May 25, 2022 • 28 mins
The latest edition of the NFL Inside Report podcast addresses the NFL Spring Meeting focusing on the NFL Accelerator Program for minorities. Today, host Rhett Lewis is joined by insiders Steve Wyche and Ian Rapoport for their insights on how the owners responded to this meeting with Steve explaining why there were many positive takeaways. Later, Ian gives updates on the Deshaun Watson situation and shares why nobody knows what the future holds for him and then the podcast finishes up discussing unique and quirky ways for the NFL to spice up the pro bowl, with ideas such as a grilling or dodgeball competition.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm read listen. This is
NFL Inside Reports coming off the Spring League Meeting from Atlanta,
(00:27):
where a bunch of our colleagues, including two of them
joining us here today NFL Network consider Ian Rapp Report
and Steve whitch all here with us after being in
Atlanta and kind of starting to get an understanding of
some new initiatives the league is trying to work with,
one of which has been the Coach in Front Office
Accelerator program. We're gonna get to that. We're gonna talk
a little bit more about some potential changes coming to
(00:49):
the Pro Bowl and some potential resolution to the Deshaun
Watson situation. All that just ahead. So let's welcome our palace, guys.
Glad to have you with us, Thanks for spending some
time here. Let's also get into basically some of the
biggest things that you guys found out from the Spring
League meeting. And let's start with the Coaching from Office
(01:11):
Accelerator program. Steve, and this was something, um that is
the kind of the latest initiative for the league to
try to rectify the diversity issues they've had in the
hiring practices for coaches and gms and executives. And and first, Steve,
let me get your thoughts in any end if you
could follow up basically, what was what was the word
there um once once this program you know, came about
(01:34):
and got started here initially and what if folks don't
know all thirty two teams had to send at least
one most of them two representatives for potential head coaches
or from office executives who are diverse or female. And
you know, initially read well this isn't hours. I heard
from some folks like, well, why wise the league need
(01:55):
to do this for us when the white male coaches
don't have this and they're getting all the jobs. Um.
But by the end of the program, those who were
cynical of it um, those who really didn't care too
much for some of the workshops that they had because
they said they already knew some of the information. They
were like, it was actually good to get FaceTime um
(02:17):
with the owners. You know, typically in the hiring cycle,
the owners don't know who any of these candidates are,
but the team president and general managers do, well, they're
you know, they're like, we skipped that middleman part by
getting the FaceTime with some of the owners and the
fact that you know, they're gonna be able to keep
in touch with these owners throughout the year, you know,
as long as they're not actively being recruited right to
(02:38):
violate the tampering things. So it's gonna be a slow burn.
I mean, no one thinks this is gonna, you know,
all of a sudden increase the pot overnight. But Ian
I think the biggest thing I heard came from the
owners um wanted somewhat disappointing, but too it's it's all
a revelation. Most of them said they didn't know that
a lot of these coaches and GM executives were out there,
(02:59):
which is a shame on on their part. But at
the same time, you know, they keep hearing the thoughts
of oh, there's a pipeline, there's no pipeline. Well they
saw it's not a it's not a pipeline. It's it's
a vast ocean of talent that you know was in
was at this meeting, and there's more out there. So
I think that was eye opening and allowed them to
understand that they don't have to really go reach that
(03:21):
far to find diverse talent, like maybe they previously thought. Yeah,
I mean it seemed to me from the you know,
potential candidates that I spoke with, um who were there
with us in Atlanta, it seemed pretty positive. You know,
I'm not And there was some cool things. You know,
there was some candidates who the candidates got to sit
in on the owners meetings learn a little bit. All
(03:42):
that was nice. It seemed the best was just talking
to the owners, sitting there having a converts casual conversation
at a cocktail party, just talking to these owners and
you know, on one hand, it is sad that the
owners a lot of them didn't know some of these
guys existed. On the other hands, um, this is a
(04:02):
great way to do it. Like, you know, if you're
an owner and you're trying to feel like, look at
coaches like you might not necessarily know like the defensive
line coach for another team not in your division, or
you might not necessarily know like the pro personnel director.
You know, the coordinators, and certainly we all spend time
talking about the hot coordinators as you get ready for
the hiring cycle, but you might not know the guys
(04:23):
who are going to be coordinators, who are going to
be gms, are going to be assistant gms. This is
a great way to introduce everyone to everyone in a
sort of casual way. Um, you're right. I definitely heard
some skepticism. Definitely heard some skepticism. Um, But I think
overall the result was people got in the room and
talked and got to know each other in a way
they previously hadn't That is all a net positive coming
(04:47):
out of this thing in Atlanta. So essentially it was
it was, you know, a networking event basically to get
to know people. And I mean that's the first step, right,
I mean, uh, you know, as as kind of simple
as it sounds, um, you know, And that's it kind
of feels like part of Steve what we saw when
we were seeing the trend of hot offensive coaches you know, uh,
you know, the genius type offensive coaches getting all the
(05:09):
love for the head coaching vacancies, and that's why they
then started the quarterback uh coach or the offensive you
know coaches summit, right, which we saw the last couple
of years. Um. Is this kind of maybe just another
piece of that that that can kind of get that
pipeline of diverse talent in through the proper channels, which
I guess Steve also goes goes along with the new
(05:31):
addition to the Rooney rule right in quarterback coaches now
being included. Well, first I've read to the latter point
the Rooney rule change where for the quarterback coach position
you have to interview an outside an external diverse candidate. Um,
that's gonna that's gonna have a short term bounce because
what this accelerator did. You can go fishing in that
(05:56):
room right there, say you guys? Who who could? Who can?
Who can go right there? Are they? These folks will
not people, um who could help teams find that type
of talent. And this is kind of building on on
the Quarterback Summit. The one thing that the Quarterback Summit
doesn't have that this did where the owners, you know,
all the owners showed up. I mean they all showed up.
(06:16):
And that was something I was watching out for the
house since here they would be and Ian, you know,
we saw it wasn't these guys having to approach the owners.
