long term vision in mind. But I'll frame
it this way, because you did come from the RAMS.
I mean, you were part of the front office that
drafted Jared Goff. So in your time with the Rams,
who were some of the qualities that Jared Goff showed, right,
I mean he did he was a quarterback in for
Super Bowl team. What were some of the qualities that
(28:17):
Jared goff show, which makes him a viable legitimate starting
quarterback in this league. Well, you know, to have familiarity
with with a player, um obviously is huge. And you
know the things that Jared shows is obviously the number
thing to show up is toughness. And you know that's
(28:38):
you know, that's that that's one that's one aspect that
uh maybe overlooked at times, um, but that's the ones
that's always you know shot out to me is in
terms of of his toughness and his ability to his
armed talent, ability to throw you know from you know,
different levels and and and platforms, and you know, being
(29:02):
a winner, you know, and winning a lot of games. Uh.
You know when you talk about wins, you know, and
and wins and not only the regular season but in
the playoffs. Uh and in the postseason you know, you know,
off current quarterbacks, he brings up there at the top. Uh.
So UM, that's you know, having those familiars and having
(29:24):
those traits about him. Um, you know maybe maybe makes
you very excited, you know, Brad, the this podcast is
gonna drop on Tuesday, March nine, which is a deadline
for the franchise tag Are you any closer to making
your decision on what to do with Galaday. Yeah, that
will be uh, out of respect of the process. Um,
(29:46):
you know we'll we'll keep that in the house. No,
that's not to say that we're sliding into home plate,
you know, trying to catch the bell. But you know
that's out of respect of the process. Um, you know,
we're just gonna have to you know, everybody will see
what the decision will be made with Dolla day. Are
(30:06):
the negotiations on a long term right now? With respect
to the process, I can't say that. You know, he's
no first time GM him. He's got he's got it down.
There will be no need our background training and understanding there.
(30:28):
Well let me tell you this though. So let's let's
kind of look at the draft and we're hearing and
you know, Jim and I talked to people and things
like this, The fact that so many of the prospects
right some didn't play a full season, some played against
diminished rosters because players opted out. Things like that. Do
you think because of your lineage is as the head
of college scouting, where you've been on guys for years,
(30:50):
that that is going to help you through this draft
process because you've got a book on so many of
these guys firsthand, and the spots where you're gonna be
drafting this year. Do you think that really kind of
gives you an edge and a climate like this, Yeah,
I actually do. Um, you know, it was it was
cool just even you know, going going through you know,
even the interview process, you know, and just feeling confident
(31:14):
that you pretty much know the draft class. You know,
if if players were to come up, and you know,
if the conversation even leaned that way. But even being
in this chair now for in terms of what the
first month of being on this job, first two months
being on the job has demanded. Um, the preparation and
(31:36):
knowledge that you know that I have on the college
draft landscape has helped me tremendously. You know. It's interesting, Brad,
when you talk, you talk a lot about intangibles and
that being important and a player even more so than
the physical traits and whatnot. And I think it's it's
fair to say you can miss both ways, either overvaluing
(31:59):
physical traits or even overvaluing potentially the intangibles. How do
you balance the two. Yeah, that's a great question, because
I do. I do harp highly on intangibles, but you
do have to have a baseline of talent, you know,
so um, it always I mean, it is the NFL.
So there's not like, um, you can just have you know,
(32:21):
a great leader, you know, great teammate, but you know
he's he's lacking the physical traits that's needed and required
to to to play in the NFL. So there there
is a balance. Um. But what's interesting this year I
think is that because there wasn't any real combine, you know,
and that you know, um, even the Pro Day is
(32:44):
gonna be a little bit more in a restricted base
that you are gonna have to make sure that those
intangibles and that really reliability factor is is right, and
it's high just because of the uncertainty even after the draft,
you know, in terms of off season and that whole thing.
So I do think the intangibles and the reliability factor
(33:07):
is still high. Um. But I do actually kind of
like the fact that you're gonna have to lean more
on if the guys can play football or not. You know,
is it it's gonna be a little bit less of
um ays go back to like Taylor rap you know, Uh,
when when I was with the Rams, we drafted him,
and you know he had everybody was high from a
(33:29):
football player in tangible aspect, but then that forty time
came out and then everybody kind of got whoa, whoa whoa. Well,
you know you felt good about the intangibles, you felt
good about the football player on tape, and you felt
good about taking him what you did. I say the
same thing about you know, when I was with the
Rams and you know we drafted Cooper Cup. You know, Um,
(33:51):
it was like when the workout process came on and
the forty times and the numbers started coming to play,
then that's when Brooke up started getting a little soured on.
But because of all the investment that we did in
researching Intel from any tangible standpoint in which he saw
of him playing football, Um, it's it's not any mystery
(34:14):
that he's had the success that he's said. No, I
was gonna say, I always love what Ozzi Knewsome has
always said to me that that he gets away from
all of that, he turns on the tape and the
table tell him everything in east to know. And the
thing I look at in the scouting process. Look, everybody
thinks they're a scout now or a GM with fantasy football.
We know that, but it's so obvious what an inexact
(34:37):
science it is when you think about, and you've been
around him for a while now, a guy like Aaron
Donald could got overall and he's the most dominant player
in the NFL today at any position regardless. And and
we on the outside sit back and sometimes and say,
why didn't people see this in the draft process? What
was it that made them allow a guy like that
(34:58):
to fall down the thirteen? You know? Can you speak
to that in terms of whether or not if one
team passes on a player, do others then begin to
get a little spooked or do they rely too much
on the measurables as opposed to the tape? Yeah, And
it's with with with Aaron Donald, you know in that
(35:20):
process is that you know, obviously extremely talented. Uh that
that's easy people. When you talk about intangibles, it's about
as high as I've ever seen it, you know, when
you talk about you know, work ethic, you know, football, character,
all all of those things. Um, probably argably the hardest
(35:40):
worker that I've that that I've ever been around. On
top of the talent, but jem I have seen where
I have witnessed when the players starts to tumble, You know,
you get a little like, what don't I know why?
Like I thought he was gonna go here. Now he's
starting to take a tumble. So now you're getting on
(36:01):
the phone and trying to wonder. But you know, um
going back to uh, you know, you're going back to
that intangible piece on top of the um, on top
of the talent is that you know, you obviously don't
have a crystal ball, like you said, it's an in
exact science. But you know when you go to a
pit and you go to a practice and the coach
(36:24):
tells you to go out to practice early but doesn't
tell you why, and then you go out to practice early. Uh,
such as what I did at pit when Aaron Donnard
came out and you see Aaron Donald sitting in the
practice bubble with just him in the in the specialists,
and he's taped up and he's has his twitch about
(36:44):
him that he's been waiting for practice all day like
he's that's all he's been wanting to do is so
to practice. And so when I saw that, and then
the coach says, no, did you come out early? I said, yep,
he said, did you see it? I said, yep, That's
all I needed to see. And so then telling that,
then that's when you feel good. And even with that,
a guy like that is that you know, and this
is with any player if that if there's something that
(37:07):
is about you know, maybe the level of competition, say
a guy comes comes from an HBCU and or say
you know a guy that's he's undersized for that position
or whatever that case is, Well, he's got to check
so many boxes in terms of not only the intangibles,
but any opportunity he's given of an All Star Game,
(37:29):
the Senior Bowl, he's got to win that. And then
next it's the Combine, he's got to win that. Then
next the pro that he's got to win that. And
so those are your opportunities there that you have to
take advantage. And usually when you do take advantage and
you win those those opportunities and those circuits, that's what
we call it. Plus you have the intangibles and you're
usually in good shape. There. I got one more frecus.
