On this episode of Off the Record, Dannie Rogers sits down with Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda. The two discuss Jason's start in football, his time at Penn State, his position change once in the NFL and answer questions from fans.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to you another episode of Off the Record with
Dannie Rogers, and I would like to welcome in NFL
Draft media superstar and super back of the Detroit Lions,
Jason Cabinda. That was your first experience while we were
in Kansas City at the draft for your Man on
the Street interviews? How did how did it go?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It was? It was pretty cool. Fans were excited.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I mean, we got some pretty cool answers, We met
some cool interesting people, some big fans, I mean, got
somewhat food recommendations.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I mean it was it was a good experience. Truly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You want to go into broadcasting after football?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Right?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, It's not like we like are making Jason come
out and do all these appearances. You came to us
and you're like, hey, I want to do this, Like
let's get the real going.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
It's one thousand percent the next thing I want to conquer.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Why after football?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I mean I didn't really know. It was probably like
junior college up until that point. Partly I was gonna
be like a broker on Wall Street managing money, some
type of financial analyst or some sort. I went to
school for economics, so that that's that's the direction I
was I was heading in now my junior year. Actually,
we had our our go PSCU reporter. She'd asked me,
they have a little like a recruiting show where basically
(01:07):
we rate our recruits and then we talk about like,
all right, who's gonna be an instant impact recruit, you know,
who's gonna come in summer.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Blah blah blah.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Bring a couple of coaches onto the live show. She's like,
can you coach the live show with me? I'm like, yeah,
why not, Like I'll try it. Like you know, I
was always good at doing interviews. I've always been a
good speaker. So I'm like, yeah, let me try this out.
And we did the live show, like a live audience
and everything. We brought some recruits like onto the actual
show and like talked to them, asked some questions, brought
a couple of coaches on and it went really well.
(01:34):
And after she was just like she like pulled me
justide and she was like Jason, like I know, like
this was kind of just like a let me just
try the type of thing, but like.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
You like really really could do this.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
She's like, You're like supernatural at this, Like make sure
you look into it. She's like, just do that for me,
just look into it. I'm not saying this is what
you want to do whatever whatever. I was like, I
really never had somebody say that to me like that
with that much certainty, you know what I mean. So
I was like, all right, let me let me just
you know, keep kind of fostering this this thing I
got in me, and you know, the interest kept growing
(02:05):
and growing. Now that have been in the league and
then broadcasting boot camp advanced far aising boot camp. You know,
I was able to call Super Bowl a couple of
years ago, the Miami Super Bowl for for what is it,
uh talk sport? Oh wow, for the you know, the
like the UK's ESPN.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Oh okay, okay, but it was cool.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
It's been a really good experience and I'm now want
a place from like nah, I like, for sure, I
want to do this without a question.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So what what would be analysts like do a post
career Tom Brady thing.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
I think my goal would be a Kirk curve Street
type of role. I would love to be on the
road a lot, covering the best games.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Either college or I was gonna say college.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
And then obviously also having an opportunity have some type
of studio analyst role where we were the analyzing games.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
That would be my perfect scenario.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Okay, so this is going on the real we're speaking
this all into existence, all right, broadcaster, NFL player very
different from the career of your parents, which is professor
teacher in high school. And then your dad is an MD,
a medical doctor and sounds like he's a very cool job.
So how were you raised? Was it to be an
NFL player? Were they okay with you taking this this path?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
That was never the intention, honestly, Honestly, the reason why
I started playing football is because my parents got divorced
and I had terrible anger problems as a kid.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I needed an outlet. You know.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I was a really good kid in school, Like I
had straight a's and get into fights. I was never
the kid who had, you know, teachers calling home like,
hey Mom, your kid's freaking acting up at school. I
was never that kid. But when my parents got divorced,
I was becoming that kid. And I concerned my mom
a lot. And one of her best friends that she
worked out with at the YMCA, she had just enrolled
her son into football, and she convinced my mom didn't
(03:48):
roll me too. I hated football at first, like I
was out of shape kid like so not ready for football,
like just the vigor of what football was, training camp
stuff like that. I remember we used to have bear
crawls and I would literally hide in the.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Bathroom when we had the bear crawl.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Those are not nice.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I've come from, like I've lived both sides of the spectrum,
like truly, like being where I am now, it's like
where I started when I played football, So I feel
like I have an extra level of appreciation and gratitude
for everything.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So how old were you when you your mom when.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I first started? Yeah? Ten, fifth grade.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, my parents had the words like the third grade,
second and the second grade like third grade, and then
the fifth grade is when I started playing football.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You peeled back the layers a little bit off camera
talking about how your your Nigerian parents brought you up
Camerion and your mom came over to the States and
she was pregnant with you at the time. So did
she come over to America to make sure that you
were born here?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Not necessarily.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I don't think it played out like that, but I
know the plan was to come here honestly, the things
that are going on in camera now.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Cameron is very, very very.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Tough right now, super corrupt, There's a lot going on,
civil war, that type of environment. And my parents predicted
this twenty something years ago that Cameroon would come to
the place that it's in right now, and that's why
they moved here. So it's kind of crazy hearing all
this stuff going on Cameroon now and knowing that my parents.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Knew that this was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So super lucky to be here. And I think I
always talk about appreciation and gratitude all the time.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It's look and my two top words. But it's like,
it's so true because.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I know not everyone feels like this, but I know
I definitely feel like this, Like I know for a
fact that it's a true possibility I could not be
here right now, Like I could be in Cameroon with
zero opportunity, with none of the opportunities that I have right now.
So I feel like every time I have an opportunity
to grow myself in any kind of way, I always
try to take advantage because I never forget that, you know,
in the back of my head, there's always that, you know,
a little voice saying, like, man, take advantage, because none
(05:45):
of these opportunities would be here if you're still in Cameroon.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And that's just the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, how did your parents keep your camera roots intact
though even though you're born and raced here in the States.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
That's a good question, really good question, honestly. Honestly, I
think we kept my roots that way just off the
strength of we really don't hung out with Camerian people,
like we were always hanging out with Africans, like Camerians
or Nigerians. Like when my parents first got here, they
were like scared of black Americans. I'm not gonna lie,
they were scared. Like they we lived in California near Crenshaw,
(06:17):
there's a lot of crime. Like they didn't understand gangs,
They didn't understand like black or black crime, you know
what I mean, Like they just didn't understand. It was
so foreign to them, you know, coming from Cameroon, we're
like are are saying is like you know, it takes
a village to raise a child. Like we're so much
about like family, about respect about each other, and those
are so much the values that we grew up on.
So I think when they saw that. It was quite
the culture shock for them, and I think they just
(06:39):
tried to keep us under wraps.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
And that's why we they stayed.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
We stayed so close to Africans because they knew for
a fact that their values were right, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
And yeah, they were just scared. You know, they had never.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Really been around white people, so they were scared of
white people, and they were scared of black people here
because they didn't understand something to beaver some black people here.
So it's it's interesting contrast an experience that I've had
and differences of values. I feel like it's maybe very
well rounded personally as an adult.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, with so much uncertainty your parents faced for them
to go on to have careers as a professor in college,
your mom and like I mentioned, medical doctor for your dad,
how inspirational.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Is that very?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I mean, the standards were high in the household. It's
really like that in most, if not all, African households.