A lot of these owners were approaching these guys. And
what else really helped is I had one you know,
rising personnel executive tell me meeting Roger Goodell and having
(06:36):
a ten or fifteen minute conversation with Roger Goodell, who
can now vouch for them. They've established that relationship where
he said, Okay, Goodell's like, you can call me with
any any issues you want and this guy said Goodell listened.
So to be able to have that as a reference,
UM is absolutely fantastic. So again, as as Ian said,
so well, the net positive, UM, I think is the
(07:00):
big takeaway because nobody was complaining that there was a
that this was a waste of time. Sure, and you know,
I think the the Rooney rule quarterback coach ad was
a kind of an interesting one. I was talking to
another media member, UM, a friend in Atlanta, just hanging out,
which you know, for those who don't know, you spent
a lot of time look at Steve getting senter the
ca UM. You know, basically these events, you know, you
(07:26):
have conversations in the hallways with owners and executives and
a lot of time with media members. For better worst,
Judy and uh, Steve had to hang out with me. UM.
I was talking to another media member when we're kind
of going through some of the quarterback coach hires and
we're like, well, you know, you really don't interview for
quarterback coach. You kind of just you just name the
(07:47):
person or someone. And then I think both of us
sort of at the same time, we're like, well, that's
a problem, and it really is a problem. Like when
you're hiring a quarterback coach, which is a feeder for
head coaches and is a high profile position, just naming
some guy is not good enough. It's just not And
(08:09):
so often people go, all right, I'm gonna name the
quarterback coach that I'm comfortable with that I know that
I have coaches within the past that runs my system,
whatever it is. So you see the same guys over
and over getting hired for quarterback coaching jobs, whether they
should or not. And I don't know if, like what
kind of indictment this is of myself, but this has
(08:30):
been going on for years and years, and I never
really thought like, hey, shouldn't there be a more diverse pool,
Like teams like the Eagles went into college football, um
and found a quarterback coach who was at Florida. I
was was actually there, um and who yeah, who? Who
(08:54):
spent some time talking to yesterday and I was like, oh,
that's a clever higher not thinking like I know, more
teams open the brain a little bit and who else
can I hire that? Maybe I don't know. It's well,
this is all very interesting. Actually yeah. And so like
I brought up the Quarterback Summit because you group that
now with the addition of the quarterback coaching position to
(09:16):
the Rooney Rule and now the front office and coach
Accelerator program where you're getting hands on face time with
the owners and it it feels like that's a real
powerful trio to kinda to try to make some improvement
in these areas in which we've we've all seen the
league fall short in the last few years. So um,
(09:39):
it's great. It's look, it's great to see. Let's see
how it let's see how it happens. As you mentioned, Steve,
short term is is is great. Long term is obviously
what we're looking for here. And as as UH Commissioner
Roger Goodell said in the interview with you that the
individuals in the clubs, it's up to them to keep
the momentum going. We put these things in place, it's
now time to start seeing some change. So that's all
(09:59):
great to see. And I do want to get into
just a couple of other things here from the Spring
League meeting there in Atlanta, and we'll do that here
in just second right for this quick break, all right
(10:25):
back with you on NFL Inside Report. Lewis joined here
today by Steve White and Keen rap Reports as they
were at the last League meeting just a couple of
days ago in Atlanta, and now kind of looking at
some of the other news that we've seen come out
of that meeting, and we heard Commission Roger Goodell at
the conclusion of the meeting talk in his press conference
about the potential discipline coming forward to Shaun Watson Ian,
(10:48):
what's your understanding of where that situation stands at this point.
We kind of thought when DeShawn Watson was interviewed by
NFL officials last week in Houston for several days that
it would be kind of the end, because usually the
subject of the investigation is last to gather all the information.
You see, what you know, and then you basically present
(11:08):
the subject with what you've learned, and you let this
person give you know the take and get all the
truth and move from there. So we thought this was
kind of the end and Roger Goodell essentially confirmed that
the investigation is nearing a close. So what's gonna happen
now is the league, the officials, the investigators are gonna
go look at what John Watson said compared to what
(11:32):
they know way all the stuff they what they've gathered
for the last several months, and then presented to a
third party arbitrator who's not Roger Goodell. And that's different
because in the past, Goodell has made the decision and
then you know, the union or the player could appeal.
It's different. Now it's a third party arbitrator and then
both sides can appeal eventually. Um, so you know, the
(11:55):
belief is that the investigation is basically done. The belief
is that we will get an answer before the summer
and well before training him. So at least if you're
the Browns, you know, all right, like we know what
we have during the season, and I know, Steve, you're
gonna get a lot of you know, guesses. And each
(12:16):
time any of us speaks publicly in any sense, people say,
how much how many games do you think? I don't know,
nobody knows, nobody knows. There's so much here. Um, you know,
we're just gonna have to wait to see what the
arbitrator decides, right, because we don't know which evidence is
going to be relevant um to to a decision that
(12:36):
they've collected. Um, you know, and we both were speaking
to plenty of people there from you know, teams and
in the league on this, you know, and they do
want to get resolution as soon as possibly. Is the
first phase of resolution, like you said, it has to
go through a couple of layers before there's final resolution. Um,
the feeling is no matter what the answer is, whether
(12:58):
they wait on discipline until after the season when the
civil trials could take place in three whether they administer
discipline now, the length of discipline, severity of discipline, there's
going to be no way that anybody is gonna like
everybody's gonna be okay, like okay that was justified discipline
or their patients is something that you know that to
(13:18):
due process, like, there's gonna be an issue regardless. So
they want to have that for punk relationship LEAs reasons
they would love to take the blowback before the whistle
starts snapping, before you know, blowing before training camp. But
whatever it is, um, in some form or fashion, we
should know something. The next couple of weeks. Also at
(13:40):
that news conference commissure, Goodell was asked multiple questions about
Washington Commander's ownership and Dan Snyder in the situation there.