(37:52):
You know, we gotta get you out. We're hitting you
on time. But just you know, from from and your
evaluations and everything and just kind of looking at you guys,
You and Dan and Ray and everybody want to go
there this draft. Are you necessarily out of the quarterback market? Oh? No,
I wouldn't know, absolutely not. Um. You know, I don't think.
(38:13):
I don't think when you're picking this high, uh, that
you can be out on any position. But obviously quarterback
is such an important position. And you know, I just
think it's good. It's good drafting business always to be
be to be very very thorough on that quarterback class,
regardless of what your situation is. UM. You know, always
(38:36):
when I was with with the Rams, always said that,
you know, always regardless of which you had at quarterback,
and even especially now you know it's it's it's the
same approach, and you know it is a good crop
coming out this year. UM. But you know it's definitely
not a position that will be ignored by us, um,
by any means. Can I ask one quick question about
(38:59):
going back to dam can, but real quick, when you
think of your time with the Rams brand some of
the coaches you saw since since moving into the director position,
you're talking about Mike Martz, Scott Lenahan, Spagnolo, Fisher McVeigh,
What did you learn from watching all of those coaches
in terms of determining what makes a successful head coach
(39:21):
and who you would want as a head coach. Yeah, well, definitely,
the leadership aspect was number one in terms of UM,
you know, having the ability to make players believe into
what you're selling and then and not really just what
you're selling, but what you're saying. And you know, UM,
to have a presence in the room when you get
(39:43):
in front of them, to have the poise to have command, um.
You know, those are the things that I think are
extremely important. Also, you know, having the mental toughness, you know,
to actually go through you know, the the NFL is hard.
I mean it is hard, and you know, everybody is
optimistic right now, but the reality is that season gets rough.
(40:06):
And then when that season gets rough, you know, uh,
the head coach that's the facing voice of the football
team has to have that mental toughness to actually make
sure that he's staying up and actually can get through
those ups and downs. So the leadership and the mental
toughness UM is huge components that I've seen from past
(40:26):
head coaches that I've been around. UM obviously been been
fortunate enough to be through a lot of regimes. And
then obviously, um those are the same, you know, uh,
I say, traits that I was looking for in terms of,
you know, being paired with the head coach, and Dan
definitely has those traits of leadership, presence and mental toughness.
(40:49):
All right, Brad, Hey, you know I wish we'd talking
for a lot longer. Again, we know you gotta play
things to do, getting the draft boards right, you getting
ready for free agency and all that good stuff. So
we're gonna circle back in a couple of months. I
right to love, No, this has been great, man, I love.
I can chop it up with you guys for plenty
more time. But obviously I gotta run. But you know,
(41:10):
let let's definitely circle back in. Let's let's just do
this again for sure. It's been a pleasure. And then
and then in the fall, we're actually gonna do this
the weekend after both Howard's and A and T's home coming,
and we are going to set the record straight because
you went to Rico and come with this. We whole business.
My barometer is this until a rapper drafts a we
(41:34):
hope into a hit song, y'all are Howard when it
comes to home coming, You got it. I was waiting
for that to comb at some point about versus A
and T home coming. But I still say geehoe is
the best number one. But I totally respect how our
own coming. That's been a staple ever since I was
(41:57):
young and totally respected. And you know it's arguable that
you guys are still holding the crown. But you know,
we'll just see where're at now. You're not even gonna
west that time. We're not even west that time on
that stage. Come on, said, I didn't say geehot. I
thought when you said we, I thought that was something
(42:17):
that Hu had going on. I mean, I'm not sure,
but a weedhol is but greatest homecoming on earth. You
you know what Jeeho is. It is just that. And
now this time for us to say goodbye of the
Detroit oh man. He was hanging out up at up
(42:38):
at Howard's home coming, you know, sliding in under the radar,
taking it in, you know when he was you know,
we played Howard. I want to say, it might have
been nine that you guys came up for us for
home coming there, but that might have been that might
have been one of the greatest wins there, which we
(42:59):
actually oh yea all one because you guys got a
couple of years before, like I said, with the Ted
White uh Marquees, Douglas was a penetrating demons to tackle.
That was the problem to deal with. So you guys
have players on both sides of the ball. Man, there
was some good matchups. Steve. What we gotta do is
we gotta go back and get his travel itineraries from
(43:20):
when he was scouting and and mess that up with
when Howard's homecoming was. And I bet we'll see a
lot of a lot of trips to d C around
hours coming. It's all good, hey, Brad. So as we
get on the next one, we're gonna do that. You're
gonna tell the stories because I've seriously spoken to scouts
were like, hey, I'm gonna make sure to spend two
(43:41):
extra days after the mayor California go to Napa getting
like a Nappa wine tour. Had to be after when uh,
when Brandon Parker came out. I just so happened to
be making the trails through you know, North Carolina, and
I just happened to go to uh n C State
and had to go to that old triad area, and
(44:03):
it just so happened that I had to see Brandon
Parker live and it just happened to be it was homecoming.
So that's just I can't do anything about. Yeah, just
going to I had to fish sandwich afterwards. I say
you that much, so Ambo Sauce. All right, hey, Brad,
we appreciate you man, good luck with everything, and we're
(44:26):
looking forward to our next conversation. I really appreciate thanks
guys for having me. Thank you, Thank you man. I
appreciate you. Thank you, Steve. I know you had a
relationship with Brad Holmes prior to this year. I hadn't
spent much time around him and yet to meet him,
but um, just a really interesting guy who seems to
(44:48):
be very firm into what his beliefs are and what
his approaches in terms of team building and and having success.
So from that standpoint, I'm I'm eager to see what
he's able to accomplish because, as we said on the
front end of the show, this is a fan base
that deserves some success. And look, only three playoff appearances
(45:10):
in the last twenty one seasons haven't had a playoff
win since I mean we're talking three decades basically exactly.
So I'm I'm eager to see what he can do
with this group. And look, we know they're allowing Dan
Campbell to be Dan Campbell, and a lot of people
(45:31):
want to make fun on the outside and whatnot, But
that coaching staff that he has as symboled it's for
real and there's a lot of experience both playing and
coaching on that staff. And and I'm talking about NFL
playing and coaching, and so I think the players are
going to be in a great situation in terms of
what they can learn from these guys. Right. We heard
(45:53):
at a new secondary coach and passion game coordinator last
week with Jealen Ramsey said, are we pleasant? You know
what he's gonna do for Jeff Vlkuda and really shaped
those guys. So, I mean, there's just so many people
um that they are gonna help out this franchise and
those players. I really two things that really took from
Brad Holmes is one of was him being intentional and saying,
(46:13):
if I become a general manager and I'm one of
a handful of black general managers in this league, I've
got to put some black people at the top of
the food chain as well as at the bottom, which
is why he went out and hired Ray Agnew as
his assistant general manager because now he's in line to
get a job when it comes open. Plus he's somebody
I trust. He's got a ton of experience who could
(46:34):
help me shape this roster. I also found it very
intriguing to him at the end when I asked him,
are you out of the quarterback market when it comes
to the draft, right, they just traded for Jared Goff,
young guy, big contract, played in the Super Bowl, but
they're holding the seventh pick. Now. Brad had been playing
the savvy GM talking about, Okay, we're not out of
(46:56):
the quarterback market, but you can come get this pick
if you want, or you know, it could be something
like maybe they're really interested and use more of those
picks to get a quarterback. Well, I think two things
to what you said. Number one is psycho Terry Fontlo said, Um,
you never want to restrict yourself, and so you always
(47:17):
want to be in a position to take the best
player available if that surrounds you want to go. But
the other thing, to your former point about diversity in here,
it really disturbed me that he wasn't even on the
list initially, because again I'm saying, to the people who
are putting these lists together, who are you talking to?
