June 8, 2023 • 19 mins
Robaire Smith spent 11 seasons in the NFL, including a pair in Houston. He and Texans TV's Drew Dougherty caught up about his favorite memories here, his thoughts on Andre Johnson and DeMeco Ryans, and much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is a fun one.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Not often do you get a chance to talk with
somebody who played in college for Nick Saban in the
late nineteen nineties and then who was a Houston Texan
speaking about Robert Smith. I'm not Robert Smith. I'm Drew Doerty,
and I'm glad that you're listening to this. Where are
they now? But Robert was a Texan in two thousand
and four and in two thousand and five, think about that.
(00:23):
Everyone remembers OH five because the Texans lost fourteen games.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
But not everybody remembers oh four.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
In December of that season, they had a chance to
have a five hundred record, but they lost those final
two games. Nonetheless, that was a good year for Roebert,
and individually he played alright No. Five as well, started
all thirty two games those seasons. Grew up in Flint, Michigan,
played at Michigan State under Sabin. Yeah that Nick Saban
and then a sixth round pick by the Titans in
(00:52):
two thousand.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Spent his first four years in the league with Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Returned to the Titans in six After that two year
stint with the Texans, closed out his career in Cleveland.
OH seven on a winning Cleveland Browns team that did
not make the playoffs eight oh nine to ten, and
then he retired only two years in Houston as a Texan,
Houston is.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Now his home. He loves h Town, loves the Texans.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
We talked about that, we talked about playing for saving
the excitement around the franchise. Now the Demiico is the
head coach and a whole lot more. And oh yeah,
he's also Travis Johnson's brother in law. This is where
are they now? With Robert Smith, Ladies and gentlemen, The
great Robart Smith joins us here on where are they now?
(01:37):
You played for the Houston Texans back in that first
decade of the century, doesn't it feel? It makes me
feel old having to say that, because you and I
are the same age. But goodness, gracious a while back,
but you played here. It was an interesting time and
we're going to get into that. But Robert Smith, how
you doing and where are you these days?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Man, I'm going great. I appreciate you actingly and having
me on, but obviously here out in Houston, you know,
out here living with my family and joining this good
Texas weather man.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, indeed, now you're like me. You've you've got five kids,
You've got four kids.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
We both have twins.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
You've got you've got some kids that their chips off
the old block, aren't they athletically? Because your brother in law,
Travis Johnson was telling me a little bit about him
about a week or so ago.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Yeah, I mean they're getting there, you know, Like you said,
I have two daughters that's older then I got my
twin sons now that they're they're fifteen years old, you know,
and those guys about big as me right now. So
you know, it's just a good thing to sit back
and kind of watch them grow into their own to
be able to do something that they seem like they
loving to do, and to be around to help.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
You know what I mean. So I think that's the
most important part for me.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Does that feel like a luxury?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You know, being able to be that involved, because you
know a lot of us are parents, our dads, our moms.
They were working and they didn't have the time that
perhaps you might have right now.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I mean, yeah, you know that was a big thing
for me during the later parts of my career. I
wasn't able to be here in Houston with them because
when my daughters was growing up. Once we got down
here in Houston, I didn't want them traveling with me
anymore because I wanted them to be stable, be in
a school system, be around people that they can call friends,
you know, for life.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
And now I got time now.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Well, you know, I guess since the last couple of years,
I don't want to tell my age that I don't
play no more.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know that I got time now.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
The way I can grow up, I can interact with
my boys, help them with football, do some of the
things with my daughter.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So I mean, it's been a blessing with that.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
I won't give your age away because it's the same
as mine, so I'll just say we're twenty nine.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, keep it at that.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Hey, you're not from here. You played your college ball
at Michigan State. You played in some other places in
the NFL, but you decided to settle here and make
Houston your home.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
How come?
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I mean, it was just like a home feeling always.
Like you say, I'm originally from Flint, Michigan. I started
off playing with the Tennessee Titans down there in Nashville,
and then once I got here, Man, from the first day,
it's just felt like home, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I told my wife, we.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Always felt like we was going to stay either on
the outskirts of Michigan or down in Nashville. As soon
as I got here, I told my wife, I'm like, man,
I think this is where homes should be for us.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
It was just a homeie feel a lot to do,
great weather, great people, great atmosphere, you know, and I
just loved it. And it's been it ain't been nothing
but great since then.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Changed, It's changed a lot since you decided to come
to Houston. Since you came to Houston, tell me about
those playing days when you got here and what it
was like as a Houston Texan it because it was
still in the early days of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Really yeah, I mean it was great. Man. It was hot.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I know that, you know hasn't changed.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
The first thing that's straight with me was it was hot.