Steve will start with you and then get your thoughts
here Ian as well. How much of the Snyder's situation
was a topic kind of amongst ownership and and kind
of in the hallways that you guys were there at
the league meeting. Not much from from what I could tell,
(14:02):
it doesn't sound like much. And even Roger Goodell came
out and said, you know, someone I asked him a
question about a report that owners are gathering votes to
get Daniel Snyder removed from ownership beast like, yeah, Yeah,
there was really no discussion, no discussion about that. Didn't
hear anything about that. So whether that's true or not,
(14:23):
you know, I I take Roger Goodell at his word. Um,
but that did not seem to be among the owners
at least um as much of discussion about other things
that were on the actual meeting agenda. Yeah. I talked
to an owner after the session after the you know,
owner's only session, asked what they discussed. Uh, it sounds
like no Dan Snyder discussion m hm, which I guess
(14:47):
surprised me considering the reports coming into it. Um. And then,
like you know, a lot of times, as Steve knows,
when Roger Goodell talks to the press conference, we kind
of know what some of the answers are gonna be.
You know, yesterday it was pro bos and innapous, it
was you know, Deshaun Lawson. Roger Goodell essentially said we
thought he was going to say, which is that the
(15:08):
investigations coming to a close. When he made his answer
on Dan Snyder and really shot down any sort of
report that Snyer was in trouble, that he was going
to lose the team, that there were votes being counted.
I elbowed Judy next to me because I was surprised,
like it was a sort of rebuke of the report.
(15:29):
And you know, things can happen many different ways this
can go, um, but I was surprised that he came
back so hard against the you know, possible removal of
Dan snunder, which which is to say, in our thinking,
he is the owner of the Washington Commanders for the
foreseeable future until something dramatic changes. Sure. Sure, and obviously
(15:52):
we'll keep following that story, but you mentioned two of
the other big pieces of news to come out of
the meeting there. Let's start with the Pro Bowl Ian
because that was kind of a one of those When
you sent out the tweet that potential changes were coming,
it was like, you know, there was all right, what's
it gonna be? Right? I mean like that was that's
like a real like firestarter tweet right there. What wasn't
necessarily anticipating it? But I gotta tell you this. So
(16:14):
I was calling the Shrine Bowl in Vegas at the
same time as the Pro Bowl this past year, and uh,
and then I was down in Mobile, you know, as
the Senior Bowl was going on. It's like I just
didn't I didn't have I didn't watch the Senior the
Pro Bowl live. Then went back went back and saw
it and was like, wait, this is what the Pro
(16:36):
Bowl has become. You did go back and see it.
I did, after everybody was talking about it, after everybody
about and I was like, well, what's what's going on here?
So yeah, you're right, clearly the game had evolved into
something that it should not be. And so what's the resolution?
I guess that's the point that that we're trying to
(16:56):
make yours and we didn't. We don't know, um, but
that's what we're looking for, right, Yeah, I mean, I'm
you could sign me up for a stolid quarter of
Pro Bowl watching every year. Um, you know, it's usually
when I get to the Super Bowl host city. In
my hotel room Sunday called a little exercise put on
the Pro Bowl, like all right, one quarter is good,
(17:18):
leave the TV on so it gets the ratings and
then uh, you know and that um it's not great. Uh.
And I have to say I was not expecting that
news yesterday and I was like smiling as I tweeted
because I knew it would get a great because like
it's so much. It's like, all right, well, if we're
not gonna do the game, then we're gonna do what.
(17:39):
We're not gonna do the traditional game, because I think
there will be a game, you know, Steve, Like, I
think we'll get a flag football game or something, some
sort of seven on seven, some sort of something where
you get to celebrate and showcase these players who deserve
to be there, and the players like going. They bring
their families, a lot of them. Hang, it must be
(18:00):
clear the event like the week has been great, and
the interaction with the community that hosts the Pro Bowl
has always been great and all of the events surrounding it.
It's just the game. It's the issue, right, um yeah,
and let me take this phone, call me right back
real quick. But but but still in on on the
on the Pro Bowl. I mean, guys just don't want
(18:20):
to get hurt. I mean that's to coming out. And
I understand. I remember growing I remember growing up back
in the day and like the seventies and eighties, and
I mean, these guys are getting after it, but I
mean they won't pay the money. They weren't getting paid
the money or didn't have um things in their contract
that said, hey, you know you've if you're healthy, then
it's gonna be guaranteed by this day. So guys just
don't want to get hurt. So this is gonna end
(18:42):
up being read by all accounts, a skills competition. And
they can make it fun. Right. Let's have you know,
Tom Brady and Matt Ryan and some of the older
Probowl quarterbacks against the up starts, you know, against Kyler
Murray and Josh Allen and come. So it'll end up
something to do it yeah, there are ways to do it.
(19:03):
And see you're you're too right. But see I grew
up watching the show on ABC called Like Superstars, where
they would have like athletes and entertainers actually participating in
kind of Olympic type competitions, be it swimming, be a
track and field, um, be it whatever. I think it's
actually gonna morph into that where you're not just getting
niche football fans watching it, where where it could end
(19:25):
up being a real crossover event with all the you know,
the TV network UM programming and things like that. I
think two or three years from now, we're gonna see
people like you know, Ian, it's part of four by
one hundred team with to Kill and Jordan Poyer. Um, Kelsey,
(19:46):
you just got drafted. Ay event. I'm coming with an
idea where we're mixing, we're making sports entertainment together. Ian,
I think it's well a couple of things, Um dodge more.
What are the linemen gonna do is do anything? I
guess the dogs ball, that Dodgs ball thing you throughout
there would be show awesome dodgeball. Oh god, I'm sorry,
(20:09):
I gotta get that. But yeah, that's the point, Like
you gotta fight you can't just have a flag football
game because like what are the old lineman and d
linemen do nothing? Right like it? So that's competitions and
things like that. Yeah, yeah, there's gotta be there's gotta
be a way to to include everyone because you know,
(20:29):
that's that's the name of the game here. So I
think that's ah, look, that's the dodgeball thing would be interesting. Now, Look,
they've done skills, they do skills competitions already, you know,
and like we saw that in Vegas. We've seen that
in years past. Uh you know, we had the beach
Um football game, flag football game, you know when it
was back in Hawaii years ago until until Robert Edwards
(20:51):
blew out his knee right right. So and that's the
other thing, like it's it's you know, we gotta we
gotta manage the fun and then the practicality why the
injury risk? Sure? So all right, well, so something something's happening,
something's brewing with the Pro Bowl, and that will be
interesting to follow here. Uh, it's as we try to
figure out what the next generation of the game and
(21:13):
of the event and of the week is going to be.