(47:37):
You know, where are these names coming from? Because there
are others that you and I know who might who
do belong on that list, who weren't on it, and
that disturbs me. So if by chance that that that
video that he did, the virtual interview that he did,
the mock interview that he did some years ago, had
(47:58):
not surfaced, he would not have even been in play
this time around. And that's what's so disturbing to me
about this whole process is there are talented people out
there that folks who are supposed to know don't even know.
And and to me, that's just a problem that has
to be addressed and has to be fixed. Yeah, and
(48:19):
you know, you know, real quick before we get out
of here, just who's putting what lists? Are they're looking at?
Who's putting the list together? You know, Brad said there
are somebody the NFL, we know, the Fritz power Lines
and some of these diversity advocacy groups put together list.
Are the team seeing those are they including everybody on
the list? Because that's been an issue before, Jim where
there's been some really talented people who have not been
(48:40):
put on the list that some of these diversity advocacy
groups are giving these teams. So you know, you can't
put everybody on. But at the same time, when all
of a sudden Brad Holmes can be found, Well, the question, Steve,
in my mind is whose voices speak loudest. That's the
issue for me, who are you listening to? Because there
are a lot to people. I shouldn't say a lot.
(49:01):
I don't want to to be hyperbolic here, but there
are people whose names outsiders don't know who know who
the real talented people are in this league, but they're
not being talked to. Why because they don't have the
name recognition. You know, they don't have that cloud yet.
And that's part of the problem here. It's like they say,
(49:22):
it's like players say, game nose game, and it's the
same thing in the personnel world. You know, personnel people,
no personnel people. So stop talking to the traditional people
that you've always talked to and get out into the
weeds and talk to the people who are out there
doing the job that really know. And Jimmy, you and
I both know this because a couple of years ago
we did a show with Daniel Jeremiah on Black Monday.
(49:44):
You know, are you know former scout who works us
here at NFL Network. He said, oh, there's no pipeline.
I can give you twenty names of diverse candidates and
scouting pipeline off the top of my head. Those guys
are out there, but you need to go ahead and
button things up right here. So why don't you take
his home For all of you out there? Again, we
say thank you for listening, thank you for subscribing. Um,
(50:05):
continue to let us know who you want to hear from,
what you want to hear about. In that way, we
can continue to give you more of what you're funking for.
That's right. Today we deliver Brad Holmes a very good interview.
We're gonna circle back with him absolutely a little later
on the process, maybe after the draft, to see what
the Detroit Lions did. All right again, Huddlefull Podcast brought
(50:28):
you by into it the prodummakers of Mint, Turbo Tax
and quick Books for my guys, Jim Trotter and Thomas Warns.
On the one and two. I am Steve White. We
are the Howard Mob. And we are out
It's a Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors and
you're you're watching watching the podcast. It's a Stephen Curry
from Golden State Warriors and listening to the Huddle and
Flow podcast. We're here once again on the Huddle and
(00:31):
Flow podcast. Brought you by into it the produc makers
of Turbo Tax, QuickBooks and Mint. I am Steve White.
You with my dude, Jim trot Our, two thirds of
the Howard University Mob Our producer Thomas Warren on the
ones and the twos he completes the Howard Mob Puzzle,
and Jim, we are here on franchise tag day right
with the Dallas Cowboys. They learned their lesson last year
(00:52):
after the franchise Dak Prescott, and they saw that price
tag go where it is because on Monday they signed
him to a four year, one dred and sixty billion
dollar deal. Jim with a hundred and twenty six million guarantee.
That got his Yeah, and we knew he was gonna
(01:12):
get a Steve either way. He was sitting in a
great position. If he doesn't sign a long term deal
this year, he gets nearly forty million in salary this
year to go with the thirty plus he had last year,
So he's sitting in a great spot either way. And
what I love about this again is this is a
player betting on himself and winning. You know, Kirk Cousins
(01:35):
set that model for quarterbacks in my opinion a few
years back, with the way that he did it, playing
on the franchise tag and back to back years forcing
teams to pay him what he wanted and give him
what he wanted. And you go back even further than that,
I think back to Nomindi awesome back in in the day,
you know, the corner where he was playing on back
to back franchise tags. I believe and and had all
(01:57):
the leverage and used it. So to me, this is
another lesson to players that you have leverage, you have power,
you know, use it. I get why they take certain
deals because careers in the NFL are so finite and
you gotta make your money while you can. But if
you're willing to bet on yourself, this shows you can
be successful in terms of getting everything you want. And
(02:19):
as you say, you know, you and I have talked.
It's funny that now we say he got a long
term deal, it's four years he's young enough. He's gonna
be backbiting at that apple real soon at a time
when these television contracts have kicked in and the salary
caps should jump exponentially. So Dak Prescott, he's doing all right. Tonight,
(02:39):
he is doing all right. And Jim, in a few minutes,
we're gonna be joined by Lions first year general manager
Brad Holmes, so we're gonna talk to him about some
of the machinations of of what he's got to do
with his club, including a franchise tag situation. Why receiver
Kenny Golladay looks like, uh, he can be the guy
that they're really gonna try to target if they decided
to go that route. But as you said, Jim, Dak
(03:00):
is gonna be thirty one when this deal expires, which
means they'll probably revisit a renegotiation the year before. Can
you imagine what salaries are are are going to be like?
And this also brings up an interesting conundrum because now
the Baltimore Ravens are seeing this any year where the
cap number goes down, but because Lamar Jackson has two
(03:21):
years left on his deal, they can wait another year.
He's still on his rookie deal. They can wait another
year to get this done. But you wait another year,
DA's averaging forty it's gonna be forty two forty three.
Do you think in any way this would be a
driving impetus for the Ravens to try to come to
(03:41):
a longer term deal this year with Lamar instead of
waiting a year. I'm not sure, Steve. This Lamar situation,
to me is somewhat unique. From this standpoint. They have
built that offense around Lamar. Um, he has a very
unique skill set and that coaching staff has done everything
to make sure that he succeeds using that skill set.
(04:04):
Are other teams willing to build their offense around Lamar?
It's not that simple as with Dad. Dad can play
in virtually any system you know. Um, he has mobility,
he works well from the pocket. Um, he's more quote
unquote traditional, if you will, then Lamar is So I'm
the Lamar Jackson situation more than Dak or any other
(04:27):
quarterback is the one that truly intrigues me because if
a team, let's say he were to hit the open market,
right and I'm not saying he will, but let's say
he did hit the open market. Are you, as a
franchise willing to revamp your offense to fit his skill set?
