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June 12, 2025 • 25 mins

Hear from Tampa Bay Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles, WR Mike Evans, RB Bucky Irving & LB Anthony Walker Jr. as they speak to the media after the last day of the Bucs' 2025 Minicamp.

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's got a nice easy life practice to get guys
swapping jersey numbers, just to take it easy on the
way out kind of thing.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
I don't know if it was take it easy on
the way out or we got the second and twos
and three's got some good reps today. We need to
get some red zone and third down work done so
they understand how they gotta come back.

Speaker 3 (00:15):
And at the ease of the trispan works was being
pulled up for the cautionary reasons.

Speaker 4 (00:19):
You have a better idea.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Now where he shot.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Uh, he should be fined by training camp helped proper.

Speaker 5 (00:25):
In the argument in Kyle Traffic.

Speaker 6 (00:27):
If yes, it's taking step your way through pu. Uh
are you looking for something to be in the training
camp and pre season that is making more confidence?

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Oh, we got a lot of confidence in college. He
just needs playing time. You know, it's hard to plan
when you got two bona five starters ahead of him
since he's been here. So just the more time he gets,
the more confidence he gets. So preseason would be big
for him. Uh, getting the reps down and we take
a good look at him there. But he's been fine
so far.

Speaker 4 (00:53):
What's your message to the team that your grace breaks
for something.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Obviously, come back in shape, cause working out indoors ain't
gonna help him. When we come back in this heat,
they understand what they're coming back to. Let's be raiding
the row.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
Like Rasha playing the scene the other day.

Speaker 7 (01:09):
This team, this isn't just hungry, it's starving after the
way last season.

Speaker 4 (01:12):
Ended, which it hit pretty surely.

Speaker 7 (01:14):
Three guys, what what is the mindset for you heading
into this season and trying.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
Of suiting up the Super Bowl?

Speaker 5 (01:21):
The same lindset? Put it in the work. You get
what you put in.

Speaker 8 (01:25):
So we're putting in a lot of work that the
whole team has and we're gonna enjoy this break.

Speaker 5 (01:29):
Come back ready to go?

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Mike, what have you been doing this off team?

Speaker 8 (01:31):
You've seen a couple of videos, say I do. I
do the same thing every year, work out really hard,
hangle my family, play video games on trips. Don't normal
the same thing?

Speaker 7 (01:41):
What are the impressions of of a Mecca and Tez
and new rookies in the wide receiver?

Speaker 8 (01:46):
I know I say it a lot, but this might
be the best receiving room I've been a part of.
I say it every year, but we always get great
players to come in. So that's been very fortunate for
me in my career to be around a lot of
great young players, and they've added to their room tremendously.

Speaker 5 (01:59):
They're already very polished.

Speaker 8 (02:01):
Already Mecca's really strong hands, super smart, test speed, quickness,
you thought specifically.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
On a Mecca with one step of ball in his hands.

Speaker 4 (02:09):
What are you people to do?

Speaker 3 (02:10):
Like making people?

Speaker 8 (02:11):
Yes, oh he looks like a running back, but he
catches like Chris Gowan like he's he's very polished.

Speaker 5 (02:15):
Very well routed player.

Speaker 4 (02:17):
What does that do for you?

Speaker 3 (02:18):
I mean, you've obviously done this for so long, right,
You're like, I'm doing the same thing every year.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
But when you see guys.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
That come in like that, they're wide eyed, they're excited, Like.

Speaker 9 (02:25):
What does that?

Speaker 8 (02:25):
It gives me more motivation, Like s I was once
in those shoes, and I I remember that hunger and
I try to and it helps me keep that hunger
and seeing young great players like that that are that
are hunger.

Speaker 6 (02:34):
Mike, you're talking about your sit down with Jerry Rice
and whatever he was about.

Speaker 5 (02:37):
I was that was pretty cool, man.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (02:39):
I had married Jerry briefly back in like twenty eighteen.
I think it was really quick and you know, being
able to sit down and talk to you know, the
greatest receiver ever was it was pretty humbling. Uh the
things he had to say about me, it was a
was a great boment for me.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
It's like he was really excited about like sharing that
record with you too.

Speaker 8 (02:56):
Yeah, that's what another thing I was humbling about it
he know how he recepted me and you know, showed
me love.