But no.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I came in with a couple of guys. Some of
them were Vests and some were younger, you know, the
guys like Jamie Sharper, Kylie Wong. Those guys I actually
knew before because they played with my oldest brother in
Minnesota and Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So it was.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You know, it's sort of like a little home feeling
with those guys. But as far as coming in, you know,
we was trying to build something special at the time, because,
like you say, it was just getting back around down here,
so it was kind of challenging, but at the same
time it was fun.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
That's what you want as an athlete, that's what you
want as a person. You want to have to get pushed,
you want to have to try to figure some things
out and grow together, and that's what we did.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, who did you find yourself linking up with and
becoming friends with on this team? I know you had
a lot, but who are some of the guys that
back then you kind of felt a kinship with and
kind of form bonds with.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Gary Walker for sure, you know my brother in law,
Travis Johnson for.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Sure, Andre Dante Robinson.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Jabbar Gaffney, Corey Butfer you know Corey Sears. You know
those guys. I love self paying you know, those guys
was always good guys and somebody that I click with.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Just right off the bat man.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
You just named a bunch of names and put those
names in a bag, and they are a bunch of
unique characters. I mean, that had to be a lot
of fun. I could see why you'd be buddies with
those guys.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Oh yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
And and most of them are opposite of me. You know,
I'm kind of quiet, laid back. Of those guys out
go and speak, they might do something crazy, probably except
for Andre.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
You know, he's just as quiet as me.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
You know, I think you know that's something that made
us click like we did. But the other guys who
they'd have totally opposite.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I want to get it down in a moment. But
since you brought him up now, I.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Know you'll agree with me, and you'll agree with most
of the people listening or watching this, But there are
a few out there who still need to be convinced.
But explain why Andre Johnson belongs in the Pro Football
Hall of Fame?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Oh man, the bigger question is why not? You know
what I mean, I mean, what more can he do?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
You know, this is a guy that, basically on the
offensive side of that ball, carried this team. You know,
he embodies everything what the Texans wanted, what we was
trying to build in the early years, seem like what
the city want, what the state is about. He embodies
that he's a hard worker. I mean, besides him being
a heck of an athlete. To me, unstoppable, you know
what I mean. So the hardest question is why is
(06:58):
he not in there at first of all, because is
given and it should be there already.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, I think the answer to that is just ignorance. Really,
you people just don't know enough, because if you watched
him for any amount of time, I mean, goodness gracious, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I mean, you can't deny. You can't deny what he did,
what he you know, and what's what's for him? You know,
I think it's eventually for him, Like we say, you
know me and you know, we feel like he should
already be in there.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
But you can't. You can't. You can't deny what's going
to happen for him. And he's going to get in there,
no doubt.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I can't wait when he did until he does. Hey,
you brought up Travis to your brother in law. What's
it like being a brother in law of Travis Johnson?
Because he's a he is a lot of fun to
talk with. It seems like he knows just about everyone
in the world of entertainment and sports, so on and
so forth. But you've got a special relationship with the guy.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
What's that like? Oh yeah, no, I mean Travis.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, from day one, it always been like a
brother brother relationship between us. When he first came in
here with me being an older player going into my
fifth year, him being a rookie.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
You know, from the first day.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
When he got in here of camp, he came and
sit right next to me during the meetings, you know,
so we were stuck together unwantly, you know, but we
end up building a great bund from there and just
always hung out.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
But you know, to your sense with Travis, Travis is
a very.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Smart guy, you know what I mean. He's very informant
to he very smart. Like you say, he knows a
lot of things. He knows a lot of people. And
that's something that like a characteristic of his that I
always loved about him. It ain't too much that he
doesn't know, you know. He knows something about every little thing.
He's a smart guy. So I mean, like you said,
he got an outgoing personality. Once again, there it go.
(08:34):
He opposite to me. So I love to be proud
because I don't have to say it do nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, you're right about that he is well versed in
just about every subject and current event there is.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
So he's a he's very likable. People love him, you
know what I mean. So that's a great thing.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
And you're always you're probably always in good supply with
cigars beating around.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That guy, right. Oh Man, he loves him, So I
let him go ahead and sponsor that.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
For me, it's not bad. That's not bad.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Hey, Memories on the field as a Texan, What were
some of those for.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You on the field as a Texan?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Yeah, I mean I think overall that first year, man,
when we went seven to nine. Man, you know we Yeah,
those first I'm not mistaken. Those first couple of games
a little rocky, and then we came on. We found
our rhythm for a couple of games we beat I
think then a good Kansas City team, a good Titans team,
and uh, you know Oakland. You know, we got those
(09:31):
guys and we just was out there. We was enjoying ourselves.
