On the latest NFL Players: Second Acts podcast, Super Bowl champion TJ Ward joins Peanut and Roman. TJ shares stories of what it was like when his Denver Broncos beat Peanut and Roman’s Panthers in Super Bowl 50, and how special it was to win it in his hometown. TJ’s winning pedigree started in high school, and he talks about playing at De La Salle High School in California during the school’s record 151-game winning streak. TJ talks about how overcoming the odds to have an All-Pro NFL career is what drove him to become a sports agent to give back to young players. And, who had the better secondary: Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” or Denver’s “No Fly Zone?” TJ settles the debate. And he also shares with the guys the work he does through his Ward Boy Project.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Michael Vick.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, I ain't gonna lie I got that, but I
sacked that man.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
That was one of the highlights.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey, yeah, I got a sag or.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I was a cover three. I was supposed to be
in the flag in the back. Start scramming. I said,
he you ain't gonna have me in this flag?
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Yeah, yeah, you better get it show shot. Our next
guess is a good one. I can't say that. I'm
like all the way excited because the last time we
saw this cat was in a big game and then
(00:37):
winning his favorite, not ours. I'm gonna just read some
of his rushment eight year NFL that played in Super
Bowl fifty. He's a Super Bowl fifty winning champion. He
is now the CEO and co founder of Player Above
Sports group. Ladies and gentlemen, TJ. Ward appreciate it, fellas congratulations.
(00:58):
I don't think I ever told you congrat lessons on
Super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
But you know, I'm not gonna do it today, but
I will ask you what was the most impactful or
important play in your eyes or your opinion in that
Super Bowl fifty win.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I think was our first fumbles, the first to set
the tone of that game and we got the touchdown
that would just.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Set it off. It couldn't start no better for us, honestly.
Speaker 6 (01:20):
But before that, that drag by Owens, that first big
over route that we hadn't had a big play like
that all year.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Start the game.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I'm not gonna lie and that momentum that even the
energy it gave a defense. Just get down there and
give us three to start with, and we're gonna hold
three as long as we can.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
But yeah, man, that pushed off on me too.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I mean I gave it a veteran puss because he
was like, I didn't extended and that look at the refference, Like, bro,
he's like, I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Not calling that. I'm like, okay, they.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Would because because you guys tight. Oh Greg Man, Greg,
he's you know, practice, you know. And then he get
to complain and pushing he does.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
It's like they all complain, they all can play. How
did it feel one in the Super Bowl in your hometown?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
That was a dream, contrue.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Man, It's like my football my life started here, my
football path had started here. Yeah, and the peak of
my football journey is ending and starting here or whatever
in the beginning.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But it was definitely surreal.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Like my family, I had a lot of family members there,
even though those tickets I gave him all the family Yeah,
I didn't sell any of them. And just sharing that
moment after in the hotel and stuff with them being
too exes from my grandma house.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Literally, it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
That's cool, that's real cool.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Could you talk about because I didn't even know this
until we did some research that you went to Dayla
South High School? Yes, sir, and so you played at
Dayla South when they were like Dayla South.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, but DJ was early, I mean like tons of
guys and so what was it like?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Was it was it pressure? There?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like only.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
What was that? What was that experience like?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
It was?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was definitely pressure to you know, be as good
or uphold that previous class. What they do is like
coming behind you. The next clan is behind DJ Williams,
You're the next Claer, Kevin Simon, the next Cla Marie
Jones Drew and then what they've done, it's like, Okay,
we gotta be as good or better. So it was
(03:39):
definitely a lot of expectations. I think we had a
lot of mental responsibility at a young age that I
don't think a lot of other high schools at that
time had.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
To deal with. We were almost like a college program.