Speaker 5 (03:03):
So that was that was really cool.

Speaker 3 (03:04):
And the fact that like, you know, he looks forward
to you potentially breaking.

Speaker 5 (03:07):
It this year. Yeah, okay, I can do it early.

Speaker 4 (03:11):
Like when you with your mindset and you said you're hunger,
you're starving.

Speaker 6 (03:14):
Yeah, you've got to ring a lot of.

Speaker 5 (03:15):
These younger guys drop.

Speaker 4 (03:17):
So in that sense, the leaven when do you see
their hunger as well?

Speaker 5 (03:20):
Absolutely? Yeah.

Speaker 8 (03:21):
I mean it's it's obviously easier when you're younger because
I was on a two and fourteen team and it
was like week seventeen. I'm still hungry to go play,
and you have a different type of juice when you're younger,
but when you're older, that motivation is winning. So that's
that's my motivation.

Speaker 7 (03:34):
What would it be like for you if there's only
a select few of you that we're on the super
Bowl team a couple of years ago, you know, to
be the first black of years to win two super
Bowl rings with this franchise.

Speaker 8 (03:44):
I mean, y'all keep just talking about the Super Bowls.
I mean, we're trying to enjoy his break, but I
mean that's obviously a goal for us in every team.
But of course we want to win another super Bowl,
and to win two of them would be amazing to
be a story Mike now has Josh.

Speaker 5 (03:57):
It's our take, honest than when you feel you know
he's man. Josh the coach put grizz Is last year.

Speaker 8 (04:06):
He we we talked a lot, but he didn't talk
as much in the groups, and he he does a
really great job of talking in front of everybody, yuh,
And we didn't get to see that last year. But
he's a really great coach and I look forward to
having a great season four.

Speaker 9 (04:16):
In this sense, to you, the nuances of this offense
get was picking up in the year or two.

Speaker 4 (04:21):
You don't have to switch around.

Speaker 6 (04:22):
Which better can you guys?

Speaker 4 (04:24):
Be with that?

Speaker 5 (04:25):
I love it.

Speaker 8 (04:25):
I love you know, having that consistency, uh, with with
the playbook, cause it's really extremely hard to to learn
a new playbook if for people that haven't played football.
It's especially at this level, which is tough, but it
makes it way easier for us. We could play fast,
don't have to think, and then add things to it,
so it could take office to the next level.

Speaker 4 (04:40):
Expect to see more Team Johnson on the fields. Uh
this year?

Speaker 5 (04:44):
I hope, So, I hope. So.

Speaker 8 (04:45):
I've been working working hard to try to get some
Mike is he's not having.

Speaker 6 (04:48):
A contract for twenty twenty six, so you cool, what does.

Speaker 8 (04:51):
That's something you wanted to just want I honestly haven't
even thought about it. I just thought about having a
great year this year and then we'll see what happens.

Speaker 4 (04:57):
Did you get the rookies or any of the younger guys' advice, Uh, before.

Speaker 5 (05:00):
They come back for training camp?

Speaker 8 (05:02):
I mean, the coaches some players already gave great advice,
so I didn't have to do anything really, and they're
already pros, so we know that we're we're all pro
pro athletes and we know what to do.

Speaker 10 (05:12):
Mike, they talked about flag football twenty twenty eight, and
it's still something that would interest you.

Speaker 8 (05:17):
Olympics twenty twenty eight years a while away, and I
didn't know that there was I seen all the controversy
with the quarterback for the flag team or whatever. I
didn't even know we had one of those. Uh So,
I mean, we'll see when it happens. I mean, I
still love to at least be on a roster if
I can, you know, still move fast in twenty twenty.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
Eight, would you actually retired at that point?

Speaker 4 (05:36):
I know you had mentioned that the Pro Bowl you I.

Speaker 5 (05:38):
Most likely will be twenty twenty eight. Would would be
the summer of twenty eight. I don't know. Anything could happen,
but you're playing really well.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
Yeah, I don't.

Speaker 8 (05:45):
Know's we'll see. We'll see, but that would be dope.
I'm like torn, man, I don't. I don't know how
I feel about that, cause Daniel, we're active, will always
be Harry in my mind. I'm still gonna watch 'em.
I'm still gonna watch and I'm probably gonna enjoy it.
But I'm a little torn right now.