We was having fun, you know, flying around and just
enjoying each other out there on that field as well
as off the field. So, like I said, that goes
back to something earlier. We just was trying to build
something special in this team, and I felt like it
was coming.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
You know, it's an interesting that that season is a
really interesting one because you had the first two o
two oh three, or you're an expansion franchise and not
much great is gonna happen win loss wise when you're
that young. But in December, y'all were seven and seven.
I mean, you had a chance there and you were
that close. It's kind of the combo of having a
(10:07):
pretty solid defense, a good running back in Dominic Davison,
you had Andre Johnson doing what he did. It was
a really pretty you know, I don't want to say forgotten,
but it was a kind of an underrated Texans team
from the from the early days.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
When you agree, yeah, I would, I would definitely agree.
And like you said, they was the year maybe like
a year or two before I came. That's when the
franchise got back going here and guys were still trying
to build them. But guys was out there strapping.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Man.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
We had some good players, some good veteran players.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Like you say, some good young guys and Dominique Davis,
Andre Johnson, David Carr at the time, you know, young
Jonathan Wells. You know, it was just like a whole
bunch of different people that we had to combine together
with young, old, and you know some mid So I think,
like you say, it's an underrated team. You know, we
probably probably should get a little bit more respect. I'm
quite sure if the racer was a couple more womens away,
(10:54):
we will be getting that.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
We will, Yeah, no doubt. Hey, Flint, Michigan, you wind
up becoming a Spartan And it just seems so hard
to believe for some out there, not for me, not
for you. But before he won all those titles and
pumped out all those victories as the head coach of
Alabama way back when Nick Saban was a really good
head coach for the Spartans at Michigan State, what was
(11:18):
it like playing for him there in the late nineteen nineties.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I mean it was great.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I mean when I look at it, I still see
the same Nick Saban, you know what I mean. He's
a guy he keeps you, you gotta be you gotta
you gotta do what you're supposed to do when you're
supposed to do it, be accountable for what you're doing.
And I see he still goes by a lot of
them rules and a lot of things that he did
at the time. But the coach Saban gonna be Coach Saban, Man,
I think he got way more personality than what people
(11:45):
gives him, you know what I mean, that's really he
got points.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
He got times where he a fundy guy.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Man, he's a yugga guy, but people don't see it.
They just see, you know, Saturday or when he's talking
to the media and he gets a little upset and
they highlighted that. But he's really a great I mean,
like a real great person, you know, one of my
one of my all time favorite coaches, favorite people in
this world.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, you bring that up and we all see externally
the kind of gruff exterior. But you can't go in
and recruit so many great, great players you be in
one of them over the three four decades that he
was a head coach. If you don't have that personality
and that sense of humor like you're talking about, can
you give us some just an insight into a little
(12:28):
bit more of that, because clearly he's got that.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I mean, I think he's great because one thing
about coach Saban, what you see is what you get.
He's one hundred percent authentic, Like he's going to be straight.
He's a straight shooter. He's going to tell you exactly
how it is. What do you expect, what you can do?
What is he trying to push you to? What is
your goal? Him pushing you towards your goal and him
making you be accountable and stick to that goal. You know,
(12:53):
some coaches get there and they switch it up on you.
He ain't that type of person.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
He'll sit there, he'll look your parents in the eye,
look you in the eye, and let you know what
it is. And he sticked by what he going And
it's just a look in a field that you can
sense when someone is real and he's.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
A real dude.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
So with all that in mind, I'm guessing you're a
big fan of guys like Henry Toto, the linebacker that
the Sections drafted out of Alabama this year, as well
as the clear one Will Anderson Junior the defensive end.
They obviously have a lot going for him, but to
have flourished under that guy as their head coach kind
of adds a little something extra, don't you think?
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Oh yeah, for sure, for sure.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, first of all, like you say, those two
guys are amazing, you know what I mean. It ain't
I didn't just start watching them this year. I've been
watching those guys, you know, from their first year out there.
You know, I don't see the development of you know,
the guy like Will Anderson. He was one of my
favorite college players period, you know, the last couple of years,
not just this past year, the year before.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Always said you can see something special in it.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
But like with that with coach Saban, you know, those
guys are pro ready because that's what he does with
his player.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
He gets them pro ready.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
You know, it'll be a lot of coaches that's there
try to do things just for a team or do
this just to help they benefit them.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But he gets you ready for the next level. And
you're gonna see that. I'm guaranteed then this guy will understand.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
And you know, both of them, they're gonna come out
here and they're gonna shine, you know what I mean.
I see they're gonna be top two of the top
defensive rookies out there this year.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, you know, it's it's just a few weeks in.