Like like I said earlier, like if you're not a
doctor or a lawyer, like you're not taking very serious
or like they look down on you, you know what
I mean. So even pursuing football as long as I have.
You know, I first was kind of like, are you
sure this is something that can even be something like.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You got a degree in econ, Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
You know, And I mean I had sisters that graduated
high school with four point ohos, Like that's what my
sister are older than me.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
It's like I had to follow that.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I had a three to five in high school, so
I didn't have a four point oh but like I tried,
you know, so you were playing sports. But yeah, that's
a standard. I think that's very very important. I think
that's why I hold myself to such a high standard
and everything, because they that's what they did. You know,
that was the expectation. You know, we brought you all
the way here to America. We didn't bring you here
not to be somebody, you know, and I understand that.
(08:09):
I understand that sacrifice, and I'm appreciative of it.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
So your little brother, I am the little brother.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Two older sisters.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
How much older? Are they?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
A lot older? Honestly, like eight nine years? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Did they just pick on you?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I know?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Sometimes I don't lie, okay sometimes, but I feel like
the majority of like my important childhood years was really
just me and my mom. If my parents were divorced,
my sisters I went out to college. The divorce was tough,
so my sisters went far away. They're all the way
in California, like with the USC and FIDM, so we
were in Jersey, they were far so just me and mom,
(08:42):
and those was what I really call like my critical
you know, childhood years where I really had to grow up.
You know, my mom's obviously a single mom, working two jobs,
try to make sure I was good, you know, taking
me to practice here or arranging me rise here, you know,
whatever the case may have been. And you know I
had friends who's and dads helped me out a ton,
you know, getting to where I needed to because she always,
(09:03):
you know, was working and stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So I'm appreciative of all those people who have gotten here.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I love that. And then we talked a little bit
your relationships growing with your.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Dad, Yeah, has you know, we weren't close growing up,
you know, Like I said, the divorce was really tough.
You know, it was divorce, and then it was kind
of a double whaman up for a couple of years.
I was going back and forth, you know, getting used
to that because he still lived in New Jersey, so
I'd go like every other week mom's dad's house. And
in the fifth grade, he moved to Chicago. So I'm
from seeing him every other week to seeing him once
a year. And that was like a double whammy for me.
(09:31):
Like the divorce is one thing, but like my dad
leaving was like a even bigger thing.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So that was kind of like the double whommy. That
kind of like broke me for a sense in terms
of like when I started really.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Acting up in school and I was getting into fights,
my grades started driving, My grades had never dropped, you know,
stuff like that, and it was tough, you know stuff
and that I can't even lie. It was probably till
like eighth grade. You know, I lived with a lot
of bitterness, a lot of anger, probably to like eighth grade.
And I forget what triggered it, but I remember one
time we were coming home to my mom. We're in
(09:59):
the car and my mom was like, you know, Jay,
she was like, there are kids out here who have
no parents. You don't have either mom or dad. She's like,
you have a mom that loves you so much, who's
always going to be here for you, always has your back.
Like I know this is hard. I know, your dad
hasn't been here, you know, Blase, but be appreciative you
at least have one parent. And I really took that
(10:20):
to heart that day, and I think since that day,
I started to forgive and started to you know, just
be appreciative that I have my mom at least, because
it's true, there's foster kids, there's kids who are who
are orphans, the kids who don't have parents, who don't
know their parents, or whatever the case may be. And so,
you know, not having my dad in my life at
that time, you know, it wasn't the end of the world.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And I needed that talk with her to help me
through that.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Then probably the relationship really was my dad was really
the same through high school, didn't get better to college.
College was the first time he saw me play. It
was my freshman year. It's my first start actually in college.
It's Northwestern. I had a pretty solid game and he
saw me play that game. And really, since then the
relationship grew and we started talking more. He probably came
(11:04):
to a couple more college games through my career, you know,
been too, a couple of NFL games, So the relationship
has grown.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
You know, he calls me now we talk more and
it's good.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
You know, it really hasn't been till I'm until I've
gotten older, that I really realized.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That I needed that relationship in my life.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
You know. I feel like I got to a place
where I felt like I was either too good for
or too man enough, or too tough, or.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Like I didn't need it anymore. You know.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
But as I've matured and as I've grown, and as
I've talked to him and realized, like, my dad is
so much me, you know, DNA is so strong. So
I think, you know, talking to him and learning more
about him and growing to know him more as an adult,
you know, makes me very appreciative of of having in
my life now because it makes me realize that every
kidneys their parents, you know, it's the truth.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And what does he do specifically in his medical field.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
He he specializes in drug safety, specifically specifically cancer drugs,
like new drugs that come on.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
The market, you know, writing reviews, like figuring.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Out side effects, you know, what drugs should go out
on the market, what shouldn't you know, stuff of that nature.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
So he's, uh, he's been up there for for for
a while. You know, he got a big job.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Uh huh? And what does mama teach? What does she
specialize in?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yourself?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
English has a second language, so you know she normally
deals with, you know, kids who who come from foreign
countries or you know.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Just kids you don't speak English.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
At when whatever the case may be, kind of accelerates them,
get them back and acclimated to.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
You know, being here.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So yeah, wow, did she just conmen a story?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You're going into your six in the NFL? I am
do you feel old as heck?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You are old now? I'm still rookie.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
No, you're not.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
That's crazy, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Can you believe how how?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
It seems like it's flown by for you.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Rookie ear felt like it was yesterday? Really?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, why does it feel like that?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I just can't really believe it. I can't believe I've
been here as long as I've been. I mean, what
since that first team when I was here PI like
five ten guys. Maybe they're still here.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I don't even think it's that much.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Nineteen Yeah, it's like deck frank me.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I think Graham was Romeo?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I think yeah, Romeo Graham was there. Okay, he left
and came back. Yeah, you know, so, yeah, it's kind
of crazy. It's kind of crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Been a lot of turnovers, Bill, I'm seeing a lot, Yeah,
coaching staff, players in and out, you know. But the
growth and the journey has been awesome. It's awesome to
see our culture going into what it is. Reminds me
a lot of my journey at Penn State, honestly, really.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You love the culture there.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, but just like what we went through, you know,
being at Penn State. You know the sanctions that just finished.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You know, my first year, we had like forty six
scholarship players on the roster. You know, normal college normal
college football one a roster has eighty five schols.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
We had forty six year because of the sanctions.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Because of the.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Sanctions, so we had walk ons and we used to
call them run ons because they would walk on it
and actually play, So we called them run ons.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Wow, did you I mean usually college sure's cary about
one hundred hundred, one hundred and twenty five.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah, it was still the same amount of players, it's
just not scholarship players.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and you stuck through that.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, first two years, I mean we had very average years.
We might have been like seventy five, eighty five or
something like that. And then junior year, you know, we
won Big Ten championship. You know, we clicked, went through adversity,
bounced back. You know, that that factor of self belief,
because that's really what it is in football, you know,
especially at this level where there's supposed to be so
much parody. You know, everyone's supposed to be the same,
(14:28):
every team's built to be the same in a sense.