Speaker 5 (06:03):
It's too soon for the show. I just don't.

Speaker 8 (06:05):
I don't Unerstan, I don't know what we're gonna get
out of it, and I hope it's something great, so
we'll see more else.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
You're playing for the summer after this, but you're playing
for the summer after this.

Speaker 8 (06:14):
Oh, we got a couple of tournaments. You know, I'm
my au coach, uh girls A, you coach seventh grade teams.
So we got two tournament wins already on the season.
We're fourteen to nine, which is, you know, we could
be better, but a couple of tournaments to win.

Speaker 7 (06:27):
Your daughters play.

Speaker 8 (06:27):
Yeah, my oldest daughter players on the thirteen U and
then my second oldest plays on our twelve new teams.

Speaker 4 (06:32):
Oh wow, what's that?

Speaker 7 (06:33):
Like?

Speaker 4 (06:33):
What's coach Mike like?

Speaker 8 (06:35):
I'm different than I am out here. I'm still I'm
still competitive and I'm not as tough. I'm not like
a Bruce arians type. But I'm like right underneath, I'm like.

Speaker 3 (06:45):
Are you getting injected from any of those games?

Speaker 8 (06:47):
No, I'm not getting I'm I'm cool. When it comes
to the officials. I try to be nice to the officials.

Speaker 4 (06:51):
You don't you get on the business out of your I.

Speaker 5 (06:53):
Think I do.

Speaker 8 (06:53):
But it's different cause I'm competing, and it's like I
I think differently when I'm competing, but when I'm out
here just coaching, it's a little different.

Speaker 1 (07:00):
Like what have you seen from some of these younger
EV's been good?

Speaker 5 (07:02):
Wars and Perish. I've only been to MINICAO if y'all.

Speaker 8 (07:06):
Yeah, I'm sure y'all knew that, but uh, Parish, Uh
Ben's been out, but uh, I've heard great things about him,
and Parish is all over the place.

Speaker 4 (07:14):
He's he's really good.

Speaker 6 (07:16):
What were your thoughts on draft night?

Speaker 5 (07:18):
The Bucks to perceive a lot of people didn't think that.

Speaker 8 (07:20):
Yeah, I didn't either, but you know, Jason's has always
been great in drafts and we want to pick the
best player available, and from what I've seen so far,
he's definitely was the best player available. So hope looking
forward to a great year from America.

Speaker 4 (07:35):
So Bucky has a feel that.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
You don't have to worry about draft or any of
that stuff and you can.

Speaker 7 (07:40):
Concentrate off the bull this year.

Speaker 6 (07:42):
Uh, I mean it feel pretty good man.

Speaker 11 (07:44):
Uh first time like after season, Uh, really getting some
time to take some time to myself and uh pretty
much get off the field relaxed a little bit. But yeah, uh,
I mean, as you know, as you start playing as
a kid. Uh, you never really get no time of
being off. Uh things like that. Every thing is either
you playing low league football right the basketball, right the

(08:04):
part uh football, but you had just been there to
uh sit back and last get some time off from
there and get back here on the grass.

Speaker 4 (08:10):
Likeucky.

Speaker 7 (08:10):
When you go back and look at film up yourself
from last year and do some of that self scouting,
look for areas to improve. What what are you honing
in on? What do you see from yourself last year?
Maybe from start of the season to the end, where
you really should a lot of improve.

Speaker 11 (08:25):
Uh. I feel like yeah, like uh, once you always
start something new, Uh, you gonna have to it.

Speaker 6 (08:29):
It's gonna have to slow down a little bit for you.

Speaker 5 (08:31):
Bo.

Speaker 11 (08:31):
Like when I first got thrown it in and out
of the game, was moving pretty fast for me.

Speaker 6 (08:34):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (08:35):
But yes, as I just settled down and let the
game and just think about it like it's just football,
and I think about too much other things that's going
on out there. But you're just always going back and
looking at the film and looking at things that you
can get uh better at and improving and also not
getting satisfied uh and stuck in last year cause.

Speaker 6 (08:51):
It's a new year.

Speaker 11 (08:52):
Uh, nobody cares about what you did last year. Is
what can you do for me now? But always been
that guy that pretty much never gets stuck in the
past and always be on my feet at uh and
work hard today helping with.