It's OTA's and it's May, but they both looked pretty
impressive so far. And I mean I think that's saying something,
a little something, don't you.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Yeah, for sure, they look like they probably already a
two or three year vet out there, you know the
way they got going because once again, like I said,
that's the program he runs. He runs a pro style,
a pro style atmosphere, a pro style team, a pro
style scheme.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
So you know, you come in, those guys are ready.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I guarantee if they started, if the game, if the
if the game started next week, he'd be ready and
he'd be out there playing.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They'd be set to go. Well, listen, you're a Hustonian.
You obviously have a deep tie to this franchise. I
mean you and I we were up on the deck
at one of the games that she I did the
kind of the intro, like, hey, everybody remember Robershman, you
did this, the autographs, we had fun desert.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
What were your thoughts when the Texans signed the Miko
Ryans to be head coach.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Oh Man, it was like a brush of fresh air breath.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Man.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
This guy, for one, he's a very likable dude. Man,
he could communicate. Miko's a good spirit, good person, you
know what I mean. He's but he's also a true competitor,
you know what I mean. It's as crazy as it
might seem, like you say, like his heart is gold,
but he's a he's a competitor.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
He's a different guy when you're out there.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So I mean, with a guy like him getting an
opportunity like this, man, it's unbelievable. And I hope, you know,
I hope, and I know he will take full advantage
of this and he gonna shine because he's, like I said,
he's a good person.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
People like him. He's probably gonna be a player's coach.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
He understand the players, He understands the different walks of
life with everybody. So him being that middle linebacker, they
didn't just call it captain for nothing. It was a
reason then, you know, even though he was younger than
something of those guys call it him captain. It's amazing, man,
And I hope nothing but great things come for him.
You know, while he's up there coaching.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You know, he's energized the team, he's energized the offices
up here, he's energized the fan base, and you know
the national media has taken notice too, but one underrated
aspect of folks that he has energized is you guys,
the former players. You saw it on the day he
was announced and when he met with the media here.
There are a lot of it in the building. Some
(16:28):
guys that didn't play with him, they played after him,
or they played before him. Some played with him, but
it doesn't matter who. All of those guys are pretty
pumped that he is now in charge of the Texans.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Oh yeah, for sure, because I mean, you know, just
like me, they feel good things coming. They feel that
was the right choice. They feel like he's a good
step towards you know, where you want to see the
team going. The atmosphere of the city. He can relate
to all that. He's a winner, he'd improved that. You know,
he's a leader. He's for real. He understand what he's
doing even when he's coaching. Look at the teams he
(16:59):
was the coordinator of. I mean they balled out, so
you can only imagine what they're gonna do when he
when he's the leader of his own team, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And like you say, we're excited. Man, excited, that ain't
even the word. Man.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
If it was something better, man, that's what we is.
We want to see the Miko go out here because
we know he gonna put us all into it. We
know he gonna have those guys pumping. We know that
he gonna bring the best out of everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah you're here.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I love it. Hey, So other than Travis, what other
former Texans do you kind of keep in touch with
and are still in regular contact with.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Man, a lot of them, you know. Like I said earlier,
you know, me and Gary still good friends. Dante, you know,
I still see dre Corey, Bradford, everybody, man, whether you
know it or not. Man, when you when you come
and you build those relationship, those bonds, some of them
go way beyond sports that.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
You know from from day one.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
And there's a lot of those guys man, that that
I still hang out with and.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Kick it with.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Even like when I was coming home when I went
to another team. You know, the guys Ryan Dan, which
is a good friend of mine. I see those guys,
you know, wayde Smith around and you know all these
type of guys, Fred Weary and Milford Brown and all
those guys. Man then my guys, so we still all talking.
You know, somebody, it was like we never stopped playing.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
That's fantastic. Well, Robert, what's next for you? Man? What's
on the horizon?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Man? The horizon for me? Man?
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Right now, Man, I'm just kind of enjoying man, watch
watching my sons grow, watching my daughters.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Grow, man, Because you know, those last couple.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Of years when I wasn't here, I felt like it
was a big void in my life. Now I'm filling
that void with this time with them. Even started back
then with my daughters getting up, being able to take
them to school, pick them up.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Man.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I took pride in that, you know what I mean,
because it was something that I wasn't able to do.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
But the next thing was that to go see them
bro get them off, man, and hopefully try.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
To find something that I just love to do it again,
just as much as I did in football with my life.
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Afterwards, what's fantastic to hear you, hey, Robert, We really
do appreciate the time. It's great to catch up with you.