That's that's a difference maker. And I can feel that
that same culture being built here. You know, I really
do feel like that, that same self belief. You know,
we believe in ourselves. We're going into every game feeling
like we're gonna win. That's important, really important.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Gosh, everyone keeps asking all the players, do you feel
the outside expectations on this season? Do you feel it?
Or do you every I call it player talk, players speak. No,
we don't pay attention to the outside stuff, all that
outside noise.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
That's a good question. I'm gonna say no.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I'm gonna say no for for a different reason because
I get it. That's a that's a typical answer, like,
oh no, you know, we don't listen to outside speech.
I think for us, I actually just think like we
wanted that bad, you know what I mean. Like it's
been a long road at least for me since I've
been here, Like I feel like on every team that
I've been on, even growing up.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
In sports, like as a kid, like I was really
never on a team that was even like below five hundred.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
So like my first couple of years here, that was
like really the first time in like my life that
I've lost like that, you know. So that was that
was really tough for me, and it took a lot
of growth, you know, it took a lot of growth
because I didn't really know how to handle it. It
was you work super hard, you do everything you're supposed
to do, and the result was gonna come. And I
(15:46):
was doing all those things the result wasn't coming. So
that was a that was a time in my life
I really had to mature and realize that you have
to keep doing those things no matter what the result
is gonna be or what it's gonna look like, because
that's what you know is true.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
You those are your values, that's what's gotten you hear.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
And it's taken some time, but now we're where we're
at you know where we're kind of in this crossroads
where's like, Okay, we're gonna take the next step.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
And I truly feel like we are. Man.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
I mean, we have a special coaching staff, we have
special players. I mean, Indie NFL is very rare for
you to have coaches who've played, you have coaches who
not only played, but really truly had success in the league.
I've played five ten years in the league. I think
the level of respect that you have for guys like
that when they're teaching you things, it's just different, you know,
(16:32):
it just is. You know a lot of coaches, I'm
not saying every coach is just an X and O guy.
You know a lot of coaches have a ton of
experience all those kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
But when you have a guy.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Who's really played, who's been in your shoes, who's done
what you've done, there's just another level of respect. There's
another level of paying attention to detail because the merit
that are behind those words is there because they've done it,
and they've been there and they've had that same success
that you want for yourself. So I think what we
have going on here is very special. So it's not
over No, absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I don't think it is either. Okay, that's great. What
what room do you spend more time in? Running back
room or tight end room?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Nowadays it's the tight end room. Okay, subject to change probably.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Like you don't just bounce back and forth.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
I have, Yeah, I have bounced back and forth, but
lately I've been with the tight ends.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
What if medians are at the same time? It again,
what if medians are at the same time?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Can you do That's what I mean by I've got
back and forth kind of depending on what you know
the office is to do.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Okay, so you're in the tight ends the handyman, I
know what super back cabinda uh, now that you're in
the tight ends room a lot. It was an I
noticed this. I was able to watch one rookie mini
camp practice and Samlporta did stick out like a sore
thuntain stuck out in the best way. What are you
seeing from him off the bat?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Oh, receiving skills catch up the ball supernaturally. I mean
it's catch the tuck and get and get his eyes
up the field and getting ready to be a runner
are are impressive for rookie. I truly believe he can
have that saying TJ effect you know that he had
on our offense. You know, without a doubt he's gonna
help us a lot in the passing game. But he's smart.
(18:08):
You know, he works hard. You know, that's those kind
of things you want to see out of a rookie.
You know, obviously he was drafted hobby. You could tell
he's coming ready to work. You can tell he's coming
not feeling like he has it all figured out, which
is important as well. So you know, guys like that
when they come in, you know they're gonna grow because
they're willing to take coaching. They're willing to not not
just willing, but they know they have to get better
because at the end of the days, the NFL and
(18:28):
what you did in college ain't gonna cut it here.
So that that's that's very, very exciting to seattles.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
How often are you are you around Jamiir Gibbs?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Then lockermates? Are you?
Speaker 1 (18:39):
How is Jamir Gibbs?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
He's good? You know he's good.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You know, saw him out there practice today. You know,
also natural hands. You also type of guy looks like
you're gonna be a threatned receiving game. He's got speed,
He's got speed, he's got home run speed, and I'm
excited about him as well.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Was he the rookie that you were whooping down on
ping pong?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:58):
That was that was a a g Who's Oh Antoine?
Did you know Antoine from a prior or? Is it
just him get in the locker room?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
He was just talking a little smack, you know, put
him in his place?
Speaker 1 (19:10):
So did you end Kevin Johnson was just at practice OTAs.
I don't know the last time he was. He was
out at practices. Were you a little shocked or did
you know you was coming?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
I didn't know he was coming.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
But it was good to see to have a guy
like that around, you know, a Hall of Fame guy
who freaking everyone in this building looks up to.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
You know, honestly, it's huge. I mean, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
It's kind of funny you mentioned because when we went
to Kansas City, I was actually sitting.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Next to on our flight there.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Oh you were sitting next to Calvin?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Yeah? Yeah, So we ended up meeting that day first
class buddies.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Yeah, we ended up meeting that day on the plane.
Or we're just you know, chopping it up wrapping the
old time. You know, you're talking about his investments and
stuff and not just how he loves the city, how
he's still here and stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So it's really good to happen around.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
What are the odds you sit next to Kelvin Johnson
on an airplane?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I was with d Barnes actually because we were both
going down there to Kansas City because Dee Barnes was
going to go see his cousin Sean Alexander the running
back from US.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I don't and he literally walked he walked past, like
you know, there's a little storage and get water and
stuff that's at the airport. He like walked past, isn't it.
Calvin Johnson bar was like, Nah, that's not him, Like, Bro,
I think that's you know what football. That's hard you
used to seeing somebody you don't always spaces, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
That's a big dude.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I'm like, yeah, it's a big dude. I'm like, that's
gotta be him. Bro, Like, I swear that's him. And
then when we finally sat down, I was like, nah,
that's definitely him. And dB was right behind us, so
we were all just chopping it.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Oh my gosh, did he know who you were?
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I introduced myself.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Was he like so shocked that you're playing for the
Detroit Lines?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Small world?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What are the odds? Oh? My god? I love stories
like that. You've mentioned degree in economics investments. I was
just sitting in the staff here does a great job
of preparing the rookies for their new salaries, so they
teach them the financial literacy of it as well. You're
that your oldest oldest heck, we already talked about that.
(20:58):
What is your advice financial advice as an economics guru
to rookies and mainly NFL players in the league or
people like me who's starting to finally buckle down on
financial That is.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
A great question.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Obviously varies like based on like you know, where you're drafted,
where you're not. Some guys are gonna have more money
in their pockets right now than other guys. You know,
some guys situations more solid than others. But I would
I would say, and it obviously comes down to like
saving your money is number one, There's no question about that,
But like find ways to make passive income asat because
we're in a position as young people where you're supposed
(21:35):
to take risks with your money.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
We're young, a lot of us aren't married, don't have kids.
This is the time for risks.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I think one thing I learned early in my career,
I don't think it would have gone different even with
the knowledge I have now, just because of my situation,
I kind of have to do what I have to do.