There's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Expectations, responsibilities. You know, of course, no smoking, no drinking,
none of that. You get kicked off the you know
that normal discipline type stuff. But the things you did
away from the coaches within, you know, your teammates and
that group, extra work, pushing you guys for.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Expectations, Yeah what you wanted to do. So yeah it was.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It was definitely tough. But you know, you say, play
at Dela side. I didn't play much at all. I
didn't playing all my junior year. I only played three
games my senior year. I got heard the third game
of the season. And that's why I walked on that
organ because.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
But how do you go from not playing your junior year,
maybe two or three games your senior year, and then
you you go to Oregon and you ball out and
then you become a second round draft pick?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Like what changed from not playing to playing or starting?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
That sounds a lot quicker and easier than it was.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Coming on.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I got the opportunity to walk on that organ because
I had four teammates, best friends. They all got scholarships
and Nick Aliotti the decordinated at the His brother was
our dena students at Dalla South, so we had that connection.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So Gabe say, you.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Guys want to you want to come up and be
a preferred walk on. I said, cool, went up there,
and at that time, it's like I gotta be better
than everybody on scholarship or I'm gonna be out of here,
or I'm gonna be paying for education. Mindset exactly, free
agency mindset before you're created.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
So I got the scholarship after a year.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I was starting and I got that first three years
for me was like a taste of success and then injury.
It's like I was starting and then I got hurt,
and then I would come back for injuries, be starting
again and.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Hurt my knee.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And that happened for like two three years until my
junior year where I got the opportunity to start and
I had a great season.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I played with Pat Chung. We were you know.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And then I stayed my senior year trying to go
as high as I can to draft and I get
hurt first game of the season my senior year, miss
half that year. I'm like, yeah, I lead, so I
finished off strong and had a good combine and everything
pro day, and shockingly I did go thirty eight.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Man, I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I was like I was getting told from teams second round,
from the Browns, the Chiefs told me second round. A
couple of other teams told me, but you know, to
go thirty eight here thirty eight like because it was
the first year. The first round was one day, and
then they did second and third. Remember it was first, second, third,
I believe, and then they did five them, so it's like, hey,
I got to wait a whole another day, and then
(06:31):
that next day it was quick.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Early. I don't even think I was.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I was half sleep still, but no blessing nonetheless, and
I had a great time in Cleveland. Good great, Yeah,
not winning, we didn't win much, but being a pro,
learning the lifestyle and what it takes to be a
pro and be great, because losing you learn how to
be great.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
You know what not to do. This is what we're
doing is not working.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
I bet experience probably helped you be ready to deal
with adversity and also you focused and you guys, like
you said, you guys are different in high school.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, so when you get to college.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
You know, you got to be a little bit different
to separate yourself, especially as a walk on.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Then in the league you get drafted.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
No matter where you're at, you still got once you
get in that room, you still gotta do something.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, you have to separate yourself. Yeah, that next thing
to push yourself coming. You know as pros individuals, you
guys both know you guys are great players. You gotta
find that little niche that drives you, regardless of what
it is, and let it push you. And for me,
it is being the underdog and being a walk on.
(07:39):
I use that my rookie year. Okay, I should have
been a first rounder. I felt I could have been
a first rounder wherever I should have or may not,
I thought I should have. So I used that to
push me once I got in. I had a great
rookie year. I didn't make Pro Bowl. I'm like, hey
he made Pro Bowl. Here rookie I had a better
season end.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So just find the little things that push yous along
your journey in.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Keeping it consistent. I'm a dB U and dB all
three dbs.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Right, we were in Charlotte, we were thieves Alley Avenue
I'm sorry Avenue. I'm in to say Avenue thieves Avenue.
Who had the better secondary, the no fly zone or
the Legion of Boom in Seattle.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And Lesion, we had the best secondary. Okay, I feel
we had the best secondary.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
One of these reasons.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
We played man and zone. We played every coverage.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
We played eight, we played sixes, we played buzzes, we
played four. Those are our core defenses, and we played
them all the time. You never know what you mean,
mostly man, though mostly man with them, you know what
they was in.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Three buzz cover three.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I feel if you asked as that segregator to do
what we did, they couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
But if you asked us to do what they did,
we do it.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
When I look at the numbers and the people, I
agree with you. And that's because you had a Nickel
and Roby as well, who was a first round pick.
Chris Harris at the time was balling out of his mind,
and of course the key had always just been consistent,
and he was just playing more and more confident and
doing what he was doing. Then you had Darren Stewart
shout out, he's from the state of Alabama playing safety
(09:29):
big time.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Banger and then yourself.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
So I would give you the slight nod just because
you have Roby at the slot and then with Seattle
and the legion of Boom, it was really just about
Earl cam and Shah Browning was great too, but he
was just so big, but that was starting to become
interertangeable and they only focused on the three versus you guys.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
It was about all five.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And I think that's a little unfair to brown here
because he really grew up the boom to the legion.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
See then m Cam was it wasn't even real early.