Next up though, and don't go back, Okay, I want
to win in hold on. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about ever. Know,
sometimes important people call you for not important reasons, so
you just never know who's calling. Not that those people
call me for not important reasons, but they did. Um,
(21:34):
so here's what I want. The lineman dodgeball is a
great idea. That would be fun. Kickball also fun. Um.
What I also kind of like is like linemen are
generally pretty funny. You could just give them lawn chairs
and mike them up and just have them do the
announcing nice for the seven os. I think like Taylor
(21:55):
Lawn would be pretty good doing that. There's I mean,
there's a bunch of guys, a bunch of like big
hilarious dude, so I think that would be good. The
other thing is a lot of these guys like to
eat um, and a lot of them grill. You do
like a grilling competition, and maybe they make ribs and
brisket or something for everyone postgame, Like if we're gonna
(22:17):
open our brains, let's like actually open our brains and
make this. But it should be which is just a fun, cool,
weird event. I'm starting to uh yeah, right, there goes
think guy Fieri judging the grilling contest. There goes too,
and you're part of the crew. You got top billing,
(22:38):
Robert de Niro, YEP, Star Magazine, Me and past Sarah.
We'll look to double down on your dodgeball idea. Vince
Vaughn honorary coach for one of the teams, right, and
then we get we get Jason Bateman to actually announce
the events as Pepper right as the guy who's sitting
(22:58):
there as the analyst on ESPN, the OHO and so like.
It's a lot of great ideas here, guys. I think
think we should be the committee to figure this whole
thing out for the program. I think we'll get it
gone all right. Lastly, the Combine. After much discussion this
past year in Indianapolis about the Combine leaving Indianapolis, it's
(23:19):
back and it's staying for at least two more years.
Ian This is fantastic news. The Combine will remain in Indianapolis.
Where did all the discussion about leaving go? I think
a couple of things. One, when you know, you really
only get to find out what people think of something
whatever it is, when it's maybe taken away. Right, so
(23:39):
you know, we'd go to India and people are like, oh,
it's cold. I mean, I did it, you know, it's cold.
He got walked from place to place or like, you know,
it's the same thing over and over. And there was
some like grumbling, and then they talked about possibly doing
away with it and putting it in l A or Dallas.
And then like something weird happened this year where you know,
we all missed it the year before obviously because of COVID,
(24:02):
and everyone was happy to be there. And I sensed
it like crazy, and I felt it. I was happy
to be there too. I was like, it was so
great to be back. I just kept thinking that, and
you could feel this ground soil of support. So like
I was talking and I had, you know, I would
say sort of a report um that the Common would
(24:22):
be back in Indie the next year while at the combat,
and the reaction was so positive. I was like, oh, yeah,
this is definitely staying. Yeah, so maybe in the future Dallas,
maybe in the future l A, but not anytime soon.
I don't think, Steve well as it should be. I mean,
it's the most central, the central location not just in
the country for everybody to get to, but you can
(24:43):
walk everywhere in Indianapolis, and yeah, you have to be
in the cold, but not for long. Um, you know
you're at Roger Goodell say hey, look, they've got to
find ways to be more efficient with some of the
medical stuff, so guys aren't waiting two hours to get
m R eyes and things like that. But those are
those are relatively easy things to figure out logistically. So
Indianapolis is where it should be. The city appreciated, the
(25:07):
people they are appreciate it, and I think if you
put it in a major market city, it just wouldn't
have the overall communal impact that it does in Indianapolis,
which is just a great, great host city for major
sporting events, no doubt, no doubt about it. All Right, lastly, here,
I thought this was really cool, especially since my family
has a background in athletic training and seeing that the
(25:31):
NFL is now creating a program Steve for HBC used
to provide medical students as part of a partnership um
here and a chance to work with NFL teams this season. Man,
that was really neat, I mean, and that's impactful. Of course.
You know, anytime I get a shout at Howard University,
they won the four medical schools. Um, you know that
they are part of this program. But speaking of Reggie Scott,
(25:54):
you know who's the head of the professional Football trainers
and also the RAMS trainer. Compressive guy. I never really
super impressive, No, go ahead, And yeah, I hadn't really
heard him speak very much. You know, I don't trainers,
don't do a lot of interviews. He was. I think
he was really impressive. He's super impressive. And you know
he said, it's not just you know, to give uh,
(26:16):
you know, diverse medical students opportunities to work in the
sports field, but to let them explore all of the
varied content of the emerging sports science world, being nutrition,
being strength of training, all of the new things coming
out in analytics, in medical you know, in medical aspects
(26:37):
of sports training. So it's more of the exposure to
the very opportunities that are there than so much getting
them with teams to work. Yeah, I thought it was all.
I mean, look, this was a really like productive, productive
and impactful meeting. It felt like these last couple of days, right,
more so than usually these like spring meetings are kind
(26:57):
of like, yeah, you know, a couple of perfunctory things
and like this was like the other think like someone
asked me, one of the you know, team executives there
asked me the other day, I go, I'm you know,
I'm surprised to say you down here wasn't much of
talking about like I thought. It was great. Yeah, I'm
got it. Getting to meet I mean, Steve knows like
hang on the hallways, meet some of these young executives
(27:18):
and coaches like I had met at some of these guys,
but I did, but not all. I thought. It was
like fascinating the whole thing. This was like a very
very good couple of days. I would say, Now, you
guys did a great job for it there. Appreciate your
time here today as well, Steve Whitch and I and
rapport here with us on NFL Inside Report. And that's
(27:45):
gonna do it for this episode of NFL Inside Report,
Thanks so much for being with us here. Certainly appreciate it.