But like if I was a first, second, or third
round pick, you know where I felt really good about
being on a team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
My situation, I would about.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
A house immediately, like renting, renting, because the thing with
being in a league is like you're traveling so much,
you're all over the place. You're training here, they have
to be here with your team, and not everybody stays
in the NFL cities because some guys like to be Like,
for example, I live in Florida in the off season,
you know, I need the good weather to train an
off seastead of being out here in the cool. But
you know, I started doing airbnbs because my first three years,
(22:19):
I'd realized I was throwing so much money in the trash, renting, renting, renting, renting,
and even when I went in the off season, I
was getting an Airbnb or you know, leasing for however
long I was leasing for so getting out of doing
that altogether. Ended up buying a crib in Florida. And
then when I was come here for Detroit, I rented
out when I was gone and ended up making so
(22:40):
much money that paid for your self and paid for
my place here. And that's when I was like, oh wow,
I've absolutely been pooping the bed. I should have been
doing this for a long time. Ended up getting a
second crib doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Then I moved.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
When I go back to Florida, I just move into
the crib that does worse, which everyone makes real least
amount of money.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Too. I was hoping to get a third buy now,
but Mark has been kind of crazy, so crazy. Yeah,
I kind of waiting for it to die down a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
When do you have time to do all this?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I'm a busy man.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Do you have someone helping you?
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
I do.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I hired my best friend from from home, my boy
maleak Man.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
He helps me out a ton, helps me out a ton,
especially with just organization. Honestly, it's the biggest thing because
I'm the type of person who, like I'm always running
around with like my freaking head cut off like a chicken,
Like I'm a to b A to b A to
b A to b okay here to hear it, I'm
going here, and like that's just how I move and
how I operate. So like he very much helps me
with the organization and the in between time and that
(23:32):
kind of stuff. So it's important to have people like that,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Malik the MVP. Amazing. Okay, it's time for some fan questions.
I'm so excited for these because some of them are
actually kind of good. You never know what fans want
to ask NFL players. Sometimes they ask it's just it's
just different. But I did post your famous gift from
the hard Yeah one. The number one question was what
(23:57):
were you thinking in your head when you were making
his face?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Man, I don't think I could say it on this podcast.
It involves probably some curse words, but very very Let's
just say I was very ready to run through brick
wall at that moment. What was was that the pretty
much pat up at that second?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Was that the Dan Campbell baby powder talk or was
that a different one?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
No, that was his.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You know, like our journey talk about like everybody else
and what everybody says about us, you know, like we're
just gonna go like this and soon everybody's gonna know.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
And you know, you know how Dan heard? Yeah, you
know how Dan gets man, He gets us fired up.
Man's it's awesome a coach like that.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Oh my gosh. Okay, So you were, in fact thinking
about running through a wall.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Okay, Ryan asked if you didn't play super back. I'm
glad people just know to call you that. What other
position would you play? And why?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I mean, I go back to the linebacker without a doubt.
I miss playing defense.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Just throw you out there, mister dark Side a little bit. Yeah,
I wouldn't mind going both ways, and that'd be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Just tell look, man, I'm ready to stoot up for you.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
I have to.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Yeah, love it. Okay, this is from Charles. What is
one of your personal goals? No, this is no different trials.
I should have got Charles on this. What is one
of your personal goals for this upcoming season? And does
it include breaking a couple of face masks like Corey
Schleslinger did in the past.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Oh, personal goals.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I feel like this is actually a year that I'm
going into with probably the least amount of personal goals.
This is the most team orient that I've probably ever
been from my mindset standpoint. Man, I'm just I'm just
so excited to win. I just I won a super Bowl.
That's really all I care about. I don't care about stats.
I don't care about catches, I don't care about yards.
(25:42):
I don't obviously if that's what I'm asked to do,
I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do my mess ability without
a doubt. But my biggest, absolute, biggest thing is just
winning because I truly do feel like, you know, we're
one of those time periods where we have a window,
you know, where I truly feel like our roster is
really talented enough, we really have in this building to
do what we want to do on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So I'm just excited for that. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
All right, the same Charles wants to know which teammate
would you not want to date one of your sisters?
And you have two sisters.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Oh man, that's a tough one. I know, Uh, he
gonna kill me, but I gotta go with Craig Reynolds. Nooy,
I go, my dog, Craig. I love Craig dow good
old Craig. That's my dog. But Craig, Craig and Dave
my sister.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
What is your favorite hit that you can remember and
how did it happen? My favorite when you're a linebacker.
But also maybe yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Man, I freaking oh, I freaking Stonemball, the Derek Watt
my rookie year. They were on lead right at me
when plenty defense, they were on lead right at me.
Oh my god, let's put him in the ground.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Your favorite Dan Campbell's speech? Was it the Hard Knocks one?
Is there another one?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I'm trying to think that there's another one.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
There's a lot I heard about the one team meeting
speech where his tooth fell out mid mid speech. Maybe
you didn't realize it, but his tooth fell out and
he bent down, pick it up, picked it up, and
put it back in and continued like he didn't even
told me that story. It really happened.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I don't think I remember that.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
It's probably the train came one honestly, Okay, Also because
like it's kind of played out that way as well,
you know what I mean? It turns like what he
actually said really was true.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
William's really sweet, he said, will you just let will
you just let him know the entire Lines fan base
appreciates him.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Then, oh, of course that we appreciate him, that.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
They appreciate you. Fans appreciate you, the whole fan base.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I appreciate it, said William William. Thanks, will I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Which one of these three would you never? Would you
be okay with never eating again? This is from Detroit
Nightmare free options pizza, burgers, or seafood. You had to
choose one, you can never eat it again?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Pizza, burgers, seafood?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Yeah, I mean you liven't you live in Florida?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Like I love salmon.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
I don't think I could ever give up samwich. It's
not seafood. So it's really between pizza and burgers.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
What I like more.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
You're a Jersey guy too, I'm just I mean, I
love both.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
God, I guess I I'd give up burgers. You can't
give a pizza all right?