Can't wait to see it again at the Texans game
or Texans event. Until then, Man, take.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Care, I'll do you that count, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
H
This is a fun one.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Not often do you get a chance to talk with
somebody who played in college for Nick Saban in the
late nineteen nineties and then who was a Houston Texan
speaking about Robert Smith. I'm not Robert Smith. I'm Drew Doerty,
and I'm glad that you're listening to this. Where are
they now? But Robert was a Texan in two thousand
and four and in two thousand and five, think about that.
(00:23):
Everyone remembers OH five because the Texans lost fourteen games.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
But not everybody remembers oh four.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
In December of that season, they had a chance to
have a five hundred record, but they lost those final
two games. Nonetheless, that was a good year for Roebert,
and individually he played alright No. Five as well, started
all thirty two games those seasons. Grew up in Flint, Michigan,
played at Michigan State under Sabin. Yeah that Nick Saban
and then a sixth round pick by the Titans in
(00:52):
two thousand.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Spent his first four years in the league with Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Returned to the Titans in six After that two year
stint with the Texans, closed out his career in Cleveland.
OH seven on a winning Cleveland Browns team that did
not make the playoffs eight oh nine to ten, and
then he retired only two years in Houston as a Texan,
Houston is.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Now his home. He loves h Town, loves the Texans.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
We talked about that, we talked about playing for saving
the excitement around the franchise. Now the Demiico is the
head coach and a whole lot more. And oh yeah,
he's also Travis Johnson's brother in law. This is where
are they now? With Robert Smith, Ladies and gentlemen, The
great Robart Smith joins us here on where are they now?
(01:37):
You played for the Houston Texans back in that first
decade of the century, doesn't it feel? It makes me
feel old having to say that, because you and I
are the same age. But goodness, gracious a while back,
but you played here. It was an interesting time and
we're going to get into that. But Robert Smith, how
you doing and where are you these days?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Man, I'm going great. I appreciate you actingly and having
me on, but obviously here out in Houston, you know,
out here living with my family and joining this good
Texas weather man.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, indeed, now you're like me. You've you've got five kids,
You've got four kids.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
We both have twins.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
You've got you've got some kids that their chips off
the old block, aren't they athletically? Because your brother in law,
Travis Johnson was telling me a little bit about him
about a week or so ago.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Yeah, I mean they're getting there, you know, Like you said,
I have two daughters that's older then I got my
twin sons now that they're they're fifteen years old, you know,
and those guys about big as me right now. So
you know, it's just a good thing to sit back
and kind of watch them grow into their own to
be able to do something that they seem like they
loving to do, and to be around to help.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
You know what I mean. So I think that's the
most important part for me.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Does that feel like a luxury?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You know, being able to be that involved, because you
know a lot of us are parents, our dads, our moms.
They were working and they didn't have the time that
perhaps you might have right now.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I mean, yeah, you know that was a big thing
for me during the later parts of my career. I
wasn't able to be here in Houston with them because
when my daughters was growing up. Once we got down
here in Houston, I didn't want them traveling with me
anymore because I wanted them to be stable, be in
a school system, be around people that they can call friends,
you know, for life.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
And now I got time now.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Well, you know, I guess since the last couple of years,
I don't want to tell my age that I don't
play no more.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
You know that I got time now.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
The way I can grow up, I can interact with
my boys, help them with football, do some of the
things with my daughter.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So I mean, it's been a blessing with that.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
I won't give your age away because it's the same
as mine, so I'll just say we're twenty nine.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, keep it at that.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Hey, you're not from here. You played your college ball
at Michigan State. You played in some other places in
the NFL, but you decided to settle here and make
Houston your home.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
How come?
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I mean, it was just like a home feeling always.
Like you say, I'm originally from Flint, Michigan. I started
off playing with the Tennessee Titans down there in Nashville,
and then once I got here, Man, from the first day,
it's just felt like home, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I told my wife, we.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Always felt like we was going to stay either on
the outskirts of Michigan or down in Nashville. As soon
as I got here, I told my wife, I'm like, man,
I think this is where homes should be for us.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
You know.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
It was just a homeie feel a lot to do,
great weather, great people, great atmosphere, you know, and I
just loved it. And it's been it ain't been nothing
but great since then.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Changed, It's changed a lot since you decided to come
to Houston. Since you came to Houston, tell me about
those playing days when you got here and what it
was like as a Houston Texan it because it was
still in the early days of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Really yeah, I mean it was great. Man. It was hot.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I know that, you know hasn't changed.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
The first thing that's straight with me was it was hot.