Speaker 10 (09:04):
Shot and his uh his leadership, his mentorship for you
obviously coming in as a starter, you overtaking him, having
to take us a different role, and and still being
there and you your guys relationship.

Speaker 6 (09:15):
Uh, I mean our relationship go along the way.

Speaker 9 (09:16):
Man.

Speaker 11 (09:16):
Uh, that type of stuff won't let get between our relationship.

Speaker 6 (09:19):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (09:20):
We know we both out there and we got uh
a high role on this team, so we gonna do
that uh at a high level. But I mean, uh,
that's just a guy that always been the same since
I got here. He was always there for me. We
always talking to each other about when we see out
there on the field, uh, and just coaching each other up.
And I mean, like, uh, in this profession, you always
gotta have somebody to hide your back.

Speaker 5 (09:38):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (09:38):
Like I say, in that room, we type man like
won't let all the outside noise interrup interfeit or how
our relationship is. But yeah, just going out there and
knowing somebody have your back. Uh, we gonna compete for
one another each time that we step out there in
the field.

Speaker 6 (09:51):
It's a blessing to have somebody like that.

Speaker 4 (09:53):
You re just fun to share the field with him
and like the phony package and.

Speaker 11 (09:56):
Yeah, I mean it's fun to share the field with
all of them guys. Sean Tucker uh uh dj Josh
that just came in.

Speaker 6 (10:03):
Uh, I mean it's always fun.

Speaker 4 (10:04):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (10:04):
Like I said, like when I was in college, I
had a loaded running back on man.

Speaker 7 (10:08):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (10:08):
We all care for one another, like we never took
things personally. Like when it's time for you to go
out there and it's your job, you gotta go do
your job. Yeah, cause you know the next person coming
in and gonna hide your back and go out there
player at the high level. So when you knowing guys
got your back and you knowing y'all got a relationship,
it's a way better feeling.

Speaker 3 (10:24):
You're You're you're a pretty tough guy physically.

Speaker 4 (10:26):
I know last year you dealt with like the flood
you had to hip.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Now I'll get you had a chance to to have
a little bit of a break, Like how does your
body feel out?

Speaker 11 (10:33):
Well, my body feel good, Like I said, just going
back to what he said, just being able to have
some time off and not really doing too much. But
when it's time to rump it back up, it's time
to go, like going back off this phase, Like it's
time to run it back up, cause we know we
got camp coming up and on the stairs to be out,
be out in the heat.

Speaker 4 (10:48):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (10:48):
Train, So when I get back to camp, I'll be ready.

Speaker 3 (10:51):
What's it been like watching your buddy Ted Johnson, you
know make c you know, the last couple of weeks
he's made a couple plays on on some default.

Speaker 4 (10:56):
What's it been like watching his train?

Speaker 6 (10:58):
I mean it's been a blessing.

Speaker 5 (10:59):
Man.

Speaker 11 (10:59):
He used to always called me, uh, like out the
game or something and be like, uh, he wanna play
for the Buccaneers, And I be like, man, you got
a whole season and focus on man, just focus on that.
And I mean the man above made it happen for
him and his dream came true.

Speaker 7 (11:11):
You have the entire starting offensive line coming back this season.

Speaker 4 (11:15):
That doesn't happen all the time. So what's that do
for this offense? For you? In the running game?

Speaker 5 (11:19):
Uh?

Speaker 11 (11:19):
I mean we got yup all them guys are returning,
but just being able to have trusted them, guys like
like you always here when I come up here and say,
I don't talk about myself, I talk about the old line.
Cause without them guys, none of this thing, none of
them things are possible. So just being able to get
credit to them guys every chance that I get, i'm'a
do that.

Speaker 2 (11:36):
You have a a friendly uh banter and rivalry with Tez?
What's that like in he's constantly talking about you, like
away from the mics with it like, I.

Speaker 11 (11:43):
Mean, you know it's it's always gonna be competitive with
your best friend. I mean, uh, just being able to
just keep him on his toes, uh, not letting him
get satisfied, or just being able to know like when
I got here, or having to figure it out on
my own, but not too much, just being here for him,
just so he can get his own experience on how
things I'm gonna go.