Speaker 1 (28:19):
No, I don't think I agree.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
That's a tough one though, too.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
It is really tough.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
It really is good barbecue, baking, cheeseburgers fantastic.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I love this question from Ballet Vespa. I don't know
if they're actually a valet. What influence in your life
led you to be such an activist and leader in
the community.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Yeah, definitely my mom, no question. And it goes back
to kind of what I said, you know that it
takes a village to raise a child and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
I've always been so so much about like my roots
and giving back and just being able to put other,
you know, kids in position, you know, to.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Be whatever they want.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
You don't have to be a football players, it can
be anything, doctor, lawyer, scientists, I don't, I don't care,
you know, to inspire them, motivate them, and give them
the confidence to be who they want to be. I
think it's the biggest thing I think, Like I said,
you know, birthing that convict that self conviction, that can
conviction within yourself that you where you truly believe that
(29:15):
you can do anything that you want to do. I
think that's that's the end goal and everything that I
do from an activist standpoint, I truly feel like that
Welcome to you another episode of Off the Record with
Dannie Rogers, and I would like to welcome in NFL
Draft media superstar and super back of the Detroit Lions,
Jason Cabinda. That was your first experience while we were
in Kansas City at the draft for your Man on
the Street interviews? How did how did it go?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It was? It was pretty cool. Fans were excited.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I mean, we got some pretty cool answers, We met
some cool interesting people, some big fans, I mean, got
somewhat food recommendations.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I mean it was it was a good experience. Truly.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
You want to go into broadcasting after football?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Right?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, It's not like we like are making Jason come
out and do all these appearances. You came to us
and you're like, hey, I want to do this, Like
let's get the real going.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
It's one thousand percent the next thing I want to conquer.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Why after football?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
I mean I didn't really know. It was probably like
junior college up until that point. Partly I was gonna
be like a broker on Wall Street managing money, some
type of financial analyst or some sort. I went to
school for economics, so that that's that's the direction I
was I was heading in now my junior year. Actually,
we had our our go PSCU reporter. She'd asked me,
they have a little like a recruiting show where basically
(01:07):
we rate our recruits and then we talk about like,
all right, who's gonna be an instant impact recruit, you know,
who's gonna come in summer.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Blah blah blah.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Bring a couple of coaches onto the live show. She's like,
can you coach the live show with me? I'm like, yeah,
why not, Like I'll try it. Like you know, I
was always good at doing interviews. I've always been a
good speaker. So I'm like, yeah, let me try this out.
And we did the live show, like a live audience
and everything. We brought some recruits like onto the actual
show and like talked to them, asked some questions, brought
a couple of coaches on and it went really well.
(01:34):
And after she was just like she like pulled me
justide and she was like Jason, like I know, like
this was kind of just like a let me just
try the type of thing, but like.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
You like really really could do this.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
She's like, You're like supernatural at this, Like make sure
you look into it. She's like, just do that for me,
just look into it. I'm not saying this is what
you want to do whatever whatever. I was like, I
really never had somebody say that to me like that
with that much certainty, you know what I mean. So
I was like, all right, let me let me just
you know, keep kind of fostering this this thing I
got in me, and you know, the interest kept growing
(02:05):
and growing. Now that have been in the league and
then broadcasting boot camp advanced far aising boot camp. You know,
I was able to call Super Bowl a couple of
years ago, the Miami Super Bowl for for what is it,
uh talk sport? Oh wow, for the you know, the
like the UK's ESPN.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Oh okay, okay, but it was cool.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
It's been a really good experience and I'm now want
a place from like nah, I like, for sure, I
want to do this without a question.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So what what would be analysts like do a post
career Tom Brady thing.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
I think my goal would be a Kirk curve Street
type of role. I would love to be on the
road a lot, covering the best games.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Either college or I was gonna say college.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
And then obviously also having an opportunity have some type
of studio analyst role where we were the analyzing games.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
That would be my perfect scenario.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Okay, so this is going on the real we're speaking
this all into existence, all right, broadcaster, NFL player very
different from the career of your parents, which is professor
teacher in high school. And then your dad is an MD,
a medical doctor and sounds like he's a very cool job.
So how were you raised? Was it to be an
NFL player? Were they okay with you taking this this path?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
That was never the intention, honestly, Honestly, the reason why
I started playing football is because my parents got divorced
and I had terrible anger problems as a kid.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
I needed an outlet. You know.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
I was a really good kid in school, Like I
had straight a's and get into fights. I was never
the kid who had, you know, teachers calling home like,
hey Mom, your kid's freaking acting up at school. I
was never that kid. But when my parents got divorced,
I was becoming that kid. And I concerned my mom
a lot. And one of her best friends that she
worked out with at the YMCA, she had just enrolled
her son into football, and she convinced my mom didn't
(03:48):
roll me too. I hated football at first, like I
was out of shape kid like so not ready for football,
like just the vigor of what football was, training camp
stuff like that. I remember we used to have bear
crawls and I would literally hide in the.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Bathroom when we had the bear crawl.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Those are not nice.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I've come from, like I've lived both sides of the spectrum,
like truly, like being where I am now, it's like
where I started when I played football, So I feel
like I have an extra level of appreciation and gratitude
for everything.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
So how old were you when you your mom when.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I first started? Yeah? Ten, fifth grade.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
Yeah, my parents had the words like the third grade,
second and the second grade like third grade, and then
the fifth grade is when I started playing football.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
You peeled back the layers a little bit off camera
talking about how your your Nigerian parents brought you up
Camerion and your mom came over to the States and
she was pregnant with you at the time. So did
she come over to America to make sure that you
were born here?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Not necessarily.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
I don't think it played out like that, but I
know the plan was to come here honestly, the things
that are going on in camera now.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Cameron is very, very very.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Tough right now, super corrupt, There's a lot going on,
civil war, that type of environment. And my parents predicted
this twenty something years ago that Cameroon would come to
the place that it's in right now, and that's why
they moved here. So it's kind of crazy hearing all
this stuff going on Cameroon now and knowing that my parents.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Knew that this was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
So super lucky to be here. And I think I
always talk about appreciation and gratitude all the time.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
It's look and my two top words. But it's like,
it's so true because.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
I know not everyone feels like this, but I know
I definitely feel like this, Like I know for a
fact that it's a true possibility I could not be
here right now, Like I could be in Cameroon with
zero opportunity, with none of the opportunities that I have right now.
So I feel like every time I have an opportunity
to grow myself in any kind of way, I always
try to take advantage because I never forget that, you know,
in the back of my head, there's always that, you know,
a little voice saying, like, man, take advantage, because none
(05:45):
of these opportunities would be here if you're still in Cameroon.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And that's just the truth.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, how did your parents keep your camera roots intact
though even though you're born and raced here in the States.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
That's a good question, really good question, honestly. Honestly, I
think we kept my roots that way just off the
strength of we really don't hung out with Camerian people,
like we were always hanging out with Africans, like Camerians
or Nigerians. Like when my parents first got here, they
were like scared of black Americans. I'm not gonna lie,
they were scared. Like they we lived in California near Crenshaw,
(06:17):
there's a lot of crime. Like they didn't understand gangs,
They didn't understand like black or black crime, you know
what I mean, Like they just didn't understand. It was
so foreign to them, you know, coming from Cameroon, we're
like are are saying is like you know, it takes
a village to raise a child. Like we're so much
about like family, about respect about each other, and those
are so much the values that we grew up on.
So I think when they saw that. It was quite
the culture shock for them, and I think they just
(06:39):
tried to keep us under wraps.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
And that's why we they stayed.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
We stayed so close to Africans because they knew for
a fact that their values were right, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
And yeah, they were just scared. You know, they had never.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Really been around white people, so they were scared of
white people, and they were scared of black people here
because they didn't understand something to beaver some black people here.
So it's it's interesting contrast an experience that I've had
and differences of values. I feel like it's maybe very
well rounded personally as an adult.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, with so much uncertainty your parents faced for them
to go on to have careers as a professor in college,
your mom and like I mentioned, medical doctor for your dad,
how inspirational.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Is that very?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I mean, the standards were high in the household. It's
really like that in most, if not all, African households.