But no.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I came in with a couple of guys. Some of
them were Vests and some were younger, you know, the
guys like Jamie Sharper, Kylie Wong. Those guys I actually
knew before because they played with my oldest brother in
Minnesota and Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So it was.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
You know, it's sort of like a little home feeling
with those guys. But as far as coming in, you know,
we was trying to build something special at the time, because,
like you say, it was just getting back around down here,
so it was kind of challenging, but at the same
time it was fun.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You know.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
That's what you want as an athlete, that's what you
want as a person. You want to have to get pushed,
you want to have to try to figure some things
out and grow together, and that's what we did.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Yeah, who did you find yourself linking up with and
becoming friends with on this team? I know you had
a lot, but who are some of the guys that
back then you kind of felt a kinship with and
kind of form bonds with.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Gary Walker for sure, you know my brother in law,
Travis Johnson for.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Sure, Andre Dante Robinson.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Jabbar Gaffney, Corey Butfer you know Corey Sears. You know
those guys. I love self paying you know, those guys
was always good guys and somebody that I click with.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Just right off the bat man.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
You just named a bunch of names and put those
names in a bag, and they are a bunch of
unique characters. I mean, that had to be a lot
of fun. I could see why you'd be buddies with
those guys.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Oh yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
And and most of them are opposite of me. You know,
I'm kind of quiet, laid back. Of those guys out
go and speak, they might do something crazy, probably except
for Andre.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
You know, he's just as quiet as me.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
You know, I think you know that's something that made
us click like we did. But the other guys who
they'd have totally opposite.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
I want to get it down in a moment. But
since you brought him up now, I.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Know you'll agree with me, and you'll agree with most
of the people listening or watching this, But there are
a few out there who still need to be convinced.
But explain why Andre Johnson belongs in the Pro Football
Hall of Fame?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Oh man, the bigger question is why not? You know
what I mean, I mean, what more can he do?
Speaker 4 (06:36):
You know, this is a guy that, basically on the
offensive side of that ball, carried this team. You know,
he embodies everything what the Texans wanted, what we was
trying to build in the early years, seem like what
the city want, what the state is about. He embodies
that he's a hard worker. I mean, besides him being
a heck of an athlete. To me, unstoppable, you know
what I mean. So the hardest question is why is
(06:58):
he not in there at first of all, because is
given and it should be there already.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, I think the answer to that is just ignorance. Really,
you people just don't know enough, because if you watched
him for any amount of time, I mean, goodness gracious, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
I mean, you can't deny. You can't deny what he did,
what he you know, and what's what's for him? You know,
I think it's eventually for him, Like we say, you
know me and you know, we feel like he should
already be in there.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
But you can't. You can't. You can't deny what's going
to happen for him. And he's going to get in there,
no doubt.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I can't wait when he did until he does. Hey,
you brought up Travis to your brother in law. What's
it like being a brother in law of Travis Johnson?
Because he's a he is a lot of fun to
talk with. It seems like he knows just about everyone
in the world of entertainment and sports, so on and
so forth. But you've got a special relationship with the guy.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
What's that like? Oh yeah, no, I mean Travis.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, from day one, it always been like a
brother brother relationship between us. When he first came in
here with me being an older player going into my
fifth year, him being a rookie.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
You know, from the first day.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
When he got in here of camp, he came and
sit right next to me during the meetings, you know,
so we were stuck together unwantly, you know, but we
end up building a great bund from there and just
always hung out.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
But you know, to your sense with Travis, Travis is
a very.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Smart guy, you know what I mean. He's very informant
to he very smart. Like you say, he knows a
lot of things. He knows a lot of people. And
that's something that like a characteristic of his that I
always loved about him. It ain't too much that he
doesn't know, you know. He knows something about every little thing.
He's a smart guy. So I mean, like you said,
he got an outgoing personality. Once again, there it go.
(08:34):
He opposite to me. So I love to be proud
because I don't have to say it do nothing.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, you're right about that he is well versed in
just about every subject and current event there is.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
So he's a he's very likable. People love him, you
know what I mean. So that's a great thing.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
And you're always you're probably always in good supply with
cigars beating around.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That guy, right. Oh Man, he loves him, So I
let him go ahead and sponsor that.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
For me, it's not bad. That's not bad.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Hey, Memories on the field as a Texan, What were
some of those for.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You on the field as a Texan?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Yeah, I mean I think overall that first year, man,
when we went seven to nine. Man, you know we Yeah,
those first I'm not mistaken. Those first couple of games
a little rocky, and then we came on. We found
our rhythm for a couple of games we beat I
think then a good Kansas City team, a good Titans team,
and uh, you know Oakland. You know, we got those
(09:31):
guys and we just was out there. We was enjoying ourselves.