Earl you know, he can.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Do, he does his thing, but Browner and Can was
the boom in the legion. Like so when you say that,
I'll think more Browner than any other corner for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
In that leader six three dogs, he was one of them.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah, and they did it for longer period of time.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know, we had it. We was hot three years
in and out. You know they were together six years,
so you know, longevity wise and keeping that core together, No,
they did a management did a great job of that.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
So let's transition into your your your second act after football.
What inspires you to get involved or launch the Players above,
Sports Group Agency and your war Boy Foundation.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Well, first with the four Boy Project, our foundation.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Is you know exactly what it is, creating foundation for
these kids and making sure that they're getting or trying
to provide as many outsources and resource or outlets and
resources for them to be successful that they wouldn't have otherwise. Right,
we know some of the areas and youth development programs
are lacking from you know, a time when we were
(11:06):
coming up. Unless more it's a lot more virtual and
those type of things, computerized technology.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So we have a mentorship program.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
We have a scholarship program provided at Delaso High School.
You mentioned one of our kids actually was in the
Olympic trials that was on scholarship this past summer. So
that was leave him right it felt man, It warmed
me up on inside. I'm not gonna lie like that
was one of our guys. So fundraising like golf tournaments.
(11:38):
We had a craft feed so anything to fundraise and
be able to provide for these programs, these scholarships and
symposium we had that mental health, mental wellness, nutrition symposium.
So just trying to create these programs and things for
these kids. Man, put them on the right path and
hopefully I get one of these Super Bowl champions one day.
(12:00):
Here you be interviewing them like, yeah, I came through
the war Boy project, So that's that's really the goal.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
And then with your your agency, talk about that, like
what made you go to there? Because so often players
they don't ever choose the agency route.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah they don't even though, but everybody.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Wants to help players, Yeah, but nobody helps them in
that fashion.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Was it like it was.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Tough to get into It's tough right now because you
think you just hop in and I'm an explorer and
players are gonna take the advice from me. And it's
not like that.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
It's like starting any other business, Like you have to
prove that you're good in this space. Like, yeah, I'm
a good player, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna be
a good agent or a good manager and that good
person to take your son or take you on this
career journey.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
But that being said, I have been through it. I've
done it at the highest level. I've done almost anything
you can do in this league.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I got a great team behind me. You know, they're
supportive of what know we do as a whole and
bringing guys along great recruiters, they know twn, we know
what kind of players we want, and it's just giving
back in a different aspect and more of a professional aspect.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
You know, I'm gonna get paid for doing my job.
Of course.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Tell me something that you've learned since since doing this,
as far as like recruiting and trying to get players
to come on side with you. That you that you
never thought about is when you were looking for your
agent or to something that just you just weren't ready for.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I think a lot of the conversations I have with
the parents, it's more it's like that relationship is almost tired.
In the relationship you gonna have with the kid. It's
like I've talked to a lot of parents. I've talked
to more parents than kids.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
That's something I did not think about.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
And it's show trip, dude.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
It's like I'm gonna speed out with parents just as
much as I am. But you know, when you're playing,
you're in it. You don't respond to text as much.
Even when I was a player, that was my biggest
thing I get from other people, like you don't never
answer the phone. You know, like I'm a practice all
day or I get home, I'm done, I'm tired. I
might look at it and thought I was responded, I didn't.
(14:04):
My bad, and trying to understand that with these players,
so a lot of times you got to communicate through
their parents. Yes, because they talked to their parents all
the time. Did you talk to your agent today, No,
I even talked to it. Well, this is what we
got to get done, and they communicate that for you
or you communicate that through them, But definitely that part.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I know we got a short amount of time and
we got more guests, and I know you're busy and stuff,
but hey, man, I thank you for coming out. Thank
you guy, thanks for blessing us. I'll say it again.
Congratulations super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yea. My brother next year with the Falgust, So I
was part of all that.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, And like I was talking to one of my teams, like, man,
we remember we were at the after party after they lost.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
I was like, yeah, it was awkward. I don't know
what to do.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I didn't go.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Yeah, I'm with.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You, knowing did that after party? We didn't do it either.