Speaker 8 (12:02):
For him Evans And that he said, how helpful is
that offense? Such some new stuff that they can influence
with You know, a lot of the terminology is similar, so.

Speaker 4 (12:14):
Learning the playbook is different.

Speaker 5 (12:15):
Players Uff, what if you saw from him as num
in the coordinator.

Speaker 4 (12:18):
And how nice is it.

Speaker 1 (12:18):
That you can just kind of lock in and get
the familiar stuff and.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
Then learn the boy.

Speaker 11 (12:23):
I mean we all know, uh Gris has stepped up,
uh be our new office of coordinator. But the crazy
thing about it, uh last year I was pretty close
to Gris cause like I'd be wanting him to coach
me up on uh different things that like screens and
things like that, and he always had an answer for
me like, yeah, Buck, we need you to do this,
and that we all know he's a smart guy. So
just being able to know that he coming in and

(12:44):
got a high road to do it. Uh, just being
able to follow his lead and knowing that he would
put us in the right position, and just going out
there and executing at a high level for him.

Speaker 1 (12:52):
Fuck you mention your dynamic that you have with Rashot,
But what do you make of Sean Tucker and what's
he like behind the scenes?

Speaker 4 (12:57):
Uh?

Speaker 11 (12:57):
I mean you all know, like, uh, the the game
that we played, well, we we had to step up
and play a big role. Sean came in, Like we
all said, like we always just gotta be ready on
our numbers, call in, like we always just try to
keep that mindset, cause n you never know what happened
in the league, guys go down. Just being able to
just always hide that mass up the mandset that I
gotta be the next playoff.

Speaker 7 (13:18):
Look, Wayne, what are the impressions of of the Bucks defense?
If you got some new pieces Anthony Walker and Son Reddick,
a couple of rookies and Parish and Morrison, what have
you seen in the ots in mini camp?

Speaker 11 (13:28):
I mean, every day that we about to start a
team run or a team pass, I look.

Speaker 6 (13:32):
Over there and be like, Oh, they got some weapons
over there.

Speaker 11 (13:34):
But yeah, man, that's just a blessing for the offense
knowing that we gonna get some great defense every day
that's gonna give us great looks. And it's just being
able to go out there and compete with them at
a high level.

Speaker 6 (13:43):
Knowing that that's gonna make us better and also make
the team better.

Speaker 3 (13:47):
What are you hoping to build offer from last year?
You had such a phenomenal rookie season.

Speaker 5 (13:51):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (13:51):
Like I said, I'm not a guy that's stuck in
last year ways. I'm just a guy that's willing to
put everything else in the past and willing to get
better out of each.

Speaker 6 (14:00):
And every day, just being able to be better than
I was last year.

Speaker 3 (14:02):
So like, what kind of things do you wanna be better?

Speaker 4 (14:04):
After everything everything? Do you have any personal goals this here?

Speaker 10 (14:07):
Obviously the goals win the championship, but it's just something
you're trying to to look to do.

Speaker 11 (14:12):
My goal is to go out there on that grass
and help my team win football game.

Speaker 6 (14:17):
As long as we win, I'm happy.

Speaker 1 (14:18):
Fuck y, have you noticed a sting a little more topative,
least the defensive side of these team drills?

Speaker 5 (14:23):
You not that?

Speaker 1 (14:24):
Uh?

Speaker 6 (14:24):
I think it it? It been like that since I
got him.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
Man.

Speaker 11 (14:27):
Uh, just a competitive team, man, like we wanna help
each other get better and them the type of teams
that like that go form. But yeah, not being quiet
out there having fun with it. We all know it's hot,
we get tied, but just being able to have fun
out there with it and and and still think about
it as a kids game.

Speaker 6 (14:44):
It's a blessing.

Speaker 10 (14:45):
But there was a confusing today having all the linebackers
and edge rushers switching their numbers on your in front.

Speaker 11 (14:50):
Nah, cause I already know the guys and I know
they face, so I'm familiar with them.

Speaker 6 (14:54):
So the numbers ain't tripped me at all.

Speaker 4 (14:56):
You just before you like obviously the position.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
But what is it like You're in a locker room
with the guy that every year it seems like he's
he's got a new record that he's you know, close
to catching. Obviously this year he's got the potential to
break Jerry Rice's record for most contect to get a
thousand yard seasons. What's it like being Uh, They're out
there alongside a guy like that every single day, knowing
what what what's in front of him?