And if you're not, then why are you going to
pay him a lot of money? And that's why I
(04:48):
say it's interesting how how this is gonna play out.
I'm fascinated by it to be. To be honest with you, Well,
I bet you the Chicago Bears would. I bet you
there's some coaches one in the Green Mile and he'd
be like, we'll take him, We'll pay him. It will
see if you can figure that out. Yeah, but it's
it's see, that's the thing what you just said, we'll
see if we can figure it out. The Ravens had
figured it out. They brought in Greg Roman, you know
(05:10):
who ran um that R p L system so well
with Colin Kaepernick and and everything that they have done
is to fit Lamar for another team to say we'll see,
I'm not so sure that's the right way to go.
You gotta say not, we'll see, but we know. And
that's why I say it. It's it's gonna be a
fascinating situation. Um. And look, I'm not saying this to
(05:32):
say Lamar doesn't deserve his money. He does in my opinion,
I'm just saying you and I know the business of
the NFL, and for instance, with Dak, it never should
have taken this long for Dak to get done, but
it did. And therefore, even with Lamar, I'm not so
sure it'll be cut and dry that it will be
a simple negotiation and gets done quickly or at a
time where where he wants or even the team wants.
(05:56):
And what's the most intriguing thing about the Dak Prescott situation, Jim,
It took a season ending injury for them to realize, Okay,
we need him long term because we're not going anywhere
without him, and we're not in a situation where we
can with Mike McCarthy as our coach. We're trying to
figure out what he is, go ahead and make that
change at quarterback and not have the type of certainty
(06:18):
that we absolutely want, all right, Jim, So we we've
talked about Dak, we talked about the situation. We had
a great special guest here and Brad Holmes, one of
the three black general managers who was hired this year.
He comes um, he had a great story behind him,
and he also comes from the Rams. He was the
director of college scouting. So um, I can't wait to
get to him to see if maybe his expertise in
(06:39):
college scotting he's gonna help him in a year where
the access to some of these players in these prospects
has been really limited. Jim. So on that note, let's
get to Lions general manager Brad Holmes. All right, Jane,
we're John by our special get today new Lions general
(07:01):
manager Brad Holmes and Bratt what what was so much
of the podcast? And you know, we gotta get started.
We got keep a realized to jump. Now you're you're
you're a n T a anti Aggie, we're Howard Man's
I love But you know what time it is? Well,
you know I will say, now it's been some I'm
watching this. I'm watching this Howard University. You know Banner
(07:26):
back there behind Jim, and it is giving me some flashbacks.
I never forget the first year. I want to say,
I was a sophomore. We played um, we we played
Ted White and uh he was I never forget. You know,
we had a pass rusher Chris me Neil. You know
that was a Bucky Cannon Award Winners Hold Directors for Saxon.
(07:48):
He hit Ted White and Ted White fell down and
he just started doing push ups around and I was like, Okay,
this is a different, different guy. But and I saw
Ted White at the QB something in Atlanta a few
years ago and had reminded him about about that same time.
But you know, definitely some some some battles there are
highly highly respected, a lot of a lot of great players,
(08:10):
a lot of great memories on those battles with Howard.
You know, Brad, I wanted to ask you something just
before we get into anything serious here, but there were
two first time minority jams higher this year in terms
of yourself and Terry Fontino, and both of you began
your careers either in the marketing department or the PR department.
(08:31):
So is that now the pipeline, the road to becoming
an NFL GM to go through the marketing or PR department.
You know, it was cool when because I did not
know that about Terry until til just recently when I
found that out, which I thought was really really cool.
But you know, it's just another you know, it's just
another you know, story and just another way just of
(08:54):
like it's it's it's it's hard to get in. Man,
it's hard to get in the league and it's all
about who you know. And you know, when I came
out of college, you know, I thought I had in
in a connection and I couldn't get in at all. So,
you know, luckily that I had, Luckily, I had a
degree in pr to utilize to get in with not
(09:18):
even the NFL, but with the NBA. I had to
take that route and get a media relationship training job.
You know. Arthur Trish hired me, you know, as a
mere relations training and he he introduced me to Dwayne
Lewis with the Rams, and I'm at the NBA All
Star Game and had to start my my path there
and met Wilber Montgomery my my first year during there,
(09:39):
and he introduced so a longer journey, a longer path,
but I will say it did actually worked out perfectly
because I've always had a passion to write and so
even higher passion for football. So it just kind of
just messed perfectly in terms of when I first started
up being able to write scouting reports. It was it
was a but I'm happy for Terry, you know, but
(10:02):
that was cool to hear that he had to take
a little bit of a different route as well. At
the begin you picked up, you picked a good year
to be in the Hawks PR department. That the All
Star Game was in Atlanta that year and that was
last All Star Game, right I was there. Okay, so
then I killed it. I think Kobe ruined it all,
(10:27):
you know what. That same year, Um, so when Jordan
was with the Wizards, he actually you know, they came
to Phillips Arena and one of my jobs as a
me to trainee was to do the visiting locker room
postgame quotes. And you know, I had the old school
recorder and the big not not the not the new
(10:47):
advanced ones that are tiny like the big thick ones.
And I never forget I recorded the post game you
know quote with Jordan's and just kept that thing with
the taping and all, and just taped it up. Acted
up and said, I am never getting rid of this thing.
It's got to be I mean, I'm really getting it
to my son and maybe you know, give it to
hit something. But you know, um it was one of
(11:09):
the greatest, one of the greatest moments because it was
Jordan's last last one and it was that was one
of the things I never ever forget Well, are you
still have it? Still have it to this day? Got
the recorder, got a note on it, says Michael Jordan's
postgame interview. Still have Yeah, incredible, man. I don't think
(11:30):
I have any of the tapes, you know, because I
covered those Washington teams for a couple of years and
working in DC. I don't think got anything other than memories,
you know, because I mean I get rid of stuff
that I get rid of it. But but you know,
you you talked about who you know um and and
how much that helps in this process. And you know,
Jim and I we have talked about inclusion and you know,
(11:52):
trying to get rid of the cronyism and things like this.
But when you talk about who you know with your
pat and talked about how Wilber Montgomery got you into
this when you were in St. Louis with the Rams.
But along that way, who else did you meet who
continued to advocate and be an ally to help you
get to where you were in positioned to get this shot. Yeah,
(12:15):
that's a good question. So there's guys that you know obviously,
Like I mentioned that, Wilber Montgomery just kind of introducing
me to Charlie arm and giving my shot. But once
I got once I got into and I also I
brought up Arthur Trish obviously who introduced me to the
right place of getting the rams. But when I got
(12:35):
into scouting. Um, you know, there were some mentors that
you know, I still um, I still view them as
a mentors today. In terms of Lawrence McCutcheon, you know
of him taking the time out to really show me
the ropes and you know, the dudes and the don'ts
to to to be successful, and you know, like a
Dick Daniels, you know, he was the one that actually
(12:58):
you know, took me, you know, down to All Star
games and took the time out to say, look, this
is how you created something. This is how he started
in because they actually saw something in me that motivated
them to want to take the time out and show
me how things are done. I owe them everything. UM.
I still tell them to this day. They're strong mentors. UM.