Like like I said earlier, like if you're not a
doctor or a lawyer, like you're not taking very serious
or like they look down on you, you know what
I mean. So even pursuing football as long as I have.
You know, I first was kind of like, are you
sure this is something that can even be something like.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You got a degree in econ, Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
You know, And I mean I had sisters that graduated
high school with four point ohos, Like that's what my
sister are older than me.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
It's like I had to follow that.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
I had a three to five in high school, so
I didn't have a four point oh but like I tried,
you know, so you were playing sports. But yeah, that's
a standard. I think that's very very important. I think
that's why I hold myself to such a high standard
and everything, because they that's what they did. You know,
that was the expectation. You know, we brought you all
the way here to America. We didn't bring you here
not to be somebody, you know, and I understand that.
(08:09):
I understand that sacrifice, and I'm appreciative of it.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
So your little brother, I am the little brother.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Two older sisters.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
How much older? Are they?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
A lot older? Honestly, like eight nine years? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Did they just pick on you?
Speaker 2 (08:22):
I know?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Sometimes I don't lie, okay sometimes, but I feel like
the majority of like my important childhood years was really
just me and my mom. If my parents were divorced,
my sisters I went out to college. The divorce was tough,
so my sisters went far away. They're all the way
in California, like with the USC and FIDM, so we
were in Jersey, they were far so just me and mom,
(08:42):
and those was what I really call like my critical
you know, childhood years where I really had to grow up.
You know, my mom's obviously a single mom, working two jobs,
try to make sure I was good, you know, taking
me to practice here or arranging me rise here, you know,
whatever the case may have been. And you know I
had friends who's and dads helped me out a ton,
you know, getting to where I needed to because she always,
(09:03):
you know, was working and stuff.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So I'm appreciative of all those people who have gotten here.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
I love that. And then we talked a little bit
your relationships growing with your.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Dad, Yeah, has you know, we weren't close growing up,
you know, Like I said, the divorce was really tough.
You know, it was divorce, and then it was kind
of a double whaman up for a couple of years.
I was going back and forth, you know, getting used
to that because he still lived in New Jersey, so
I'd go like every other week mom's dad's house. And
in the fifth grade, he moved to Chicago. So I'm
from seeing him every other week to seeing him once
a year. And that was like a double whammy for me.
(09:31):
Like the divorce is one thing, but like my dad
leaving was like a even bigger thing.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So that was kind of like the double whommy. That
kind of like broke me for a sense in terms
of like when I started really.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Acting up in school and I was getting into fights,
my grades started driving, My grades had never dropped, you know,
stuff like that, and it was tough, you know stuff
and that I can't even lie. It was probably till
like eighth grade. You know, I lived with a lot
of bitterness, a lot of anger, probably to like eighth grade.
And I forget what triggered it, but I remember one
time we were coming home to my mom. We're in
(09:59):
the car and my mom was like, you know, Jay,
she was like, there are kids out here who have
no parents. You don't have either mom or dad. She's like,
you have a mom that loves you so much, who's
always going to be here for you, always has your back.
Like I know this is hard. I know, your dad
hasn't been here, you know, Blase, but be appreciative you
at least have one parent. And I really took that
(10:20):
to heart that day, and I think since that day,
I started to forgive and started to you know, just
be appreciative that I have my mom at least, because
it's true, there's foster kids, there's kids who are who
are orphans, the kids who don't have parents, who don't
know their parents, or whatever the case may be. And so,
you know, not having my dad in my life at
that time, you know, it wasn't the end of the world.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
And I needed that talk with her to help me
through that.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Then probably the relationship really was my dad was really
the same through high school, didn't get better to college.
College was the first time he saw me play. It
was my freshman year. It's my first start actually in college.
It's Northwestern. I had a pretty solid game and he
saw me play that game. And really, since then the
relationship grew and we started talking more. He probably came
(11:04):
to a couple more college games through my career, you know,
been too, a couple of NFL games, So the relationship
has grown.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
You know, he calls me now we talk more and
it's good.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
You know, it really hasn't been till I'm until I've
gotten older, that I really realized.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
That I needed that relationship in my life.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
You know. I feel like I got to a place
where I felt like I was either too good for
or too man enough, or too tough, or.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Like I didn't need it anymore. You know.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
But as I've matured and as I've grown, and as
I've talked to him and realized, like, my dad is
so much me, you know, DNA is so strong. So
I think, you know, talking to him and learning more
about him and growing to know him more as an adult,
you know, makes me very appreciative of of having in
my life now because it makes me realize that every
kidneys their parents, you know, it's the truth.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
And what does he do specifically in his medical field.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
He he specializes in drug safety, specifically specifically cancer drugs,
like new drugs that come on.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
The market, you know, writing reviews, like figuring.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Out side effects, you know, what drugs should go out
on the market, what shouldn't you know, stuff of that nature.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
So he's, uh, he's been up there for for for
a while. You know, he got a big job.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Uh huh? And what does mama teach? What does she
specialize in?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yourself?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
English has a second language, so you know she normally
deals with, you know, kids who who come from foreign
countries or you know.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Just kids you don't speak English.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
At when whatever the case may be, kind of accelerates them,
get them back and acclimated to.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
You know, being here.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So yeah, wow, did she just conmen a story?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You're going into your six in the NFL? I am
do you feel old as heck?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
You are old now? I'm still rookie.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
No, you're not.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
That's crazy, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Can you believe how how?
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
It seems like it's flown by for you.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Rookie ear felt like it was yesterday? Really?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, why does it feel like that?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I just can't really believe it. I can't believe I've
been here as long as I've been. I mean, what
since that first team when I was here PI like
five ten guys. Maybe they're still here.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I don't even think it's that much.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Nineteen Yeah, it's like deck frank me.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I think Graham was Romeo?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I think yeah, Romeo Graham was there. Okay, he left
and came back. Yeah, you know, so, yeah, it's kind
of crazy. It's kind of crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Been a lot of turnovers, Bill, I'm seeing a lot, Yeah,
coaching staff, players in and out, you know. But the
growth and the journey has been awesome. It's awesome to
see our culture going into what it is. Reminds me
a lot of my journey at Penn State, honestly, really.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
You love the culture there.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, but just like what we went through, you know,
being at Penn State. You know the sanctions that just finished.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You know, my first year, we had like forty six
scholarship players on the roster. You know, normal college normal
college football one a roster has eighty five schols.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
We had forty six year because of the sanctions.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Because of the.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Sanctions, so we had walk ons and we used to
call them run ons because they would walk on it
and actually play, So we called them run ons.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Wow, did you I mean usually college sure's cary about
one hundred hundred, one hundred and twenty five.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Yeah, it was still the same amount of players, it's
just not scholarship players.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and you stuck through that.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, first two years, I mean we had very average years.
We might have been like seventy five, eighty five or
something like that. And then junior year, you know, we
won Big Ten championship. You know, we clicked, went through adversity,
bounced back. You know, that that factor of self belief,
because that's really what it is in football, you know,
especially at this level where there's supposed to be so
much parody. You know, everyone's supposed to be the same,
(14:28):
every team's built to be the same in a sense.