For our producers, Tim Parrochka and Thomas Warren, I'm your host,
Brett Lewis, have a good one. NFL Inside Report is
the production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart
Radio for more official podcasts from the NFL. This at
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(28:08):
get your podcasts.
NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL in
partnership with I Heart Radio. I'm read listen. This is
NFL Inside Reports coming off the Spring League Meeting from Atlanta,
(00:27):
where a bunch of our colleagues, including two of them
joining us here today NFL Network consider Ian Rapp Report
and Steve whitch all here with us after being in
Atlanta and kind of starting to get an understanding of
some new initiatives the league is trying to work with,
one of which has been the Coach in Front Office
Accelerator program. We're gonna get to that. We're gonna talk
a little bit more about some potential changes coming to
(00:49):
the Pro Bowl and some potential resolution to the Deshaun
Watson situation. All that just ahead. So let's welcome our palace, guys.
Glad to have you with us, Thanks for spending some
time here. Let's also get into basically some of the
biggest things that you guys found out from the Spring
League meeting. And let's start with the Coaching from Office
(01:11):
Accelerator program. Steve, and this was something, um that is
the kind of the latest initiative for the league to
try to rectify the diversity issues they've had in the
hiring practices for coaches and gms and executives. And and first, Steve,
let me get your thoughts in any end if you
could follow up basically, what was what was the word
there um once once this program you know, came about
(01:34):
and got started here initially and what if folks don't
know all thirty two teams had to send at least
one most of them two representatives for potential head coaches
or from office executives who are diverse or female. And
you know, initially read well this isn't hours. I heard
from some folks like, well, why wise the league need
(01:55):
to do this for us when the white male coaches
don't have this and they're getting all the jobs. Um.
But by the end of the program, those who were
cynical of it um, those who really didn't care too
much for some of the workshops that they had because
they said they already knew some of the information. They
were like, it was actually good to get FaceTime um
(02:17):
with the owners. You know, typically in the hiring cycle,
the owners don't know who any of these candidates are,
but the team president and general managers do, well, they're
you know, they're like, we skipped that middleman part by
getting the FaceTime with some of the owners and the
fact that you know, they're gonna be able to keep
in touch with these owners throughout the year, you know,
as long as they're not actively being recruited right to
(02:38):
violate the tampering things. So it's gonna be a slow burn.
I mean, no one thinks this is gonna, you know,
all of a sudden increase the pot overnight. But Ian
I think the biggest thing I heard came from the
owners um wanted somewhat disappointing, but too it's it's all
a revelation. Most of them said they didn't know that
a lot of these coaches and GM executives were out there,
(02:59):
which is a shame on on their part. But at
the same time, you know, they keep hearing the thoughts
of oh, there's a pipeline, there's no pipeline. Well they
saw it's not a it's not a pipeline. It's it's
a vast ocean of talent that you know was in
was at this meeting, and there's more out there. So
I think that was eye opening and allowed them to
understand that they don't have to really go reach that
(03:21):
far to find diverse talent, like maybe they previously thought. Yeah,
I mean it seemed to me from the you know,
potential candidates that I spoke with, um who were there
with us in Atlanta, it seemed pretty positive. You know,
I'm not And there was some cool things. You know,
there was some candidates who the candidates got to sit
in on the owners meetings learn a little bit. All
(03:42):
that was nice. It seemed the best was just talking
to the owners, sitting there having a converts casual conversation
at a cocktail party, just talking to these owners and
you know, on one hand, it is sad that the
owners a lot of them didn't know some of these
guys existed. On the other hands, um, this is a
(04:02):
great way to do it. Like, you know, if you're
an owner and you're trying to feel like, look at
coaches like you might not necessarily know like the defensive
line coach for another team not in your division, or
you might not necessarily know like the pro personnel director.
You know, the coordinators, and certainly we all spend time
talking about the hot coordinators as you get ready for
the hiring cycle, but you might not know the guys
(04:23):
who are going to be coordinators, who are going to
be gms, are going to be assistant gms. This is
a great way to introduce everyone to everyone in a
sort of casual way. Um, you're right. I definitely heard
some skepticism. Definitely heard some skepticism. Um, But I think
overall the result was people got in the room and
talked and got to know each other in a way
they previously hadn't That is all a net positive coming
(04:47):
out of this thing in Atlanta. So essentially it was
it was, you know, a networking event basically to get
to know people. And I mean that's the first step, right,
I mean, uh, you know, as as kind of simple
as it sounds, um, you know, And that's it kind
of feels like part of Steve what we saw when
we were seeing the trend of hot offensive coaches you know, uh,
you know, the genius type offensive coaches getting all the
(05:09):
love for the head coaching vacancies, and that's why they
then started the quarterback uh coach or the offensive you
know coaches summit, right, which we saw the last couple
of years. Um. Is this kind of maybe just another
piece of that that that can kind of get that
pipeline of diverse talent in through the proper channels, which
I guess Steve also goes goes along with the new
(05:31):
addition to the Rooney rule right in quarterback coaches now
being included. Well, first I've read to the latter point
the Rooney rule change where for the quarterback coach position
you have to interview an outside an external diverse candidate. Um,
that's gonna that's gonna have a short term bounce because
what this accelerator did. You can go fishing in that
(05:56):
room right there, say you guys? Who who could? Who can?
Who can go right there? Are they? These folks will
not people, um who could help teams find that type
of talent. And this is kind of building on on
the Quarterback Summit. The one thing that the Quarterback Summit
doesn't have that this did where the owners, you know,
all the owners showed up. I mean they all showed up.
(06:16):
And that was something I was watching out for the
house since here they would be and Ian, you know,
we saw it wasn't these guys having to approach the owners.
A lot of these owners were approaching these guys. And
what else really helped is I had one you know,
rising personnel executive tell me meeting Roger Goodell and having
(06:36):
a ten or fifteen minute conversation with Roger Goodell, who
can now vouch for them. They've established that relationship where
he said, Okay, Goodell's like, you can call me with
any any issues you want and this guy said Goodell listened.