(13:21):
I wouldn't be at the level that I'm at now
without without their help, without their guidance, without their mentorship.
And then even along the way, you know, obviously had
a lot of influential people. Um our assistant GM reagnew. Um,
he's he's actually been with me the entire time I
was with the Rams, and you know, he he's been
(13:43):
a mentor, you know, since I've been to me, and
just his wisdom and his faith and him as a
human being has has has has served me very very
well throughout my journey. And then you know, as the
journey climb, you know, then you start, you know, meeting
up you know, a less need who's had a lot
of influence, you know, on on my career, and you know,
(14:06):
it's offered a lot of insight and been extremely helpful
to get to where I've been at. You know, brand
I'm curious there are some who are on the fast
track for a gam job, and then there are others
who have to wait nearly two decades. Why do you
think you have to wait that long? Uh? You know, Uh,
it's all about I think it's a little bit of timing,
(14:28):
It's a little bit of opportunity. Um, but I do
think that you know, you know, sometimes it says that
you know that I was on the fast track, and
you know that I can climbed the ladder rather quickly,
and then some others, you know, it takes a little
bit longer, um, but but hopefully just um with you
(14:51):
know these hires, you know, with seeing these younger gems
especially that's have had success, especially with you know, this
is says that Andrew Barry has had as a recently,
the success that Chris Greer has had as a recently
you know, um, and then hopefully you know Terry myself
can you know, have similar paths to have those opportunities
(15:15):
provided quicker and then not having to wait. But you know,
I've always said that, you know, uh, what was very
telling in this process is when you know, which I
was unaware of, was at my introductor press conference that
Sheila Hemp said that I was not even really on
the initial radar. Is is on the list? And so
(15:38):
and I was very telling you that's like, wow, how
many other people which I know so many others are
qualified and justified to to to be in this chair.
But it's just about when you're gonna get that that
that opportunity and also timing as well. But Brad, did
you ask her or have a conversation about why was
not on that list? Not so much for you person,
(16:00):
no league, but for as you say, there are others
out there who are qualified and their names are not
on that list either. Have you have you ever sat
down with her and asked, why wasn't not on that list? Yeah?
So she you know, they actually get those lists from
different different outlets, you know, from some from the league office,
(16:21):
you know, different you know, um advisors search from with
those initial lists. And I have been told before prior
to it that I wasn't on you know, certain les
quote unquote list, and so I was always wondering, well,
if I'm not on a list, then how do I
get But the one thing that the one opportunity that
(16:42):
I did get was to get a video interview, uh
for you know, inspiring gms and head coaches at the Combine.
And I did one, you know, about eight years ago,
and um, actually, you know, I of my first year
as a director of a college director and I actually
(17:03):
felt like I didn't do a great job at it,
you know, and um, I was like, now I'm not
on any lists. And then I get this opportunity to
do this video interview, and you know, me being hard myself,
I'm like, now I'm really not going to get an
opportunity if someone sees that. But I got an opportunity
to do it again and felt a lot more confident,
had a lot more knowledge, And that was actually the
(17:26):
way that I was able to get on the list
because Mike Disner saw that video interview and so you know,
I think that's one outlet to you know, that can
be utilized heavily. So regardless of whatever list it is,
you know, to have that opportunity to do that video
inteview at the combine Um definitely had bode well for
(17:47):
me to get my opportunity. I'm just curious how much
to do other diverse as aspiring jams talk about this,
because to me, there are a lot of talented people
out there who all they need is an opportunity. They
paid their dues, So if the process is such that
(18:08):
they aren't even being discussed among the people who are
making these decisions, there needs to be a real conversation
about how do we get them in a position to
be discussed or to be known about. Do you all
sit back and have those conversations? Yeah, And you know,
I'm glad you brought that up because I truly think
(18:29):
that you know, it's it's always it's always talked about
at the very top of GM and and I was like, well,
lack of diversity at the end of GM share, which
which it is. That's that's very clear, you know, even
coming to this one before, you know, tearing myself in
(18:50):
Martin where we're hired, you know, it's you know, you know,
having two black gems, that's that's that's low. And then
but I was looking at well, it's low of only
having one black assistant gem, you know, across the league.
And so you know why you're having these conversations that
why you know the opportunities aren't coming. Okay, then you
(19:13):
got to shift the conversation up. Okay, well what can
I can can control? And then what can I actually do?
So when I was given the opportunity, uh, the first
thing is you know, to to higher more diversity, to
have another black assistant gem, and not just because of Ray,
(19:35):
just because now because Ray I knew was black, he
is extremely qualified and justified. Just as we talked about that,
there's others out there that are very very qualified. But
that's the part that I could do to help strengthen
the pipeline, because if the pipeline isn't strengthened, then the
top is not is gonna still be be be very
(19:56):
very low. So you know, I do think that hopefully
we can continue to strengthen the pipeline. There's a lot
of avenues um that are being exercised. Not the results
that we want, clearly, but the main thing is that
we can't give up either, you know, and we can't
sender our hands, but we're just kinda gonna have to
keep pushing to find there's more opportunities and avenues. Yeah,
(20:21):
Brad on that. You know, I did talk to Ma
Shila ford hamp about a week ago or so when
she talked about how she made it a point to
tell people we are casting as wide a Vanetta as possible,
a diverse Anetta's possible. That's on Mike Disner, she said.
Mike Disner came up and said, you've got this archive
video that she needs to look at, and that's how
they found you. And I love what you just said about, Hey,
(20:44):
it's our job to kind of go out and try
to increase the pipeline. We look at your your your
Dan Campbell's coaching staff as well. You know, we got
black coordinators, You've got black coaches all the way through,
and you know, was that intentional as well? In terms
of when you and Dan talk like, hey, we need
to do this, or we say like, oh no, Aaron
(21:06):
Glenn is somebody who should be a defensive coordinator. Anthony
Lynn has shown himself, although he's not an eight tea anymore,
he should be an offensive coordinator for us. And how
is that decided on? Yeah, no, you know, it's that's
a great question. And when when when Dan and I
first talked about you know, staffing, and this is this
(21:26):
is before uh, Dan and I even had the job.
We we were talking about and he was kind of
going over potential guys that he would be able to
add to his staff. And then you know the people
that I vetted more, you know, speaking with other guys
that had coach with Dan, you know, and one of
the things that kepp was a recurring theme that kept
(21:48):
hearing about staff and you know, ability to create a
great staff. And what kept hearing is that oh, no
coaches would be would be run into coach with with
with Dan. So when when it got even deeper, we
both got in these shares and we're talking about staff.
The names that he was bringing up was just like
(22:10):
like almost to the point was like can you really
get can you really get them? Like come on, you know,
I mean like like me and Rod Wood were to
you know, Rob Wood, Rob, Like if you said that
you were gonna get that entire staff, I wouldn't even
believe you, you know. But you know, I will say
that it wasn't like an approach of like we have
to get these guys because of these are former players,
(22:33):
or because these are diverse candidates. But you know, he
truly was trying to find the best, you know, and
I think that the coordinators they found in place that
Aaron Glenn he was going on you know, head coaching interviews.