I didn't go. It was terrible. It was terrible. You
ruined our night. Thank you my pleasure. I appreciate you
It's Michael Vick.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Hey, I ain't gonna lie I got that, but I
sacked that man.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
That was one of the highlights.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey, yeah, I got a sag or.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I was a cover three. I was supposed to be
in the flag in the back. Start scramming. I said,
he you ain't gonna have me in this flag?
Speaker 4 (00:16):
Yeah, yeah, you better get it show shot. Our next
guess is a good one. I can't say that. I'm
like all the way excited because the last time we
saw this cat was in a big game and then
(00:37):
winning his favorite, not ours. I'm gonna just read some
of his rushment eight year NFL that played in Super
Bowl fifty. He's a Super Bowl fifty winning champion. He
is now the CEO and co founder of Player Above
Sports group. Ladies and gentlemen, TJ. Ward appreciate it, fellas congratulations.
(00:58):
I don't think I ever told you congrat lessons on
Super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
But you know, I'm not gonna do it today, but
I will ask you what was the most impactful or
important play in your eyes or your opinion in that
Super Bowl fifty win.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I think was our first fumbles, the first to set
the tone of that game and we got the touchdown
that would just.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Set it off. It couldn't start no better for us, honestly.
Speaker 6 (01:20):
But before that, that drag by Owens, that first big
over route that we hadn't had a big play like
that all year.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Start the game.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
I'm not gonna lie and that momentum that even the
energy it gave a defense. Just get down there and
give us three to start with, and we're gonna hold
three as long as we can.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
But yeah, man, that pushed off on me too.
Speaker 5 (01:46):
I mean I gave it a veteran puss because he
was like, I didn't extended and that look at the refference, Like, bro,
he's like, I'm.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Not calling that. I'm like, okay, they.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Would because because you guys tight. Oh Greg Man, Greg,
he's you know, practice, you know. And then he get
to complain and pushing he does.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
It's like they all complain, they all can play. How
did it feel one in the Super Bowl in your hometown?
Speaker 3 (02:14):
That was a dream, contrue.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Man, It's like my football my life started here, my
football path had started here. Yeah, and the peak of
my football journey is ending and starting here or whatever
in the beginning.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But it was definitely surreal.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Like my family, I had a lot of family members there,
even though those tickets I gave him all the family Yeah,
I didn't sell any of them. And just sharing that
moment after in the hotel and stuff with them being
too exes from my grandma house.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Literally, it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
That's cool, that's real cool.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Could you talk about because I didn't even know this
until we did some research that you went to Dayla
South High School? Yes, sir, and so you played at
Dayla South when they were like Dayla South.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, but DJ was early, I mean like tons of
guys and so what was it like?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Was it was it pressure? There?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Like only.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
What was that? What was that experience like?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
It was?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
It was definitely pressure to you know, be as good
or uphold that previous class. What they do is like
coming behind you. The next clan is behind DJ Williams,
You're the next Claer, Kevin Simon, the next Cla Marie
Jones Drew and then what they've done, it's like, Okay,
we gotta be as good or better. So it was
(03:39):
definitely a lot of expectations. I think we had a
lot of mental responsibility at a young age that I
don't think a lot of other high schools at that
time had.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
To deal with. We were almost like a college program.
There's a lot of.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Expectations, responsibilities. You know, of course, no smoking, no drinking,
none of that. You get kicked off the you know
that normal discipline type stuff. But the things you did
away from the coaches within, you know, your teammates and
that group, extra work, pushing you guys for.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Expectations, Yeah what you wanted to do. So yeah it was.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
It was definitely tough. But you know, you say, play
at Dela side. I didn't play much at all. I
didn't playing all my junior year. I only played three
games my senior year. I got heard the third game
of the season. And that's why I walked on that
organ because.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
But how do you go from not playing your junior year,
maybe two or three games your senior year, and then
you you go to Oregon and you ball out and
then you become a second round draft pick?
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Like what changed from not playing to playing or starting?