That's that's a difference maker. And I can feel that
that same culture being built here. You know, I really
do feel like that, that same self belief. You know,
we believe in ourselves. We're going into every game feeling
like we're gonna win. That's important, really important.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Gosh, everyone keeps asking all the players, do you feel
the outside expectations on this season? Do you feel it?
Or do you every I call it player talk, players speak. No,
we don't pay attention to the outside stuff, all that
outside noise.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
That's a good question. I'm gonna say no.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
I'm gonna say no for for a different reason because
I get it. That's a that's a typical answer, like,
oh no, you know, we don't listen to outside speech.
I think for us, I actually just think like we
wanted that bad, you know what I mean. Like it's
been a long road at least for me since I've
been here, Like I feel like on every team that
I've been on, even growing up.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
In sports, like as a kid, like I was really
never on a team that was even like below five hundred.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
So like my first couple of years here, that was
like really the first time in like my life that
I've lost like that, you know. So that was that
was really tough for me, and it took a lot
of growth, you know, it took a lot of growth
because I didn't really know how to handle it. It
was you work super hard, you do everything you're supposed
to do, and the result was gonna come. And I
(15:46):
was doing all those things the result wasn't coming. So
that was a that was a time in my life
I really had to mature and realize that you have
to keep doing those things no matter what the result
is gonna be or what it's gonna look like, because
that's what you know is true.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
You those are your values, that's what's gotten you hear.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
And it's taken some time, but now we're where we're
at you know where we're kind of in this crossroads
where's like, Okay, we're gonna take the next step.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
And I truly feel like we are. Man.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
I mean, we have a special coaching staff, we have
special players. I mean, Indie NFL is very rare for
you to have coaches who've played, you have coaches who
not only played, but really truly had success in the league.
I've played five ten years in the league. I think
the level of respect that you have for guys like
that when they're teaching you things, it's just different, you know,
(16:32):
it just is. You know a lot of coaches, I'm
not saying every coach is just an X and O guy.
You know a lot of coaches have a ton of
experience all those kinds of things.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
But when you have a guy.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Who's really played, who's been in your shoes, who's done
what you've done, there's just another level of respect. There's
another level of paying attention to detail because the merit
that are behind those words is there because they've done it,
and they've been there and they've had that same success
that you want for yourself. So I think what we
have going on here is very special. So it's not
over No, absolutely not.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
I don't think it is either. Okay, that's great. What
what room do you spend more time in? Running back
room or tight end room?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Nowadays it's the tight end room. Okay, subject to change probably.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Like you don't just bounce back and forth.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
I have, Yeah, I have bounced back and forth, but
lately I've been with the tight ends.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
What if medians are at the same time? It again,
what if medians are at the same time?
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Can you do That's what I mean by I've got
back and forth kind of depending on what you know
the office is to do.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Okay, so you're in the tight ends the handyman, I
know what super back cabinda uh, now that you're in
the tight ends room a lot. It was an I
noticed this. I was able to watch one rookie mini
camp practice and Samlporta did stick out like a sore
thuntain stuck out in the best way. What are you
seeing from him off the bat?
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Oh, receiving skills catch up the ball supernaturally. I mean
it's catch the tuck and get and get his eyes
up the field and getting ready to be a runner
are are impressive for rookie. I truly believe he can
have that saying TJ effect you know that he had
on our offense. You know, without a doubt he's gonna
help us a lot in the passing game. But he's smart.
(18:08):
You know, he works hard. You know, that's those kind
of things you want to see out of a rookie.
You know, obviously he was drafted hobby. You could tell
he's coming ready to work. You can tell he's coming
not feeling like he has it all figured out, which
is important as well. So you know, guys like that
when they come in, you know they're gonna grow because
they're willing to take coaching. They're willing to not not
just willing, but they know they have to get better
because at the end of the days, the NFL and
(18:28):
what you did in college ain't gonna cut it here.
So that that's that's very, very exciting to seattles.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
How often are you are you around Jamiir Gibbs?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Then lockermates? Are you?
Speaker 1 (18:39):
How is Jamir Gibbs?
Speaker 2 (18:40):
He's good? You know he's good.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
You know, saw him out there practice today. You know,
also natural hands. You also type of guy looks like
you're gonna be a threatned receiving game. He's got speed,
He's got speed, he's got home run speed, and I'm
excited about him as well.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Was he the rookie that you were whooping down on
ping pong?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:58):
That was that was a a g Who's Oh Antoine?
Did you know Antoine from a prior or? Is it
just him get in the locker room?
Speaker 2 (19:07):
He was just talking a little smack, you know, put
him in his place?
Speaker 1 (19:10):
So did you end Kevin Johnson was just at practice OTAs.
I don't know the last time he was. He was
out at practices. Were you a little shocked or did
you know you was coming?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
I didn't know he was coming.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
But it was good to see to have a guy
like that around, you know, a Hall of Fame guy
who freaking everyone in this building looks up to.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
You know, honestly, it's huge. I mean, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
It's kind of funny you mentioned because when we went
to Kansas City, I was actually sitting.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Next to on our flight there.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Oh you were sitting next to Calvin?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Yeah? Yeah, So we ended up meeting that day first
class buddies.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
Yeah, we ended up meeting that day on the plane.
Or we're just you know, chopping it up wrapping the
old time. You know, you're talking about his investments and
stuff and not just how he loves the city, how
he's still here and stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So it's really good to happen around.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
What are the odds you sit next to Kelvin Johnson
on an airplane?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I was with d Barnes actually because we were both
going down there to Kansas City because Dee Barnes was
going to go see his cousin Sean Alexander the running
back from US.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I don't and he literally walked he walked past, like
you know, there's a little storage and get water and
stuff that's at the airport. He like walked past, isn't it.
Calvin Johnson bar was like, Nah, that's not him, Like, Bro,
I think that's you know what football. That's hard you
used to seeing somebody you don't always spaces, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
That's a big dude.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I'm like, yeah, it's a big dude. I'm like, that's
gotta be him. Bro, Like, I swear that's him. And
then when we finally sat down, I was like, nah,
that's definitely him. And dB was right behind us, so
we were all just chopping it.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Oh my gosh, did he know who you were?
Speaker 2 (20:30):
No, I introduced myself.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Was he like so shocked that you're playing for the
Detroit Lines?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Small world?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
What are the odds? Oh? My god? I love stories
like that. You've mentioned degree in economics investments. I was
just sitting in the staff here does a great job
of preparing the rookies for their new salaries, so they
teach them the financial literacy of it as well. You're
that your oldest oldest heck, we already talked about that.
(20:58):
What is your advice financial advice as an economics guru
to rookies and mainly NFL players in the league or
people like me who's starting to finally buckle down on
financial That is.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
A great question.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Obviously varies like based on like you know, where you're drafted,
where you're not. Some guys are gonna have more money
in their pockets right now than other guys. You know,
some guys situations more solid than others. But I would
I would say, and it obviously comes down to like
saving your money is number one, There's no question about that,
But like find ways to make passive income asat because
we're in a position as young people where you're supposed
(21:35):
to take risks with your money.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
We're young, a lot of us aren't married, don't have kids.
This is the time for risks.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
I think one thing I learned early in my career,
I don't think it would have gone different even with
the knowledge I have now, just because of my situation,
I kind of have to do what I have to do.