You know, Anthony Lane to have been a prior head
coach for Dan, that is a first year head coach,
you know, and the success that he has you know. Um,
(22:56):
but so those are the things that just trying to
find the best guy eyes that it's been phenomenal. Um
it's been a phenomenal staff that Dan was able to
put together. And um again, uh, great not only great coaches,
but you know, great human beings. And it it's been
a real joy just to come to work every day
(23:17):
and get getting to know these guys more brand you know,
I gotta ask you about coach campbell Um, particularly that
introductory press conference. I've never heard the head coach get
up in front of the media and talk about biting
people's kneecaps. It just sat there. What is going through
(23:37):
in your mind when you heard that? You know? The
only thing it was two things that I was happy
I was. I was happy that I went first and
I didn't have to follow up after that. But the
second thing was that it was cool to actually be
sitting front row live at that because I never got
texted my wife afterwards and I said, I literally felt
(23:58):
like I was front row at a concert. You know
what I mean, like just just but it is Dan
being Dan. I mean that energy, that energy and passion
and that just determination and grid it is that is
not that is one authentic, genuine that is Dan. Now
(24:19):
it's not knee caps bitten off on a regular everyday basis,
but that kind of energy and passion and juice that
he brings that is legit in his life, that every day.
And I couldn't be happier though two to work with
Dan on a regular, everyday basis. Yeah. I got a
few texts from players who know him well and they're
excited for him. But even they were like, that's that's
(24:43):
a bit much there. So you know, um, but but
but Brett, he hasn't comment down he came, I wouldn't laughing.
I love how we're beat heads. I love how people
are are saying this. I mean, I just think it's
great how you guys are let him be him, Like, hey,
you don't listen, i' be doing here. You guys are
letting him be in him. I mean that's kind of great.
Oh yeah, no, he is, like you know, we had
(25:05):
you know, we we often obviously, um, you know, we
we speak often with the Ford family, and you know, Dan,
Dan starts going and it's like, you know, it's it's
it's been virtual a lot of times, and you know
it's just I just look at you know, Sheila's siblings,
is that they're all ready to strap on and play
(25:26):
after Dan just gets going. And it's the same thing
with me. It's like me and Dan are going over
roster and just like at the end of the meeting
after an hour, I'm just like all right, I'm I'm
juiced up, I'm I'm ready to go. So you know, again,
it's totally authentic, and you know, it's it's it's never
in it, but it's been it's been fun, been very
fun so far. You know, brand they get to on
(25:50):
some serious notes here about football. Um, I know you
can't talk specifically about the trade until it actually is official,
but I think we can ask you what is it
that you saw that makes you believe that God is
a better fit for you all than than Matthew Stafford was,
Because again being frank, I think most people on the
(26:11):
outside are gonna say they believe that Matthew Stafford is
a better quarterback than Jared Goff. So from your standpoint,
why make that both Well, you know he's not on
the roster yet, you know, so you know, I I
can't be at liberty to speak with you know, speak
(26:31):
about you know, either one that aren't on the roster,
but you know, um, but but I can Matt is
still on the roster now right, Well, you know Matt,
Matt uh very very and I've said this before, Matt
very talented quarterback and you know, um, going going through
(26:54):
going through the process and me you know, even taking
the job, you know, being being excited to work with
with with the quarterback of of his skill set and
talent level, but you know, um, but but that but
at the end of the day, you know, um, you know,
you know, uh, it was best for both and I
(27:14):
do think that you know, um, wish them all the best.
But you know, obviously can't really discuss further in terms
of that regards. Can you discuss whether or not it
was a long term move for a short term move? Uh,
in terms of what being best for the organization? Uh? Yeah, definitely. Um,
I think every everything that I would say, not even
(27:36):
I think, um, everything that all decisions made are always
best long term for the organization, whether it looks you
know from the outside on the surface that it looks
more immediate and right now. And you do have to
you can't ignore the present because you have to compete
in the present. But you know, but but it's always
(27:57):
with the long term vision in mind. But I'll frame
it this way, because you did come from the RAMS.
I mean, you were part of the front office that
drafted Jared Goff. So in your time with the Rams,
who were some of the qualities that Jared Goff showed, right,
I mean he did he was a quarterback in for
Super Bowl team. What were some of the qualities that
(28:17):
Jared goff show, which makes him a viable legitimate starting
quarterback in this league. Well, you know, to have familiarity
with with a player, um obviously is huge. And you
know the things that Jared shows is obviously the number
thing to show up is toughness. And you know that's
(28:38):
you know, that's that that's one that's one aspect that
uh maybe overlooked at times, um, but that's the ones
that's always you know shot out to me is in
terms of of his toughness and his ability to his
armed talent, ability to throw you know from you know,
different levels and and and platforms, and you know, being
(29:02):
a winner, you know, and winning a lot of games. Uh.
You know when you talk about wins, you know, and
and wins and not only the regular season but in
the playoffs. Uh and in the postseason you know, you know,
off current quarterbacks, he brings up there at the top. Uh.
So UM, that's you know, having those familiars and having
(29:24):
those traits about him. Um, you know maybe maybe makes
you very excited, you know, Brad, the this podcast is
gonna drop on Tuesday, March nine, which is a deadline
for the franchise tag Are you any closer to making
your decision on what to do with Galaday. Yeah, that
will be uh, out of respect of the process. Um,
(29:46):
you know we'll we'll keep that in the house. No,
that's not to say that we're sliding into home plate,
you know, trying to catch the bell. But you know
that's out of respect of the process. Um, you know,
we're just gonna have to you know, everybody will see
what the decision will be made with Dolla day. Are
(30:06):
the negotiations on a long term right now? With respect
to the process, I can't say that. You know, he's
no first time GM him. He's got he's got it down.
There will be no need our background training and understanding there.
(30:28):
Well let me tell you this though. So let's let's
kind of look at the draft and we're hearing and
you know, Jim and I talked to people and things
like this, The fact that so many of the prospects
right some didn't play a full season, some played against
diminished rosters because players opted out. Things like that. Do
you think because of your lineage is as the head
of college scouting, where you've been on guys for years,
(30:50):
that that is going to help you through this draft
process because you've got a book on so many of
these guys firsthand, and the spots where you're gonna be
drafting this year. Do you think that really kind of
gives you an edge and a climate like this, Yeah,
I actually do. Um, you know, it was it was
cool just even you know, going going through you know,
even the interview process, you know, and just feeling confident
(31:14):
that you pretty much know the draft class. You know,
if if players were to come up, and you know,
if the conversation even leaned that way. But even being
in this chair now for in terms of what the
first month of being on this job, first two months
being on the job has demanded. Um, the preparation and
(31:36):
knowledge that you know that I have on the college
draft landscape has helped me tremendously. You know. It's interesting, Brad,
when you talk, you talk a lot about intangibles and
that being important and a player even more so than
the physical traits and whatnot. And I think it's it's
fair to say you can miss both ways, either overvaluing
(31:59):
physical traits or even overvaluing potentially the intangibles. How do
you balance the two. Yeah, that's a great question, because
I do. I do harp highly on intangibles, but you
do have to have a baseline of talent, you know,
so um, it always I mean, it is the NFL.
So there's not like, um, you can just have you know,
(32:21):
a great leader, you know, great teammate, but you know
he's he's lacking the physical traits that's needed and required
to to to play in the NFL. So there there
is a balance. Um. But what's interesting this year I
think is that because there wasn't any real combine, you know,
and that you know, um, even the Pro Day is
(32:44):
gonna be a little bit more in a restricted base
that you are gonna have to make sure that those
intangibles and that really reliability factor is is right, and
it's high just because of the uncertainty even after the draft,
you know, in terms of off season and that whole thing.