Speaker 3 (04:45):
That sounds a lot quicker and easier than it was.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Coming on.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I got the opportunity to walk on that organ because
I had four teammates, best friends. They all got scholarships
and Nick Aliotti the decordinated at the His brother was
our dena students at Dalla South, so we had that connection.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So Gabe say, you.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Guys want to you want to come up and be
a preferred walk on. I said, cool, went up there,
and at that time, it's like I gotta be better
than everybody on scholarship or I'm gonna be out of here,
or I'm gonna be paying for education. Mindset exactly, free
agency mindset before you're created.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
So I got the scholarship after a year.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I was starting and I got that first three years
for me was like a taste of success and then injury.
It's like I was starting and then I got hurt,
and then I would come back for injuries, be starting
again and.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Hurt my knee.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
And that happened for like two three years until my
junior year where I got the opportunity to start and
I had a great season.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I played with Pat Chung. We were you know.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And then I stayed my senior year trying to go
as high as I can to draft and I get
hurt first game of the season my senior year, miss
half that year. I'm like, yeah, I lead, so I
finished off strong and had a good combine and everything
pro day, and shockingly I did go thirty eight.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Man, I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I was like I was getting told from teams second round,
from the Browns, the Chiefs told me second round. A
couple of other teams told me, but you know, to
go thirty eight here thirty eight like because it was
the first year. The first round was one day, and
then they did second and third. Remember it was first, second, third,
I believe, and then they did five them, so it's like, hey,
I got to wait a whole another day, and then
(06:31):
that next day it was quick.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Early. I don't even think I was.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I was half sleep still, but no blessing nonetheless, and
I had a great time in Cleveland. Good great, Yeah,
not winning, we didn't win much, but being a pro,
learning the lifestyle and what it takes to be a
pro and be great, because losing you learn how to
be great.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
You know what not to do. This is what we're
doing is not working.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
I bet experience probably helped you be ready to deal
with adversity and also you focused and you guys, like
you said, you guys are different in high school.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, so when you get to college.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
You know, you got to be a little bit different
to separate yourself, especially as a walk on.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Then in the league you get drafted.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
No matter where you're at, you still got once you
get in that room, you still gotta do something.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, you have to separate yourself. Yeah, that next thing
to push yourself coming. You know as pros individuals, you
guys both know you guys are great players. You gotta
find that little niche that drives you, regardless of what
it is, and let it push you. And for me,
it is being the underdog and being a walk on.
(07:39):
I use that my rookie year. Okay, I should have
been a first rounder. I felt I could have been
a first rounder wherever I should have or may not,
I thought I should have. So I used that to
push me once I got in. I had a great
rookie year. I didn't make Pro Bowl. I'm like, hey
he made Pro Bowl. Here rookie I had a better
season end.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
So just find the little things that push yous along
your journey in.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Keeping it consistent. I'm a dB U and dB all
three dbs.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Right, we were in Charlotte, we were thieves Alley Avenue
I'm sorry Avenue. I'm in to say Avenue thieves Avenue.
Who had the better secondary, the no fly zone or
the Legion of Boom in Seattle.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
And Lesion, we had the best secondary. Okay, I feel
we had the best secondary.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
One of these reasons.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
We played man and zone. We played every coverage.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
We played eight, we played sixes, we played buzzes, we
played four. Those are our core defenses, and we played
them all the time. You never know what you mean,
mostly man, though mostly man with them, you know what
they was in.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Three buzz cover three.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I feel if you asked as that segregator to do
what we did, they couldn't do it.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
But if you asked us to do what they did,
we do it.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
When I look at the numbers and the people, I
agree with you. And that's because you had a Nickel
and Roby as well, who was a first round pick.
Chris Harris at the time was balling out of his mind,
and of course the key had always just been consistent,
and he was just playing more and more confident and
doing what he was doing. Then you had Darren Stewart
shout out, he's from the state of Alabama playing safety
(09:29):
big time.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Banger and then yourself.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
So I would give you the slight nod just because
you have Roby at the slot and then with Seattle
and the legion of Boom, it was really just about
Earl cam and Shah Browning was great too, but he
was just so big, but that was starting to become
interertangeable and they only focused on the three versus you guys.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
It was about all five.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And I think that's a little unfair to brown here
because he really grew up the boom to the legion.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
See then m Cam was it wasn't even real early.