Speaker 11 (15:18):
Uh? I mean like when I first got here, Uh,
mikel was like one of the uh first to like
just come up to me and say what's up. But
you never know like how them guys really are cause
you on the outside looking in. So when you actually
get to be around them guys and see how humble
they are and and see that the things that he
did for this lead and this organization, just being able
to see how humble he is every day. He don't

(15:40):
really you never see him get too how you never
see him get too little, But just being able to
to watch him and and see how he grow each
and every day. Uh, it's a blessing to be around
something that I could probably tell my family or kids
one day that I played one of the greats to
ever do.

Speaker 1 (15:53):
Right, Anthony, how is getting a mini camp and the
end up it you? And also you can talk a
little bit you're a chirping guy.

Speaker 5 (16:03):
Because you've heard from all the offensive players this week
they enjoy it.

Speaker 1 (16:06):
I can talk a little bit about that and that
kind of energy.

Speaker 4 (16:08):
That brings yeah for me, like this is like your
nine off season.

Speaker 9 (16:13):
You know, you kind of want the season to come
a little faster every year, but this is a crucial time,
you know, just that team bonding, that team.

Speaker 4 (16:19):
Camaraderie getting built on that field.

Speaker 9 (16:21):
And again, it's gonna be some days where you know,
you got to bring the juice, bring the energy. You
know you're going against each other for you know, for
a long period of time, right before you go against
a different opponent. So how can you continue continue to
get better, make it fun, make it competitive, and just
have fun doing him? And this is a game, the
little kid game that we get to enjoy as I'm
about to be thirty years old this year, so I'm
enjoying it, still having fun with it.

Speaker 7 (16:42):
And what are your impressions of servant Dennessee stepping into
a big role. Not a lot of playing time, you
obviously played a lot in this league. When you line
up next to him a team on the film.

Speaker 4 (16:52):
What are your takeaways?

Speaker 9 (16:53):
Yeah, he'll he'll be a great player in this league
for a very long time. We've been talking about it
since I met him first day of OTAs made one
of the best players I've ever seen a linebacker make,
you know, including Levonte David tell him, I said that, but.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
Man, he's special.

Speaker 9 (17:10):
He's special, man, very cerebral, knows the game very well,
can really do everything on the field as a you know,
pass dropper, blitzer and you know run defender. So excited
to see him, man, I told him, Man, just you know,
as much as you can it's football is one hundred
percent injury rate.

Speaker 4 (17:26):
But as much as he can.

Speaker 9 (17:27):
Stay healthy, he put him he'll put himself in a
great position by the end of this year. You've been
knowing Levante for a long time, so like two years. Yeah, Man,
still feels surreal. Sometimes it's kind of like taking a
group chat and going on the trip together. Finally, you know,
you know, we we compete every day mentally, you know,
obviously on different sides. I'm in the a f c's
in the NFC and then now to be teammates and

(17:50):
still had that competitive nature daily.

Speaker 4 (17:52):
You know, I actually live with him, so.

Speaker 9 (17:55):
Every day, you know, just trash talk, but making sure,
you know, we hold each other accountable, everybody in that room.

Speaker 7 (18:01):
Anything you like about this Bucks culture?

Speaker 6 (18:03):
What's different?

Speaker 9 (18:04):
Yeah, you know, I've I've been on some really good teams,
you know. I just I love the way they do
things here, from top to top to bottom, all the guys,
the coaches, uh, the offensive coaches, defensive coaches, just a
real family organization here. I'm excited to be here, man.
I told Lavonte, I won't mind finishing my career here.

Speaker 4 (18:24):
So excited to just.

Speaker 9 (18:25):
Join it and be a player, play my role and
helping his team win.

Speaker 7 (18:29):
To be a.

Speaker 3 (18:30):
Player of Levangi's caliber, it's so much about not necessarily
what do you go on the field, although with him
it's pretty incredible, but it's it's the day to day
things that you do when nobody's watched, you know. It's
it's you know, being organized in all aspects of your life.
What are some things that you maybe realized, you know,
having spent as much time with him as you had,
not just a practice with at home.

Speaker 4 (18:49):
Yeah, no, I told him everything.