So I do think the intangibles and the reliability factor
(33:07):
is still high. Um. But I do actually kind of
like the fact that you're gonna have to lean more
on if the guys can play football or not. You know,
is it it's gonna be a little bit less of
um ays go back to like Taylor rap you know, Uh,
when when I was with the Rams, we drafted him,
and you know he had everybody was high from a
(33:29):
football player in tangible aspect, but then that forty time
came out and then everybody kind of got whoa, whoa whoa. Well,
you know you felt good about the intangibles, you felt
good about the football player on tape, and you felt
good about taking him what you did. I say the
same thing about you know, when I was with the
Rams and you know we drafted Cooper Cup. You know, Um,
(33:51):
it was like when the workout process came on and
the forty times and the numbers started coming to play,
then that's when Brooke up started getting a little soured on.
But because of all the investment that we did in
researching Intel from any tangible standpoint in which he saw
of him playing football, Um, it's it's not any mystery
(34:14):
that he's had the success that he's said. No, I
was gonna say, I always love what Ozzi Knewsome has
always said to me that that he gets away from
all of that, he turns on the tape and the
table tell him everything in east to know. And the
thing I look at in the scouting process. Look, everybody
thinks they're a scout now or a GM with fantasy football.
We know that, but it's so obvious what an inexact
(34:37):
science it is when you think about, and you've been
around him for a while now, a guy like Aaron
Donald could got overall and he's the most dominant player
in the NFL today at any position regardless. And and
we on the outside sit back and sometimes and say,
why didn't people see this in the draft process? What
was it that made them allow a guy like that
(34:58):
to fall down the thirteen? You know? Can you speak
to that in terms of whether or not if one
team passes on a player, do others then begin to
get a little spooked or do they rely too much
on the measurables as opposed to the tape? Yeah, And
it's with with with Aaron Donald, you know in that
(35:20):
process is that you know, obviously extremely talented. Uh that
that's easy people. When you talk about intangibles, it's about
as high as I've ever seen it, you know, when
you talk about you know, work ethic, you know, football, character,
all all of those things. Um, probably argably the hardest
(35:40):
worker that I've that that I've ever been around. On
top of the talent, but jem I have seen where
I have witnessed when the players starts to tumble, You know,
you get a little like, what don't I know why?
Like I thought he was gonna go here. Now he's
starting to take a tumble. So now you're getting on
(36:01):
the phone and trying to wonder. But you know, um
going back to uh, you know, you're going back to
that intangible piece on top of the um, on top
of the talent is that you know, you obviously don't
have a crystal ball, like you said, it's an in
exact science. But you know when you go to a
pit and you go to a practice and the coach
(36:24):
tells you to go out to practice early but doesn't
tell you why, and then you go out to practice early. Uh,
such as what I did at pit when Aaron Donnard
came out and you see Aaron Donald sitting in the
practice bubble with just him in the in the specialists,
and he's taped up and he's has his twitch about
(36:44):
him that he's been waiting for practice all day like
he's that's all he's been wanting to do is so
to practice. And so when I saw that, and then
the coach says, no, did you come out early? I said, yep,
he said, did you see it? I said, yep, That's
all I needed to see. And so then telling that,
then that's when you feel good. And even with that,
a guy like that is that you know, and this
is with any player if that if there's something that
(37:07):
is about you know, maybe the level of competition, say
a guy comes comes from an HBCU and or say
you know a guy that's he's undersized for that position
or whatever that case is, Well, he's got to check
so many boxes in terms of not only the intangibles,
but any opportunity he's given of an All Star Game,
(37:29):
the Senior Bowl, he's got to win that. And then
next it's the Combine, he's got to win that. Then
next the pro that he's got to win that. And
so those are your opportunities there that you have to
take advantage. And usually when you do take advantage and
you win those those opportunities and those circuits, that's what
we call it. Plus you have the intangibles and you're
usually in good shape. There. I got one more frecus.
(37:52):
You know, we gotta get you out. We're hitting you
on time. But just you know, from from and your
evaluations and everything and just kind of looking at you guys,
You and Dan and Ray and everybody want to go
there this draft. Are you necessarily out of the quarterback market? Oh? No,
I wouldn't know, absolutely not. Um. You know, I don't think.
(38:13):
I don't think when you're picking this high, uh, that
you can be out on any position. But obviously quarterback
is such an important position. And you know, I just
think it's good. It's good drafting business always to be
be to be very very thorough on that quarterback class,
regardless of what your situation is. UM. You know, always
(38:36):
when I was with with the Rams, always said that,
you know, always regardless of which you had at quarterback,
and even especially now you know it's it's it's the
same approach, and you know it is a good crop
coming out this year. UM. But you know it's definitely
not a position that will be ignored by us, um,
by any means. Can I ask one quick question about
(38:59):
going back to dam can, but real quick, when you
think of your time with the Rams brand some of
the coaches you saw since since moving into the director position,
you're talking about Mike Martz, Scott Lenahan, Spagnolo, Fisher McVeigh,
What did you learn from watching all of those coaches
in terms of determining what makes a successful head coach
(39:21):
and who you would want as a head coach. Yeah, well, definitely,
the leadership aspect was number one in terms of UM,
you know, having the ability to make players believe into
what you're selling and then and not really just what
you're selling, but what you're saying. And you know, UM,
to have a presence in the room when you get
(39:43):
in front of them, to have the poise to have command, um.
You know, those are the things that I think are
extremely important. Also, you know, having the mental toughness, you know,
to actually go through you know, the the NFL is hard.
I mean it is hard, and you know, everybody is
optimistic right now, but the reality is that season gets rough.
(40:06):
And then when that season gets rough, you know, uh,
the head coach that's the facing voice of the football
team has to have that mental toughness to actually make
sure that he's staying up and actually can get through
those ups and downs. So the leadership and the mental
toughness UM is huge components that I've seen from past
(40:26):
head coaches that I've been around. UM obviously been been
fortunate enough to be through a lot of regimes. And
then obviously, um those are the same, you know, uh,
I say, traits that I was looking for in terms of,
you know, being paired with the head coach, and Dan
definitely has those traits of leadership, presence and mental toughness.
(40:49):
All right, Brad, Hey, you know I wish we'd talking
for a lot longer. Again, we know you gotta play
things to do, getting the draft boards right, you getting
ready for free agency and all that good stuff. So
we're gonna circle back in a couple of months. I
right to love, No, this has been great, man, I love.
I can chop it up with you guys for plenty
more time. But obviously I gotta run. But you know,
(41:10):
let let's definitely circle back in. Let's let's just do
this again for sure. It's been a pleasure. And then
and then in the fall, we're actually gonna do this
the weekend after both Howard's and A and T's home coming,
and we are going to set the record straight because
you went to Rico and come with this. We whole business.