But like if I was a first, second, or third
round pick, you know where I felt really good about
being on a team.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
My situation, I would about.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
A house immediately, like renting, renting, because the thing with
being in a league is like you're traveling so much,
you're all over the place. You're training here, they have
to be here with your team, and not everybody stays
in the NFL cities because some guys like to be Like,
for example, I live in Florida in the off season,
you know, I need the good weather to train an
off seastead of being out here in the cool. But
you know, I started doing airbnbs because my first three years,
(22:19):
I'd realized I was throwing so much money in the trash, renting, renting, renting, renting,
and even when I went in the off season, I
was getting an Airbnb or you know, leasing for however
long I was leasing for so getting out of doing
that altogether. Ended up buying a crib in Florida. And
then when I was come here for Detroit, I rented
out when I was gone and ended up making so
(22:40):
much money that paid for your self and paid for
my place here. And that's when I was like, oh wow,
I've absolutely been pooping the bed. I should have been
doing this for a long time. Ended up getting a
second crib doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Then I moved.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
When I go back to Florida, I just move into
the crib that does worse, which everyone makes real least
amount of money.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Too. I was hoping to get a third buy now,
but Mark has been kind of crazy, so crazy. Yeah,
I kind of waiting for it to die down a
little bit.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
When do you have time to do all this?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I'm a busy man.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Do you have someone helping you?
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
I do.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I hired my best friend from from home, my boy
maleak Man.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
He helps me out a ton, helps me out a ton,
especially with just organization. Honestly, it's the biggest thing because
I'm the type of person who, like I'm always running
around with like my freaking head cut off like a chicken,
Like I'm a to b A to b A to
b A to b okay here to hear it, I'm
going here, and like that's just how I move and
how I operate. So like he very much helps me
with the organization and the in between time and that
(23:32):
kind of stuff. So it's important to have people like that,
you know.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Malik the MVP. Amazing. Okay, it's time for some fan questions.
I'm so excited for these because some of them are
actually kind of good. You never know what fans want
to ask NFL players. Sometimes they ask it's just it's
just different. But I did post your famous gift from
the hard Yeah one. The number one question was what
(23:57):
were you thinking in your head when you were making
his face?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Man, I don't think I could say it on this podcast.
It involves probably some curse words, but very very Let's
just say I was very ready to run through brick
wall at that moment. What was was that the pretty
much pat up at that second?
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Was that the Dan Campbell baby powder talk or was
that a different one?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
No, that was his.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You know, like our journey talk about like everybody else
and what everybody says about us, you know, like we're
just gonna go like this and soon everybody's gonna know.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
And you know, you know how Dan heard? Yeah, you
know how Dan gets man, He gets us fired up.
Man's it's awesome a coach like that.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Oh my gosh. Okay, So you were, in fact thinking
about running through a wall.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Okay, Ryan asked if you didn't play super back. I'm
glad people just know to call you that. What other
position would you play? And why?
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I mean, I go back to the linebacker without a doubt.
I miss playing defense.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Just throw you out there, mister dark Side a little bit. Yeah,
I wouldn't mind going both ways, and that'd be pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Just tell look, man, I'm ready to stoot up for you.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
I have to.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Yeah, love it. Okay, this is from Charles. What is
one of your personal goals? No, this is no different trials.
I should have got Charles on this. What is one
of your personal goals for this upcoming season? And does
it include breaking a couple of face masks like Corey
Schleslinger did in the past.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Oh, personal goals.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I feel like this is actually a year that I'm
going into with probably the least amount of personal goals.
This is the most team orient that I've probably ever
been from my mindset standpoint. Man, I'm just I'm just
so excited to win. I just I won a super Bowl.
That's really all I care about. I don't care about stats.
I don't care about catches, I don't care about yards.
(25:42):
I don't obviously if that's what I'm asked to do,
I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do my mess ability without
a doubt. But my biggest, absolute, biggest thing is just
winning because I truly do feel like, you know, we're
one of those time periods where we have a window,
you know, where I truly feel like our roster is
really talented enough, we really have in this building to
do what we want to do on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
So I'm just excited for that. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
All right, the same Charles wants to know which teammate
would you not want to date one of your sisters?
And you have two sisters.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Oh man, that's a tough one. I know, Uh, he
gonna kill me, but I gotta go with Craig Reynolds. Nooy,
I go, my dog, Craig. I love Craig dow good
old Craig. That's my dog. But Craig, Craig and Dave
my sister.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
What is your favorite hit that you can remember and
how did it happen? My favorite when you're a linebacker.
But also maybe yeah, oh.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Man, I freaking oh, I freaking Stonemball, the Derek Watt
my rookie year. They were on lead right at me
when plenty defense, they were on lead right at me.
Oh my god, let's put him in the ground.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Your favorite Dan Campbell's speech? Was it the Hard Knocks one?
Is there another one?
Speaker 2 (26:57):
I'm trying to think that there's another one.
Speaker 1 (26:59):
There's a lot I heard about the one team meeting
speech where his tooth fell out mid mid speech. Maybe
you didn't realize it, but his tooth fell out and
he bent down, pick it up, picked it up, and
put it back in and continued like he didn't even
told me that story. It really happened.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I don't think I remember that.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
It's probably the train came one honestly, Okay, Also because
like it's kind of played out that way as well,
you know what I mean? It turns like what he
actually said really was true.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
William's really sweet, he said, will you just let will
you just let him know the entire Lines fan base
appreciates him.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Then, oh, of course that we appreciate him, that.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
They appreciate you. Fans appreciate you, the whole fan base.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
I appreciate it, said William William. Thanks, will I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Which one of these three would you never? Would you
be okay with never eating again? This is from Detroit
Nightmare free options pizza, burgers, or seafood. You had to
choose one, you can never eat it again?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
Pizza, burgers, seafood?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Yeah, I mean you liven't you live in Florida?
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Like I love salmon.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
I don't think I could ever give up samwich. It's
not seafood. So it's really between pizza and burgers.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
What I like more.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
You're a Jersey guy too, I'm just I mean, I
love both.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
God, I guess I I'd give up burgers. You can't
give a pizza all right?
Speaker 1 (28:19):
No, I don't think I agree.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
That's a tough one though, too.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
It is really tough.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
It really is good barbecue, baking, cheeseburgers fantastic.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I love this question from Ballet Vespa. I don't know
if they're actually a valet. What influence in your life
led you to be such an activist and leader in
the community.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
Yeah, definitely my mom, no question. And it goes back
to kind of what I said, you know that it
takes a village to raise a child and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
I've always been so so much about like my roots
and giving back and just being able to put other,
you know, kids in position, you know, to.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Be whatever they want.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
You don't have to be a football players, it can
be anything, doctor, lawyer, scientists, I don't, I don't care,
you know, to inspire them, motivate them, and give them
the confidence to be who they want to be. I
think it's the biggest thing I think, Like I said,
you know, birthing that convict that self conviction, that can
conviction within yourself that you where you truly believe that
(29:15):
you can do anything that you want to do. I
think that's that's the end goal and everything that I
do from an activist standpoint, I truly feel like that
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Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.