Speaker 5 (18:50):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (18:51):
You know, I'm watching him every step of the way,
from the way he handles himself at home to you know,
in the.

Speaker 4 (18:56):
Building, in the community. Everything like that.

Speaker 9 (18:58):
Man, for for you to learn from a guy who
I believe is a you know, first Battle of Hall
of Famer, you know you at this point in my career,
to just find out the little details of how he
goes about his business every day, I'm just I'm eager
to learn. And I've been in his hip pocket ever
since I you know, known him, but now you know,
being with him day to day. Uh, it's been very
you know, exciting to see him how he handles his

(19:20):
business every day.

Speaker 4 (19:21):
I can't give you all the secrets, but hopefully they
work for me.

Speaker 3 (19:23):
And also following up on that, I don't I mean,
because again, I know, obviously you're playing in the AFC
and stuff, but still, like you sometimes watch people around
the league to see how they're doing. Do you have
a favorite play of his that you've maybe watched over
the years.

Speaker 4 (19:36):
Uh, I would say favorite game the Super Bowl?

Speaker 9 (19:43):
Uh, the Super Bowl against uh Garden, Travis Kelsey, the
whole game, just the you.

Speaker 4 (19:48):
Know, you know that guy's getting the ball.

Speaker 9 (19:50):
You know, a very great player that he is, and
for you to for him to dominate that matchup that
game was very special to watch. You know, we kind
of talked about it, you know, leading up to it,
different things. You know, he had to kind of lock
in on and to see him do it was pretty special.

Speaker 4 (20:04):
The interception against.

Speaker 9 (20:05):
Atlanta last year, I told him, you know, he got
a score to put that game away. But you know,
we'll talk about that too, But that was a great
play as well. Yeah, no doubt, Yeah, Stephan, step you
know every play he was, you know, guarding them. He
didn't shot away from that matchup, and I thought that
was the that was. I thought he should have been
super Bowl every people, I mean for that, for his

(20:26):
play against.

Speaker 6 (20:26):
Him and in the meeting rooms with him.

Speaker 9 (20:30):
How is he cheamed that one more time in the
field with Baker in the meeting rooms and everything that?

Speaker 6 (20:34):
How was he chreamed from Cleveland.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
A little bit more mature, I guess, you know, we
all are. I mean, he was you know growing up
in you know, in Cleveland.

Speaker 9 (20:42):
You know he's you know a few years removed and
you know again just more mature we all are, you know,
as we grow in this league, you know, still competitive,
you know, still chirping, you know, everything like that. So uh,
he knows I bring the same energy on the defense.
We've been doing that since Cleveland days. So it's fun
to get that competition. Like I said, there was just

(21:02):
competitive juices flowing, you know, even in the off season.

Speaker 4 (21:05):
And it's only gonna make us better.

Speaker 9 (21:06):
So you know, I know Baker Baker's been doing this
for a very long time as an elite quarterback.

Speaker 4 (21:11):
So excited to be his teammate again.

Speaker 7 (21:13):
And when you as a linebacker, when you look and
see the defensive front that you have to play behind,
be the band Elijah Kanti a Son, Reddick yah Yadiyabi,
what's your initial impression of what those guys could be
in terms of past rushers getting at the quarterback.

Speaker 9 (21:28):
Yeah, the smile says it all like this, you know,
you know, just watching those guys work every day, knowing
who those guys are, it should be a fun yer,
That's all I'll say.

Speaker 6 (21:43):
With you and dion Lante, you don't come upon many.

Speaker 5 (21:47):
Rooms that have that much experience and that much stripes
on your shoulders.

Speaker 4 (21:51):
Yeah, it's fun.

Speaker 9 (21:51):
It's a great room to learn from. You know a
lot of guys that's played football at a high level.

Speaker 4 (21:56):
You know. And then like you said, you got the
young guys in there as well.

Speaker 9 (21:59):
You know, they got Vas, you know, who's an up
and coming you know, he's going to be a very
good player for a very long time. You got Levante
was the you know, savvy Vett in the room, still
playing you know, great ball. So uh yeah, I'm able
to learn so much from these guys. Uh they pushed me,
continued to make me be better. And we hold we
hold each other to that standard, you know, to be
the best group in the you know, in the in
the building, in the league. So you know, you gotta

(22:22):
we got a standard up hold every day. I think
today we had the jersey swap, so you had to
whatever whoever messed up in that jersey, that's the fine
you have to pay. So you didn't want guys to
mess up in your jersey. So that was fun today,
you know, just again another way to compete and have fun.
And you know, like I said, offseason kind of gets
a little long, but you know, you still want to
compete and have fun.