My barometer is this until a rapper drafts a we
(41:34):
hope into a hit song, y'all are Howard when it
comes to home coming, You got it. I was waiting
for that to comb at some point about versus A
and T home coming. But I still say geehoe is
the best number one. But I totally respect how our
own coming. That's been a staple ever since I was
(41:57):
young and totally respected. And you know it's arguable that
you guys are still holding the crown. But you know,
we'll just see where're at now. You're not even gonna
west that time. We're not even west that time on
that stage. Come on, said, I didn't say geehot. I
thought when you said we, I thought that was something
(42:17):
that Hu had going on. I mean, I'm not sure,
but a weedhol is but greatest homecoming on earth. You
you know what Jeeho is. It is just that. And
now this time for us to say goodbye of the
Detroit oh man. He was hanging out up at up
(42:38):
at Howard's home coming, you know, sliding in under the radar,
taking it in, you know when he was you know,
we played Howard. I want to say, it might have
been nine that you guys came up for us for
home coming there, but that might have been that might
have been one of the greatest wins there, which we
(42:59):
actually oh yea all one because you guys got a
couple of years before, like I said, with the Ted
White uh Marquees, Douglas was a penetrating demons to tackle.
That was the problem to deal with. So you guys
have players on both sides of the ball. Man, there
was some good matchups. Steve. What we gotta do is
we gotta go back and get his travel itineraries from
(43:20):
when he was scouting and and mess that up with
when Howard's homecoming was. And I bet we'll see a
lot of a lot of trips to d C around
hours coming. It's all good, hey, Brad. So as we
get on the next one, we're gonna do that. You're
gonna tell the stories because I've seriously spoken to scouts
were like, hey, I'm gonna make sure to spend two
(43:41):
extra days after the mayor California go to Napa getting
like a Nappa wine tour. Had to be after when uh,
when Brandon Parker came out. I just so happened to
be making the trails through you know, North Carolina, and
I just happened to go to uh n C State
and had to go to that old triad area, and
(44:03):
it just so happened that I had to see Brandon
Parker live and it just happened to be it was homecoming.
So that's just I can't do anything about. Yeah, just
going to I had to fish sandwich afterwards. I say
you that much, so Ambo Sauce. All right, hey, Brad,
we appreciate you man, good luck with everything, and we're
(44:26):
looking forward to our next conversation. I really appreciate thanks
guys for having me. Thank you, Thank you man. I
appreciate you. Thank you, Steve. I know you had a
relationship with Brad Holmes prior to this year. I hadn't
spent much time around him and yet to meet him,
but um, just a really interesting guy who seems to
(44:48):
be very firm into what his beliefs are and what
his approaches in terms of team building and and having success.
So from that standpoint, I'm I'm eager to see what
he's able to accomplish because, as we said on the
front end of the show, this is a fan base
that deserves some success. And look, only three playoff appearances
(45:10):
in the last twenty one seasons haven't had a playoff
win since I mean we're talking three decades basically exactly.
So I'm I'm eager to see what he can do
with this group. And look, we know they're allowing Dan
Campbell to be Dan Campbell, and a lot of people
(45:31):
want to make fun on the outside and whatnot, But
that coaching staff that he has as symboled it's for
real and there's a lot of experience both playing and
coaching on that staff. And and I'm talking about NFL
playing and coaching, and so I think the players are
going to be in a great situation in terms of
what they can learn from these guys. Right. We heard
(45:53):
at a new secondary coach and passion game coordinator last
week with Jealen Ramsey said, are we pleasant? You know
what he's gonna do for Jeff Vlkuda and really shaped
those guys. So, I mean, there's just so many people
um that they are gonna help out this franchise and
those players. I really two things that really took from
Brad Holmes is one of was him being intentional and saying,
(46:13):
if I become a general manager and I'm one of
a handful of black general managers in this league, I've
got to put some black people at the top of
the food chain as well as at the bottom, which
is why he went out and hired Ray Agnew as
his assistant general manager because now he's in line to
get a job when it comes open. Plus he's somebody
I trust. He's got a ton of experience who could
(46:34):
help me shape this roster. I also found it very
intriguing to him at the end when I asked him,
are you out of the quarterback market when it comes
to the draft, right, they just traded for Jared Goff,
young guy, big contract, played in the Super Bowl, but
they're holding the seventh pick. Now. Brad had been playing
the savvy GM talking about, Okay, we're not out of
(46:56):
the quarterback market, but you can come get this pick
if you want, or you know, it could be something
like maybe they're really interested and use more of those
picks to get a quarterback. Well, I think two things
to what you said. Number one is psycho Terry Fontlo said, Um,
you never want to restrict yourself, and so you always
(47:17):
want to be in a position to take the best
player available if that surrounds you want to go. But
the other thing, to your former point about diversity in here,
it really disturbed me that he wasn't even on the
list initially, because again I'm saying, to the people who
are putting these lists together, who are you talking to?
(47:37):
You know, where are these names coming from? Because there
are others that you and I know who might who
do belong on that list, who weren't on it, and
that disturbs me. So if by chance that that that
video that he did, the virtual interview that he did,
the mock interview that he did some years ago, had
(47:58):
not surfaced, he would not have even been in play
this time around. And that's what's so disturbing to me
about this whole process is there are talented people out
there that folks who are supposed to know don't even know.
And and to me, that's just a problem that has
to be addressed and has to be fixed. Yeah, and
(48:19):
you know, you know, real quick before we get out
of here, just who's putting what lists? Are they're looking at?
Who's putting the list together? You know, Brad said there
are somebody the NFL, we know, the Fritz power Lines
and some of these diversity advocacy groups put together list.
Are the team seeing those are they including everybody on
the list? Because that's been an issue before, Jim where
there's been some really talented people who have not been
(48:40):
put on the list that some of these diversity advocacy
groups are giving these teams. So you know, you can't
put everybody on. But at the same time, when all
of a sudden Brad Holmes can be found, Well, the question, Steve,
in my mind is whose voices speak loudest. That's the
issue for me, who are you listening to? Because there
are a lot to people. I shouldn't say a lot.
(49:01):
I don't want to to be hyperbolic here, but there
are people whose names outsiders don't know who know who
the real talented people are in this league, but they're
not being talked to. Why because they don't have the
name recognition. You know, they don't have that cloud yet.
And that's part of the problem here. It's like they say,
(49:22):
it's like players say, game nose game, and it's the
same thing in the personnel world. You know, personnel people,
no personnel people. So stop talking to the traditional people
that you've always talked to and get out into the
weeds and talk to the people who are out there
doing the job that really know. And Jimmy, you and
I both know this because a couple of years ago
we did a show with Daniel Jeremiah on Black Monday.
(49:44):
You know, are you know former scout who works us
here at NFL Network. He said, oh, there's no pipeline.
I can give you twenty names of diverse candidates and
scouting pipeline off the top of my head. Those guys
are out there, but you need to go ahead and
button things up right here. So why don't you take
his home For all of you out there? Again, we
say thank you for listening, thank you for subscribing. Um,
(50:05):
continue to let us know who you want to hear from,
what you want to hear about. In that way, we
can continue to give you more of what you're funking for.
That's right. Today we deliver Brad Holmes a very good interview.
We're gonna circle back with him absolutely a little later
on the process, maybe after the draft, to see what
the Detroit Lions did. All right again, Huddlefull Podcast brought
(50:28):
you by into it the prodummakers of Mint, Turbo Tax
and quick Books for my guys, Jim Trotter and Thomas Warns.
On the one and two. I am Steve White. We
are the Howard Mob. And we are out
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