We was having fun, you know, flying around and just
enjoying each other out there on that field as well
as off the field. So, like I said, that goes
back to something earlier. We just was trying to build
something special in this team, and I felt like it
was coming.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
You know, it's an interesting that that season is a
really interesting one because you had the first two o
two oh three, or you're an expansion franchise and not
much great is gonna happen win loss wise when you're
that young. But in December, y'all were seven and seven.
I mean, you had a chance there and you were
that close. It's kind of the combo of having a
(10:07):
pretty solid defense, a good running back in Dominic Davison,
you had Andre Johnson doing what he did. It was
a really pretty you know, I don't want to say forgotten,
but it was a kind of an underrated Texans team
from the from the early days.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
When you agree, yeah, I would, I would definitely agree.
And like you said, they was the year maybe like
a year or two before I came. That's when the
franchise got back going here and guys were still trying
to build them. But guys was out there strapping.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Man.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
We had some good players, some good veteran players.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Like you say, some good young guys and Dominique Davis,
Andre Johnson, David Carr at the time, you know, young
Jonathan Wells. You know, it was just like a whole
bunch of different people that we had to combine together
with young, old, and you know some mid So I think,
like you say, it's an underrated team. You know, we
probably probably should get a little bit more respect. I'm
quite sure if the racer was a couple more womens away,
(10:54):
we will be getting that.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
We will, Yeah, no doubt. Hey, Flint, Michigan, you wind
up becoming a Spartan And it just seems so hard
to believe for some out there, not for me, not
for you. But before he won all those titles and
pumped out all those victories as the head coach of
Alabama way back when Nick Saban was a really good
head coach for the Spartans at Michigan State, what was
(11:18):
it like playing for him there in the late nineteen nineties.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I mean it was great.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
I mean when I look at it, I still see
the same Nick Saban, you know what I mean. He's
a guy he keeps you, you gotta be you gotta
you gotta do what you're supposed to do when you're
supposed to do it, be accountable for what you're doing.
And I see he still goes by a lot of
them rules and a lot of things that he did
at the time. But the coach Saban gonna be Coach Saban, Man,
I think he got way more personality than what people
(11:45):
gives him, you know what I mean, that's really he
got points.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
He got times where he a fundy guy.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Man, he's a yugga guy, but people don't see it.
They just see, you know, Saturday or when he's talking
to the media and he gets a little upset and
they highlighted that. But he's really a great I mean,
like a real great person, you know, one of my
one of my all time favorite coaches, favorite people in
this world.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, you bring that up and we all see externally
the kind of gruff exterior. But you can't go in
and recruit so many great, great players you be in
one of them over the three four decades that he
was a head coach. If you don't have that personality
and that sense of humor like you're talking about, can
you give us some just an insight into a little
(12:28):
bit more of that, because clearly he's got that.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Yeah, I mean, I think he's great because one thing
about coach Saban, what you see is what you get.
He's one hundred percent authentic, Like he's going to be straight.
He's a straight shooter. He's going to tell you exactly
how it is. What do you expect, what you can do?
What is he trying to push you to? What is
your goal? Him pushing you towards your goal and him
making you be accountable and stick to that goal. You know,
(12:53):
some coaches get there and they switch it up on you.
He ain't that type of person.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
You know.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
He'll sit there, he'll look your parents in the eye,
look you in the eye, and let you know what
it is. And he sticked by what he going And
it's just a look in a field that you can
sense when someone is real and he's.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
A real dude.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
So with all that in mind, I'm guessing you're a
big fan of guys like Henry Toto, the linebacker that
the Sections drafted out of Alabama this year, as well
as the clear one Will Anderson Junior the defensive end.
They obviously have a lot going for him, but to
have flourished under that guy as their head coach kind
of adds a little something extra, don't you think?
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Oh yeah, for sure, for sure.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, first of all, like you say, those two
guys are amazing, you know what I mean. It ain't
I didn't just start watching them this year. I've been
watching those guys, you know, from their first year out there.
You know, I don't see the development of you know,
the guy like Will Anderson. He was one of my
favorite college players period, you know, the last couple of years,
not just this past year, the year before.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Always said you can see something special in it.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
But like with that with coach Saban, you know, those
guys are pro ready because that's what he does with
his player.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
He gets them pro ready.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
You know, it'll be a lot of coaches that's there
try to do things just for a team or do
this just to help they benefit them.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But he gets you ready for the next level. And
you're gonna see that. I'm guaranteed then this guy will understand.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
And you know, both of them, they're gonna come out
here and they're gonna shine, you know what I mean.
I see they're gonna be top two of the top
defensive rookies out there this year.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, you know, it's it's just a few weeks in.