Earl you know, he can.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Do, he does his thing, but Browner and Can was
the boom in the legion. Like so when you say that,
I'll think more Browner than any other corner for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
In that leader six three dogs, he was one of them.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah, and they did it for longer period of time.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know, we had it. We was hot three years
in and out. You know they were together six years,
so you know, longevity wise and keeping that core together, No,
they did a management did a great job of that.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
So let's transition into your your your second act after football.
What inspires you to get involved or launch the Players above,
Sports Group Agency and your war Boy Foundation.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Well, first with the four Boy Project, our foundation.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Is you know exactly what it is, creating foundation for
these kids and making sure that they're getting or trying
to provide as many outsources and resource or outlets and
resources for them to be successful that they wouldn't have otherwise. Right,
we know some of the areas and youth development programs
are lacking from you know, a time when we were
(11:06):
coming up. Unless more it's a lot more virtual and
those type of things, computerized technology.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So we have a mentorship program.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
We have a scholarship program provided at Delaso High School.
You mentioned one of our kids actually was in the
Olympic trials that was on scholarship this past summer. So
that was leave him right it felt man, It warmed
me up on inside. I'm not gonna lie like that
was one of our guys. So fundraising like golf tournaments.
(11:38):
We had a craft feed so anything to fundraise and
be able to provide for these programs, these scholarships and
symposium we had that mental health, mental wellness, nutrition symposium.
So just trying to create these programs and things for
these kids. Man, put them on the right path and
hopefully I get one of these Super Bowl champions one day.
(12:00):
Here you be interviewing them like, yeah, I came through
the war Boy project, So that's that's really the goal.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
And then with your your agency, talk about that, like
what made you go to there? Because so often players
they don't ever choose the agency route.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yeah they don't even though, but everybody.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Wants to help players, Yeah, but nobody helps them in
that fashion.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Was it like it was.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Tough to get into It's tough right now because you
think you just hop in and I'm an explorer and
players are gonna take the advice from me. And it's
not like that.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
It's like starting any other business, Like you have to
prove that you're good in this space. Like, yeah, I'm
a good player, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna be
a good agent or a good manager and that good
person to take your son or take you on this
career journey.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
But that being said, I have been through it. I've
done it at the highest level. I've done almost anything
you can do in this league.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I got a great team behind me. You know, they're
supportive of what know we do as a whole and
bringing guys along great recruiters, they know twn, we know
what kind of players we want, and it's just giving
back in a different aspect and more of a professional aspect.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
You know, I'm gonna get paid for doing my job.
Of course.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
Tell me something that you've learned since since doing this,
as far as like recruiting and trying to get players
to come on side with you. That you that you
never thought about is when you were looking for your
agent or to something that just you just weren't ready for.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
I think a lot of the conversations I have with
the parents, it's more it's like that relationship is almost tired.
In the relationship you gonna have with the kid. It's
like I've talked to a lot of parents. I've talked
to more parents than kids.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
That's something I did not think about.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
And it's show trip, dude.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
It's like I'm gonna speed out with parents just as
much as I am. But you know, when you're playing,
you're in it. You don't respond to text as much.
Even when I was a player, that was my biggest
thing I get from other people, like you don't never
answer the phone. You know, like I'm a practice all
day or I get home, I'm done, I'm tired. I
might look at it and thought I was responded, I didn't.
(14:04):
My bad, and trying to understand that with these players,
so a lot of times you got to communicate through
their parents. Yes, because they talked to their parents all
the time. Did you talk to your agent today, No,
I even talked to it. Well, this is what we
got to get done, and they communicate that for you
or you communicate that through them, But definitely that part.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I know we got a short amount of time and
we got more guests, and I know you're busy and stuff,
but hey, man, I thank you for coming out. Thank
you guy, thanks for blessing us. I'll say it again.
Congratulations super Bowl fifty.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Yea. My brother next year with the Falgust, So I
was part of all that.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Yeah, And like I was talking to one of my teams, like, man,
we remember we were at the after party after they lost.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
I was like, yeah, it was awkward. I don't know
what to do.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I didn't go.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
Yeah, I'm with.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You, knowing did that after party? We didn't do it either.
I didn't go. It was terrible. It was terrible. You
ruined our night. Thank you my pleasure. I appreciate you
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