So to be able to have that as a reference,
UM is absolutely fantastic. So again, as as Ian said,
so well, the net positive, UM, I think is the
(07:00):
big takeaway because nobody was complaining that there was a
that this was a waste of time. Sure, and you know,
I think the the Rooney rule quarterback coach ad was
a kind of an interesting one. I was talking to
another media member, UM, a friend in Atlanta, just hanging out,
which you know, for those who don't know, you spent
a lot of time look at Steve getting senter the
ca UM. You know, basically these events, you know, you
(07:26):
have conversations in the hallways with owners and executives and
a lot of time with media members. For better worst,
Judy and uh, Steve had to hang out with me. UM.
I was talking to another media member when we're kind
of going through some of the quarterback coach hires and
we're like, well, you know, you really don't interview for
quarterback coach. You kind of just you just name the
(07:47):
person or someone. And then I think both of us
sort of at the same time, we're like, well, that's
a problem, and it really is a problem. Like when
you're hiring a quarterback coach, which is a feeder for
head coaches and is a high profile position, just naming
some guy is not good enough. It's just not And
(08:09):
so often people go, all right, I'm gonna name the
quarterback coach that I'm comfortable with that I know that
I have coaches within the past that runs my system,
whatever it is. So you see the same guys over
and over getting hired for quarterback coaching jobs, whether they
should or not. And I don't know if, like what
kind of indictment this is of myself, but this has
(08:30):
been going on for years and years, and I never
really thought like, hey, shouldn't there be a more diverse pool,
Like teams like the Eagles went into college football, um
and found a quarterback coach who was at Florida. I
was was actually there, um and who yeah, who? Who
(08:54):
spent some time talking to yesterday and I was like, oh,
that's a clever higher not thinking like I know, more
teams open the brain a little bit and who else
can I hire that? Maybe I don't know. It's well,
this is all very interesting. Actually yeah. And so like
I brought up the Quarterback Summit because you group that
now with the addition of the quarterback coaching position to
(09:16):
the Rooney Rule and now the front office and coach
Accelerator program where you're getting hands on face time with
the owners and it it feels like that's a real
powerful trio to kinda to try to make some improvement
in these areas in which we've we've all seen the
league fall short in the last few years. So um,
(09:39):
it's great. It's look, it's great to see. Let's see
how it let's see how it happens. As you mentioned, Steve,
short term is is is great. Long term is obviously
what we're looking for here. And as as UH Commissioner
Roger Goodell said in the interview with you that the
individuals in the clubs, it's up to them to keep
the momentum going. We put these things in place, it's
now time to start seeing some change. So that's all
(09:59):
great to see. And I do want to get into
just a couple of other things here from the Spring
League meeting there in Atlanta, and we'll do that here
in just second right for this quick break, all right
(10:25):
back with you on NFL Inside Report. Lewis joined here
today by Steve White and Keen rap Reports as they
were at the last League meeting just a couple of
days ago in Atlanta, and now kind of looking at
some of the other news that we've seen come out
of that meeting, and we heard Commission Roger Goodell at
the conclusion of the meeting talk in his press conference
about the potential discipline coming forward to Shaun Watson Ian,
(10:48):
what's your understanding of where that situation stands at this point.
We kind of thought when DeShawn Watson was interviewed by
NFL officials last week in Houston for several days that
it would be kind of the end, because usually the
subject of the investigation is last to gather all the information.
You see, what you know, and then you basically present
(11:08):
the subject with what you've learned, and you let this
person give you know the take and get all the
truth and move from there. So we thought this was
kind of the end and Roger Goodell essentially confirmed that
the investigation is nearing a close. So what's gonna happen
now is the league, the officials, the investigators are gonna
go look at what John Watson said compared to what
(11:32):
they know way all the stuff they what they've gathered
for the last several months, and then presented to a
third party arbitrator who's not Roger Goodell. And that's different
because in the past, Goodell has made the decision and
then you know, the union or the player could appeal.
It's different. Now it's a third party arbitrator and then
both sides can appeal eventually. Um, so you know, the
(11:55):
belief is that the investigation is basically done. The belief
is that we will get an answer before the summer
and well before training him. So at least if you're
the Browns, you know, all right, like we know what
we have during the season, and I know, Steve, you're
gonna get a lot of you know, guesses. And each
(12:16):
time any of us speaks publicly in any sense, people say,
how much how many games do you think? I don't know,
nobody knows, nobody knows. There's so much here. Um, you know,
we're just gonna have to wait to see what the
arbitrator decides, right, because we don't know which evidence is
going to be relevant um to to a decision that
(12:36):
they've collected. Um, you know, and we both were speaking
to plenty of people there from you know, teams and
in the league on this, you know, and they do
want to get resolution as soon as possibly. Is the
first phase of resolution, like you said, it has to
go through a couple of layers before there's final resolution. Um,
the feeling is no matter what the answer is, whether
(12:58):
they wait on discipline until after the season when the
civil trials could take place in three whether they administer
discipline now, the length of discipline, severity of discipline, there's
going to be no way that anybody is gonna like
everybody's gonna be okay, like okay that was justified discipline
or their patients is something that you know that to
(13:18):
due process, like, there's gonna be an issue regardless. So
they want to have that for punk relationship LEAs reasons
they would love to take the blowback before the whistle
starts snapping, before you know, blowing before training camp. But
whatever it is, um, in some form or fashion, we
should know something. The next couple of weeks. Also at
(13:40):
that news conference commissure, Goodell was asked multiple questions about
Washington Commander's ownership and Dan Snyder in the situation there.