Speaker 7 (22:41):
Recently, coach Bowl said that he felt that inside linebacker
was the deepest room on the defense.

Speaker 1 (22:47):
Has it feel being part of that group that you know,
bols was given praise too.

Speaker 9 (22:50):
Yeah, Like I said, that's that's the standard that we're
trying to set, and we got to earn that every day.

Speaker 4 (22:55):
That's not a one time thing.

Speaker 9 (22:56):
The linebacker you know, every on every team, the linebacker
room is the court, the back up the defense.

Speaker 4 (23:00):
So that's our standard. Every day.

Speaker 9 (23:02):
We gotta beat we gotta beat that group. We gotta
lead this team obviously. You know, we got guys everywhere
on this team that you know, make plays and all that,
but we got to be the best group on the
field for us to you know, get to where we
want to be.

Speaker 2 (23:12):
Do you do a lot of competition with d Jones,
you know, like he was your teammate previously.

Speaker 4 (23:16):
Guys, it's competition with everybody. That's the That's the nature
of the business.

Speaker 9 (23:20):
You know, you get to a team where you have
Super Bowl aspirations and you got you going to an
elite room.

Speaker 4 (23:26):
You know, I got.

Speaker 9 (23:26):
Competition with Levonte Savasier to the rookies, nig John Antonio
Grier all those guys, man, they're gonna we're gonna push
each other there and the best player is gonna play.

Speaker 4 (23:36):
You know, we understand that.

Speaker 9 (23:37):
And as long as we you know, put the best
players on the field and you know, the guys you know,
earn it and everything like that, that's all you can
That's all you can ask for.

Speaker 4 (23:43):
And that's I think that's what we have in that room.

Speaker 9 (23:45):
Guys that's gonna push each other and hold hold everybody
to that standard.

Speaker 2 (23:50):
We're still coaching high school football last year as well,
and is that.

Speaker 9 (23:53):
Something that miss Uh yeah, I coach last year or
with my dad's team. I will not miss that. Actually,
just for now. It was a lot going from football
practice to another football practice. So get a little break
this year, but definitely something that I want to do
in the future at the at the NFL level.

Speaker 1 (24:10):
To your first fresh and we were just talking to
Bucky or Shot White, I know you don't have had.

Speaker 4 (24:15):
Done you know, I'm sure you're looking forward to.

Speaker 1 (24:17):
But what's your feel on those two guys specifically?

Speaker 9 (24:20):
Yeah, I mean in this league, you gotta have two
elite running backs on the team. You know, that's that's
the winning standard on every you know, winning team. So
uh yeah, I'm excited those guys, like you said, training camp,
that'll be fun. Bucky, me and him, you know, talks
back to each other all the time, even with Shot,
but again another you know, Bucky had a great year
last year. Shot has been doing in this league for
a long time. So excited to just you know, push

(24:43):
each other to get better. It's only gonna make us better,
you know, for us to get better for the season
and for the opponents that we go against.

Speaker 4 (24:49):
So it's gonna be fun to push each other. And
I'm I'm looking forward to tight ends there as well.

Speaker 10 (24:54):
Devin called a lot of speed, but and the pan
Durham your job to cover those guys.

Speaker 6 (24:58):
You've seen from them so far.

Speaker 9 (25:00):
I'm kind of sick of him right now. Yeah, that's
a real savvy rock runner right there. He kind of Yeah,
he got me a few times this off season, so
I'm definitely gonna i gotta get in my bag a
little bit.

Speaker 4 (25:11):
But no, man, that tiny room is special as well.

Speaker 9 (25:14):
Whole offense, man, they put you in a lot of
compromising positions, you know, where you gotta play the run,
play the pass, and they make it all look the same,
and that's you know, when you when you can do that,
that's an elite offense. And again, like I said, just
helping me get my eyes you know, in the right spot.
You know, my confidence on the field, and that's going
to make us better as a defense, all right,
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