It's OTA's and it's May, but they both looked pretty
impressive so far. And I mean I think that's saying something,
a little something, don't you.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Yeah, for sure, they look like they probably already a
two or three year vet out there, you know the
way they got going because once again, like I said,
that's the program he runs. He runs a pro style,
a pro style atmosphere, a pro style team, a pro
style scheme.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
So you know, you come in, those guys are ready.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I guarantee if they started, if the game, if the
if the game started next week, he'd be ready and
he'd be out there playing.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They'd be set to go. Well, listen, you're a Hustonian.
You obviously have a deep tie to this franchise. I
mean you and I we were up on the deck
at one of the games that she I did the
kind of the intro, like, hey, everybody remember Robershman, you
did this, the autographs, we had fun desert.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
What were your thoughts when the Texans signed the Miko
Ryans to be head coach.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Oh Man, it was like a brush of fresh air breath.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Man.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
This guy, for one, he's a very likable dude. Man,
he could communicate. Miko's a good spirit, good person, you
know what I mean. He's but he's also a true competitor,
you know what I mean. It's as crazy as it
might seem, like you say, like his heart is gold,
but he's a he's a competitor.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
He's a different guy when you're out there.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So I mean, with a guy like him getting an
opportunity like this, man, it's unbelievable. And I hope, you know,
I hope, and I know he will take full advantage
of this and he gonna shine because he's, like I said,
he's a good person.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
People like him. He's probably gonna be a player's coach.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
He understand the players, He understands the different walks of
life with everybody. So him being that middle linebacker, they
didn't just call it captain for nothing. It was a
reason then, you know, even though he was younger than
something of those guys call it him captain. It's amazing, man,
And I hope nothing but great things come for him.
You know, while he's up there coaching.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You know, he's energized the team, he's energized the offices
up here, he's energized the fan base, and you know
the national media has taken notice too, but one underrated
aspect of folks that he has energized is you guys,
the former players. You saw it on the day he
was announced and when he met with the media here.
There are a lot of it in the building. Some
(16:28):
guys that didn't play with him, they played after him,
or they played before him. Some played with him, but
it doesn't matter who. All of those guys are pretty
pumped that he is now in charge of the Texans.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
Oh yeah, for sure, because I mean, you know, just
like me, they feel good things coming. They feel that
was the right choice. They feel like he's a good
step towards you know, where you want to see the
team going. The atmosphere of the city. He can relate
to all that. He's a winner, he'd improved that. You know,
he's a leader. He's for real. He understand what he's
doing even when he's coaching. Look at the teams he
(16:59):
was the coordinator of. I mean they balled out, so
you can only imagine what they're gonna do when he
when he's the leader of his own team, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
And like you say, we're excited. Man, excited, that ain't
even the word. Man.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
If it was something better, man, that's what we is.
We want to see the Miko go out here because
we know he gonna put us all into it. We
know he gonna have those guys pumping. We know that
he gonna bring the best out of everybody.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah you're here.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
I love it. Hey, So other than Travis, what other
former Texans do you kind of keep in touch with
and are still in regular contact with.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:32):
Man, a lot of them, you know. Like I said earlier,
you know, me and Gary still good friends. Dante, you know,
I still see dre Corey, Bradford, everybody, man, whether you
know it or not. Man, when you when you come
and you build those relationship, those bonds, some of them
go way beyond sports that.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
You know from from day one.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
And there's a lot of those guys man, that that
I still hang out with and.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Kick it with.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Even like when I was coming home when I went
to another team. You know, the guys Ryan Dan, which
is a good friend of mine. I see those guys,
you know, wayde Smith around and you know all these
type of guys, Fred Weary and Milford Brown and all
those guys. Man then my guys, so we still all talking.
You know, somebody, it was like we never stopped playing.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
That's fantastic. Well, Robert, what's next for you? Man? What's
on the horizon?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Man? The horizon for me? Man?
Speaker 4 (18:21):
Right now, Man, I'm just kind of enjoying man, watch
watching my sons grow, watching my daughters.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Grow, man, Because you know, those last couple.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Of years when I wasn't here, I felt like it
was a big void in my life. Now I'm filling
that void with this time with them. Even started back
then with my daughters getting up, being able to take
them to school, pick them up.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
Man.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
I took pride in that, you know what I mean,
because it was something that I wasn't able to do.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
But the next thing was that to go see them
bro get them off, man, and hopefully try.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
To find something that I just love to do it again,
just as much as I did in football with my life.
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Afterwards, what's fantastic to hear you, hey, Robert, We really
do appreciate the time. It's great to catch up with you.
Can't wait to see it again at the Texans game
or Texans event. Until then, Man, take.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Care, I'll do you that count, yes, sir, Yes, sir.
H
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