Steve will start with you and then get your thoughts
here Ian as well. How much of the Snyder's situation
was a topic kind of amongst ownership and and kind
of in the hallways that you guys were there at
the league meeting. Not much from from what I could tell,
(14:02):
it doesn't sound like much. And even Roger Goodell came
out and said, you know, someone I asked him a
question about a report that owners are gathering votes to
get Daniel Snyder removed from ownership beast like, yeah, Yeah,
there was really no discussion, no discussion about that. Didn't
hear anything about that. So whether that's true or not,
(14:23):
you know, I I take Roger Goodell at his word. Um,
but that did not seem to be among the owners
at least um as much of discussion about other things
that were on the actual meeting agenda. Yeah. I talked
to an owner after the session after the you know,
owner's only session, asked what they discussed. Uh, it sounds
like no Dan Snyder discussion m hm, which I guess
(14:47):
surprised me considering the reports coming into it. Um. And then,
like you know, a lot of times, as Steve knows,
when Roger Goodell talks to the press conference, we kind
of know what some of the answers are gonna be.
You know, yesterday it was pro bos and innapous, it
was you know, Deshaun Lawson. Roger Goodell essentially said we
thought he was going to say, which is that the
(15:08):
investigations coming to a close. When he made his answer
on Dan Snyder and really shot down any sort of
report that Snyer was in trouble, that he was going
to lose the team, that there were votes being counted.
I elbowed Judy next to me because I was surprised,
like it was a sort of rebuke of the report.
(15:29):
And you know, things can happen many different ways this
can go, um, but I was surprised that he came
back so hard against the you know, possible removal of
Dan snunder, which which is to say, in our thinking,
he is the owner of the Washington Commanders for the
foreseeable future until something dramatic changes. Sure. Sure, and obviously
(15:52):
we'll keep following that story, but you mentioned two of
the other big pieces of news to come out of
the meeting there. Let's start with the Pro Bowl Ian
because that was kind of a one of those When
you sent out the tweet that potential changes were coming,
it was like, you know, there was all right, what's
it gonna be? Right? I mean like that was that's
like a real like firestarter tweet right there. What wasn't
necessarily anticipating it? But I gotta tell you this. So
(16:14):
I was calling the Shrine Bowl in Vegas at the
same time as the Pro Bowl this past year, and uh,
and then I was down in Mobile, you know, as
the Senior Bowl was going on. It's like I just
didn't I didn't have I didn't watch the Senior the
Pro Bowl live. Then went back went back and saw
it and was like, wait, this is what the Pro
(16:36):
Bowl has become. You did go back and see it.
I did, after everybody was talking about it, after everybody
about and I was like, well, what's what's going on here?
So yeah, you're right, clearly the game had evolved into
something that it should not be. And so what's the resolution?
I guess that's the point that that we're trying to
(16:56):
make yours and we didn't. We don't know, um, but
that's what we're looking for, right, Yeah, I mean, I'm
you could sign me up for a stolid quarter of
Pro Bowl watching every year. Um, you know, it's usually
when I get to the Super Bowl host city. In
my hotel room Sunday called a little exercise put on
the Pro Bowl, like all right, one quarter is good,
(17:18):
leave the TV on so it gets the ratings and
then uh, you know and that um it's not great. Uh.
And I have to say I was not expecting that
news yesterday and I was like smiling as I tweeted
because I knew it would get a great because like
it's so much. It's like, all right, well, if we're
not gonna do the game, then we're gonna do what.
(17:39):
We're not gonna do the traditional game, because I think
there will be a game, you know, Steve, Like, I
think we'll get a flag football game or something, some
sort of seven on seven, some sort of something where
you get to celebrate and showcase these players who deserve
to be there, and the players like going. They bring
their families, a lot of them. Hang, it must be
(18:00):
clear the event like the week has been great, and
the interaction with the community that hosts the Pro Bowl
has always been great and all of the events surrounding it.
It's just the game. It's the issue, right, um yeah,
and let me take this phone, call me right back
real quick. But but but still in on on the
on the Pro Bowl. I mean, guys just don't want
(18:20):
to get hurt. I mean that's to coming out. And
I understand. I remember growing I remember growing up back
in the day and like the seventies and eighties, and
I mean, these guys are getting after it, but I
mean they won't pay the money. They weren't getting paid
the money or didn't have um things in their contract
that said, hey, you know you've if you're healthy, then
it's gonna be guaranteed by this day. So guys just
don't want to get hurt. So this is gonna end
(18:42):
up being read by all accounts, a skills competition. And
they can make it fun. Right. Let's have you know,
Tom Brady and Matt Ryan and some of the older
Probowl quarterbacks against the up starts, you know, against Kyler
Murray and Josh Allen and come. So it'll end up
something to do it yeah, there are ways to do it.
(19:03):
And see you're you're too right. But see I grew
up watching the show on ABC called Like Superstars, where
they would have like athletes and entertainers actually participating in
kind of Olympic type competitions, be it swimming, be a
track and field, um, be it whatever. I think it's
actually gonna morph into that where you're not just getting
niche football fans watching it, where where it could end
(19:25):
up being a real crossover event with all the you know,
the TV network UM programming and things like that. I
think two or three years from now, we're gonna see
people like you know, Ian, it's part of four by
one hundred team with to Kill and Jordan Poyer. Um, Kelsey,
(19:46):
you just got drafted. Ay event. I'm coming with an
idea where we're mixing, we're making sports entertainment together. Ian,
I think it's well a couple of things, Um dodge more.
What are the linemen gonna do is do anything? I
guess the dogs ball, that Dodgs ball thing you throughout
there would be show awesome dodgeball. Oh god, I'm sorry,
(20:09):
I gotta get that. But yeah, that's the point, Like
you gotta fight you can't just have a flag football
game because like what are the old lineman and d
linemen do nothing? Right like it? So that's competitions and
things like that. Yeah, yeah, there's gotta be there's gotta
be a way to to include everyone because you know,
(20:29):
that's that's the name of the game here. So I
think that's ah, look, that's the dodgeball thing would be interesting. Now, Look,
they've done skills, they do skills competitions already, you know,
and like we saw that in Vegas. We've seen that
in years past. Uh you know, we had the beach
Um football game, flag football game, you know when it
was back in Hawaii years ago until until Robert Edwards
(20:51):
blew out his knee right right. So and that's the
other thing, like it's it's you know, we gotta we
gotta manage the fun and then the practicality why the
injury risk? Sure? So all right, well, so something something's happening,
something's brewing with the Pro Bowl, and that will be
interesting to follow here. Uh, it's as we try to
figure out what the next generation of the game and
(21:13):
of the event and of the week is going to be.
Next up though, and don't go back, Okay, I want
to win in hold on. I'm sorry. I'm sorry about ever. Know,
sometimes important people call you for not important reasons, so
you just never know who's calling. Not that those people
call me for not important reasons, but they did. Um,
(21:34):
so here's what I want. The lineman dodgeball is a
great idea. That would be fun. Kickball also fun. Um.
What I also kind of like is like linemen are
generally pretty funny. You could just give them lawn chairs
and mike them up and just have them do the
announcing nice for the seven os. I think like Taylor
(21:55):
Lawn would be pretty good doing that. There's I mean,
there's a bunch of guys, a bunch of like big
hilarious dude, so I think that would be good. The
other thing is a lot of these guys like to
eat um, and a lot of them grill. You do
like a grilling competition, and maybe they make ribs and
brisket or something for everyone postgame, Like if we're gonna
(22:17):
open our brains, let's like actually open our brains and
make this. But it should be which is just a fun, cool,
weird event. I'm starting to uh yeah, right, there goes
think guy Fieri judging the grilling contest. There goes too,
and you're part of the crew. You got top billing,
(22:38):
Robert de Niro, YEP, Star Magazine, Me and past Sarah.
We'll look to double down on your dodgeball idea. Vince
Vaughn honorary coach for one of the teams, right, and
then we get we get Jason Bateman to actually announce
the events as Pepper right as the guy who's sitting
(22:58):
there as the analyst on ESPN, the OHO and so like.
It's a lot of great ideas here, guys. I think
think we should be the committee to figure this whole
thing out for the program. I think we'll get it
gone all right. Lastly, the Combine. After much discussion this
past year in Indianapolis about the Combine leaving Indianapolis, it's
(23:19):
back and it's staying for at least two more years.
Ian This is fantastic news. The Combine will remain in Indianapolis.
Where did all the discussion about leaving go? I think
a couple of things. One, when you know, you really
only get to find out what people think of something
whatever it is, when it's maybe taken away. Right, so
(23:39):
you know, we'd go to India and people are like, oh,
it's cold. I mean, I did it, you know, it's cold.
He got walked from place to place or like, you know,
it's the same thing over and over. And there was
some like grumbling, and then they talked about possibly doing
away with it and putting it in l A or Dallas.
And then like something weird happened this year where you know,
we all missed it the year before obviously because of COVID,
(24:02):
and everyone was happy to be there. And I sensed
it like crazy, and I felt it. I was happy
to be there too. I was like, it was so
great to be back. I just kept thinking that, and
you could feel this ground soil of support. So like
I was talking and I had, you know, I would
say sort of a report um that the Common would
(24:22):
be back in Indie the next year while at the combat,
and the reaction was so positive. I was like, oh, yeah,
this is definitely staying. Yeah, so maybe in the future Dallas,
maybe in the future l A, but not anytime soon.
I don't think, Steve well as it should be. I mean,
it's the most central, the central location not just in
the country for everybody to get to, but you can
(24:43):
walk everywhere in Indianapolis, and yeah, you have to be
in the cold, but not for long. Um, you know
you're at Roger Goodell say hey, look, they've got to
find ways to be more efficient with some of the
medical stuff, so guys aren't waiting two hours to get
m R eyes and things like that. But those are
those are relatively easy things to figure out logistically. So
Indianapolis is where it should be. The city appreciated, the
(25:07):
people they are appreciate it, and I think if you
put it in a major market city, it just wouldn't
have the overall communal impact that it does in Indianapolis,
which is just a great, great host city for major
sporting events, no doubt, no doubt about it. All Right, lastly, here,
I thought this was really cool, especially since my family
has a background in athletic training and seeing that the
(25:31):
NFL is now creating a program Steve for HBC used
to provide medical students as part of a partnership um
here and a chance to work with NFL teams this season. Man,
that was really neat, I mean, and that's impactful. Of course.
You know, anytime I get a shout at Howard University,
they won the four medical schools. Um, you know that
they are part of this program. But speaking of Reggie Scott,
(25:54):
you know who's the head of the professional Football trainers
and also the RAMS trainer. Compressive guy. I never really
super impressive, No, go ahead, And yeah, I hadn't really
heard him speak very much. You know, I don't trainers,
don't do a lot of interviews. He was. I think
he was really impressive. He's super impressive. And you know
he said, it's not just you know, to give uh,
(26:16):
you know, diverse medical students opportunities to work in the
sports field, but to let them explore all of the
varied content of the emerging sports science world, being nutrition,
being strength of training, all of the new things coming
out in analytics, in medical you know, in medical aspects
(26:37):
of sports training. So it's more of the exposure to
the very opportunities that are there than so much getting
them with teams to work. Yeah, I thought it was all.
I mean, look, this was a really like productive, productive
and impactful meeting. It felt like these last couple of days, right,
more so than usually these like spring meetings are kind
(26:57):
of like, yeah, you know, a couple of perfunctory things
and like this was like the other think like someone
asked me, one of the you know, team executives there
asked me the other day, I go, I'm you know,
I'm surprised to say you down here wasn't much of
talking about like I thought. It was great. Yeah, I'm
got it. Getting to meet I mean, Steve knows like
hang on the hallways, meet some of these young executives
(27:18):
and coaches like I had met at some of these guys,
but I did, but not all. I thought. It was
like fascinating the whole thing. This was like a very
very good couple of days. I would say, Now, you
guys did a great job for it there. Appreciate your
time here today as well, Steve Whitch and I and
rapport here with us on NFL Inside Report. And that's
(27:45):
gonna do it for this episode of NFL Inside Report,
Thanks so much for being with us here. Certainly appreciate it.
For our producers, Tim Parrochka and Thomas Warren, I'm your host,
Brett Lewis, have a good one. NFL Inside Report is
the production of the NFL and partnership with I Heart
Radio for more official podcasts from the NFL. This at
the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
(28:08):
get your podcasts.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!